Prairie Diagnostic Services

05/15/2026

PDS will be closed on Monday May 18th.
Have a wonderful, hopefully not too wet, long weekend!

Photo credit: Small Dog Stock photos by Vecteezy

05/07/2026

Stay up to date with what is new and interesting at PDS with our quarterly newsletter!

From the launch of our new Sysmex hematology analyzer to a deep dive into the 77% success rate of our BovReproSeq abortion panel, the May issue is packed with diagnostic excellence. Also inside: Welcoming Dr. Rodrigo Puentes Palombo, an unusual canine lameness case, and important fee schedule update...

04/30/2026

A Hidden Clue in a Simple Blood Test

A dog with seizures had an unusual finding on its blood smear - neutrophils with their nuclei looked like tiny bunches of grapes.

This rare change means we need to dig deeper to find the cause.

Sometimes, the smallest details can make the biggest difference.

04/17/2026

Pink Inclusions - What Are You Seeing?

Guinea pig blood smear + mononuclear cells with bright pink inclusions = Kurloff cells.

They definitely stand out under the microscope!

Not sure what you’re looking at? Send it our way, we’re happy to help!

04/16/2026

Sensitive content warning - image of brain for scientific purposes.

Case Spotlight: Neurologic Disease in a Senior Dog
A senior spayed Boston Terrier with a year-long history of seizures presented with an acute 2-week decline, including lethargy and refusal to eat or drink.

Gross Findings:
Small intracranial fluid accumulation
Opaque material on the ventral aspect of the brain: on cut section, a soft gelatinous mass with hemorrhage was noted (see picture)

Histopathology:
A highly cellular, infiltrative mass located near the optic chiasm and extending into the diencephalon.
High mitotic activity (up to 15/HPF)
Cellular atypia, necrosis, and hemorrhage
-> Features consistent with an aggressive primary brain tumor

Take-Home Message:
In older dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds, chronic seizures + acute neurologic decline should strongly prompt consideration of intracranial neoplasia"

03/30/2026

Discover our newly improved NIR feed testing form—designed for greater clarity and a smoother experience. Check it out.
https://pdsinc.ca/services/feed-and-forage-testing/

03/25/2026

“Not Your Typical Case”

This case had an unexpected twist!

A dog brought to Canada from Peru came in with breathing problems and fluid in the chest. Under the microscope, we found parasite eggs (Spirocerca lupi)—something rarely seen here.

Travel history matters more than you think!

03/23/2026

Thank you to all the students and staff of WCVM that stopped by our booth last Wednesday for VIP day!

03/23/2026

Fungal hyphae on a histology slide?
(Periorbital fungal infection from a young cat; GMS stain)

03/05/2026

We presented at the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN) Knowledge Exchange Meeting on several less common swine viruses, including Porcine Astrovirus 3, Porcine Astrovirus 4, Porcine Parainfluenza Virus, Atypical Porcine Pestivirus, Porcine Sapelovirus, and Porcine Teschovirus. The presentation reviewed their clinical presentations, pathology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic approaches. PCR assays for these viruses are available at PDS.