Canine & Feline Practice
Core concepts
This is the broadest domain: general medicine, surgery, dentistry, dermatology, and preventive care for dogs and cats. Build a problem-oriented approach - history, physical exam, problem list, differentials, diagnostics, plan. Know core vaccinations, parasite prevention, and life-stage wellness. Understand common endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism in dogs; hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus in cats), cardiac disease (mitral valve disease in small dogs, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats), and the principles of anesthesia and pain management.
Surgery and dentistry
Be comfortable with wound management principles, spay/neuter technique concepts, and the staging of periodontal disease. Recognize that dental disease is the most common diagnosis in small animal practice and that oral pain is under-recognized.
Traps
Examiners frequently test species differences: cats are obligate carnivores with unique drug sensitivities (e.g., acetaminophen and permethrin toxicity), and feline hyperthyroidism can mask or cause renal disease. Watch for questions that conflate canine and feline dosing or that reward jumping to imaging before a thorough exam.
Worked example
An older cat presents with weight loss despite a good appetite. The differential list should prioritize hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus, with chronic enteropathy and neoplasia behind them. A total T4 and glucose/urinalysis are the efficient first tier. Rule of thumb: in cats, "eating well but losing weight" is a thyroid or diabetes question until proven otherwise.