JAVMA News
Drug pollution is altering and hurting marine life in the U.S. and increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance; flushing unused drugs is contributing. In other news, AVMA leaders say pet obesity is a disease and are calling for a universal body condition scoring system.
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Letters to the Editor
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What Is Your Neurologic Diagnosis?
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ECG of the Month
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Pathology in Practice
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viewpoint
The role of private practitioners in reducing numbers of homeless dogs and cats
Despite the millions of dollars spent annually to address homeless dogs and cats, more than 1.5 million animals are euthanized in US shelters each year. Veterinarians in general practice may not realize how much impact they can have on the numbers of homeless dogs and cats.
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Small Animals
Effects of transdermal fentanyl solution on minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs
Recently, a transdermal fentanyl solution was approved by the FDA to provide postoperative analgesia in dogs. Label directions indicate that the solution should be applied to the dorsal scapular area 2 to 4 hours before surgery. Notably, in a study of 6 healthy mixed-breed dogs, the solution had a consistent isoflurane-sparing effect 4 and 24 hours after application. Mean ± SD MAC of isoflurane was 45.4 ± 4.0% and 45.5 ± 4.5% lower 4 and 24 hours after TFS application, respectively, than at baseline. Veterinarians should be aware of the isoflurane-sparing effects of TFS when anesthetizing or reanesthetizing dogs that have been treated with this drug.
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Intra-abdominal complications following intestinal anastomoses by suture and staple techniques in dogs
In a retrospective study involving 180 dogs that underwent intestinal resection and anastomosis, dehiscence was identified in 12 of 93 (13%) dogs that had a sutured end-to-end anastomosis and 4 of 87 (5%) dogs that had a functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis. The odds of postoperative dehiscence were significantly lower for dogs with FEESAs than for dogs with sutured anastomoses. However, variability of procedure types and dehiscence rates among clinics suggested further research is needed to confirm these findings, and obstruction at the anastomosis site was identified as a potential long-term complication of FEESA.
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Thoracoscopy versus thoracotomy for surgical correction of persistent right aortic arch in dogs
Thoracoscopy was found to be an acceptable method for treating dogs with persistent right aortic arch, compared with thoracotomy, in a study involving 30 dogs with the condition. Dogs underwent a thoracotomy alone (n = 15), thoracoscopy alone (10), or thoracoscopy converted to thoracotomy (5). Median duration of surgery was not markedly different among groups, nor was the incidence of postoperative complications or median amount of time a thoracostomy tube was maintained in place. Median duration of hospitalization was 1 day for dogs that underwent thoracoscopy and 2 days for dogs that underwent thoracotomy.
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Treatment of congenital distal ureteral orifice stenosis by endoscopic laser ablation in dogs
Congenital distal ureteral orifice stenosis is a rarely recognized disorder in dogs that can lead to hydroureter and hydronephrosis. In a review of medical records for 16 dogs with CDUOS, treatment with cystoscopic-guided laser ablation was safe and effective. Six of the 16 dogs were Labrador Retrievers, and intramural ectopic ureteral openings were identified at the site of stenosis in 15 dogs (18/20 stenotic ureteral openings). Treatment with CLA to enlarge and relocate the stenotic opening was successful in all dogs. No complications were noted, and owners of 11 of 13 dogs reported improvement in their dog's quality of life after CLA.
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Cystoscopic-guided laser ablation for treatment of unilateral ureterovesicular stenosis in a female dog
A 4-year-old spayed female Beagle was evaluated because of a 2-month history of intermittent pollakiuria, stranguria, dysuria, and abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a large, thin-walled, cystic structure in the urinary bladder at the level of the expected right ureterovesicular junction that communicated with the uniformly dilated right ureter. Complete laser ablation of the ureterocele was performed by incising it circumferentially near its base. Clinical signs resolved immediately following the procedure. Six weeks later, the dog remained free of clinical signs and abdominal ultrasonography revealed resolution of hydroureter.
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Equine
Case-control study of risk factors for pasture- and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis in North American horses
Conditional logistic regression analysis of data for 199 horses with pasture- and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis and 351 horses from 2 control populations (healthy horses [n = 198] and horses with lameness not caused by laminitis [153]) indicated that horses with an obese body condition (ie, body condition score $ 7), generalized or regional adiposity (alone or in combination), preexisting endocrinopathy, or recent (within 30 days) glucocorticoid administration were at increased odds of developing PEAL. Findings may assist in managing and preventing this form of laminitis and in guiding future research into its pathogenesis.
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Referring equine veterinarians' expectations of equine veterinary specialists and referral centers
Focus group interviews with equine practitioners with experience in referral of clients and patients revealed that specialists and referral centers are viewed as an extension of the care rDVMs provide to their clients and patients. The 5 areas that participants described as important to this expectation were rDVM-client relationships, rDVM involvement during referral care, collegial rDVM-specialist relationships, communication between rDVMs and specialists, and the boundaries of referral care. The referral process was seen as being facilitated by effective communication during the course of referral care.
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