Small Animal Practice Research Articles

Understanding clinical decision making in small animal practice

IN veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, a great deal of time is spent making diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive decisions in a complex and uncertain environment. While the veterinarian’s primary...

Riesgos ocupacionales en estudiantes de veterinaria en Argentina

<p>La práctica veterinaria expone a los individuos a una gran variedad de accidentes ocupacionales (AO) y enfermedades profesionales. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron estimar: a) la frecuencia de AO y zoonosis, b) la percepción de los riesgos ocupacionales (PR), c) el uso de elementos de protección personal (EPP) y d) las asociaciones con potenciales factores de riesgo en estudiantes de veterinaria de Argentina. Se efectuó un estudio observacional transversal en n=778 estudiantes de 13 carreras de Veterinaria ubicadas en nueve provincias argentinas. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante cuestionario estructurado auto-administrado. El análisis estadístico incluyó χ2, t de Student y correlaciones de Pearson y de Spearman. Dos tercios (67,5%) había sufrido AO en la práctica con grandes y pequeños animales, con gran variabilidad entre universidades (p= 0,002). Los AO más frecuentes estuvieron vinculados con la exposición solar excesiva, los animales y los elementos punzo-cortantes. Aunque la atención clínica fue percibida como de riesgo medio o bajo, los AO se produjeron mayoritariamente en dichas instancias. Las lesiones (punzaduras, cortes, rasguños y mordeduras) estuvieron localizadas principalmente en extremidades superiores. El 6% de los estudiantes había sido diagnosticado con alguna zoonosis, siendo la dermatofitosis la más frecuente (2,8%). A mayor antigüedad como estudiante de veterinaria, mayores fueron las PR (p<0,005) y la frecuencia de AO (p<0,034). Los guantes fueron los EPP más utilizados. En algunas prácticas, su uso fue más frecuente en las mujeres (p<0,03). No hubo asociaciones entre la frecuencia de uso de EPP y las PR o los años como estudiantes de veterinaria. Se concluye que los contenidos sobre seguridad ocupacional deberían ser ofrecidos desde los primeros años de la carrera. Esta práctica, unida al esfuerzo de los docentes para que los alumnos observen el cumplimiento de prácticas seguras podrían modificar las actitudes, reduciendo los riesgos de AO y zoonosis entre los estudiantes.</p>

Descrição clínica e achados laboratoriais de cão intoxicado por veneno de sapo (Rhinella icterica) (Anura: Bufonidae): relato de caso

Apesar da alta frequência de intoxicações na clínica médica de pe­quenos animais, acidentes com anfíbios são considerados emergên­cias médicas devido ao elevado potencial tóxico de seu veneno, o qual tende a direcionar o curso clínico do paciente intoxicado para eventos fisiopatológicos, principalmente cardiovasculares e neuro­lógicos. Este estudo tem por finalidade descrever as principais alte­rações clínicas e laboratoriais observadas em um cão intoxicado por veneno de sapo identificado como sendo Rhinella icterica (Anura: Bufonidae), mediante identificação do anfíbio por imagens obtidas pelos tutores. A instituição precoce das estratégias terapêuticas ime­diatas (estabilização clínica) e tardias (terapia intensiva), assim como o estadiamento de lesões em outros órgãos e sistemas pelos exames complementares realizados de maneira simultânea, caracterizaram-se como essenciais para a melhora no prognóstico do animal.

Being a vet receptionist is much more than checking in clients

Kendall Clee worked as a legal secretary before finding her dream job as a receptionist in a small animal practice. She is the first British Veterinary Receptionist of the Year.

How to…

Andrew Wales, Joanna Lawes and Robert Davies recently reviewed raw diets for canine and feline patients focusing on microbiological hazards for the Journal of Small Animal Practice,1 here they summarize their findings including information to pass to clients when discussing this type of diet.

Shoulder Lameness in Dogs: Preliminary Investigation on Ultrasonography, Signalment and Hemato-Biochemical Findings Correlation.

Forelimb lameness in medium and large breed dogs is frequently caused by traumatic or degenerative injuries of the shoulder. Patient history, physical examination, x-rays, blood, and chemical work are routinely used to achieve diagnosis, and may be associated with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonography is increasingly popular in small animal practice due to its low cost, ease of repetition, and the fact that it is non-invasive and can be performed in conscious patients. It is also widely accepted that muscular stress or injuries can induce detectable variations in blood and chemical work. The aim of this preliminary study is to search for correlation between measurements of selected hematobiochemical parameters and ultrasound diagnosis in dogs affected by shoulder injuries. A retrospective study was conducted on orthopedic clinical records of dogs presented to our Veterinary Teaching Hospital for lameness caused by shoulder problems over a period of 5 years. Dogs with both hematobiochemical and ultrasound examinations were selected. Patients were classified into 5 groups according to ultrasound diagnosis: (1) mild/moderate tendinopathy, (2) severe tendinopathy, (3) articular damage, (4) chronic myopathy, and (5) neoplastic injury. Statistical analysis was performed to detect possible correlations between group and hematobiochemical parameters. Forty-four dogs met the inclusion criteria and forty-nine shoulders were diagnosed as injured. Significant differences were found between the age, sex, body weight, neutrophil count, and AST levels. In particular, statistically significant increases were found for neutrophil count and AST concentration in case of ultrasonographically diagnosed severe tendinopathy, articular damage, and neoplastic pathology. Further and wider studies are suggested to determine whether these biomarkers can become a useful diagnostic aid.

Aktuelle therapeutische Möglichkeiten der schmerzhaften Osteoarthrose von Hund und Katze

The treatment of painful osteoarthrosis in the canine and feline patient is a challenge commonly encountered in small animal practice. Therapeutic success, namely the restoration of quality of life, is frequently not achieved by applying common therapeutic approaches such as administration of oral analgesics or nutraceuticals. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into possible surgical treatment options as well as an overview of the current state of veterinary research and literature on this subject.

Clinical conundrum

Giorgia Brambilla graduated from Bristol University in July 2018 and she is currently working in an independent small animal practice in the Yorkshire. She invited Companion readers to consider the cause of vomiting and weight loss in a Flat-Coated Retriever.

Virtual veterinary care

If a virtual specialist can be summoned at the touch of a button, will that improve the quality of care provided in small animal practices – or is there a danger that it might undermine the self-confidence and job satisfaction of the first-opinion practitioner? John Bonner reports.

"Patients' interests first, but … "⁻Austrian Veterinarians' Attitudes to Moral Challenges in Modern Small Animal Practice.

Simple SummaryHip arthroplasty, heart valve replacement, dialysis, and specialties such as oncology, cardiology and neurology are becoming standard in modern small animal practice, which, in some respects, is not far behind the field of human medicine. This focus group study of veterinarians (n = 32) examined the effect of these advances and the challenges they introduce. The study shows that while modern diagnostics and therapies deliver benefits in patient care, they also add complexities to decision-making. Although the veterinarians participating in the study were aware of their duty to act in the best interests of the animal, their decisions were highly dependent on factors such as the client’s financial background and the emotional bond between client and animal, as well as the veterinarian’s place of work, and level and field of specialization, and certain economic aspects of the practice. The overall conclusion is that veterinarians are increasingly torn between patients’ interests, medical feasibility and factors related to the client, the veterinarian, and professional colleagues. The findings also suggest that services are not only oriented towards the provision of medical care in a strict medical sense. On top of this, veterinarians need to deal with various expectations and wishes of clients which influence their decision-making. As it will be shown, factors like the possibility of referring patients to specialist veterinarians or prompt diagnostic results influence their decision-making.Small veterinary practice is experiencing steady improvement in diagnostics and therapies which enable veterinarians to offer evermore advanced medical care for their patients. This focus group study of veterinarians (n = 32) examined the impact of these improvements and the potential challenges they introduce in small animal practice. It shows that while advanced diagnostics and therapies deliver benefits in patient care, they also add complexities to decision-making. Although the veterinarians participating in the study were aware of their duty to act in the best interests of the animal, their decisions were highly dependent on factors such as the client’s financial background and the emotional bond between client and animal, as well as the veterinarian’s place of work, and level and field of specialization, and certain economic aspects of the practice. The overall conclusion is that small animal veterinarians are increasingly torn between serving the best interests of the animal, medical feasibility and contextual factors related to the client, the veterinarian, and professional colleagues. Further, the findings suggest that services are not only oriented towards the provision of medical care in a strict medical sense. On top of this, veterinarians need to deal with various expectations and wishes of clients which influence their decision-making. As it will be shown, factors like the possibility of referring patients to specialist veterinarians or prompt diagnostic results influence their decision-making.

Clinical approach to prostatic diseases in the dog

In small animal practice, prostatic diseases are increasingly encountered. All dogs may experience prostatic disease, but particular care should be addressed to breeding dogs, in which prostatic affection may lead to decrease in semen quality and fertility. The most common prostatic disease is the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) followed by prostatitis, prostatic neoplasia and prostate squamous metaplasia. These diseases do not have pathognomonic symptoms, therefore, making a correct diagnosis may not be easy. An accurate clinical examination and a correct diagnostic protocol are essential in order to begin the most appropriate treatment, and also to do a good prophylaxis where it is possible. BPH therapy is usually recommended when mild-severe signs are present or if symptoms disturb the patient. New therapeutic approaches, both medical and surgical, allow to maintain fertility in most animals with prostatic disorders. Prostate cancer is relatively infrequent. Elective therapy is the surgical one, but it is considered palliative and can result in important post-operative complications. The aim of this paper is to lay down the most appropriate diagnostic process describing the aetiologies of prostatic disease, their symptoms, the right investigative tools and therapy.

The importance of pain management

Ian Self, Editor of the new BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice, addresses the issues of pain in companion animals – what is it, why does it matter, and what is the future of pain treatment?

Preparing and training for CPR in small animal practice

With an increasing number of sick cats and dogs being presented to veterinary practices, witnessing cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is not uncommon. Veterinary practitioners and their support staff should be ready...

Book Review

The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Emergency and Critical Care, Third Edition provides an updated guide to this essential area of veterinary small animal practice, in a logical, sturctured order that is easy to read and follow. An essential manual for any veterinary practice to assist in planning for and dealing with the arriving emergency patient.

Comparison of Ovariectomy by Laparoscopic and Conventional Open Method in Dogs

Ovariectomy (OVE) is a routine surgical procedure for sterilization in small animal practice. The study was carried out in 12 female dogs presented to College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, for elective sterilization were divided into group COVE and group LapOVE, with six animals each. Conventional open ovariectomy was implemented in group COVE while laparoscopic ovariectomy was done in group LapOVE. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals to estimate C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and blood glucose level. Significant variations were noticed in CRP, cortisol and AST between the groups. Significant changes were observed in serum glucose level within both groups during and after the time of surgery as compared to baseline. Findings of the present study suggest that laparoscopic ovariectomy causes less tissue damage, muscle trauma and post-operative pain than conventional open ovariectomy in female dogs.

Clinical efficacy of marbofloxacin in dogs and cats diagnosed with lower urinary tract disorders

Marbofloxacin is one of the fluoroquinolones developed exclusively for veterinary medicine. The primary aim of the present study is to identify and assess evidence for marbofloxacin’s clinical efficacy in the treatment of urinary tract infections in small animal practice. The study included 118 dogs and 123 cats that were referred to the Internal Medicine Department with lower urinary tract symptoms. We excluded animals that had received antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory therapy in the previous 15 days. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical findings, urinalysis, and imaging. Rectal temperature, appetite, urinary signs, and abdominal pain were monitored during two visits (day 0 and 14). The timetable depended on the diagnosis of the following: two urinalyses, two bacterial examinations, and antibacterial susceptibility testing were performed for each case. Bacterial UTI were confirmed in 36 dogs and 28 cats. Urine samples were collected on day 0, which demonstrated the presence of various bacteria, with a marked predominance of P. mirabilis and coagulase-positive Staphylococci in canine and feline urine samples, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility test results revealed 25 (65.7%) of dog isolates and 24 (85.7%) of cat isolates were susceptible to marbofloxacin. Treatment of UTIs is generally challenging for the small animal practitioner. Because of the need for long-term antimicrobials, bacterial culture and susceptibility tests are especially important for successful treatment. Marbofloxacin can be part of an effective treatment of UTIs in dogs and cats.

Retrospective analysis of pleural effusion in cats.

Pleural effusion is a common presenting cause for feline patients in small animal practice. The objectives of this study were to identify possible correlations between the aetiology of effusion and clinical and laboratory findings. In this retrospective study of 306 cats diagnosed with pleural effusion of established aetiology, cats were divided into six major groups: cardiac disease (CD), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), neoplasia, pyothorax, chylothorax and miscellaneous. Clinical, laboratory and radiographic parameters were compared between groups. CD was the most common aetiology (35.3%), followed by neoplasia (30.7%), pyothorax (8.8%), FIP (8.5%), chylothorax (4.6%) and miscellaneous diseases (3.7%). In 26 (8.5%) cats, more than one underlying disease was diagnosed as a possible aetiology for pleural effusion. Cats with FIP were significantly younger than those with CD (P <0.001) and neoplasia (P <0.001). Cats with CD were presented with a significantly lower body temperature compared with cats with FIP (P = 0.022). Cats with CD had significantly higher serum alanine aminotransferase activity compared with all other cats (FIP and pyothorax, P <0.001; neoplasia and chylothorax, P = 0.02) and serum alkaline phosphatase activity compared with the pyothorax (P <0.001) and FIP groups (P = 0.04), and significantly lower protein concentrations (FIP, pyothorax and neoplasia, P <0.001; chylothorax, P = 0.04) and nucleated cell counts in the effusion than all other groups (pyothorax and neoplasia, P <0.001; chylothorax, P = 0.02; FIP, P = 0.04). The glucose level in the effusion of cats with pyothorax was significantly lower than glucose levels in patients with CD, neoplasia and chylothorax (P <0.001). Of 249 cats with a follow-up of at least 10 days, 55.8% died or were euthanased during that time. CD and neoplasia were the most common causes for feline pleural effusion. Age, liver enzymes, as well as cell count, protein and glucose levels in the effusion can aid in the investigation of underlying aetiologies.

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in veterinarians in Finland: Older age, living in the countryside, tasting beef during cooking and not doing small animal practice associated with seropositivity.

Practising veterinary medicine has an inherent risk of exposure to zoonotic agents, including the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We screened sera of veterinarians authorized to work in Finland for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against T.gondii with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay, and evaluated potential risk factors for T.gondii seropositivity from extensive questionnaire data with almost 1,300 quantitative variables. We used a causal diagram approach to address the complexity of the life cycle of the parasite and its numerous possible transmission routes, and built a multivariable binomial logistic regression model to identify risk factors that are particularly relevant for veterinarians. The samples and questionnaire data were collected in 2009. Altogether, 294 veterinarians, almost 15% of the Finnish veterinary profession, were included in the study. The median age was 39years, and the majority, 86%, were women. Altogether, 43 (14.6%; 95% confidence interval: 10.9-19.0) of the 294 veterinarians tested seropositive for T.gondii. According to the final model, veterinarians who were at least 40years old had 2.4 times higher odds to be seropositive than younger veterinarians; veterinarians who lived in the countryside had 4.0 times higher odds to be seropositive than veterinarians who lived in towns; female veterinarians who tasted beef during cooking had 2.6 times higher odds to be seropositive than male veterinarians who did not taste beef during cooking; and veterinarians who did not do small animal practice had 2.3 times higher odds to be seropositive than those who did. The results illustrate the numerous transmission routes of T.gondii.

Types of Wounds and the Prevalence of Bacterial Contamination of Wounds in the Clinical Practice of Small Animals

Abstract Skin wounds are a common presentation in small animal practice. The successful management of wound healing in dogs and cats requires knowledge of the physiology of the wound healing process and the application of an appropriate therapeutic intervention. Many wounds are colonised by bacteria or show signs of clinical infection. Infections can delay wound healing, impair cosmetic outcome and increase healthcare costs. Because of a lack of papers giving an overall prevalence of bacteria in different types of wounds, 45 samples were taken from patients treated at the Small Animals Clinic, Section of Surgery, Orthopaedics, Roentgenology and Reproduction of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice during the years 2017 — 2018 to determine the types of wounds and the prevalence of bacterial contamination of the wounds. Samples were obtained by using cotton-tipped swabs and then cultivated on Sabouraud’s plates in the Institute of Microbiology and Gnotobiology of the University. All 45 animals used in this research were first subjected to an anatomical and clinical exam to determine the patient’s health condition and the status of the wounds. Of these 45 samples, 9 were negative. Of the remaining 36 samples, 12 were cultivated and tested to give only the genera of the bacteria present, whilst 24 were tested more extensively for a specific diagnosis of the species. The most common wound was due to a bite from another animal; these made up 12 out of the 45 cases (26.67 %). There were 10 cases of dehiscence of old wounds (22.22 %), whereas there were only 2 cases of surgical wound complications (4.44 %). There were 5 puncture wounds or fistulas (11.11 %), 4 lacerations (8.88 %), 1 degloving injury (2.22 %), 1 seroma (2.22 %), 1 foreign body (2.22 %), 1 crushing injury (2.22 %), 1 case of contusion and necrosis (2.22 %), 1 cases of dermatitis with resulting pruritic lesions (2.22 %), and 1 cutting injury from a tight wire collar (2.22 %). Five cases (11.11 %) were wounds of unknown aetiology. The most commonly found bacteria was Staphylococcus intermedius, which was found in 14 out of the 45 wounds (31.11 %). From this study it appears that the first consideration for treatment of infected wounds should be a treatment plan which will have a high efficacy against Staphylococcus spp. However, despite the high prevalence of Staphylococcus spp., our results revealed that they are not present all of the time.

Organic dust exposure in veterinary clinics: a case study of a small-animal practice in Portugal.

Literature about occupational health in small-animal veterinary practices is scarce, but most of it has recognised a number of risks to be considered, including organic dust exposure. The aim of this pilot study was to assess organic dust, bacterial, and fungal contamination in the indoor environment of a typical Portuguese veterinary clinic but also to screen for azoleresistant fungi. To complement these findings we also analysed workers' nasal exudates for resistant bacteriota. Particles measurements included mass concentrations (PMC) of five particle sizes (PM0.5, PM1, PM2.5, PM5, PM10) and their counts (PNC). Indoor air samples were obtained from six locations as well as before and during cat dental cleaning and cultured on four media for bacterial and fungal assessment. An outdoor sample was also collected for reference Surface samples were taken from the same indoor locations using swabs and we also use electrostatic dust cloths as passive methods. PM10 showed the highest concentrations across the locations. Indoor air fungal loads ranged from 88 to 504 CFU m-3. The azole-resistant Aspergillus section Nigri was identified in one sample. Indoor air bacterial loads ranged from 84 to 328 CFU m-3. Nasopharyngeal findings in the 14 veterinary clinic workers showed a remarkably low prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (7.1 %). Our results point to contamination with organic dusts above the WHO limits and to the need for better ventilation. Future studies should combine the same sampling protocol (active and passive methods) with molecular tools to obtain more accurate risk characterisation. In terms of prevention, animals should be caged in rooms separate from where procedures take place, and worker protection should be observed at all times.