Journal of Small Animal Practice最新文献

Objectives: Canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis is a common cause of nasal disease in dogs but data reporting outcomes following treatment is lacking. The aim was to describe pre- and post-referral management and outcomes of dogs diagnosed with canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis at a single referral centre.

Materials and methods: Retrospective review of medical records (signalment, clinical signs, treatments prior to referral, investigations, response to therapy and outcomes) of 75 client-owned dogs diagnosed with canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis between December 2018 and 2023.

Results: Forty-one males and 34 females were included. Duration of clinical signs prior to referral was 104 days [3 to 1954] and only 11/75 dogs had not received antibiotics. Tomography revealed destructive rhinitis in 54/75 dogs. After referral, the most common first-line treatment was non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (46/75). Sixty-seven cases were followed up for 237 days [14 to 1701]. Forty-six, 25 and 13 dogs underwent a second, third and fourth treatment trial, respectively. Antibiotics were the most used second trial agent (25/46), and corticosteroids the most common third (16/25). Outcomes were available for 63 dogs. At final recorded contact, 14/63 cases were in remission, 38/63 were considered improved, 9/63 had static disease and 2/63 had worse disease. Three cases were euthanased due to canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were significantly associated with clinical improvement after initial treatment trial (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1 to 8.5; P=.04).

Clinical significance: Dogs diagnosed with canine chronic idiopathic rhinitis received variable therapies, including frequent antibiotics. Administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line treatment was associated with improved outcomes in this cohort of dogs.

A 4-year-old, male, entire, crossbreed dog presented with a history of acute abdominal distension. Pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade and diffuse nodular changes to the epicardial surface was noted on echocardiography. Cytology of the pericardial effusion was consistent with neutrophilic inflammation with no evidence of neoplastic cells or bacteria. Therefore, a pericardiectomy was elected for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Marked fibrous and fibrinous adhesions were noted between the parietal layer of the serous pericardium and the epicardium. Histological examination [including Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) stain] identified numerous fungal hyphae compatible with fungal pericarditis due to Aspergillus fumigatus. Systemic aspergillosis has been previously reported in dogs; however, a primary fungal pericarditis has not been described in the available veterinary literature.

Objective: To determine the frequency of adherence of malignant cells to surgical gloves and instruments during canine oncological surgeries and assess whether histopathological margin status or tumour type influences the presence of tumour cells.

Materials and methods: A prospective pilot study was conducted on 47 dogs undergoing resection of primary solid tumours. Following tumour excision, the primary surgeon changed gloves and instruments, which were then irrigated with ThinPrep® solution. Samples were processed via cytospin centrifugation, stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa and evaluated by a board-certified clinical pathologist. Malignant cells were quantified as low (<20), moderate (≤50) or high (>100). Statistical analysis assessed associations between histopathological margin status, tumour type and the presence of malignant cells.

Results: Malignant cells were detected in glove and/or instrument washings in 14/47 (30%) cases. Among the 14 primary tumours with histopathologically involved (incomplete) margins, malignant cells were detected in glove and/or instrument washings in 8/14 (57%) cases, compared with 6/32 (19%) cases with histopathologically clear margins. There was a statistically significant association between margin status and contamination (P = .016). No significant association was found between tumour type and contamination.

Clinical significance: This study is the first to document malignant cell contamination on surgical gloves and instruments in veterinary oncological surgery. While contamination was more likely with incomplete margins, tumour cells were detected in 30% of cases overall. These findings highlight a potential risk of iatrogenic tumour seeding and support routine glove and instrument changes following tumour excision.

This case report details the successful laparoscopic resection of a large left lateral hepatic mass in a 28 kg dog, with specimen retrieval through a 1 cm cutaneous incision. Clinical signs and serum biochemical abnormalities resolved postoperatively, and the dog remained asymptomatic at 6-month follow-up. This report suggests that strict laparoscopic liver lobectomy is a feasible approach for the elective resection of left-sided hepatic masses in medium to large-breed dogs.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to report the use, complications and outcome of the omocervical axial pattern flap in a series of clinical cases.

Materials and methods: Multicentre retrospective cohort study. Medical records of dogs and cats treated with an omocervical flap for closure of a skin defect were reviewed. Information regarding signalment, indications, flap size, flap healing and postoperative complications including need for surgical revision and overall outcome were collected.

Results: Six patients were included: four dogs and two cats. Indications for the omocervical axial pattern flap included closure of a defect following mass removal (3/6, 50%), scar revision surgery (1/6, 16.7%), chronic inflammation (1/6, 16.7%) and trauma (1/6, 16.7%). Postoperative complications occurred in all cases (100%). Minor complications (83%) included minor skin irritation (1/6), haematoma formation (1/6), dehiscence (1/6), infection (1/6) and necrosis (1/6). Major complications (16%) included flap necrosis needing revision surgery.

Clinical significance: The use of omocervical axial pattern flaps is linked to a high rate of postoperative complications, though most are manageable with conservative treatment. The omocervical axial pattern flap is effective for reconstructing skin defects in the orofacial, cervical, shoulder and axillary regions.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the sedative effects of injectable acepromazine 2 mg/mL when administered to dogs via the oral transmucosal route. The secondary objective was to assess the cardiovascular and haemodynamic effects of oral transmucosal acepromazine.

Materials and methods: A single centre, prospective, randomised, blinded, controlled clinical trial, including a total of 28 client-owned adult healthy dogs (ASA I and II), undergoing elective surgical procedures. Patients were randomised into either a treatment group (A) receiving oral transmucosal acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg or a control group (C) receiving an equivalent oral transmucosal volume of water. Baseline values of sedation score, heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure were obtained prior to dose administration and repeated 1 hour later.

Results: Sedation scores in group A were significantly higher after treatment compared to baseline and were significantly higher than group C at the same time point. Heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure values significantly decreased following oral transmucosal acepromazine administration in group A and were significantly lower than group C at the same time point.

Clinical significance: Oral transmucosal acepromazine significantly increases sedation scores and decreases heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure 1 hour following administration. These findings support the administration of oral transmucosal acepromazine for pre-hospital sedation in healthy dogs.

Objectives: To scientifically quantify the levels of surface contamination in veterinary practice, by using staff training, good sanitisation and regular unannounced testing, to see if contamination levels can be reduced.

Materials and methods: Thirteen sites were subject to pre-intervention testing, using adenosine triphosphate testing. Eleven sites (where retesting was permitted) were involved in the trial. Training (a 45 minutes staff training session) was provided in 10 sites. A standardised cleaning regime was applied; repeat samples were collected from standardised sites (average of 70 days later). The trial was extended to a third test (on average 128 days from the start) for the five sites geographically closest to the author. Five hundred and eighty-six pre-intervention samples, 462 initial post-intervention samples and 241 second post-intervention samples were tested.

Results: Veterinary practices were found not to be as clean as anticipated. The average level of pre-intervention contamination was 14.7 times the recommended threshold (ranging from 0.6 to 38.5). On retesting at on average of 70 days (n = 10), an average 61.2% reduction in contamination was recorded. The five sites closest to the author were sampled a third time on average of 128 (on average 47.8 swabs) days from the start, achieving a 71.4% reduction from pre-intervention contamination levels.

Clinical significance: As also demonstrated previously by various researchers regular, unannounced hygiene measurements (in this case combined with on-site staff training and changes to sanitisation protocols) can reduce nosocomial infection rates by between 45% and 75%.