Veterinary Record最新文献

Background: Otitis media/interna is well described in laboratory rats, but there is limited information on treatment and prognosis in pet rats.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multi-institutional study of companion rats (Rattus norvegicus) presenting with otitis media/interna between 2011 and 2025. The inclusion criteria were rats diagnosed with otitis media/interna via imaging, necropsy or both. Information extracted from the medical records included signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic findings (including imaging, bloodwork, gross necropsy, histopathology and microbiology), treatment and survival time.

Results: Twenty-three rats met the inclusion criteria. Twelve were diagnosed via necropsy alone, nine via imaging alone and two via both imaging and necropsy. Fifteen had clinical signs suspected to be due to otitis media/interna with or without otogenic intracranial disease. Seven had evidence of intracranial extension, such as meningoencephalitis or rhombencephalitis. Eighteen had concurrent respiratory disease. Bacterial culture (14/23) of lung, ear and/or brain samples revealed various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (3/14). Mycoplasma was identified in six cases (three via PCR, two via culture and one via next-generation sequencing). Treatments included antibiotics (17/23), meloxicam (7/23), corticosteroids (3/23) and myringotomy (2/23). Survival ranged from 0 to 341 days.

Limitations: This was a retrospective study, and case details and follow-up were limited in some cases.

Conclusions: Over three-quarters of rats with otitis media/interna had concurrent respiratory disease and almost one-third had intracranial extension. Advanced imaging should therefore be considered in rats presenting with respiratory or neurological signs.

Background: Disease in primary care frequently represents a surveillance blind spot, particularly for diseases affecting farm animals.

Methods: Electronic health records (EHRs) were collected from four farm animal veterinary practices in Wales (February 2024‒January 2025) as part of a pilot study. Information collected included species treated, date, owner postcode, products sold and clinical free text. Text mining and topic modelling were used to describe treatments and classify syndromes.

Results: In total, 32,799 records were collected. Antimicrobials were prescribed in 32.6% and 63.8% of cattle and sheep records, respectively. The most frequent antibiotic classes in both species were tetracyclines, macrolides, penicillins and penicillin‒aminoglycoside combinations. There were no recorded category A antimicrobials, and category B antimicrobials were prescribed in only 0.12% and 0.04% of cattle and sheep EHRs, respectively. Text mining and topic modelling seemed efficient methods to identify key syndromes, including mastitis, joint ill, lameness and pneumonia, and how these were treated.

Limitations: Some EHRs described more than one animal with different diagnoses, obfuscating the attribution of treatment to syndrome.

Conclusion: The increasing availability of EHRs at scale and in real-time represents a complementary opportunity to survey disease and treatment on farms. Text mining methods, including artificial intelligence, could efficiently identify important syndromes and provide novel insight into use of antibacterials.

Background: Registered veterinary technologists/technicians (RVTs) are experiencing high rates of burnout, alongside reports of feeling underutilised and underappreciated, raising concerns regarding retention. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a 5-day professional skills and knowledge training programme on RVTs' clinical communication confidence.

Methods: Electronic surveys measured communication self-confidence prior to the professional skills and knowledge training, immediately after training and 2 months post-training. Open-ended questions asked participants' experience regarding the training programme. Communication self-confidence scores were compared using Friedman's test or repeated-measures ANOVA. Open-ended questions were analysed using manifest content analysis.

Results: Out of 38 individuals enrolled, 29 (76.3%) completed all three surveys. Participants' communication self-confidence scores significantly increased by the 2-month follow-up survey compared to pre-programme and post-programme. Open-ended questions found: (1) positive perceptions of the programme immediately after training, and (2) differences in participants' perception of their job at 2 months post-training, based on opportunity to implement training upon returning to work.

Limitations: This study may have been prone to selection bias and may not be representative of all RVTs.

Conclusion: Dedicated professional skills and knowledge training can increase RVT communication self-confidence. A plan for implementation after returning to practice is important. Further research is needed to examine the impact of engaging RVTs in professional skills and knowledge training on professional and clinical outcomes.

Background: Several studies have documented veterinarians' use of pet-directed speech (PDS). The aims of this study were to assess the use of PDS during clinic visits and the impact of PDS on pet owners' opinions about their veterinarians.

Methods: An online survey of pet owners' experience with, and attitudes to, PDS was conducted using snowball sampling. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed on quantitative data, and a thematic analysis was performed on free-text responses.

Results: Of the 400 respondents, almost 80% reported veterinarians using PDS. Most characterised the use of PDS as very or extremely important, and nearly 90% would more likely choose to see again a veterinarian who employed PDS. Four themes were identified from the free-text analysis: 'pet at the centre', 'not just words', 'include the owner' and 'impressions of the veterinarian'.

Limitations: The limitations of the study include the potential for bias and lack of randomisation with snowball sampling, and the relatively small study sample.

Conclusion: PDS is widely employed by veterinarians during veterinary consultations and is valued by pet owners. Further research could help confirm the impact of PDS on the veterinarian‒client‒patient relationship and its potential for integration in veterinary communication training.

Background: Bovine respiratory disease is a major cause of illness in dairy calves. Fluoroquinolones such as enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin are commonly co-administered with flunixin meglumine, yet NSAID-related pharmacokinetic interactions in preweaning calves remain poorly defined. This study evaluated flunixin's effects on these drugs' pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) indices against key bovine respiratory pathogens of clinical relevance.

Methods: Ten healthy Holando Argentino calves (20-30 days old) received enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg intramuscularly) or marbofloxacin (6 mg/kg intramuscularly). After a 15-day washout period, calves received the same antimicrobial co-administered with flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg intramuscularly). The plasma concentrations of the drugs in the first 24 hours after administration were measured using validated high-performance liquid chromatography, and non-compartmental analysis was performed to derive pharmacokinetic parameters. PK/PD indices were also calculated.

Results: Flunixin meglumine significantly prolonged the elimination half-life of both antimicrobials without modifying the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours. It also reduced the biotransformation of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin. PK/PD targets were achieved for Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni but not for Mannheimia haemolytica or Mycoplasma bovis.

Limitations: The study was limited by the use of clinically healthy calves only, the small sample size, reliance on published minimum inhibitory concentration values and plasma-based PK/PD analysis.

Conclusion: Flunixin prolongs elimination of enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin without compromising estimated efficacy, although optimisation may be required for some bovine respiratory disease pathogens.

Background: The recent expansion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 to non-avian species in the United States has intensified public health-related concerns. In Great Britain, low veterinarian confidence in seeing and treating birds creates potential barriers to HPAI diagnosis and reporting.

Methods: An online survey explored general practice (GP) veterinarians' confidence in and barriers to treating avian species and understanding HPAI control measures. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) behaviour change model was used to identify barriers to treating birds and diagnosing HPAI.

Results: The survey generated 72 useable responses. Only 6% reported feeling fairly/very confident seeing birds, over 83% lacked confidence in ruling out HPAI as a differential diagnosis and 17.1% were unsure how to advise clients who suspected HPAI in their flocks.

Limitations: The survey required an internet connection and some technical literacy. The sample size is relatively small and may over-represent veterinarians who have more confidence with poultry.

Conclusions: GP veterinarians play critical roles in triaging, reporting and controlling HPAI. Behaviour change frameworks such as COM-B can facilitate the identification of interventions with the potential to address barriers to accurate HPAI diagnosis and reporting in Great Britain and beyond. However, these often require national-level rather than (or in addition to) individual-level action.

Background: This study represents part of a research project on final-year veterinary students' perspectives on veterinary professionalism. It explores their views on the essential attributes of professionalism for clinical success and the most effective ways to integrate professionalism education into the veterinary curriculum.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted with final-year veterinary students at Massey University in New Zealand. Discussions examined students' perceptions of veterinary professionalism, its role in clinical career success, and their evaluation of the current professionalism teaching programme. Thematic analysis was performed on transcripts using an inductive approach to identify emerging themes.

Results: Students defined career success as work longevity, establishing an optimum work-life balance and making a positive contribution to the profession. Professionalism was linked to both client-focused attributes (communication, rapport building, empathy) and practitioner-focused attributes (accountability, integrity, wellbeing). While questioning the relevance of professionalism education during their early years of study, final-year students now recognised its value, particularly through clinical practice, mentorship, role modelling and feedback from clinical faculty. Small group work, role playing and reflective exercises were deemed effective teaching methods.

Limitations: The study was limited to a single institution, so the findings may not be fully generalisable to other veterinary programmes. A degree of student response bias in the focus groups must also be acknowledged.

Conclusions: Final-year students emphasised the importance of professionalism for a successful clinical career. Teaching approaches integrating interactive learning, mentorship and clinical application were most effective. Aligning professionalism education with clinical experiences could enhance its perceived relevance throughout the curriculum.