Effects of pre‐operative administration of medetomidine on plasma insulin and glucose concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with insulinoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of medetomidine on plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in dogs with insulinoma and in healthy dogs undergoing anesthesia and surgery.AnimalsTwenty–five dogs with insulinoma and 26 healthy dogs.MethodsIn dogs with insulinoma, medetomidine (5 μg kg^?1) was randomly included (n = 12) or omitted (n = 13) from the pre–anesthetic medication protocol, which typically contained an opioid and an anticholinergic. Healthy dogs received medetomidine (5 μg kg^?1; n = 13) or acepromazine (0.04 mg kg^?1; n = 13) plus an opioid (morphine 0.5 mg kg^?1) and an anticholinergic (atropine 0.04 mg kg^?1) as pre–anesthetic medications. Pre–anesthetic medications were given intramuscularly. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured before (sample 1) and 30 minutes after pre–anesthetic medication (sample 2), and at the end of surgery in dogs with insulinoma or at 2 hours of anesthesia in healthy dogs (sample 3). Glucose requirement to maintain intra–operative normoglycemia in dogs with insulinoma was quantified and compared. Data were analyzed with anova and Bonferroni post–test, t–tests or chi–square tests as appropriate with p < 0.05 considered significant. Data are shown as mean ± SD.ResultsMedetomidine significantly decreased plasma insulin concentrations and increased plasma glucose concentrations in healthy dogs and those with insulinoma. These variables did not change significantly in the dogs not receiving medetomidine. In the dogs with insulinoma, intra–operative glucose administration rate was significantly less in the animals that received medetomidine compared to those that did not.ConclusionsPre–anesthetic administration of medetomidine significantly suppressed insulin secretion and increased plasma glucose concentration in dogs with insulinoma and in healthy dogs undergoing anesthesia and surgery.Clinical relevanceThese findings support the judicious use of medetomidine at low doses as an adjunct to the anesthetic management of dogs with insulinoma.     

Farrier services at private equine hospital practices in the USA

Private equine hospital practices (PEHPs) may optimise patient healthcare by combining veterinary and farrier services. While PEHP veterinary services are generally well known, existing PEHP farrier services require better characterisation. To document farrier services at PEHPs in the USA, 41 PEHP Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and/or PEHP farriers completed a multiple choice questionnaire characterising PEHP farrier service prevalence and facilities; farrier details, experience and education; and farrier service finances, clinical services, training, education and research responsibilities. Questionnaire completion rate was 82%. Twenty‐two of 41 (54%) responding PEHPs had in‐house farrier service and 8 (20%) additionally provided ambulatory farrier service. Forty‐nine of 50 (98%) PEHP farriers were male; 2 (4%) were <31 years old, 10 (20%) were >51 years old; 27 (54%) worked in‐house <6 h/week. At 19 (86%) PEHPs, the farriers were paid by the client and at 3 (13%) by the PEHP. Thirty‐five of 50 (70%) PEHP farriers had a professional certification. At 4 (18%) PEHPs, the in‐house farrier service was profitable while at 14 (64%) PEHPs it met operational costs. Sixteen (73%) PEHP farrier services provided professional education in clinical settings and 11 (50%) in lecture settings. Five (10%) PEHP farriers participated in research activities. PEHP in‐house and ambulatory farrier services in the USA are a valuable resource with the potential to enhance the quality and scope of PEHP services. PEHP farriers can contribute positively to patient care, care‐provider education, and practice productivity.     

Modelling the dispersal of Calanus finmarchicus on the Newfoundland Shelf: implications for the analysis of population dynamics from a high frequency monitoring site

We investigated the drift of passive particles on the Newfoundland Shelf and western Labrador Sea using numerical simulations to assess the possible sources of plankton collected at a high frequency sampling site (S27; 47.55°N, 52.59°W) located near the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. We also summarized data detailing the seasonal stage succession of Calanus finmarchicus at that site, as well as along three oceanographic sections sampled in the spring, summer and autumn across the adjacent continental shelf. Simulations indicated that the Labrador and Newfoundland Shelves represent the major sources of particles transiting through the S27 site, with relatively minor contributions from the western Labrador Sea which are significant during a few months each year. The latter point may be affected by uncertainty in the representation of cross‐shelf transport associated with seasonal or short‐term variations in atmospheric and oceanic forcing, which may also affect the strength and location of bifurcation of the inner branch of the Labrador Current around the Grand Banks. Nevertheless, our results indicated that drift along the inner shelf is likely to be the primary source of copepods collected at S27 throughout most of the year. This in turn suggested that there may be a higher degree of connectivity between conditions in coastal areas of Newfoundland and those in Baffin Bay and west Greenland than with the southern half of the Labrador Sea.