Attitudes and perceptions of veterinary paraprofessionals in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats

AIM: To survey the attitudes and perceptions of veterinary paraprofessionals in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats.

METHODS: In December 2011, veterinary paraprofessionals (VP) from throughout New Zealand were invited to participate in an online survey. Eleven questions, which were divided into five sections, were used to determine demographic information, the respondents’ assessment of pain after commonly performed surgeries in dogs and cats, their opinions on provision of analgesia, who had responsibility for pain monitoring and the use of any formal pain scoring system in the practice.

RESULTS: Data from 165 respondents were able to be used, and 162 (98%) respondents to the survey were female. According to the respondents’ estimates, fracture repair in dogs and repair of diaphragmatic hernias in cats had the highest pain score following surgery. Neutering procedures involving dogs were scored higher than for cats (p<0.01). All respondents agreed that animals benefit from perioperative analgesia. The veterinary nurse was reported to be predominantly responsible for monitoring pain in animals postoperatively by 116/165 (70.3%) respondents. Of 165 respondents, 154 (93%) considered that their knowledge of pain and assessment of pain could be enhanced.

CONCLUSIONS: This survey reflects the attitudes and perceptions of a sample of VP in New Zealand to postoperative pain in dogs and cats. The results indicate that all respondents believe that surgery results in sufficient pain to warrant analgesic therapy. Routine neutering surgeries were considered to be more painful in dogs than in cats. The current survey also provides information to educators on potential areas of focus, given that 93% of respondents felt that their knowledge of pain and assessment of pain could be enhanced.     

Postoperative pain control in cats: clinical trials with medetomidine and butorphanol

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effects of medetomidine (MED) and butorphanol (BTO) in cats after ovariohysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A placebo-controlled, blinded monocenter clinical study. ANIMALS: Healthy adult female client-owned cats. METHODS: Sixty-four cats weighing 3.15 +/- 0.6 kg, presented to the University of Helsinki's Small Animal Teaching Hospital for routine elective ovariohysterectomy, received MED at 15 microg/kg (n = 18), BTO at 0.1 mg/kg (n = 23), or saline (PL) (n = 23) intramuscularly immediately after ovariohysterectomy. Level of pain perception, degree of restlessness, and extent of sedation were scored subjectively before and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after test-drug administration. RESULTS: BTO provided the best pain relief, followed by MED. Saline provided the least pain relief. Both MED and BTO effectively and identically prevented postoperative restlessness. MED and BTO produced an identical degree of sedation that was better than the PL. CONCLUSIONS: Both MED (at 15 microg/kg) and BTO (at 0.1 mg/kg) prevent postoperative pain in cats after ovariohysterectomy. Clinical Relevance-MED and BTO are useful for preventing postoperative pain in cats.     

A pilot study: sodium urate synovitis as an acute model of inflammatory response using objective and subjective criteria to evaluate arthritic pain in cats

Sodium urate (SU) synovitis was evaluated as a model for feline arthritic pain using a placebo‐ and positive‐controlled (meloxicam) randomized blinded controlled single crossover design. Monosodium urate crystals [20 mg (1 mL) rod‐shaped] were injected into alternate stifles of trained anesthetized cats (n = 3) with a 28 day washout. During the first trial phase, two cats received meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg, PO), a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID), for three days before and on the day of SU injection; the third cat received placebo. Treatments and stifles were switched for the second trial. Total force, contact pressure and area of the fore and hind limbs were measured using a pressure mat one day and 0.5 h before, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, and 30 h post‐SU injection. Skin temperature, joint circumference, analgesia, lameness, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, were measured at the same times. Comparisons were made for each time and for areas under the curve (AUC) using original and change from baseline; P < 0.05 was significant. Significant differences in force mat data and subjective data were found for the hind limb data (total force and total contact pressure at 6, 10, and 30 h; analgesia and VAS for pain at 4 h; lameness at 10, 24, and 30 h) and for AUC₀→_24h and AUC₀→_30h (total force, total contact pressure, and mean lameness score) and for differences from BL AUC₀→_10h (total contact area) and AUC₀→_24h (total contact area and mean lameness score) and AUC₀→_30h (total force, total contact area, and mean lameness). No cats required rescue analgesia. Injection of 1 mL of monosodium urate into the stifle of a cat causes moderate transitory pain and was suitable for assessing analgesic efficacy of an NSAID with a pressure mat and subjective criteria.     

Effects of Butafosfan on salivary cortisol and behavioral response to social stress in piglets

We assessed the efficacy of Butafosfan, a component of Catosal, in the metaphylactic treatment of stress in pigs. Four 6-week-old female littermates were taken from 12 litters. They were confronted with a pig from a different litter for 2 h. There were 24 pairs, each consisting of confronting two unfamiliar pigs in a new pen. This housing of unfamiliar pigs provides a good, but simple, model of the psychosocial stress that pigs experience when housed in large groups on pig farms. Immediately before being housed with an unfamiliar pig, 12 pairs of pigs were injected subcutaneously with Catosal at a dose equivalent to 20 mg Butafosfan per kg body weight; the other 12 pairs received the control solution containing all ingredients of Catosal except Butafosfan. The frequency and duration of aggressive behavior and the salivary cortisol response were measured during the first 2 h of the encounter. No adverse effects associated with Catosal were observed. Subcutaneous injection of Catosal reduced the stress-induced salivary cortisol response and the frequency of aggressive behavior evoked by the social stress of housing two unfamiliar pigs together.     

Sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine reduces early postoperative pain behavior and biochemical stress response after laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in dogs

This study investigated the use of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine to relieve postoperative pain behavior and biochemical stress response after laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy (LOVH) in dogs. Sixteen sexually intact female dogs were randomly assigned to two groups. The sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine (SIB) group received 4.4 mg/kg of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine diluted to 0.25% with an equivalent volume of saline after pneumoperitoneum. The control group received 1.76 mL/kg of saline in a similar fashion. Both groups received preoperative periportal 5% bupivacaine (1 mL) before incision. Postoperative pain was measured using the short form of the Glasgow composite measures pain scale (CMPS-SF, 0-24). Serum cortisol and glucose concentrations were measured preoperatively and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24h postoperatively. The SIB group had significantly lower CMPS-SF compared to the control group 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12h after the operation. Cortisol concentrations were significantly increased from preoperative concentrations in the control group at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4h post operation and at 0.5 and 1h post operation in the SIB group. No significant differences were seen in serum glucose within each group. This report suggests that the use of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine can be used as part of a multimodal approach for pain management after LOVH in dogs.     

Changes in body composition during weight loss in obese client-owned cats: loss of lean tissue mass correlates with overall percentage of weight lost

Obesity is one of the most common medical diseases in cats, but there remains little information on success of weight loss regimes in obese client-owned cats. No information currently exists on body composition changes during weight loss in clinical cases. Twelve obese client-owned cats undertook a weight loss programme incorporating a high-protein low fat diet. Body composition was quantified by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, before and after weight loss. Mean (+/-standard deviation) weight loss was 27+/-6.8% of starting weight, and mean rate of weight loss was 0.8+/-0.32% per week. Mean energy allocation during weight loss was 32+/-7.0 kcal/kg target weight. Mean composition of tissue lost was 86:13:1 (fat:lean:bone mineral). The proportion of lean tissue loss was positively associated with overall percentage of weight loss (simple linear regression, r(2)=44.2%, P=0.026). Conventional weight loss programmes produce safe weight loss, but lean tissue loss is an inevitable consequence in cats that lose significant proportions of their starting body weight.     

Basal and stress response cortisol levels and stress avoidance learning in sheep (Ovis ovis)

Basal and stress related corticosteroid levels show complex patterns of relationship to age, social status and aggressive behaviour ^{(1)(2)(3)(4)(6)}. I have investigated basal and stress related cortisol levels in sheep subjected to a model of learned stress avoidance, the results of which suggest that factors of stress avoidance learning ability and experience also contribute to cortisol levels.     

Plasma cortisol response to ketoconazole administration in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism

The effect of orally administered ketoconazole on plasma cortisol concentration in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism was evaluated. Every 30 minutes from 0800 hours through 1600 hours and again at 1800 hours, 2000 hours, and 0800 hours the following morning, 15 clinically normal dogs and 49 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism had plasma samples obtained and analyzed for cortisol concentration. The mean (+/- SD) plasma cortisol concentration for the initial 8-hour testing period was highest in 18 dogs with adrenocortical tumor (5.3 +/- 1.6 micrograms/dl), lowest in 15 control dogs (1.3 +/- 0.5 micrograms/dl), and intermediate in 31 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH; 3.4 +/- 1.2 micrograms/dl). Results in each of the 2 groups of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism were significantly (P less than 0.05) different from results in control dogs, but not from each other. The same cortisol secretory experiment was performed, using 8 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (5 with PDH; 3 with adrenocortical tumor) before and after administration at 0800 hours of 15 mg of ketoconazole/kg of body weight. Significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in the 8-hour mean plasma cortisol concentration (0.9 +/- 0.2 microgram/dl) was observed, with return to baseline plasma cortisol concentration 24 hours later. Twenty dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (11 with PDH, 9 with adrenocortical tumor) were treated with ketoconazole at a dosage of 15 mg/kg given every 12 hours for a half month to 12 months. The disease in 2 dogs with PDH failed to respond to treatment, but 18 dogs had complete resolution of clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism and significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in plasma cortisol responsiveness to exogenous adrenocorticotropin (ACTH).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

竹节草对铝胁迫响应及临界浓度筛选

用水培法, 采用叶片颜色、坪用质量和叶片枯黄率3种评价指标对不同铝浓度处理下的竹节草(Chrysopogon aciculatus)进行初步评价和竹节草铝胁迫下的临界浓度筛选。结果显示, 3个评价指标在不同处理浓度之间存在显著差异(P0.05), 随着铝浓度(0~2.7 mmol·L-1)的提高, 叶片枯黄率呈上升趋势, 叶片颜色和坪用质量则呈下降趋势。以叶片枯黄率50%作为确定竹节草存活的临界铝浓度, 建立回归方程, 可得竹节草具有50%存活的临界铝浓度为1.909 6 mmol·L-1。     

Changes in pig salivary cortisol in response to transport simulation, food and water deprivation, and mixing

Cortisol concentrations in the saliva of two groups (N = 5/group) of prepubertal pigs were measured by radioimmunoassay. Samples were collected in the home pen under normal husbandry conditions and after a 24 h period when food and water were withheld. The pigs were then transferred to a transport simulator, which was left stationary (control) or set in motion (experimental), and further samples were taken 1 h later before the animals returned to their pens. In the following week, the two groups of pigs were mixed and saliva was collected over a 3 h period. Samples were also taken 2 days later after the pigs had been injected with a maximally stimulating dose of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). Transport simulation in deprived animals, and mixing, produced salivary cortisol levels similar to those seen after ACTH. Food and water deprivation alone also increased cortisol secretion whereas transport simulation in non-deprived animals had no effect. These results indicate that salivary cortisol estimation offers a non-invasive means of measuring stress responses in unrestrained pigs.     

8个猕猴桃品种叶片矿质养分含量的生长期变化及其相关性

以8个猕猴桃品种（‘海沃德’、‘米良1号’、‘徐香’、‘金香’、‘哑特’、‘翠香’、‘农大金猕’、‘金魁’）为试材,连续两年分析猕猴桃叶片氮、磷、钾、钙、镁、铁、锰、铜、锌、硼等10种元素含量的生长期变化特点及其相关性。结果表明,不同猕猴桃品种叶片养分含量差异显著。其中,‘海沃德’叶片氮、磷含量较高,钙、镁含量较低;‘米良1号’叶片氮、钙含量较高;‘翠香’叶片钙含量较高,氮、磷、钾含量较低;‘农大金猕’和‘金魁’叶片氮、钾均较低。猕猴桃叶片氮、磷、钾含量从坐果期至果实快速膨大期不断下降,之后在果实缓慢生长期和果实充实成熟期氮持续下降,钾维持稳定,磷则有所回升;叶片钙、镁、铁、锰、锌、硼含量均随着生长期的推进而呈升高趋势,但不同元素初始升高和后期稳定的时间点略有差别。叶片氮、磷与钾之间呈显著正相关,与钙、镁、铁、锌、硼之间呈显著负相关;钙、镁、铁、锰、铜、锌、硼等中微量元素之间多呈显著正相关。本研究为生产上不同猕猴桃品种的科学施肥和高效栽培提供了理论依据。     

Changes in blood glucose concentration are associated with relatively rapid changes in circulating fructosamine concentrations in cats

The aim of the study was to determine the time required for plasma fructosamine concentration to increase after the onset of hyperglycaemia and decrease after resolution of hyperglycaemia. Healthy cats (n=14) were infused to maintain either moderate hyperglycaemia (n=5) (actual mean glucose 17 mmol/l) or marked hyperglycaemia (n=9) (actual 29 mmol/l) for 42 days. Fructosamine exceeded the upper limit of the reference range (331 micromol/l) after 3-5 days of marked hyperglycaemia, took 20 days to plateau and, after cessation of infusion, took 5 days to return to baseline. Fructosamine concentration for moderate hyperglycaemia took longer to exceed the reference range (7 days, range 4-14 days), and fewer days to plateau (8 days) and return to baseline (1 day). In cats with moderate hyperglycaemia, fructosamine concentration mostly fluctuated under the upper limit of the reference range. The range of fructosamine concentrations associated with a given glucose concentration was wide. The critical difference for fructosamine was 33 micromol/l.     

Serum cobalamin concentrations in cats with gastrointestinal signs: correlation with histopathological findings and duration of clinical signs

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminaemia in UK cats presented for referral investigation of gastrointestinal signs and to ascertain whether the duration of clinical signs or severity of disease (based on WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization histopathological grading) related to cobalamin concentration. The study population comprised 39 cats, of which 11 (28.2%) had hypocobalaminaemia. Eight of these cats were diagnosed with a single cause of gastrointestinal signs: intestinal inflammation (five); alimentary lymphoma (two); and cholangitis (one). Two or more concurrent diseases were diagnosed in the three remaining cases. Alimentary lymphoma and the most severe grade of histological intestinal inflammation were associated most commonly with concurrent hypocobalaminaemia, but there was no statistically significant correlation between serum cobalamin concentrations and histopathological score or duration of clinical signs.     

裸果木幼苗根系形态和生理特征对水分胁迫的响应

裸果木起源于地中海,为亚洲中部荒漠区分布的第三纪孑遗植物种,对研究旱生植物演化过程具有重要价值.本研究以一年生裸果木实生苗为对象,于2018年开展盆栽试验,设置4个水分处理,包括对照和轻度、中度、重度水分胁迫,土壤含水量分别控制在田间持水量的45％～50％、30％～35％、15％～20％和5％～10％,通过称重法控制水...