Evaluation of the optimal strong ion difference concentration of an oral electrolyte and buffering solution for the treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea

An observational study was conducted to comparatively assess the efficacy of three different oral rehydration and buffering solutions, differentiated by their strong ion difference (SID) concentration, for treatment of neonatal calves with naturally acquired diarrhea. The SID concentrations tested were 100 mM, 170 mM and 230 mM for treatments SID₁₀₀, SID₁₇₀ and SID₂₃₀, respectively. Clinical assessment and blood gas analysis were completed for 18 diarrheic calves once pre- and twice post- (6 and 24 hr after) oral administration with one of the three treatments. A repeated measure mixed model approach was used to analyze (a) the within-group efficacy of each treatment over time and (b) the between-group comparison at each timepoint. SID₂₃₀ treatment resulted in a significant increase in blood pH, HCO₃⁻, BE, SID and Na⁺ at 6 and 24 hr after treatment, and a significant decrease in AG and K⁺ by 24 hr after treatment. There were no significant changes in any of the blood gas parameters after treatment with SID₁₀₀ and SID₁₇₀. SID₂₃₀ treatment also resulted in blood gas parameter changes that were significantly different to the other two groups. These results suggest that the optimum SID concentration for the treatment of calves with diarrhea is likely to be higher than current recommendations.     

Cytological lymph node evaluation in dogs with mast cell tumours: association with grade and survival*

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study is to describe the association of cytological assessment of lymph node metastasis with survival and tumour grade in dogs with mast cell tumours. Regional lymph node aspirates of 152 dogs diagnosed with a mast cell tumour were reviewed and classified according to specific cytological criteria for staging. 97 dogs (63.8%) had stage I tumours, and 55 (36.2%) had stage II tumours. Stage II dogs had a significantly shorter survival time than dogs with stage I disease (0.8 and 6.2 years, respectively; P < 0.0001). Dogs with grade III mast cell tumours were more likely to have stage II disease (P = 0.004). These results suggest that cytological evaluation of lymph nodes in dogs with mast cell tumours provides useful and valuable clinical information, and the results correlate with tumour grade and outcome thus providing a practical and non‐invasive method for staging.