The Bacteria Isolated from the Skin of 20 Horses at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

The objective of this study was to isolate bacteria on the skin of the proximal to distal equine limb to guide the practitioner in the selection of prophylactic antimicrobial protocols. This prospective study involved 20 client-owned horses that were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for routine elective surgery. Each horse spent between 12 and 36 hours at our hospital before sampling. Samples were collected from the skin of the left mid-thorax and the dorsal aspect of nine joints on the left side of each horse: front and hind coffin and fetlock joints, carpi, elbows, shoulders, hocks, and stifles. Samples were cultured aerobically and speciated when possible. When evaluating bacterial composition by location, a 40% difference was considered clinically significant. When comparing proximal sites above the fetlock to distal sites, the odds of isolating gram-positive bacteria were 1.23 times (P = .0124) higher at proximal sites; the odds of isolating coliform bacteria were 1.32 times (P = .023) higher at distal sites; and the odds of isolating a common septic arthritis pathogen were 1.16 times (P = .018) higher at distal sites. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was not isolated in this study. All comparisons between sites and between the proximal and distal limb were <40%, and thus were not considered clinically significant. No coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was isolated from any of the 200 sites in this study, suggesting that iatrogenic infections by that organism may not be because of preexisting flora. These data suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis targeting preexisting normal flora should be similar regardless of the area of interest on the limb.     

Perioperative hypothermia

Objective: To review the pathophysiology and management of perioperative hypothermia in dogs and cats. Data sources: Current veterinary and human literature regarding hypothermia was reviewed for this paper. Sources included but were not limited to the following: review articles, clinical trials, and experimental studies. Summary: Perioperative hypothermia is a common, treatable complication of general anesthesia. Homeostatic derangements in thermoregulation from anesthesia and abnormal vasoconstriction can produce alterations in hepatic function, coagulation, cardiac function, renal function, humoral and cellular immunity, and wound healing. Conclusion: Management of perioperative hypothermia includes passive and active surface rewarming along with active core rewarming. Measures to correct hypothermia will diminish the complications of altered mentation, immunity, cardiac function, and wound healing. Simple measures such as monitoring intraoperative temperature continuously, using circulating warm water blankets, forced air warming devices, and warm isotonic lavage fluids will aid in the correction of the hypothermic patient.     

Cortical Osteitis of The Humeral Diaphysis Caused by Rhodococcus Equi

Infection with Rhodococcus equi is a common cause of pneumonia in foals. Extrapulmonary manifestations occur, including gastrointestinal disease such as enterocolitis, musculoskeletal disease such as osteomyelitis, as well as other aberrant regions of abscess. Osteomyelitis predominately occurs in the metaphyseal or epiphyseal regions of long bones because of low-pressure blood flow through the sinusoids of these regions of the bone. In this report, a case of cortical, diaphyseal osteitis of the humerus caused by Rhodococcus equi and subsequent medical and surgical management is described.     

Budd–Chiari-like syndrome in a dog with a chondrosarcoma of the thoracic wall

Objective: To describe a dog with Budd–Chiari‐like syndrome secondary to caudal vena cava compression from a thoracic wall chondrosarcoma. Case summary: A 9‐year‐old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog cross with a recent history of non‐productive cough developed severe abdominal distension and dyspnea. Marked ascites and enlarged hepatic veins were identified with ultrasonography. At surgery, a right thoracic wall mass was found to be compressing the caudal vena cava. Fluid analysis of the ascites revealed a modified transudate with elevated protein concentration, consistent with Budd–Chiari‐like syndrome. Clinical signs resolved following thoracotomy and complete resection of the mass. New or unique information provided: Obstruction of venous blood flow can result from compression exerted by a space‐occupying thoracic wall mass on the caudal vena cava. Clinical resolution can be achieved with return of adequate venous circulation by removal of the mass and alleviation of the external pressure.     

Breed-specific pro-inflammatory cytokine production as a predisposing factor for susceptibility to sepsis in the dog

Objective: To determine whether 2 dog breeds with a high risk for parvoviral enteritis, a disease associated with sepsis, produce stronger pro‐inflammatory cytokine responses to a stimulus than dogs with a lower risk. Design: Blinded comparison. Setting: University outpatient clinic. Animals: Healthy, unrelated, purebred Doberman Pinschers (n=10) and Rottweilers (n=9) with age‐matched mixed‐breed dogs (n=7). Interventions: Heparinized, whole‐blood samples were collected from each dog and incubated for 6 hours with lipopolysaccharide. Plasma was collected, and bioassays were used to determine the concentrations of TNF‐α and IL‐6. The mean values obtained from the high‐risk breeds were compared with the mean obtained from the mixed‐breeds. Measurements and main results: The mean TNF‐α production from dogs with a high risk for parvoviral enteritis (1321±161 pg/mL; Doberman Pinscher and Rottweiler) was greater (P<0.05) than that from lower risk, mixed‐breed dogs (674±186 pg/mL). There were no differences in TNF‐α levels between Doberman (1128±247 pg/mL) and Rottweiler (1563±pg/mL) breeds or between any breeds with regard to IL‐6 production. Conclusions: The magnitude of TNF‐α production by peripheral blood monocytes was the greatest in the dogs with breed‐related risk for parvoviral enteritis. However, additional studies are needed to prove a causal relationship between high TNF and predilection for parvoviral enteritis. Regardless, breed appears to be a predisposing factor for variations in cytokine production that could impact the host response to infection and other inflammatory insults.     

Postoperative pulmonary complications in dogs undergoing laparotomy: frequency, characterization and disease-related risk factors

Objective: To determine the frequency of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in dogs following laparotomy, characterize the nature of PPCs, and identify disease‐related risk factors for PPCs in dogs. Design: Retrospective clinical study. Setting: University‐affiliated small animal teaching hospital. Animals: One hundred and sixty‐two dogs without preoperative pulmonary pathology that underwent laparotomy surgery. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Cases were evaluated for factors including patient signalment, preexisting disease, primary and ancillary surgical procedure(s), development of postoperative pulmonary disease, characteristics of perioperative hospitalization and therapy, and survival. Twenty‐two percent of dogs in the study developed PPCs. PPCs included respiratory arrest (n=4), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (n=3), pneumonia (n=8), hypoventilation (n=13), and transient hypoxemia (n=8). Dogs that developed PPCs had a significantly longer duration of oxygen therapy, longer duration of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), and decreased survival. Dogs with perioperative vomiting or regurgitation were more likely to develop PPCs. Animals that underwent exploratory laparotomy for biliary or septic peritonitis were also more likely to develop PPCs. Conclusions: PPCs occur in dogs following laparotomy and contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of these surgical patients. In this patient population, animals with vomiting, regurgitation, or peritonitis may be at a higher risk of developing PPCs. Animals with the identified risk factors should be monitored carefully postoperatively for development of pulmonary complications.