Suspected side effects of doxycycline use in dogs - a retrospective study of 386 cases

This study investigated doxycycline-related side effects in a large population of dogs. Data from 386 dogs that had received doxycycline for the treatment of various infectious diseases were analysed retrospectively. Potential side effects that developed during treatment were documented, and correlations with signalment, dose, duration of treatment, frequency of application, doxycycline preparation and use of additional drugs were investigated. Vomiting was reported in 18.3 per cent of dogs, 7.0 per cent developed diarrhoea and 2.5 per cent developed anorexia. While being treated with doxycycline, 39.4 per cent of dogs showed an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and 36.4 per cent showed an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. There was a dose-related risk of an increase in ALP activity (P=0.011, odds ratio [OR]=1.27, 95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.53), and older dogs treated with doxycycline were more likely to develop an increase in ALT activity (P=0.038, OR=1.23, 95 per cent CI 1.01 to 1.50) and vomiting (P=0.017, OR=1.11, 95 per cent CI 1.02 to 1.21).     

Training young horses to social separation: effect of a companion horse on training efficiency

Reasons for performing study: The intensity with which a horse responds to separation from its group and subsequently to being alone is relevant for both horse and handler safety. Identification of training methods that may reduce responses to separation would be useful in practice. Objectives: To investigate whether the initial presence of a familiar companion horse modifies responses to separation from the group, lowers stress levels (as measured by heart rate) and increases training efficiency. Hypothesis: Habituation to separation proceeds more quickly if the horse is first trained with a companion, and heart rate is lower when the horse is subsequently trained alone, compared to control horses trained individually from the start. Methods: Young mares (n = 32), kept in groups of 4 were exposed to social separation: 2 horses of the group were trained singly (S1, n = 16) and the remaining 2 horses (n = 16) were trained first with a companion (P2) and then alone (P1). The training comprised 3 steps whereby distance from the group was gradually increased. The final learning criterion was met when a horse fed calmly alone inside a test arena (Step 3). Horses that were trained in a pair had to succeed in Step 3 together before they repeated the steps alone. Feeding behaviour and heart rate were recorded. Results: There were no significant differences between S1 and P1 horses, indicating that the initial pair‐training did not reduce responses in P1 horses. However, heart rate was significantly lower when horses were trained in pairs (P2) compared to when the same horses were subsequently trained alone (P1). Conclusions and potential relevance: It may not be efficient to habituate naïve young horses to social separation initially with a partner as these horses appear to have to relearn being in the test situation alone when switching to the individual training.     

Comparison of three preoperative skin preparation techniques in ponies

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 3 preoperative skin preparations (povidone‐iodine [PI] removed with 70% isopropanol, and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate [CG] removed with either 70% isopropanol [CA] or sterile saline solution [CS]) in ponies. Eighteen ponies were randomly assigned to one of the 3 preoperative skin preparation groups. The skin of ponies was aseptically prepared with PI removed with alcohol, or 4% CG removed with either alcohol or sterile saline solution. The antimicrobial efficacy of each skin preparation technique was assessed quantitatively by culturing for surface bacteria with replicating organism detection and counting plates. The percentage of negative cultures, the percentage of cultures with >5 colony forming units (CFU) and the percentage bacterial reduction after the cleansing scrub, the sterile scrub, and the surgical procedures were compared. There was a significant difference between CG and PI in percentage bacterial reduction after the cleansing scrub, but no significant difference at any other time (sterile scrub, post operative skin sampling). In a comparison of the number of negative microbial cultures at each sampling point, there were no significant differences among the 3 skin preparation techniques. There were no significant differences among the treatment groups comparing the number of cultures with a high colony count (>5 CFU) after the cleansing scrub. Skin preparation with CS and PI resulted in significantly fewer cultures with >5 CFU after the sterile scrub than CA. Post operatively, CA had a higher number of samples with >5 CFU than CS and PI. PI removed with alcohol and 4% CS are equally effective in the reduction of skin bacteria after a sterile skin scrub in the operating room; however, CG was more effective in reducing bacterial numbers after the cleansing scrub. The number of cultures with high bacterial counts was greater post operatively, when alcohol was used as a rinse with chlorhexidine. In cases where a sterile scrub is not performed following a cleansing scrub, CG may be a better choice than PI. CA should not be used as a presurgical skin preparation method in ponies.     

Medetomidine/midazolam/ketamine anaesthesia in ferrets: effects on cardiorespiratory parameters and evaluation of plasma drug concentrations

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cardiorespiratory effects and plasma concentrations of medetomidine-midazolam-ketamine (MMK) combinations administered by intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) injection in sable ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).Study designProspective randomized experimental study.AnimalsEighteen adult ferrets: weight median 1.19 (range 0.81–1.60) kg.MethodsAnimals were allocated to one of three groups: group IM07 received 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 7 mg kg^?1 ketamine IM; group IM10 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine IM; and group SC10 20 μg kg^?1 medetomidine, 0.5 mg kg^?1 midazolam and 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine SC. Following instrumentation, cardiorespiratory parameters and plasma drug concentrations were measured every 5 minutes (T5–T30) for 30 minutes Ferrets were then euthanased. Data were analysed using anova for repeated measures. p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsResults are mean ± SD. Induction of anaesthesia (minutes) in IM07 and IM10 [2 (1)] was significantly faster than in SC10 [5 (2)]. All groups demonstrated the following: results given as groups IM07, IM10 and SC10 respectively. Mean arterial blood pressures (mmHg) were initially high [186 (13); 174 (33) and 174 (9) at T5] but decreased steadily. Pulse rates were initially 202 (20), 213 (17) and 207 (33) beats minute^?1, decreasing with time. PaO₂ (mmHg) was low [54.0 (8), 47.7 (10) and 38.5 (1)] at T5, although in groups IM07 and IM10 it increased over time. Plasma concentrations of all drugs were highest at T5 (36, 794 and 8264 nmol L^?1 for medetomidine, midazolam and ketamine, respectively) and decreased thereafter: for both midazolam and ketamine, concentrations in IM07 and IM10 were higher than SC10.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMMK combinations containing either 7 or 10 mg kg^?1 ketamine and given IM are suitable combinations for anaesthetising ferrets, although the observed degree of hypoxaemia indicates that oxygen administration is vital.     

Changes in the electric resistance of the vaginal mucus in oestrous sows

Changes in the electric resistance of the vaginal mucus were monitored in a large pig herd at 4-h intervals with a heat detector (Hauptner, Federal Republic of Germany) in multiparous sows (n = 16; litter size = 11.4 +/- 2.9) that showed a positive standing test and conceived. The initial value of resistance was 74.4 +/- 7.4 ohms. In 36 h this value gradually increased to 93.6 +/- 7.6 ohms. One to 2 h after the artificial inseminations (AI) lower resistance values were obtained, though the difference was not statistically significant. In the second part of the experiment 73.9% and 82.7% of the gilts (n = 92) and multiparous sows (n = 98) conceived, respectively, with an average litter size of 9.6 +/- 2.2 and 11.0 +/- 2.7, respectively. The conception rate of animals that immediately before AI had vaginal mucus resistance values between 75 and 90 ohms was about 20% higher. The only exception were 8 multiparous sows which had an average vaginal mucus resistance of 70 +/- 4.6 ohms after the first insemination. Litter size was also the biggest in sows with vaginal mucus resistance between 75 and 90 ohms. This difference was statistically significant for the multiparous sows. The heat detector is considered to be a useful complement to conventional methods of oestrus detection.     

Bacterial culture results from liver, gallbladder, or bile in 248 dogs and cats evaluated for hepatobiliary disease: 1998-2003

BACKGROUND: Information is lacking on the prevalence and susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates in dogs and cats with suspected hepatobiliary disease. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the prevalence, identity, and antimicrobial susceptibility of common hepatobiliary isolates from such patients. ANIMALS: Dogs and cats presented to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for which samples of bile, gallbladder, or liver were submitted for culture from 1998 to 2003, including 190 dogs (192 culture episodes) and 58 cats (61 culture episodes). METHODS: Cases were identified from the microbiology laboratory database. Data from patient medical records were extracted, including the history of antimicrobial administration, the presence of fever, the results of CBC and serum biochemistry, the presence of biliary obstruction or hepatobiliary inflammation, and the results of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures and aerobic antimicrobial susceptibilities. RESULTS: Biliary cultures yielded a significantly higher percentage of positive results overall (30% [18 of 60]) than did hepatic cultures (7% [15 of 215]). In patients with cholecystitis, 62% (8 of 13) had positive biliary cultures. In patients with hepatic inflammation, 23% (7 of 30) had positive bile cultures, whereas only 6% (6 of 103) had positive hepatic cultures. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Bacteroides spp., Streptococcus spp., and Clostridium spp. were the most common true-positive isolates. More than 80% of Enterobacteriaceae were susceptible to ciprofloxacin or aminoglycosides, with only 30-67% susceptible to first-generation aminopenicillins and cephalosporins. Liver samples obtained by surgery or laparoscopy were more likely to yield positive cultures than those obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy.     

Use of anti-coronavirus antibody testing of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis involving the central nervous system in cats

OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of measuring anti-coronavirus IgG in CSF for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) involving the CNS in cats. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: CSF and serum samples from 67 cats. PROCEDURES: CSF and serum samples were allocated into 4 groups: cats with FIP involving the CNS (n = 10), cats with FIP not involving the CNS (13), cats with CNS disorders caused by diseases other than FIP (29), and cats with diseases other than FIP and not involving the CNS (15). Cerebrospinal fluid was evaluated for concentrations of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and total protein. Anti-coronavirus IgG was measured in CSF and serum by indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: CSF IgG (range of titers, 1:32 to 1:4,096) was detected in 12 cats, including 6 cats with neurologic manifestation of FIP, 4 cats with FIP not involving the CNS, and 2 cats with brain tumors. Cerebrospinal fluid IgG was detected only in cats with correspondingly high serum IgG titers (range, 1:4,096 to 1:16,384) and was positively correlated with serum IgG titers (r = 0.652; P < 0.01), but not with any other CSF parameter. Blood contamination of CSF resulted in < or = 333 erythrocytes/microL in cats with CSF IgG. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The correlation between serum and CSF IgG and the fact that CSF IgG was detected only in strongly seropositive cats suggested that CSF anti-coronavirus IgG was derived from blood. Measurement of anti-coronavirus IgG in CSF was of equivocal clinical use.