Hemodialysis in a dog with acute renal failure from currant toxicity

A 3 1/2-year-old Labrador retriever being presented for acute onset vomiting and lethargy was diagnosed with acute renal failure (ARF). The dog had ingested dried currants, a type of raisin. Hemodialysis was successfully performed to treat the ARE Raisin toxicity can cause ARF and warrants early recognition and aggressive treatment.     

Leptospirosis. A re-emerging zoonotic disease.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease that occurs in dogs in urban and rural environments. It is caused by a filamentous spiral bacterium that has a predilection for renal tubules. Acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and hemorrhagic diathesis are the most common clinical signs. Treatment with antibiotics and supportive care can manage a high percentage of cases successfully. Newer vaccines developed in response to the change in frequency of certain serovars may decrease the incidence of clinical disease. Leptospirosis affects a wide variety of species and is zoonotic.     

Influence of biophysical factors and differences in Ojibwe reservation versus Euro-American social histories on forest landscape change in northern Wisconsin,USA

Landscape ecology studies have demonstrated that past modifications of the landscape frequently influence its structure, highlighting the utility of integrating historical perspectives from the fields of historical ecology and environmental history. Yet questions remain for historically-informed landscape ecology, especially the relative influence of social factors, compared to biophysical factors, on long-term land-cover change. Moreover, methods are needed to more effectively link history to ecology, specifically to illuminate the underlying political, economic, and cultural forces that influence heterogeneous human drivers of land-cover change. In northern Wisconsin, USA, we assess the magnitude of human historical forces, relative to biophysical factors, on land-cover change of a landscape dominated by eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) forest before Euro-American settlement. First, we characterize land-cover transitions of pine-dominant sites over three intervals (1860–1931; 1931–1951; 1951–1987). Transition analysis shows that white pine was replaced by secondary successional forest communities and agricultural land-covers. Second, we assess the relative influence of a socio-historical variable (“on-/off-Indian reservation”), soil texture (clay and sand), and elevation on land-cover transition. On the Lake Superior clay plain, models that combine socio-historical and biophysical variables best explain long-term land-cover change. The socio-historical variable dominates: the magnitude and rate of land-cover change differs among regions exposed to contrasting human histories. Third, we developed an integrative environmental history-landscape ecology approach, thereby facilitating linkage of observed land-cover transitions to broader political, economic, and cultural forces. These results are relevant to other landscape investigations that integrate history and ecology.     

Effects of carprofen, meloxicam and deracoxib on platelet function in dogs

ObjectiveTo determine effects of anti-inflammatory doses of COX-2 selective NSAIDs carprofen, meloxicam, and deracoxib on platelet function in dogs and urine 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2.Study designRandomized, blocked, crossover design with a 14-day washout period.AnimalsHealthy intact female Walker Hounds aged 1–6 years and weighing 20.5–24.2 kg.MethodsDogs were given NSAIDs for 7 days at recommended doses: carprofen (2.2 mg kg^?1, PO, every 12 hours), carprofen (4.4 mg kg^?1, PO, every 24 hours), meloxicam (0.2 mg kg^?1, PO, on the 1st day then 0.1 mg kg^?1, PO, every 24 hours), and deracoxib (2 mg kg^?1, PO, every 24 hours). Collagen/epinephrine and collagen/ADP PFA-100 cartridges were used to evaluate platelet function before and during and every other day after administration of each drug. Urine 11-dehydro-thromboxane B₂ was also measured before and during administration of each drug.ResultsAll NSAIDs significantly prolonged PFA-100 closure times when measured with collagen/epinephrine cartridges, but not with collagen/ADP cartridges. The average duration from drug cessation until return of closure times (collagen/epinephrine cartridges) to baseline values was 11.6, 10.6, 11 and 10.6 days for carprofen (2.2 mg kg^?1 every 12 hours), carprofen (4.4 mg kg^?1 every 24 hours), meloxicam and deracoxib, respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevanceOral administration of some COX-2 selective NSAIDs causes detectable alterations in platelet function in dogs. As in humans, PFA-100 collagen/ADP cartridges do not reliably detect COX-mediated platelet dysfunction in dogs. Individual assessment of platelet function is advised when administering these drugs prior to surgery, particularly in the presence of other risk factors for bleeding.     

Applications and Outcome of Hemodialysis in Cats: A Review of 29 Cases

Hemodialysis (HO) has been used in the management of renal failure in dogs, but its feasibility has not been reported for uremic cats. Therefore, we investigated the technical possibility, efficacy, and complications of intermittent HD in cats with severe uremia. A total of 160 HD treatments were performed on 29 cats with acute renal failure (ARF) (n = 15), chronic renal failure (CRF) (n = 6), or acute on CRF (n =8) between November 1993 and June 1996. Hemodialysis treatments were performed with transcutaneous dialysis catheters using a bicarbonate-based delivery system, sodium modeling, and volumetric-controlled ultrafiltration. Presenting serum chemistries (mean ± SD) for all cats were creatinine, 16.4 ± 7.5 mg/dL; blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 229 ± 87 mg/dL; phosphate, 15.4 ± 5.4 mg/dL; potassium, 6.0 ±1.6 mEq/L; and HCO^-₃, 16.0 ± 4.4 mEq/L. For intensive HD treatments, pre-HD versus post-HD creatinine changed from 10.3 ± 4.4 to 1.6 ± 0.9 mg/dL and BUN from 105 ± 33 to 8 ±10 mg/dL. One or more adverse events occurred during 111 (69%) treatments. Dialysis-related events included hypotension, dialysis dysequilibrium, clotting, and bleeding. Nine of 15 (60%) cats with ARF and 1 cat with CRF recovered sufficiently to survive without ongoing need for HD. For the remaining cats, the proximate causes of death were dialysis related in 9 cats, uremia related in 6 cats, and iatrogenic or unknown in 4 cats. Hemodialysis is technically feasible and effectively controls the biochemical disturbances of uremic cats. It is especially valuable for the management of severe ARF, permitting recovery in a large number of cats refractory to conventional therapy. Technical complications and chronic debility, however, may limit its usefulness for cats with advanced CRF.     

Antibodies to bovine leukemia virus in a leukosis dairy herd and suggestions for control of the infection.

A closed herd of 765 Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle with a history of multiple cases of leukosis was tested for antibodies to bovine leukemia virus by the bovine leukemia-glycoprotein immunodiffusion test. A total of 355 animals (46.4%) were antibody positive. Prevalence was 60% in the 373 milking cows and 100% in the breeding bulls. Antibodies were present in 59% of newborn calves. Prevalence of antibodies was higher in older animals and cows in second lactation had a higher prevalence than cows in first lactation (72% vs 43%). Proposed control measures in this herd aim at preventing infection of calves, heifers and lactating cows by: 1) separating them into groups negative and positive for bovine leukemia virus antibodies, 2) not allowing calves to receive colstrum or milk from infected cows and 3) by using seronegative bulls for natural breeding tested at three month intervals. Calves should be tested after six months of age. Before this time calves of positive mothers should be treated as being positive.     

Governing the landscape: potential and challenges of integrated approaches to landscape sustainability in Indonesia

Landscape Ecology - In recent years, landscape sustainability, the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in landscapes, has become a core objective...