Risk factors for pet evacuation failure after a slow-onset disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for pet evacuation failure during a flood. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 203 pet-owning households in a flooded region. PROCEDURES: Persons under evacuation notice because of a flood were interviewed by use of a random telephone survey. RESULTS: 102 households evacuated with their pets, whereas 101 households evacuated without their pets. Low pet attachment and commitment scores were significantly associated with a greater chance of pet evacuation failure. Risk of pet evacuation failure and lower attachment and commitment scores were also associated with pet management practices prior to the disaster, such as dogs being kept outdoors most of the time or owners not having carriers for their cats. More than 90% of owners made housing arrangements for their pets without assistance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Predictors of pet evacuation failure are usually present before a disaster strikes and are potentially modifiable. Mitigation of pet evacuation failure should focus on activities that reinforce responsible pet ownership and strengthen the human-animal bond, including socializing dogs, attending dog behavior training classes, transporting cats in nondisaster times, and seeking regular preventive veterinary care. Most pet owners are self-reliant in disasters, and this behavior should be encouraged.     

Effect of diet on results obtained by use of two commercial test kits for detection of occult blood in feces of dogs.

To evaluate the effect of diet on results obtained by use of 2 commercial test kits for detection of occult blood in feces, 5 dogs were fed 7 diets in randomized sequence. Dry and canned diets with various principal ingredients were evaluated. Each diet was offered twice over a 24-hour period, followed by a 36-hour nonfeeding period. Fecal specimens were collected twice daily, and tests for occult blood were performed within 12 hours. The dietary origin of fecal specimens was confirmed by use of colored markers fed with each diet, and was correlated with estimates of gastrointestinal tract transit time. A modified guaiac paper test and an o-tolidine tablet test were performed on each specimen. Of 59 specimens, 4 were positive for occult blood, using the o-tolidine tablet test. Three positive results were associated with a mutton-based canned diet, and 1 positive result was associated with a canned beef-based diet. Of 59 specimens, 11 were positive for occult blood, using the modified guaiac paper test. Four positive results were associated with the mutton diet, and 3 positive results were associated with the beef diet. Of the remaining 5 diets, 4 caused 1 positive reaction. Results were inconsistent with the null hypothesis that the distribution of positive occult blood test results is not affected by diet (P < 0.025), and indicate that diet can affect the specificity of peroxidase-based tests for detection of occult blood in canine feces. Diet modification prior to testing is recommended.     

Pharmacokinetics of methocarbamol and phenylbutazone in exercised Thoroughbred horses

Methocarbamol (MCBL) is commonly used in performance horses for the treatment of skeletal muscle disorders. Current regulatory recommendations for show horses and racehorses are based on a single oral dose of 5 g, although doses in excess of this are often administered. The goal of the current study was to characterize the disposition of MCBL following higher dose administration and administration in combination with another commonly used drug in performance horses, phenylbutazone (PBZ). Exercised Thoroughbred horses were administered various doses of MCBL as a sole agent and MCBL in combination with PBZ. Blood samples were collected at various times, concentrations of MCBL and PBZ measured using LC‐MS/MS and pharmacokinetic parameters calculated using compartmental analysis. Following administration of 15 g of MCBL, either as part of a single‐ or multiple‐dose regimen, a number of horses exceeded the Association of Racing Commissioners International and the United States Equestrian Federation's recommended regulatory threshold at the recommended withdrawal time. There was not a significant difference between horses that received only MCBL and those that received MCBL and PBZ. Results of the current study support an extended withdrawal guideline when doses in excess of 5 g are administered.     

Relative adrenal insufficiency in dogs with sepsis

BACKGROUND: A syndrome of relative adrenal insufficiency has been identified in septic humans, and is associated with hypotension and death. Relative adrenal insufficiency is generally associated with basal serum cortisol concentration within or above the reference range and a blunted cortisol response to adrenocorticotropic hormone administration. It is unknown whether relative adrenal insufficiency occurs in septic dogs. HYPOTHESIS: That relative adrenal insufficiency occurs in septic dogs, and that relative adrenal insufficiency is associated with hypotension and mortality. ANIMALS: Thirty-three septic dogs admitted to a small animal intensive care unit. METHODS: Dogs were included in the study if they had a known or suspected infectious disease and had systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Dogs were excluded if they had disease or medication history expected to affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Serum cortisol and endogenous plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations were measured before, and serum cortisol concentration measured 1 hour after, intramuscular administration of 250 microg of cosyntropin/dog. The change in cortisol concentration (delta-cortisol) before and after cosyntropin administration was determined in each dog. RESULTS: Hypotension was associated with lower delta-cortisol values (OR 1.3; CI 1.0-1.9; P = .029). delta-Cortisol cutoff of 3.0 microg/dL was most accurate for predicting hypotension, survival to discharge, and 28-day survival. The rate of death in dogs with delta-cortisol < or = 3 microg/dL was 4.1 times that of dogs with delta-cortisol > 3 microg/dL (RR 4.1; CI 1.5-12.3; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Delta-cortisol < or = 3 microg/dL after adrenocorticotropic hormone administration is associated with systemic hypotension and decreased survival in septic dogs.     

The effects of femoral stem and neck length on cement strains in a canine total hip replacement model

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of femoral prosthesis stem length and head size on cement strains in a canine hip replacement system. STUDY DESIGN: An in vitro experimental model. SAMPLE POPULATION: (1) Three standard and 3 1-cm shortened femoral implants with +3 femoral heads. (2) Two standard implants with +0, +3, and +6 femoral heads. METHODS: Femoral stems were embedded in polymethylmethacrylate cement. A uniaxial proximodistal-oriented strain gauge was applied to the cement on the medial and lateral aspects of the construct 1.5 cm, 6.0 cm and 7.0 cm distal to the collar. Each construct with a +3 femoral head was mounted in a materials testing system. An axial compressive load (0-200 N) was applied to the femoral head and cement strains were recorded. Additionally, 2 standard length constructs were also tested with +0 and +6 femoral heads. The effects of stem length and neck length on cement strains were assessed with analysis of variance. RESULTS: Strains increased at all locations with increasing loads for all constructs. Shorter implants had higher strains by 152% and 171%, lateral (P =.003) and medial (P =.0025) to the stem tip. No significant strain differences were noted, at any strain gauge location, between different neck lengths (P values ranged from.20 to.67). CONCLUSIONS: Although a shorter implant stem has a potential to improve implant fit, it led to significantly higher cement strains that may increase the risk for aseptic loosening. Changes in femoral neck length did not significantly affect cement strains under the conditions tested. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Shortening of the femoral stem currently cannot be recommended in canine total hip replacement. The existing use of variable neck lengths likely does not increase the risk of failure of the femoral stem.     

Elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions (ORL) in cats. SAMPLE POPULATION: Normal teeth from 22 cadaver cats and ORLaffected teeth from 21 cats admitted to the veterinary hospital for dental treatment. PROCEDURE: An electron microprobe was used to analyze weight percentages of calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and iron in enamel, dentin, and cementum. RESULTS: Calcium and phosphorus were the most abundant elements. Fluorine, sodium, and magnesium combined were < 5% and sulfur, potassium, and iron combined were < 0.1% of total elemental composition. In enamel of normal teeth, a significant sex-by-jaw location interaction was seen in mean (+/- SD) phosphorus content, which was higher in mandibular teeth of females (1764+/-0.41%) but lower in mandibular teeth of males (16.71+/-0.83%). Mean iron content in dentin of normal teeth was significantly lower in mandibular teeth than maxillary teeth (0.014+/-0.005% vs 0.023+/-0.019%). Mean enamel sodium content was significantly higher (0.77+/-0.046% vs 0.74+/-0.025) and mean enamel iron content was significantly lower (0.017+/-0.008% vs 0.021+/-0.005%) in ORLaffected teeth, compared with normal teeth. In cementum, mean fluorine content was significantly lower (2.98%+/-0.27 vs 2.99+/-0.20%) and mean magnesium content was significantly lower (0.54+/-0.13% vs 0.60+/-0.13%) in ORL affected teeth, compared with normal teeth. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of our study establish baseline mineral content of enamel, dentin, and cementum for normal teeth in cats. Minimal differences in mineral content of enamel and cementum of normal and ORL-affected teeth were detected.     

In vitro biomechanical study of rotational stabilizers of the canine elbow joint

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model for measuring rotary stability of the canine elbow joint and to evaluate the relative contribution of the anconeal process (AN), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). SAMPLE POPULATION: 18 forelimbs from 12 canine cadavers. PROCEDURE: Forelimbs were allocated to 3 experimental groups (6 forelimbs/group). Each intact forelimb was placed in extension at an angle of 135 degrees and cycled 50 times from -16 degrees (pronation) to +28 degrees (supination) in a continuous manner at 2.0 Hz. Cycling was repeated following sectioning of the structure of interest (group 1, AN; group 2, LCL; and group 3, MCL). Torque at -12 degrees (pronation) and +18 degrees (supination) was measured for each intact and experimentally sectioned limb. A Student t test was performed to compare torque values obtained from intact verses experimentally sectioned limbs and for comparison with established criteria for differentiation of primary (> or = 33%), secondary (10 to 33%), and tertiary rotational stabilizers (< 10%). RESULTS: In pronation, the AN was the only primary stabilizer (65%). For supination, the LCL was a primary stabilizer (48%), AN was a secondary stabilizer (24%), and MCL was a tertiary stabilizer (7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: With the elbow joint in extension at an angle of 135 degrees, the AN is a primary rotational stabilizer in pronation, and the LCL is a primary stabilizer in supination. Disruption of the AN or LCL may affect rotary range of motion or compromise stability of the elbow joint in dogs.