Volume 40: Issue 3

Introduction

Therapeutic monitoring of blood glucose concentration in diabetic animals can be a frustrating experience for veterinarians. The two primary goals of insulin therapy when treating diabetics are resolution of clinical signs and avoidance of insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Clinical signs such as polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, weakness, and attitude changes should alert the clinician to a potential problem with glycemic control. Ideally, blood glucose concentrations are maintained between 100 to 250 mg/dL and 100 to 300 mg/dL in diabetic dogs and cats, respectively. With the described goals in mind, diabetic monitoring usually focuses on history, physical examination, and ideally, testing

Nineteen dogs from Greece with chronic ehrlichiosis were studied. The dogs exhibited bicytopenia or pancytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, seroreactivity to Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) antigens, and had no history of drug or radiation exposure. Anorexia, depression, severe bleeding tendencies, hypoalbuminemia, and increased serum alanine aminotransferase activity were also hallmarks of the disease. All these animals eventually died, irrespective of the treatment applied. Some dogs were also serologically positive for Rickettsia conorii, Leishmania infantum (L. infantum), and Bartonella vinsonii subspp. berkhoffii. Polymerase chain reaction testing of bone marrow samples revealed E. canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilia, Anaplasma platys, and L. infantum in some dogs. Concurrent infections did not appear to substantially influence the clinical course and final outcome of the chronic canine ehrlichiosis.

Ten client-owned cats with calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis were evaluated to determine the effect of diet on urine CaOx saturation. Two dietary treatments were evaluated in each cat: the diet consumed just prior to urolith detection and a canned diet formulated to prevent CaOx uroliths. This study revealed that hypercalciuria is a consistent abnormality in cats with CaOx urolith formation. When urolith-forming cats consumed a diet formulated to prevent urolith formation, activity product ratios for CaOx (which estimate the degree to which urine is saturated with CaOx) were significantly lower. These results suggest that consumption of an appropriately formulated urolith-prevention diet will reduce recurrence of CaOx urolithiasis.

A nested case-control study was conducted among 1634 dogs with complete diet information in a 5-year prospective study to determine diet-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Cases included 106 dogs that developed GDV; controls included 212 dogs without GDV that were frequency matched to cases by year of GDV onset. Proportionate energy consumed from major food types and from carbohydrates was determined. Dogs were categorized as consuming either a low volume or high volume of food based on the median number of cups of food fed per kg of body weight per meal. Dogs fed a larger volume of food per meal were at a significantly (P<0.05) increased risk of GDV, regardless of the number of meals fed daily. For both large- and giant-breed dogs, the risk of GDV was highest for dogs fed a larger volume of food once daily.

Severe Neurological Signs and Hypernatremia Secondary to Polyethylene Glycol Paintball Ingestion in a Dog

Bruce GravesDVM,

Jessica KielbDVM, DACVECC, and

Nolan ChalifouxDVM, MSTR, DACVECC

Ovariectomy vs. Ovariohysterectomy

Use of Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring for Animals With Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction

Chronic Canine Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): A Retrospective Study of 19 Natural Cases

Effects of Diet on Urine Composition of Cats With Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis

Diet-Related Risk Factors for Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs of High-Risk Breeds

Outcomes and Complications Associated With Ventral Screws, Pins, and Polymethyl Methacrylate for Atlantoaxial Instability in 12 Dogs

Transnasal Laryngoscopy for the Diagnosis of Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs

Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Dacryocystitis Secondary to Cystic Dilatation of the Nasolacrimal Duct in a Dog

Spontaneous Midlobar Lung Lobe Torsion in a 2-Year-Old Newfoundland

Bone Marrow Hypoplasia Associated With Fenbendazole Administration in a Dog

Phenobarbital-Responsive Ptyalism, Dysphagia, and Apparent Esophageal Spasm in a German Shepherd Puppy

Exocrine Pancreatic Neoplasia in the Cat: A Case Series

Osteosarcoma of the Humeral Head Associated With Osteochondritis Dissecans in a Dog

Table of Contents

Severe Neurological Signs and Hypernatremia Secondary to Polyethylene Glycol Paintball Ingestion in a Dog

The Effect of Time of Antimicrobial Administration on the Outcome of Septic Dogs

Hyperechoic Retroperitoneal Fat in a Cat with Systemic Coagulopathy

Myocarditis in a Dog Positive for Brucella canis

A Retrospective Study on Boar-Induced Trauma in 42 Dogs

Soft-Tissue Sarcomas in Dogs: A Review

Vascular Encephalopathy Associated With Bacterial Endocarditis in Four Dogs

The Use of Carbon Dioxide Laser for the Ablation of Meibomian Gland Adenomas in Dogs

Outcomes of Dogs Presented for Cataract Evaluation: A Retrospective Study

Nutritional Myths