Volume 40: Issue 6

Introduction

Traditional treatment of small animals following orthopedic surgical procedures generally involves restriction of activity, and in some cases, restriction to a crate. Neurosurgical patients present another set of challenges in that they may be willing to be active, but they may have sensory or motor deficits that hinder progress. Deleterious changes that are typically associated with restriction of motion and limb use are of serious concern. A number of factors must be considered in the complex equation of tissue healing and tissue mobilization on one hand, and fixation failure and tissue damage on the other hand.

When considering the

Clinical indices, consisting of gastrointestinal signs and laboratory parameters, are widely used for assessing disease activity in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The development of a standardized scoring index for use in dogs with IBD would be useful in the management of clinical cases, both at diagnosis and in response to medical therapy. This review provides a synopsis of current strategies used to assess IBD activity in humans and companion animals. The clinical application of a simple scoring index (e.g., canine IBD activity index [CIBDAI]) for measurement of canine IBD activity is also reviewed.

Thirteen dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia received fresh-frozen plasma within 12 hours of admission, in addition to unfractionated heparin and other therapies, such as prednisone, azathioprine, and packed red blood cell transfusion. Antithrombin activity was quantified prior to transfusion and at 30 minutes and 48 hours after transfusion. Plasma antithrombin activity did not change significantly after a single plasma transfusion. There were no deaths in the first 48 hours of treatment. Thromboembolism was identified at necropsy in six of 10 dogs that died within 12 months of admission. There was no significant difference in the incidence of thromboembolism between the current treatment group and a historical control group.

Thirteen dogs with postanesthetic esophageal dysfunction were identified; 10 of these animals had esophageal stricture. Regurgitation was noted in six dogs during the inciting anesthetic event. Clinical problems common to all dogs included vomiting/regurgitation and weight loss. Coughing was noted in six dogs, and aspiration pneumonia was present in four of these dogs. The associated mortality rate was 23%. The duration of symptoms ranged from 17 to 150 days, and the diagnosis was often delayed (up to 76 days from onset of clinical signs to diagnosis). Postanesthetic esophageal dysfunction was a debilitating and costly problem that developed in one dog despite current preventative treatment.

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

Bruce GravesDVM,

Jessica KielbDVM, DACVECC, and

Nolan ChalifouxDVM, MSTR, DACVECC

Getting the Dog Moving After Surgery

Introduction

Clinical Assessment of Disease Activity for Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Effect of a Single Plasma Transfusion on Thromboembolism in 13 Dogs With Primary Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Postanesthetic Esophageal Dysfunction in 13 Dogs

Proximal Radial and Distal Humeral Osteosarcoma in 12 Dogs

Transdermal Fentanyl Patches in Small Animals

A Simple Continuous Pattern Using Absorbable Suture for Perineal Urethrostomy in the Cat: 18 Cases (2000–2002)

Alapexy: An Alternative Technique for Repair of Stenotic Nares in Dogs

Aplastic Articular Facets in a Dog With Intervertebral Disk Rupture of the 12th to 13th Thoracic Vertebral Space

Diagnosis of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Disorder With Electroencephalography and Treatment With Tricyclic Antidepressants in a Dog

Heart Failure Caused by Toxoplasmosis in a Fennec Fox (Fennecus zerda)

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