Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are an emerging public health threat in both human and veterinary medicine. As antibiotic resistance grows, there is increased importance in preventing the spread and transmission of these organisms by using appropriate infection prevention and biosecurity measures. The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of commonly used disinfectants in the veterinary setting against CPE strains. A total of 10 bacterial strains (9 CPE and 1 control strain) and 5 disinfectants were evaluated. Effective disinfection (at least a 3-log kill) was found at the manufacturer’s contact time for all strains when paired with all products except for one strain (47422-21) of Enterobacter hormaechei, which only had a 2-log for the accelerated hydrogen peroxide product and a 1-log reduction for the quaternary ammonium compound product. When used according to manufacturer recommendations, the five surface disinfectants tested were effective in vitro against the majority of CPE of animal origin that were evaluated.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between protein content in commercially available dry food and behavioral scores collected via a validated behavior questionnaire. Health and lifestyle factors were obtained from owner-completed questionnaires for golden retrievers participating in a prospective canine health study, eating commercially available dry food as ≥80% of the daily intake. Diets were categorized as high (≥30%), medium (21–29%), or low (≤20%) protein levels. Ten behavioral outcomes from a validated survey were used as outcome measurements. The association of dietary protein level and behavior outcomes were estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for sex, reproductive status, and dog’s primary lifestyle. Compared with dogs fed medium-protein diets, dogs fed high-protein diets were 1.3 times more likely to have dog rivalry (95% CI, 1.02–1.78). The dogs fed low-protein diets were 1.4 times more likely to have separation-related behavior (95% CI, 1.01–2.03). When assessing and treating aggression and separation related-behaviors, clinicians should evaluate and weigh the importance of several factors, including the diet being fed.
Radiographic signs of acute pancreatitis in dogs include widening of the pyloroduodenal angle and a cranial abdominal mass effect/decreased serosal detail. In some dogs with acute pancreatitis, it has been anecdotally noted that the right renal silhouette could be well visualized on the ventrodorsal abdominal radiograph. The purpose of this study was to see whether increased right renal conspicuity (i.e., renal “halo” sign) is associated with pancreatitis, other causes of a right cranial abdominal mass effect, decreased abdominal serosal detail as with the presence of peritoneal effusion, or perhaps representing a normal variation. The medical records of 100 dogs were retrospectively collected and divided into four groups, including control dogs (n = 30), right-sided hepatic mass effect (n = 16), peritoneal effusion (n = 15), and acute pancreatitis (n = 39). Ventrodorsal radiographs from each case were randomized for evaluation by a radiologist blinded to the final diagnosis. A right renal halo sign was identified in 13/39 (33%) of dogs with acute pancreatitis, 2/16 (12.5%) dogs with a right cranial abdominal mass effect, and 1/30 (3%) control dog. This study supports that the renal halo signs on ventrodorsal radiographs is most prevalent in dogs with acute pancreatitis and may help support a clinical diagnosis of this medical disorder.
A vertebral telangiectatic osteosarcoma was diagnosed in a 5 yr old female neutered Staffordshire bull terrier presenting with paraplegia with nociception in one limb and absent on the other. Computed tomography revealed a hypoattenuating, osteolytic lesion affecting the T9 vertebra. MRI revealed a well-demarcated dorsal extradural mass overlying the spinal cord along the T8–T10 vertebral bodies. A hemorrhaging, reddish mass dorsal to the spinal cord was removed surgically, and a diagnosis of telangiectatic osteosarcoma was confirmed through histopathological examination. The dog improved following surgery and chemotherapy but suffered acute deterioration 5 wk postoperatively and was euthanized. This is the first reported case of a vertebral telangiectatic osteosarcoma where computed tomography and MRI sequences were obtained, with surgical extraction and medical chemotherapy. This subtype of osteosarcoma is believed to have a negative prognosis in dogs, although this is the first report of attempted surgical treatment. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma should be considered as a differential in dogs, particularly when a mass is identified with associated intralesional hemorrhagic spaces, commonly seen in the telangiectatic subtype. Currently, there are no established treatment options for vertebral telangiectatic osteosarcomas and the prognosis appears to be poor.
X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy is associated with a mutation of the DYS gene located on the X chromosome. To date, dystrophinopathy has been identified in 16 different dog breeds with 20 different variants confirmed. In this report, a 9 mo old male Australian cattle dog was evaluated for progressive generalized weakness and dysphagia beginning at 4 mo of age. A markedly elevated creatine kinase activity was noted on blood chemistry, and muscle biopsies confirmed a dystrophic phenotype. Dystrophin deficiency was identified by immunohistochemistry. In this report we identify dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy for the first time in a 9 mo old intact male Australian cattle dog. This finding expands the list of breeds confirmed with dystrophinopathy. Whole-genome sequencing is required to identify the causative mutation.
In two castrated male dogs, entrapment of a nasogastric feeding tube, which had been used as an improvised urethral catheter, occurred during intermittent urethral catheterization. In both cases, multiple failed attempts to remove the catheter raised concerns about catheter entrapment, which was subsequently confirmed via abdominal radiography. To facilitate removal, both dogs were placed under deep sedation using IV butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg) and propofol titrated to effect. A retrograde over-the-needle catheter was inserted alongside the entrapped nasogastric tube, and the urethral orifice was manually narrowed as much as possible. While applying rectal compression of the urethra, saline was infused through the over-the-needle catheter to dilate the urethra, allowing for the gentle extraction of the entrapped tube. Following entrapped tube removal, no urethral trauma or adverse effects were observed. These cases highlight the risks associated with using nonstandard materials, such as nasogastric feeding tubes, for urethral catheterization and introduces a novel nonsurgical technique for managing urethral catheter entrapment in veterinary practice.