Ever seen dialysis disequilibrium syndrome in tomcat urethral obstruction?

Ostroski CJ, Cooper ES. Development of dialysis disequilibrium-like clinical signs during postobstructive management of feline urethral obstruction. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2014. 24(4):444-449.

Angiostrongylus vasorum (canine lungworm)

I have just published a podcast on Angiostrongylus vasorum which you can find HERE. Coincidentally a couple of papers have recently been published in The Veterinary Record on this and I thought I would provide a summary of their main findings in this blog post for those who cannot access these papers. I won’t be commenting on methodology, just transcribing from their manuscripts!

Fluoroquinolones and the Feline Retina

A short while back someone emailed me to ask what my recommendations are when it comes to using fluoroquinolones in cats with respect to the potential for retinal damage and blindness. She had been discussing the issue with colleagues in her practice and there was no consensus which was not helped by the fact that the formularies and other book resources they had available did not entirely agree with each other – quelle surprise?!

Canine parvovirus infection - role for interferons?

We are all familiar with the potential for canine parvovirus (CPV) to cause severe morbidity and mortality. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive and antibiotics are used in many/all cases (there is more to say about this but that is for another blog some other time!). The ability to provide good intensive care can significantly impact on outcome but nevertheless some dogs will die. None of the medical therapies currently used are expected to have any effect on modulating or dampening down the actual pathology of the disease (although early enteral nutrition likely helps to ameliorate intestinal changes to some degree). A treatment that could reduce disease severity and even lower mortality is therefore something that is undoubtedly very desirable but does such an option exist?

Neonatal puppy viability: modified APGAR score

I imagine most people will agree that perinatal and neonatal medicine in companion animal practice lacks a certain degree of sophistication and expertise when compared to human medicine. The reasons for this are of course numerous and not for elaboration here. I did recently come across someone referring to the modified APGAR score when describing a case of dystocia in a bitch and I must admit I had not heard of it being used before.

Feline arterial thromboembolism (FATE): 10 points and a paper

Theory refresher

I came across the paper below on feline arterial thromboembolism (FATE) and thought I would share some of its findings.

Journal bits 'n' pieces 001 Dog blood types and Methocarbamol CRI

These ‘journal bits ‘n’ pieces’ blogs are meant to be summaries of the background to and findings of interesting journal articles I come across without any intention to discuss the methodology or critique the papers.

Immunosuppressive drugs in canine primary IMHA: what's the evidence?

Background

In the treatment of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA), both primary (idiopathic) and secondary, immunosuppressive therapy is essential.

Decompression in canine GDV: orogastric intubation? gastric trocarisation?

Background

Gastric decompression is an essential part of the initial pre-operative stabilisation of dogs with GDV once aggressive intravenous fluid therapy is under way. There are two methods of achieving this: orogastric intubation and needle puncture (gastric trocarisation).

PCV vs. HCT, TS vs. TP

Measuring manual packed cell volume (PCV) and refractometric plasma total solids (TS) has long been part of the emergency database; moreover these parameters are often reassessed during hospitalisation.