Acupuncture for the Treatment of Animal Pain.

Acupuncture is recognized to induce multifactorial changes in the neuroregulatory aspects of pain physiology. Many aspects overlap with known receptor interactions of commonly used analgesic drugs, and acupuncture can increase the efficacy or replace the use of these pharmacologic pain treatments. This article discusses the currently recognized components of the pain pathways that are modified by acupuncture.

Coccygeal epidural with local anesthetic for catheterization and pain management in the treatment of feline urethral obstruction.

Objective: To describe the technique for performing a coccygeal epidural injection of local anesthetic to facilitate catheterization in male cats with urethral obstructions using low-dose sedation.

Significance: Prompt diagnosis and relief of urethral obstructions is important as many cats may have developed marked metabolic abnormalities at the time of presentation. General anesthesia in these patients may be associated with significant risk for complications.

A multimodal approach to management of suspected neuropathic pain in a prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus).

An adult male prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) was presented for evaluation and treatment of self-inflicted wounds along the right proximal patagium. The bird had started self-traumatizing approximately 1 month after fracturing the right metacarpus, although the fracture had stabilized, surface wounds had healed completely, and treatment with a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug had been administered. The bird was treated with gabapentin (11 mg/kg p.

Successful biphasic transthoracic defibrillation of a dog with prolonged, refractory ventricular fibrillation.

Objective: To describe a case of spontaneous ventricular fibrillation in a dog in which biphasic defibrillation was life saving.

Case Summary: Ventricular fibrillation occurred in a 7-year-old female Australian Heeler during recovery from anesthesia following pacemaker implantation. Resuscitative efforts including immediate delivery of transthoracic monophasic defibrillation shocks of escalating energy and administration of vasopressors were unsuccessful.

Changes in colloid osmotic pressure as a function of anesthesia and surgery in the presence and absence of isotonic fluid administration in dogs.

Objective: To determine how a combination of anesthetic drugs; including pre-medication, induction agents and inhalational agents; affect colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in the presence and absence of isotonic fluid administration. Secondarily, to determine if changes in total plasma protein (TPP) correlate with COP in anesthetized patients.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized clinical study.

Heterotopic implantation of a porcine bioprosthetic heart valve in a dog with aortic valve endocarditis.

Case Description: A 5-year-old male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated because of a 5-month history of progressive lethargy, weight loss, and heart failure.

Clinical Findings: On physical examination, bounding femoral pulses and systolic and diastolic murmurs were detected. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve insufficiency (AVI) and a large vegetative lesion on the aortic valve consistent with aortic valve endocarditis.

Pharmacokinetics and anesthetic and cardiopulmonary effects of propofol in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus).

Objective: To determine induction doses, anesthetic constant rate infusions (CRI), and cardiopulmonary effects of propofol in red-tailed hawks and great horned owls and propofol pharmacokinetics in the owls during CRI.

Animals: 6 red-tailed hawks and 6 great horned owls.

Procedure: The CRI dose necessary for a loss of withdrawal reflex was determined via specific stimuli.

Clinical pain management techniques for cats.

Although pain management is an emerging and popular topic in veterinary medicine, use of analgesics in cats has received little attention relative to their canine counterparts. Some of the difficulty lies in assessment of whether or not a cat is in pain. Simple observation of a cat in a cage relies upon overt expression of pain, and is often inaccurate.

An evaluation of apnea or spontaneous ventilation in early recovery following mechanical ventilation in the anesthetized horse.

Objective: To compare arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions in apneic and spontaneously ventilating horses recovering from anesthesia.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Animal Population: Forty-two healthy horses averaging 466 ± 106 kg and 6 ± 5 years of age.