Investigation of focused cardiac ultrasound in the emergency room for differentiation of respiratory and cardiac causes of respiratory distress in dogs.

Objective: To determine whether focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) performed by emergency and critical care (ECC) specialists or residents in training improves differentiation of cardiac (C) versus non-cardiac (NC) causes of respiratory distress in dogs compared to medical history and physical examination alone.

Design: Prospective cohort study (May 2014 to February 2016).

Setting: University hospital.

Retrospective evaluation of and risk factor analysis for presumed fluid overload in cats with urethral obstruction: 11 cases (2002-2012).

Objective: To describe patient characteristics, treatment, and outcome in male cats with urethral obstruction (UO) and fluid overload (FO), and to determine risk factors for the development of FO.

Design: Retrospective case-control study from 2002-2012.

Animals: Eleven client-owned cats with UO that developed respiratory distress secondary to suspected FO and 51 control cats with UO without FO.

Development of dialysis disequilibrium-like clinical signs during postobstructive management of feline urethral obstruction.

Objective: To describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of a cat with acute neurologic signs subsequent to relief of urethral obstruction and rapid resolution of severe azotemia, suggesting a process similar to dialysis disequilibrium syndrome.

Case Summary: A male castrated domestic short-hair cat was presented for weakness and dull mentation. Initial physical examination was consistent with urethral obstruction and laboratory data demonstrated severe azotemia, hyperkalemia, and acidemia.