Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the factor Xa inhibitor apixaban after oral and intravenous administration to cats.

Objective: To determine pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the novel factor Xa inhibitor apixaban in clinically normal cats.

Animals: 5 purpose-bred domestic shorthair cats.

Procedures: A single dose of apixaban (0.

Pulmonary artery dissection in eight dogs with patent ductus arteriosus.

Objectives: To describe a series of dogs with pulmonary artery dissection and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Animals: Eight dogs.

Methods: Retrospective case series.

Permanent dual chamber epicardial pacemaker implantation in two dogs with complete atrioventricular block.

Between November 2013 and December 2013, two dogs with complete atrioventricular (AV) block had a permanent, dual chamber epicardial pacing system implanted. Steroid-eluting unipolar, button-type epicardial leads(a) were sutured to the right atrial appendage and right ventricular wall via a right thoracotomy in both dogs. The pacemakers were programmed in VDD mode.

An echocardiographic study of healthy Border Collies with normal reference ranges for the breed.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to obtain standard echocardiographic measurements from healthy Border Collies and to compare these measurements to those previously reported for a general population of dogs.

Animals: Standard echocardiographic data were obtained from twenty apparently healthy Border Collie dogs. These data (n = 20) were compared to data obtained from a general population of healthy dogs (n = 69).

Thrombotic complications associated with atrial fibrillation in three dogs.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic pathologic arrhythmia in dogs, and whereas thromboembolism is a common complication of AF in humans, this complication has not been previously reported in dogs. This report describes thrombotic complications associated with AF in three dogs. A spherical left atrial mass consistent with a thrombus was identified in two dogs during echocardiographic examination.

Doppler echocardiographic description of double-inlet left ventricle in an Arabian horse.

Univentricular atrioventricular (AV) connections are rare and complex congenital cardiac anomalies in which both AV valves communicate into a large, common (single) receiving chamber. The common chamber can be of left, right, or mixed ventricular morphology. Although well documented in people, reports of the double-inlet ventricle malformation are rare in the veterinary literature.

Transvenous occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in 56 consecutive dogs.

Objective: Document safety and efficacy of transvenous catheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) over a wide range of ductal and patient sizes.

Animals, Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of fifty-six consecutive dogs referred to Colorado State University with diagnosis of PDA. All cases utilized the transvenous approach, via the femoral vein.

Chronic cardiac tamponade in a cat caused by an intrapericardial biliary cyst.

A 1-year-old domestic longhair cat presented to our hospital with a 4-month history of progressive exercise intolerance and coughing. Two-dimensional echocardiography confirmed the presence of an intrapericardial cyst and cardiac tamponade. Tamponade was relieved via percutaneous aspiration of the cyst.

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.

Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African Grey parrot.

Case Description: A 20-year-old sexually intact female African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) was evaluated to determine the cause of lethargy, hyporexia, weight loss, and persistent ascites of 21 days' duration.

Clinical Findings: Physical examination revealed a markedly distended abdomen and systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and hepatomegaly.

The effects of age and heart rate on tricuspid annular motion velocities in healthy nonsedated cats.

Background: Age and heart rate have effects on myocardial velocities as assessed by color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in people. A similar phenomenon has been identified when left ventricular velocities are assessed in cats. To date, the effects of age and heart rate on tricuspid annular velocities of cats have not been assessed.

Percutaneous selective pulmonary artery bands (Joeys) in a pulmonary overcirculation model.

Background: Control of distal pulmonary artery (PA) pressure and flow is a critical step in palliating infants with complex congential heart disease. Surgical procedures to protect or isolate the pulmonary circulation carry significant risk and can be unpredictable. Interventional control of pulmonary pressure/flow with an intravascular device (band) could reduce risk and improve regulation of pulmonary flow.

Cardiovascular involvement in 8 dogs with blastomyces dermatitidis infection.

Background: Blastomycosis is a common systemic fungal infection in dogs.

Hypothesis: Dogs with cardiovascular involvement may have abnormalities in electrical conduction and valvular function, and may have a worse prognosis.

Animals: Eight client-owned animals.

Transcatheter intravascular stent placement to relieve supravalvular pulmonic stenosis.

Valvular pulmonic stenosis has been successfully treated in dogs via minimally invasive transcatheter balloon dilation procedures for almost 20years. Supravalvular pulmonic stenosis however is not amenable to balloon dilation procedures. Although several surgical procedures are described for treatment of pulmonic stenosis, the morbidity and mortality of these procedures are significantly higher than for transcatheter approaches.

A retrospective evaluation of transthoracic biphasic electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation in dogs.

Objectives: To evaluate safety, efficacy, and clinical usefulness of biphasic transthoracic cardioversion for management of dogs with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: In dogs AF is usually managed with heart rate control rather than by restoration of sinus rhythm (SR). However, restoration of SR has potential advantages of improving cardiac output and reducing ventricular filling pressures, and biphasic cardioversion provides an improved benefit/risk ratio compared to traditional monophasic cardioversion.

Web-based technology: its effects on small group "problem-based learning" interactions in a professional veterinary medical program.

The objective of this investigation was to ascertain whether and how the introduction of a new technology (WebCT) influenced faculty teaching styles while facilitating small group problem-based learning (PBL) sessions in a professional veterinary medical (PVM) program. The following questions guided the study: (1) How does the use of technology affect faculty teaching behaviors? (2) Do the facilitators' interactions with WebCT technology change over the course of one semester? (3) What is the perceived impact of WebCT on facilitators' role in PBL? The study employed a combination of qualitative (case study) and semi-quantitative (survey) methods to explore these issues. Nine clinical sciences faculty members, leading a total of six PBL groups, were observed over the course of an academic semester for a total of 20 instructional sessions.

Secure pacemaker fixation critical for prevention of Twiddler's syndrome.

A two year old, female spayed border collie presented three weeks after permanent pacemaker implantation for weakness, lethargy and collapse. Electrocardiogram documented complete (3(rd) degree) atrioventricular (AV) block, the absence of pacing and a ventricular escape rhythm. Thoracic radiographs revealed retraction and dislodgement of the passive fixation lead from the right ventricular apex.

Effects of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist abciximab on thrombus formation and platelet function in cats with arterial injury.

An established model of arterial injury was used to evaluate the ability of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonist abciximab to inhibit platelet function and deter thrombus formation in cats. The study was a blinded evaluation, with control cats receiving aspirin and placebo and treatment cats receiving aspirin plus abciximab. The group treated with aspirin plus abciximab had significantly (P<.

Indirect arterial blood pressure measurement in nonsedated Irish wolfhounds: reference values for the breed.

Arterial blood pressure measurements were obtained from 158 healthy Irish wolfhounds using the oscillometric technique to establish reference values for the breed. In contrast to other sight hounds, Irish wolfhounds have low arterial blood pressure. Mean systolic pressure for the group was 116.