Evaluating the feasibility of using whole blood gene expression profiles to identify novel targets in canine septic peritonitis.

Objective: To assess gene expression profiles in canine whole blood with and without septic peritonitis to assess workflow feasibility and identify potential blood biomarkers that could be further investigated in future studies.

Methods: This study enrolled 6 dogs with cytologically confirmed septic peritonitis of any cause and 6 healthy dogs. All dogs had a CBC and biochemistry performed.

Ultrasonographic liver nodules are more often benign lesions in dogs with hemoperitoneum secondary to splenic tumor rupture.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of preoperative abdominal ultrasonography as a staging tool for dogs with hemoperitoneum due to presumed splenic tumor rupture, focusing on the detection of metastatic lesions in the liver.

Animals: 99 dogs from 20 emergency and specialty hospitals across the US.

Methods: Dogs with nontraumatic hemoperitoneum secondary to splenic tumor rupture were included.

High concordance of blood glucose measurement in cats between a beta prototype glucometer device and a reference laboratory standard in a clinical setting.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a beta prototype version of a new portable blood glucose meter in feline patients.

Animals: 60 client-owned cats.

Methods: In this prospective study, 3-mL blood samples were collected from each cat and analyzed in triplicate using a beta prototype device (AlphaTRAK 3 [AT3]) and by a reference lab standard immediately after collection.

Associations of abdominal discomfort and length of clinical signs with surgical procedure in 181 cases of canine small intestinal foreign body obstruction.

Background: Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are a common indication for abdominal exploratory surgery.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pre-operative abdominal discomfort and duration of clinical signs with surgical resolution of canine small intestinal foreign body obstructions (SIFBO).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 181 canine abdominal exploratory surgeries for confirmed SIFBO at two referral hospitals.

Pharmacokinetic Exposures Associated With Oral Administration of Sorafenib in Dogs With Spontaneous Tumors.

Sorafenib is a multi-kinase small molecule inhibitor that targets serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases including the RAF kinase family, VEGFR-2, and PDGFR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic pharmacokinetics of a previously defined tolerable oral dose of sorafenib in tumor-bearing dogs. Six client-owned dogs with a cytologic or histologic diagnosis of cancer were enrolled in this open-label, tolerability study.

Prevalence and clinical features of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc-associated epidural hemorrhage in dogs.

Background: Intervertebral disc-associated epidural hemorrhage (EH) in dogs is a poorly understood neurological condition.

Objective: To compare the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and clinical outcome of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH) with and without EH.

Animals: One hundred sixty client-owned dogs that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy for acute TL-IVDH at a private practice in Colorado, including 63 dogs with EH and 97 dogs without EH.

Feasibility of circulating tumor DNA analysis in dogs with naturally occurring malignant and benign splenic lesions.

Comparative studies of naturally occurring canine cancers have provided new insight into many areas of cancer research. Development and validation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis in pet dogs can help address diagnostic needs in veterinary as well as human oncology. Dogs have high incidence of naturally occurring spontaneous cancers, demonstrate molecular heterogeneity and clonal evolution during therapy, allow serial sampling of blood from the same individuals during the course of disease progression, and have relatively compressed intervals for disease progression amenable to longitudinal studies.

Leukocyte and cytokine variables in asymptomatic Pugs at genetic risk of necrotizing meningoencephalitis.

Background: Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME, aka Pug dog encephalitis) is an inflammatory brain condition associated with advanced disease at initial presentation, rapid progression, and poor response to conventional immunomodulatory therapy.

Hypothesis/objectives: That genetic risk for NME, defined by a common germline DNA haplotype located on chromosome 12, is associated with altered blood cytokine concentrations and leukocyte subsets in asymptomatic Pugs.

Animals: Forty Pug dogs asymptomatic for NME from a hospital sample.

Development of a veterinary emergency open standard competency framework using a competency-based model of medical education.

Objective: To address the shortage of emergency veterinarians, the profession is exploring accelerated training pathways. We sought to contribute to the solution by developing the foundation for an open standard, competency-based veterinary emergency training curriculum for use by any program. We also developed a curricular delivery, tracking, and assessment system to demonstrate how the framework can be integrated into training programs.

Prospective observational study of dogs with splenic mass rupture suggests potentially lower risk of malignancy and more favourable perioperative outcomes.

Haemoperitoneum secondary to ruptured splenic tumours can be either benign or malignant in origin. The majority of previous studies of canine haemoperitoneum have been retrospective, which are associated with well-recognized biases, such as the potential to underappreciate the diversity of outcomes in a complex presentation such as haemoperitoneum. This study seeks to prospectively define perioperative morbidity and mortality of haemoperitoneum in dogs secondary to ruptured splenic masses.

Antibiotic use in critical illness.

Objective: To provide a review on the current use of antimicrobials with a discussion on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of antimicrobials in critically ill patients, the challenges of drug resistance, the use of diagnostic testing to direct therapy, and the selection of the most likely efficacious antimicrobial protocol.

Etiology: Patients in the intensive care unit often possess profound pathophysiologic changes that can complicate antimicrobial therapy. Although many antimicrobials have known pharmacodynamic profiles, critical illness can cause wide variations in their pharmacokinetics.