Short-term parenteral infusions with high-osmolality amino acid solutions can be safely administered through peripheral catheters in dogs treated for hypoaminoacidemia-related conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare complications between central and peripheral administration of high-osmolarity (approx 700 to 1,000 mOsm/L) amino acid (± lipid) infusions. ANIMALS: 18 client-owned dogs diagnosed with aminoaciduric canine hypoaminoacidemic hepatopathy syndrome or superficial necrolytic dermatitis receiving parenteral amino acid ± lipid infusions. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, medical records were reviewed for administration route (central vs peripheral), catheter details and infusion characteristics (product osmolarity, concurrent lipid administration, infusion volume, duration, and rate), and complications for each infusion. RESULTS: 18 dogs received 277 infusions (median, 8.5; range, 1 to 84). Effective infusion osmolarities were 683 mOsm/L in 22% of infusions, 791 mOsm/L in 8%, 802 mOsm/L in 2%, 837 mOsm/L in 45%, and 998 mOsm/L in 23% (65% peripheral, 35% central). Most (n = 230 [83%]) infusions were given peripherally. The osmolarities of solutions administered by each route (P = .53), the infusion rate indexed to body weight (P = .17), or the lipid infusion rates indexed to body weight (P = .89) did not differ. One dog suffered 2 complications in 63 infusions-1 mild, 1 severe-both occurring with peripheral infusions. Thus, the overall complication rate was 2 of 277 (0.9%) infusions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Short-term peripherally administered amino acid ± lipid infusions < 1,000 mOsm/L confer little risk compared to centrally administered infusions. Additional studies are needed to determine the safety of infusions with longer durations. Due to the relative ease of peripheral catheterization, clinicians should consider this route for medically managing aminoaciduric canine hypoaminoacidemic hepatopathy syndrome and superficial necrolytic dermatitis in dogs.

Protothecosis and Toxoplasma gondii co-infection in a dog from Nova Scotia, Canada.

A 2-year-old, neutered male mixed-breed dog from Nova Scotia, Canada was evaluated for panuveitis, polyuria, polydipsia, and hind limb ataxia. Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed ante-mortem based on markedly increased Toxoplasma gondii titers. The post-mortem examination confirmed systemic toxoplasmosis and demonstrated disseminated protothecosis. This article documents the first reported case of canine protothecosis in Atlantic Canada. Key clinical message: This case report demonstrates that protothecosis should be a clinical consideration for dogs in Canada. Co-infection with other organisms may occur, which may mask clinical signs and potentially delay diagnosis.

Protothécose et co-infection à Toxoplasma gondii chez un chien de la Nouvelle-Écosse, Canada. Un chien de race mixte mâle castré de 2 ans de la Nouvelle-Écosse, au Canada, a été évalué pour une panuvéite, une polyurie, une polydipsie et une ataxie des membres postérieurs. La toxoplasmose a été diagnostiquée antemortem sur la base d'une augmentation marquée des titres de Toxoplasma gondii. L'autopsie a confirmé la toxoplasmose systémique et mis en évidence une protothécose disséminée. Cet article documente le premier cas signalé de protothécose canine en Atlantique. Message clinique clé: Ce rapport de cas démontre que la protothécose devrait être une considération clinique pour les chiens au Canada. Une co-infection avec d'autres organismes peut survenir, ce qui peut masquer les signes cliniques et potentiellement retarder le diagnostic.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Babesia vulpes in a dog from Prince Edward Island, Canada.

A 12-year-old neutered male American Staffordshire terrier dog was referred to the Atlantic Veterinary College, Prince Edward Island, Canada, for suspected immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Babesiosis (Babesia vulpes) was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction testing. The dog was successfully treated with a 10-day protocol of atovaquone/proguanil (TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries, Toronto, Ontario), 13.5 mg/kg BW, PO, q8h and azithromycin (Pharmascience, Montreal, Quebec), 10 mg/kg BW, PO, q24h. To the authors' knowledge, this report is the first documented case of babesiosis caused by Babesia vulpes in a dog from Canada.

Babesia vulpes chez un chien de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada. Un chien American Staffordshire terrier mâle castré de 12 ans a été référé au Atlantic Veterinary College, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada, pour suspicion d'anémie hémolytique à médiation immunitaire. La babésiose (Babesia vulpes) a été confirmée à l'aide d'un test d'amplification en chaîne par la polymérase. Le chien a été traité avec succès avec un protocole de 10 jours d'atovaquone/proguanil (TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries, Toronto, Ontario), 13,5 mg/kg BW, PO, q8h et azithromycine (Pharmascience, Montréal, Québec), 10 mg/kg BW, PO, q24h. À la connaissance des auteurs, ce rapport est le premier cas documenté de babésiose causée par Babesia vulpes chez un chien du Canada.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).