Attitudes toward Virtual Admissions Interviews among Applicants to a Veterinary School.

Virtual interviews have gradually begun to be utilized in health professions education; however, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in virtual interviews rapidly becoming commonplace for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. This study aimed to evaluate attitudes toward and experience with virtual interviews of applicants to a veterinary medical college. All applicants to the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine (MWU-CVM) were provided with a link to a voluntary, anonymous survey after completing a virtual interview with the program. A 27.5% response rate (114/415) was obtained. Responses indicate widespread acceptance of virtual interviews, with respondents noting they would be more likely to interview for an out-of-state program with a virtual interview option and most feeling more positively about the program after their virtual interview. In-person interviews were preferred by 62.3% of applicants, while 32.5% favored a virtual option. Most applicants (58.8%) applied to more than six schools, indicating a major burden of cost and time associated with veterinary college applications. Students who experienced technical difficulties were less likely to feel positively about the interview (p = .01). Overall, virtual interviews were viewed favorably by applicants, although many indicated a preference for an in-person interview when possible. Prioritizing an accessible technology platform and high-quality sound input/output for interviewers may help foster a more positive virtual interview for applicants. Virtual interviews are a viable option for veterinary admissions interviews associated with a positive applicant experience.

Retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of fluconazole for the treatment of coccidioidomycosis in dogs: 49 cases (2015-2020).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical course and therapeutic response in dogs with coccidioidomycosis treated with fluconazole. ANIMALS: 49 client-owned dogs with coccidioidomycosis that were treated with fluconazole and had ≥ 2 follow-up examinations. PROCEDURES: Medical records were retrospectively searched to identify dogs in which coccidioidomycosis was diagnosed between January 2015 and May 2020. Data recorded from each dog included signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, and treatment. RESULTS: Dogs were treated with fluconazole at a median initial dosage of 19.7 mg/kg/d. Median treatment duration was 298.5 days, with 26 of the 49 dogs completing treatment during the study period. Respiratory signs, lethargy, and hyporexia were the most common clinical signs. Frequency of lethargy decreased after 30 days, whereas frequency of hyporexia and respiratory signs decreased after 90 days. Median IgG titer at diagnosis was 1:32 and was significantly decreased, compared with baseline titer, at all recheck intervals after 90 days. Hyperglobulinemia, monocytosis, and neutrophilia were the most common clinicopathologic abnormalities. Hyperglobulinemia resolved within 30 days, neutrophilia resolved within 90 days, and monocytosis resolved after 180 days. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Improvements in clinical signs, titers, and clinicopathologic abnormalities were observed after initiation of treatment with fluconazole. Improvement began as early as the first 3 months of treatment, but some variables did not resolve until after 6 to 9 months of treatment. This information provides clinical guidance and describes expectations when prescribing fluconazole to treat coccidioidomycosis in dogs.

Clinical features, treatment, and outcome of dogs with Coccidioides osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe signalment, clinical signs, serologic test results, treatment, and outcome of dogs with Coccidioides osteomyelitis (COM) and to compare those findings with findings for dogs with osteosarcoma (OSA). ANIMALS: 14 dogs with COM and 16 dogs with OSA. PROCEDURES: Data were retrospectively gathered from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Dogs with COM were younger and weighed less than dogs with OSA. Six dogs with COM had appendicular lesions, 5 had axial lesions, and 3 had both appendicular and axial lesions; 9 had monostotic disease, and 5 had polyostotic disease. Axial lesions and nonadjacent polyostotic disease were more common in dogs with COM than in dogs with OSA, but radiographic appearance was not different between the 2 groups. Median IgG titer at diagnosis of COM was 1:48 and was significantly decreased after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Percentage of dogs with COM that had clinical signs was significantly decreased after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. One year after initiation of treatment, 9 of 9 dogs were still receiving fluconazole and 8 of 9 dogs had positive results for serum IgG titer testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dogs with COM typically had a rapid improvement in clinical signs after initiating treatment with fluconazole but required long-term antifungal treatment. Dogs with COM differed from dogs with OSA, but radiographic features had a great degree of overlap between groups, confounding the ability to make a diagnosis on the basis of diagnostic imaging alone.

Endoscopic polypectomy using endocautery in three dogs and one cat.

Endoscopic polypectomy has long been employed in humans with either gastric or colonic polyps. Despite the frequency of use in humans, reports in veterinary medicine remain scarce. The medical records of three dogs and one cat were reviewed. Two animals that were presented with hematochezia underwent colonoscopic polypectomy and were clinically normal 22 months and 6 months postpolypectomy. One animal that was presented with chronic vomiting underwent gastric polypectomy and was clinically normal 21 months postpolypectomy. One animal with an incidentally discovered gastric polyp underwent polypectomy without complication. Endoscopic polypectomy may be a viable alternative to surgery in veterinary patients with gastric or colonic polyps.

A Quick Reference on Metabolic Alkalosis.

Metabolic alkalemia is characterized by an increase in bicarbonate concentration and base excess, an increase in pH, and a compensatory increase in carbon dioxide pressure. This article outlines indications for analysis, reference ranges, causes, and clinical signs of metabolic alkalosis. Algorithms for evaluation of patients with acid-base disorders and metabolic alkalosis are included.

Retrospective evaluation of the effect of antivenom administration on hospitalization duration and treatment cost for dogs envenomated by Crotalus viridis: 113 dogs (2004-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of antivenom administration on mortality, hospitalization duration, and cost of hospitalization for dogs envenomated by Crotalus viridis. DESIGN: Retrospective study (January 2004-December 2012). SETTING: Private veterinary emergency and referral center. ANIMALS: One hundred thirteen dogs with confirmed C. viridis envenomation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Dogs were divided into groups treated with either supportive care only (group 1) or supportive care plus antivenin crotalidae polyvalent (group 2). A modified snakebite severity score was used to compare patients from group 1 and group 2. Patients in group 2 received one 10 mL vial of antivenin crotalidae polyvalent over 4-6 hours. The mortality rate was 1.8% (2/113).  Group 1 had a median duration of hospitalization of 20 hours (range, 8-50 hours), while group 2 had a median duration of hospitalization of 24 hours (range, 1.5-74 hours). Group 1 had a median cost of hospitalization of 1050.00 USD (range, 423.52-2266.09 USD) while group 2 had a median cost of hospitalization of 2002.19 USD (range, 1139.91-6908.01 USD). Both the duration of hospitalization (P < 0.01) and the cost of hospitalization (P < 0.01) were significantly greater in the group of dogs receiving antivenom. CONCLUSIONS: Both the cost and the duration of hospitalization were significantly greater in the group of dogs that received antivenom. The difference in cost between the groups was approximately the cost of the antivenom vial and administration. Amongst the parameters evaluated, no significant benefit was associated with antivenom administered to dogs envenomated by C. viridis.

Cholinergic crisis after neostigmine administration in a dog with acquired focal myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation and successful management of a dog experiencing a cholinergic crisis after neostigmine administration. CASE SUMMARY: An 18-month-old neutered male Maltese-crossbred dog was diagnosed with acquired focal myasthenia gravis based on history and clinical signs of dysphagia and regurgitation, multiple series of thoracic radiographs showing focal to generalized megaesophagus, and an increased acetylcholine receptor antibody titer. After this diagnosis, the dog was initially treated with a single oral dose of pyridostigmine and later injectable neostigmine due to difficulty swallowing. Within 15 minutes of receiving a single dose (0.05 mg/kg) of subcutaneous neostigmine, the dog began showing muscarinic cholinergic signs of salivation and defecation, which progressed to nicotinic cholinergic signs of weakness and tachypnea. Within 30 minutes the dog experienced respiratory arrest and required ventilation. After 16 hours of ventilation, the dog recovered uneventfully and subsequently achieved a clinical and serologic remission from myasthenia gravis without further treatment. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Cholinergic crisis and differentiation from a myasthenic crisis is described in the human literature. This case represents the first report in the veterinary literature of a cholinergic crisis in a dog treated with neostigmine.

Antifungal treatment of small animal veterinary patients.

Antifungal therapy has progressed significantly with the development of new drugs directed at various processes in fungal cell metabolism. Within veterinary medicine, treatment options for systemic mycoses remain limited to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole. However, newer triazoles, echinocandins, and lipid-based formulations of amphotericin B are now approved for use in humans. This article provides a comprehensive review of the antifungal medications available for veterinary patients, and includes a brief discussion of the newer, presently cost-prohibitive, antifungal therapies used for systemic mycoses in humans.