A retrospective study of hydrocortisone continuous rate infusion compared with administration of dexamethasone boluses in dogs with adrenal crisis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence indicating the optimal treatment protocol for dogs in adrenal crisis is lacking. OBJECTIVES: Compare outcomes of dogs presented in adrenal crisis treated with either hydrocortisone (HC) continuous rate infusion (CRI) or intermittent dexamethasone (DEX) administration. ANIMALS: Thirty-nine client-owned dogs. METHODS: Multi-institutional retrospective observational study (July 2016-May 2022) including dogs diagnosed with adrenal crisis and with available sequential blood work during hospitalization. Dogs were excluded if already on treatment with exogenous corticosteroids. Outcomes assessed included duration of hospitalization, survival, number of repeat measurements of electrolyte concentrations, and time to normalization of electrolyte and acid-base status. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the groups for hospitalization time (P = .41; HC median [range] 48 h [19-105 h]; DEX 57 h [17-167 h]) nor case fatality rate 2/28 in the DEX group and 0/11 in the HC group (P = 1), nor in number of measurements of electrolyte concentrations (P = .90; HC 4 [2-10]; DEX 4.5 [2-15]). No significant differences were found between the 2 treatment groups in time to normalization of serum Na (P = .30; HC 33 h [7-66 h]; DEX 16 h [1.5-48 h]), K (P = .92; HC 17 h [4-48 h]; DEX 16 h [1.25-60 h]) or Na/K ratio (P = .08; HC 17 h [8-48 h]; DEX 26 h [1.5-60 h]). CONCLUSIONS: This study detected no difference in outcomes for dogs in adrenal crisis treated with either DEX boluses or HC CRIs.

Indications for use and complications associated with canine plasma products in 170 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a population of dogs receiving canine plasma products (PP), report the incidence of transfusion reactions (TR), and to identify whether this is higher when non-type-matched plasma is administered. DESIGN: Retrospective study conducted on dogs receiving canine PP between March 2016 and January 2018. SETTING: Private referral hospital with first opinion emergency clinic. ANIMALS: One hundred and ninety-four privately owned dogs identified from the clinic electronic medical record system that received at least 1 unit of canine PP during the study period; 25 patients were excluded due to incomplete records. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A search of computerized records was performed, identifying any patients that received canine PP between 2016 and 2018; clinical notes were examined to identify the number and type of TR associated. One hundred and sixty-nine cases were included in the study, receiving a total of 412 PP transfusions. Reactions were noted in 4% (17/412) of transfusions administered, with the vast majority being mild in nature. Of the TR identified, a greater proportion were in type-matched PP transfusions than non-type-matched, although this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.7989). The number of dogs suffering a TR was higher (13%) when multiple units of plasma were administered than if only 1 unit was transfused (5%), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.1161). Transfusion reactions were more likely to occur when packed red blood cells were also administered, although this was also not statistically significant (P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Administration of canine plasma products appears to be a safe procedure that carries a low risk of transfusion reactions. Type-matching of canine PP appears unnecessary and does not reduce incidence of TR in dogs.

SSRgenotyper: A simple sequence repeat genotyping application for whole-genome resequencing and reduced representational sequencing projects.

PREMISE: Many programs can identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs in genomic data. SSRgenotyper extends SSR identification to en masse genotyping from resequencing data for diversity panels and linkage mapping populations. METHODS AND RESULTS: SSRgenotyper will find and genotype SSRs from SAM files and an SSR reference FASTA. Several outputs are possible, including a simple table with the SSR marker name, position, and SSR alleles, defined by the repeat number of the repeat motif. Specific output files include a GENEPOP-formatted file for downstream genetic diversity analyses and a traditional A, H, B mapping file output that is phased to the parents of the population for biparental linkage map construction. Linkage maps produced using SSRgenotyper genotypes were highly collinear with physical maps and correctly inferred known phylogenies. CONCLUSIONS: SSRgenotyper provides an easy-to-use, accurate, and scalable SSR genotyping platform for whole-genome resequencing data. SSRgenotyper is freely available at https://github.com/dlewis27/SSRgenotyper.

Gerbode defect associated with blunt trauma in a dog.

A 6 year-old Labrador retriever was presented after being struck by a car. A ventricular arrhythmia, attributed to myocardial trauma, developed 12 h post-trauma. Echocardiography revealed lesions consistent with a subaortic paramembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) with shunting of blood from the left ventricle to the right atrium (Gerbode defect). A right-to-left shunting atrial septal defect (ASD) was visualised. Pleural and peritoneal effusions developed within 48 h. Fifteen days post-trauma flow across the ASD was left-to-right while left-to-right shunting across the VSD persisted. No cavitary effusions were detected at 15 days post-trauma or subsequently.

Use of calcium folinate in the management of accidental methotrexate ingestion in two dogs.

CASE DESCRIPTION: 2 English Pointers were suspected of having consumed toxic doses of methotrexate, a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor frequently used in human and veterinary chemotherapeutic protocols. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Potentially toxic plasma concentrations of methotrexate were detected in both dogs. Results of physical examination, a CBC, blood gas analysis, and serum biochemical analysis were predominantly unremarkable, although 1 dog had mild hyponatremia (1372 mmol/L; reference range, 140 to 153 mmol/L) and mild hypocalcemia (1.03 mmol of ionized calcium/L; reference range, 1.13 to 1.33 mmol of ionized calcium/L). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Point-of-care determination of plasma methotrexate concentrations was not available; thus, palliative care was provided. Emesis was induced in both dogs by SC administration of apomorphine, and 3 doses of a suspension of activated charcoal with sorbitol were administered orally over a 6-hour period. Fluid diuresis was initiated in both dogs by administration of a compound sodium lactate solution, and N-acetylcysteine was administered IV to both dogs as a hepatoprotectant. A solution of calcium folinate (also known as leucovorin) was administered IV to both dogs to mitigate the effects of ingested methotrexate. No adverse effects associated with calcium folinate administration were identified, and no clinical or pathological evidence of methotrexate intoxication was detected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: IV administration of calcium folinate appeared to prevent the pathological sequelae of methotrexate intoxication without adverse effects. Administration of calcium folinate is recommended for the treatment of dogs with suspected or confirmed methotrexate overdose.