Bronchoscopic findings in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies: 84 cases (2010-2020).

OBJECTIVES: To describe endoscopic findings, foreign body location, success rate of removal and complications in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study retrospectively evaluated the case records of dogs diagnosed with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies at a veterinary hospital centre between January 2010 and April 2020. Information retrieved included breed, sex, age, bodyweight, the season of presentation, presentation and duration of clinical signs, previous removal attempts performed by the referring veterinarian, foreign body location and endoscopic and imaging findings. RESULTS: Eighty-four cases were included. Fifty-nine dogs (70%) presented during spring and summer. Cough (77 of 84; 92%) and fever (15 of 84; 18%) were the main clinical signs. One to 10 bronchial vegetal foreign bodies were removed from each dog. Purulent exudate was observed in the ventral larynx, trachea and bronchi in 49 (65%), 61 (81%) and 71 (95%) dogs, respectively. In most cases, only the barbules of the vegetal foreign bodies were initially observed during endoscopy. The presence of large bronchial nodules or an irregular mucosal surface was a frequent finding (62 of 75; 83%). Mild bleeding was the main complication (58 of 75; 77%) of endoscopic removal, which was successful in 67 of the 84 (80%) cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mucosal nodules associated with purulent material within the airways are frequent endoscopic findings in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies. Bronchoscopy is a relatively safe and useful technique for diagnosis and treatment of bronchial vegetal foreign bodies in dogs.

Short course of immune-suppressive doses of prednisolone, evaluated through a prospective double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy Beagles, is associated with sustained modifications in renal, hydration, and electrolytic status.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and duration of orally administered prednisolone on renal function evaluated by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determination and creatinine (Cr) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations as well as on urinalysis, electrolytes, and hydric status in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 14 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: In this prospective double-masked placebo-controlled study, dogs were randomized after baseline evaluation to receive a 7-day course of either prednisolone (1.5 to 2.0 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) or a placebo. A repeated-measure design was performed, each dog participating in 4 successive sampling sessions. Clinical data, systolic blood pressure, CBC, and biochemical analyses including serum SDMA concentration, GFR determination, urine output quantification, and complete urinalysis were performed for all dogs the day before (D0) and at the end of steroid administration (D7) as well as 2 weeks (D21) and 4 weeks (D35) after the end of treatment. RESULTS: At D7, when compared with baseline, GFR increased significantly in treated dogs, whereas creatinine and SDMA concentrations decreased significantly. GFR and Cr but not SDMA modifications persisted significantly at D21. None of the variables differed significantly from baseline at D35. The OR of presenting an albumin band on urine electrophoresis was 2.4 times as high in treated versus control dogs (OR, 36; 95% CI, 1.8 to 719.4; P = 0.02). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A short-term course of immune-suppressive prednisolone treatment in healthy dogs leads to a sustained but reversible renal hyperfiltration state. Modification in electrolytic variables can affect the clinical interpretation of blood work in such patients.

The use of thermometer protective sheets provides reliable measurement of rectal temperature: a prospective study in 500 dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To measure and compare rectal temperature measurement with and without thermometer protective sheaths. To survey veterinary practices regarding thermometer use and disinfection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thermometers were validated with and without protective sheaths for accuracy and repeatability in a water bath with a high precision thermometer as reference. Then, the rectal temperature of 500 dogs was measured with and without protective sheaths in randomised order. The difference in temperature measured by the two methods was analysed with a generalised linear model with order of temperature measurement, life stage, dog size, body condition, level of consciousness, class of temperature and operator as explanatory variables. Practical thermometer use and disinfection was surveyed by online questionnaire. RESULTS: In the pre-clinical phase, study thermometers recorded average temperature differences of −0.05 ± 0.07°C (mean ± SD) and −0.03 ± 0.08°C with and without sheath, respectively and the coefficients of variation ranged from 0.1 to 0.5% with and without sheath. In the clinical study, temperatures measured with and without sheaths differed by less than ±0.2°C for 92% of the measurements. None of the explanatory variables were associated with the observed differences. Twenty-five percent of survey respondents were aware of the guidelines for disinfection of thermometers. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Thermometer protective sheaths do not affect the measurement of canine rectal temperature in the clinic.

Effect of clinical signs, endocrinopathies, timing of surgery, hyperlipidemia, and hyperbilirubinemia on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele.

Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study. Dogs with GBM that demonstrated abnormal clinical signs had significantly greater odds of death than subclinical dogs in a univariable analysis (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.14-8.23; P<0.001). The multivariable model indicated that categorical variables including owner recognition of jaundice (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.19-3.77; P=0.011), concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.08-3.47; P=0.026), and Pomeranian breed (OR, 2.46; 95% CI 1.10-5.50; P=0.029) were associated with increased odds of death, and vomiting was associated with decreased odds of death (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30-0.72; P=0.001). Continuous variables in the multivariable model, total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P<0.001) and age (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08-1.26; P<0.001), were associated with increased odds of death. The clinical utility of total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration as a biomarker to predict death was poor with a sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54-0.69) and a specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.59-0.66). This study identified several prognostic variables in dogs with GBM including total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration, age, clinical signs, concurrent hyperadrenocorticism, and the Pomeranian breed. The presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus did not impact outcome in this study.

[Technical criteria of central venous catheters: Anaesthesiologist/intensivist and pharmacist opinions]. / Critères de choix d'un cathéter veineux central : points de vue de l'anesthésiste-réanimateur et du pharmacien.

INTRODUCTION: The lack of technical information from suppliers and from the literature, a wide variety of features and the absence of medical device reference document explain the difficulty for medical and pharmaceutical staffs to choose a central venous catheter (CVC). The aim of this study was to establish the specifications to choose a CVC according to the clinician needs. METHODS: An analysis of suppliers' technical documentation and a literature review was performed to identify criteria and to collect them in a questionnaire to conduct semi-structured interviews between 1 pharmacist and 5 anaesthesiologists/intensivists. With these interviews, the technical criteria were classified according to their importance in 3 levels. RESULTS: Thirteen technical criteria were identified after reading the technical documents and the literature. Among them, 8 were classified as "essential criteria" (level I) by the physicians: J-shaped guide, one clamp on each way, identified lumen, radiopacity, graduation every centimeter by 5 to 20 cm from the distal extremity, a length of 15 to 25 cm, a single-lumen catheter with a 14 to 16G way and a three-lumen catheter with 14 to 18G way. Finally, three criteria were classified as "intermediate criteria" (level II) and two as "optional criteria" (level III). CONCLUSIONS: This collaborative approach allowed to reference new medical devices according to the clinicians needs. These CVC are a mean to respect guidelines for physicians and nurses and to secure the patient's care.

Assessment of the risk of infestation of pastures by Ixodes ricinus due to their phyto-ecological characteristics.

This study aims to assess the relationships between the phyto-ecological characteristics of grazing pastures and their risk of being infested by the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. To that purpose, 128 pastures belonging to 20 dairy farms were observed from April to July 1994. The farms were located in western France. Assessment of the tick population was made by four monthly, blanket-dragging sessions. The average infestation rate was 40.2%. Six types of pastures were identified according to their basic phyto-ecological characteristics using a factorial analysis of correspondences followed by a hierarchical ascending classification. These identified types were significantly related to the infestation rates, thereby making it possible to provide a predictive value in risk assessment. The infestation rates were high (96% on average) in two types of pastures characterized by their proximity to woods, and low (13%) in two other types characterized by seeded grass species located at some distance from woods, and intermediate (39% on average) in the last two types.

[Contribution of epidural infiltration in the treatment of acute ischemia in the lower inoperable limbs (author's transl)]. / Ischémies aiguës des membres inférieurs non chirurgicales. Apport de l'infiltration péridurale dans leur traitement.

Epidural infiltration easily causes without surgical intervention, paralysis of the sympathetic nervous system and analgesia. In this way, spasm and vasoconstriction are inhibited and the use of collateral vessels which are still permeable is facilitated. The antalgesic position of the dropped foot, which is a cause of oedema and hemodynamic disconfort, is eliminated. Out of 17 patients showing an acute ischemia of the lower limbs treated by this method, seven were cured, 3 of whom already having trophic disorders, 7 underwent local amputations and 3 had leg and thigh level amputations. Six months later 10 of these patients were doing well. The best therapeutic conditions of this treatment are non-atheromatous arteritis: angiospasm, toxic or inflammatory acute ischemia and Buerger's disease. On the other hand, the results are mediocre with atheromatous arteritis.