The effect of time on packed cell volume following packed red blood cell transfusion in anemic dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the PCV at several timepoints following packed red blood cell (pRBC) administration to anemic dogs and to assess if underlying cause of anemia or regenerative status significantly affects these measurements. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study from November 2016 to October 2017. SETTING: A small animal emergency and specialty hospital. ANIMALS: Forty-six anemic client-owned dogs that received a total of 50 pRBC transfusions for management of anemia. INTERVENTIONS: Blood was collected, and a PCV was obtained prior to pRBC transfusion (T0), immediately after (T1), 30 minutes after (T2), 1 hour after (T3), 2 hours after (T4), and 4 hours after (T5) the transfusion. Underlying causes of anemia were classified as hemorrhage, hemolysis, and ineffective erythropoiesis. Dogs were also categorized in regard to regenerative status of anemia and the presence or absence of expected continued blood loss or destruction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean PCV at T0 was 0.15 L/L (15%). After administration of a pRBC transfusion, the mean PCV at T1 was 0.28 L/L (28%). For all other timepoints (T2, T3, T4, and T5), the mean PCV was 0.27 L/L (27%). The PCV did not change significantly over time post-transfusion (P = 0.184), and no pairwise combinations of times differed significantly (paired t-tests; P > 0.05 for all). When dogs were categorized via regeneration status and continued blood loss or hemolysis, results were consistent. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in PCV from the value obtained immediately after pRBC transfusion up to 4 hours post-transfusion in dogs with several different causes of anemia. These results suggest that obtaining a PCV immediately after administering a pRBC transfusion to an anemic dog may be just as reliable as obtaining a measurement 2 hours after the transfusion. This remains true for dogs with expected continued red blood cell loss or destruction.

Pancreatic torsion in a dog.

A 6-month-old male intact Cane Corso mastiff dog was presented for a recent history of vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy. A diagnosis of pancreatic torsion was made during abdominal exploratory surgery and was confirmed with histopathology. The dog underwent partial pancreatectomy and recovered with no complications.

Torsion pancréatique chez un chien. Un chien mastiff Cane Corso mâle intact âgé de 6 mois a été présenté pour une anamnèse récente de vomissements, de douleurs abdominales et d'abattement. Un diagnostic de torsion pancréatique a été posé durant une chirurgie exploratoire abdominale et a été confirmé par histopathologie. Le chien a subi une pancréatomie partielle et s'est rétabli sans complications.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Correlation of gross urine color with diagnostic findings in male cats with naturally occurring urethral obstruction.

Seventy-five male cats with urethral obstruction were prospectively enrolled to evaluate gross urine color at urinary catheter placement for correlation with diagnostic findings. Cats with darker red urine were more likely to be azotemic (serum creatinine concentration >2.0 mg/dl [177 µmol/l]), and urine color correlated well with serum creatinine and serum potassium concentrations. Darker urine color was negatively correlated with urine specific gravity. Urine color was not associated with the presence or absence of lower urinary tract stones on radiographs or ultrasound. Cats with darker red urine at the time of urinary catheter placement are likely to have more significant metabolic derangements and may require more aggressive supportive care.