Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy improves cognitive test scores in dogs with presumptive canine cognitive dysfunction: A case series of five dogs.

Background: Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is considered the canine version of human Alzheimer's disease (AD). As with AD, CCD is a multifactorial and progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which effective treatment options are continuously being sought. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBMT) or transcranial laser therapy has shown promise as a treatment for cognitive impairment in rodent AD investigations and several human AD clinical trials. Aim: The purpose of this prospective case series was to evaluate the effect of tPBMT on cognitive scores when applied to senior dogs with CCD over a 60-day period. Methods: Five senior (>9-year-old) dogs with moderate (16-33) to severe (>33) cognitive scores were enrolled. Owners were instructed on the use of a Class IM laser device and administered a specific dose of laser energy transcranially to both sides of the patient's head, three times per week for one month and two times per week for a second month. No additional therapeutic measures aimed at enhancing cognitive ability were permitted during the 60-day evaluation time. Baseline cognitive scores were compared with scores obtained at 30- and 60-days post-treatment. Results: Cognitive scores showed improvement in 4/5 dogs at 30 days (27.6% reduction) and all dogs at 60 days (43.4% reduction). There were no adverse effects attributable to tPBMT. Conclusion: Results of our small case series suggest that tPBMT may improve cognitive scores in dogs with moderate to severe CCD by 30 days of application and the improvement is sustained at 60 days. Further studies are needed to ascertain optimal tPBMT protocols for CCD.

Experienced veterinary surgeons require multiple attempts but gain proficiency rapidly in robotic simulator tasks.

OBJECTIVE: To assess attempts to proficiency of experienced veterinary surgeons for 2 surgical tasks when using a robotic simulator (Mimic dV-Trainer; Surgical Sciences) and determine factors associated with the successful performance of these tasks. METHODS: Veterinary surgeons with rigid, minimally invasive surgery experience performed 2 tasks ("pick and place" and "knot the ring 1") using the simulator until they attained proficiency. Individual performance variables were recorded. The number of attempts to proficiency was recorded. Performance variables were also assessed for effect on proficiency by the Kendall tau correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression. The study period was from July 25, 2022, through December 14, 2022. RESULTS: The 18 surgeons enrolled required a median of 8.5 attempts (95% CI, 7 to 12; range, 6 to 22) to reach proficiency for the basic task versus 27 attempts (95% CI, 21 to 38; range, 10 to 63) for the advanced task. Surgeons took a median of 6 minutes (range, 3 to 11 minutes) to complete training for the basic task and 12 minutes (range, 4 to 46 minutes) for the advanced task. The number of attempts to reach proficiency correlated strongly with economy of motion (tau = 0.72), instrument collisions (tau = 0.72), and time to completion (tau = 0.96). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although experienced surgeons required a high number of attempts to gain proficiency in robotic simulator tasks, they did achieve proficiency quickly, encouraging future investigations into their use for training. Specific motion metrics were identified which improved efficiency during training.

How much protection does clopidogrel provide to cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have a risk of developing aortic thromboembolism (ATE). Clopidogrel reduces the risk of redeveloping ATE and delays recurrence of ATE in cats that have experienced an ATE episode. Consequently, cardiologists have recommended administering clopidogrel to cats as a primary preventative, suggesting that all cats with severe HCM be administered clopidogrel. However, clopidogrel is unpalatable in its manufactured format, making such administration problematic for many clients. Therefore, estimating the potential benefit of administration might help clinicians determine on a case-by-case basis the need to treat cats with clopidogrel. Relatively simple statistical analyses of currently available data, along with certain assumptions and extrapolations, allow such an estimation of benefit in terms of relative and absolute risk reduction conferred by clopidogrel. Using this approach, and provided certain assumptions are true, clopidogrel likely confers a reduction in risk of ATE in cats with moderate to severe HCM of approximately 3% to 4%. Given the difficulty of administering clopidogrel to cats, clinicians should weigh these relatively small potential benefits against the potential harms (difficulty of administration) and not necessarily insist that clients administer clopidogrel.

A survey of the use of ultrasound by small animal veterinary clinicians.

This study aimed to determine the current use of ultrasound amongst small animal veterinarians. A total of 1216 small animal veterinary practitioners responded to an electronic survey that was administered through the Veterinary Information Network to all its members. Descriptive statistics were generated; limited inferential statistics were performed to examine specific relationships. Eighty-four percent of respondents had access to an ultrasound unit, and 86% of respondents reported using their unit multiple times per week. The most common uses were assistance with cystocentesis (93%) and abdominocentesis (71%), pregnancy diagnosis (69%), limited abdominal evaluation (63%), to aid in thoracocentesis (59%), and limited thoracic evaluation (52%). Eighty-nine percent of respondents received some formal training in ultrasound, most commonly from continuing education courses. Most respondents (52%) reported receiving ≤25 h of training. Additionally, 88% of respondents believed it was either extremely or very important for there to be ultrasound training for veterinary students prior to graduation. Based on this survey, most small animal practitioners commonly use ultrasound for limited examinations, being most confident in the sonographic evaluation and centesis of the bladder and for the detection and centesis of effusion in a body cavity. With most respondents having ≤25 h of training in ultrasound, typically obtained in postgraduate courses, an expansion in standardized basic ultrasound training within the veterinary curriculum may be warranted.

Blood pressure in hyperthyroid cats before and after radioiodine treatment.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthyroid cats commonly have systemic hypertension, with a reported prevalence of 7% to 48%. Although hypertension might be expected to resolve once treatment restores euthyroidism, it can persist or only first develop after treatment. OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of hyperthyroid cats with hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥160 mm Hg), persistence or first development of hypertension after successful radioiodine treatment, and correlation of post-treatment hypertension with azotemia or hypothyroidism. ANIMALS: Four hundred one hyperthyroid nonazotemic cats were included in the study. METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional and before-and-after studies. All hyperthyroid cats had SBP measured by Doppler; 255 had SBP rechecked 6 months after successful radioiodine (131I) treatment. RESULTS: Of untreated hyperthyroid cats, 108/401 (27%) were hypertensive. A higher proportion of hypertensive cats were nervous/excited compared with normotensive cats (47% vs 12%; P < .001). Of the initially hypertensive cats, 87/108 cats were reexamined after 131I treatment; 43/87 (49%) cats normalized SBP, whereas 44/87 (51%) remained hypertensive. Of the initially normotensive cats, 16/168 (9.5%) first developed hypertension after successful 131I treatment. 7/60 (12%) of the 131I-treated hypertensive cats were azotemic and 9/60 (15%) were hypothyroid. A higher proportion of cats remaining hypertensive had nervous/excited demeanor than did normotensive cats (50% vs 17%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS/CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hypertension, when present, resolves in many hyperthyroid cats after successful treatment. Hyperthyroid cats uncommonly develop new hypertension after treatment. Persistent or newly detected hypertension was unrelated to azotemia or iatrogenic hypothyroidism. More frequently perceived nervousness/anxiety in radioiodine-treated hypertensive cats suggests that many of these cats might have "situational" hypertension, as hyperthyroid-induced hypertension should resolve after treatment.

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.

Evaluation of a novel, sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone assay as a diagnostic test for thyroid disease in cats.

OBJECTIVE: Clinicians commonly use thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations to diagnose thyroid disorders in humans and dogs. In cats, canine TSH chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) assays are commonly used to measure TSH, but these TSH-CLIAs cannot measure low TSH concentrations (< 0.03 ng/mL) and therefore cannot distinguish between low-normal concentrations and truly low TSH concentrations (characteristic of hyperthyroidism). Our aim was to evaluate a novel TSH assay based on bulk acoustic wave (BAW) technology that has lower functional sensitivity (0.008 ng/mL) than TSH-CLIAs. ANIMALS: 169 untreated hyperthyroid cats, 53 cats treated with radioiodine (131I), 12 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and 78 clinically healthy cats. METHODS: Serum concentrations of T4, TSH-CLIA, and TSH-BAW were measured in all cats. Untreated hyperthyroid cats were divided into 4 severity groups (subclinical, mild, moderate, and severe), whereas 131I-treated cats were divided into euthyroid and hypothyroid groups. RESULTS: Test sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for identifying hyperthyroidism were higher for TSH-BAW (90.5%, 98.9%, and 86.9%) than TSH-CLIA (79.9%, 76.7%, and 21.7%; P < .001). Test sensitivity for identifying 131I-induced hypothyroidism was only 45.5% for T4 versus 100.0% for both TSH-CLIA and TSH-BAW (P = .03), whereas TSH-BAW had a higher positive predictive value (100%) than did either TSH-CLIA (81.2%) or T4 (71.9%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum TSH-BAW alone or together with T4 is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for evaluating feline hyperthyroidism and iatrogenic hypothyroidism. Finding low serum TSH-BAW concentrations is most useful for diagnosing subclinical and mild hyperthyroidism, in which serum T4 remains within or only slightly above the reference interval.

Preferences of clinical pathologists for probability-modifying terms describing cytologic sample evaluations: A survey study.

BACKGROUND: A recent study identified 7 probability ranges used by clinical pathologists and associated qualitative terms used in cytology reports. Clinicians and clinical pathologists agreed that limiting the number of terms could help enhance communication between clinical pathologists and clinicians. However, the preferred terms for each range remain undetermined. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine a single term for each probability range that could be adopted by the global veterinary clinical pathology community. METHOD: Clinical pathologists responded to a survey invitation distributed via the specialty listserv. Clinical pathologists were asked to rank previously identified terms for each probability range from "most preferred" to "least preferred." An alternative term could be proposed if they preferred a term not included in the question. The preferences were summed by rank. Where first choice ranks were within 20% of each other, the 1st and 2nd choices were added. The term with the highest counts was chosen to represent the probability range. RESULTS: The highest-ranking terms corresponding to the probability ranges of 0%-20%, 20%-50%, 50%-65%, 65%-75%, 75%-85%, 85%-95%, and 95%-100% were "no evidence for," "cannot rule out," "possible," "suspicious for," "most likely," "most consistent with," and no modifier, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have sampled clinical pathologists across the globe to rank terms in cytology reports associated with previously identified probability ranges to identify single qualitative terms for which there was the most agreement between clinicians and clinical pathologists. Our study provides the foundation for standardizing and limiting probability-modifying terms to improve communication with clinicians.

Veterinary clinicians prefer template-style reports with personal confidence estimates for cytologic sample evaluations.

OBJECTIVE: To examine preferences of veterinary clinical pathologists, clinicians, and students for cytology report formats. SAMPLE: 24 clinical pathologists, 1,014 veterinarians, and 93 veterinary students who were members of the Veterinary Information Network. METHODS: Members of the Veterinary Information Network responded to an online survey invitation, made available between July 11, 2023, and July 24, 2023. Respondents were randomly directed to 1 of 4 sets of cytology reports, each containing a traditional narrative format, narrative format with terms expressing a degree of confidence and associated numerical ranges, and template format with similar estimates of confidence. Respondents ranked the reports in order of preference and then provided comments about their top-ranked choice. Responses were analyzed mostly with descriptive statistics or comparisons of proportions. RESULTS: 14 of 24 clinical pathologists preferred the traditional narrative format, whereas 449 of 1,042 veterinary clinicians and veterinary students preferred the template format. Respondents (460/1,131) ranked the template format as most preferred, but the narrative format with terms expressing a degree of confidence ranked highest overall. Many respondents appeared to misunderstand the degree of confidence estimates being expressed numerically. Respondents choosing each format often stated that their preferred choice was "easiest to understand" and "most comprehensive." CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given the preferences of veterinary clinicians and veterinary students for a template format, clinical pathologists should consider modifying the way they report evaluations of cytologic specimens. Template formats should help standardize reporting of cytologic specimens, thereby improving communication between clinical pathologists and clinicians. However, both clinicians and clinical pathologists need to better understand the purpose of terminology expressing degrees of confidence in such reports.

Relief and mobile veterinary careers may offer a path towards improved quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: Explore relief and mobile veterinarians' views and experiences related to their current job. In addition, examine reasons why these veterinarians opted to pursue careers in relief and mobile practice. SAMPLE: Veterinary members of the Veterinary Information Network working as relief or mobile veterinarians. METHODS: An electronic survey distributed via the Veterinary Information Network data collection portal from May 11, 2023, through May 30, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 444 responses were collected (125 veterinarians in mobile practice and 240 relief veterinarians). Factors most commonly reported to have a strong effect on mobile or relief veterinarians' decision to leave their previous job included administration, hospital culture, leadership, feeling their voice was heard, and workplace schedule factors. The majority of mobile and relief practitioners reported feeling satisfied with their work-life balance (mobile, 78%; relief, 91%) as well as availability for children (mobile, 84%; relief, 84%) and other family members (mobile, 85%; relief, 87%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The majority of mobile and relief practitioners who participated in this survey reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with managing their work and life, in their ability to be present and available for their children, and having opportunity to support and care for elderly family members and those with medical needs. As the field of veterinary medicine becomes increasingly feminized, schedule flexibility and work-life balance will likely increase in importance, making careers in nonpractice settings more desirable. Traditional brick-and-mortar clinics should note that dissatisfaction with administration and office/hospital culture might drive their employees to pursue other career avenues such as relief or mobile practice.

A proposed rescue transesophageal echocardiographic protocol for anesthetized dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the acquisition and pitfalls of a 3-view transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) protocol in anesthetized, dorsally recumbent dogs. ANIMALS: 8 beagles, 1 to 2 years old, 7.4 to 11.2 kg. METHODS: Dogs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and placed in dorsal recumbency. A TEE probe was advanced, and 3 views were performed: midesophageal 4-chamber and long axis (ME 4C and ME LAX) and caudal esophageal short axis (CE SAX) at the level of the papillary muscles. Probe insertion depth, flexion, omniplane angle, and image acquisition time were recorded. Two observers assessed 24 video clips each and identified anatomical structures. RESULTS: The ME 4C and ME LAX were obtained at 35 (30 to 40) cm insertion depth, omniplane at 0° and 103° (90 to 116), respectively. Views were obtained in ≤30 seconds once the TEE was in the cervical esophagus. Left-sided structures were identified in all cases, whereas right-sided structures were not always simultaneously obtained in the ME 4C, requiring further probe manipulation. All structures were identified on ME LAX. CE SAX was obtained at 40 (35 to 45) cm, omniplane at 0°, and in 15 (10 to 90) seconds. A true SAX view (circular left ventricle at the level of papillary muscles) could not be obtained in all dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A 3-view TEE protocol using core views as those described in humans may be applicable to dogs under general anesthesia and in dorsal recumbency. The CE SAX view at the level of the papillary muscles appears more difficult to obtain with consistency than midesophageal views.

Randomized controlled trial of hydrolyzed fish diets in dogs with chronic enteropathy.

BACKGROUND: The role of diet in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic enteropathies (CE) in dogs is unresolved. OBJECTIVES: To compare the ability of diets composed of hydrolyzed fish, rice starch, and fish oil without (HF) or with prebiotics, turmeric, and high cobalamin (HF+) against a limited ingredient diet containing mixed nonhydrolyzed antigens and oils (control) to resolve clinical signs and maintain serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in dogs with nonprotein losing CE (non-PLE). To determine the ability of hydrolyzed fish diets to support recovery and remission in dogs with PLE. ANIMALS: Thirty-one client-owned dogs with CE: 23 non-PLE, 8 PLE. METHODS: Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Diets were fed for 2 weeks; responders continued for 12 weeks. Nonresponders were crossed over to another diet for 12 weeks. Response was determined by standardized clinical evaluation with long-term follow-up at 26 weeks. Concurrent medications were allowed in PLE. RESULTS: Nineteen of 23 (83%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 60%-94%) non-PLE CE responded clinically to their initial diet, with no difference between diets (P > .05). Four nonresponders responded to another diet, with sustained remission of 18/18 (100%; 95%CI, 78%-100%) at 26 weeks. Serum cobalamin concentration was increased (P < .05) and maintained by diet. Serum folate concentration decreased posttreatment (P < .05) but was restored by dietary supplementation. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported weight gain, serum albumin concentration, and recovery (P < .05) in dogs with PLE. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Changing diet, independent of antigen restriction or supplemental ingredients, induced long-term remission in dogs with non-PLE CE. Serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were maintained by diet. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported clinical recovery and remission in PLE.

Urine concentrating ability in cats with hyperthyroidism: Influence of radioiodine treatment, masked azotemia, and iatrogenic hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthyroid cats often have urine specific gravity (USG) values <1.035. It remains unclear how USG changes after treatment, if USG can be used to predict azotemia after treatment, or how iatrogenic hypothyroidism influences USG values. OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of hyperthyroid cats with USG <1.035 vs ≥1.035; if USG changes after treatment; and whether USG <1.035 correlated with unmasking of azotemia or hypothyroidism. ANIMALS: Six hundred fifty-five hyperthyroid cats treated with radioiodine; 190 clinically normal cats. METHODS: Prospective, before-and-after study. Hyperthyroid cats had serum thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and creatinine concentrations, and USG measured before and 6 months after successful treatment with radioiodine. RESULTS: Of untreated hyperthyroid cats, USG was ≥1.035 in 346 (52.8%) and <1.035 in 309 (47.2%). After treatment, 279/346 (80.6%) maintained USG ≥1.035, whereas 67/346 (19.4%) became <1.035; 272/309 (88%) maintained USG <1.035, whereas 37/309 (12%) became ≥1.035. Only 22/346 (6.4%) with USG ≥1.035 developed azotemia after treatment, compared with 136/309 (44%) with <1.035 (P < .001). Of cats remaining nonazotemic, 38% had USG <1.035, compared with 20% of normal cats (P < .001). The 137 cats with iatrogenic hypothyroidism had lower USG after treatment than did 508 euthyroid cats (1.024 vs 1.035), but USGs did not change after levothyroxine supplementation. USG <1.035 had high sensitivity (86.1%) but moderate specificity (65.2%) in predicting azotemia after treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hyperthyroidism appears not to affect USG in cats. However, cats with evidence of sub-optimal concentrating ability before radioiodine treatment (USG < 1.035) are more likely to develop azotemia and unmask previously occult chronic kidney disease. Iatrogenic hypothyroidism itself did not appear to affect USG values.

Biological variation of serum thyrotropin and thyroid hormones concentrations determined at 8-week intervals for 1 year in clinically healthy cats.

BACKGROUND: Cats commonly develop thyroid disease but little is known about the long-term biological variability of serum thyroid hormone and thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) concentrations. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the long-term biological variation of thyroid hormones and TSH in clinically healthy cats. METHODS: A prospective, observational study was carried out. Serum samples for analysis of total thyroxine (T4, by radioimmunoassay [RIA] and homogenous enzyme immunoassay [EIA]), triiodothyronine (T3 ), free T4 (by dialysis), and TSH were obtained every 8 weeks for 1 year from 15 healthy cats, then frozen until single-batch analysis. Coefficients of variation (CV) within individual cats ( CV I ) and among individual cats ( CV G ), as well as the variation between duplicates (ie, analytical variation [ CV A ]) were determined with restricted maximum likelihood estimation. The indices of individuality (IoI) and reference change values (RCVs) for each hormone were calculated. RESULTS: Some thyroid hormones showed similar (total T4 by EIA) or greater (TSH) interindividual relative to intraindividual variation resulting in intermediate to high IoI, consistent with previous studies evaluating the biological variation of these hormones weekly for 5-6 weeks. By contrast, total T4 (by RIA) and free T4 had a low IoI. Total T3 had a high ratio of CV A to CV I ; therefore, interindividual variation could not be distinguished from analytical variation. No seasonal variability in the hormones could be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians might improve the diagnosis of feline thyroid disease by establishing baseline concentrations for analytes with intermediate-high IoI (total T4, TSH) for individual cats and applying RCVs to subsequent measurements.

Diagnosis and management of dogs with degenerative myelopathy: A survey of neurologists and rehabilitation professionals.

BACKGROUND: Antemortem diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is presumptive and there are no accepted guidelines for the management of this condition. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Describe current practices of neurology clinicians and physical rehabilitation professionals in the diagnosis and management of DM. ANIMALS: None. METHODS: Online surveys examining diagnosis and management of DM were constructed and distributed via neurology and rehabilitation listservs. RESULTS: One hundred ninety neurology and 79 rehabilitation professionals from 20 countries participated. Most neurology (142/189) and rehabilitation (23/39) respondents required genetic testing for the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutation and 82/189 neurologists also required spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for presumptive DM diagnosis. Most neurology respondents recommended exercise (187/190) and physical rehabilitation (184/190). Over 50% (102/190) of neurology respondents perform rechecks on dogs diagnosed with DM. Rehabilitation respondents reported preservation or improvement of strength (78/79) and coordination (77/79) as therapeutic goals. At-home exercises (75/79), underwater treadmill (64/79), gait training (55/79), and strength building exercises (65/79) were used to maintain strength (58/79), coordination (56/79), muscle mass (56/79), and improve overall wellbeing (54/79). Neurology respondents reported that owners elect euthanasia when dogs become nonambulatory paraparetic whereas rehabilitation respondents report euthanasia when paraplegia and incontinence develop. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The majority of dogs diagnosed with DM have not undergone advanced imaging, the combination of history, neurological findings, and genetic testing is heavily relied upon. Whereas the diagnosis of DM is frequently made by veterinary neurologists, continued care is often performed by rehabilitation professionals or primary veterinarians.

Differences in perceptions and satisfaction exist among veterinarians employed at corporate versus privately owned veterinary clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and contrast the views of benefits and general work conditions of participants working in corporate hospitals compared to those working in privately owned hospitals. SAMPLE: Veterinary members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) working as associate veterinarians in corporate- or privately owned hospitals. METHODS: An electronic survey distributed via the VIN data collection portal. RESULTS: A total of 896 responses from associate veterinarians working full time were received, of which 286 (31.9%) reported working in private practice and 610 (68.1%) in corporate practice. Fifty-five percent of participants indicated a preference for working in private practice compared to 12% preferring corporate practice. Veterinarians working in corporate practice were more likely to report receiving insurance (health, dental, life, and short-term disability), mental wellness programs (eg, counseling), wellness mobile apps, VIN membership, and continuing education paid by their employer than those working in privately owned practices. However, participants in private practice reported higher satisfaction with feeling known as an individual by upper management, hospital culture, the ability to fire difficult or abusive clients, and mentorship. Those working in corporate practices reported feeling more pressure than those in private practice to generate revenue and see more clients per shift. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There are positives and negatives of corporate-owned hospitals when compared to privately owned practices. Corporate hospitals may be well positioned to make large organizational-level changes that can improve work culture and, as a result, the well-being and retention of small animal practitioners.

Novel extracellular matrix wound dressing shows increased epithelialization of full-thickness skin wounds in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in the healing of surgically created full-thickness wounds in dogs treated with a novel extracellular matrix (ECM) dressing as compared with a standard wound management protocol and to investigate the effect of antibiotics in these 2 populations. ANIMALS: 15 purpose-bred Beagles, 8 female spayed and 7 males neutered, operated on, and monitored between March 14, 2022, and April 18, 2022. METHODS: Four 2 X 2-cm full-thickness skin wounds were created on the trunks of each dog. The right-sided wounds were treated with the novel ECM wound dressing, and the left-sided wounds served as the controls. Wound planimetry and qualitative wound scores were obtained at 12 time points. Wound biopsies for histopathologic assessment of wound repair and wound inflammation were obtained at 6 time points. RESULTS: Wounds treated with ECM had higher percent epithelization at days 7, 9, 12, and 18 postoperatively (P < .001) and better histologic repair scores (P = .024) than wounds treated by the standard protocol. Subjective wound assessment scores of wounds treated with ECM did not differ from those treated by the standard protocol at any time point. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Wounds treated with the novel ECM dressing epithelialized more rapidly than wounds treated by a standard protocol.

Anesthetic and analgesic techniques used for cats undergoing ovariohysterectomies in general practice in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To better document anesthetic and analgesic protocols used by veterinarians in general practice within the United States (US) when performing elective ovariohysterectomy in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. POPULATION: Veterinary practitioners in the US who are members of the Veterinary Information Network Inc. (VIN). METHODS: An online anonymous survey was distributed to VIN members. The survey included questions pertaining to preanesthetic evaluation, premedication, induction, monitoring and maintenance protocols, and postoperative analgesia and sedation protocols when performing ovariohysterectomy in cats. RESULTS: A total of 1324 veterinarians completed the survey. Respondents (number; %) reported performing preanesthetic laboratory tests [packed cell volume (256; 19.3%), complete blood cell count (893; 67.4%) and biochemistry panels (1101; 83.2%)] and preanesthetic examinations (1186; 89.6%) on the morning of surgery. The most frequently administered drugs for premedication were dexmedetomidine (353; 26.7%) and buprenorphine (424; 32.0%). The most frequently administered induction agent was propofol (451; 61.3%), and isoflurane (668; 50.4%) was the most common agent for maintenance of anesthesia. The majority of respondents reported placing intravenous catheters (885; 66.8%), administering crystalloid fluids (689; 52.0%) and providing heat support (1142; 86.3%). Participants reported using perioperative and postoperative analgesia including opioids (791; 59.7%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 697; 52.6%) and NSAIDs dispensed for home use (665; 50.2%). Cats were commonly released home on the day of surgery (1150; 86.9%), and most participants reported contacting owners for follow-up within 1-2 days (989; 74.7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anesthetic protocols and management techniques for routine feline ovariohysterectomy differ widely among US veterinarians who are VIN members, and results from this study may be of use to evaluate anesthetic practices from this population of veterinarians.