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OBJECTIVE: To describe ophthalmic findings in hospitalized canine and feline patients with tick paralysis (TP) and investigate possible predisposing factors. ANIMALS STUDIED: Forty-seven dogs and 28 cats hospitalized with TP assessed with an ophthalmic examination performed by an ABVO resident. METHODS: Dogs and cats were hospitalized with TP from October 2021 to January 2022 and had an ophthalmic examination performed by an ABVO resident. Patient signalment data, information regarding tick number and location, hospitalization duration, medications used, and patient paralysis grades were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate findings. RESULTS: Corneal ulcers developed in up to 34.8% of dogs and up to 42.9% of cats hospitalized with TP. An absent palpebral reflex ipsilaterally increased the odds of a concurrent corneal ulcer being present by 14.7× in dogs and 20.1× in cats (p < .0001). Palpebral reflexes were absent in 38.3% of dogs and 35.7% of cats hospitalized with TP and were correlated with more severe gait paralysis (p = .01) and respiratory paralysis (p = .005) in dogs, and respiratory paralysis in cats (p = .041). STT-1 findings <10 mm/min were present in 27.7% of dogs and 57.1% of cats examined and were associated with increasing gait paralysis (p = .017) and respiratory paralysis (p = .007) in dogs, and increasing gait paralysis in cats (p = .017). CONCLUSIONS: Simple corneal ulcers, loss of a complete palpebral reflex, and reduced STT-1 scores frequently occurred in dogs and cats hospitalized for TP. The frequency of these findings increased as the degree of patient paralysis increased.
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OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of cats diagnosed with distichiasis and report on the outcomes following cryoepilation. ANIMALS STUDIED: Fifteen cats (27 eyes). PROCEDURES: Medical records of domestic cats with distichiasis that underwent a double freeze-thaw cycle with a -80°C cryoprobe applied to the palpebral conjunctiva, with hair then epilated were retrospectively studied. The patient signalment, distichiae locations, concurrent ocular diseases, recurrences, complications, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The mean (std dev) age at the time of diagnosis and treatment was 2.2 years (2.8 years). All (15/15) cats were of the domestic shorthair (DSH) breed. Concurrent ocular findings at the initial examination were observed in 17/27 (63%) eyes, with upper lateral eyelid hypoplasia the most prevalent, present in 9/27 (33.3%) eyes. Recurrence of distichiae occurred in 8/27 (29.6%) eyes. The clinical presentation in the instances of recurrence was judged as asymptomatic and not of a clinical concern in 3/27 (11.1%) eyes, with a second procedure deemed necessary to alleviate symptoms in 5/27 (18.5%) eyes. All eyes treated with a second procedure had no recurrence of distichiae or symptoms. Complications following cryoepilation occurred in 4/27 (14.8%) eyes, with two cats developing bilateral entropion post-procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of distichiasis in cats utilizing cryoepilation was effective at alleviating symptoms, though some cats needed a second procedure. The development of post-procedural entropion was seen occasionally.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and predisposing factors leading to the development of corneal ulcers and the loss of a palpebral reflex in hospitalised canine and feline patients with tick paralysis (TP). ANIMALS STUDIED: A total of 102 dogs and 100 cats retrospectively were assessed from previously hospitalised patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 102 different canine and 100 different feline patients who were hospitalised for TP from October 2020-January 2022. Patient data were collected, and logistic regression was conducted to determine factors affecting the palpebral reflex and the development of corneal ulcers. RESULTS: Corneal ulcers occurred in 23/102 (22.5%) dogs during hospitalisation and were strongly associated with an incomplete palpebral reflex ipsilaterally during hospitalisation (P < 0.001), hospitalisation ≥3 days (P = 0.004), mechanical ventilation ≥3 days (P = 0.015) or a tick location cranial to C1 (P = 0.003). An incomplete palpebral reflex during hospitalisation was observed in 29/102 (28.4%) dogs and was significantly associated with decreasing patient weight (P = 0.018), increasing days hospitalised (P = 0.001), having a tick found cranial to C1 (P = 0.004), highest recorded GP grade (P = 0.01), highest recorded RP grade (P = 0.005), use of amoxycillin-clavulanic acid during hospitalisation (P = 0.002) and use of piperacillin/tazobactam during hospitalisation (P = 0.003). There was a significant association between the loss of a complete palpebral reflex and mortality during hospitalisation in dogs (OR = 4.5, P = 0.029). Corneal ulcers occurred in 10/100 (10.0%) cats during hospitalisation, and was significantly more likely to occur to an eye if an incomplete palpebral reflex was observed ipsilaterally during hospitalisation (OR = 20.1, P < 0.0001) and with increasing patient age (P = 0.019). The absence of a complete palpebral reflex during hospitalisation was observed in 18/10 (18.0%) cats and was significantly associated with increasing days hospitalised (P = 0.034). There was no significant association between the loss of a complete palpebral reflex and mortality during hospitalisation in cats. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of corneal ulcers and loss of palpebral reflexes were significant in dogs and cats hospitalised by TP, with many factors contributing to the risk of these developing.
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When a mandatory health fee policy for students on campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY) was instituted in fall 1991, the projection was that the policy, which was at the option of individual institutions, would result in significant changes for SUNY health service operations. The changes would affect funding sources, staffing requirements, utilization rates, and services offered. In the past, the SUNY system had been inconsistent in health fee policies. This study was conducted to assist in implementing the mandatory health service fees. The authors surveyed 53 public higher education institutions viewed as comparable to the University at Buffalo in terms of location in an equivalent state, enrollment of 10,000 or more students, similar academic disciplines, average SAT scores, faculty salaries, and graduate enrollment. Two institutions that no longer met the original criteria were not included. The final tabulation was based on data from 42 institutions, for a return rate of 82%. Survey results showed that public higher education institutions are significantly altering traditional practices associated with student healthcare. Health services are providing more specialty services, increasing the focus on wellness and health education, seeking accreditation, and increasing student representation in decision making. In addition, funding sources have shifted dramatically, with a larger percentage of the student health budget derived directly from fees assessed to students and a much smaller percentage derived from institutional or state appropriations.
