Effects of a perioperative antibiotic and veterinary probiotic on fecal dysbiosis index in dogs.

Although widely used, the effects of perioperative antibiotics on the gastrointestinal microbiome are still being researched. The role of probiotics to ameliorate adverse effects of perioperative antibiotics is unclear. The dysbiosis index (DI), based on a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique, is used to assess gastrointestinal health. The DI in dogs receiving perioperative antibiotics and the effects of concurrent probiotics were evaluated in this study. This was a prospective study of 20 dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy. Baseline and 48-hour postoperative fecal DI were evaluated. Eleven dogs received a probiotic and 9 received placebo. Preanesthetic DI was not different between treatment groups (P = 0.378). One bacterial group, Blautia, decreased in the placebo group (P = 0.002); however, there was no change in the probiotic group (P = 0.336). The DI increased numerically after probiotic administration, but the time × treatment interaction was not significant (P = 0.996). Administration of a probiotic failed to improve DI. Further investigation is needed to evaluate long-term effects of perioperative antibiotics on the gut microbiome.

Effets d'un antibiotique périopératoire et d'un probiotique vétérinaire sur l'indice de dysbiose fécale chez le chien. Les antibiotiques périopératoires sont largement utilisés, mais leurs effets sur le microbiome gastro-intestinal sont toujours à l'étude. Le rôle des probiotiques dans l'amélioration des effets indésirables liés aux antibiotiques périopératoires n'est pas clair. L'indice de dysbiose (ID), une technique de PCR quantitative, est utilisé pour évaluer la santé gastro-intestinale. Cette étude a évalué l'ID chez les chiens recevant des antibiotiques périopératoires ainsi que tout effet lié à l'administration d'un probiotique en simultané. Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective portant sur 20 chiens subissant une hémilaminectomie. Les valeurs d'ID de référence ainsi que 48 heures postopératoires ont été évaluées. Onze chiens ont reçu un probiotique; 9 ont reçu un placebo. L'ID pré-anesthésique n'était pas différent entre les deux groupes (P = 0,378). Un groupe bactérien, Blautia, a diminué dans le groupe placebo (P = 0,002); il n'y a eu aucun changement dans le groupe probiotique (P = 0,336). L'ID a augmenté quantitativement après l'administration de probiotiques, mais l'interaction « temps × traitement ¼ n'était pas significative (P = 0,996). L'administration d'un probiotique n'a pas amélioré l'ID. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour évaluer les effets à long terme des antibiotiques périopératoires sur le microbiome intestinal.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Performance evaluation of a Test&Treat rapid detection kit for the diagnosis of septic effusions in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a veterinary point-of-care (POC) luminometer-based kit for the diagnosis of septic peritoneal or pleural effusion in dogs and cats. DESIGN: Prospective study performed between January 2020 and July 2021. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Forty-eight animals with naturally occurring peritoneal or pleural effusion collected by aseptic abdominocentesis or thoracocentesis. PROCEDURES: Effusion samples were split into filtered (using a 10-micron filter) and unfiltered aliquots and analyzed by the POC instrument according to the manufacturer's instructions and following variable incubation periods. Samples were also plated aerobically on standard and blood agar plates. Proprietary reagents were added to samples, causing bacterial ATP to generate bioluminescence that is detected by the luminometer. Bioluminescence values (relative light units [RLUs]) were recorded and compared with the presence of bacterial growth on the culture plates. Nucleated cell counts in native and filtered effusion samples were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-one samples were septic based on positive culture. RLUs were higher in septic effusions for filtered and native effusions compared with sterile effusions. The use of a filter reduced cell counts. In filtered samples incubated for 30 minutes before testing, the sensitivity and specificity of the luminometer for diagnosis of infection in cavitary effusions were 81% and 82%, respectively, using a cutoff of 12,202 RLUs. CONCLUSIONS: The luminometer kit evaluated in this study represents a viable screening tool for diagnosis of septic cavitary effusions and could be used in conjunction with other POC diagnostics to support the rapid diagnosis of infection.

2024 RECOVER Guidelines: Monitoring. Evidence and knowledge gap analysis with treatment recommendations for small animal CPR.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evidence on and devise treatment recommendations for patient monitoring before, during, and following CPR in dogs and cats, and to identify critical knowledge gaps. DESIGN: Standardized, systematic evaluation of literature pertinent to peri-CPR monitoring following Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Prioritized questions were each reviewed by Evidence Evaluators, and findings were reconciled by Monitoring Domain Chairs and Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) Co-Chairs to arrive at treatment recommendations commensurate to quality of evidence, risk:benefit relationship, and clinical feasibility. This process was implemented using an Evidence Profile Worksheet for each question that included an introduction, consensus on science, treatment recommendations, justification for these recommendations, and important knowledge gaps. A draft of these worksheets was distributed to veterinary professionals for comment for 4 weeks prior to finalization. SETTING: Transdisciplinary, international collaboration in university, specialty, and emergency practice. RESULTS: Thirteen questions pertaining to hemodynamic, respiratory, and metabolic monitoring practices for identification of cardiopulmonary arrest, quality of CPR, and postcardiac arrest care were examined, and 24 treatment recommendations were formulated. Of these, 5 recommendations pertained to aspects of end-tidal CO2 (ETco2) measurement. The recommendations were founded predominantly on very low quality of evidence, with some based on expert opinion. CONCLUSIONS: The Monitoring Domain authors continue to support initiation of chest compressions without pulse palpation. We recommend multimodal monitoring of patients at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest, at risk of re-arrest, or under general anesthesia. This report highlights the utility of ETco2 monitoring to verify correct intubation, identify return of spontaneous circulation, evaluate quality of CPR, and guide basic life support measures. Treatment recommendations further suggest intra-arrest evaluation of electrolytes (ie, potassium and calcium), as these may inform outcome-relevant interventions.

2024 RECOVER Guidelines: Updated treatment recommendations for CPR in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: After the 2012 Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) CPR Guidelines, this is an update of evidence-based consensus guidelines for Basic Life Support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), and periarrest monitoring. DESIGN: These RECOVER CPR Guidelines were generated using a modified version of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system for evidence evaluation and translation of this evidence into clear and actionable clinical instructions. Prioritized clinical questions in the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) format were used as the basis to conduct systematic literature searches by information specialists, to extract information from relevant publications, to assess this evidence for quality, and finally to translate the findings into treatment recommendations. These recommendations were reviewed by the RECOVER writing group and opened for comment by veterinary professionals for 4 weeks. SETTING: Transdisciplinary, international collaboration in university, specialty, and emergency practice. RESULTS: A total of 40 worksheets were prepared to evaluate questions across the 3 domains of BLS, ALS and Monitoring, resulting in 90 individual treatment recommendations. High-dose epinephrine is no longer recommended, and atropine, if used, is only administered once. Bag-mask ventilation is prioritized over mouth-to-nose ventilation in nonintubated animals. In addition, an algorithm for initial assessment, an updated CPR algorithm, a rhythm diagnosis tool, and an updated drug dosing table are provided. CONCLUSIONS: While the majority of the BLS and ALS recommendations remain unchanged, some noteworthy changes were made due to new evidence that emerged over the past 10 years. Indirectness of evidence remains the largest impediment to the certainty of guidelines formulation and underscores an urgent need for more studies in the target species of dogs and cats.

Evaluation of blood thiamine concentration in hospitalized dogs with and without critical illness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blood thiamine concentration in healthy and critically ill hospitalized dogs over 72 hours of hospitalization and to identify any association of thiamine concentration with patient morbidity and mortality. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, clinical study. SETTING: University veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Thirty-one hospitalized healthy dogs and 37 dogs with critical illness. Dogs with critical illness had nonseptic (n = 24) or septic (n = 13) etiologies. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Whole blood EDTA samples were collected within 24 hours of admission and 72 hours later. Samples were stored at -80°C and batch analyzed. Total thiamine (tB1) and thiamine diphosphate (TDP) concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, and free thiamine concentration was determined using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Collected patient data included CBC, biochemistry profile, plasma lactate concentration, shock index, Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation Score (APPLEfast ) score, comorbid conditions, and patient outcome. Approximately 92% of tB1 present in whole blood is measured as TDP. TDP concentration was strongly correlated with tB1 (R = 0.97, P < 0.0001). Thiamine concentration, represented by TDP, was not different at admission or at 72 hours in all dogs. TDP concentration was lower in septic dogs requiring surgery at admission (P = 0.044) and 72 hours later (P = 0.008), compared to dogs not requiring surgery. TDP concentration was not different between dogs with and without stable chronic diseases at any time point. Older dogs had lower TDP concentration. Positive correlations were seen between TDP and body weight, APPLEfast score, and WBC count. Critically ill dogs with lower admission plasma lactate concentration were more likely to have an increase in thiamine over time (P = 0.0142). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in thiamine concentration were not identified in hospitalized healthy or critically ill dogs. Further investigation into the clinical relevance of thiamine deficiency is indicated in septic dogs undergoing surgery.

Effects of potential confounding variables on accuracy of a commercially available veterinary point-of-care hematocrit meter in the evaluation of blood samples from dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the agreement in measurements of Hct values and hemoglobin (Hgb) concentrations in blood samples from dogs and cats between a commercially available veterinary point-of-care (POC) Hct meter and a laboratory-based (LAB) analyzer and to determine the effects of various conditions (ie, lipemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hemolysis, autoagglutination, and reticulocytosis) on the accuracy of the POC meter. SAMPLES: Blood samples from 86 dogs and 18 cats. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were run in duplicate on the POC meter, which reported Hgb concentration, measured via optical reflectance, and a calculated Hct value. The POC meter results were compared with results from a LAB analyzer. Blood samples with grossly visible lipemia, icterus, hemolysis, and autoagglutination were noted. RESULTS: Mean ± SD values for LAB Hct were 33.9 ± 15.73% (range, 3.9% to 75.8%), and for LAB Hgb were 11.2 ± 5.4 g/dL (range, 1 to 24.6 g/dL). Mean bias between POC Hct and LAB Hct values was -1.8% with 95% limits of agreement (LOAs) of -11.1% to 7.5% and between POC Hgb and LAB Hgb concentrations was -0.5 g/dL with 95% LOAs of -3.8 to 2.8 g/dL. There was no influence of lipemia (14 samples), icterus (23), autoagglutination (14), hemolysis (12), or high reticulocyte count (15) on the accuracy of the POC meter. The POC meter was unable to read 13 blood samples; 9 had a LAB Hct ≤ 12%, and 4 had a LAB Hct concentration between 13% and 17%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Overall, measurements from the POC meter had good agreement with those from the LAB analyzer. However, LOAs were fairly wide, indicating that there may be clinically important differences between measurements from the POC meter and LAB analyzer.

Evaluation of the i-STAT Alinity v in a veterinary clinical setting.

Many point-of-care (POC) analyzers are available for the measurement of electrolytes and acid-base status in animals. We assessed the precision of the i-STAT Alinity v, a recently introduced POC analyzer, and compared it to 2 commonly used and previously validated POC analyzers (i-STAT 1, Stat Profile pHOx Ultra). Precision was evaluated by performing multiple analyses of whole blood samples from healthy dogs, cats, and horses on multiple i-STAT Alinity v analyzers. For comparison between analyzers, whole blood samples from dogs and cats presented to the emergency room were run concurrently on all 3 POC instruments. Reported values were compared by species (dogs and cats only) using Pearson correlation, and all values from all species were analyzed together for the Bland-Altman analysis. Results suggested that the i-STAT Alinity v precision was very good, with median coefficients of variability <2.5% for all measured parameters (except the anion gap), with variable ranges of coefficients of variation. In addition, good-to-excellent correlation was observed between the i-STAT Alinity v and i-STAT 1, and between the i-STAT Alinity v and Stat Profile pHOx Ultra for all parameters in both cats and dogs, respectively. In this cohort, the i-STAT Alinity v had clinically acceptable bias compared to the currently marketed analyzers and can be used for monitoring measured analytes in cats and dogs, although serial measurements in a single animal should be performed on the same analyzer whenever possible.

Development and evaluation of a formula to correct blood glucose concentration measurements in hemodiluted and hemoconcentrated feline blood samples tested by use of a veterinary point-of-care glucometer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of PCV on blood glucose concentration measurements in feline blood samples tested with a point-of-care (POC) glucometer and to develop and evaluate a correction formula that adjusts POC glucometer-measured blood glucose concentration (POCgluc) for a given PCV. DESIGN: Experimental and prospective study. SAMPLE: Blood samples from 4 healthy and 16 hospitalized cats. PROCEDURES: Heparinized blood samples from healthy cats were processed into packed RBCs and plasma. Packed RBCs were resuspended with plasma to achieve PCVs ranging from 0% to 87%. Duplicate PCV and POCgluc measurements were obtained for each suspension. Plasma glucose concentration as measured by a clinical laboratory biochemical analyzer (LABgluc) was assessed; results were compared with the POCgluc. A formula to correct POCgluc measurements for PCV was developed. Blood samples from hospitalized cats were used to evaluate the formula. RESULTS: For each healthy cat, LABgluc values were similar for all PCVs; the mean difference between POCgluc and LABgluc at PCVs outside a range of 35% to 55% was significant. Mean differences between POCgluc and LABgluc were 24.3 and 41.5 mg/dL, whereas mean differences between corrected POCgluc and LABgluc were 3 and 25.9 mg/dL for samples from healthy and hospitalized cats, respectively. Correlation between corrected POCgluc and LABgluc was stronger than that between POCgluc and LABgluc for samples from healthy and hospitalized cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The POCgluc did not reflect LABgluc in hemodiluted or hemoconcentrated feline blood samples. Use of a correction formula appeared to reduce this error. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the frequency with which this correction formula might prevent clinical errors. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2019;254:1180-1185).

Pharmacokinetics of tranexamic acid in healthy dogs and assessment of its antifibrinolytic properties in canine blood.

OBJECTIVE To assess pharmacokinetics of tranexamic acid (TXA) in dogs and assess antifibrinolytic properties of TXA in canine blood by use of a thromboelastography-based in vitro model of hyperfibrinolysis. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs received each of 4 TXA treatments (10 mg/kg, IV; 20 mg/kg, IV; approx 15 mg/kg, PO; and approx 20 mg/kg, PO) in a randomized crossover-design study. Blood samples were collected at baseline (time 0; immediately prior to drug administration) and predetermined time points afterward for pharmacokinetic analysis and pharmacodynamic (thromboelastography) analysis by use of an in vitro hyperfibrinolysis model. RESULTS Maximum amplitude (MA [representing maximum clot strength]) significantly increased from baseline at all time points for all treatments. The MA was lower at 360 minutes for the 10-mg/kg IV treatment than for other treatments. Percentage of clot lysis 30 minutes after MA was detected was significantly decreased from baseline at all time points for all treatments; at 360 minutes, this value was higher for the 10-mg/kg IV treatment than for other treatments and higher for the 20-mg/kg IV treatment than for the 20-mg/kg PO treatment. Maximum plasma TXA concentrations were dose dependent. At 20 mg/kg, IV, plasma TXA concentrations briefly exceeded concentrations suggested for complete inhibition of fibrinolysis. Oral drug administration resulted in a later peak antifibrinolytic effect than did IV administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Administration of TXA improved clot strength and decreased fibrinolysis in blood samples from healthy dogs in an in vitro hyperfibrinolysis model. Further research is needed to determine clinical effects of TXA in dogs with hyperfibrinolysis.

Diagnosis and management of pyothorax in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis, management, and outcome of pyothorax in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). CASE SUMMARY: A domestic ferret was evaluated for a history of lethargy, anorexia, and pyrexia. Pleural effusion was detected with radiography and ultrasonography, and a diagnosis of pyothorax was made following cytologic evaluation of pleural fluid. Bilateral thoracostomy tubes were placed for thoracic drainage and lavage, and the ferret was treated with intravenous crystalloid fluids, antimicrobials, and analgesics. Bacterial culture of the pleural fluid yielded Fusobacterium spp. and Actinomyces hordeovulneris. This treatment protocol resulted in resolution of pyothorax, and a positive clinical outcome. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This is the first reported case of successful management of pyothorax caused by Fusobacterium spp. and A. hordeovulneris in a ferret.

Formulation and validation of a predictive model to correct blood glucose concentrations obtained with a veterinary point-of-care glucometer in hemodiluted and hemoconcentrated canine blood samples.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of PCV on veterinary point-of-care (POC) glucometer measurements in canine blood samples and develop a formula to correct the glucose concentration as measured by a point-of-care glucometer (POCgluc) given a known PCV. DESIGN: Experimental and prospective study. SAMPLES: Blood samples from 6 healthy dogs and from 30 hospitalized dogs. PROCEDURES: 60 mL of heparinized blood was obtained from each of 6 healthy dogs. Samples were processed into packed RBCs and plasma. Packed RBCs were resuspended with plasma to achieve a range of PCVs from 0% to 94%. Duplicate POCgluc and PCV measurements were obtained for each dilution; following POCgluc measurements, plasma samples were analyzed for glucose concentration by a clinical laboratory biochemical analyzer (LABgluc). A correction formula for POCgluc was developed. Measurements of POCgluc, PCV, and LABgluc were also determined from blood samples of 30 dogs admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital. RESULTS: Values of LABgluc for each sample were similar at any PCV. As PCV decreased, POCgluc was falsely increased; as PCV increased, POCgluc was falsely decreased, compared with LABgluc. The absolute difference between POCgluc and LABgluc increased as the PCV changed from 50%. Compared with POCgluc, the corrected POCgluc had a significantly improved correlation with LABgluc, which was also reflected in improvements in Clarke and consensus error grid analyses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that in dogs with hemodilution or hemoconcentration, POCgluc did not reflect actual patient glucose concentrations. Use of a correction formula reduced this error. Corrected POCgluc data had strong, significant correlations with LABgluc data.