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Critical Thinking, Now More Than Ever
Thinking critically when evaluating medical evidence published following conventional peer-review requires neither sophistication nor prowess but does require a healthy dose of skepticism and a willingness to accept nothing at face value. A controversial 2005 manuscript made the astonishing (yet not baseless) claim that “It can be proven that most claimed research findings are false.”1 Regardless of whether one holds this opinion to be incisive or hyperbolic, it presaged what those of us who conduct evidence-based medicine remain keenly aware of: that while journals deem the presentation of measures of precisio n and s...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Philip H. Kass, (Specialty In Epidemiology) Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Human behavior preceding facial dog bites
The mutually beneficial relationship between humans and dogs is sometimes overshadowed by bites. Possible injuries range from minor lacerations to fatal wounds. Epidemiological studies indicate that the most common victims of dog bite injuries are children, and most dogs that bite are familiar with their victims. Among the more serious dog bite injuries are those that occur on the face. The most serious cases can have cosmetic and functional consequences. The incidence of bites to the face is associated with victim age; children are mostly bitten on the face, whereas adults are usually bitten on the limbs. (Source: Advance...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Behavior Source Type: research

Canine pancreas-specific lipase activity, lipase activity, and trypsin-like immunoreactivity in acute renal injury
Acute pancreatitis occurs commonly in dogs. Affected dogs can present with a wide spectrum of clinical signs and physical examination findings, including lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The definitive antemortem diagnosis of acute pancreatitis remains challenging, despite the availability of improved serologic testing and abdominal imaging modalities. Pancreatic histopathology is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of pancreatitis. Historically, serum lipase activity, amylase activity, and trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) have been used to diagnose pancreatitis. (Source: Advances in Sm...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Gastroenterology Source Type: research

Cytological findings of bile samples from dogs and cats
Cholecystocentesis may be performed as part of the complete diagnostic work up of hepatobiliary diseases in small animals. In this institution, positive bacterial culture results occur in up to 30% of bile samples from dogs and cats with hepatobiliary disorders. Commonly cultured bacteria include normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. Ascending migration from the gut has thus been accepted as the most plausible pathomechanism for bactibilia; however, experimental studies have also documented that hematogenous spread of bacteria from the portal vein is possible. (Sou...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Gastroenterology Source Type: research

Ocular lymphoma in cats
Lymphoma is the most common neoplasia in the cat. As in the dog, lymphoma is a systemic disease in the cat, so the treatment of choice is chemotherapy. Due to the systemic pattern of the disease, it is necessary to evaluate its extent and create a stage allocation according to WHO standards before treatment. The uveal tract of the eye is one of the most perfused tissues of the body and can be involved in a variety of systemic diseases. The ocular manifestations of lymphoma in humans are manifold and can affect nearly all parts of the eye. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Ophthalmology Source Type: research

Rectal temps at admission in rabbits
Homeotherms maintain a constant body temperature despite variations in their thermal environment. This process is critical, because decreases in core body temperature influence almost every organ system, including the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, digestive, and urinary systems. Body temperature control may have a therapeutic role, as there is some evidence that prompt correction of hypothermia may decrease mortality risk in human patients. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Small Mammals Source Type: research

Outcome and prognostic factors for canine splenic lymphoma treated by splenectomy
Little is known about the clinical outcome of dogs with primary splenic lymphoma. Only 3 reports describe canine primary splenic lymphoma and its outcome. There is minimal outcome data following splenectomy for the treatment of splenic lymphoma. Splenectomy can be performed in the cases of lymphoma before diagnosis because of splenic rupture leading to a hemoabdomen or to diagnose the cause of splenomegaly or a splenic mass. In cases of lymphoma, splenectomy can be used to decrease disease burden or to treat cases unresponsive to chemotherapy. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - July 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Quivering Kidneys: Minimally Invasive Tests for Renal Pathology? (The few, the new, and not-so-new tried and true)
Clinical testing for renal disease in dogs and cats has largely remained unchanged for many years, with renal insufficiency identified by increasing serum BUN and creatinine as estimates of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with concurrent isosthenuria. Detection of proteinuria is suggestive of glomerular pathology. It is widely recognized that these diagnostic modalities lack sensitivity and specificity, and they do not determine the underlying cause. Once renal azotemia is present, the kidneys have typically succumbed to severe, often irreversible damage. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Johanna Rigas Source Type: research

Comparison of radiographic and echocardiographic assessment of left atrial size in cats with heart failure
Left-sided congestive heart failure is a common clinical syndrome and most often secondary to cardiomyopathy in cats. Due to its high mortality, early diagnosis and immediate effective treatment are of crucial importance for survival. The diagnosis of congestive heart failure is primarily based on history and physical examination findings but may be confounded by conditions causing similar clinical signs. Thoracic radiography is the standard diagnostic method in the confirmation of suspected congestive heart failure. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Cardiology Source Type: research

Azathioprine liver toxicity in dogs
Azathioprine (AZA) is used as an immunosuppressive drug in both human and veterinary medicine. AZA is commonly used in dogs to treat immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and other immune-mediated diseases. The use of AZA is limited by the risk of hepatotoxicosis, which can be either idiosyncratic or dose-dependent in humans. Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicosis from AZA is relatively rare. In contrast, dose-dependent AZA hepatotoxicosis occurs in 4 to 24% of human patients and is defined by an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity greater than 2-fold the upper limit of the reference range in patie...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Critical Care Source Type: research

Cobalamin and methylmalonic acid concentrations in hyperthyroid cats
Hyperthyroidism, the most common endocrine disorder in cats, has been associated with low serum cobalamin concentrations. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is a water-soluble vitamin that has an important role in cellular functions involving DNA synthesis and amino acid production. A functional cobalamin deficiency is an important metabolic derangement in humans that may lead to substantial morbidities such as anemia, cognitive impairment, weakness, and peripheral neuropathies. Cobalamin reserves in cats become depleted within days in part because of the absence of circulating transcobalamin 1 and cobalamin loss via the enterohepati...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Gastroenterology Source Type: research

Effects of cranberry extract on prevention of urinary tract infection in dogs
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are associated with a temporary or permanent breach in host defense mechanisms that allows virulent microbes to adhere, multiply, and persist within the urinary tract. Infections can be confined to a single site within the urogenital tract, such as the renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, urethra, prostate gland, or vagina, or can be found at multiple sites. UTIs are most commonly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which is the most common uropathogen. The E. coli strains that cause UTIs have proteinaceous macromolecules (fimbriae) that facilitate adhesion of bacteria to uroepithelial cel...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Nephrology/Urology Source Type: research

Metastatic cancer of unknown source in dogs
Metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary (MCUP) refers to a biopsy-proven malignancy in which the anatomical origin of the primary tumor cannot be detected after a thorough patient history, careful physical examination, and extensive clinical work up. In humans, only 20% of primary sites are identified by extensive diagnostic workup before the patients die. In approximately 70% of patients, the primary site cannot be identified even following necropsy. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - June 30, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Oncology Source Type: research

Recommending Reward-based Dog Training to Veterinary Clients
To help the group get past the dragon guarding the treasure at Gringotts Bank in the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the goblin Griphook handed Ron a noise maker and explained, “It's been trained to expect pain when it hears this noise.” Hermione immediately responded, “That's barbaric!” (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Shawn Finch Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Secondary prevention of cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism in the cat
Cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism (CATE) is a well-recognized and devastating clinical morbidity with feline cardiomyopathy. When fragments of an intracardiac thrombus gain access to the systemic circulation, they may obstruct distal arterial segments which can result in tissue damage or organ infarction. Saddle thrombi and other thrombi often result. Euthanasia is often selected in part because of the lack of evidence for management strategies that might prevent recurrent CATE. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 31, 2016 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Cardiology Source Type: research