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Analgesia in Small Exotic Mammals: A Review
The benefits of analgesia in veterinary patients are well understood and described. Provision of effective analgesia improves recovery times from surgical procedures, reduces the risk of pain-induced anorexia and digestive tract stasis, and is essential for patient welfare and owner satisfaction. In the past, many clinicians avoided the use of analgesic drugs in exotic animals due to concerns about patient safety, many of which proved unfounded or have been resolved with the advent of safer drug protocols. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Samantha Swisher, Angela Lennox Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Pimobendan effects on arrhythmias in small breed dogs
Pimobendan is an arteriodilator, venodilator, and positive inotrope. Its action is classified as an inodilator and is exerted via inhibition of phosphodiesterase III and calcium sensitization. Pimobendan has beneficial effects in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD). Early clinical trials of pimobendan in humans demonstrated an increased incidence of arrhythmia-related sudden death, which led the FDA to deny the drug a license for human use. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Cardiology Source Type: research

Clinical features of progressive vacuolar hepatopathy in scottish terriers
In dogs, increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity may reflect necroinflammatory, neoplastic, or cholestatic disorders involving hepatic, biliary, or pancreatic ductal systems; canalicular cholestasis; or simply induction from endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research

Point-of-care anticoagulant rodenticide test for dogs
Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis is one of the most common intoxications in small animals and is a major cause of poison-related morbidity and mortality. Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used in rodent control. These compounds inhibit hepatic vitamin K1 epoxide reductase, thereby reducing synthesis of functional vitamin K1-dependent clotting factors (factors II, VII, IX, X) by preventing carboxylation of glutamate and formation of gamma-carboxyglutamate (Gla) residues. Formation of Gla domains is essential for functional vitamin K1-dependent clotting factors. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research

Pyogranulomatous panophthalmitis in a ferret
Ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV) disease is an emerging condition in domestic ferrets, which was first reported in 2004. Since then, additional cases have been reported in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Clinical presentation and pathology in FRSCV disease closely resemble that in the noneffusive (dry) form of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in domestic cats, which is caused by a group 1 feline coronavirus (FCoV). (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Small Mammals Source Type: research

Active suction wound drains in dogs and cats
Active suction wound drains are used widely in veterinary medicine, but there is little published literature regarding their use. The aims of using a wound drain are to remove fluid and to eliminate dead space which may otherwise cause pain, increase wound infection rates, and delay wound healing. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Statement of Ownership
(Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - November 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research

Is 2 Greater Than 3? Making Sense of a New 2-Tiered Grading System for Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs
Historically, histopathologic grade has been one of the most reliable predictors of survival in dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs). For many years, the system most commonly used to grade MCTs was a 3-tiered scheme described by Patnaik and colleagues.1 The Patnaik system classifies MCTs as grade 1 (low), 2 (intermediate), or 3 (high) depending upon several histopathologic features. Patnaik grade correlates strongly with prognosis, at least for grade 1 tumors, which are almost always cured by surgical removal, and grade 3 tumors, which are almost never cured by surgical removal, often metastasize widely, and usually...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Michael O. Childress Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Diseases in backyard poultry
The popularity of backyard poultry has increased in recent years. Backyard poultry may be pets, small egg-laying or meat-producing flocks, or exhibition birds. Flock size also varies from 3 to 5 chickens to a few hundred birds in a flock. Although diagnosis and treatment of individual animals can be achieved in flocks that have up to 25 birds, it may be impractical for larger flocks. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Avian Source Type: research

Surgical margins for cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs
Surgical margins of 2 to 3 cm have traditionally been proposed for wide resection of subcutaneous and cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs) in small animal patients, with these margins determined on the basis of gross appearance and palpation. However, a recent report proposed the use of proportional margins. Most clinical studies report the use of 1 to 2 mm, histologically determined tumor-free margins, as the definition of clean margins for MCT resection, although 1 study required at least 5 mm. In a recent poll of veterinary surgical oncologists, 4 mm appears to be the most commonly used cutoff value for histologically clea...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research

Home-obtained compared to hospital-obtained urine for protein:creatinine ratios
An association exists between proteinuria and morbidity and mortality in both dogs and cats. In addition, the risk of adverse outcomes increases as the magnitude of proteinuria increases. Interventions, such as angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors that decrease the severity of proteinuria, also have reno-protective effects in markedly proteinuric dogs. Therefore, a change in magnitude of proteinuria is commonly used as a marker of response to these therapeutic interventions. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Nephrology/Urology Source Type: research

Rectal pull-through surgery in dogs with rectal masses
In dogs, diseases of the rectum and anocutaneous junction include various rectal and cutaneous neoplasms, rectal strictures, diverticula, perforations, fistulae, and trauma. Surgery is the preferred treatment for most of these diseases but can be challenging, because the surgical approach to the distal portion of the rectum is complicated by the regional anatomy, which increases the potential for postoperative complications. Thus, several approaches have been described, including the ventral approach, dorsal inverted-U approach, pull-out or rectal mucosal eversion with submucosal resection, endoscopic electrosurgical resec...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Tracheal ring prostheses for treatment of extrathoracic tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse is a commonly diagnosed cause of respiratory difficulty and coughing in miniature and toy breed dogs. Historically, the typical patient requiring treatment has been middle-aged to geriatric. However, many affected dogs begin to show subtle to severe signs at a young age. In dogs with end-stage disease, signs may progress to respiratory distress, cyanosis, and collapse. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Security of vascular ligation
Bleeding from surgery is a potentially serious complication, and hemostasis is vital for a successful outcome. Secure ligation of vasculature is essential in surgery, including commonly performed procedures such as ovariohysterectomy, ovariectomy, orchiectomy, splenectomy, nephrectomy, liver or lung biopsy or lobectomy, and limb amputation. Although several vessel ligation modalities, including stapling equipment, electrosurgical vessel sealing devices, harmonic scalpels, resorbable polydioxanone cable ties, and vascular ligation clips, have been tried, ligation with suture remains a cornerstone for hemostasis for many vet...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - October 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Low-Stress Handling in Veterinary Practice – The New Norm or Still a Novel Concept?
When I graduated from veterinary school 10 years ago, I never would have imagined that the offering of food and the spritz of pheromones during physical exams and medical procedures would be commonplace at my institution, The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of a core group of clinicians, technicians, an applied animal behaviorist, and supportive administrators, low-stress handling is now the expected standard of care in the handling of small animal patients. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - September 1, 2015 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Meghan E. Herron Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research