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Nasal Hydropulsion
Intranasal tumors of dogs and cats pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the small animal practitioner. A simplified flushing technique to biopsy and debulk nasal tumors, that often results in immediate clinical relief for the patient is described. This technique can also be utilized to remove nasal foreign bodies. (Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Ashbaugh Elizabeth Source Type: research

Transtracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Examination and sampling of the pulmonary airways can be of great benefit in patients with respiratory disease. Transtracheal and endotracheal washes are minimally invasive procedures that allow for blind sampling of the larger airways for cytologic and culture analysis. Flexible tracheobronchoscopy allows for direct visualization of the trachea, bronchi, and oropharynx. Bronchoalveolar lavage helps to obtain samples from the small airways and alveoli during bronchoscopy. The combined use of these techniques can help clinicians diagnose challenging respiratory cases. The following article reviews the indications and techni...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Maureen D. Finke Source Type: research

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
Brachycephalic airway syndrome is a common finding in brachycephalic breeds. A combination of primary and secondary changes can progress to life-threatening laryngeal collapse. Early recognition of primary anatomic abnormalities that include stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, and hypoplastic trachea would allow the clinician to make early recommendations for medical and surgical management, which can improve the quality of life in affected animals. (Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Stacy D. Meola Source Type: research

Arterial and Venous Blood Gas Analyses
Arterial and venous blood gases provide useful information regarding pulmonary function as well as acid-base balance. The goal of this article is to discuss the collection of blood gases, common errors in analysis, and what information can be gleaned from a blood gas analysis. (Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Teresa M. Rieser Source Type: research

Physical Examination of the Respiratory System
This article reviews the approach to a patient with respiratory distress, with a focus on clues obtained from the physical examination. Respiratory distress is a common reason for presentation of a companion animal to a veterinarian on an emergency basis, and thus the clinician should have a comfort level with the approach to these patients. Our discussion includes a basic review of respiratory pathophysiology and the differential diagnoses for hypoxemia. In the majority of cases, physical examination should allow localization of the cause of the respiratory problem to the upper airways, lower airways, pleural space, or pu...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Claire R. Sharp, Elizabeth A. Rozanski Source Type: research

Temporary Tracheostomy
Upper airway obstruction can be due to a variety of causes in small animal patients and is often life threatening if left untreated. Placement of a temporary tracheostomy tube may be necessary in the most severe cases of upper airway obstruction until definitive therapy can be implemented. This paper discusses the indications, technique for placement, maintenance, and complications associated with temporary tracheostomy in dogs and cats. (Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Elisa M. Mazzaferro Source Type: research

Foreword
I am thrilled to be the Guest Editor for this issue of Topics in Companion Animal Medicine. This issue focuses on Respiratory Diagnostics and Therapeutics in the emergency room and critical care units. First, Drs Elizabeth Rozanski and Claire Sharp discuss physical examination of the respiratory system. Next, Dr Teresa Rieser describes how to interpret arterial and venous blood gases to guide respiratory therapy. Dr Stacy Meola delves into a topic near to my heart, brachycephalic airway disease. The article by Dr Maureen Finke describes how to perform transtracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage. Nasal hydropulsion is a t...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Elisa M. Mazzaferro Source Type: research

Table of Contents
(Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research

Information for Authors
(Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - August 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research

Management of Refractory Epilepsy
The term refractory epilepsy is utilized in veterinary medicine to describe a condition in which an animal with epilepsy fails to attain satisfactory seizure control or suffers intolerable side effects despite appropriate therapy with conventional antiepileptic drugs. Refractory epilepsy is an important problem in small animal practice as it occurs in approximately one-third of dogs with epilepsy. Consequently, there is much interest in identifying ways to more effectively treat this population of animals. More than a dozen new antiepileptic drugs have been approved for humans over the last 2 decades, and several of these ...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Karen R Muñana Source Type: research

Antiepileptic Drug Therapy and Monitoring
Over the past 2 decades, the number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available to veterinarians has grown exponentially. Coupled with this increase is the ability to rapidly and accurately diagnose underlying brain disease with readily accessible magnetic resonance imaging. As a result, the veterinary community is attuned to the need for early treatment intervention. As more treatment choices become available, the unrelenting questions still arise are when should treatment begin, which initial drug therapy is best for our patients, when should treatment changes be considered, and finally, what are the advantages that newer dr...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Michael Podell Source Type: research

Inherited Epilepsy in Dogs
Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disease in dogs and many forms are considered to have a genetic basis. In contrast, some seizure disorders are also heritable, but are not technically defined as epilepsy. Investigation of true canine epilepsies has uncovered genetic associations in some cases, however, many remain unexplained. Gene mutations have been described for 2 forms of canine epilepsy: primary epilepsy (PE) and progressive myoclonic epilepsies. To date, 9 genes have been described to underlie progressive myoclonic epilepsies in several dog breeds. Investigations into genetic PE have been less successful, with ...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Kari J. Ekenstedt, Anita M. Oberbauer Source Type: research

A Clinical and Diagnostic Approach to the Patient With Seizures
This article reviews the key clinical findings associated with each of the 3 main categories of seizures and suggests a standardized approach to the diagnostic workup for patients with seizure based on their signalment and neurologic examination findings. (Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine)
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Sarah A. Moore Source Type: research

Epileptogenesis and Companion Animals
Epileptogenesis is the process by which a normal brain develops into an epileptic brain. There are 3 distinct phases of epileptogenesis—the latent period before seizures occur, the occurrence of recurrent seizures, and in about 30% of patients, the development of refractory epilepsy. Understanding the basic epileptic circuit abnormalities associated with recurrent seizures via aberrations in glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and ligand- and voltage-gated ion channel activity can help the small-animal practitioner understand the mechanism of action of the antiepileptic drugs currently used for dogs and cats for new-onse...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Edward (Ned) E. Patterson Source Type: research

Terminology and Classification of Seizures and Epilepsy in Veterinary Patients
The classification of epileptic seizures and epilepsy is a controversial and dynamic topic that has undergone many iterations in human medicine. The International League against Epilepsy is a multinational organization that has formed a number of task forces and subcommittees to study this issue, and has ratified several reports outlining recommended terminology and classification schemes for human patients. Veterinary publications on this issue have generally adapted these schemes to fit small animal patients, but a formally endorsed system to classify seizures and epilepsy has never been developed for veterinary patients...
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - May 1, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Christopher L. Mariani Source Type: research