Veterinary Record Open

BACKGROUND: This study involving non-compliant, seized dogs entering the UK surveyed endoparasites detected in faecal samples. A focus was placed on taeniid infection as the detection of these tapeworms acts as a marker for failure of effective tapeworm treatment. METHODS: Individual faecal samples taken from 65 dogs over a 24-month period were examined for helminth eggs, for protozoal oocysts and cysts, using a centrifugal flotation technique. Any sample presenting positive results for taeniid eggs had residual faeces examined using polymerase chain reaction to aid speciation of the tapeworm eggs...

BACKGROUND: Choke (oesophageal obstruction) is an important oesophageal disorder in large domestic animals. Published studies on choke in the dromedary camel ( Camelus dromedarius ) are few in number and deal with small number of cases. METHODS: Sixty-four camels with choke were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, King Faisal University. History, breed, age, sex, duration of obstruction and clinical signs were recorded. The diagnosis was established using examination with a stomach tube, oesophageal radiography and endoscopy...

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of cardiac function is an integral part of clinical examination of chelonians. However, information about electrocardiography (ECG) in turtles and tortoises is limited and fragmentary. Its application is limited due to the lack of ECG reference values. This study aimed to compare specific ECG parameters using non-invasive methods in the Asian box turtle Cuora flavomarginata (CF) and the Asian yellow pond turtle Mauremys mutica (MM). METHODS: We included 116 clinically healthy and conscious turtles...

BACKGROUND: The study aim was to characterise issues faced by farmers and veterinary surgeons when making end-of-life decisions for dairy cattle. METHODS: Online surveys were distributed to British dairy farmers and veterinary surgeons for 20 weeks from November 2020. RESULTS: There were 83 responses (37 farmers, 46 veterinary surgeons). Among youngstock, the risk of unassisted/natural death (2.6% ± 0.3%) was almost double the risk of euthanasia (1...

BACKGROUND: In Spain, the perceived professional quality of life among veterinarians has not been explored. METHODS: Veterinarians were invited to complete an online questionnaire in which they answered the Professional Quality of Life scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Participants were asked whether they were receiving psychological therapy or were taking anxiolytics, hypnotics or antidepressant medication...

INTRODUCTION: As the veterinary profession has become feminised, gender discrimination and its effects have been documented in practicing veterinary surgeons. However, research on gender discrimination experienced by veterinary students and its effects on recruitment and retention remains limited. This study aimed to increase understanding of veterinary students' experiences of gender discrimination and its impact on their career aspirations. METHODS: A questionnaire including statements with Likert-style response options and free-text questions was distributed to students studying veterinary medicine and science at a UK veterinary school in September 2020 (28% response rate)...

BACKGROUND: Canine peripheral nodal T-cell lymphoma is considered chemotherapy resistant and carries a relatively poor prognosis. Prospective evaluations reporting the impact of chemotherapy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival time for dogs with T-cell lymphoma are lacking. This study examined the impact of L-CHOP (L-asparaginase, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy or L-CHOP in combination with AT-005, a US Department of Agriculture-licensed caninised monoclonal antibody, on PFS and response rates in dogs with clinical intermediate- and high-grade peripheral nodal T-cell lymphoma...

Background: Hormonal replacement therapy is widely used to treat conditions in humans, the most well-known indication being the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. Many of the hormone-containing products (HCP) are applied to the skin. This transdermal delivery poses a risk to animals and humans through secondary exposure, especially when product information is not strictly followed. The aim of this article is to raise awareness among veterinarians and human healthcare providers of this risk; based on evidence from spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse events (AEs) in animals and humans...

Background: Burden transfer, when veterinary client caregiver burden underlies stressful encounters with providers, elevates risk for occupational distress in veterinary medicine. To date, burden transfer has been primarily examined in veterinarians working in general practice, using methods that are time consuming. The current work validates an abbreviated Burden Transfer Inventory (BTI-A) and explores burden transfer across positions of employment and veterinary settings. Methods: Participants completed online measures of burden transfer, stress and burnout...

Objective: The Gram-negative bacterium Actinobacillus suis is an agent of global importance to the swine industry and the cause of lethal respiratory or septicaemic disease in pigs of different ages. Between 2018 and 2019, seven commercial farms in western Canada experienced episodes of increased mortality due to A. suis infection in grower pigs. The goal of this work was to profile, with molecular methods, A. suis isolated from diseased pigs and to compare them to other isolates. Design: This inferential observational study used nine western Canadian strains obtained from diseased lungs ( n = 6), heart ( n = 2) and brain ( n = 1) and whole genome sequencing was performed...

Background: Thoroughbred breeders aim to have foals born early in the season, but scientific evidence on the advantages for race performance is scarce and contradictory. Methods: The association between date of birth and purchase price as foal/yearling, with race performance by the end of the second and third years of life of Thoroughbreds racing in flat races in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland (IRE) was assessed using negative binomial and zero-inflated negative binomial models on the entire 2014-2015 UK/IRE foal crops ( n  = 28,282)...

Background: Reducing the age at first calving (AFC) in dairy heifers may decrease replacement costs, while the acceleration of body growth could affect milk productivity. A lower bodyweight (BW) at first calving may increase calving problems and compromise the subsequent reproductive performance. Materials and methods: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of AFC and BW prior to calving on milk productivity, the incidence of calving problems (difficult calving and stillbirth) and reproductive performance during the first lactation...

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important clinicopathological finding in canine medicine. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical presentation and outcome of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia; also to identify factors associated with survival. Materials and methods: Retrospective study of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia from two referral centres in South Australia (2015-2020). Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnosis and outcome were obtained from searching clinical records...

Background: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infections in companion animals are increasing and are difficult to treat. Environmental contamination with MRSP in small animal primary care hospitals may pose an exposure risk to animal patients. Methods: This longitudinal study assessed the genotypic relationships of MRSP isolated from 39 environmental samples collected from six private small animal primary care hospitals, in the north-eastern United States, between August 2018 and April 2019...

Background: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are an important energy substrate in mammals. Measurement of the NEFA concentration in blood serum is common practice and enables reliable detection of a negative energy balance in several species. This parameter can be used to detect subclinical metabolic diseases or to optimise feeding to prevent severe negative energy balance. Since no reference values for dogs have been published, the aim of this study was to establish such values. Methods: Blood serum from 85 healthy dogs was examined with a multiparameter clinical chemistry analyser...

Background: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a midge-borne arbovirus that first emerged in the European ruminant population in 2011 and has since settled to an endemic pattern of disease outbreaks on an approximately 4-year cycle when herd immunity from the previous circulation drops to a point allowing renewed widescale virus circulation. The impacts of trade restrictions on genetic products (semen, embryos) from affected areas were severe, particularly after the discovery that the virus is intermittently shed in the semen of a small number of bulls...

Background: Detailed analysis of archived brain tissue is fundamental to advancing the understanding of neurological disease. The development of the UK Brain Bank Network (UBBN) has provided an invaluable resource to facilitate such research in the human medical field. Similar resources are needed in veterinary medicine. However, collection and archiving of companion animal brain tissue is a potentially sensitive area for pet owners and veterinary professionals. Methods: Using an online survey, we aimed to study pet owners' perceptions of brain banking...

Background: Ascaridia galli is a widespread problem in cage-free egg production. Sustainable control of nematode infections is a key component in this sector. This study investigates the effect of a treatment strategy against A. galli , aiming to propose a guideline for anthelmintic use on commercial poultry farms. Methods: A total of eight flocks of laying hens (a-h) from five commercial poultry farms were included in this study. Faecal samples were collected on a biweekly basis starting at 7-13 weeks post-placement (WPP) and processed using the McMaster method to calculate ascarid egg shedding...

Background: Diagnosis as well as management of arrhythmias in dogs can be challenging for veterinary practitioners. The aim was to describe ECG availability and use, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic experiences and preferences of Flemish veterinarians regarding cardiac arrhythmias in dogs. Methods: Cross-sectional online survey among veterinarians in Flanders (Belgium). Results: An ECG device was available for 55 out of 102 respondents (54%) and 41 (43%) claimed to use it in case of arrhythmia suspicion...

Background: The expansion of vector-borne diseases is considered to be a threat to pet health. Some diseases such as heartworm disease have effective individual prevention methods; however, population-level disease control is limited by the lack of treatment compliance by pet owners. Veterinarians have a primary role in increasing compliance by educating owners on the appropriate prevention measures. Veterinary educational approaches targeting prevention strategies could strengthen prevention messaging at a clinic level...