Treating canine compulsive behaviour with a combination of cannabis and melatonin
USER-ALT Luigi Sacchettino and others , University of Naples Federico II , Italy
Repetitive behaviour with no apparent purpose is reasonably common in dogs and may involve activities such as tail-chasing and compulsive self-grooming . The authors describe a case in a 5-year-old mixed-breed dog which habitually chased its tail and bit its right hindleg . Standard medical treatment with the antidepressant paroxetine had been unsuccessful , and so they tested an experimental treatment involving cannabis and melatonin . This was used as part of a 5-month behavioural therapy programme , after which the owners reported that their pet was showing a lower incidence of compulsive behaviour and was more manageable .
Research in Veterinary Science https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . rvsc . 2023.05.007
Prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistant bacterial infections in pets
USER-ALT Marta Miszczak and others , Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , Poland
Staphylococcus species bacteria are a cause of local and systemic infections in humans and companion animals , and will often be present on surface tissues of healthy individuals . The authors investigated the prevalence of different Staphylococcus isolates in healthy and sick cats and dogs . Risk factors for staphylococcal colonisation included the presence of other pets in the household , medical treatment during the previous year and a medical professional being one of the pet ' s owners . Methicillin resistance was more common in coagulase-negative staphylococci ( 18 %) than in coagulase-positive strains ( 2 %).
BMC Veterinary Research https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12917-023-03640-1
Topical hypertonic saline for the removal of a leech from a dog ' s eye
USER-ALT Emily Perry and others , Northside Emergency Veterinary Services , New South Wales , Australia
Hirudiniasis is the attachment of a leech to an animal or human . The leech can usually be removed with the application of a chemical or physical agent , or by gentle traction with forceps . The authors describe what appears to be the first reported case of a leech attached to a dog ' s eye . The patient was an 8-month-old golden retriever , which presented with an ocular foreign body . Owing to the sensitivity of the tissues and the dog ' s head-shyness , a 3.5 % hypertonic saline solution was used to dislodge the leech . It detached following the application of a few drops of fluid and was removed with a cotton bud . The dog was found to have a small corneal ulcer but was otherwise healthy .
Australian Veterinary Journal https :// doi . org / 10.1111 / avj . 13245
18 Veterinary Nursing Journal