Table 2 . Number of bacterial colonies cultured from samples taken with sterile swabs from 10 dogs before and after disinfecting the sample site , grown on blood agar plates and examined after 24 hours and 48 hours .
After 24 hours After 48 hours
Dog ID |
Before unclipped |
After unclipped |
Before clipped |
After clipped |
Before unclipped |
After unclipped |
Before clipped |
After clipped |
# 11 4 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 1 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 4 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 3 ( R ) 0 ( R ) # 12 1 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 1 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 2 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 1 ( L ) 2 ( L ) # 13 * 0 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 0 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 0 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 1 ( R ) 0 ( R ) # 14 3 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 1 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 4 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 3 ( L ) 0 ( L ) # 15 17 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 2 ( R )** 0 ( R )** 18 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 4 ( R )** 0 ( R )** # 16 5 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 0 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 6 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 0 ( L ) 0 ( L ) # 17 21 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 4 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 50 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 7 ( R ) 0 ( R ) # 18 51 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 2 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 106 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 2 ( L ) 0 ( L ) # 19 3 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 1 16 ( L )** 0 ( L ) 1 ** 7 ( R ) 0 ( R ) 1 33 ( L )** 0 ( L ) 1 ** # 20 10 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 6 ( R )** 0 ( R )** 16 ( L ) 0 ( L ) 22 ( R )** 0 ( R )**
Clipped , sample taken from clipped leg ; unclipped , sample taken from unclipped leg ; ( L ), left leg ; ( R ), right leg ; 1 , dog moved and had to be disinfected again ; *, dog moved but did not have to be disinfected again ; **, erythema .
three samples , and six bacterial colonies on unclipped legs , divided into four samples , and 33 samples with no bacterial growth after 48 hours .
No fungal growth was detected on Sabouraud agar in samples from either the clipped or unclipped legs . Erythema was observed after clipping on three of the dogs during the sampling , as well as one dog that already had erythema and wounds from previous clipping .
Discussion
The results of this study showed a significant difference between samples taken before and after disinfection , but no difference between clipped and unclipped legs .
The null hypothesis for this study was that there would be no significant difference between clipping and not clipping before blood sampling via the cephalic vein . This was shown by the abundant growth of bacteria on both clipped and unclipped legs before disinfection , and the sparse or complete lack of growth on samples taken after disinfection from clipped and unclipped legs .
Based on these results , the null hypothesis cannot be rejected . However , that conclusion can be taken as true only for the short-haired beagles used in this study . It does not confirm the null hypothesis for all dogs .
As clipping can cause skin problems , it can be beneficial to not clip a dog ' s hair when taking blood samples . This is especially true for patients that are predisposed to skin problems . It can also be beneficial to avoid clipping patients that have previously had problems with dermatitis , as clipping could cause a recurrence of this condition .
However , the results of the study do not indicate that clipping is less hygienic . Therefore , clipping before blood sampling via the cephalic vein can be considered optional . The advantages and disadvantages should be considered on a case-by-case basis , based on a patient ' s individual condition , as well as the preference of the veterinary professional performing the blood test .
Limitations of the study
The impact of different coat lengths , the prevalence of skin conditions in various breeds , and the effects of leg length ( short or long ) were not investigated in this study . Furthermore , the potential differences in natural microbiota among dogs living in different environments were not examined . It was deemed too extensive for this study to categorise dogs based on hair length and lifestyle . To apply the results more broadly in a clinical setting , further studies are needed to investigate the effects of breed , and coat type and length , and to determine whether these findings are applicable to other species , such as cats .
In this study , samples were taken only from the forelimbs . However , the jugular vein is often used for venepuncture in veterinary practices in the UK unless contraindicated , for example , due to a suspected clotting problem , a low platelet count or high intraocular pressure . Therefore , further studies
34 Veterinary Nursing Journal