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Oral probiotics in the treatment of antibiotic-induced diarrhoea in cats

USER-ALT Megan Slaughter and others, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA

Treating feline patients showing evidence of bacterial gastrointestinal conditions with the antibiotic amoxicillin-clavulanate will often result in dysbiosis and further episodes of diarrhoea. Administering an Enterococcus lactis strain SF68 probiotic has been shown to offer clinical benefits in such cats. The authors report a study of the effects of probiotic treatment on the microbiome and bile acid metabolism in cats with experimentally induced dysbiosis. Cats receiving the probiotic treatment showed a normal microbiome and increased unconjugated bile acids by day 14 compared with untreated control cats that experienced dysbiosis after antibiotic treatment with the same drugs. These findings support the use of probiotics in cats with a clinical need for amoxicillin-clavulanate treatment.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery https:// doi. org / 10.1177 / 1098612X261441923

Infrared thermography for detecting squamous cell carcinomas in cats

USER-ALT André Gustavo Holanda and others, São Paulo School of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil

Medical thermography is a rapid, safe, painless and non-invasive technique that detects differences in the skin surface temperature and has proved useful during investigations into a range of veterinary conditions. There appear to be no previous studies applying the method in the characterisation of squamous cell carcinomas( SCCs) in cats. Thermographic images were obtained of the nasal planum and pinnae of cats with SCCs and healthy controls. The median temperature of the nasal planum was 31.2 ° C in the SCC group and 23.5 ° C in the controls. In images of the pinnae, the median temperature was 33.85 ° C in the SCC group and 28.55 ° C in the controls. These preliminary findings indicate that thermography can detect tumour-associated temperature differences in feline SCC cases.

Research in Veterinary Science https:// doi. org / 10.1016 / j. rvsc. 2026.106310

Assessing the efficacy of pre-surgical checklists in equine veterinary hospitals

USER-ALT Thomas Beeston and others, University of Edinburgh, UK

Surgical safety checklists have been shown to have a positive impact on clinical outcomes in veterinary hospitals. However, their long-term value depends on them being regularly and correctly used. The authors studied the degree of compliance with these procedures in an equine referral hospital. They examined how fully the checklists were completed before and after running a campaign to encourage staff to complete the forms. This involved a redesign of the checklist, further training in their use, email reminders and the appointment of‘ checklist champions’. They found in the first audit that completion rates for the different sections of the form ranged from 9 % to 89 %, with a median value of 64 %. A second audit after efforts to promote more consistent use raised the completion rates to between 80 % and 100 %, with a median value of 93 %. The authors note that this form of clinical audit is a useful tool that can promote a safety-conscious culture in veterinary hospitals.

Equine Veterinary Journal https:// doi. org / 10.1111 / evj. 70097

8 Veterinary Nursing Journal