Correlations between the results of non-invasive and rectal temperature measurements
USER-ALT James Barton and others , University of Liverpool
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the wider use of non-contact infrared thermometers ( NCITs ). Assessing a patient ’ s body temperature is a fundamental part of any veterinary examination . Using rectal thermometers will provide an accurate reflection of an animal ’ s core body temperature but the procedure can be difficult in fractious patients . The authors compared the results achieved using a rectal instrument with those achieved with a NCIT . When used in both feline and canine subjects , the NCITs consistently underestimated body temperature . Hence , the authors do not recommend non-invasive methods for measuring body temperature , based on the current available technology .
Indications and outcomes for puppies undergoing mechanical ventilation
USER-ALT Elyzabeth Lemieux and others , Tufts University , North Grafton , Massachusetts
Mechanical ventilation has been used with increasing frequency in small animal practice over the past 25 years but such methods are costly and require a knowledgeable and dedicated clinical team . The authors describe the clinical features and outcomes in 59 cases involving puppies treated at six hospitals between 2006 and 2020 . The most common underlying disease conditions were pneumonia , non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and trauma . The overall survival rate was 39 %, including 19 non-brachycephalic and four brachycephalic dogs . The latter breeds were less likely to survive than dogs from non-brachycephalic breeds .
Canadian Veterinary Journal 62 ( 8 ), 839 – 842
Use of topical analgesia to reduce pain from catheter placement in cats
USER-ALT Carol Chávez and others , University of the Americas , Santiago
Placement of peripheral catheters is necessary in the management of many patients in small animal practice , but for some cats this will cause pain and stress . The authors investigated the effect of a topical anaesthetic cream , containing lidocaine and prilocaine , on the expression of behaviours associated with stress in 20 cats undergoing venepuncture prior to ovariohysterectomy procedures . Cats receiving the anaesthetic cream 30 minutes before peripheral catheter placement showed significantly less evidence of stress . Routine use of topical anaesthesia is considered feasible in non-emergency cases .
Early neutering of kittens and the incidence of orthopaedic disease in later life
USER-ALT Evangelia Maniaki and others , University College London
Degenerative joint disease is one of the leading causes of chronic pain in cats . The authors investigated the association between various early-life risk factors and the incidence of owner-reported mobility changes in cats aged 6 years and over . They found that 29.8 % of the 799 cats recruited for the study had some mobility changes . Obesity , outdoor access and a history of trauma all appeared to predispose cats to developing degenerative joint disease when they reached middle age . However , neutering before the cat reached 6 months old appeared to diminish that risk .
VOL 38 • July 2022
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