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OBJECTIVE To collect voided urine from dogs with clinical signs of lower UTI and determine the diagnostic performance of a commercially available rapid immunoassay (RIA) immediately after urine collection and after refrigeration at 4 ariel 24 hours. ANIMALS 40 client-owned dogs. METHODS Aerobic urine culture was performed on urine collected by cystocentesis. Urine samples were collected by voiding, and the RIA performed in triplicate within 30 minutes (time 0) and again in triplicate after 4 and 24 hours of refrigeration. Test precision and agreement between culture results and RIA results at each time point were determined, and factors possibly associated with false results investigated. RESULTS 14 of 40 dogs (35%) had UTI verified by aerobic urine culture, and all had positive RIA. Three dogs had false positive RIA results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the RIA were 100, 88%, 82%, and 100%, respectively, and results were not different after 4 and 24 hours of refrigeration. Precision was excellent. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This point-of-care RIA, performed on voided urine refrigerated up to 24 hours, rapidly and accurately identifies bacteriuria in dogs with lower urinary tract clinical signs, inexpensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial urine culture is recommended in dogs suspected of having urinary tract infection (UTI), but there is expense and delay in obtaining such results. Hypothesis/Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of a rapid immunoassay (RIA) dipstick for detection of bacteriuria using voided urine from dogs with clinical signs of lower UTI. Animals Twenty‐four client‐owned dogs. Methods: Voided urine was collected and the RIA performed within 30 minutes. Urine collected by cystocentesis was submitted for aerobic urine culture. McNemar's test and kappa coefficient were calculated to determine agreement between the 2 tests. Results: Nine of 21 dogs (43%) had UTI verified by aerobic urine culture. There was 1 false‐negative and no false‐positive RIA results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the RIA were 89%, 100%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: This RIA is promising for correctly identifying whether or not voided urine samples from dogs with lower urinary tract clinical signs have true bacteriuria in a rapid, inexpensive manner. Additional patients should be enrolled in a similar study to determine if diagnostic performance is robust in a large population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to identify a simple test for excessive calciuresis and predict calcium oxalate (CaOx) disease in Miniature Schnauzers. We investigated the impact of postprandial time on the urine calcium to creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr) in male dogs of this breed, with the goal of improving the utility of the UCa/Cr. Hypotheses: (1) Significant differences will exist in preprandial and postprandial UCa/Cr between CaOx urolith‐forming and control Schnauzers. (2) The UCa/Cr will increase significantly from the first morning baseline at ≥1 postprandial time point(s) in both control and CaOx urolith‐forming dogs. (3) Biochemical abnormalities and other variables may be associated with urolith status. Animals: Twenty‐four male Miniature Schnauzer dogs, consisting of 9 with (urolith formers) and 15 without (controls) CaOx uroliths. Methods: Urine was collected before and 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours after feeding a standardized diet. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify the UCa/Cr cutoff that most accurately differentiates dogs based on urolith status. Results: Urolith formers had significantly higher mean UCa/Cr over the course of 8 hours. The postprandial change in UCa/Cr was not significant at any time point between or within groups. The cutoff UCa/Cr value of 0.06 had a specificity of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80%‐100%) and a sensitivity of 56% (95% CI, 21%‐86%) for identifying CaOx urolithiasis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Urolith‐forming male Miniature Schnauzers have excessive calciuresis, and the postprandial sampling time up to 8 hours is not critical. This simple urine measurement has potential as a marker of CaOx disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To determine the effects of oral prednisone administration with or without ultralow-dose acetylsalicylic acid on coagulation parameters in healthy dogs and to assess intraindividual variation in thromboelastography results. Animals--14 healthy research dogs and 10 healthy client-owned dogs. Procedures--In a randomized controlled trial, research dogs underwent thromboelastography twice (3 days apart), and intraindividual variation in test results was calculated. Dogs were given prednisone (2 mg/kg/d, PO) plus acetylsalicylic acid (0.5 mg/kg/d, PO) or prednisone (2 mg/kg/d, PO) plus a placebo for 14 days, after which thromboelastography and other tests were repeated. Differences from preadministration (baseline) test results between and within groups were compared. In a separate trial, client-owned dogs also underwent thromboelastography twice 2 days apart to assess intraindividual variation in untreated dogs. Results--Intraindividual variation in thromboelastography results for research dogs was ≤ 10% for maximum amplitude (MA) and a angle. In the research dogs, MA and fibrinogen values significantly increased from baseline, whereas percentage lysis 30 minutes after attainment of the MA as well as antithrombin activity significantly decreased within each group. In the dogs that received prednisone plus a placebo, percentage lysis 60 minutes after attainment of the MA was significantly lower than at baseline. For all parameters for research dogs, there was no difference between groups for change from baseline. Intraindividual variation in findings for client-owned dogs was similar to the variation for research dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Prednisone administration resulted in hypercoagulability in healthy dogs as indicated by an increase in MA and plasma fibrinogen concentration and a decrease in antithrombin activity. Concurrent ultralow-dose acetylsalicylic acid use had no effect on measured thromboelastography values. The high intraindividual variation in some thromboelastography parameters may preclude routine use of this technique in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Kidney disease is a common and serious condition in domestic cats. There are numerous causes of kidney disease including parasitic infection. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite that develops in the kidneys of rabbits and causes chronic renal disease. Little has been reported concerning E. cuniculi in cats and no serological studies on this parasite in cats have been conducted in the United States to date. The present study explored the possibility that E. cuniculi is an unrecognized contributor to the high prevalence of kidney disease observed in cats. A serological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies to spores of E. cuniculi in cats with and without a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) staging system. Likewise, samples were examined for IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, a common well studied protozoan of cats. Plasma and sera were obtained from 232 feline patients at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital. With the investigators blinded to the renal status of test subjects, samples were screened via indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Thirty-six of the 232 cats met the IRIS staging system criteria for CKD. Antibodies to E. cuniculi were found in 15 of the 232 samples, which included 4 of the 36 cats with CKD. Sera from cats serologically positive to E. cuniculi did not react to spores of E. intestinalis or E. hellem when examined in the IFA. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 63 of the 232 samples, which included 10 of the 36 cats with CKD. The prevalence of antibodies in cats with CKD to either protozoan was not significantly different (P >0.05) from the cats without CKD in the study. Collectively the results do not support the hypothesis that either E. cuniculi or T. gondii play a significant etiologic role in the occurrence or progression of CKD in cats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective-To determine the effectiveness of cystotomy for complete removal of urocystoliths and urethroliths in dogs, the types and frequency of diagnostic imaging performed to verify complete urolith removal, the complications that develop as a result of cystotomy, and predictors of each of these variables. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-128 dogs that underwent a cystotomy for removal of urocystoliths, urethroliths, or both from 1994 through 2006. Procedures-The following data were obtained from medical records: sex, body weight, number and locations of lower urinary tract uroliths identified in preoperative and postoperative imaging reports, types of imaging used for urolith detection, number of uroliths recovered during cystotomy, quantitative urolith composition, and major complications attributable to cystotomy. Objective criteria were applied to determine whether a cystotomy failed or succeeded and whether appropriate imaging was performed. Associations between potential prognostic factors and outcomes were statistically assessed. Results-Effectiveness of cystotomy could be determined in 44 (34%) dogs, of which 9 (20%) had incomplete removal of uroliths. Appropriate postoperative imaging was performed for only 19 (15%) dogs, of which 8 had incomplete removal. Dogs with both urethroliths and urocystoliths were more likely to have a failed cystotomy than dogs with only urethroliths or urocystoliths. Complications developed in 5 (4%) dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Cystotomy was a safe and effective surgical procedure for removal of lower urinary tract uroliths in most dogs. Failure to remove all uroliths occurred in a substantial percentage of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the clinical consequences following ingestion by a dog of a moxidectin-containing equine deworming product. Few reports exist concerning the treatment and outcome of severe moxidectin toxicity. Treatment, known factors influencing intoxication, and prognosis are reviewed. Case summary: A 10-month-old female Border Collie ingested an unknown quantity of a moxidectin-containing equine deworming product several hours before presentation. Severe neurological signs subsequently developed and included: ataxia, seizures, coma, and respiratory failure. The dog was treated with supportive care including intravenous fluids, activated charcoal, and positive pressure ventilation. Normal spontaneous respiration returned in 34 hours and the patient was discharged 58 hours after ingestion. Full recovery occurred within 1 week of intoxication. New information provided: This report describes moxidectin intoxication and associated respiratory failure in a dog that required mechanical ventilation. The dog's recovery was rapid. Despite severity of signs, the prognosis for patients with moxidectin intoxication is good with appropriate supportive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe a case of toxicity caused by oral ingestion of paintballs by a dog and how it was initially misdiagnosed as ethylene glycol intoxication due to similar clinical signs and a positive ethylene glycol blood test. Case summary: A 7 year-old, 8.3 kg, female spayed Pug was referred for treatment of ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity. The patient was ataxic, disoriented, polyuric, polydipsic, and had a positive EG blood test. The patient was started on fomepizole therapy and intravenous fluids. Biochemical assays of the serum showed abnormalities that were not typical of EG toxicity. The following morning the patient defecated bright pink feces. The owner revealed that bright pink paint balls were present in the household when questioned. The patient completed fomepizole therapy and was discharged 40 hours after presentation with no clinical signs. Follow-up telephone conversations found the pet to be clinically normal 2 months after discharge. New or unique information provided: This is the first known case report of paint ball intoxication in a dog that resulted in a positive EG blood test and clinical signs similar to ethylene glycol toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—: Our objective was to determine if a brief didactic would improve Emergency Medicine (EM) resident performance at using a key evidence-based medicine (EBM) concept. We used a prospective, before and after, assessment of EM resident estimates of post-test pulmonary embolism (PE) probability for a defined pre-test probability, computed tomography (CT) and D-dimer results. The survey provided test sensitivity, and specificity for D-dimer and CT. Three months later, residents attended a brief didactic conference on how to use Fagan’s Nomogram and likelihood ratios (LRs) to calculate post-test probability of disease. The accuracy of estimates of post-test PE probability was reassessed. The absolute percentage difference in resident estimates from the true post-test PE probabilities decreased from 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.7%–19.9%) to 4.5% (95% CI 2.0–6.8%) after the educational intervention. This 10% effect size was statistically significant, p = 0.002. The study demonstrates the efficacy of the lecture method in teaching an EBM concept to EM residents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives--To measure urine concentrations of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), determine optimal storage conditions for urine samples, establish a reference range, and determine whether there is correlation between 24-hour total urine GAG excretion and the GAG-to-creatinine ratio (GCR). Animals--14 healthy adult dogs. Procedure--Single urine sample GAG concentrations and GCRs were measured in samples collected from 14 healthy dogs at the start of the 24-hour collection period. Twenty-four-hour total urine GAG excretions were determined from urine collected during a 24-hour period in the same 14 dogs. Total sulfated GAG concentrations were also measured in urine from these dogs after the urine had been stored at 4°C and -20°C for 1, 7, and 30 days. Results--Urine GAG concentrations were net significantly different from baseline values after urine was stored at 4°C for up to 1 day and -20°C for up to 30 days. Neither single urine sample GAG concentration (R², 0.422) nor GCR (R², 0.084) was an adequate predictor of 24-hour total urine GAG excretion. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Results of this study provide data that can be used to establish a reference range for 24-hour total urine GAG excretion in dogs and adequate conditions for sample storage. Contrary to findings in humans, there was no significant linear correlation between 24-hour total urine GAG excretion and single urine sample GCR in dogs, limiting clinical use of the single urine sample test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous research has failed to identify urine nitrite as a useful marker for bacterial resistance to trimethorprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). Evolving resistance to TMP/SMX has encouraged the use of alternate antibiotics, including first-generation cephalosporins. The objective of this study was to reanalyze the relationship between urine nitrite results and bacterial resistance, focusing on first-generation cephalosporins. This was a retrospective review of consecutive culture positive urinalyses collected from December 2002 to July 2003. The majority of the 642 cultures reviewed contained Esherichia coli (74%). Thirty-six percent (233/642) were nitrite positive. Ten percent (24/233) of the nitrite positive urines were resistance to first-generation cephalosporin (cefazolin). In the nitrite-negative group 15.0% (62/409) were resistant. This difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that the detection of urine nitrites should not influence the use of first-generation cephalosporins for urinary tract infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To compare pulmonary gas exchange, tissue oxygenation and cardiovascular effects of four levels of end-expiratory pressure: no positive end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of maximal respiratory system compliance (PEEPmax C rs), PEEPmax C rs + 2 cmH 2 O (PEEPmax C rs+2), PEEPmax C rs + 4 cmH 2 O (PEEPmax C rs+4), in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Prospective randomized crossover study. A total of seven healthy male Beagle dogs, aged 1 year and weighing 10.2 ± 0.7 kg (mean ± standard deviation). The dogs were administered acepromazine and anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Ventilation was controlled for 4 hours with ZEEP, PEEPmax C rs , PEEPmax C rs+2 or PEEPmax C rs+4. Cardiovascular, pulmonary gas exchange and tissue oxygenation data were evaluated at 5, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes of ventilation and compared using a mixed-model anova followed by Bonferroni test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Cardiac index (CI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were lower in all PEEP treatments at 5 minutes when compared with ZEEP. CI persisted lower throughout the 4 hours only in PEEPmax C rs+4 with the lowest CI at 5 minutes (2.15 ± 0.70 versus 3.45 ± 0.94 L minute–1 m–2). At 180 and 240 minutes, MAP was lower in PEEPmax C rs+4 than in PEEPmax C rs , with the lowest value at 180 minutes (58 ± 7 versus 67 ± 7 mmHg). Oxygen delivery index (DO 2 I) was lower in PEEPmax C rs+4 than in ZEEP at 5, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Venous admixture was not different among treatments. The use of PEEP caused a transient decrease in MAP and CI in lung-healthy dogs anesthetized with isoflurane, which improved after 60 minutes of ventilation in all levels of PEEP except PEEPmax C rs+4. A clinically significant improvement in arterial oxygenation and DO 2 I was not observed with PEEPmax C rs and PEEPmax C rs+2 in comparison with ZEEP, whereas PEEPmax C rs+4 decreased DO 2 I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective-To determine clinical features, diagnostic imaging abnormahties, underlying disease, disease progression, and outcome in dogs with bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-6 dogs. Procedure-Dogs were included if clinical signs consistent with bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome (ie, deficits of the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerves and at least 1 of the first 2 branches of the fifth cranial nerve) were present and a lesion of the cavernous sinus was identified by means of diagnostic imaging or postmortem examination. Results-5 dogs were evaluated because of problems referable to abnormal ocular motility or pupillomotor dysfunction, and 1 dog was evaluated because of partial motor seizures involving the face and bilateral mydriasis. Four dogs had neurologic signs referable to an extrasinusoidal lesion at the time of initial examination, and the remaining 2 dogs eventually developed extrasinusoidal signs. Besides neuroanatomic location, the only consistent neuroimaging feature was variably intense, heterogeneous enhancement of cavernous sinus lesions. Neoplasia was histologically confirmed as the underlying cause in 5 of the dogs and was suspected in the remaining dog. Median survival time for the 4 dogs that were treated was 199 days (range, 16 to 392 days). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome is rare in dogs but should be suspected in dogs with compatible clinical signs. Affected dogs have a poor prognosis, and dogs with clinical signs of bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome should be systematically evaluated for neoplastic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Feline intestinal tritrichomoniasis caused by Tritrichomonas foetus is associated with large bowel diarrhea in cats from many parts of the world. It has long been recognized as an economically important sexually transmitted disease that causes early abortion in cattle. Isolates of T. foetus from cattle are infectious for the large intestine of cats and isolates of T. foetus from cats are infectious for the reproductive system of cattle. The parasite is maintained by fecal–oral transmission in cats. The present study was conducted to examine the survival of a feline isolate of T. foetus, AUTf-12, under various conditions that are relevant to fecal–oral transmission in cats. Trophozoites were grown in TYM medium and then exposed to water, cat urine, dry cat food, canned cat food, clumping cat litter, or filter paper for various lengths of time and then re-cultured in TYM medium. Trophozoites survived exposure to distilled or tap water for 30 but not 60min, while they survived for at least 180min in urine. Trophozoites survived for 30min on dry cat food but survived for 120–180min in canned cat food. No survival of trophozoites was observed on cat litter but trophozoites survived for 15min when placed on filter paper. Our results indicate that T. foetus can survive and be potentially infectious in water, urine, dry cat food and canned cat food. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]