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Objectives\ud \ud To: (1) assess the frequency of crossmatch incompatibility in naïve feline blood transfusion recipients using two crossmatching methods, (2) measure the effect of crossmatch incompatibility on change in packed cell volume following transfusion, (3) assess the frequency of acute transfusion reactions and errors in blood transfusions in cats and (4) assess the impact of crossmatch incompatibility on the likelihood of transfusion reactions.\ud \ud Materials and Methods\ud \ud Cats being administered a first AB‐matched transfusion in a veterinary teaching hospital were prospectively recruited for this observational study. A slide agglutination method and a commercial test were both used for major and minor crossmatching. We measured increase in packed cell volume at 12 hours after transfusion relative to the mass of red blood cells given per recipient bodyweight and recorded transfusion reactions.\ud \ud Results\ud \ud A total of 101 cats was included. Crossmatch incompatibility was common using the slide agglutination method (27% and 10% major and minor incompatibility, respectively), but less common with the commercial test (major and minor incompatibility both 4%). Crossmatch incompatibility with any method was not associated with less effective transfusion in terms of change in packed cell volume. Transfusion reactions occurred in 20 cats, most commonly febrile non‐haemolytic transfusion reactions (n = 9) and haemolytic transfusion reactions (n = 7). The commercial test appeared to be most specific for predicting haemolytic transfusion reactions.\ud \ud Clinical Significance\ud \ud Transfusion reactions were fairly common but not associated with increased mortality. Use of crossmatch‐compatible blood did not lead to a greater increase in PCV at 12 hours. The commercial test may predict a haemolytic transfusion reaction.

The general public’s awareness of, and attitude to, canine and feline blood donation is poorly understood. Increasing understanding of pet owners’ thoughts about donation may allow more effective blood donor recruitment. The aims of this study were to investigate pet owners’ awareness of small animal blood donation and their attitude and motivations regarding their pet being a blood donor. A mixed methods approach was used, with data collected from 158 pet owners attending a first-opinion veterinary clinic using a written questionnaire of closed and open questions. Most owners were unaware that dogs and cats could donate blood (70 per cent). However, 89 per cent stated they would be willing to let their pet donate blood if they were suitable. This was more likely if the owner did not work full time and less likely if they were aged over 71 years. Thematic analysis of owners’ motivations and deterrents towards pet blood donation resulted in four key themes: ‘Beneficence’, the desire to help others; ‘Necessity of service’, a recognition of the requirement for blood products; ‘Reciprocity’, a hope that if they participated this would result in blood products being available for their pet; and ‘Reservations and concerns’.

This cases series of 13 pugs with lung lobe torsion (LLT) is the largest case series of pugs in the literature and the first to compare dogs presenting before and after 12 months of age. Similar to previous case series, the median age of pugs with LLT was 17 months; however six dogs were under 12 months of age (3 of 13 were 11–13 weeks at presentation). There were no differences between the dogs that presented younger or older than 12 months old with respect to sex, neuter status, lung lobe affected, duration and nature of clinical signs, time alive after discharge, and complications. The juvenile onset may suggest that some dogs are inherently at risk of LLT. This is intriguing and important as LLT may not be an intuitive diagnosis in a juvenile brachycephalic animal, and practitioners should be aware of this unusual presentation.

Electronic patient records of dogs attending practices participating in the VetCompass Programme were assessed against selection criteria used to define RTA cases. Cases identified as RTAs were identified and manually verified to calculate prevalence. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to evaluate associations between risk factors and RTA. The prevalence of RTA was 0.41%. Of the RTA cases, 615 (74.9%) were purebred, 322 (39.2%) were female, and 285 (54.8%) were insured. The median age at RTA was 2.5 years. After accounting for the effects of other factors, younger dogs had increased odds of an RTA event: dogs aged under 3 years showed 2.9 times the odds and dogs aged between 6–9 years showed 1.8 times the odds of an RTA event compared with dogs aged over 14 years. Males had 1.4 times the odds of an RTA event compared with females. Overall, 22.9% of cases died from a cause associated with RTA. Of dogs with information available, 34.0% underwent diagnostic imaging, 29.4% received intravenous fluid‐therapy, 71.1% received pain relief, 46.0% were hospitalized, and 15.6% had surgery performed under general anesthetic.

Trauma represents a big challenge for emergency doctors both in human and veterinary medicine. There have been great advancements in trauma medicine in people and these often provide an inspiration for veterinary surgeons. However, the vast differences in the facilities and finances available in human and veterinary medicine make the approach to trauma in both fields quite different. This article, the second in a two-part series, describes how to manage canine trauma patients. The first part focused on the initial investigation of canine abdominal trauma. Although this article will mention guidelines in people, these should not be automatically applied to dogs, especially when more relevant evidence for this species exists.

A mixed-methods study was performed to investigate the perceived importance and efficacy of teaching clinical reasoning (CR) skills among students and faculty in a university first-opinion veterinary practice, as this has not previously been described. Qualitative analysis of interview data, discussing objectives and factors considered important for effective learning and the understanding of CR, was performed alongside quantitative analysis of the Preceptor Thinking-Promotion Scale (PTPS) and the Learner Thinking-Behavior Scale (LTBS) (assessing the level of CR encouraged by clinicians and displayed by students) in peri-consultation discussions. Themes that emerged from analysis of the interviews regarding objectives included the desire to develop data acquisition and the need to improve data manipulation and CR. Themes associated with effective learning were a positive student-centered learning environment and feedback. Type II CR was fairly well described, but recognition of the importance of type I CR was poor among clinicians and students and, in some instances, was deemed to be inappropriate. Although many clinicians and students expressed a desire to develop student CR, there was little evidence of this actually occurring in the interactions analyzed, with low PTPS and LTBS scores achieved. There was also poor understanding of whether effective teaching of CR had occurred, demonstrated by a lack of correlation between LTBS and the interaction score for development of student CR. Further training of clinicians and students of the value of type I CR in first-opinion practice is required, as well as clinician education in how best to support the development of CR in students.

Retrospective study of cats presenting to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College with acute kidney injury between 2007 and 2015. Systolic blood pressure was measured using Doppler sphygmomanometry and systemic hypertension was defined pressures ê150 mmHg. Median systolic blood pressure measurement, grade of acute kidney injury (as defined by the International Renal Interest Society), serum creatinine on admission, anuria or oliguria, length of hospitalisation, survival to discharge and six‐month survival were all recorded.