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Anne Marie Rose,1 Thurid Johnstone,1,2 Sue Finch,3 Cathy Beck1 1U-Vet Animal Hospital Werribee, The University of Melbourne, 2TRACTS Translational Research and Clinical Trial Study Group, The University of Melbourne, 3Statistical Consulting Centre, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Abstract: Abdominal ultrasound is frequently used to assess the canine adrenal gland (AG) and subjective and objective features of normal AGs have been described. The effect of the dogs’ recumbency position on the accuracy of AG measurement acquisition is not known. This prospective study, performed in dogs with non-adrenal illness, compared ultrasonographic AG measurements made in dogs placed in dorsal recumbency with those made in left or right lateral recumbency. AG length, height and width measurements made in the longitudinal image plane, and height and width measurements from the transverse image plane were assessed. The level and limits of agreement between the dorsal and lateral recumbency for each of the measurements were determined using the Bland–Altman analysis. The measurement with the best agreement between the dorsal and lateral recumbency was the caudal pole thickness (CPT) from the longitudinal image plane. Agreement between lateral and dorsal recumbency was poorer for the measurements derived from the transverse image plane and poorest for measurements of AG length in the longitudinal plane. This study demonstrates that there is some difference in the measurements acquired in dorsal compared with lateral recumbency; however, the difference is small for the CPT from the longitudinal plane. This finding suggests that the CPT from the longitudinal image plane is the most reliable measurement in terms of agreement between dorsal and lateral recumbency in dogs with non-AG illness. Keywords: adrenal glands, ultrasonography, normal, dog, recumbency

Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common diseases of geriatric cats, and often occur concurrently. Thus, a thorough understanding of the influence of thyroid function on renal function is of significant value for all feline practitioners. Among other effects, hyperthyroidism causes protein catabolism and increases renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These effects render traditional renal markers insensitive for the detection of CKD in cats with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, the development of iatrogenic hypothyroidism with over treatment of hyperthyroidism can be detrimental to renal function and may negatively affect long‐term survival. This review discusses important diagnostic considerations of feline hyperthyroidism, as well as key treatment modalities, with an emphasis on the use of radioiodine and the importance of post treatment monitoring of thyroid and renal parameters. In Australia, a common curative treatment for cats with benign hyperthyroidism (i.e. thyroid hyperplasia or adenoma) is a fixed dose of orally administered radioiodine, regardless of the serum total thyroxine concentration at the time of diagnosis. This review discusses the long term outcomes of this standard of care in comparison with current, relevant research literature from around the world. Finally, this review explores the use of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in assessing renal function before and after treatment in hyperthyroid cats. SDMA correlates well with GFR and creatinine in non‐hyperthyroid cats, but our understanding of its performance in hyperthyroid cats remains in its infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seroprevalence of feline alphaherpesvirus‐1 (FHV‐1) in feral cats in Victoria, Australia, was last assessed in 1981 when serum‐virus‐neutralising antibodies (VNAb) against FHV‐1 were detected in 11% of the sampled population from two Victorian locations. In this current study, VNAb were assessed in serum from feral cats located in Phillip Island, Point Cook and Hattah in the Mallee region in Northern Victoria. In feral cats, the seroprevalence of VNAb to FHV‐1 was highest in Point Cook at 24.6% (17/69), followed by Phillip Island at 16.7% (11/66) and Hattah where no feral cats had detectable VNAb to FHV‐1 (0/12). In contrast, virus‐neutralising antibodies were observed in 84.1% (37/44) of Victorian‐owned cats. This higher seroprevalence in owned cats is likely due to the use of FHV‐1 vaccines; however, the vaccination history of the cats was not known and the development of neutralising antibodies after infection or vaccination can vary. The results are useful for understanding FHV‐1 exposure in feral and owned cats and are important background information in the context of any potential future use of FHV‐1‐vectored vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are increasingly isolated from the urinary tract of pets, particularly those that suffer from concurrent conditions, have been hospitalised, or were treated with antimicrobials in the recent past. Many of the multidrug-resistant bacteria encountered are resistant to all commonly used oral antibiotics. This poses both a therapeutic dilemma in the individual pet and a threat to public health. This article begins with an overview of multidrug resistance in organisms that are commonly isolated from the urinary tract of pets. This is followed by a proposed clinical approach to managing multidrug-resistant urinary bacteria, which summarises current knowledge regarding appropriate sampling and analysis, reviews the current guidelines regarding appropriate antimicrobial use and discusses treatment options that might be considered. The article highlights several shortcomings of the current knowledge to be considered when planning future clinical research and developing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Veterinary Prescribing Guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery on dogs and cats are evidence‐based guidelines for veterinary practitioners. Validation of these guidelines is necessary to ensure quality and implementability. Two validated tools, used for medical guideline appraisal, were chosen to assess the guidelines. The terminology from the GuideLine Implementability Appraisal (GLIA) and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation version 2 (AGREE II) were adapted for use by veterinarians. A two‐phase evaluation approach was conducted. In the first phase of the evaluation, the GLIA tool was used by two specialist veterinary surgeons in clinical practice. The results of this phase were then used to modify the guidelines. In the second phase, the AGREE II tool was used by 6 general practitioners and 6 specialists to appraise the guidelines. In phase 1, the specialist surgeons either agreed or strongly agreed that the guidelines were executable, decidable, valid and novel, and that the guidelines would fit within the process of care. The surgeons were neutral on flexibility and measurability. Additional clarity around one common surgical procedure was added to the guidelines, after which the surgeons agreed that the guidelines were sufficiently flexible. In phase 2, 12 veterinarians completed the assessment using the AGREE II tool. In all sections the scaled domain score was greater than 70%. The overall quality of the guidelines was given a global scaled score of 76%. This assessment has demonstrated that the guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for companion animal surgery are valid and appear implementable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aetiology of insulin resistance ( IR) in naturally occurring canine hypothyroidism is poorly understood and likely multifactorial. Excess secretion of growth hormone ( GH) by transdifferentiated pituitary cells may contribute to IR in some hypothyroid dogs, but although this has been demonstrated in experimental studies, it has not yet been documented in clinical cases. Case report A 4-year-old male entire Samoyed presented with an 8-month history of pedal hyperkeratosis and shifting lameness, which had been unresponsive to zinc supplementation, antibiotics and glucocorticoid therapy. The dog also exhibited exercise intolerance and polydipsia of 12 and 2 months duration, respectively. On physical examination, obesity, poor coat condition, widened interdental spaces and mild respiratory stridor were noted. Initial laboratory test results revealed concurrent hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus ( DM). Further investigations showed IR, GH excess and a paradoxical increase of GH following stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Conclusions To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case that suggests that GH alterations may have clinical significance in naturally occurring hypothyroidism. Among other factors, hypothyroidism-induced GH excess should be considered as a possible cause of IR in patients suffering from hypothyroidism and concurrent DM. In such cases, DM may reverse with treatment of hypothyroidism, as was documented in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the south-eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, observations and characterisations of shelf geology are complicated by numerous possibly active faults (e.g. the coast-parallel Akatore and coast-perpendicular Waihemo and Castle Hill faults), a Miocene-aged volcanic edifice (i.e. the Dunedin volcano) and incision from an extensive submarine canyon system. Conventional marine seismic data do not adequately image the basin beneath the shallow shelf here. However, six recently digitised high-frequency single-channel boomer seismic surveys have enabled the investigation of unique local geological structures and their relationships to the tectonic and sedimentary development of the region. These structures have significant control on active processes such as: (1) the localisation of sedimentation and submarine erosion; (2) the instigation of canyon channel incision; and (3) the distribution of fluid migration pathways on the shallow shelf. Future data acquisition will further constrain these processes and help to evaluate earthquake risk in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]