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Objective: To evaluate the association of admission total plasma protein (TPP) and the administration of red blood cell transfusions in dogs with diagnosed hemoabdomen. To secondarily evaluate additional point‐of‐care parameters associated with red blood cell transfusion administration. Design: Retrospective study between 2009 and 2019. Setting: University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Ninety dogs admitted to a university veterinary teaching hospital after a diagnosis of traumatic or nontraumatic hemoabdomen (NTH). Measurements and Main Results: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed; signalment, point‐of‐care diagnostics, and transfusion administration information was recorded. A total of 47 dogs (traumatic hemoabdomen 11/26; NTH 36/64) received packed red blood cell transfusions. For each 1 g/dL unit decrease in TPP, dogs had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44–3.40, P < 0.001) of receiving a red blood cell transfusion. Dogs diagnosed with NTH were more likely to receive a red blood cell transfusion than dogs with a traumatic hemoabdomen (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.11–7.141, P = 0.03). Lower PCV values (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12, P < 0.001), bicarbonate values (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.09–1.56, P = 0.003), and base excess (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.1–1.49, P = 0.003) were associated with a higher likelihood of red blood cell transfusion. Additionally, higher lactate (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.63, P < 0.001) and Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE)fast scores (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.17, P < 0.001) were associated with increased red blood cell transfusion administration. Conclusions: Low admission TPP, independent of low PCV, was associated with red blood cell transfusions regardless of underlying cause. For each 1 g/dL unit decrease in TPP on presentation, dogs were approximately 2 times more likely to receive a red blood cell transfusion during hospitalization. Other factors that were associated with increased transfusion administration included presenting PCV, PCV/TPP ratio, bicarbonate, base excess, lactate, and APPLEfast scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine if an association between ionized magnesium (iMg) and total magnesium (tMg) exists in healthy and hospitalized dogs admitted through an emergency service and to assess the associations between iMg and tMg with total protein, albumin, ionized calcium, and total calcium. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Sixty‐nine dogs were enrolled. The healthy control group (group 1) included 24 dogs, and the hospitalized group (group 2) included 45 dogs. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: For both groups, signalment, a venous blood gas, and serum biochemistry were obtained. In addition, the presumptive diagnosis was recorded for group 2. Blood was obtained prior to any therapeutic interventions. Group 1 tMg was within the reference interval (RI), and the values for iMg were used to provide a healthy group range (HGR) of 0.44–0.50 mmol/L. Group 2 tMg was within the RI, but iMg was below the calculated HGR range (group 2 median iMg = 0.4 mmol/L; range = 0.27–0.70). There was a significant positive correlation between iMg and tMg in each group (group 1: r = 0.6713, P = 0.0003; group 2: r = 0.5312, P = 0.0002). Ionized Mg and tMg were not significantly associated with any of the other evaluated variables in either group. Conclusions: Ionized Mg and tMg were significantly associated in both healthy and hospitalized dogs, but the relationship was weaker in the hospitalized dogs compared with the healthy population. For hospitalized dogs, the relationship was weak enough to question the validity of using iMg and tMg interchangeably to track magnesium status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the placement of subpalpebral lavage (SPL) systems in 12 dogs (15 eyes) intolerant of topical ocular medications to assess the suitability, complications encountered and owner perception of use. Animals Studied: Retrospective review of dogs that underwent SPL placement for treatment of ocular disease at the Ophthalmology Department, University of Bristol Small Animal Hospital between 2017 and 2021. Procedure(s): Data recorded included signalment, history, diagnosis, treatment, reason for SPL placement, uni‐ or bilateral placement, duration of placement, complications, and outcome. Owner perception was assessed using an online questionnaire. Statistical analysis included McNemar and Wilcoxon signed‐ranks tests. Results: Twelve dogs (15 eyes) underwent SPL placement. Eleven owners completed the online questionnaire. Corneal ulceration was the most common disease requiring SPL placement (n = 13/15 eyes, 86.7%). Most cases received multimodal topical therapy (n = 9/15 eyes, 60.0%) via SPL. Owners administered medication 6.63 times daily via SPL (range 1–16 applications/day). All dogs requiring ongoing topical medication (n = 8/12, 66.7%) were trained to accept direct administration during SPL treatment. Statistically significant improvements in medication compliance, ease of application, and reduced perceived risk of iatrogenic ocular injury were reported by owners (p‐value =.001,.004, and.031 respectively). Minor complications were infrequently reported but an excellent outcome was achieved for all eyes. Conclusion: Subpalpebral lavage placement provides a practical and safe solution for the provision of frequent multimodal ocular medication when treating patients with a challenging temperament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]