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While the leadership component has been proven to be beneficial to agricultural education departments and they attract a wide variety of students, the notion that leadership is taught within a department of agricultural education still seems to be puzzling to some people. The purpose of this study was to explore how students pursuing a degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development at Texas A&M University have constructed knowledge about their degree. Students (n = 85) enrolled in a one-hour introductory course for Agricultural Leadership and Development majors reflected on their understanding of their degree program which resulted in three themes: what it is, what they will get out of it, and how they will use it. Students reported their degree in leadership would offer them many benefits including tools to be successful both professionally and personally, and prepare them for a variety of careers both within and outside the agricultural industry. Knowing students’ perceptions of their leadership degree is a step in the right direction to making sure we are creating the image we want to have of our degree programs and are correctly conveying the importance of soft skills in the 21 century workplace.

Objective: To describe the surgical repair and pre- and postoperative management of a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) in a pregnant dog. Case summary: A pregnant dog was presented for vomiting, lethargy, and pale mucous membranes. Pulsus paradoxus was noted on physical examination. The dog was diagnosed with a PPDH via thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and an echocardiogram. The hernia was surgically repaired and the dog received supportive medical care until the puppies were old enough to be delivered via cesarean section. The mother and all puppies survived. New or unique information provided: This is the first report that describes the surgical repair and postoperative management of a PPDH in a pregnant dog.

The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of using urinary recovery of sugars to evaluate intestinal permeability and absorption in dogs with traumatic injury and to determine if intestinal permeability and absorption are altered in dogs with traumatic injury. After a 6-hour fast, a sugar solution containing lactulose, rhamnose, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, and xylose was administered via nasoesophageal tube. Urine was collected and quantitated over the 6-hour study period via closed collection urinary catheters. Urinary sugar recoveries were measured by high-pressure anion exchange liquid chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection. Urinary sugar recoveries in the trauma group at 24, 48, and 72 hours after trauma were compared to normal controls. In addition, severity of trauma was compared to urinary sugar recoveries. Twelve client-owned dogs with traumatic injury and 6 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Lactulose recovery and the lactulose: rhamnose recovery ratio were significantly higher in the trauma group at 48 hours but were no longer different from controls by 72 hours. Xylose recovery was significantly higher in the trauma group when compared to controls at 72 hours, whereas 3-O-methyl-D-glucose recovery was significantly lower in the trauma group at 24 hours. The xylose: 3-O-methyl-D-glucose ratio was higher in the trauma group at all time points. Significant correlation was found between severity of trauma and xylose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose recoveries 24 hours after injury. Results of this study support the hypothesis that intestinal permeability and absorption are altered in dogs with traumatic injury.

In the late 1800s, while caring for a trauma victim, Warren characterized shock as "a momentary pause in the act of death." A great deal about shock has been discovered since this first description. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines shock as a condition of profound hemodynamic and metabolic disturbance characterized by failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate perfusion of vital organs. Shock is now being defined at the cellular level as the inadequate delivery of nutrients to the cells of the body. Because oxygen is the only nutrient that cells cannot store in any appreciable quantity, shock is also equivalent to inadequate oxygen delivery (DO2). Although there are many types of shock, this article concentrates on the pathophysiologic characteristics of hypovolemic shock.

Summary A retrospective evaluation was performed on 46 cats with arterial thromboembolism (ATE) that were treated with streptokinase (SK). Significant heart disease was diagnosed in 45/46 cats, and 21/46 cats had congestive heart failure. Variable dosing schemes of streptokinase were administered within 1–20 hours following the onset of clinical signs (median = 5.5 hours). There was no difference between survivors (S) and non-survivors (NS), based on time of administration of SK after onset of clinical signs. Twenty-five (54%) of the cats had return of pulses within 2–24 hours of treatment. Fourteen (30%) of the cats had return of motor function between 9 hours and 6 days. Fifteen of the cats (33%) were discharged from the hospital, 18 (39%) died in the hospital, and 13 (28%) cats were euthanized due to complications or poor response to treatment. Four of 5 cats (80%) with single limb dysfunction survived to hospital discharge. Life threatening hyperkalemia was diagnosed in 16 cats (35%) after SK administration. Hyperkalemia was more likely to occur with the longer duration of SK infusion. Eleven cats (24%) developed clinical signs of bleeding following SK administration and 3 of these cats required a blood transfusion. Laboratory testing documented coagulopathy following SK administration in 11 out of 17 cats tested. Hypothermia and azotemia prior to SK administration and the development of hyperkalemia were negatively associated with survival.