Articles

Despite invoking fear in some people, invertebrates are becoming ever more popular as pets – and this means that veterinarians need to learn more about them. This article discusses the repair of an exoskeleton in cases of physical trauma. It also discusses common disorders across the species and explains the use of fluid therapy, analgesia […]

In cats, psychogenic alopecia is a common diagnosis when medial regions of limbs, caudal abdomen and the inguinal area affected by hair loss – but it’s important to rule out many other conditions before confirming this diagnosis. In this article, the authors stress the importance of obtaining a full clinical history and of performing a […]

Both genetic and environmental factors influence the majority of dermatological problems, including conditions such as atopic dermatitis and related diseases. This review of the scientific literature sets out the available genetic tools to support the diagnosis of skin diseases of dogs, cats and horses – particularly those with non-specific clinical signs. It also suggests that, […]

Rescue and rehoming environments or holiday kennels can be a stressful environment for the dogs staying in them so a study was conducted to explore whether auditory stimulation could be a useful tool in reducing this stress. This study aimed to determine the effects of playing classical music to 50 dogs living in a rehoming […]

Maternal care influences the development of the brain, behaviour, social skills and emotional systems of many mammals. It also plays a decisive role in neonatal survival and is the main source of stimuli during early postnatal environment. To determine the influence of maternal care during the first three weeks in the life of a dog, […]

Owners’ concerns about the stress their cats suffer while being transported to vet appointments and during the appointments themselves mean that some cats don’t receive the veterinary care they need.  Gabapentin is already used to treat chronic pain and epilepsy but may also be an important tool to help reduce stress in cats before and […]

Various diseases in dogs are associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), which can be diagnosed, as in humans, by transthoracic echocardiography. To determine the relation between the right ventricle size and both the severity of pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation (TR), 163 dogs of 22 different breeds were included in this prospective study. All dogs were […]

There are some studies relating sudden death with ventricular arrhythmias in German Shepherd Dogs and English Springer Spaniels but this is the first focusing on Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  The study was triggered following contact from a Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder who was aware of four unexpected deaths of related dogs.  They were all younger than two years […]

The ACVIM has published a consensus opinion about the administration of gastrointestinal protectants to dogs and cats in other to define the clinical use of these drugs routinely. Besides some comparisons between human and veterinary medicine, this document also details the mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of various gastrointestinal protectants, highlighting their clinical use […]

Many veterinary specialists consider urinalysis an extremely important diagnostic procedure. It not only helps to identify urinary disorders but also, for example, diabetes mellitus and intravascular haemolysis. Urinalysis includes: colour and clarity evaluation, urine specific gravity (USG) calculation, chemical analysis and urine sediment microscopic examination. These, always interpreted together with a rigorous clinical history and […]

Cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) is a condition that affects mostly medium- and large-breed dogs and for which management is still controversial. This retrospective study compared owner satisfaction between stifle joint orthoses and tibial plateau osteotomy (TPLO), using online surveys of an orthotic provider (orthosis group) and Colorado State University Teaching Hospital (TPLO group). 76 […]

After 3 days of anorexia and lethargy, a 3-year-old, male neutered rabbit was diagnosed with rabbit gastrointestinal syndrome (RGS). Gas accumulation in the small intestines and cecum was confirmed by radiography and the patient was admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, care and supportive failed to resolve the problem. Ongoing exams revealed hypothermia, cecum distension (4.25 […]

Great advances are being made in the diagnosis of cancer with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) recognized as promising biomarkers. They can be found in the breath, urine, tissue, human breast milk and/or blood samples of oncology patients. The concentration and composition of VOCs are thought to be altered by cancer pathophysiology, leading to a cancer-VOC […]

Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) is a highly malignant and metastatic bone tumour in dogs. It is more prevalent in middle-aged dogs of large or giant breeds with more than half of the cases appearing at the appendicular skeleton (mostly in forelimbs). There is a greater chance of metastasis in tumours found in the proximal humerus, distal […]

Deslorelin is a Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, used not only for male contraception but also for oestrus stimulation or neutering. The use of slow-release Deslorelin implants is widespread in a range of pets, despite being only licensed for use in male dogs. In male dogs, various studies have demonstrated its inhibitory effect in testosterone secretion and […]

This was the first study to compare the quality of fresh feline ejaculates collected by three different methods: urethral catheterization (CT), electroejaculation (EE) and epididymal slicing after orchiectomy (EP). Electroejaculation is the first-choice technique for obtaining tomcat sperm as it doesn’t require previous training and teaser female cats. Its drawbacks are the requirement for general […]