Explore the latest news within the veterinary industry
Every month, we share articles with new trends, recent scientific studies and the latest discoveries in the veterinary field. Foster your passion and update your knowledge with our ready-to-read publications in a minute.
Does abnormal spinal curvature predispose dogs to develop disc herniation?
Although not often considered the primary cause of clinical signs, it has been suggested that intervertebral malformations interfere with spinal biomechanics. A study aimed to clarify whether there is an association between kyphosis, scoliosis and intervertebral disc extrusion. The retrospective investigation included the clinical cases of 178 French bulldogs, a breed often linked to these […]
Raw food and tuberculosis in cats
Tuberculosis (TB) in cats is generally linked to an outdoor lifestyle and hunting behavior but some cases in UK are showing that there is more to it than this. This article describes the clinical cases of 13 pet cats with evidence of Mycobacterium bovis infection (confirmed by PCR or interferon-gama release assay). They were all […]
Understanding chronic pain in cats
A longer life expectancy in cats came together with a higher prevalence of chronic painful conditions, which assessment is a challenge for the majority of veterinarians. Chronic pain has a negative impact in the quality of life of animals and it can exist by itself or be associated with disease/injury. To access chronic pain it […]
Helping TPLO recovery with cold compression therapy
Cryotherapy is a rehabilitation technique with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, commonly used postoperatively. When combined with intermittent dynamic pressure, it is called Cold Compression Therapy (CCT). This study included 30 cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle joints of dogs, divided in three groups: Group I – CCT once before and after surgery Group II – CCT four […]
CASE REPORT: Thoracolumbar disc herniation in a ferret
A two-year-old neutered male ferret was diagnosed with disc prolapse with imaging tools (myelography followed by computed tomography) and taking into account his three-day history of acute onset paraplegia and lack of urination and defecation control. Neurological examination indicated a lesion in the thoracolumbar spinal cord segments causing an upper motor neuron lesion of the […]
CASE REPORT: Intraocular Setaria equina in a horse
Setaria equina parasites have a wide geographic distribution and are normally found in the peritoneal cavity of ungulates and some other mammals. Their life cycle is typical of filarial worms so they rely on the seasonal activity of the mosquito vectors. They rarely cause intraocular infections in horses and donkeys and this is the first […]
The future of canine glaucoma therapy
Glaucoma, whether primary or secondary, is the main cause of blindness in dogs. The uncontrollable increase intraocular pressure and the extreme pain associated with this condition, generally justifies enucleation. This free-access viewpoint article sums up recommendations from recent ACVO diplomates’ meetings to improve the management of canine glaucoma. Understanding the disease’s mechanism, knowing how early […]
Do cats cry more at night?
Tear film production is a parameter to evaluate while performing a complete ophthalmic examination -Aa Schirmer tear test (STT) is commonly used in veterinary medicine to determine whether they eye produces enough tears to keep it moist. Studies in humans and dogs correlate STT values with circadian rhythm but, to the author’s knowledge, there hadn’t […]
Evaluating dogs’ eyes with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography
Ocular blood perfusion can be evaluated by various imaging modalities and is an important parameter when the differential diagnosis list includes neoplasia. In fact, as pathologic angiogenesis is considered a hallmark of ocular tumours, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEU) is also used in human medicine. CEU shows advantages over both Colour and Power Doppler, especially when you […]
Detecting nodal malignancy using sonography and sonoelastography
In oncology, identifying lymph node malignancy is crucial to tumour-staging and to defining a therapeutic plan and prognosis. FNA cytology and biopsy are commonly used to obtain samples to characterize tumours – but they are invasive and can be expensive. Studies in veterinary medicine to characterize nodal malignancy with B-mode sonography have been controversial so, […]
Taking care of invertebrates
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 […]
Is it really psychogenic alopecia?
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 […]
Genetic testing in veterinary dermatology
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, […]
Is listening to classical music beneficial to kennelled dogs?
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 […]
The influence of maternal care in dogs’ development
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, […]
The use of gabapentin to reduce stress in cats
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 […]