Effects of pre-warming on body temperature during inhalation anaesthesia

Clara Rigotti and others, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket

Perioperative hyperthermia is common in canine surgical patients and is known to be associated with negative effects on the function of the heart and other organs. In human surgery, short pre-warming periods are considered protective and it has been shown that 10 minutes exposure to a stream of warm air can be effective in preventing hypothermia. The authors investigated the effects of pre-warming on the body temperatures of 20 small dogs, weighing less than 10 kg, undergoing inhalation anaesthesia. The patients were placed in a paediatric incubator at 33° C for 30 to 60 minutes before isoflurane anaesthesia. Rectal, oesophageal and ambient temperatures were measured every five minutes from induction onwards and dogs that became hypothermic were withdrawn from the study There were no significant differences in body temperatures or the numbers withdrawn due to hypothermia between the pre-warmed group and non-warmed controls. The differences between the results in human and canine patients may be due to many factors; including variations in the pre-warming technique, the effects of the drugs used, or the methods used to measure temperature.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 247(7), 765-770

Vitamin D and ultraviolet radiation for exotic pets

Megan Watson and Mark Mitchell, University of Illinois

Vitamin D is an essential hormone that regulates many different functions in vertebrates and can have a protective effect against various disease conditions. Reptiles and other exotic pets may be given appropriate access to vitamin D through their diet, exposure to ultraviolet B radiation or a combination of the two. Providing ultraviolet B lighting may be beneficial even in animals receiving what has been assumed to be adequate dietary levels. However, exposure to this form of radiation does carry potential risks of eye and skin damage. The authors review the role of vitamin D in mammalian physiology the consequences of both hypo- and hypervitaminosis and the role of artificial UVB radiation in the management of exotic pets.

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23(4), 363-368

Hepatitis E virus in a pet rabbit: A potential new zoonotic disease?

Claudio Caruso and others, Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Turin, Italy

Hepatitis E virus is the cause of an acute but normally self-limiting liver disease in humans usually transmitted via the ingestion of material contaminated by faeces. Similar viruses have been isolated from a range of mammalian species, including farmed and wild rabbits in the USA, Mongolia and France. The authors report the first isolation of this agent, an Orthohepevirus, from a pet rabbit. The animal, a seven-year-old female domestic rabbit, was submitted for post-mortem examination. Viral RNA was extracted from liver samples and shown to be closely related to human isolates.The authors note the possibility of disease transmission between rabbits and humans.

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 62(3), 686-691

Effects of a nutritional supplement bar on recovery after exercise in dogs

Brian Zanghi and others, Nestle Purina PetCare Research, St Louis, Missouri

Dogs undergoing intensive exercise will experience depletion of energy stores and changes in blood biochemical variables. The dog's ability to replenish those stores and to manage oxidative stress will determine its performance in subsequent exercise. The authors examined metabolic parameters in dogs receiving a carbohydrate and protein supplement bar after exercise. Compared with control animals, dogs given bars containing rapidly digestible carbohydrate (maltodextrin plus dextrin) had increased blood concentrations of a range of nutrients involved in glycogen and protein synthesis.

American Journal ofVeterinary Research 76(4), 338-350

Guidance on disinfectant use in veterinary practices, homes and animal shelters

Diane Addie and others, European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases

Domestication has forced many cats to live at population densities far higher than would occur in the wild and this may often result in exposure to unnaturally high doses of pathogens. The authors describe the results of a working party investigation into different strategies for disinfecting the cat's home environment. They note that cats are highly sensitive to the effects of phenol-based disinfectants, while quaternary ammonium compounds are also best avoided. They suggest that future approaches to disinfecting veterinary premises and other environments may include the use of ultraviolet radiation and silver compounds.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 17(7), 594-605

A cyanoacrylate sealant for preparing skin before placement of intravenous catheters

Maria Pia Pasolini and others, University of Naples, Italy

Intravenous catheters perform a number of useful roles in the management of the veterinary patients but may also be the source of complications, such as thrombus formation and bacteraemia. In human surgery, it has been claimed that a cyanoacrylate-based preparation can form a barrier film to seal off an incision site from bacterial contamination. The authors compared then risks of catheter-related infections in horses when catheters were placed in the jugular vein, with or without the cyanoacrylate-based sealant. Their results show that the product (InteguSEAL; Halyard Health) was well tolerated but was not associated with a reduction in catheter contamination rates.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35(8), 686-691

VOL 31 • March 2016 • Veterinary Nursing Journal