Effects of dietary supplementation on circulating vitamin D levels in dogs

Robert Backus and Lauren Foster University of Missouri, Columbia;

There is increasing evidence to suggest that vitamin D plays a role in a wide range of disease processes. It has also been suggested that most privately owned dogs have suboptimal levels of vitamin D needed to reduce the risk of developing a neoplastic disease.The authors examined the effects of dietary supplementation with two metabolites, vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, on vitamin D status. Their results suggest that the latter compound is five times more effective at increasing circulating vitamin D levels and there was no evidence of excess vitamin D levels during the trial. These findings may have relevance in treating diseases in which circulating vitamin levels may be low, despite adequate dietary intake.

American Journal ofVeterinary Research 82(9), 722-736

Effectiveness of intravenous fluid resuscitation in hypotensive cats

Nolan Chalifoux and others, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia;

Intravascular fluid administration is the mainstay of emergency stabilization therapy in feline patients with shock yet there is little published evidence to support this approach. The authors examined the effectiveness of fluid resuscitation in 82 hypotensive cats in an emergency room setting.Their results showed that bolus fluid administration did produce some increases in blood pressure but treatment failed to normalize blood pressure, heart rate or body temperature. The survival rate was low at 5% and successful treatment appeared to be more likely in those cats with bradycardia at presentation.

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.13075

Biochemical parameters of equine blood collected via direct venipuncture

Chiara del Prete and others, University of Naples, Italy

Repeated blood sampling from the jugular vein can be associated in horses with vessel trauma and thrombophlebitis and so blood collection via an indwelling intravenous catheter could provide a lower risk alternative. The authors examine the blood parameters in samples collected through an IVC in hospitalised foals, comparing direct venipuncture with the push-pull technique. Their findings suggest that the push-pull technique is an acceptable method for collecting blood samples for venous blood gas parameters, electrolytes, glucose and lactate in sick neonatal foals.

Equine Veterinary Journal https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13332

Dietary control scratching in dogs with pruritic atopic dermatitis

James Weemhoff and others, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Topeka, Kansas;

Adverse reactions to food are a common cause of dermatological conditions in dogs but in many cases the clinical signs may be controlled by providing a hydrolysed protein diet. The authors compare the clinical findings in dogs receiving a standard hydrolysed protein ration with a novel product containing egg protein and plant nutrients. They found that the novel therapeutic food was well-accepted and efficacious in managing signs of adverse food reactions, when compared with baseline measures and the results in dogs receiving the positive food control.

Journal ofVeterinary Internal Medicine https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16193

Survey of cat owners’ attitudes to vaccinating their pets

Joel Soares Filipe and others, University of Milan, Italy;

Vaccination is the cornerstone of efforts to control infectious disease in veterinary patients. However, it is important to understand an owners' knowledge of, and attitudes to, vaccination, in order to offer advice on appropriate treatment protocols. The authors carried out an online survey completed by more than 1200 Italian cat owners on their views on feline healthcare. They found that 91% of cats were vaccinated, 80% of them within the past three years. The survey suggested that veterinary staff are considered the most valuable source of advice by 97% of owners.

BMC Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02981-z

Investigation of the factors associated with animal abuse cases in Brazil

Laiza Bonela Gomes and others, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Awareness of the importance of tackling animal welfare abuses is growing in many countries but an understanding of the tools needed to identify such incidents is often lacking. The authors examined the characteristics associated with both the perpetrators and victims of such incidents in Latin America. They found that cases investigated by a regional police force in southern Brazil the most frequent perpetrators of active abuse (i.e., cruelty) were males aged 40-59 years. Those involved in passive maltreatment (such as abandonment) or exposing the animal to intoxicating substances, tended to be younger, often between 18 and 24 years.

Preventive Veterinary Medicine https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105421

VOL 36 • November 2021 • Veterinary Nursing Journal