Risk factors associated with fear and aggression in dogs at veterinary clinics

Anastasia Stellato and others, University of Guelph, Ontario

Research has suggested that more than 50% of dogs may show apprehension and a submissive posture when entering a veterinary clinic and in some cases this fear may develop into overt aggression. The authors sent an online survey to owners of more than 2,000 dogs to investigate the factors that may provoke fear or aggression in their pets when visiting a veterinary clinic. Their findings suggest that fear and aggression may result from a combination of the dog's personality their previous experiences both in everyday life and at veterinary clinics, and the owner's expectations during the visit. These findings may help guide research on preventing the development of fear and aggression in dogs during future veterinary appointments.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105374

Effect of ultraviolet-C in decontaminating environmental surfaces

Katrina Brown and others, University of New South Wales, Sydney

Contaminated environmental surfaces are an underappreciated source of pathogens that are a potential cause of surgical site infections in veterinary practices. Ultraviolet-C radiation is used in sterilising water supplies and ventilation systems and provides an adjunct disinfection method for use in other situations. The authors compare the efficacy of UVC compared with manual disinfection in reducing environmental contamination of different surfaces within veterinary hospitals. Their results show that UVC reduced the bacterial burden for all surfaces by 94% compared with manual disinfection alone.

American Journal ofVeterinary Research 82(7), 582-588

Validation of a flash glucose monitoring system in outpatient diabetic cats

Emily Shea and Rebecka Hess, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Diabetic monitoring in cats is complicated by the effects of stress due to handling on blood glucose measurements. A flash glucose monitoring system which measures interstitial glucose levels is a non-invasive and affordable method used in human diabetic patients. The authors investigated the use of this technology in monitoring diabetic cats as outpatients.They found that the results of the FGMS analysis correlated well with those from an automated biochemistry analyser but a high rate of sensor failures was observed.

Journal ofVeterinary Internal Medicine https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16216

Complications associated with oesophageal tube placement in tortoises

Joanna Hedley and others, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead

Oesophagostomy tubes are commonly used in chelonian patients to provide nutritional support during periods of anorexia or for the administration of oral medications. Placement of the tube is usually quick and simple and is conducted under sedation or brief general anaesthesia. The authors examined the records from 98 chelonian patients given this procedure over a 5-year period. Minor complications were noted in 40 patients, usually consisting of tube obstruction or tube displacement by the patient and in all cases these incidents were readily managed.

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2021.02.006

Horse owners’ understanding of obesity and weight management in equines

Tamzin Furtado and others, University of Liverpool

Obesity is considered to be one of the most serious welfare issues affecting leisure horses but little is known about their owners' understanding of the importance of weight control. The authors gathered data from online discussion fora, focus groups and individual owners, along with veterinary staff and equine nutritionists, on owners' knowledge and beliefs about their animals. Their findings highlight how an obese body condition has become normalised in the minds of the horse owning population. Their findings may help in developing better methods for communicating with owners and in promoting positive welfare.

Equine Veterinary Journal https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13360

Foci of bacterial contamination in a veterinary hospital isolation unit

Claudia Verdial and others, University of Lisbon, Portugal

The Biological Isolation and Containment Unit (BICU) is part of the teaching hospital at the University of Lisbon veterinary school where animals with confirmed or suspected infectious disease are managed. Such sites are a high risk environment for the transmission of nosocomial pathogens.The authors sampled surfaces in various sites within the unit for the presence of four common pathogens. The sites most frequently contaminated were the cages, hand held sponges and telephones, with Enterococcus sp. the most commonly isolated pathogen. After implementing new disinfection procedures, contamination levels were reduced by more than 99%.

Irish Veterinary Journal https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-021-00197-z

Exploratory study of chewing behaviour in dogs

Christine Arhant and others, University ofVeterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

While chewing is an essential element in their feeding behaviour dogs will often chew non-edible items such as household objects. Despite the inconvenience this causes to owners, there have been few studies into the causes and effects of destructive chewing. The authors report the results of an online survey of dog owners on how they manage their dogs' chewing behaviour They found that many dog owners provide their pet with different types of chewing materials, believing it is important for its welfare. However they note that some chewing materials may cause health problems and further studies are needed into the trade-off between the risks and benefits of different chewing materials.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105372

Review of the pathophysiological and clinical effects of sleep disorders in dogs

Alejandra Mondino and others, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Typically dogs will spend up to 10 hours a day asleep. The exact function of sleep remains an enigma but it is clear that in dogs and humans it serves an essential physiological function. Dogs can be affected by a range of primary sleep conditions, such as narcolepsy, REM sleep behaviour disorder and sleep apnoea, while sleep disturbances may also be a feature of various other conditions. The authors review current understanding of the sleep cycle in dogs and discuss the investigation and treatment of those with clinical sleep disorders.

Topics in Companion Animal Medicine http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcam.2021.100516

Risk factors for complications when arterial catheters are used in cats and dogs

Matthew Hagley and others, University of Manchester

Arterial catheters are
considered the gold standard method for measuring blood pressure in veterinary patients but, as with any invasive procedure, they present a significant risk of complications. The authors investigated the risk factors associated with complications in 198 canine and 29 feline patients with arterial catheter monitoring in an intensive care unit. Minor complications occurred in 19.2% of canine and 17.2% of feline cases but most incidents did not justify the removal of the catheter. There was no observable association between complication incidence and factors such as patient weight, duration of catheter use, species or insertion site.

Journal ofVeterinary Emergency and Critical Care https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.13084

Depression, stress and reluctance to seek psychological support in veterinary students

Stuart Lokhee* and Rachel Hogg, Western Sydney University New South Wales*

Veterinarians have been shown to have a higher incidence of depression and other mental health issues than the general population and these problems appear particularly prevalent among vet students. Yet there appears to be a reluctance among these younger members of the profession to seek psychological help. The authors investigated the causes and possible solutions for these attitudes among vet students.Their findings indicate that reducing stress and "help-seeking self stigma” in veterinary students may be important in improving their psychological wellbeing.

Australian Veterinary Journal 99(7), 309-317

Use of ondansetron in treating nausea in dogs with vestibular syndrome

Sarah Foth and others, University ofVeterinary Medicine, Hannover; Germany

Conditions affecting the vestibular system are a common finding in dogs and produce a range of clinical signs, including nausea. Most drugs used to treat vestibular disease will control vomiting but not nausea. The authors assessed the efficacy of the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron in treating dogs with vestibular syndrome-associated nausea. The intensity of nausea-related behavioural signs such as lip- licking and restlessness was significantly lower in all treated dogs. The incidence of vomiting was also much reduced.

BMC Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02931-9

Accuracy of a commercial point-of-care haematocrit analyser

Britt Thevelein and others, University of Georgia, Athens

A point-of-care haematocrit meter was developed to measure haemoglobin concentrations using optical reflectance and then to calculate the haematocrit level. However, some clinical conditions may generate endogenous compounds which could influence optical reflectance results. The authors compare the agreement between haematocrit and haemoglobin measurements in blood samples from cats and dogs using the novel meter and a laboratory-based analyser They found a reasonable correlation between the two test methods but warn that the results produced using the PoC meter do need careful interpretation.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 259 (l), 49-55

Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 36 • October 2021