Linda K. Lord

Sickness behaviors in response to unusual external events in healthy cats and cats with feline interstitial cystitis

OBJECTIVE To compare sickness behaviors (SB) in response to unusual external events (UEE) in healthy cats with those of cats with feline interstitial cystitis (FIC). DESIGN Prospective observational study. ANIMALS 12 healthy cats and 20 donated cats with FIC. PROCEDURES Cats were housed in a vivarium. Sickness behaviors referable to the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, the skin, and behavior problems were recorded by a single observer for 77 weeks. Instances of UEE (eg, changes in caretakers, vivarium routine, and lack of interaction with the investigator) were identified during 11 of the 77 weeks. No instances of UEE were identified during the remaining 66 weeks, which were considered control weeks. RESULTS An increase in age and exposure to UEE, but not disease status, significantly increased total number of SB when results were controlled for other factors. Evaluation of individual SB revealed a protective effect of food intake for healthy males. An increase in age conferred a small increase in relative risk (RR) for upper gastrointestinal tract signs (RR, 1.2) and avoidance behavior (1.7). Exposure to UEE significantly increased the RR for decreases in food intake (RR, 9.3) and for no eliminations in 24 hours (6.4). Exposure to UEE significantly increased the RR for defecation (RR, 9.8) and urination (1.6) outside the litter box. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SB, including some of the most commonly observed abnormalities in client-owned cats, were observed after exposure to UEE in both groups. Because healthy cats and cats with FIC were comparably affected by UEE, clinicians should consider the possibility of exposure to UEE in cats evaluated for these signs.

Attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio.

OBJECTIVE To characterize attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION Households in Ohio. PROCEDURES A random-digit-dial telephone survey was performed, and 1,250 households were contacted. RESULTS 703 of the 1,250 (56.2%) households completed interviews. Five hundred fifty-three (78.7%) participants reported seeing free-roaming cats at least occasionally, and 184 (26.2%) reported having fed free-roaming cats during the previous year. However, only 42 (22.8%) participants who fed free-roaming cats had ever taken one to a veterinarian, and 43 (23.4%) participants who fed free-roaming cats reported that at least one of the free-roaming cats had produced a litter in the preceding year. Differences existed between cat owners and other participants and among urban, suburban, and rural residents in regard to their attitudes toward free-roaming cats and the need for government regulations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that free-roaming cats were common in Ohio, but that attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats differed between cat owners and other participants and among participants grouped on the basis of residential area. Thus, developing statewide approaches for regulating free-roaming cats may be challenging or unrealistic.

Search and identification methods that owners use to find a lost dog

OBJECTIVE To characterize the process by which owners search for lost dogs and identify factors associated with time to recovery. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION Owners of 187 dogs lost in Montgomery County, Ohio, between June 1 and September 30, 2005. PROCEDURES A telephone survey was conducted. RESULTS 132 of the 187 (71%) dogs were recovered; median time to recovery was 2 days (range, 0.5 to 21 days). Dogs were recovered primarily through a call or visit to an animal agency (46 [34.8%]), a dog license tag (24 [18.2%]), and posting of neighborhood signs (20 [15.2%]). Eighty-nine (48%) dogs had some type of identification at the time they were lost (ie, identification tag, dog license tag, rabies tag, or microchip). Owners had a higher likelihood of recovery when they called an animal agency (hazard ratio, 2.1), visited an animal agency (1.8), and posted neighborhood signs. Dogs that were wearing a dog license tag also had a higher likelihood of recovery (hazard ratio, 1.6). Owners were less likely to recover their dogs if they believed their dogs were stolen (hazard ratio, 0.3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that various factors are associated with the likelihood that owners will recover a lost dog. Both animal agencies and veterinarians can play a role in educating dog owners on the importance of identification tags, licensing, and microchips and can help to emphasize the importance of having a search plan in case a dog is lost.

Health and behavior problems in dogs and cats one week and one month after adoption from animal shelters

OBJECTIVE To characterize health and behavior problems in dogs and cats 1 week and 1 month after adoption from animal shelters and identify factors associated with the likelihood that owners of adopted animals would visit a veterinarian. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. Sample Population-2,766 (1 week) and 2,545 (1 month) individuals who had adopted an animal from a shelter. PROCEDURES Internet and telephone survey responses were collected 1 week and 1 month after animal adoption. RESULTS Overall, 1,361 of 2,624 (51.9%) dogs and cats had health problems 1 week after adoption, and 239 of 2,312 (10.3%) had a health problem 1 month after adoption. The most common health problem for dogs and cats was respiratory tract disease. A total of 1,630 of 2,689 (60.6%) respondents had taken their animal to a veterinarian within the first week after adoption and 1,865 of 2,460 (75.8%) had within the first month after adoption. Respondents were more likely to have visited a veterinarian if they had adopted a dog versus a cat or if the animal was young (< or = 1 year old), had > or = 1 health problem, or had adjusted moderately to extremely well to its new home within the first month after adoption. Cats had fewer behavior problems than dogs. One week after adoption, the most commonly reported behavior problem was house training for dogs and chewing, digging, or scratching at objects for cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that improvements can be made in the percentage of new owners who visit a veterinarian after adopting an animal from a shelter.

Characterization of animals with microchips entering animal shelters

OBJECTIVE To characterize animals with microchips entering animal shelters and the process used to find owners. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS 7,704 microchipped animals entering 53 animal shelters between August 2007 and March 2008. PROCEDURES Data for animals with microchips were recorded by participating animal shelters and reported monthly. RESULTS Of 7,704 animals, strays accounted for slightly more than half (4,083 [53.0%]), with the remainder classified as owner-relinquished animals (3,225 [41.9%]) and other (396 [5.1%]). Of 3,425 stray animals for which animal shelters reported that the owner was found, a higher percentage of dog owners (2,191/2,956 [74.1%]) than cat owners (298/469 [63.5%]) was found. For 876 animals for which the owners could not be found, the main reasons were incorrect or disconnected telephone number (310 [35.4%]), owner did not return telephone calls or respond to a letter (213 [24.3%]), and animal was registered to another group (151 [17.2%]). Of 1,943 animals for which animal shelters contacted a microchip registry, 1,129 (58.1%) were registered in the database. Purebred neutered dogs whose owner information was in the shelter database registry or microchip registry had a higher likelihood that the owners would be found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The high rate for return of microchipped dogs and cats to their owners supported microchipping as a valuable permanent pet identification modality; however, issues related to registration undermined its overall potential. Bundling of microchip implantation and registration, point-of-implantation data registration, use of annual compliance and update reminders, and providing access to all registries are potential solutions.

Characteristics of dairy calf ranches: Morbidity, mortality, antibiotic use practices, and biosecurity and biocontainment practices

The utilization of farming operations specializing in rearing dairy heifer calves has increased since the early 1990s. However, these operations have not been as well characterized as US dairy operations with respect to demographic and health-related measures, particularly during the preweaning period. The objective of this study was to characterize morbidity, mortality, antibiotic use, and biosecurity and biocontainment practices on operations rearing preweaned heifers only or preweaned heifer and bull calves (mixed) in the United States. A cross-sectional survey was performed using a standardized method that included a preletter, initial survey, postcard follow-up, and second survey delivered by mail. Additional follow-up contacts were attempted by telephone. Descriptive statistics for morbidity, mortality, antibiotic use, and biosecurity and biocontainment practices were computed at both the operation and calf levels. The overall response rate was 50%. Crude yearly mortality averaged 6.9% at the calf level, with the median operation reporting 3.6% mortality. Diarrhea was experienced by 18% of calves, with 73% receiving an antibiotic. The median operation reported 20% diarrhea morbidity with 83% receiving an antibiotic. Respiratory disease was experienced by 9.0% of calves, with 82% receiving an antibiotic. The median operation reported 5.3% respiratory morbidity, with 100% receiving an antibiotic. Heifer-only and mixed operations did not differ in operation median morbidity, mortality, or antibiotic treatment rates. Written antibiotic protocols were available on 65% of operations. Medicated milk replacer was used by 56% of operations. Passive immunity was routinely measured by 46% of operations. Direct contact between calves in housing units was not allowed by 45% of operations. Of all farms informed of disease concerns at the source farm, 76% changed their daily routine as a result. Almost all operations uniquely identified calves and recorded mortality. The heifer-only and mixed operations in this study were similar to US dairy operations for key health, antibiotic use, and biosecurity and biocontainment metrics. This research provides initial estimates of key demographics usable by calf ranches, veterinarians, and other professionals serving this segment of the US dairy industry.

Frequency of Lost Dogs and Cats in the United States and the Methods Used to Locate Them

Simple Summary Dogs and cats are a common member of the family in homes across the US. No population-based data exist on the frequency of pets getting lost from the home and lost pets can be a source of human and animal suffering. Our primary objective was to determine the percentage of owned dogs and cats that were lost, and of these, what percentages of pets were recovered. We examined the recovery success for dogs compared to cats and the methods used as well as the relationship between lost or found pets and pet and owner demographics. While 15% of dog and cat owners lost their pets, dogs had higher recovery rates (93%) than cats (75%) as well as being returned using different search methods. Abstract A cross-sectional national random digit dial telephone interview was conducted between September and November 2010. There were 1,015 households that had owned a dog or cat within the past five years. Of these 817 households owned dogs and 506 owned cats. Fourteen percent of dogs (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 11–16%) and 15% (95% CI: 12–18%) of cats were lost in the past five years. No owner demographic variables were associated with losing a pet. Ninety three percent (95% CI: 86–97%) of dogs and 75% (95% CI: 64–85%) of cats were recovered. For dogs, searching the neighborhood and returning on their own were the most common methods of finding the dog; 14% were found through an identification tag. For cats, returning on their own was most common. Dogs were more likely than cats to be lost more than once. Cats were less likely than dogs to have any type of identification. Knowledge of the successful methods of finding dogs and cats can provide invaluable help for owners of lost pets. Since 25% of lost cats were not found, other methods of reuniting cats and their owners are needed. Collars and ID tags or humane trapping could be valuable approaches.

Retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of epsilon aminocaproic acid for the prevention of postamputation bleeding in retired racing Greyhounds with appendicular bone tumors: 46 cases (2003–2008)

OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of delayed postoperative bleeding in retired racing Greyhounds with appendicular bone tumors undergoing limb amputations. To identify if administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) was effective on the prevention of postoperative bleeding. DESIGN Retrospective study from December 2003 to December 2008. SETTING Veterinary university teaching hospital. ANIMALS Forty-six retired racing Greyhounds (RRGs) diagnosed with primary appendicular bone tumors that underwent limb amputation were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Thirteen of 46 RRGs (28%) included in the study had delayed postoperative bleeding starting 48-72 h after surgery. Bleeding episodes included cutaneous, subcutaneous, and external bleeding that extended from the area of the surgical site that became widespread within hours, and that required administration of blood components. A paired t-test suggests that there was a significant decrease in PCV postoperatively for both dogs that bled and dogs that did not bleed (P < 0.0001). Forty of 46 RRGs (86%) received either fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or EACA or both, for the prevention of postoperative bleeding. A logistic regression model determined that dogs that did not receive EACA were 5.7 times more likely to bleed than dogs that did receive EACA, when controlling for whether or not they received FFP (95% CI: 1.02-32.15, P = 0.047). CONCLUSION This retrospective study suggests that preemptive postoperative administration of EACA appears to be efficacious in decreasing the frequency of bleeding in RRGs undergoing limb amputation; however, a prospective study is warranted to corroborate its effectiveness.

A Phase II Clinical Trial of Vinorelbine in Dogs with Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors

BACKGROUND Few effective drugs are available to treat dogs with locally aggressive or metastatic mast cell disease. HYPOTHESIS Vinorelbine, a semisynthetic derivative of vinblastine, is an effective drug for the treatment of canine mast cell tumors (MCT). ANIMALS Twenty-four dogs with cutaneous MCT. METHODS Dogs with at least 1 measurable, cytologically confirmed, and previously untreated cutaneous MCT received a single treatment with vinorelbine at the previously established dosage of 15 mg/m2 IV. Tumor measurements and CBC were evaluated before and 7 days after treatment. Adverse events were graded according to Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) guidelines. STATISTICS Data were accrued in accordance with a Simons 2-stage design with a noninteresting response rate of .05, a target response of .25, and alpha and beta values of .10. RESULTS Three of 24 dogs (13%) had a response to treatment, including 1 measurable complete response and 1 measurable partial response. The 3rd dog had microscopic complete response to treatment with stable measurable disease. Twenty other dogs (83%) had stable disease and 1 dog (4%) had progressive disease. Neutropenia occurred in 13 dogs (54%) (grade 1, n = 4; grade 3, n = 6; grade 4, n = 3). Gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 11 dogs (46%) (anorexia: grade 1, n = 3; grade 2, n = 1; grade 3, n = 1; diarrhea: grade 1, n = 2; grade 3, n = 1; vomiting: grade 1, n = 5; grade 3, n = 1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Vinorelbine was associated with an overall response rate of 13% and a high prevalence of neutropenia. Additional studies are indicated to determine if repeated dosing of vinorelbine or combination of vinorelbine with other drugs increases the observed biologic activity against canine MCT.

Frequency of use and proficiency in performance of surgical skills expected of entry-level veterinarians by general practitioners

OBJECTIVE To identify a list of core surgical skills and determine the frequency of use and proficiency in performance of these skills expected of entry-level veterinarians by general practitioners. DESIGN Mail-based survey. SAMPLE 750 general practitioners randomly chosen from the AVMA membership database. PROCEDURES Survey respondents rated the proficiency and frequency of use expected of entry-level veterinarians in regard to 26 surgical skills. Demographic information (gender; graduation year; practice type, geographic location, and setting; number of veterinarians in practice; number of surgical procedures performed per week; and number of new graduates mentored in the past 5 years) of respondents was obtained. RESULTS 387 (52%) general practitioners responded to the survey. Greater than 60% of respondents expected new graduates to have high proficiency and require minimal supervision for 21 of 26 skills. Greater than 60% of respondents assigned 6 of the skills a low expected frequency of use rating. Orthopedic skills, creation of square knots by use of a 1-handed tie technique, and use of electrosurgical and laser instruments received some of the lowest ratings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Core surgical skills were identified. Results indicated a broad consensus among general practitioners independent of demographic characteristics. Results may aid veterinary colleges in identification of the surgical skills that are most important to include in surgical curricula and for which new graduates should attain proficiency according to general practitioners.