Nika Brkljača Bottegaro

Review of 166 Gunshot Injury Cases in Dogs

The study is aimed to establish predilection signalment and history data, and to investigate clinical findings and risk factors associated with a poor outcome in dogs with projectile injuries. A retrospective study was undertaken of 166 canine cases in which a projectile was found on radiograph in a university׳s diagnostic imaging center more than a 4-year period. The study included dogs with both apparent (obvious recent traumatic event) and incidental (traumatic event unknown to the owner) projectile injury. Radiographs were reviewed and data regarding projectile position according to body region, number and type of projectile(s), bone fracture(s), and wound(s) related to projectile were recorded. The dogs were divided into groups according to owner address, hunting accident vs. shooting unrelated to hunting, and projectile type found on radiographs. Overall, 160 dogs met the inclusion criteria, making 0.76% the incidence of gunshot injuries. Further, 91 dogs were received with incidental projectile injury, and 75 dogs had apparent projectile injury. Male dogs were overrepresented (74.1%). Hunting accidents were the cause of projectile injury in 12.7% of cases. Fractures were observed in 20.5% of dogs. Most of the dogs (62%) were from an urban area, and the most common projectile type was airgun projectile (62%). The risk of fatal outcome was 14.4 times higher in dogs with thoracic injuries. Projectile injuries are still a real cause of trauma, especially in urban areas and in male dogs. Most gunshot injuries do not cause fatalities, although the thoracic projectile injury was associated with a greater fatality risk.

Metal projectile injuries in cats: review of 65 cases (2012–2014)

Objectives The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of different types of injuries caused by various types of projectiles among urban, suburban and rural cats of different ages in order to predict the type of injury sustained. Methods For the period 1 January 2012 to 30 April 2014, the medical records of cats with metal projectile injuries (PIs) were searched from the archive of the university’s small animal diagnostic imaging centre. Age, sex, owner address, admission during a weekend or on a working day, month of admission, projectile position (head and neck; thoracic region; abdominal region, including lumbosacral spine; forelimbs; and hindlimbs, including tail), number of projectiles, presence of a wound and fracture related to the projectile, and the type of projectile were recorded for each cat. Results Sixty-five cats with PIs were admitted during the defined period. In 38.5% of cats the projectiles found upon radiography were incidental findings. The frequency of PIs peaked in March. Airgun projectiles were found in 80.0% of the cats. PIs in two or more body regions were found in 29.2% of the cats. Among the cats that had only been shot in one body region, the projectile was most frequently found in the abdominal region, including the lumbosacral spine (41.3%). Conclusions and relevance These results might prompt clinicians to evaluate closely and screen for feline PIs in emergency situations.

Elbow Joint Luxation in a Ten Months Old Arabian Colt : a case report

Abstract Elbow joint luxation without concomitant fracture is uncommon in horses. This paper reports on a case of elbow joint luxation in a ten months old Arabian colt. The horse was presented with a history of an acute onset of non-weight bearing right front limb lameness with edema of the affected region lasting for six days. Radiographic imaging indicated luxation of the elbow joint; however, useful information about the severity of soft tissue involvement was obtained using ultrasonography since bilateral collateral ligaments were completely disrupted. The owner opted for euthanasia and necropsy confirmed the diagnosis. Although very rare, elbow joint luxation should be considered in cases of acute forelimb lameness in young horses.

Reliability of lactate Scout portable analyzer in agility dogs during multiple measurements

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of multiple measurements with Lactate Scout portable analyzer in dogs during treadmill exercise. Ten Border collies were involved in the study and blood samples were taken before, three times during and twice after the treadmill exercise. Lactate concentration was measured in duplicate, by Scout portable analyzer and the reference biochemical analyzer in the laboratory, and the obtained values were compared. There was a high and positive correlation between these two methods (r=0.96, p=0.003). The Lactate Scout analyzer reveals a high degree of agreement with the laboratory method and therefore can be valid for use in research of veterinary sports medicine and emergency veterinary medicine where multiple measurements of lactate concentrations are often needed.

The effect of preanesthetic administration of lactated ringer solution on blood pressure in isoflurane-anesthetized horses.

Hypotension induced by volatile agents is particularly notorious in horses and it is probably one of the major causes of the high anaesthetic risk in this species. In the present study we investigated the influence of 10 mL/kg lactated Ringer solution on the values of arterial blood pressure during the elective surgical procedure, administered right before the induction of anaesthesia. The goal was to establish if it was possible to lower the risk of hypotension development with this type of therapy. Nine horses divided in two groups were used in this study. All the horses were submitted to the same anesthetic regimen. The second group of horses received 10 mL/kg i.v. lactated Ringer solution in the 15 minutes time before the induction of anesthesia. The effect of lactated Ringer solution was noted at the beginning of anesthesia. Statistically significant differences among groups were noticed during the first measurement. The results indicate that the suggested method may provide a very simple way of supporting the cardiovascular system at least at the beginning of the surgical procedure.