We've announced the finalists of several of our awards ahead of the BVA Awards dinner, which will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 11 June during BVA Live.We've announced the finalists of several of our awards ahead of the BVA Awards dinner, which will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 11 June during BVA Live.
To many members of the public, and to some veterinary professionals, the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals may seem like an uncomplicated virtue, a simple case of compassion in action. But the reality is far from...To many members of the public, and to some veterinary professionals, the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals may seem like an uncomplicated virtue, a simple case of compassion in action. But the reality is far from uncomplicated. Veterinary treatment of wildlife is beset with ethical minefields. Its relatively unregulated nature has prompted calls for new legislation. With the internet awash with examples of 'have-a-go' wildlife rehabilitators, is it time for the sector to be brought under tighter control? Josh Loeb investigates.
BACKGROUND: Limited literature is available about the career outcomes of horses sustaining a long-term injury (LTI) in a jump race. METHODS: All Thoroughbreds that sustained an LTI, defined as any non-fatal musculoskelet...BACKGROUND: Limited literature is available about the career outcomes of horses sustaining a long-term injury (LTI) in a jump race. METHODS: All Thoroughbreds that sustained an LTI, defined as any non-fatal musculoskeletal injury requiring a minimum 90-day break from racing, in a British jump race between May 2018 and April 2023 were followed up for at least 24 months and outcomes described. Pre-injury racing performance was compared between horses that did and did not return to racing, and post-injury racing performance was compared between horses that sustained tendon/ligament injuries and fractures. RESULTS: There were 793 LTIs recorded in 780 horses. Overall, 28.4% (n = 793, 95% confidence interval: 25.3%-31.7%) returned to racing and started a median of five races (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-7) within 12 months. Horses that returned to racing were younger (p < 0.001), earned more pre-injury (p < 0.01), had shorter careers (p < 0.04) and more wins (p < 0.03). Horses with tendon/ligament injuries were less likely to return to racing (18.9%, n = 107) and took longer to return (median 496 days, IQR: 304-670 days) than those with fractures (50.9%, n = 86, 275 days, IQR: 215-346 days). LIMITATIONS: Injury classification commonly relied upon presumptive diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Over 70% of racehorses failed to return to racing following LTI, highlighting the need to minimise injury risk.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a proprietary collagen-elastin hydrogel microparticulate (CEHM) intra-articular injection into canine stifles with suspected cranial cruciate disease (...BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a proprietary collagen-elastin hydrogel microparticulate (CEHM) intra-articular injection into canine stifles with suspected cranial cruciate disease (CCD) and osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Forty client-owned dogs over 6 months of age and diagnosed with suspected unilateral CCD or OA, without prior surgical or medical intervention, were enroled. A Simon's two-stage clinical trial design was used, as previously described in human literature. Each stifle was injected with the CEHM device and followed over 84 days. Serial examinations with modified Glasgow composite pain score (mGCPS) and additional subjective clinician- and owner-derived scoring scales were obtained at predefined time points. RESULTS: Twenty-two dogs had a 25% or greater improvement in the primary measured parameter, mGCPS, giving a response rate of 55%. There were also statistically significant improvements in all other subjectively measured parameters. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of the study were the lack of objective lameness measurements, surgical confirmation of CCD, blinding, randomisation and a control population to account for possible placebo effect. CONCLUSIONS: The CEHM device demonstrates feasibility in suspected canine CCD and stifle OA, within the measured subjective parameters of this proof-of-concept study. Additional objective investigations are recommended.
BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the effect of sedation with romifidine on the grading of laryngeal function in horses has not been studied. Our objective was to examine the effects of romifidine on the grading of laryngeal...BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the effect of sedation with romifidine on the grading of laryngeal function in horses has not been studied. Our objective was to examine the effects of romifidine on the grading of laryngeal function and the cross-sectional area of the rima glottis (CSARG). METHODS: Ten horses underwent three endoscopic examinations of the larynx: once while unsedated (group R1), once after being sedated with romifidine (0.04 mg/kg intravenously; group R2) and once again, while still sedated, after receiving a repeat dose of romifidine (0.08 mg/kg intravenously, total dose; group R3). The recorded examinations were randomised and examined by three blinded reviewers who graded laryngeal function. The CSARG was measured from still images obtained during peak inspiration. RESULTS: Sedation had no significant effect on the endoscopic laryngeal function grade assigned. There was no statistical difference in CSARG between Groups R1 and R2 (p = 0.164). Significant reduction in CSARG was noted between Groups R1 and R3 (p < 0.001) and Groups R2 and R3 (p = 0.045). LIMITATIONS: The low number of horses examined may have resulted in the analyses being insufficiently powered. As such, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSION: A dose of 0.04 mg/kg romifidine administered intravenously had no significant effect on horses' laryngeal function grade and CSARG.
BACKGROUND: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a biomarker of renal function derived from arginine methylation, unaffected by muscle mass or diet, and increases after only a 25% reduction in renal function, allowing ea...BACKGROUND: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a biomarker of renal function derived from arginine methylation, unaffected by muscle mass or diet, and increases after only a 25% reduction in renal function, allowing earlier detection of renal dysfunction compared with serum creatinine. Although serum SDMA is well established in veterinary nephrology, urinary SDMA (uSDMA) remains comparatively underexplored, particularly in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study evaluated uSDMA concentrations and the uSDMA-to-creatinine (uSDMA/Cr) ratio as biomarkers for AKI, using renal histopathology as the reference standard. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-azotemic dogs diagnosed with pyometra were evaluated. uSDMA was measured using ELISA, and renal lesions were histopathologically classified as discrete, moderate or severe. RESULTS: Median uSDMA concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with severe lesions (0.43 µg/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 0.40-0.47) compared with those with moderate lesions (0.31 µg/mL, IQR 0.24-0.38) and discrete lesions (0.26 µg/mL, IQR 0.22-0.30) (p < 0.001). The uSDMA/Cr ratio was lower in the discrete group (0.0031, IQR 0.0026-0.0036) than in the moderate group (0.0039, IQR 0.0032-0.0048) and the severe group (0.0069, IQR 0.0058-0.0080) (p = 0.0198). LIMITATIONS: The main limitations include the absence of a healthy control group and lack of serial biomarker measurements, which may restrict the assessment of dynamic changes. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that uSDMA and uSDMA/Cr ratio may serve as biomarkers for assessing AKI severity in dogs, supporting earlier detection and monitoring.
BACKGROUND: Migrating grass seed foreign bodies (GSFBs) commonly cause pathology in canine patients. Anecdotally, antibiotic treatment eliminates the fluid pockets that usually form around GSFBs, complicating identificat...BACKGROUND: Migrating grass seed foreign bodies (GSFBs) commonly cause pathology in canine patients. Anecdotally, antibiotic treatment eliminates the fluid pockets that usually form around GSFBs, complicating identification and retrieval. METHODS: Radiology reports tagged with 'soft tissue foreign body' were retrospectively analysed to identify canine patients diagnosed with a GSFB in 2024. Further information was extracted from clinical notes and histories. RESULTS: A total of 18 canine patients were included in this study, from which 22 GSFBs were retrieved. Patients who received antibiotics prior to referral had longer overall disease durations than patients who did not. Grass seeds were more likely to be removed if they were surrounded by a fluid pocket on ultrasonography. However, no direct link was identified between the recent use of antibiotics and the presence or absence of a fluid pocket on ultrasonography. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its small sample size and retrospective nature. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that where a GSFB is suspected but not identified in first-opinion practice, prompt referral for focal ultrasonography will contribute to faster diagnosis and retrieval than symptomatic treatment. Ultrasonography could be used to greater effect for the identification and retrieval of suspected GSFB cases in first-opinion practice.
BACKGROUND: Gram-negative ESKAPE organisms are an emerging threat in veterinary medicine that also have zoonotic potential. However, little is known about the prevalence and risks of these organisms in pet food. We prese...BACKGROUND: Gram-negative ESKAPE organisms are an emerging threat in veterinary medicine that also have zoonotic potential. However, little is known about the prevalence and risks of these organisms in pet food. We present the incidental finding of gram-negative ESKAPE organisms within samples of raw meat diets for dogs in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Samples of commercially available frozen raw-meat diets for dogs (n = 110) underwent bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Bacterial species were identified via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry. Sequence types and resistance genes were determined by whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: Antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. were isolated from eight, 10 and four samples, respectively. Isolates demonstrated phenotypic resistance to highest-priority critically important antibiotics, including meropenem (P. aeruginosa). Key acquired resistance genes were identified. LIMITATIONS: The microbiological methods used may not have been optimal for isolation of Gram-negative ESKAPE organisms. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study further highlight the potential One Health risks associated with feeding dogs raw-meat diets.
Two sessions at BVA Live from neurology specialist Mark Lowrie will help delegates differentiate between true spinal emergencies and the many conditions that can mimic them.Two sessions at BVA Live from neurology specialist Mark Lowrie will help delegates differentiate between true spinal emergencies and the many conditions that can mimic them.