A study evaluates the efficacy of diphenhydramine and cetirizine in canine allergic skin disease. Antihistamines are often utilized as an aid in the management of pruritus secondary to allergic skin disease in dogs. Historically, diphenhydramine (DPH) has commonly been prescribed for this purpose. DPH has also been utilized to attempt to minimize mast cell degranulation during surgical removal of cutaneous mast cell tumours. Hydroxyzine and cetirizine are other antihistamines that have been...

As co-author of the 2022 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Acute Pain in Cats, Dr. Paulo Steagall summarizes the highlights of this recent publication on the assessment and treatment of acute pain in cats. He presents useful tools and treatment options. He also identifies confounding factors that may affect some case assessments as well as unusual behaviours to recognize in a cat that is feeling in pain. He concludes with a list of things to consider when building an acute pain...

In this video, Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe shares her passion for pet nutrition as she reviews the 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for dogs and cats. Based on these new guidelines, she discusses the importance of screening, nutritional history, and physical examination, among other steps to consider when assessing a pets’ condition and communicating nutritional recommendations to clients.

A study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of polysulfated glycosaminoglycans as an adjunct therapy in pemphigus foliaceus. Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an immune-mediated disease caused by the immune system targeting desmocollin-1, an intracellular adhesion molecule. The lack of proper intracellular adhesion leads to the formation of fragile pustules and eventual acantholysis, as well as flaking and erosion of the affected skin. Treatment of the disease involves suppressing the immune...

A study evaluates breed-, age- and sex-specific factors in calcium oxalate stone formation. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones in dogs are the most common type of stone submitted for analysis in the United States. Previously performed studies of breed susceptibility did not take the popularity of breed into account, leading to results that are difficult to interpret. The study highlighted in this Scientific Snapshot (Epidemiologic Evaluation of Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis in Dogs in the United...

A study evaluates dehiscence rates following enterotomy for foreign body removal. In veterinary literature, dehiscence rates following enterotomy range between 12-15.7%, which seems like a high number. As most of those earlier studies included foreign body removal, but also resection and anastomosis for neoplastic conditions, as well as intestinal trauma cases, it would seem intuitive to believe that dehiscence could be more likely to occur following enterectomy as opposed to enterotomy. The...

In this Scientific Snapshot, Dr. Jinelle Webb discusses how the AAHA Canine life stage guidelines can help to establish a framework for managing appointments with senior dogs. She talks about some of the topics to address with pet parents that are very important in the senior dog stage, including frequency of analyses, quality of life, occult diseases, education and compliance, diet, and more. Dr. Webb also insists on the importance of involving all members of the veterinary team in the...

In this short video, Dr. Lianna Titcombe, hospice veterinarian and international director of CAETA, suggests some alternatives for euthanasia in dogs and cats to help Canadian veterinarians navigate the impending pentobarbital shortage.

A study evaluates the accuracy of direct-to-consumer kits to diagnose Adverse Food Reactions. True food allergies involve an immunological reaction to food, whereas some food reactions do not have an immunological basis, but have an identical presentation to what is seen with food allergies. Because of this, these two entities are lumped together as Adverse Food Reactions (AFR). AFR can present with either or both dermatological signs (identical in most cases to atopic dermatitis), and less...