Table of Contents and Abstracts

Background
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses underpin the evidence-to-decision framework used for guideline development. Publication bias is important to understand when assessing the strength of evidence.

Objective
To evaluate the peer-reviewed-journal publication rate of abstracts from 2 veterinary internal medicine conferences regarding probiotic treatment for gastrointestinal disease in dogs and cats.

Animals and procedure
Abstracts from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum (2000 to 2023) and European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress (2002 to 2023) that reported clinical gastrointestinal disease outcomes of probiotic treatment for dogs, cats, or both were included. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched to identify corresponding peer-reviewed publications.

Results
Twelve abstracts were identified; 6 (50%) were subsequently published as peer-reviewed publications. Five of 6 (83%) that were published reported positive clinical outcomes, whereas 4/6 (67%) that were not published reported no beneficial clinical outcomes. Overall, 5/7 (71%) abstracts that reported a clinical effect were published, compared to 1/5 (20%) that did not.

Conclusion
Publication bias complicates assessment of the literature and guideline development.

Clinical relevance
The potential impact of publication bias should be considered when evaluating the literature and developing guidelines.

This report describes the case of a 13-year-old castrated male poodle with respiratory distress and coughing. The dog had had its right thyroid gland and ipsilateral lymph node resected because of thyroid follicular carcinoma originating in the right thyroid gland and metastasis to the ipsilateral medial retropharyngeal lymph node. The dog was initially treated for chronic bronchitis but showed no resolution of the clinical signs. Ultrasonography revealed an enlarged hypoechoic left medial retropharyngeal mass. Computed tomography further revealed an enlarged, heterogeneously enhanced left medial retropharyngeal mass with irregular margins. The mass compressed the laryngeal borders and was considered responsible for the coughing and respiratory distress. Based on the dog’s history of thyroid carcinoma, metastatic lymphadenopathy of the left medial retropharyngeal lymph node was suspected, and the mass was surgically removed. Histopathologic examination revealed mild adenomatous salivary hyperplasia with duct ectasia. No evidence of neoplasm or severe inflammation was observed. The final diagnosis was salivary adenomatous hyperplasia in the retropharyngeal region. Salivary adenomatous hyperplasia can be responsible for clinical signs, depending on size and location. Differentiating salivary adenomatous hyperplasia from malignancies based on imaging findings alone can be difficult. This case demonstrated how salivary adenomatous hyperplasia may mimic malignant tumors, particularly in animals with a history of adjacent tumor malignancy.

Key clinical message:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in a dog of salivary adenomatous hyperplasia that mimicked tumor metastasis. Differentiating between malignant and salivary adenomatous hyperplasia can be difficult using imaging findings alone. Despite being histologically benign, salivary adenomatous hyperplasia may cause clinical signs.

This case report describes the successful surgical treatment of a young (3-year-old) male Labrador retriever dog with mineralization of the tendon and bursa of the infraspinatus muscle. The condition was diagnosed via physical and orthopedic examination in addition to computed tomographic imaging. The dog underwent medical treatment involving rest, controlled exercise, deracoxib, shockwave therapy, and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections without success before surgical correction. Surgical treatment involved resection of the mineralized material and tenectomy of the infraspinatus insertion on the proximal humerus. The dog’s lameness and pain resolved completely after surgery and the dog continues to experience no lameness or pain 7 mo post-surgery.

Key clinical message:
The successful surgical treatment of mineralization of the tendon and bursa of the infraspinatus muscle in a dog is described. The diagnostic approach, treatment, and clinical outcome are detailed to provide a reference for the potential treatment of future cases.

Intranasal tumors in dogs are rare neoplastic diseases with obvious clinical signs, such as epistaxis, nasal congestion, and facial deformity. Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice but is not always accessible due to geographical location, logistics, or financial constraints. Other treatments may not be used because of various restrictions. We performed transnasal intranasal tumor volume reduction in 2 dogs with intranasal tumors; 1 dog had an adenocarcinoma and the other had a fibrosarcoma. In both cases, improvement in the quality of life (QOL), including reduced clinical signs and increased activity, was observed ~1 wk after treatment. No obvious complications were associated with this treatment. Although tumor recurrence was noted in both cases, this treatment could be applied multiple times. In conclusion, transnasal nasal tumor volume reduction is a palliative method that contributes to improvement of clinical signs and QOL.

Key clinical message:
We report palliative treatment of intranasal tumors in dogs. The treatment described in this report is available to most veterinarians and helps improve the QOL of dogs with nasal tumors, including improving respiratory status.

Objective
To explore Canadian clinical veterinarians’ perspectives of occupational stressors. Although extant research has emphasized quantitative reporting of workplace stressors in veterinary medicine, a qualitative approach can lend depth and context.

Procedure
One-on-one interviews were conducted with 25 veterinarians at the 2016 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Conference.

Results
Thematic analysis revealed 9 occupational stressor themes: nature of the profession, veterinary relationships, client interactions, inadequate personal finances, early-career veterinarian strain, practice-owner strain, onus of responsibility, self-described personal characteristics, and moral stressors and moral distress. Participants also discussed perceived implications of these stressors.

Conclusion
This study contributes to knowledge on veterinarians’ mental health and discusses recommendations for mitigating occupational stressors to promote veterinarian well-being.

Clinical relevance
Understanding the occupational stressors that clinical veterinarians experience and the effects of these occupational stressors can lead to more targeted and comprehensive strategies to support veterinarians’ mental well-being in a clinical setting.

Objective
This study aimed to describe implementation of biosecurity practices by Ontario horse owners and investigate whether biosecurity implementation was associated with horse-owner demographic characteristics and personality traits.

Procedure
A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of horse owners in Ontario to collect data on demographics, personality traits, risk comprehension, and biosecurity practices. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify clusters of participants with shared personality traits, and univariable associations between clusters and demographic and biosecurity variables were examined.

Results
A total of 271 participants were included in the analysis. Participants were primarily female (86%), from 25 to 44 y old (57%), and engaged in leisure riding (64%). Facility-level biosecurity plans were reported to be in place by 59% of participants, with 47% indicating that vaccinations were required within those plans. Other biosecurity practices were reported to be used less often by participants; for example, boot washing (31%) and disinfecting hands (27%). Two clusters of participants were identified according to similarities in personality traits: Cluster 1, which was characterized by high extraversion scores; and Cluster 2, which was characterized by high neuroticism scores. Cluster 1 participants were more involved in competitions, sought information from other horse owners, and received disease outbreak news from veterinarians. Cluster 2 participants exhibited higher variability in biosecurity practices implemented.

Conclusion
Biosecurity is variably implemented on Ontario equine facilities, which warrants the need for ongoing efforts to increase uptake at high-risk facilities. Recommendations include fostering collaboration, providing tailored support and resources, and improving communication channels.

Clinical relevance
Demographic, personality, and other lifestyle traits influence horse owners’ biosecurity behaviors. Equine veterinarians may benefit from considering these factors to ensure effective communication and implementation of biosecurity plans at equine facilities.

Objective
To further understand spatial relationships of common carotid arteries to adjacent structures through evaluation of computed tomographic angiograms in dogs.

Animals
24 pet dogs.

Procedure
A database was searched for triplanar computed tomographic angiograms that included the heart base caudally and the 5th cervical vertebra cranially, without macroscopic abnormalities. Measurements included brachiocephalic trunk length, common carotid arteries’ position relative to the trachea, transverse (axial) thoracic height and width, manubrium length, and length of the 7th cervical vertebra (C7).

Results
Measurements (mean + SD) included brachiocephalic trunk length = 3.65 ± 1.34 cm (n = 24), mean thoracic inlet height = 6.51 ± 2.03 cm (n = 23), mean thoracic inlet width = 4.69 ± 1.35 cm (n = 20), mean manubrium length = 3.52 ± 1.15 cm (n = 22), and mean length of C7 = 1.93 ± 0.46 cm (n = 23).

Conclusion
Some or all measurements were feasible in all dogs. Understanding interindividual variation in spatial relationships is pertinent to differentiating normal from abnormal, for surgical planning, and possibly for elucidating the pathogenesis of certain disorders.

Clinical relevance
It is possible to obtain these measurements in dogs. This technique could be applied to subgroups of dogs (e.g., breeds) and dogs with cervical or thoracic abnormalities.

Objective
Our objective was to investigate the demographics and prevalence of ocular disease in a large referral population of horses in Ontario over a 10-year period.

Animals and procedure
A retrospective analysis of medical records for 283 horses evaluated by Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists at the Ontario Veterinary College (Guelph, Ontario) was conducted. Signalment and ocular disease were recorded.

Results
The 3 most common ocular abnormalities identified were uveitis (43.7%, 123 horses), ulcerative keratitis (42.0%, 119 horses), and cataract (25.1%, 71 horses). Uveitis was most often secondary to other ocular disease. Middle-aged horses (5 to 15 y) had a lower proportion of ulcerative keratitis than young horses (0 to 4 y) and older horses (16 to 35 y) (P = 0.015). Older horses were more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma than were young and middle-aged horses (P = 0.022). Thoroughbred was the most common breed referred. Warmbloods were significantly less likely to receive a diagnosis of uveitis compared to other breeds (P = 0.05). Adnexal disease and neoplasia were both more prevalent in draft breeds compared to other breeds (P < 0.001).

Conclusion and clinical relevance
For the first time, the most prevalent ocular diseases and breeds referred for ocular disease are reported for horses in eastern Canada. This study serves as a reference for practitioners and sets a baseline for future studies.

Objective
This study aimed to evaluate outcomes and complications in dogs with urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder trigone treated with total cystectomy using uretero-prepuce/vagina/cutaneous anastomosis combined with medical treatment.

Animals
Twenty-one dogs.

Procedure
Total cystectomy was completed as follows: The whole bladder and urethra were removed, and the ureters were anastomosed to the skin in 1 case and to the vagina in 9 cases in females. The entire bladder, prostate, urethra, and penis were removed, and the ureters were anastomosed to the prepuce in 11 males. Medical treatments were administered to all dogs after surgery.

Results
Short-term surgical complications included diarrhea (16 dogs), acute kidney injury (2 dogs), and dehiscence of the ureterovaginal anastomosis (3 dogs). Long-term surgical and medical complications included pyelonephritis (11 dogs) and chronic kidney disease (5 dogs). In the survival analysis, median survival time from the initial diagnosis in all cases was 481 d, which was longer than the previously reported median survival time in dogs with UC involving the trigone.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Total cystectomy combined with medical treatment prolonged overall survival compared with medical, surgical, or stenting procedures in dogs with UC involving the trigone.

Background
Brucella canis is a potential cause of brucellosis in humans, but this disease has been poorly characterized.

Procedure
A scoping review was completed.

Results
The review yielded 24 studies that described clinical B. canis infection in 68 individuals. The median age was 32 y (range: 17 mo to 71 y). Fever, fatigue, headache, chills, and malaise predominated.

Specific treatments were reported for 30 individuals. A tetracycline (tetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline) was the sole treatment or part of a combination treatment for most (21/30, 70%) individuals, followed by rifampin (9/30, 30%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (7/30, 23%), and an aminoglycoside (gentamicin, streptomycin) (7/30, 23%). Clinical outcome was reported for 35 individuals. No mortalities were reported.

A known or suspected source of exposure was reported for 56 cases; 45 (80%) were linked to dogs and 11 (20%) to laboratory exposure. Contact with pet dogs that had aborted or with aborted fetuses accounted for 31% of the canine exposures.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Brucellosis attributed to B. canis can cause a wide range of clinical presentations in humans, but was similar to brucellosis caused by other Brucella spp. This nonspecific nature highlights the importance of identifying risk factors for exposure, to determine whether B. canis infection should be considered.