Table of Contents and Abstracts

Objective
To detail a case of a suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp, in a young cat, that disappeared without medical or surgical therapy.

Animal
A 5-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat that was client-owned and indoor-only.

Procedure
Serial head computed tomographic scans were done on a young cat to diagnose and monitor the size and location of the suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp.

Results
At 145 d after diagnosis of a suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp in a young cat via head computed tomographic scan, the mass was no longer present. The cat had not undergone any surgical or medical therapy from Day 0 to Day 145.

Conclusion
Although the standard of care for nasopharyngeal polyps in cats is to conduct the appropriate diagnostics and surgical treatment, this case may provide an alternative management approach if surgical treatment is not feasible or euthanasia is being considered.

Clinical relevance
This article presents a case in which a nasopharyngeal mass, a suspected inflammatory polyp, in a young cat spontaneously resolved with no medical or surgical intervention.

Canine uveodermatologic syndrome (UDS) resembles human Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome but typically lacks associated neurological signs. We report a 3-year-old Australian shepherd dog diagnosed with UDS following bilateral enucleation and histopathology. Twelve days postoperatively, neurological symptoms developed, including head tilt, circling, and deafness. Brain MRI and CSF analyses were consistent with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). Oral immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone and cyclosporine) resulted in substantial improvement. Eight months later, during gradual dose reduction, MUE relapsed, prompting an increase in dose to immunosuppressive levels. The dog’s death due to an unrelated cause 4 mo later prompted postmortem evaluation. This report adds to the limited literature on MUE associated with UDS in dogs and underscores challenges in diagnosis and management. Literature review suggests this is the second reported case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like meningoencephalitis in a dog and the first reported case with a confirmed diagnosis via MRI and CSF analyses.

Key clinical message:
It is important to include UDS as a differential diagnosis for dogs that present with MUE with concurrent ocular and cutaneous signs. For dogs diagnosed with UDS on histology after enucleation, more aggressive immunosuppressive treatment or vigilant monitoring for neurological signs may help prevent or slow progression to neurological involvement.

A 16-year-old, French saddlebred horse was referred for examination because of colic signs, diagnosed with incarceration of the jejunum in a mesoduodenic rent, and subsequently treated surgically (with an end-to-end anastomosis of the jejunum and an enterotomy of the pelvic flexure). The horse initially recovered without complications; however, on the following day, it exhibited moderate signs of endotoxemia and severe serosanguineous discharge from the abdominal wound. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed substantial peritoneal effusion, necessitating the placement of an abdominal drain. The blind drain insertion resulted in the drainage of a brown, malodorous liquid, identified as enteral fluid. Subsequently, the drain inadvertently penetrated the viscera, prompting immediate surgery. An embolectomy catheter was placed in the drain before induction, and the Fogarty catheter cuff was inflated as the horse was induced. The drain was carefully removed from the viscera, maintaining traction on the embolectomy catheter until a repeat laparotomy was done. Moderate contamination of the abdominal cavity occurred during the iatrogenic perforation of the cecum. The balloon catheter effectively sealed the breach in the cecum, demonstrating sufficient strength to pull on the viscera without causing tears. The abdominal cavity was lavaged with 80 L of Ringer’s lactate, and another abdominal drain was placed. The horse recovered without further complications throughout the remainder of its hospitalization and returned to its intended use within 6 mo.

Key clinical message:
Abdominal drain placement carries the risk of complications, including enteric misplacement. Temporary occlusion of the defect is achievable using an embolectomy catheter pending surgery. Swift action in response to complications can help limit contamination of the abdominal cavity.

Prostatopathies are common in adult and elderly intact male dogs. Prostatic abscesses may develop secondary to bacterial prostatitis or due to contamination of prostatic retention cysts or paraprostatic cysts. The objective of this report is to describe a case of prostatic and paraprostatic abscesses in a 13-year-old male dachshund in which surgical resolution was achieved by prostatic omentalization through exploratory laparotomy and pubic osteotomies. The dog was presented with apathy, anorexia, dyschezia, dysuria, and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed an amorphous, heterogeneous structure with hypoechoic content and prostatic communication, displacing the urethra and colon, suggesting prostatic and paraprostatic abscesses or cysts. Omentalization of the abscesses was completed, recovery was rapid, and the dog was reported to be doing very well 1 y later. Most lesions were located in the intrapelvic region, and pubic osteotomies provided adequate working space and visualization, with rapid recovery.

Key clinical message:
Carrying out pubic osteotomies facilitated the approach to an intrapelvic prostatic abscess and paraprostatic infected cysts. Furthermore, hospitalization was of short duration and recovery was rapid and complete.

Objective
To evaluate the shape of the distal femoral metaphysis in various dog breeds and apply femoral detorsional techniques.

Animals and procedure
Computed tomographic scans of 6 right femurs of dogs from 3 breeds, Chihuahua, border collie, and rottweiler, designated Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. On the distal femoral metaphysis axial image, just proximal to the femoral trochlea, femoral craniocaudal and mediolateral diameters were measured and their ratio (R) was calculated. The circumference technique (CiT), cortical arch length method (CAL), and geometric method (GM) were applied to these images to simulate 15° of detorsion. For each technique, the detorsion amount and the resulting detorsion angle (α) were calculated and reported.

Results
Means and standard deviations of R were 0.59 ± 0.10, 0.81 ± 0.05, and 0.87 ± 0.08 for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In Group 1, due to the femoral flattened shape, the techniques were not reliable. In Groups 2 and 3, the correction was acceptable.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
The distal femoral metaphyseal axial section shape in Group 1 was comparable to an ellipse. Therefore, the tested techniques were not reliable in chondrodystrophic dogs.

Objective
This retrospective study investigated the palliative efficacy of endoscopic diode laser and forceps debulking (EDLFD) for managing nasal carcinoma in dogs.

Animals and procedure
Thirty-five dogs with histopathological diagnosis of nasal carcinoma that underwent EDLFD treatment were included. Descriptive statistics were reported regarding age, sex, neutering status, weight, body condition score, epistaxis, sneezing, stertor, reverse sneezing, nasal discharge, facial deformity, tumor laterality, modified Adams staging, quality of life at presentation, histotypes, EDLFD duration, adjuvant metronomic chemotherapy, and survival time.

Results
Eighteen (51%) dogs exhibited clinical signs persisting for > 3 mo, with 80% failing to respond to previous medical treatments. Unilateral discharge was the most common complaint. Tumor location was categorized as nasal in 43% of cases (unilateral: 37% and bilateral: 6%) and as nasal and nasopharyngeal in 57%. No major intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed associated with EDLFD. The median survival time was 336 d. A clinical benefit > 50% was observed 3 mo after EDLFD.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
We concluded that EDLFD was a viable palliative approach for nasal carcinoma in dogs, offering promising results in improving quality of life.

Background
Strychnine is a highly toxic, plant-derived alkaloid. It has historically been used in western Canada as a rodenticide for control of Richardson’s ground squirrels; and in Alberta, as a predacide against wolves, coyotes, black bears, and skunks. However, nontarget species poisonings with strychnine have been widely documented in Canada and elsewhere. Poisonings manifest as acute neuroexcitation and are usually fatal. In March 2023, strychnine was banned in Canada for control of Richardson’s ground squirrels, with concerns over wildlife poisonings cited. However, fatal poisonings have occurred in animals since the ban.

Objective
To retrospectively characterize cases of nontarget species poisoning by strychnine in western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) based on diagnostic case records.

Procedure
Diagnostic information from confirmed cases of strychnine poisoning from 2014 to 2023 was compiled from the records of Prairie Diagnostic Services (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Where available, epidemiologic data pertaining to year and month of submission, province, location of submitting veterinary clinic/enforcement office, species/breed, age, sample submitted, strychnine concentration, and case history were collected.

Results
Prairie Diagnostic Services confirmed 51 cases of strychnine poisoning in western Canada from 2014 to 2023. Strychnine poisoning was diagnosed in dogs (n = 38), horses (n = 5), and wildlife (n = 8). Most poisonings occurred in Alberta (n = 23) and Saskatchewan (n = 25). Poisonings occurred annually (average: 6/y), with the highest numbers of cases occurring in 2015 (n = 9) and 2017 (n = 9). Poisoning in dogs occurred predominantly in medium and large breeds and in smaller population centers. Poisonings were diagnosed after the national ban was in effect.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
This paper highlights the prevalence of nontarget species strychnine toxicosis in western Canada. Despite the recent national ban of strychnine, poisonings of nontarget species have continued.

Objective
The objective was to determine associations between various factors before, during, and following cesarean sections in cattle done in the United Kingdom from November 2013 to October 2015.

Animals and procedure
This was a non-randomized, observational study that collected > 300 variables related to the surgery and possible relationships with the outcomes, with a focus on postoperative dam survival. More than 4600 cases were collected by ~400 veterinarians in 51 clinics, members of the XLVets UK group. Information was collected via 3 questionnaires: the 1st shortly after surgery, the 2nd during a 14-day follow-up, and the 3rd during a 12-month check (done 18 mo postoperatively).

Results and conclusion
Ultimately, 2900 cases were analyzed with a multilevel fixed-effects logistic regression, with veterinarians nested within practices as random effects used to estimate associations between explanatory variables and outcome. The hypothesis that the incidence of dam death by 14 d postoperatively is not significantly different between dairy versus beef cattle was rejected. Strong predictors that improved dam survival 14 d postoperatively were shorter duration of surgery (from skin incision to calf removal), paravertebral anesthesia, exteriorizing the uterus for hysterotomy, a beef dam, the dam standing during surgery, and oversewing (double layer) the uterine incision. In contrast, strong predictors that deteriorated dam survival were a worsening uterine index score, a higher score of veterinarian dissatisfaction with the surgery, a higher lactation number, and twin pregnancy. Several variables did not significantly affect dam survival, including antisepsis type or protocol, suture material or pattern used for closure of any incision, type of antibiotic used or where applied, use of a protective drape, rinsing or cleansing the uterine incision, removing abdominal blood clots, calf sex, or cause of dystocia.

Background
Depopulation, involving the mass euthanasia of livestock, is an established practice in the agricultural industry to ensure animal welfare, human health, and economic stability by preventing disease spread. There is evidence that veterinarians involved in animal-disease management and depopulation experience significant and long-lasting mental health impacts.

Objective
This study examined the mental health impacts of depopulation on veterinarians and the ways to build their resilience to these stressful events.

Procedure
Using qualitative methods, 11 veterinarians and industry experts from Alberta participated in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews between April 2023 and April 2024.

Results
Analysis revealed 3 main themes and 6 sub-themes: ongoing work-mental health tensions (including professional bond versus emotional labor, disease control versus moral distress, sense of duty versus trauma of the event), emotional detachment, and occupational distress (including emotional exhaustion, decreased job satisfaction and turnover intentions, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms). These themes were used to adapt the emergency-management framework for veterinarians involved in depopulation, to support their mental health and well-being.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
The pervasive behavioral and mental health challenges associated with depopulation highlight the necessity for education, training, support, and policy adjustments to safeguard veterinarians’ mental health and well-being.

Veterinarians have higher incidences of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than the general population. In a survey, 1/6 veterinarians had contemplated suicide, with psychological distress a key predictor of suicidal ideation. Availability of lethal means, habituation to death, student loan debt, and other causes may contribute. Several studies have considered the individual agency of veterinarians, well-being initiatives, and selection biases in veterinary school admission. However, there is growing consideration of the moral distress, moral injury, and moral residue that afflict and destabilize veterinarians and may promote suicidal ideation and suicide. Moral distress, a historically elusive concept in veterinary medicine, is undergoing rapid delineation and analysis. This article discusses moral distress in human and veterinary healthcare professionals and how it is measured. Identification of emerging moral stressors may result in designation of broad veterinary moral distress categories and measurable moral distress scales, with an aim to predict and ameliorate moral distress. Finally, 2 tools are proposed to identify and address deleterious effects of moral distress in veterinarians.

A 13-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was brought to a veterinary clinic because of lethargy and anorexia. The cat had a history of hyperthyroidism and had been treated with methimazole for 40 d before the appointment. Hematologic examination revealed a severe non-regenerative anemia and leukopenia characterized by severe neutropenia along with low basophil and eosinophil numbers. Discontinuation of methimazole resulted in the complete return to normal values of the white blood cell numbers and a marked increase in red blood cell numbers. This case demonstrated the need for follow-up veterinary examinations after prescription of methimazole treatment.