Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
-
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Jan 2019
Assessment of caregiver burden and associations with psychosocial function, veterinary service use, and factors related to treatment plan adherence among owners of dogs and cats.
OBJECTIVE To investigate caregiver burden and its potential associations with psychosocial function and veterinary service use among dog and cat owners and with factors related to treatment plan adherence among owners of animals with chronic or terminal disease. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational study. SAMPLE 124 clients of a small animal hospital. ⋯ Treatment plan factors associated with greater caregiver burden included changes in routine because of the animal's condition and perception that following new rules and routines for management of the condition was challenging. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Awareness of potential caregiver burden and psychosocial distress in clients with sick companion animals may help veterinarians identify opportunities for an empathic response. Future research should assess directionality of the relationship between these factors.
-
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Oct 2018
Owner-witnessed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in small animal emergency veterinary medicine.
OBJECTIVE To determine opinions of veterinary emergency health-care providers on the topic of owner-witnessed CPR in small animal emergency medicine and to identify reasons for opposition or support of owner-witnessed CPR. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE 358 surveys completed by American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care diplomates and residents as well as other emergency-care veterinarians and veterinary technicians between August 14, 2016, and September 14, 2016. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Veterinary professionals surveyed had similar concerns about owner-witnessed CPR, as has been reported by human health-care providers about family-witnessed resuscitation. However, emotional benefits from family-witnessed resuscitation in human health care have been reported, and emotional impacts of owner-witnessed CPR could be an area of research in veterinary medicine. In addition, investigation is needed to obtain more information about pet owner wishes in regard to witnessing CPR performed on their pets.
-
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Oct 2018
Likelihood and outcome of esophageal perforation secondary to esophageal foreign body in dogs.
OBJECTIVE To determine the likelihood and outcome of esophageal perforation secondary to an esophageal foreign body (EFB) in dogs. DESIGN Retrospective observational study. ANIMALS 125 dogs evaluated for EFB at 2 veterinary teaching hospitals from January 2005 through December 2013. ⋯ Eight survivors with esophageal perforation required no surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Esophageal perforation was uncommon in the evaluated dogs with an EFB, and no surgical intervention was required for a large proportion of them. Fishhooks and delay between EFB ingestion and initial evaluation were risk factors for perforation.
-
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Oct 2018
Retrospective analysis of incidence, clinical features, potential risk factors, and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in three brachycephalic dog breeds.
OBJECTIVE To investigate incidence, clinical features, potential risk factors, and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Bulldogs. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. ANIMALS 41 brachycephalic dogs with aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ On univariate analysis, increased age, male sex, obtundation, hypoalbuminemia, azotemia, and high liver enzyme activities were associated with nonsurvival; on logistic regression, increased age was associated with nonsurvival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Age at onset and presence of other risk factors for aspiration pneumonia may vary among brachycephalic dog breeds. Prospective studies are needed to determine common risk factors and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in the larger population of brachycephalic dogs.
-
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Jun 2018
Case-control study of plasma mean platelet component concentration and survival analysis for dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.
OBJECTIVE To determine whether dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) had a low plasma mean platelet component (MPC) concentration and whether MPC was associated with outcome. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study and survival analysis. ANIMALS 95 dogs with IMHA (cases) as well as 95 healthy dogs and 95 sick dogs without IMHA (controls) matched to cases by age, reproductive status, and breed. ⋯ The mean estimated risk of death for dogs with IMHA decreased by 16% for every unit increase in plasma MPC concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In dogs with IMHA, platelets appeared to have been activated to a greater degree, as determined by lower plasma MPC concentrations, than in healthy dogs or sick dogs without IMHA. Plasma MPC concentration at initial examination may be useful for predicting prognosis in dogs with IMHA.