The veterinary journal
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The veterinary journal · Apr 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialComparison of sedation scores and propofol induction doses in dogs after intramuscular administration of dexmedetomidine alone or in combination with methadone, midazolam, or methadone plus midazolam.
The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in combination with methadone, midazolam, or both, and (2) the propofol dose required to achieve endotracheal intubation in healthy dogs. Seven healthy Beagle dogs were included in a prospective experimental, crossover, randomised and masked design. All dogs received four treatments IM, with at least 1 week between sessions, as follows: dexmedetomidine 5 µg/kg (D) alone, or combined with methadone 0.3 mg/kg (DMe), midazolam 0.3 mg/kg (DMi), or both (DMeMi). ⋯ Recovery quality was not different between groups (P = 0.137). In healthy dogs, the addition of midazolam did not enhance the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine or a dexmedetomidine-methadone combination at the doses studied, and propofol requirements were reduced. The sedative effect of dexmedetomidine was enhanced with methadone, and the required dose of propofol was reduced.
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The veterinary journal · Apr 2016
A simplified method of walking track analysis to assess short-term locomotor recovery after acute spinal cord injury caused by thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in dogs.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simplified method of walking track analysis to assess treatment outcome in canine spinal cord injury. Measurements of stride length (SL) and base of support (BS) were made using a 'finger painting' technique for footprint analysis in all limbs of 20 normal dogs and 27 dogs with 28 episodes of acute thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (SCI) caused by spontaneous intervertebral disc extrusion. Measurements were determined at three separate time points in normal dogs and on days 3, 10 and 30 following decompressive surgery in dogs with SCI. ⋯ BS-TL was significantly wider in SCI-affected dogs at days 3, 10 and 30 following surgery compared to normal dogs. These findings support the use of footprint parameters to compare locomotor differences between normal and SCI-affected dogs, and to assess recovery from SCI. Additionally, our results underscore important changes in TL locomotion in thoracolumbar SCI-affected dogs.
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The veterinary journal · Apr 2016
Comparative StudyComparison of thermal and mechanical quantitative sensory testing in client-owned dogs with chronic naturally occurring pain and normal dogs.
Detecting dogs with central sensitization (CS) secondary to chronic pain is hampered by the current inability to measure this condition. The current study aimed to use quantitative sensory testing (QST) to measure (CS) in normal dogs and dogs with painful degenerative joint disease (DJD). ⋯ Values of sensory thresholds in DJD dogs obtained 28 days after the first evaluation were significantly lower than the results on the first day of evaluation but no differences were found when these results were compared with those of normal dogs. In conclusion, whether QST is different between dogs with chronic pain and normal dogs needs further investigation using a larger group of animals and age, weight and sex matched groups.