What was popular in JSAP this year? – 2024 Round Up
6 December 2024
As the end of the year approaches, we take a look at the most downloaded papers published this year in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP).
Don’t forget that BSAVA members can access JSAP for free, as part of their member benefits. To access JSAP, log in to your BSAVA library account here and then scroll down to ‘read latest issues’.
Preoperative and postoperative aspiration pneumonia and high BOAS grade were risk factors for postoperative tracheostomy in brachycephalic dogs undergoing BOAS surgery, this study found. Four postoperative respiratory complications were observed – hypoxaemia, dyspnoea requiring reintubation of the trachea, dyspnoea requiring tracheostomy and aspiration pneumonia – with 15% of dogs experiencing at least one complication. The results suggest that detecting pre-existing aspiration pneumonia before surgery could help reduce the complication risk, and surgery might be better postponed until the condition is resolved.
Oral cobalamin supplementation is as effective and as well-tolerated as parenteral cobalamin supplementation in hypocobalaminaemic dogs with chronic enteropathy and severe clinical or biochemical phenotypes, this study showed. Both methods were comparable at normalising serum cobalamin concentration and decreasing serum methylmalonic acid concentration in dogs with hypocobalaminaemia, including subgroups with severe clinical or biochemical abnormalities. Therefore, oral cobalamin supplement should be considered as a suitable treatment option regardless of disease severity.
This is the first study to report the histological diagnosis of both anal sacs in dogs undergoing bilateral anal sacculectomy following the diagnosis of unilateral apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma.
Bilateral anal sac disease was diagnosed histologically in the majority of presumed normal anal sacs, with 20% of cases found to have bilateral apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma. None of the dogs diagnosed with bilateral neoplasia had evidence of bilateral neoplasia before surgery despite a thorough work-up. Complications from the primary tumour removal were seen in 9% of dogs intraoperatively and 14% of dogs postoperatively, with the most common being tumour capsule disruption and surgical site infection, respectively, and were overall comparable to those reported for unilateral anal sacculectomy alone. The findings encourage the use of bilateral anal sacculectomy in cases of suspected unilateral anal sac neoplasia.
The rate of accidental placement of nasoenteric (NE) tubes into the respiratory tract in 97 dogs and cats was low in this study, with no difference between nasooesophageal (NO) and nasogastric (NG) tube complications rates. The overall rate of complications during tube placement was 25.8%, and complications were mostly minor, with sneezing being the most common. A consistent alternative test to radiography for checking correct NE tube placement was not demonstrated. The choice of placement of a NO or NG tube should depend on clinician preference, and clients should be warned about possible complications.
- Use of levetiracetam for the successful treatment of suspected myoclonic seizures: five dogs (2016-2022) Linder et al.
This case series highlights five dogs of various breeds with presumed myoclonic seizures of idiopathic origin, treated with levetiracetam at a starting dose of 15 mg/kg PO q8hr to 32.5 mg/kg PO q12hr. Levetiracetam was effective in reducing or eliminating myoclonic seizure activity, resulting in long seizure-free intervals in two dogs, a significant reduction in seizure frequency in two dogs, and immediate abatement of presumed myoclonic seizures in one dog. This suggests that levetiracetam is successful for treating presumed myoclonic seizures of idiopathic origin in dogs.
- Diagnostic findings in sinonasal aspergillosis in dogs in the United Kingdom: 475 cases (2011–2021) Prior et al.
This multi-centre study reports clinical signs and diagnostic findings for 475 dogs diagnosed with sinonasal aspergillosis. 88% of dogs had observed fungal plaques, and 12% had no fungal plaques observed but a positive ancillary test result. The most common presenting signs were nasal discharge, sneezing and epistaxis and physical examination findings included nasal pain and nasal planum ulceration and/or depigmentation, enlarged mandibular lymph nodes ipsilateral to the affected nostril and decreased nasal air flow. The sensitivities of the ancillary diagnostics performed in dogs with fungal plaques were lower than have been reported previously. Treatment and management decisions should be based on a combination of diagnostics including imaging findings, visual inspection and ancillary testing, rather than ancillary tests alone.
- Prevalence and risk factors for gingivitis in a cohort of UK companion cats aged up to 6 years Williams et al.
Gingivitis risk increases in cats fed a wet only or mixed wet/dry diet compared to those on a dry only diet; cats not reported to hunt prey compared to reported hunters; cats reported to dribble whilst being stroked at age six months compared to reported non-dribblers; and cats with orange coats compared to non-orange cats, this study found. Using data from the Bristol Cats Study, gingivitis was found to be a common condition in cats aged up to six years, with prevalence increasing with age, up to 56.3% in cats between five and six years old. These results can help veterinary surgeons identify cats at greater risk of gingivitis and advise owners on protective dietary and oral healthcare recommendations.
- The epidemiology of tick infestation in dog breeds in the UK O’Neill et al.
This study is the largest tick infestation analysis to date, using electronic patient records for 905,554 dogs at clinics participating in the VetCompass Programme. Breed was an important risk factor for tick infestation, with designer-crossbreed dogs having increased odds of tick infestation compared with non-designer-crossbred dogs. The highest odds were found in Cairn Terrier, Standard Poodle and Goldendoodle. Higher odds of tick infestation were also found in breeds with medium length coats compared with short coats; males compared with females; and neutered dogs compared with entire dogs. Dogs weighing 10-25 kg were more likely to have ticks than smaller dogs, and breeds with V-shaped drop and pendulous ear carriage ears were more at risk than those with erect ears. Odds of tick infestation decreased with increasing age.
- Investigation of neutering status and age of neutering in female Dachshunds with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion Doeven et al.
Neuter status and age of neutering were not found to affect age at onset or severity of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (TL-IVDE) in the cohort of 154 female Dachshunds in this retrospective study. There was no difference in the age at onset, duration of clinical signs, severity of neurological deficits, extent of extradural material, maximum spinal cord compression, or recurrence of TL-IVDE between female Dachshunds that were neutered early, neutered later, or kept intact.
- Intravenous fluid therapy compared to no treatment following blood donation in cats: a randomised controlled trial Guedra Allais & Humm
The use of intravenous fluid therapy (IVFT) after feline blood donation may not be necessary, as haemodynamic stability appears to be maintained despite the loss of blood, this study showed. There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure between cats that received intravenous compound sodium lactate immediately after blood donation and those that didn’t. The main changes were bruising at the venepuncture site (in 27.3% of cats in the IVFT group and 23.4% in the no-IVFT group) and mild lethargy (in 11.4% of cats in the IVFT group and 18.9% in the no-IVFT group). Avoiding IVFT after donation could lead to shorter hospitalisation and less stress for cats.