Blastomycosis

Alison Werner, DVM, Frank Norton, DVM, MS, DACVIM 
Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians
(Vol 33, No 8)
August 2011

For more than 100 years, blastomycosis has been recognized as causing significant morbidity and mortality in people and dogs. The disease is rare in cats. Isolation of the organism is difficult, and novel methods to culture environmental samples are forthcoming. The most significant clinical dilemma is the inability to make a timely diagnosis when multiple cytologic samples are unrewarding. This article reviews the literature on advances in epidemiology and serology, clinical presentations, new antifungal drugs, and progress in formulating a vaccine.

 (Vol 33, No 8)

Update on the diagnosis and management of Giardia spp infections in dogs and cats

Sahatchai Tangtrongsup, DVM, MSc, and
Valeria Scorza, DVM, PhD
Topics in Companion Animal Medicine
Volume 25, Number 3
August 2010.

Giardia spp are flagellates that are found in the intestinal tract of humans and domestic and wildlife animals, including birds and amphibians, worldwide. The genus Giardia contains multiple species, which are for the most part morphologically indistinguishable. Recognized species of this genus are G. duodenalis, G. agilis, G. muris, G. microti, G. ardeae, and G. psittaci. Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis or G. lamblia) is the species that infects people, dogs, and cats and is considered a species complex

Heatstroke

Carl Gorman BVSc MRCVS
Companion Animal Vol 16
June 2011

Heatstroke is one of the genuine emergencies seen in practice. The recognition, assessment and initial treatment of the condition is vitally important to improve survival rates. Studies suggest that 25-50% of severe cases may not survive. Patients that survive the initial 24 hours, however, will usually go on to recover. This article summarises the risk factors and physiological processes involved in heatstroke, and recommends monitoring and therapy to improve survival rates

Small animal wound management: Options for wound closure

Kelly Bowlt BVM&S MRCVS 
Ed Friend BVetMed Cert SAS DECVS MRCVS
Companion Animal Vol 16 
June 2011.

This article looks at wound closure once a healthy wound bed has been achieved. It discusses simple techniques for the avoidance of skin tension and includes skin stretching and vacuum assisted wound closure. Finally, techniques and recommendations for free skin grafts and skin flaps are presented

A Practical Approach to Diagnosing and Managing Ear Disease in Dogs

Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DAVBP
Compendium. May 
2009 (Vol 31, No 5)

Entire books have been written on the subject of canine ear disease. Rather than attempt to present all the available information here, I am providing an overview of how I diagnose and manage ear disease in dogs. It is critical to appreciate that ear disease is only a clinical problem (no more specific than pruritus) and that steps must be taken to prevent otitis externa from progressing to proliferative otitis.

Portal Hypertension: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

S. Buob, A.N. Johnston, and 
C.R.L. Webster

J Vet Intern Med 

2011;25:169–18

Portal hypertension (PH) is the result of increased vascular resistance in the portal circulation, increased portal venous blood flow, or both. In veterinary medicine, where portal pressure is seldom measured directly, the diagnosis of PH often is inferred from identification of associated complications including multiple acquired portosystemic shunts, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Likewise, treatment of PH primarily is aimed at controlling these complications. The goal of this review is to provide an update on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of PH. The review draws from information in the veterinary hepatology literature, reviews, and consensus statements in human hepatology and the literature on experimental models of PH.

Canine parvoviral enteritis: a review of diagnosis, management, and prevention

Jennifer Prittie, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 
14(3), pp167-176
2004

To review and summarize current information regarding epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology associated with canine parvoviral infection, and to outline diagnostic and treatment modalities for this disease. Preventative and vaccination strategies will also be discussed, as serologic documentation of immunocompetence and adoption of safe and effective vaccination protocols are crucial in limiting infection and spread of canine parvoviral enteritis.

Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2010 clinical practice guidelines from the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Thierry Olivry, Douglas J. DeBoer, 

Claude Favrot, Hilary A. Jackson, Ralf S. Mueller,

Tim Nuttall, Pascal Prélaud

Veterinary Dermatology
Volume 21, Issue 3, pages 233–248, 

June 2010

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic relapsing pruritic skin disease of dogs for which treatment has varied over time and geographical location. Recent high quality randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have established which drugs are likely to offer consistent benefit. The International Task Force for Canine AD currently recommends a multi-faceted approach to treat dogs with AD. Acute flares should be treated with a combination of nonirritating baths and topical glucocorticoids, once an attempt has been made to identify and remove the suspected causes of the flare. Oral glucocorticoids and antimicrobial therapy must be added when needed. In dogs with chronic AD, a combination of interventions should be considered. Again, factors that trigger flares of AD must be identified and, if possible, avoided. Currently recognized flare factors include food, flea and environmental allergens, Staphylococcus bacteria andMalassezia yeast. Skin and coat hygiene and care must be improved by bathing with nonirritating shampoos and dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids. The severity of pruritus and skin lesions can be reduced with a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs. Currently, medications with good evidence of high efficacy include topical and oral glucocorticoids, and calcineurin inhibitors such as oral ciclosporin and topical tacrolimus. The dose and frequency of administration of these drugs should be tailored to each patient considering each drug’s efficacy, adverse effects and cost. Allergen-specific immunotherapy should be offered, whenever feasible, in an attempt to prevent recurrence of clinical signs upon further exposure to environmental allergens to which the patient is hypersensitive.

Treatment and monitoring of epilepsy in dogs

Kate Chandler

In Practice 
2011;33:98-104 
doi:10.1136

Epilepsy is a brain disorder and is defined as the propensity to have recurrent seizures. It is the most common chronic neurological disorder seen in dogs. Most dogs that present with recurrent seizures have idiopathic epilepsy, which is thought to have a genetic basis and has no identifiable underlying cause when a full diagnostic work-up is undertaken. Symptomatic epilepsies, which arise secondary to brain diseases such as intracranial neoplastic lesions or central nervous system inflammatory disorders, are less common. By addressing some of the most frequently asked questions relating to the treatment of seizures, this article suggests some practical and effective strategies for managing and monitoring dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.