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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Diagnosis and treatment of destructive behavior in dogs.

Destructive behavior in dogs can be expensive for owners and life-threatening for dogs. The human-companion animal bond is jeopardized. A diagnostic plan should address both behavioral and medical causes of destructive behavior. Once a diagnosis has been established, a successful therapeutic plan can be formulated. Treatment includes modification of both behavior and environment and may incorporate the judicious use of psychotropic medication.

Aggression↗
PubMed2001

Neurologic conditions causing lameness in companion animals.

Animals presented with non-weight-bearing lameness are a diagnostic challenge for the veterinarian. It is extremely important to distinguish between orthopedic and neurologic causes of lameness, because the diagnostic and therapeutic plans can be quite different. Myopathies can be confused with orthopedic disease because of gait abnormalities and associated muscle pain. Common myopathies seen in companion animal medicine include polymyositis, muscular dystrophy, endocrine and infectious myopathies, and myasthenia gravis. Lameness caused by disease of the nerve root or nerve is confused with orthopedic disease because of the disturbances of a nerve's sensory distribution (nerve-root signature) or disruption of the motor innervation. The diseases of the nerve root or nerve discussed are lateralized intervertebral disk disease, spinal cord neoplasia, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and traumatic neuropathies. The diagnosis of these diseases requires careful attention to the signalment, a complete history, and a thorough physical examination focusing on the neurologic and orthopedic components. Ancillary testing should be selected based on these results and a minimum database. Electrodiagnostic testing, radiography, and advanced imaging may help to localize the lesion more precisely and sometimes to confirm the diagnosis. Surgical exploration and histopathology often provide the definitive diagnosis. These cases of non-weight-bearing lameness are a diagnostic challenge, but when successful resolution can be reached, it is gratifying to the clinician, client, and patient.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The etiology of incapacitating, brittle diabetes.

Incapacitated brittle diabetic subjects are a small subset of insulin-dependent diabetic individuals who are unable to maintain a normal lifestyle because of frequent disruptions secondary to severe hyperglycemic and/or hypoglycemic episodes. Thirty incapacitated patients were referred for evaluation because the cause of their diabetic instability could not be determined by their personal physicians despite extensive patient training in correct diabetes management, frequent hospitalizations for observation, and multiple diagnostic testing. From the 30 patients, a diagnostic algorithm was developed (described in the companion article) from which the etiology of brittle diabetes could be established in 29. This article provides the clinical characteristics of each of the 30 patients, a description of the etiologic categories of brittle diabetes, and the clinical follow-up from the time that the etiologic diagnosis was established and treatment recommended. Although extensive medical records were sent with each patient, without prospective objective testing under rigidly controlled conditions, the correct etiologic diagnosis would not have been evident from the clinical presentation of the patient. Of equal importance in identifying the etiology of brittle diabetes was the acceptance and cooperation of the referring physician in providing close follow-up and repeat insulin challenge testing when necessary. In this referred patient population, eight subjects had factitious disease, eight were malingering, seven had communication deficits, two had gastroparesis, two had systemic insulin resistance, two had miscellaneous causes of brittle diabetes, and one patient remained undiagnosed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urine N-telopeptide excretion in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.

Canine appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA) is a commonly diagnosed cancer that is capable of inducing pathologic bone remodeling. Investigating surrogate indices of bone metabolism may contribute to the diagnostic and therapeutic management of bone malignancies in companion animals. This study evaluated the excretion of N-terminal telopeptide (NTx), a marker of bone resorption that is detected in urine. Sixty-three dogs with appendicular OSA were compared with 29 age-matched healthy dogs. Dogs with appendicular OSA had significantly higher baseline urine NTx excretion than healthy controls (P < .0001). In 17 dogs with OSA treated with either amputation or standardized palliative therapies, significant reductions in urine NTx excretion were observed, suggesting that excessive bone resorption in dogs with OSA may be linked with focal skeletal osteolysis or its consequences. To identify any relationship between indicators of pathologic bone turnover, baseline urine NTx excretion was correlated with serum bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP) or radiographic tumor lengths at diagnosis. No significant correlations were identified between baseline urine NTx excretion and either bALP or tumor length. The findings from this study suggest that high urinary NTx excretion may support the diagnosis of focal skeletal osteolysis in dogs, and reductions in urine NTx excretion after treatment may reflect elimination or minimization of pathologic bone resorption.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1999

Reading the future: the increased relevance of laboratory medicine in the next century.

Through intelligent process control and data management, the laboratory may become the most frequently used--and the most important--source of diagnostic information in medicine. The central laboratory of the future is destined to become an esoteric testing center, whereas routine testing--administered at the patient bedside or at home--will become more economical. Point-of-care testing will soon become the most profitable way to provide laboratory services. Novel phlebotomy techniques and noninvasive tests may allow some diagnostic testing to be done through automated robotic companions that serve homebound patients or the elderly.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1988

Neuroradiology.

Neuroradiographs are an invaluable part of the diagnostic plan in most cases involving nervous system dysfunction in companion animals. High MAS, low KvP techniques used on standard radiographic equipment available in most veterinary practices will provide good-quality neuroradiographs of the skull and spine. Proper positioning of the animal, which necessitates use of general anesthesia, is required to obtain neuroradiographs of good diagnostic quality. A working knowledge of the normal anatomy of the skull and spine is required to make correct interpretations of the neuroradiographs.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2004

Spontaneous neoplasms of lagomorphs.

Many of the same neoplastic processes reported in companion animal medicine have been documented in lagomorphs. With only a few reports in the literature regarding rabbits and hares, the behavior of many of these tumors cannot be predicted. Further, based on limited current knowledge, the practitioner is left to make decisions for diagnostics and therapeutics in these cases based upon current recommendations for companion animals with adjustments for lagomorph physiology. We hope that this review of lagomorph neoplasia will inform the general practitioner of the occurrence of these tumors, promote further documentation and research of these processes in rabbits, and encourage the practitioner of rabbit medicine along with rabbit owners to consult with veterinary oncologists regarding neoplastic processes in rabbits rather than just giving a guarded prognosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Fetal infection with Neospora caninum in dairy and beef cattle in Belgium.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite, which causes fetal and neonatal mortality in livestock and companion animals. In 224 abortions in Belgian cattle, different diagnostic methods were used to demonstrate infection, and the presence of N. caninum. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to analyze fetal and maternal sera and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed when lesions consistent with neosporosis were observed in the brain, heart or liver. Twenty dairy cattle sera out of 70 (29%) and 13 beef cattle sera out of 93 (14%) were positive by IFAT. A positive titer to N. caninum was found in seven and three fetuses born to beef and dairy cows, respectively. Lesions consistent with N. caninum infection were observed in 17 fetuses. Of nine positive beef fetuses, five were confirmed by IHC while, all but one dairy fetus were confirmed using the same technique. Age had no influence on the serological status of the mother (P = 0.486) whereas husbandry system had a borderline influence (P = 0.082). However, a strong association (P = 0.004) between the level of antibodies in the dam and the occurrence of lesions in the fetus was observed and lesions were more prominent in dairy than in beef fetuses. Additionally, the distribution of intra-cerebral lesions was more extensive in dairy than in beef fetuses (P < 0.0001). Age and serological status of the fetus were found to influence the occurrence of lesions in beef fetuses (both P < 0.001) but no such significant relationships could be demonstrated in dairy fetuses. The study indicated that N. caninum must be considered as an important cause of bovine abortion in Belgium.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1990

Understanding depression in medical patients. Part II: Clinical intervention.

This paper presents case examples to illustrate key aspects of social work intervention with medical patients. Principles of clinical technique are discussed in relation to diagnosing and treating depression in the medically ill. This paper is a follow-up companion to "Understanding Depression in Medical Patients Part I: Diagnostic Considerations" and emphasizes the unique contribution of social work in the complex treatment of the biopsychosocial needs of individuals and families coping with physical illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Husbandry-related diseases in the chinchilla].

The developing popularity of the chinchilla as a pet over recent years has increased its importance in veterinary practice. The husbandry of pet chinchillas differs significantly from that in commercial fur farms, where the veterinary input is directed towards diseases of animal groups. Veterinary advice and prophylaxis is particularly important for pet chinchillas, as there is relatively little literature about their husbandry and relevant diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The owners of this 'new' companion animal frequently lack relevant knowledge, and many chinchillas are presented due to inadequate husbandry and feeding. Therefore this report describes the physiology, the management and feeding requirements and examination methods. A selection of the most frequent diseases caused by poor husbandry is presented.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Skin temperature side differences--a diagnostic tool for CRPS?

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) is a chronic painful disease of one extremity that may develop as a disproportionate consequence of a trauma affecting the limbs without overt nerve injury. It is clinically characterized by sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms including vascular abnormalities. Previously, we have reported that pathophysiological alterations of the ongoing sympathetic activity play a crucial role in vasomotor disturbances (Brain 124 (2001) 587). As a companion article, the aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of skin temperature side differences in consideration of the spontaneous sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity. Twenty-five patients with CRPS I were studied. Fifteen patients with painful limbs of other origin and 20 healthy individuals served as controls. Controlled thermoregulation was performed to change cutaneous sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity by the use of a thermal suit: skin sympathetic vasoconstrictor neurones were activated by whole-body cooling and nerve activity was abolished by whole-body warming. Skin temperature at the affected and unaffected limbs (infra-red thermometry) was measured under resting conditions and continuously monitored during controlled modulation of sympathetic activity. The results showed only minor skin temperature asymmetries between both limbs under resting conditions in most CRPS patients. However, during controlled thermoregulation temperature differences between both sides increased dynamically and were most prominent at a high to medium level of vasoconstrictor activity. In both control groups, there were only minor side differences in temperature both in rest and during thermoregulatory changes of sympathetic activity. When comparing the diagnostic value of skin temperature asymmetries in CRPS I, sensitivity was only 32% under resting conditions, but increased up to 76% during controlled alteration of sympathetic activity. Specificity was 100% at rest and 93% at controlled thermoregulation. We concluded that the degree of unilateral vascular disturbances in CRPS I depends critically on spontaneous sympathetic activity. Taking this into consideration, skin temperature differences in the distal limbs are capable of reliably distinguishing CRPS I from other extremity pain syndromes with high sensitivity and specificity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Oncologic applications of endoscopy.

Endoscopic examinations provide a valuable, noninvasive adjunct in the diagnosis and staging of many neoplastic disorders (Table 1). Additionally, the clinical applications of endoscopic-guided laser or photodynamic therapy have yet to be investigated thoroughly in companion animals. Endoscopy does not eliminate the need for other diagnostics, rather it should be considered complementary to more "traditional" procedures such as radiography, surgery, and ultrasonography.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chlamydia psittaci infection in companion birds examined in Florida.

Over a two-year period, companion birds, submitted mostly by small-animal practitioners to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Kissimmee, Florida, were examined for chlamydia. Chick embryo yolk sac and mouse brain inoculations were used for isolation. Chlamydiae were isolated in 58 (20%) of 287 birds examined. Although twice as many birds were examined in 1980 as in 1979, the percentage of positive isolations was 20% for each year. This suggests a constant level of chlamydial infection in companion birds. Most of the isolations were made in psittacine birds; the only positive isolations in passerine birds were in finches.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Acute antibody-mediated rejection of cardiac transplants.

Under the direction of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, a multidisciplinary review of the cardiac biopsy grading system was undertaken in 2004, with task forces examining the areas of histopathology of rejection, clinical issues, and research. An important new area addressed by the Immunopathology Task Force sub-committee was the clinical and diagnostic criteria for antibody-mediated rejection. This article is a companion paper to the revised working formulation for the standardization of nomenclature in the diagnosis of heart rejection and reviews the published literature documenting the serologic and morphologic evidence that antibody-mediated rejection is clinically significant and associated with graft loss, accelerated transplant-associated coronary artery disease, and death. This article also provides a more in-depth analysis of antibody-mediated rejection developed by the Immunopathology Task Force for revision of the 1990 working formulation for the standardization of nomenclature in the diagnosis of heart rejection.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1993

Role of infectious agents in respiratory disease.

There is no question that disease prevention, rather than treatment, represents the single most significant advancement in the management of infectious diseases in companion animals. In particular, the introduction of sensitive, rapid in-clinic diagnostic test kits, new vaccines, and implementation of strict vaccination protocols has dramatically decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with viral infections in cats. However, neither the agents nor the disease they cause will be eradicated through the use of even the most comprehensive testing and vaccination programs alone. In 1908, W. T. Sedgwick wrote in his leading public health textbook that "the absence of dirt is not merely an esthetic adornment." Comments such as this, published by noted public health authorities at the turn of the century, marked the beginning of the health revolution in the United States. As the nineteenth century ended, mortality rates from infectious diseases among infants and young adults dramatically and abruptly plunged. The fact that personal hygiene was the hero of this revolution illustrates the importance of the fundamental rules of cleanliness in disease prevention that still apply today. Although basic to infection control, ignoring even the simplest concepts of cleanliness and hygiene in the environment of the multiple cat household can lead to diastrous consequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effective use of analytical laboratories for the diagnosis of toxicologic problems in small animal practice.

The increasing sophistication of toxicologic analyses offered by veterinary diagnostic laboratories provides the practitioner with a valuable resource for the diagnosis of companion and exotic animal toxicoses. The availability of such testing is a valuable service that can be offered to veterinary clientele. Appropriate and timely toxicologic testing may permit more successful treatment of affected patients and protect animals and humans from hazardous exposure that might occur if a responsible toxicant goes unrecognized. Perhaps the most critical point to keep in mind, however, is that no matter how sophisticated the toxicologic laboratory is, a correct diagnosis is dependent upon the submission of appropriate biologic and environmental samples.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A computerized system for tracking practice and prescriptive patterns of family nurse practitioner students.

Decisions about the fit between advanced practice nursing curricula and the real world of primary care practice should be based on data and not on intuition. The purpose of this article is to describe a computerized database system that can be used to: 1) track practice (including prescribing) patterns of nurse practitioner (NP) students; 2) address data issues that commonly arise; and 3) describe NP students' practice during their education to prospective employers. The database system uses both the Family Nurse Practitioners Log (FNPLOG), a faculty-developed software program, and Epi Info, a companion public domain software program. Variables are categorized as being related to sociodemographic, diagnostic, or prescriptive components of primary care. The system provides a simple, efficient, and feasible way of computerizing, analyzing, and evaluating students' clinical experience and practice patterns. The implications for advanced practice nursing education will be illustrated along with other potential uses of the database system.

Data Collection↗