Small or Companion Animal Medicine Commons^™

Veterinary Access Barriers Experienced By Urban Versus Rural Clients: A Case Study In Middle America, Molly Andreasen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The comparison of urban versus rural clientele as to their access to veterinary care and preferences regarding veterinary services has received little research attention. A better understanding of client perspectives is critical for ongoing efforts to provide more equitable availability of veterinary services across varying demographic areas. In this study, I directly assess differences in access to veterinary services based on client perspectives from both rural and urban locales across Nebraska, USA, a state almost directly in the middle of America. It was expected that rural clients would experience more barriers to veterinary access in general and with respect to …

Animal Shelter Management Of Feline Leukemia Virus And Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infections In Cats, Julie Levy, Cynda Crawford, Keegan Spera, E. Susan Amirian, Paola Dezubiria

Diseases and Health

Approximately 5% of cats in animal shelters in the United States test positive for either feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which translates to more than 100,000 positive cats managed by shelters each year. Little is known about the current status of retroviral management in animal shelters, particularly in regions burdened by chronic pet overpopulation and high shelter admissions, such as the southern United States. The purpose of this study was to describe feline retroviral management in Florida shelters. Shelters were surveyed on practices including selection of cats for testing, diagnostic techniques, and outcome options for cats …

Secondary Traumatic Stress Is An Occupational Hazard For Pet Hospice Support Staff: Psychoeducational Support Groups Provide The Cure, Kari Hayden

DSW Capstone Projects

There are three separate yet interrelated products presented in this final capstone product. The completed product is focused on pet hospice veterinary support staff and the need for an evidence-based social work intervention to combat secondary traumatic stress. This capstone uses the andragogical approach to adult learning theory as the foundation to construct a psychoeducational peer support group specific to this population. Implications for clinical social work in veterinary medicine are presented within this project.

The first scholarly product presented is the Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The SLR utilizes a scoping review process in an attempt to locate prior research …

Combined Effects Of Cyclosporine And Prednisone On T-Cell Cytokine Production In Healthy Dogs, Brittany Moore-Henderson

Theses and Dissertations

Cyclosporine and prednisone are immunosuppressive drugs that are commonly used in combination for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, and have been shown to individually cause significant suppression of IL-2. Currently, no studies have been performed to determine how a combination of the two drugs would impact suppression of IL-2, and if an additive or synergistic effect on cytokine production could be demonstrated, as in studies of other species. An additive effect of immunosuppression associated with this drug combination could allow clinicians to decrease dosages of drugs, thereby reducing drug costs and minimizing adverse drug side effects. In a cross-over study …

Ex Vivo Biomechanical Comparison Of Four Center Of Rotation Angulation Based Leveling Osteotomy Fixation Methods, Melody E. Whitney

Theses and Dissertations

Thirty-two canine tibiae with patellae and patellar tendons were harvested from 17 skeletally mature cadavers. Each tibia was randomly allocated to a construct group: plate and pin (Plate), plate with countersink compression screw (HCS), plate with tension band (TB), or plate with HCS and TB (HCSTB). Samples were loaded by distraction until failure. The stiffness, yield load, and ultimate load were compared between each fixation method. No difference in stiffness of the constructs was detected between groups. Yield load and ultimate load for the HCSTB group was greater than the TB group, the HCS group, and the Plate group. CBLO …

Comparison Of Water-Soluble Cbd And Cbd Oil As An Anti-Inflammatory In Canines With Osteoarthritis, Sadie Sims, Tara Joiner, Dr. Laura Ken Hoffman, Barbie Papajeski

Honors College Theses

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis in canines. Osteoarthritis affects the entire joint, and typically results in pain, inflammation, decreased range of motion and development of bone spurs. The purpose of this study was to provide clinical research comparing Water-Soluble Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiol (CBD) oil as an anti-inflammatory in arthritic dogs by using gait analysis on the Tekscan Strideway System, Canine Brief Pain Inventory owner surveys, and analysis of blood test results. One clinical trial was conducted with thirteen privately owned dogs. Participants were split into three treatment groups by listing them by last names …

Intestinal Parasite Prevalence In Fecal Samples In Nebraska Dog Parks, Kristianna Muller

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

From February to April 2022, fecal samples were collected from eight dog parks in the Omaha and Lincoln, NE areas. A total of 160 samples were collected and assessed for the presence of intestinal parasites. The zinc sulfate double centrifugal flotation technique was used to determine infection. Out of the 160 samples, ten were positive for parasite contamination (6.25% prevalence). The most observed parasites were hookworms, found in 3.75% of all samples (6/160). Cystoisospora, Giardia, Toxocara canis, and Toxascaris leonina were all found only once, for a prevalence of 0.625% each. Compared to other studies, our infection …

Ex Vivo Biomechanical Evaluation Of A Novel Screw For Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, William Seth Kettleman

Theses and Dissertations

Twelve pairs of cadaveric pelvic limbs were harvested from skeletally mature dogs. Tibias were randomly assigned pairwise to two study groups: locking buttress screw fixation (LBS) and bone-screw-fastener fixation (BSF). A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) was performed. Each specimen was positioned in a servohydraulic testing machine to simulate physiological orientation and loading at the mid-point of the stance phase at the walk. Cyclic loading was performed for 30,000 cycles at 4Hz with a peak-load of 1000N. The cyclic test was then continued by stepwise increasing the peak-load at a rate of 75N per 500 cycles until failure of the …

The Role Of Temperature Variation On Macrophage Physiology And Function In Vitro In Mice, Chicken, And Fish, Intisar Abdullah Hassan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fever is an essential component of the immune response. Baseline body temperatures vary in different species, and fever represents increased temperature over baseline. Fever initiates and enhances immune responses as well as creates an environment in which the body has advantages over pathogens. Macrophages are often the first line of cells that come in contact with pathogens, asthey reside in and traffic through tissues. They are important for their engulfment of pathogens that results in the digestion of the pathogen, and they also produce nitric oxide and cytokines that contribute to immune responses in a variety of ways, including initiating …

Evaluation Of Residual Antibacterial Effects On Canine Skin Surface And Hairs Following Treatment With Five Commercial Mousse Products Against Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius In Vitro, Chi-Yen Wu

LSU Master's Theses

Topical products are essential treatments for canine superficial bacterial folliculitis. However, studies for commercial products typically evaluate antibacterial effects on hairs rather than the skin surface. In addition, the interference from the hair length has not been evaluated in these studies. Therefore, the study objective for this study was to evaluate the residual antibacterial effects of five mousse products, (1) 2% chlorhexidine and 2% miconazole, (2) 0.05% phytosphingosine, (3) 2% salicylic acid and 10% ethyl lactate, (4) 3% chlorhexidine and 0.5% climbazole, and (5) 2% chlorhexidine and 1% ketoconazole on both the skin surface and hairs in both short- and …

Comparison Of Abdominal Computed Tomography To Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of Canine Biliary Disease Manifesting As Acute Abdominal Signs, Shanna Christine Marroquin

Theses and Dissertations

Biliary diseases are uncommon, potentially fatal causes of acute abdomen in dogs. Little information is present comparing the performance of computed tomography (CT) to ultrasound in identifying canine biliary pathology. Thirty-five client-owned dogs presenting for acute abdomen signs received an abdominal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Two authors reviewed the randomized, anonymized CT and ultrasound studies. Twenty-eight dogs had biliary pathology and seven dogs serving as controls had no evidence of biliary disease. The final diagnoses of patients with biliary pathology included cholelithiasis, gallbladder mucoceles, cholangiohepatitis/cholangitis, extrahepatic biliary obstruction, gallbladder wall edema, gallbladder wall mass, and cystic mucosal hyperplasia. Computed …

Barriers To Client Compliance And Understanding Of Heartworm Prevention In The Canine Patient, Emily Fischels

Honors College Theses

Dirofilaria immitis is a common and largely preventable mosquito-borne parasite that causes dirofilariasis, or heartworm disease, in a number of animal species. The necessity of heartworm prevention in the canine patient is undisputed and well-known among veterinary professionals, yet there are still many dogs not protected from this fatal parasite. Heartworm prevention traditionally requires a once-a-month administration of medication; therefore, its efficacy relies on owner compliance. The barriers to canines receiving heartworm prevention were assessed using a survey targeted at pet owners whose dogs have seen the veterinarian in the past year. The main barriers identified were inadequate client communication …

Polydactyly In Cats, Rosa Benson, Cassie Morris, Leaha Mancuso, Bernardo Mesa

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Polydactyly is a genetic condition in which a cat is born with more than the typical number of toes. It is a dominant genetic mutation and is fairly common in cats. (Class Project)

A Novel Endo Gia™ Staple Cartridge For Canine Lung Lobectomies, Alissa St. Blanc

LSU Master's Theses

The canine lungs are well suited for ventilation, gas exchange, and gas transport. In diseased states, changes within bronchi and pulmonary parenchyma alter the blood-gas interface. Diagnostic workups to characterize pulmonary disease may include blood gas analysis, bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheobronchoscopy, radiography and/or computed tomography. Surgical pulmonary diseases include cysts, bullae, and blebs; congenital anomalies; consolidation or abscessation; bronchiectasis; lacerations; lung lobe torsions; and neoplasia. Surgical options may include laceration repair, partial or total lung lobectomy, and pneumonectomy. These options are most commonly utilized in cases that fail medical management. Lung lobectomies were originally performed using suture ligation. Stapling devices have …

Accuracy Of A Sacral Drilling With A Custom 3d Printed Drilling Guide Or Free-Hand Technique In Canine Experimental Sacroiliac Luxation, Daniel Mccarthy

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to improve the accuracy of drilling during the repair of sacroiliac luxation with a 3D-printed patient-specific drill guide (3D-GDT) compared to free-hand drilling technique (FHDT). A blinded, randomized, prospective study was performed including sixteen canine cadavers (20-25 kg) euthanized for reasons not related to the study. Dorsal, bilateral, sacroiliac luxations (SILs) were created experimentally. A pelvic CT was performed pre- and post-drilling. The FHDT was drilled followed by 3D-GDT for each sacrum. CT and 3D measurements of craniocaudal and dorsoventral angles were compared between FHDT and 3D-GDT, as well as deviations of entry …

Pets And Problems: Exploring Community Patterns In Calls For Animal Services, Paige Dejarnett

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pets have historically been viewed as family members, children, property, or economic resources. However, research surrounding animal maltreatment has expressed this issue as an individually-based problem, rather than a community-based phenomenon. Correlations have been found between animal cruelty, antisocial behaviors, and future interpersonal violence, whether this correlation be a predictive relationship, or a resultant relationship. Past research has also found correlations between animal treatment practices and the rural/urban differences of this behavior. However, there are many community-based indicators that have not been explored to understand the distribution of animal maltreatment. This study aims to explore these ideas by analyzing the …

Determination Of Ownership Practices And Cytauxzoon Felis Prevalence In Domestic Felines Of Northwest Arkansas, Daniella M. Duran

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoan pathogen that causes the infectious disease, cytauxzoonosis in wild and domestic felines. The natural host of this pathogen is the bobcat (Lynx rufus), which is why this disease is also commonly referred to as “bobcat fever”. The C. felis pathogen infects wild and domestic cats upon transmission by infected ticks. Amblyomma americanum, also known as the Lone Star tick, the primary transmission vector for C. felis. This tick species is largely populated throughout the state of Arkansas, making C. felis a large threat to wild and domestic felines in these areas. Cytauxzoonosis is commonly thought …

Use Of 3d-Printed Surgical Spoons Compared To Other Cystotomy Methods In Dogs, Davina D'Angelo

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bladder stones, also known as uroliths, are not an uncommon condition in domestic dogs. To remove these uroliths, which occur in various sizes, shapes, and compositions, veterinarians will perform a surgical procedure called a cystotomy. A cystotomy consists of creating a small incision into the lumen of the urinary bladder and the utilization of various methods to extract the uroliths. For general veterinary practitioners, the laparoscopic-assisted technique is unavailable. As a result, the methods available for urolith extraction are often limited to flushing the stones out by inserting a urinary catheter through the urinary tract and the use of off-label …

Investigating Media Influence On Canine Breed Popularity And Increasing Prevalence Of Genetic Linked Disorders, Callie Anderson

Honors College Theses

This study is focused on influence of social media on dog breed popularity, and if an increase in popularity leads to an increase in the prevalence of genetic-linked disorders observed in specified breeds in a clinical setting. This study was conducted by comparing an in-depth analysis of past research investigating the influence of popular culture on the trends of dog breed popularity as it relates to trends in media and fashion, with the results of a survey of clinical observations by veterinarians practicing in the area surrounding Murray, Kentucky. The results of the literary analysis revealed that humans are greatly …

Compounded Gabapentin For Felines: Associated Metabolic Processes And Analysis Of Potency, Johnny Altwal

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Pharmaceutical compounding provides pharmacists and clinicians the opportunity to create unique drug formulations that are better suited to a specific patient’s needs. This is especially prevalent in veterinary medicine where clinicians treat a variety of maladies in a large number of species, thereby requiring unique formulations to more easily deliver drugs to animals. Several examples of compounded veterinary formulations with sub-therapeutic potencies have been published, but none examine compounded gabapentin. Gabapentin is frequently compounded into an oral suspension for veterinary use from tablets or capsules for the purpose of pain management in felines and other small animals. The project’s goals …