Recognizing Futile Care in Veterinary Medicine

Today's Vet Pract. Jan-Feb 2023;13(1):8-13. 4 Refs

Kate Boatright¹

¹ Butler Veterinary Associates and Emergency Center, Butler, PA 16001, USA.

Author Abstract

"Futile care" is becoming more well-known in the veterinary profession. Having an approach to client conversations about the difference between palliative care and futile care can mean the difference between suffering and letting go in dignity.

Article Tools:

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Dimethyl sulfoxide favors the emetic efficacy of lycorine in beagle dogs - a novel strategy for the treatment of poisoning.
By emesis response analysis four dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) formulations were favored. Two of them (lycorine hydrochloride, 15 mg/mL in 70% DMSO, 10% ethanol, and 20% water; and lycorine hydrochloride, 15 mg/mL in 50% DMSO, 50% water) qualified for further drug development. Both formulations ensure a safe pharmacologically induced emesis within about 30 min after injection, suitable for use as an in time decontaminant in acute poisoning of dogs. DMSO-based formulations were well tolerated and offer a novel promising strategy for treatment of poisoning.

Fibroblastic osteosarcoma in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)
The patient presented a hard mass in the right hind limb extending from the proximal portion of the femur, projecting caudally to the proximal tuberosity of the calcaneus, with an increase in temperature, and a marked increase in sensitivity. Disarticulation was performed.

Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion.
Therapy dog programmes are delivered across a variety of settings including hospitals, aged care facilities and mental health services, highlighting the important role they play in human health outcomes. Research has shown that that there are biomarkers for stress in humans and other animals engaged in human-animal interactions. This review aims to assess the impact of human-animal interactions on therapy dogs engaged in providing support to human health.

Delayed embryonic development or a long sperm survival in two mares-A registration conundrum.
Donor mares were inseminated with semen from one stallion during one oestrous cycle and semen from a different stallion on the subsequent oestrous cycle. Embryo(s) were collected 8?days after ovulation during the second oestrous cycle and transferred into synchronised recipient mares. Genetic testing was performed to determine parentage of the two foals. For both foals, DNA parentage testing excluded the second stallion as the genetic sire and confirmed that the first stallion, whose semen was inseminated on the previous oestrous cycle, was the actual genetic sire.

Head and dental injuries among farriers and hoof care practitioners: A nationwide survey in Switzerland.
Head/face injuries were more frequently reported by farriers than hoof care practitioners (60.6% and 20.7%, respectively). The rate of dental injuries, mainly related to a horse kick, was 11.1% and 1.9% among farriers and hoof care practitioners, respectively. Negligence in wearing mandatory eye protection was reported by 37.5% of respondents.