Top 5 Breed-Specific Considerations to Avoid Adverse Drug Effects

Clin Brief. Jul-Aug 2021;19(5):. 27 Refs

Katrina Mealey¹, Michael H Court

¹ Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7010, USA.

Author Abstract

Certain canine breeds known to harbor certain gene mutations and deficiencies may experience adverse drug effects. Genotyping and testing for these mutations can help identify at-risk dogs and minimize drug reactions.

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Mass rabies exposure of veterinary health care workers in Germany: Management, immune response, and tolerability of post exposure-prophylaxis.
In 2008, Germany was declared free from terrestrial rabies by the WOAH. However, illegal pet imports can still lead to rabies exposure, as seen in the 2021 case of a rabid puppy illegally imported to Germany, resulting in a mass exposure (39 veterinary clinic staff) incident.

How to plan and provide general anesthesia for a troop of 98 hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) for contraceptive and preventative health interventions.
A group of 12 veterinarians, 2 zookeepers, and 6 volunteers anesthetized all animals within 2 days. The baboons were orally premedicated with midazolam (0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg) and anesthetized with medetomidine (40 to 60 µg/kg, IM) and ketamine (2 to 4 mg/kg, IM); isoflurane at rates of 1.5% to 2% was used for maintaining anesthesia if necessary. For population management, the animals received a contraceptive implant (adult females), orchiectomy (young males), or vasectomy (breeding males).

Efficacy, safety and interval from end of treatment to estrus in cats treated with an ultra-low dose megestrol acetate protocol for suppression of reproductive activity.
Twenty-eight queens were treated orally with 11.5 µg/kg/day of megestrol acetate (MA) for one to six months. MA suppressed reproductive function effectively in 27/28 queens. Transient mammary and uterine hyperplasia were detected in four (14 %) and three (11 %) queens, respectively, treated for more than four months, without associated clinical signs. Significant but reversible weight gain was observed in 85 % of the animals. The resumption of cyclicity occurred on average 6 weeks after the end of treatment but was influenced by the duration of treatment and seasonality.

Effective treatment with afoxolaner (NexGard) of Trixacarus caviae in a pet guinea pig.
The animal was treated with a single oral dose of 2.50 mg/kg afoxolaner, and the lesions, presence/absence of mites, and intensity of pruritus were evaluated periodically until 2 months post-treatment. A week after the medication, the lesions were milder, but pruritus was still present and was attributed to the healing process. Further examinations showed significant improvement with the complete remission of clinical signs and no mites at the microscopic examination after 4 weeks.

Canine distemper outbreak and laryngeal paralysis in captive tigers (Panthera tigris).
All suspected and confirmed cases of CDV infections were significantly associated with laryngeal inflammation, which developed into paralysis in almost 50% of cases. Altogether, 50% of all tiger cases with chronic infection developed stridor at 314 days after virus infection. Therefore, laryngeal paralysis may result from CDV infection and degeneration, potentially affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems. This condition could pose a life-threatening risk to tigers.