scholarly journals Among homeless individuals, does owning a pet improve their mental health?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Conway
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies

PICO question Among homeless individuals, does owning a pet improve their mental health?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Qualitative assessment The number and type of study designs reviewed Fifteen (eight qualitative assessments, two cross-sectional quantitative studies, three qualitative/cross-sectional studies, and two scoping/systematic reviews) Strength of evidence Moderate Outcomes reported Homeless individuals who own pets reported improvement in their mental health status by having fewer symptoms of depression, reduced feelings of loneliness, reduced stress, increased feelings of happiness, and decreased intentions of suicide, all as a result of owning a pet. However, homeless individuals who own pets may suffer a decrease in mental health due to the loss or anticipated loss of their pet Conclusion It is concluded among qualitative and cross-sectional studies that there are clearly multiple benefits to mental health associated with pet ownership among homeless individuals. However, the lack of quantitative, longitudinal, and/or experimental studies in this topic prevents a causative relationship from being established and caution should be exercised when interpreting the results as pet ownership causing an improvement in mental health   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals Is inhaled immunotherapy more effective than environmental management when treating equine asthma?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Leather ◽  
Sarah Smith
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Equine Asthma

PICO question In horses with severe equine asthma syndrome, is inhaled immunotherapy compared to environmental reduction of allergen exposure more effective in disease modification?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed 12 papers were critically reviewed. Nine clinical trials; one crossover study; one split-plot design study; and one cross-sectional study Strength of evidence Low Outcomes reported Four studies found inhaled immunotherapy to improve the clinical signs associated with equine asthma and the lung function of horses with asthma. Three papers found environmental modification by improved lung function and the clinical signs associated with equine asthma but two studies provide moderate evidence that environmental management alone is insufficient to permanently cure asthma Conclusion There is a low level of evidence to support the use of inhaled immunotherapy as a treatment for equine asthma   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals Is a cross-match necessary before a cat’s first blood transfusion?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Safrany ◽  
Sophie Adamantos
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transfusion Reactions

PICO question In transfusion-naïve cats receiving a type specific blood transfusion is cross-matched blood (major and minor) associated with an increased haematocrit development and reduction in acute transfusion reactions when compared with those receiving non-crossmatched blood?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed Ten papers were critically reviewed. There were four retrospective case series, three prospective cross-sectional surveys, a retrospective cohort study, a prospective case series and a prospective randomised control trial. Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported It would appear that in the United Kingdom the incidence of non-AB transfusion reactions is low.  A single study suggests that cross-matching may result in a greater improvement in haematocrit, but this is unlikely to be clinically significant. There is evidence to support the hypothesis that non-AB antigens (for example the Mik antigen) differ with geographic distribution. Conclusion Based on the information available it is it is challenging to establish a meaningful clinical conclusion on which to base a recommendation.   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals Can IDEXX Angio Detect™ accurately detect canine Angiostrongylosis?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natashia Weir ◽  
Jo Ireland
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Case Series ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Cross Sectional

PICO question In dogs, is IDEXX Angio Detect™ as accurate as Baermann coprology when diagnosing Angiostrongylus vasorum infection?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Diagnosis The number and type of study designs reviewed Eight papers were critically reviewed: three diagnostic accuracy studies, two cross-sectional studies (one of which also included a retrospective case series), one cohort study, one case-control study, and one case series Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported Angio Detect™ (IDEXX) was shown to have low-moderate sensitivity and high specificity in comparison to Baermann coprology. Occasionally, false-negative results occurred with Angio Detect™ when compared to Baermann coprology. This was thought to be due to antigen-antibody complex formation. Positive Angio Detect™ assays were obtained in both symptomatic and asymptomatic canine patients. In an experimental setting, Angio Detect™ was shown to obtain a positive result five weeks post-inoculation Conclusion There is weak evidence supporting Angio Detect™ as a highly specific and moderately sensitive diagnostic test when compared to Baermann coprology   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals In mares with placentitis does the duration of antibiotic treatment affect foal outcome?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Barter
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Length Of Treatment ◽  
Diseased State ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Short Courses

PICO question In mares with placentitis does treatment with long-term antibiotics result in improved foal viability when compared to repeated short courses of 7 to 10 days?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed The literature search identified six publications that included length of antibiotic treatment and foetal outcome. The publications consisted of four non-randomised non-blinded controlled trials and two randomised non-blinded controlled trials Strength of evidence Collectively there was weak evidence to support either an intermittent or continuous antibiotic protocol in the treatment of placentitis in mares Outcomes reported The literature involved experimental induction of ascending placentitis with foal survival or viability as the outcome Conclusion Further research is required into the diagnosis of placentitis, length of treatment and choice of antibiotic/s to penetrate the uterus in a diseased state   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals In Greyhounds with paw pad corns, is surgical excision more effective at resolving lameness than extirpation?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Kenny
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Repeated Treatment ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Recurrence Rates ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Level Of Evidence

PICO question In Greyhounds (and Sighthounds) with recurring pedal corns, is surgical excision in comparison to corn extirpation more effective at resolving lameness?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed Three case series were included, all three were retrospective, one included a prospective component. There was one opinion-based narrative review and one opinion-based article. Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported Extirpation allows only a short palliation of lameness and repeated treatment is required at variable intervals. Surgical excision may provide good rates of short-term resolution however, in the long-term recurrence rates are still moderate. It should also be born in mind that further corns may develop in different digits. Conclusion In Greyhounds (and Sighthounds) with recurring pedal corns, surgical excision of the corn is more likely to provide long-term resolution of lameness in comparison to extirpation. However, the current level of evidence on this topic is weak.   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals The incidence of uterine pathology in ovariectomised bitches

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Norell Candetoft
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Gynaecological Examination ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Study Designs

PICO question What is the incidence of postoperative uterine pathology in ovariectomised bitches compared to ovariohysterectomised bitches?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Incidence The number and type of study designs reviewed Three retrospective case series Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported None of the reviewed case series found any uterine pathology for ovariectomised bitches in the long-term follow-up of several years, although none of the studies performed a proper gynaecological examination to confirm a lack of pathology Conclusion With the limited evidence available, it appears that leaving the uterus when gonadectomising bitches does not seem to have a high risk for developing pathology as long as the ovaries are completely removed.   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals Can dog appeasing pheromone ameliorate stress behaviours associated with anxiety in mature domestic dogs?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Fung Wong ◽  
Merran Govendir
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Hospitalised Patients

PICO question Does use of dog-appeasing pheromone reduce the frequency and/or severity of non-specific stress behaviours associated with anxiety in domestic dogs, older than 6 months, when compared with no treatment?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed Eight controlled trials were appraised. Four were randomised and four were either non-randomised or did not clearly describe the method of allocating subjects into treatment groups. Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported There was no evidence that any dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) formulation (spray, diffuser, or collar) was superior. There was moderate evidence that DAP could reduce some behavioural manifestations of fear and/or anxiety stemming from thunderstorm noise and weak evidence that it could ameliorate some non-specific stress behaviours in hospitalised patients. In shelter dogs, there was mild evidence that DAP could reduce barking intensity and increase some behaviours associated with relaxation. When behavioural changes occurred, most were observed during exposure to DAP and there were minimal residual effects post-treatment. Conclusion The evidence for using DAP to manage stress behaviours associated with anxiety in dogs over six months of age remains weak. Until there is a stronger evidentiary basis, clinicians should be aware that a true clinical benefit is undetermined. Nevertheless, DAP is unlikely to cause harm and may still provide some therapeutic benefit. Therefore, DAP may still be employed in a multimodal management plan for some behaviour cases and may exert a placebo effect. However, if an owner’s financial resources are restrictive, clinicians should not prioritise pheromone therapy at the omission of other therapies that have established clinical effects   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals For horses undergoing general anaesthesia, are rope recoveries or free recoveries better?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ffion Lloyd ◽  
Pamela Murison
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
General Anaesthesia ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Weak Evidence

PICO question In horses undergoing general anaesthesia, does assistance with ropes result in better recoveries when compared to no assistance (‘free’ recovery)?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed One randomised, non-blinded controlled trial and two retrospective cohort studies Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported The three studies reviewed arrive at different conclusions regarding the utility of rope assistance in recovery from general anaesthesia in horses, but examine very different populations. The randomised controlled trial provides weak evidence that rope assistance can shorten recovery and improve recovery quality in healthy (American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I–II) horses. One retrospective cohort study provides weak evidence that rope assistance confers a reduction in fatality in both healthy and sick horses. The other retrospective cohort study provides weak evidence that rope assistance confers no benefit to horses undergoing emergency colic surgery. Both assisted and unassisted groups in each study had fatalities and all studies reported complications related to the rope recovery system Conclusion Insufficient evidence is available to permit a full recommendation regarding rope assistance during recovery from general anaesthesia in horses. Rope assistance may improve recovery time and quality in some horses. The decision to perform a rope-assisted recovery must be made considering individual patient, team and clinic factors. Rope assistance cannot prevent fatalities in recovery   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals Current evidence supporting simultaneous prophylactic gastropexy in canine patients undergoing complete splenectomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Harris
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Cross Sectional

PICO question In dogs that have undergone a complete splenectomy, does performing a concurrent gastropexy decrease the risk of future gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) development when compared to not performing a concurrent gastropexy?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Risk The number and type of study designs reviewed Five papers were critically reviewed which included one retrospective case series, one retrospective case-control study, and three combined retrospective cohort and cross-sectional survey studies Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported In dogs that have had a complete splenectomy, there is no conclusive evidence that prophylactic gastropexy decreases the risk of lifetime GDV development Conclusion Based on the limited information available, it is difficult to conclude if prophylactic gastropexy should be recommended routinely at the time of complete splenectomy   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

scholarly journals In horses undergoing volatile anaesthesia, does intraoperative alpha-2-agonist infusion improve recovery?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Bennell
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Clinical Expertise ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Healthy Horse ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Constant Rate ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Inform Decision Making

PICO question In horses undergoing volatile anaesthesia with isoflurane or sevoflurane, does administration of an alpha-2 agonist as a CRI compared to anaesthetic maintenance with volatile alone improve recovery quality?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed Eight papers were critically appraised. All prospective, randomised clinical trials. 7/8 papers were blinded and 4/8 were crossover design Strength of evidence Moderate Outcomes reported One paper investigating detomidine and one on romifidine showed no improvement in recovery quality. 3/3 medetomidine papers and 2/3 dexmedetomidine papers showed a significant improvement in recovery quality in the alpha-2 agonist CRI group Conclusion In a healthy horse undergoing general anaesthesia with isoflurane or sevoflurane maintenance, an intra-operative constant rate of infusion (CRI) of medetomidine and dexmedetomidine can lead to better recovery quality when compared to horses who are maintained on isoflurane or sevoflurane alone   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.  

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