• Crystalloids versus Colloids Intravenous fluid therapy is a regular component of care for cats and dogs with goals of restoring tissue perfusion, preventing organ dysfunction, and maintaining homeostasis. Veterinarians have a plethora of fluid choices, including hypertonic, hypotonic...  more
  • Update on Canine Parvoviral Enteritis Canine parvoviral enteritis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in young dogs worldwide. The virus is endemic in the environment and can be infective to unvaccinated or poorly vaccinated dogs. Standard in-patient therapies include ...  more
  • Hot Topics in Emergency and Critical Care It is such an honor for me that select topics from a recent issue of Advances in Small Animal Care have been chosen for this issue of Hot Topics in Emergency and Critical Care. For some topics, such as Crystalloids versus Colloids, the debate continues; h...  more
  • Proliferative and Necrotizing Otitis Externa of Cats and Kittens Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa (PNOE) is characterized by thick, adherent dark red, brown, or black crusts. It most commonly affects the concave pinnae and vertical ear canals bilaterally. Lesions may also be seen on the face, and it may rar...  more
  • Feline Aural Inflammatory Polyps Feline aural inflammatory polyps originate from the tympanic bulla and less frequently from the auditory tube, representing the most common benign tumor of the feline ear. Clinical signs may be compatible with otitis externa, media, and/or interna with ra...  more
  • Nasal Planum Dermatoses of the Dog Nasal planum dermatoses in dogs can be infectious, immune-mediated, allergic, neoplastic, and metabolic in nature. Recognizing key lesions and features and knowing how and when to biopsy can help distinguish between similar diseases. The focus of this art...  more
  • Cutaneous Mycobacterioses of Cats and Dogs Worldwide, a variety of mycobacterial species have been associated with skin lesions in dogs and cats. Lesions may result from systemic dissemination or local cutaneous inoculation. Only infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms have th...  more
  • Applications for Laser in Veterinary Dermatology Laser usage in veterinary dermatology has increased in popularity over the last several decades. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is the leading modality in surgical laser for veterinary dermatology because of its unmatched performance with soft tissue, particu...  more
  • Small Animal Dermatology: Updates on Canine Atopic Dermatitis, Cutaneous Infectious Disease, Autoimmune Disease, and Treatment Modalities Dermatologic problems are among the most common reason pet owners seek care for dogs and cats, comprising a diverse set of conditions. Dermatology is ever evolving, with changes in our understanding of pathogenesis, and advances in diagnosis and treatment...  more
  • Papillomavirus Papillomaviruses (PV) affect dogs and cats. Oral papillomas are common in young dogs and generally do not require treatment because they resolve spontaneously. The virus is spread via direct contact during play, or via indirect contact (from the environme...  more
  • Therapeutic Exercises for Rehabilitation of Muscle Injury Successful rehabilitation of muscle injury requires a comprehensive understanding of the injury process, healing phases, and resources to be employed. The initial phase is characterized by acute inflammatory signs, followed by the regenerative and remodel...  more
  • Traumatic Muscle Injuries Traumatic muscle injuries are likely to be frequent in athletic horses yet are often overlooked. These injuries usually involve internal (intrinsic) trauma, and particularly occur in athletic horses exercising at higher intensities, at unaccustomed worklo...  more
  • Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1) is an autosomal dominant glycogen storage disorder affecting more than 20 breeds of horses that can present with a variety of signs, including exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER). It is diagnosed by genetic testin...  more
  • Nonexertional Rhabdomyolysis Although horses most commonly develop exertional rhabdomyolysis, there are numerous causes for nonexertional rhabdomyolysis (nonER) that pose a serious health threat to horses. Their etiologies can be broadly categorized as toxic, genetic, inflammatory/in...  more
  • Vitamin E and Selenium-Related Manifestations of Muscle Disease Nutritional deficiencies of vitamin E and selenium can occur alone or concurrently. Prolonged and sustained deficiency of either or both nutrients can lead to profound clinical disease. Selenium deficiency can also result in signs of cardiac disease, uppe...  more
  • Clinical Examination of the Muscle System The equine muscle system is complex and prone to a large range of hereditary and acquired diseases that often have overlapping clinical signs with orthopedic, neurologic, and other disorders. Obtaining a clinical history that fully outlines the client con...  more
  • Myofibrillar Myopathy Myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) is characterized by segmental disarray of myofibrils and ectopic accumulation of a protein called desmin. Previously thought to be a glycogen storage disease, MFM is now recognized as a stand-alone myopathy. Endurance Arabians ...  more
  • Sporadic and Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Horses are particularly susceptible to developing exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) characterized by muscle stiffness, pain, and reluctance to move. Diagnosis requires establishing abnormal increases in serum creatine kinase activity when horses exhibit clin...  more
  • Myosin Heavy Chain Myopathy and Immune-Mediated Muscle Disorders Several inflammatory myopathies have an infectious or immune-mediated basis in the horse. Myosin heavy chain myopathy is caused by a codominant missense variant in MYH1 and has 3 clinical presentations: immune-mediated myositis, calciphylaxis, and nonexer...  more
  • Disorders of Muscle Mass and Tone Muscle disease has various clinical manifestations that range from exertional and non-exertional rhabdomyolysis, fasciculations, weakness, rigidity, stiffness, gait abnormalities, poor performance, and alterations in muscle mass and tone. Neurogenic disor...  more