VetALI and VetARDS can cause life-threatening respiratory distress in dogs and cats necessitating mechanical ventilation in 50% of dogs and 80% of cats in this study. These diseases are associated with a poor clinical outcome and a high rate of humane euthanasia.

Development of anemia necessitating blood transfusions is common in critically ill cats and leads to significantly longer duration of ICU hospitalization. Iatrogenic anemia from frequent phlebotomies is an important cause for increased transfusion requirement. Fewer phlebotomies and other blood conserving strategies in these patients may help reduce the incidence of anemia and decrease transfusion requirements, as well as result in shorter hospital stays.

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CASE DESCRIPTION A 2-year-old sexually intact female mixed-breed dog was evaluated at an emergency hospital approximately 5 hours after ingestion of an unknown amount of over-the-counter topical hair growth promoter containing 5% minoxidil foam. Vomiting and signs of lethargy were reported by the owner, and physical examination revealed tachycardia and hypotension. No treatments were performed, and the dog was transferred to a veterinary referral hospital for management of suspected minoxidil toxicosis. CLINICAL FINDINGS On arrival at the referral hospital, the dog was tachycardic (heart rate, 200 to 220 beats/min) and hypotensive (systolic arterial blood pressure, 70 mm Hg). Electrocardiography revealed a regular, narrow-complex tachycardia with no evidence of ventricular ectopy. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Hypotension was effectively managed with a constant rate infusion of dopamine hydrochloride (12.5 μg/kg/min [5.7 μg/lb/min], IV). Once normotensive, the dog remained tachycardic and a constant rate infusion of esmolol hydrochloride (40 μg/kg/min [18.2 μg/lb/min], IV) was initiated for heart rate control. A lipid emulsion was administered IV as a potential antidote for the toxic effects of the lipophilic minoxidil, with an initial bolus of 1.5 mL/kg (0.7 mL/lb) given over 15 minutes followed by a continuous rate infusion at 0.25 mL/kg/min (0.11 mL/lb/min) for 60 minutes. While hospitalized, the dog also received maropitant citrate and ondansetron. Resolution of clinical signs was achieved with treatment, and the dog was discharged from the hospital 36 hours after admission. Four days later, the owner reported that the dog had made a full recovery and had returned to its typical behavior and activity level at home. CLINICAL RELEVANCE To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of successful clinical management of accidental minoxidil toxicosis in a dog.

Objective: To investigate the impact of cryopoor plasma (CPP) continuous rate infusion (CRI) on albumin concentration and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in critically ill dogs with hypoalbuminemia.Design: Retrospective study between 2013 and 2015 with a 90-day follow-up on survivors. Setting: University teaching hospital.Animals: Ten hypoalbuminemic dogs receiving a CPP CRI for albumin replacement or oncotic support. All patients with documented hypoalbuminemia or low COP receiving CPP administration for albumin or oncotic support during the study period were included. Interventions: CRI of CPP.Measurements and Main Results: Mean age was 7.4 ± 4.5 years. Mean survival prediction index score was 0.66 ± 0.13. Seven dogs were septic, with 2 of 7 in septic shock and 5 of 7 having septic peritonitis. The mean pre-and postinfusion albumin was 15 ± 4 g/L and 21 ± 2 g/L, respectively.The median pre-and postinfusion COP was 8.6 mm Hg (4.9-9.7 mm Hg) and 10.2 mm Hg (8.1-13.3 mm Hg), respectively. The median duration of CRI was 16 hours (11-121 h). The mean CPP rate was 1.8 ± 0.6 mL/kg/h, the mean crystalloid rate administered concurrently was 0.8 ± 0.9 mL/kg/h, and the mean hydroxyethyl starch rate administered concurrently was 1.2 ± 0.9 mL/kg/h. The difference in pre-and postinfusion albumin was significantly correlated with CPP rate (P = 0.0004), whereas the difference in pre-and postinfusion COP was correlated with hydroxyethyl starch rate (P = 0.0128). Mean duration of hospitalization was 8.6 ± 3.9 days. Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare survivors and nonsurvivors. Survivors were significantly younger than nonsurvivors (3.5 vs 11.5 y, P = 0.033). No side effects were reported. Survival to discharge was 40% with identical 90-day survival. Of the nonsurvivors, 50% died naturally. Conclusions:There was an association between the rate of CPP and the change in albumin after CPP CRI in critically ill dogs, suggesting that CPP may be a viable option for treatment of hypoalbuminemia. K E Y W O R D Scolloid osmotic pressure, clinical pathology, fluid therapy, transfusion medicine

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Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the caudal epidural technique in cats with urethral obstruction (UO). Design Prospective, double‐blinded, randomized, sham‐controlled study. Animals Eighty‐eight male cats with UO. Interventions Thirty cats randomized to bupivacaine epidural (BUP), 28 cats to bupivacaine‐morphine epidural (BUP/MOR), and 30 cats to sham epidural (SHAM). Measurements and Main Results Time to perform the epidural and efficacy of the epidural was assessed by evaluation of tail and perineal responses. The amount of propofol for urinary catheterization and time to administration of rescue analgesia (buprenorphine) was recorded. Cats were monitored for epidural complications. The median time to perform the epidural was 2 min (range, 0.2‐13 min and range, 0.5‐13 min), with an epidural success rate of 70%. The median amount of propofol administered for urinary catheterization was significantly less in the BUP (2.1 mg/kg; range, 0‐7.5 mg/kg) and MOR/BUP cats (1.85 mg/kg; range, 0‐8.6 mg/kg) as compared to SHAM cats (4 mg/kg; range, 0‐12.7 mg/kg) (P = 0.006, P = 0.0008, respectively). The median time to administration of rescue analgesia was also significantly longer in the BUP (10 h; range, 2‐32 h) and MOR/BUP cats (10 h; range, 4‐45 h) as compared to SHAM cats (4 h; range, 2‐36 h) (P = 0.0026, P = 0.0004, respectively). There were no recognized complications related to the epidural. Conclusion Caudal epidural appears to be safe, may reduce the amount of IV anesthesia needed to facilitate urinary catheterization, and can be used to provide long‐term analgesia in the hospital.