No abstract

Intramuscular (i.m.) administration of medetomidine (MED) may avoid the severe pressor effects caused by peripheral actions of MED associated with intravenous (i.v.) dosing. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics, the time course of sedation and occurence of hypoxaemia after i.m. administration of MED in domestic sheep. The MED was injected i.m. at a dose of 30 micro g/kg in nine domestic sheep. Blood was sampled at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120, 180, 240, 360 and 600 min after MED. Sedation was assessed and arterial blood samples were taken before and 35 min after MED application. Mean (SD) pharmacokinetic parameters of i.m. MED were: absorption half-life: 13.2 (7.5) min; terminal half-life: 32.7 (14.9) min; time to peak concentration: 29.2 (8.9) min; peak concentration: 4.98 (1.89) ng/mL; volume of distribution: 3.9 (2.4) l/kg; total body clearance: 81.0 (21.5) mL/(min kg). Peak sedation occurred between 30 and 40 min after injection of MED. The degree of sedation correlated with individual plasma concentrations (rS: 0.926). One animal became hypoxaemic (PaO2 = 54.1 mmHg).

The aim of this study was to determine whether any pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic differences exist in goats between propofol in its currently licensed form (Disoprivan) and a new 1% solution of propofol (NSP) containing polysorbate 80. Nine goats received, on two different occasions in a randomized double-blinded order, 4 mg/kg propofol intravenously (i.v.; Disoprivan or NSP). To detect differences in cardiopulmonary effects and pharmacokinetics, the Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data was used. In the NSP group the duration of initial apnoea was significantly longer, and 6 and 12 min after drug application PaO2 levels were significantly lower than in the Disoprivan group. Mean cardiovascular parameters did not differ significantly between the groups but in the NSP group in six goats marked changes in blood pressure occurred: systolic arterial pressures fell to a minimum of 40-60 mmHg within the first 10 min. This was followed by a marked increase in blood pressure, with maxima exceeding 300 mmHg. In the NSP group the half-life of propofol was significantly longer, the clearance rate was smaller and the areas under the drug concentration-time curves were larger than in the Disoprivan group. The cardiopulmonary side-effects of NSP suggest that propofol dissolved in polysorbate 80 is not a suitable alternative to the current formulation of propofol.

This retrospective study evaluated the frequency, etiology, therapy and prognosis of animal poisoning registered from 2003 to 2012. The relevant cases reported to the Swiss Toxicological Information Center (STIC) were compared with those from previously examined periods. Human medicines not approved for animals and pesticides represented the most common causes of poisoning in dogs. Novel cases occurred as a consequence of the exposure of dogs to ricinus fertilizers, grape residues from wineries, pepper lachrymatory spray and dry bouillon. Cats are still freequently poisoned by pyrethroid drugs that should be administered only to dogs. Agrochmical products are the main source of toxicities in farm animals. Most poisonings in horses and exotic animals took place due to toxic plants. In addition, two tigers died of a secondary poisoning after ingestion of meat from euthanized calves.

Resistances to antimicrobials pose serious public health challenges. This issue concerns both human and veterinary medicine and can only be solved by a multidisciplinary approach. A comprehensive concept is, therefore, being worked out within the StAR (strategy antibiotic resistance) program in order to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for humans as well as animals. In this context, the AntibioticScout (www.AntibioticScout. ch) offers a new online tool for the prudent use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. By involving all stakeholders, the guidelines included in the AntibioticScout will result in a nationwide accepted standard for the treatment of bacterial infections in animals. An additional system for the rapid reporting of cases of suspected lack of efficacy of antimicrobials is integrated to allow early detection of emerging resistance and the immediate launch of risk mitigation measures. A first version of the AntibioticScout for the treatment of dogs, cats and horses is available by the end of 2016. All stakeholders are now invited to contribute to the development of the AntibioticScout decision support.