OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 320 dogs that underwent unilateral or bilateral TPLO (n = 405 procedures) between 2007 and 2015 and were reexamined by a veterinarian at least once ≥ 8 weeks after the procedure. PROCEDURES Data were extracted from medical records regarding signalment, TPLO procedure details, medical history of dermatitis, and SSI status. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with SSI development. RESULTS An SSI developed following 34 (8.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1% to 11.5%) procedures. Prophylactic antimicrobial administration was provided following 36.8% (n = 149) of procedures. For 71 (17.5%) procedures, the dog had dermatitis at the time of surgery; 12 of these procedures involved dermatitis at the surgical site. The incidence of SSI following the 12 procedures for dogs with dermatitis at the surgical site was 16.7% (2/12 [95% CI, 3.3% to 54.3%]) and was 10.2% (6/59 [95% CI, 4.5% to 21.3%]) for dogs with dermatitis elsewhere; however, these differences in incidence were not significant. On multivariable analysis, German Shepherd Dogs (vs other breeds), meniscectomy (vs no meniscectomy), and attending surgeon having performed ≤ 20 (vs > 20) procedures during the study period were associated with increased odds of SSI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SSI following TPLO was associated with the German Shepherd breed, meniscectomy, and surgeon. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for an agility dog becoming injured during its career. We hypothesized that certain factors involved with the training, competition, age, sex, age of neuter, body condition, and management could be associated with the risk for injury. Study Design The outcome of interest in this cross-sectional survey design was injury versus no injury, and an initial univariable analysis screening was performed. All variables with a p-value of less than 0.20 in univariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Manual backward stepwise removal was performed until remaining variables had a p-value of less than 0.05. Results Five-hundred responses were included in the analysis. In the final multivariable model adjusting for all other variables, breed, age, age at neuter, and level of competition remained associated with injury in the study population. Conclusion These findings support existing literature on the predispositions for injury with certain breeds and competition level. Our study further suggests, however, that there is a need to better understand how health decisions earlier in life may affect the prevalence for injury in the agility competitor, particularly regarding age at neutering and age of the competitor.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between radiographic fit/fill measurements and biomechanical performance of three canine cementless total hip implant designs using an in vitro biomechanical testing protocol that replicates compression and torsion. Study Design Eighteen (six/group) canine cadaveric femurs were implanted with one of three cementless total hip implant designs: (1) collarless, (2) collared or (3) lateral bolt stems. Femoral length, canal flare index (CFI), canal fill, stem fit, stem level and stem angle were measured as independent variables. Biomechanical performance was tested using physiological, non-destructive gait loading (loading protocols) and destructive testing (failure protocols). Results During loading protocols, compressive stiffness was influenced by stem level (p < 0.05) and torsional stiffness was influenced by stem level and CFI for collarless stems (p < 0.05). During failure protocols, peak load was influenced by mediolateral (ML) stem angle (p < 0.05) and CFI (p < 0.01) for collarless stems and CFI for lateral bolt stems (p < 0.05). Peak torque was influenced by ML stem angle, craniocaudal stem angle and CFI for collarless stems (p < 0.05) and average ML fill for collared stems (p < 0.05). Conclusion Biomechanical performance of collarless stems in cementless hip arthroplasty is more impacted by radiographic fit/fill than lateral bolt and collared stems. As a result, collarless stems may be more dependent on preoperative fit and intraoperative precision.