Idiopathic postganglionic HS was diagnosed in eight of 10 Golden Retrievers contradicting previous reports of a purely preganglionic localization. Etiopathogenesis of canine idiopathic HS remains to be determined; nevertheless, a vascular etiology cannot be excluded. Future studies using magnetic resonance angiography may aid in clarifying the pathogenesis.

All previous studies on feline ischaemic myelopathy (IM) have reported an acute onset of a single event with no recurrence of clinical signs. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and long-term follow-up data in cats presumptively diagnosed with cervical IM in the territory of the ventral spinal artery (VSA). Eight cats (four females and four males) were included with a mean age of 14 years and 2 months. Neurological status at the time of presentation ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia with nociception present. Six cats had marked cervical ventroflexion. All eight cats were diagnosed with one or more concurrent medical conditions, including chronic kidney disease (n = 2), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 2) and hypertension (n = 6). Median time to ambulation was 5.7 days (range 2-14 days). Long-term follow-up ranged from 7 months to 3 years and 3 months (median 1 year and 2 months). Five cats had no reported recurrence of clinical signs and 3/8 had a chronic relapsing disease course. One cat had an acute recurrence of clinical signs 4 months after the first event and was euthanased. Two cats had acute onsets of suspected intracranial infarctions, one of which had further suspected intracranial infarcts every 3 months and was euthanased after one of these. This study highlights the importance of performing ancillary diagnostic tests in older cats presenting with IM, particularly when VSA embolisation is suspected.

In contrast to perceptions, feline PE was generally well managed via a combination of phlebotomy and medical therapy, with evidence of prolonged survival times. The use of hydroxyurea enabled cessation or repeat phlebotomies.

This is the first reported case of acquired feline hypocobalaminaemia resulting in an encephalopathy. Additionally, this case is unique in describing reversible brain MRI abnormalities in a cobalamin-deficient companion animal.

BACKGROUND: Nursing home residents with dementia have characteristic sleep disturbances that correlate with behavioral symptoms, risk for falls, and increased caregiver burden. Interventions to improve sleep in this population consist primarily of pharmacologic agents, which may have negative side effects. OBJECTIVES: This study examined prescribing practices for common classes of medications affecting sleep and compared users and nonusers of these medications for daytime sleep, nighttime sleep, and the percentage of 24-hr sleep that occurred at night. STUDY DESIGN: In this secondary data analysis, actigraphy measured selected sleep variables. RESULTS: 195 nursing home residents participated in the study (mean age = 80.3 years, SD 8.12 years). Of the participants, 70.8% were prescribed two or more psychotropic medications. Novel antipsychotics were the most commonly prescribed class of medication (26%). The percentage of nighttime sleep for users of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was 8% lower than that of nonusers (p = .005). CONCLUSION: Medications for the management of dementia, depression, and psychosis may worsen nighttime sleep of nursing home residents with dementia.