Veterinary clients may have trepidation about treating their pet with radiotherapy because of concerns about radiation side effects or repeated anaesthetics. The purpose of this study is to assess whether owners' attitudes towards veterinary radiotherapy, including concerns over side effects, change during the course of treatment, and whether radiotherapy was perceived to affect pets' quality of life (QOL). A prospective cohort study of clients from 2012 to 2015 was performed. Pets received palliative or definitive radiotherapy for various tumours. Clients completed questionnaires before, during and after radiotherapy. Questions assessed owner preconceptions before treatment, including side effect expectations, actual side effects experienced and overall satisfaction with the process. In addition, at each time point, the owners assessed their pet's QOL using a simple numerical scale. Forty‐nine patients were included. After completing treatment, owners were significantly less concerned about potential side effects of radiotherapy (P < 0.001), side effects associated with repeat anaesthetics (P < 0.001), and about radiotherapy in general (P < 0.001). QOL did not show a significant change at any point during or after treatment. Following treatment, 94% reported that the experience was better than expected and 100% supported the use of radiotherapy in pets. This is the first prospective study evaluating client attitudes and satisfaction before and after radiotherapy treatment in pets. The results indicate that radiotherapy is well tolerated, and the anxiety associated with radiotherapy is significantly alleviated after experiencing the process. These results will help veterinarians allay client concerns, and will hopefully lead to an increase in clients pursuing radiotherapy in pets.

Standardized veterinary neuroimaging response assessment methods for brain tumours are lacking. Consequently, a response assessment in veterinary neuro‐oncology (RAVNO) system which uses the sum product of orthogonal lesion diameters on 1‐image section with the largest tumour area, has recently been proposed. In this retrospective study, 22 pre‐treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies from 18 dogs and four cats with suspected intracranial neoplasia were compared by a single observer to 32 post‐treatment MRIs using the RAVNO system and two volumetric methods based on tumour margin or area delineation with HOROS and 3D Slicer software, respectively. Intra‐observer variability was low, with no statistically significant differences in agreement index between methods (mean AI ± SD, 0.91 ± 0.06 for RAVNO; 0.86 ± 0.08 for HOROS; and 0.91 ± 0.05 for 3D slicer), indicating good reproducibility. Response assessments consisting of complete or partial responses, and stable or progressive disease, agreed in 23 out of 32 (72%) MRI evaluations using the three methods. The RAVNO system failed to identify changes in mass burden detected with volumetric methods in six cases. 3D Slicer differed from the other two methods in three cases involving cysts or necrotic tissue as it allowed for more accurate exclusion of these structures. The volumetric response assessment methods were more precise in determining changes in absolute tumour burden than RAVNO but were more time‐consuming to use. Based on observed agreement between methods, low intra‐observer variability and decreased time constraint, RAVNO might be a suitable response assessment method for the clinical setting.

No life-threatening complications were encountered. Indwelling, polyurethane, saphenous cannulae were an effective and safe way to maintain venous access in this group of patients. Prednisolone and antibiotics were typically commenced for acute radiation side effects -midway through the protocol; therefore their association with length of stay may not be a direct result of their administration.

OBJECTIVESTo assess whether owners' attitudes towards their pets' radiotherapy, including concerns over side effects, change during the course of treatment, and whether radiotherapy was perceived to affect their pets' quality of life. METHODSClients were recruited between 2012-2015 when their pet received palliative or definitive radiotherapy for various tumours. Clients completed standardised questionnaires before, during and after their pets' radiotherapy protocol. Questions assessed owner attitudes, including concerns regarding side effects, actual side effects experienced, and overall satisfaction with the process. In addition, at each time point the owners assessed their pets' quality of life using a simple numerical scale (0-10). The responses were assessed for significant changes over time using Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS49 pets receiving radiotherapy were included in the study. After completing treatment, owners were significantly less concerned about potential side effects of radiotherapy (P=0.0001), side effects associated with repeat anaesthetics (P=0.0002), and about radiotherapy in general (P=0.0004). The pets' quality of life did not show a significant change at any point during or after treatment. Following treatment, 94% reported the experience was better than expected and 100% reported supporting radiotherapy in pets. STATEMENT (CONCLUSIONS)This is the first prospective study evaluating client attitudes and satisfaction before and after radiotherapy treatment in pets. The results indicate that radiotherapy is well tolerated, and the anxiety associated with radiotherapy is significantly alleviated after experiencing the process. These results will help veterinarians allay client concerns, and will hopefully lead to an increase in clients pursuing radiotherapy in pets. Toxicity of constant rate infusion of cytarabine in dogs with stage V lymphomaAlexandra Guillen, Riccardo Finotello, Aaron Harper, Laura Blackwood Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston CH64 7TE, United Kingdom OBJECTIVES Cytarabine, a cell cycle phase specific antimetabolite, is reported to improve outcomes in dogs with bone marrow (BM) or central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma involvement. Optimal efficacy is achieved by constant rate infusion (CRI). The objectives of the present study are to evaluate the incidence and severity of toxicity of cytarabine given as CRI dogs with stage V lymphoma. METHODSMedical records of canine lymphoma patients with suspected BM or CNS involvement treated with a modified L-CEOP protocol including cytarabine CRI were reviewed. Adverse events were graded according to the VCOGcommon terminology criteria. RESULTSTwenty-five dogs were included. Gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in thirteen (52%) dogs; this included grade I (5 cases) and II (2 cases) diarrhoea, vomiting (2 cases), colitis (1 case) or anorexia (3 cases). Two dogs required hospitalisation due to grade III and IV diarrhoea and melena. Three dogs had neutropenia (1, grade I and 2, grade 2) and one ...