The cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and the quality of anesthesia of alfaxalone administered intramuscularly (IM) to cats sedated with dexmedetomidine and hydromorphone were evaluated. Twelve healthy adult cats were anesthetized, with six cats receiving dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg/kg IM) followed by alfaxalone (5 mg/kg IM; group DA) and six receiving dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg/kg IM) plus hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg IM) followed by alfaxalone (5 mg/kg IM; group DHA). Cardiorespiratory (pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, saturation of oxygen with hemoglobin, end tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure) and bispectral index (BIS) data were collected every 10 mins for 90 mins starting immediately after intubation. The quality of anesthesia was scored by a blinded researcher at induction and at 5 and 60 mins after extubation. Recovery scores ranged from 1 (prolonged struggling) to 4 (no struggling). There were no clinically significant (P >0.05) differences in any data between groups or over time. Physiologic parameters were within normal limits for cats at all times. BIS values were consistent with light anesthesia in both groups. However, recovery was prolonged and marked with excitement, ataxia and hyper-reactivity in all cats. Thus, although cardiovascular and respiratory parameters are stable following IM injection of alfaxalone to cats sedated with dexmedetomidine and hydromorphone, recovery is extremely poor and this route of administration is not recommended for anesthesia in cats.

Lift laparoscopy is a feasible alternative to capnoperitoneum laparoscopy, especially in dogs where pressurized capnoperitoneum is not desired.

Intratesticular or epidural injection of analgesics improved perioperative analgesia for dogs undergoing castration.

Objective Variants in the MC1R gene have been associated with red hair color and sensitivity to pain in humans. The study objective was to determine if a relationship exists between MC1R genotype and physiological thermal or mechanical nociceptive thresholds in Labrador Retriever dogs. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Thirty-four Labrador Retriever dogs were included in the study following public requests for volunteers. Owner consent was obtained and owners verified that their dog was apparently not experiencing pain and had not been treated for pain during the previous 14 days. The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Methods Nociceptive thresholds were determined from a mean of three thermal and five mechanical replications using commercially available algometers. Each dog was genotyped for the previously described MC1R variant (R306ter). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc comparisons using Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). Results Thirteen dogs were homozygous wild-type (WT/WT), nine were heterozygous (WT/R306ter), and eight were homozygous variant (R306ter/R306ter) genotype. Four dogs could not be genotyped. A significant difference (p = 0.04) in mechanical nociceptive thresholds was identified between dogs with the WT/WT genotype (12.1 ± 2.1 N) and those with the WT/R306ter genotype (9.2 ± 2.4 N). Conclusion A difference in mechanical, but not thermal, nociceptive threshold was observed between wild-type and heterozygous MC1R variants. Differences in nociceptive thresholds between homozygous R306ter variants and other genotypes for MC1R were not observed. Clinical relevance Compared with the wild-type MC1R genotype, nociceptive sensitivity to mechanical force in dogs with a single variant R306ter allele may be greater. However, in contrast to the reported association between homozygous MC1R variants (associated with red hair color) and nociception in humans, we found no evidence of a similar relationship in dogs with the homozygous variant genotype.

The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA), in western Mexico, has experienced a rapid demographic and urban growth in recent decades. As a result of land use changes, an Urban Heat Island (UHI) has developed and intensified, which reflects not only in air surface temperature increases, but also in higher atmospheric moisture content and more intense precipitation events. Storms have become more frequent since the beginning of 1980s, which makes them one of the major meteorological hazards for the city. Such an increase in strong storms appears to be related to the urbanization process which in turn, has increased the vulnerability of the GMA to intense rains. The urban expansion towards the higher parts of the region has led to more water runoff and flash flood events in the low-level parts of the metropolitan area. An analysis by means of observed meteorological data and a rainfall – runoff methodology shows that the combined effect of increased precipitation and vulnerability results in a higher risk of urban flash floods. The loss of natural vegetation, the main roads that act as water channels that converge into the central part of the city, an insufficient drainage system and the lack of prevention actions have resulted in more frequent urban flash floods. All of these vulnerability factors are associated with an inadequate urban expansion process. The model of flood risk may be used to define adaptation measures to face a changing climate.