Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) cause clinical infections in humans. Understanding the evolution and dissemination of ExPEC strains via potential reservoirs is important due to associated morbidity, health care costs and mortality. To further understanding this survey has examined isolates recovered from the faeces of 221 healthy dogs and 427 healthy cats. The distribution of phylogroups varied with host species, and depended on whether the animal was living in a shelter or a home. The human associated STs 69, 73, 95, 131 and 127 were prevalent, with 30.5% of cat isolates and 10.3% of dog isolates representing these ExPEC sequence types. Resistance to the antibiotics ampicillin and tetracycline was common, but resistance to other antimicrobials was negligible.

Due to resource limitations, animal shelters in Australia historically have focused on rehoming animals considered ‘highly adoptable’. Increasingly, animal shelters in Australia are rehoming animals with pre-existing medical and/or behavioural issues. These animals are often rehomed with an ‘indemnity waiver’ to transfer the responsibility of ongoing financial costs associated with these conditions from the shelter to the new owner. However, it is unknown what effect these indemnity waivers have on the length of stay (LOS) of animals prior to adoption. The current study used data collected from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Weston shelter located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia in 2017 to investigate the effect of indemnity waivers on the LOS of cats. A restricted maximum likelihood model (REML) was used to determine the effect of breed, age, coat colour, presence of a waiver, waiver type (categorised into seven groups) and waiver number (no waiver, single waiver or multiple waivers) on LOS. In the final multivariate model, age, breed and waiver number were found to influence LOS. Young cats, purebred cats and cats adopted without a waiver were adopted fastest. This study is the first to report the effect of indemnity waivers on the adoptability of cats from shelters.

Congenital humeroradial subluxation was diagnosed by clinical examination and radiography in a 16-week-old female dog that presented for left forelimb lameness. This was treated surgically by open reduction followed by placement of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene suture from the craniolateral aspect of the proximal radius to the caudomedial aspect of the ulna, secured with a toggle and suture button. Postoperative findings were consistent with clinical improvement and radiographs were compatible with resolution of elbow subluxation. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of congenital humeroradial subluxation to be managed with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene suture toggle.

<strong>PICO question</strong><br /><p>In dogs with cruciate disease, is the use of TTA Rapid (TTAR) compared to traditional TTA (tTTA) associated with a higher risk of tibial diaphyseal fractures?</p><strong>Clinical bottom line</strong><br /><p>Based on studies published between January 2013 and January 2018, the rate of tibial diaphyseal fractures as a complication of Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Rapid (TTAR) surgery is within the published limits of traditional Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (tTTA). In this period, seven studies were related to tTTA, comprising of four; one case series, two retrospective case-control studies, and one retrospective cohort study. Five case series were related to TTAR.  All evidence within this period has been observational (Level 3 and 4 evidence). No direct head-to-head comparison between the techniques has been studied. </p><br /> <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/oa-icon.jpg" alt="Open Access" /> <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/pr-icon.jpg" alt="Peer Reviewed" />

A 14‐month‐old Alaskan Malamute with chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) presented for progressive bilateral hindlimb lameness. A diagnosis of bilateral medially luxating patellae was made based on clinical and radiographic findings. The chondrodysplasia in this case was atypical in its hindlimb skeletal deformity along with atypical osteopaenia. The case was successfully managed with trochlear sulcoplasty and tibial tuberosity transposition; due to reduced bone quality, the tibial tuberosity was secured with a locking plate (ALPS; Kyon, Inc, Zurich, Switzerland). To the authors’ knowledge, treatment of patellar luxation in chondrodysplastic Alaskan Malamutes has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE Pancreatitis resulting in extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO) can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is utilized for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in humans; however, this is not available in veterinary medicine. Treatment options include medical management and biliary drainage procedures. The aim of this study was to describe the management of EHBO secondary to pancreatitis in dogs, treated medically and surgically and to determine whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) differ between the treatment groups. ANIMALS 41 dogs treated for EHBO secondary to pancreatitis during the period of May 2015 to November 2021. METHODS Records from 41 dogs diagnosed with EHBO secondary to pancreatitis were reviewed, and information extracted included clinical signs, ultrasound findings, NLR, PLR, histopathology, treatment, and outcomes. RESULTS 18 of 19 (95%) surgical patients survived, while 12 of 21 (57%) medical patients survived. There was no difference in the length of hospitalization or time to return to adequate function between the groups; however, there was a significant difference in the 2- and 12-month survival between those treated surgically and medically. There was no difference in the NLR or PLR between surgically versus medically treated dogs or between survivors and nonsurvivors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The mortality rate of surgery for EHBO secondary to pancreatitis may be lower than previously described, and in this cohort of dogs, those treated surgically had improved survival at 2 and 12 months compared to those treated medically.

A 1.5‐year‐old, spayed, female labrador x kelpie presented with a massive solitary palatine osteoma. En bloc excision required excision of palatine, maxillary and ventral vomer bone. The subsequent defect was closed with a combination of a left angularis oris buccal mucosal interpolation flap, right buccal mucosal rotational flap and rostral advancement of the remaining soft palate. The procedure was tolerated by the patient, with no major complications from the surgery. Histopathological examination of the excised tissue indicated complete excision of the osteoma. At the time of the publication, no recurrence had occurred, and the owners considered the procedure to provide excellent post‐operative results. The use of these soft tissue techniques allowed complete excision of the neoplasia from this difficult anatomic location in a single procedure without the need for revision surgery.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and complications of dogs that had pancarpal arthrodesis (PCA) using a titanium hybrid advanced locking plate system (ALPS) and stainless steel hybrid dynamic compression plate (HDCP). Study Design Retrospective observational study. Methods Medical records (2007–2020) were reviewed for cases that had PCA performed using ALPS or HDCP. Implant characteristics including metacarpal coverage (MCov), metacarpal width occupied by screw diameter percentage and carpal arthrodesis angle (CAA), complications and outcomes were recorded. Results Pancarpal arthrodesis was performed with ALPS on 15 limbs from 12 dogs, and HDCP on 14 limbs from 11dogs. Median follow-up time was 1,157 days (range: 62–1,902 days) for ALPS group and 340 days (range: 43–1,465 days) for HDCP. Median MCov for ALPS group was 74% (range: 60–87.5%) compared with 56.5% (range: 49.7–91.3%) for HDCP (p = 0.001). There was no difference in CAA and metacarpal width to screw diameter percentage between ALPS and HDCP group. Major and minor complications and surgical site infection rates were not statistically different between the two groups. Plate fracture occurred in 2/15 ALPS PCA and screw loosening occurred in 4/14 HDCP PCA. Full function was achieved in 8/12 and 8/11 of ALPS and HDCP cases, respectively, which was not statistically different (p = 0.76). Conclusion The use of ALPS offers comparable performance to HDCP for PCA