OBJECTIVE To assess clotting times, coagulation factor activities, sterility, and thromboelastographic parameters of liquid plasma (LP), thawed fresh frozen plasma (FFP-T), and 2 novel formulations of freeze-dried plasma (FDP) stored refrigerated over 35 days. SAMPLE 6 units of canine LP and FFP-T from a commercial animal blood bank and 5 units each of 2 formulations of canine FDP. PROCEDURES Prothrombin time; activated partial thromboplastin time; activities of coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII; and thromboelastographic parameters were determined for each product on days 0 (baseline), 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. For each day, a sample of each product was also submitted for aerobic bacterial culture. RESULTS Small changes in coagulation factor activities and mild increased time to initial clot formation in LP and FFP-T were noted over the 35-day storage period. Activities of factor VIII in FDP1 and factor XII in FDP2 were < 50% at baseline but varied throughout. Compared with FFP-T, time to initial clot formation was increased and clot strength was preserved or increased for the FDPs throughout the study. One FDP had decreased pH, compared with other products. No plasma product yielded bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Liquid plasma and FFP-T would be reasonable to use when stored refrigerated for up to 35 days. Both FDP products showed variability in coagulation factor activities. Studies investigating the usefulness of these plasma products (FDPs) in dogs and the variable days of refrigerated storage (all products) are warranted.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of drinking nutrient-enriched water (NW) on water intake and indices of hydration in healthy domestic cats fed a dry kibble diet ad libitum. ANIMALS 18 domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURES Group-housed cats were assigned to tap water (TW; n = 9) or NW (9) groups. All cats received TW at baseline (days −7 to −1). No changes were made to the food-water regimen for the TW group. The NW group received NW instead of TW from days 0 through 10, then received TW and NW in separate bowls (days 11 through 56). Food intake was measured through day 10; liquid consumed by drinking was measured throughout the study. Blood and urine samples were collected at predetermined times for analyses; 48-hour urine collection (days 28 through 30 or 31 through 33) was performed to assess output volume and aid endogenous creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determination. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS Baseline TW and calorie intake were similar between groups. The NW treatment was significantly associated with increased liquid consumption during the treatment phase. Mean urine output was significantly higher in the NW group (15.2 mL/kg/d) than in the TW group (10.3 mL/kg/d). Mean GFR (1.75 vs 1.87 mL/min/kg, respectively) did not differ between groups. Effects of treatment and time were each significant for urine specific gravity and osmolality and urine creatinine, phosphate, and urea nitrogen concentrations, with lower values for the NW group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that consumption of the NW can increase liquid intake and improve measures of hydration in healthy cats. These effects may offer health benefits to some cats in need of greater water consumption.

Gas eructation function of the gastroesophageal sphincter (GES) was investigated in 6 conscious dogs before and after a sleeve was placed around the GES and gastric cardia and during IV infusion of a beta-adrenergic amine (epinephrine). To induce eructation, nitrogen gas was insufflated (351.4 +/- 2 ml/min; mean +/- SEM) into the stomach through 1 channel of a 4-lumen catheter. After baseline studies and epinephrine infusion studies were completed in each dog, surgery was done to limit partially gastric distension by intraluminal contents by placing a silicone rubber sleeve around the GES and the first few centimeters of the cardia. Gastroesophageal sphincter pressure was 31.8 +/- 2.2 mm of Hg in baseline studies, 17.3 +/- 1.3 mm of Hg during epinephrine infusion (P less than 0.003), and 30.3 +/- 2.2 mm of Hg after the sleeve was placed around the GES and cardia. During insufflation, gastric pressures before eructation increased to 5.74 +/- 0.41 mm of Hg before and to 15.15 +/- 1.63 mm of Hg after carida sleeve placement (P less than 0.001). Eructation occurred at intervals of 1.83 +/- 0.41 minutes before cardia sleeve placement, and eructations were not observed with the sleeve in place. Before the sleeve was placed, administration of epinephrine resulted in an eructation interval of 0.84 +/- 0.09 minutes, which was significantly different from that in the same dogs given no drugs (P less than 0.004). In vitro comparison of stomachs filled with fluid or filled with fluid and gas revealed that relatively small amounts of gas added to a partially filled stomach caused marked distension of the gastric cardia in comparison with no effects when fluid only was added. Seemingly, distension of the gastric cardia was the important stimulus for eructation. Limiting this distension prevented eructation and beta-adrenergic stimulation increased eructation frequency.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether Mycobacterium bovis remains viable in ensiled forages. SAMPLE Alfalfa, mixed mostly grass, and corn silages. PROCEDURES For each of 10 sampling days, six 250-g replicate samples of each feedstuff were created and placed in a film pouch that could be vacuum sealed to simulate the ensiling process. Within each set of replicate samples, 4 were inoculated with 10 mL of mycobacterial liquid culture medium containing viable M bovis and 2 were inoculated with 10 mL of sterile mycobacterial liquid culture medium (controls) on day 0. Pouches were vacuum sealed and stored in the dark at room temperature. On the designated sampling day, 1 control pouch was submitted for forage analysis, and the other pouches were opened, and forage samples were obtained for M bovis culture and analysis with a PCR assay immediately and 24 hours later. RESULTS None of the control samples had positive M bovis culture or PCR assay results. Among M bovis-inoculated samples, the organism was not cultured from alfalfa and corn silage for > 2 days but was cultured from mixed mostly grass silage for 28 days after inoculation and ensiling initiation. Mycobacterium bovis DNA was detected by PCR assay in samples of all 3 feedstuffs throughout the 112-day observation period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that properly ensiled forages would be an unlikely source for M bovis transmission to cattle. Further research is necessary to determine whether ensiling kills M bovis or forces it to become dormant and, if the latter, elucidate the conditions that cause it to revert to an infectious state.

Gastric emptying of a radionuclide-labeled test meal was studied in 10 dogs that had been treated surgically for gastric dilatation-volvulus and in 10 clinically normal (control) dogs. There were no significant differences between the gastric emptying rates and patterns in treated and in control dogs. Thus, there are no indications that gastric emptying is delayed in dogs that have recovered from gastric dilatation-volvulus, and there is no reason for pyloric surgery in dogs with this condition.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization on the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of meropenem-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (M-PMMA) beads. SAMPLE 6-mm-diameter polymethyl methacrylate beads that were or were not impregnated with meropenem. PROCEDURES Meropenem-free polymethyl methacrylate and M-PMMA beads were sterilized by use of an autoclave or VHP or remained unsterilized. To determine the antimicrobial efficacy of each bead-sterilization combination (treatment), Mueller-Hinton agar plates were inoculated with 1 of 6 common equine pathogens, and 1 bead from each treatment was applied to a sixth of each plate. The zone of bacterial inhibition for each treatment was measured after 24 hours. To estimate the duration of antimicrobial elution into a solid or liquid medium, 1 bead from each treatment was transferred every 24 hours to a new Staphylococcus aureus–inoculated agar plate or a tube with PBS solution, and an aliquot of the eluent from each tube was then applied to a paper disc on an S aureus–inoculated agar plate. All agar plates were incubated for 24 hours, and the zone of bacterial inhibition was measured for each treatment. RESULTS In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of M-PMMA beads was retained following VHP sterilization. The duration of antimicrobial elution in solid and liquid media did not differ significantly between unsterilized and VHP-sterilized M-PMMA beads. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that M-PMMA beads retained in vitro antimicrobial activity and eluted the drug for up to 2 weeks after VHP sterilization.