No description available.

Objective: To describe the changes in plasma glucose concentration in severely injured, canine to canine bite wound cases admitted for veterinary treatment. The changes were measured over a period of 72 hours from the initiation of the trauma. Historical, signalment, clinical and haematological factors were investigated to determine their possible relationship to blood glucose concentration. Hypo- and hyperglycaemia have been associated with death from sepsis and acute injury. Method: Twenty dogs admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) with severe bite wounds were evaluated. The time of injury was established by questioning the dogs’ owners. Blood was taken on admission for haematology and plasma glucose concentration. Haematology was repeated every 24 hours and glucose every 8 hours, measured from the time the dogs were first bitten. Results: On admission, 5% (1/20) of the dogs were hypoglycaemic, 40% (8/20) were normoglycaemic and 55% (11/20) were hyperglycaemic. No other dogs showed hypoglycaemia during the study period. The median glucose at each of the ten collection points, prior to the 56-hour collection point and at the 72 hour collection point, was in the hyperglycaemic range (5.8mmol/l to 6.2mmol/l). Puppies and thin dogs had considerably higher median plasma glucose concentrations than adult and fat dogs at 0 and 16 hours respectively (P < 0.05 for both). A high incidence of SIRS was encountered (65% to 80%). Fifteen dogs were alive at 72-hours. Thirteen dogs (81.3%) eventually made a full recovery. Three out of four dogs (75%) that were recumbent on admission, died, whereas all dogs (12/12) admitted with either an alert or depressed mental status survived (P = 0. 004). Clinical significance: The high incidence of hyperglycaemia may be explained by the ‘diabetes of injury’ phenomenon. The role of insulin therapy in the treatment of severe injuries should be explored in future studies, as its use in the treatment of human ICU cases, has resulted in a substantial reduction of fatalities resulting from acute injury. The high incidence of death and initial hyperglycemia in the collapsed group and the higher plasma glucose concentrations found in puppies and thin dogs warrants further investigation with a larger group of animals. / Dissertation (MMedVet (Small Animal Surgery))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / MMedVet / unrestricted

Yes / Dog bite injuries are a common cause of patient presentation to NHS emergency departments (EDs) and minor injuries units, and are generally associated with a low level of acuity, despite an inherent capacity for significant soft tissue damage to be inflicted by canine jaws capable of exerting terrific bite forces. Anatomical sites for injury correlate to victim age, with hand and wrist injuries predominating in the adult population. The most common complication is infection secondary to inoculation of oral flora, with the hands being particularly vulnerable due to their anatomy. Injuries to structures such as tendons can be discreet, and retained foreign bodies can easily be overlooked. Wound care has a propensity to attract a disproportionately high level of malpractice actions, and approaches to the management of dog bite injuries have largely been empirical, which may render the practitioner particularly exposed. In response to increasing pressures on healthcare systems, paramedics with extended scopes of practice, including wound care and suturing, are being utilised to assess, manage, treat, and either refer or discharge patients with apparently minor injuries, in strategies aimed at reducing hospital admissions. This article adopts a case study format to examine and evaluate treatment modalities and the current evidence base informing best practice in terms of dog bite injuries from the perspective of a paramedic practitioner, with critical reflection on the decision making process and complexities of such episodes of care in the pre-hospital setting.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the animal bite prevention and zoonotic disease program in Pet Awareness With Students (P.A.W.S.) is an effective educational program for younger elementary children. An educational program was delivered and student learning was determined through a pretest and post-test. This program utilized the Classroom Performance System (CPS) to collect responses from first grade students. Responses were collected and compared to the second grade participants who used paper methodology. It was determined that these age groups had little knowledge of animal bites and zoonotic disease. Gender was not related to either pretest or post-test scores. The effect of bite history or having pets at home was also examined. It was determined via test scores that first and second graders have the capacity to learn the information provided. Stakeholder evaluation was positive and provided further impetus for future studies.

Humans and animals have a widely varying relationship which has been studied at length. Examining our interactions with animals in negative contexts can help us further understand the factors that’s influence the nature of the human-animal relationship, particularly with our most popular companion animals. This study continues the use of a jury design, previously used in studies regarding animal abuse, to examine responses to a scenario of an altercation resulting in a dog biting a person. In this study, 243 undergraduate students read the scenario presented to them and completed a survey examining their judgements of blame and punishment for the incident. In the interest of examining the effects of different variables, participants were randomly presented with 1 of 18 potential scenarios in which the role of the human in potentially provoking the dog, the breed of the dog involved, and the degree of damage inflicted were manipulated. Results showed an avoidance toward making any judgements on the dog’s disposition, neither positively nor negatively. Additionally, some gender differences were discovered in responses related to euthanasia, blame on the owner, and the promotion of an obedience training program. Surprisingly, degree of damage did not have significant effects on responses, while dog breed differences revealed that participants placed greater blame and responsibility on owners of Pit bulls rather than the dog itself, which is potentially explained by the sample’s age demographics. The manipulation of human provocation of the incident proved to have the most significant effect of participant responses of blame and punishment, affecting perceptions of blame attributed to the dog and the victim, as well as the punishments and protections deemed appropriate. The results suggest an emphasis on human component in the perceptions of the human-animal relationship and provide insight on the variables relevant to the relationship.