VN May 2021

Vetnews | May 2021 39 Recent Clinically Relevant Research from Around theWorld Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause right dorsal colitis, but longitudinal clinical studies are lacking. This study by G van Galen and co-workers investigates whether NSAID treated horses develop right dorsal colonic pathology in a clinical setting. Non-gastrointestinal hospitalised horses treated with NSAIDs >4 days, and untreated hospital-owned teaching horses and non-gastrointestinal client-owned hospitalised horses were included. All horses were monitored over time with clinical examinations (focusing on presence of colic, depression, reduced appetite, unstructured faeces), ultrasonographic intestinal wall measurements, faecal occult blood tests (semi-quantitative results), and blood analysis (total protein and albumin concentrations, white blood cell and neutrophil counts). Outcomes were recorded as “ultrasonographically thickened right dorsal colon (RDC) walls”, “colitis” and “right dorsal colitis”. Findings over time were compared to baseline values and to control horses. Seventeen NSAID treated horses and 5 controls were included. NSAID treated horses developed thickened RDC walls (4/9), and subclinical and mild colitis (9/11) and right dorsal colitis (4/10), whereas all control horses remained healthy. The first changes were identified on treatment day 2. RDC walls of treated horses were significantly thicker compared to their own baseline values and compared to control horses. In conclusion, presumptive colon pathology was identified with a high incidence, starting early in the course of treatment, but with low severity. Appropriate monitoring should be advised throughout NSAID treatment. Additional research for non-invasive diagnostic tests for colon pathology is required. v (Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science , Volume 101, June 2021, 103451) EQUINE Colonic Health in Hospitalised Horses Treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – A Preliminary Study This study by João Alves and co-workers aimed to compare 2 protocols for themanagement of back pain in police working dogs. Twenty animals were signalled based on history, trainer complaints, physical and radiographic examination consistent with back pain. In a retrospective study, 2 groupswere considered: GM, treatedwitha solutioncomprisinga combinationof lidocaine, dexamethasone, and tiocolchicoseide; andGT, treated with the same solution, with the addition of Traumeel LT. Response to treatment, measured by the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI, divided into pain interference score – PIS, and pain severity score - PSS) and Hudson Visual Analogue Scale (HVAS), was evaluated before treatment (T0), after 15 (+15d) days and1 (+30d), 2 (+60d), 3 (+90d), 4 (+120d), 5 (+150d) and6 (+180d)months. Resultswere comparedusingan independent samples t-test or a Paired Samples t-test. Comparing results for each moment with T0 within each group, differences where observed only in GM at +15d ( P < .01 for PIS and P < .01 for PSS), +30d ( P = .04 for PIS and P < .01 for PSS), +60d ( P = .03 for PIS and P = .02 for PSS) and +90d ( P = .02 for PSS). Treatment was successful in reducing PSS (reduction of ≥1) in 8/10 animals of GM at +15d (80%), 8/10 at +30d (80%), 5/10 at +60d (50%), 4/10 at +90d (40%), 3/9 at +120d (33.3%) and 2/9 at +150d −+ 180d (22.2%). In GT, treatment was successful in 1/10 at +15d −+30d (10%), 2/10 at +60d (20%) and 1/10 at +90d (10%). No differences were observed with HVAS any time point for either intervention or when comparing groups in eachmoment. The protocol used in GMproduced significant improvements, while the addition of Traumeel did not, rather reducing the effect of treatment in working dogs with back pain. Further studies are required. v (Source: Topics inCompanionAnimal Medicine , Volume 43, June 2021, 100519) Comparison of Two Mesotherapy Protocols in the Management of Back Pain in PoliceWorking Dogs: A Retrospective Study During transport, horses are subjected to acceleration in three dimensions, rapidbraking, turning, noise, and other stressors.The animal's ability to make postural corrections may be insufficient to prevent injury or distress, and so knowledge of the compensatory motion patterns of the horse in the trailer is a necessary precondition for smart design of transport systems. A custom two-horse trailer was built for this project (by Robert Colborne and co-workers). It had a horse compartment 1.85 m wide by 3.95 m long, with adjustable bulkheads and a centre divider separating A Novel Load Cell-Supported Research Platform to MeasureVertical and Horizontal Motion of a Horse's Centre of Mass During Trailer Transport >>> 40