Objective To develop and validate a preoperative brachycephalic risk (BRisk) score that objectively and accurately predicts the risk of major complications or death in dogs undergoing corrective surgery for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Study design Retrospective multicenter cohort study. Sample population Score development n = 233 dogs, validation n = 50 dogs. Methods Data were collected on signalment, medical history, reason for presentation, physical examination, and preoperative diagnostic findings. The primary outcome measures included risk of major complications (requirement for postoperative oxygen support for >48 hours or postoperative temporary/permanent tracheostomy) or death within the hospitalization period. The score was developed by using data from two centers and was validated in a third center. The 10‐point BRisk score was modeled on breed, history of previous surgery, concurrent procedures, body condition score, airway status, and admission rectal temperature. Results The score was associated with negative outcome (P < .0001) and discriminated well in both the construction (area under the receiver operator characteristic [AUROC] = 0.83) and validation groups (AUROC = 0.84). Dogs with scores >3 were 9.1 times more likely to have a negative outcome (95% CI = 3.9–21.2) compared with dogs with scores ≤3. Conclusion The BRisk score developed from admission data in this study accurately rated the risk of negative outcome of dogs undergoing corrective surgery for BOAS. Clinical significance Preoperative determination of the BRisk score may assist triage, management of owner expectations, decision making regarding intervention selection, and characterization of populations in clinical research.

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of a cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) rich hemp product on acute post-operative pain in dogs following a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and to evaluate for changes in early bone healing, serum chemistry profiles, and complete blood counts.MethodsIn this randomized, placebo controlled, blinded clinical trial, 44 client-owned dogs were assigned to receive either a CBD/CBDA product dosed at 2–2.5 mg/kg PO every 12 h or a placebo for 4 weeks following a TPLO. Variables evaluated before (week 0), and at 2 and 4 weeks post-operatively included standardized veterinary assessments for pain score, weight-bearing, and lameness, the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (pain interference score–PIS, pain severity score–PSS), and serum biochemistry. Complete blood counts were performed at weeks 0 and 4. Additionally, orthogonal radiographs evaluating the degree of healing were taken at week 4. A mixed model analysis, analyzing changes of variables of interest from enrollment baseline to all other time points was utilized, with a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered significant.ResultsOf the 44 enrolled patients, 3 were lost to follow up and excluded from analysis. No significant differences were noted between placebo (n = 19) and CBD/CBDA (n = 22) groups at any point in pain score, degree of lameness, degree of weight-bearing, PIS, PSS, or radiographic healing of the osteotomy. A significant finding of elevation of ALP above normal reference range in the treatment group was identified (p = 0.02) and eosinophil count was affected by treatment (p = 0.01), increasing from baseline in placebo and decreasing in treatment groups. Finally, a significant difference (p = 0.03) was noted at 2 weeks post-operatively where 4 patients in the placebo group and no treatment patients received trazodone to facilitate activity restrictions.Clinical significanceUse of a CBD/CBDA rich hemp product dosed at 2–2.5 mg/kg PO every 12 h did not have a significant impact on pain or delay early bone healing. A statistically significant increase in ALP, decrease in eosinophils, and reduced use of trazodone was identified in the treatment group.

OBJECTIVE To determine the predominant thromboxane (TX) metabolite in urine of healthy cats, evaluate whether the method of sample collection would impact concentration of that metabolite, and propose a reference interval for that metabolite in urine of healthy cats. ANIMALS 17 cats (11 purpose-bred domestic shorthair cats, 5 client-owned domestic shorthair cats, and 1 client-owned Persian cat). PROCEDURES All cats were deemed healthy on the basis of results for physical examination, a CBC, serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, and measurement of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. Voided and cystocentesis urine samples (or both) were collected. Aliquots of urine were stored at -80°C until analysis. Concentrations of TXB, 11-dehydroTXB, and 2,3 dinorTXB were measured with commercially available ELISA kits. Urinary creatinine concentration was also measured. RESULTS 11-dehydroTXB was the most abundant compound, representing (mean ± SD) 59 ± 18% of the total amount of TX detected. In all samples, the concentration of 11-dehydroTXB was greater than that of 2,3 dinorTXB (mean, 4.2 ± 2.7-fold as high). Mean concentration of 11-dehydroTXB for the 17 cats was 0.57 ± 0.47 ng/mg of creatinine. A reference interval (based on the 5% to 95% confidence interval) of 0.10 to 2.1 ng of 11-dehydroTXB/mg of creatinine was proposed for healthy cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, 11-dehydroTXB was the major TX metabolite in feline urine. Measurement of this metabolite may represent a noninvasive, convenient method for monitoring in vivo platelet activation in cats at risk for thromboembolism.