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.