Search

Shelter medicine is a veterinary specialty that intersects with primary care, community practice, and animal welfare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability of formal (for-credit) education in shelter medicine at American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine (CVMs). A 24-question survey, available from July to September 2023, was distributed to targeted faculty members at each CVM. A total of 43 of 54 colleges responded (80%). Formal education in shelter medicine was offered by 38 (88%) institutions. The median shelter medicine program starting year was 2012 (interquartile range [IQR] 2007-2017) and program duration was a median of 12 years (IQR 6-16). The median number of Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges competency domains addressed through shelter medicine program instruction in colleges with formal shelter medicine education was 7/9 (IQR 4-8); the mode was 9/9. Responding institutions employed 118 shelter medicine faculty and instructors with a median of two shelter medicine faculty members (IQR 2-4) employed per college. In total, 30 instructors were adjuncts (25%), and only 6 of 118 (5%) were tenured. Nine of the 43 CVMs (21%) indicated that the shelter medicine program had been discontinued at some point. Lack of faculty (5/9; 56%) was the most commonly stated reason, followed by lack of a relationship with a shelter (4/9; 44%). Program instability may also be related to factors unique to shelter medicine programs, including increased faculty effort required to secure and maintain funding and community partnerships, competing demands of funders and program stakeholders, and a low proportion of tenured, boarded and permanent faculty.

Toxoplasmal meningoencephalitis is a sporadic condition that is often misdiagnosed antemortem, frequently resulting in euthanasia especially in resource-limited settings. Here we report a case of a 7-week-old female domestic shorthair cat from an animal shelter who presented in a compromised condition and continued to display clinical signs consistent with a "failure to thrive" kitten. Weight loss and decreased activity were observed, and later on, neurological dysfunction became apparent. Based on clinical signs, non-effusive feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was strongly suspected. Other possible conditions, such as a portosystemic shunt or toxoplasmosis, were also considered. Due to a poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected. Molecular testing at necropsy revealed no evidence for feline coronavirus infection; however, histopathological examination of the brain tissue revealed disseminated necrotizing meningoencephalitis with the presence of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites and tachyzoites, which was further confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis. In hindsight, it became clear that the kitten's failure to thrive was due to severe neurological compromise caused by overwhelming toxoplasmosis infection. This report underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with feline neurological disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The mental health and well-being of veterinary students and graduate veterinarians is a critical area of concern. Veterinary students experience high levels of psychological distress, particularly during transitional periods such as clinical training. While mental health interventions typically target pre-clinical years, the unique challenges faced by clinical students are often overlooked, resulting in inadequate support during important periods of professional development. To address this gap, Compassion Fatigue Rounds (CFR) were introduced. CFR is a proactive, integrated intervention within one clinical clerkship program. The rounds address compassion fatigue, burnout, and self-care practices through a small group discussion facilitated by the clinical instructor. An evaluation of CFR was conducted through anonymous online student surveys administered between March and September 2023. Following CFR, students self-reported an increase in knowledge, confidence, and preparedness regarding the mental health challenges in veterinary medicine. Students overwhelmingly reported positive experiences, pointing to the potential effectiveness of CFR in educating, engaging, and supporting clinical students on mental health well-being. This study offers preliminary evidence for integrating mental health education into the clinical year curriculum and serves as a practical guide for clinical instructors.

Practical Relevance: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used and are effective for the management of pain in cats. These Guidelines will support veterinarians in decision-making around prescribing NSAIDs in situations of chronic pain, to minimise adverse effects and optimise pain management. Information is provided on mechanism of action, indications for use, screening prior to prescription, use in the presence of comorbidities, monitoring of efficacy, and avoidance and management of adverse effects., Clinical Challenges: The cat's unique metabolism should be considered when prescribing any medications, including NSAIDs. Chronic pain may be challenging to detect in this species and comorbidities, particularly chronic kidney disease, are common in senior cats. Management of chronic pain may be complicated by prescription of other drugs with the potential for interactions with NSAIDs., Evidence Base: These Guidelines have been created by a panel of experts brought together by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). Information is based on the available literature, expert opinion and the panel members' experience., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestMembers of the panel have received financial remuneration for providing educational material, speaking at conferences and/or consultancy work, including from pharmaceutical companies producing NSAIDs used in cats; however, none of these activities cause any direct conflict of interest in relation to these Guidelines. Specific relevant details are given below.✜ Samantha Taylor Provision of education materials, consultancy work and speaking at conferences: Boehringer Ingelheim; Dechra; Vetoquinol; Norbrook; Zoetis.✜ Margaret Gruen Funded research: Boehringer Ingelheim. Consultancy: American Regent; Assisi; Elanco; Zoetis.✜ Kate KuKanich Provision of education materials, consultancy work and speaking at conferences. Director of Kansas State Veterinary Research Scholars Program which receives funding for research including from Boehringer Ingelheim.✜ B Duncan X Lascelles Funded research: Boehringer Ingelheim; Elanco. Private client donations: Virbac; Zoetis. Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Elanco; Vetoquinol; Zoetis.✜ Beatriz P Monteiro Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Elanco; Vetoquinol; Zoetis. Dr Monteiro currently works as a full-time employee of Zoetis; however, her contribution to these Guidelines was completed prior to this employment.✜ Llibertat Real Sampietro No conflicts of interest.✜ Sheilah Robertson Provision of education materials, consultancy work and speaking at conferences: Elanco, Zoetis.✜ Paulo V Steagall Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Dechra; Elanco; Zoetis. Key opinion leader: Boehringer Ingelheim; Dechra; Elanco; Vetoquinol; Zoetis. Speaker honoraria: Boehringer Ingelheim; Dechra; Elanco; Zoetis.

This short communication is an effort to describe and elucidate the trajectory of the modern historical concept of "One Health." It is dedicated to the many integrated approaches of health closely related to One Health, while also recognizing the contribution and origination of One Health perspectives/notions from those that have led the way and spearheaded this movement while considering Indigenous cultures across the world. The effects of synergies of those involved in building these integrative approaches are potentially bigger and better lasting than the sum of the individual players. It is only through collaboration, cooperation and diplomacy that we can achieve impactful transformation to benefit health. In this commentary, we aim to appropriately and accurately describe how the current use of "One Health" came to be and who were the main players., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A meeting of veterinary school faculty and partners, many associated with shelter medicine and/or community medicine programming, was convened at the 2019 Shelter Medicine Veterinary Educators Conference in Pullman, WA, to discuss challenges with shelter medicine program sustainability and defining the future. The discussion was facilitated by an outside consultant and is summarized in this manuscript. The goal of the meeting was to identify challenges and issues concerning the needs and goals for shelter medicine curricula to have long-term success in academic training. Four themes were identified in the transcripts including external pressure from leadership and other stakeholders, funder expectations, time horizons, and perceptions of shelters and shelter veterinarians. Addressing these challenges will be critical to ensuring stability in academic training in shelter medicine, a critical tool for both learning outcomes for general graduates and specific for veterinarians pursuing shelter medicine as a career.

A prospective study was designed to (a) investigate the rate of daily weight gain among kittens less than 9 weeks old presented to an animal shelter, (b) identify factors (e.g., sex, clinical signs of disease, diet, and medical treatment) that affect daily weight gain, and (c) investigate the mortality of study kittens. The study of 203 kittens was conducted at a managed admission, no-kill animal shelter in upstate New York, USA, from April 2014 through October 2014. Body weight was measured daily from day of intake to adoption or 12 weeks of age. Fecal score, clinical signs of disease, food type, and medical treatments were recorded daily. Lethargy and being female were significantly associated with lower daily weight gain. Despite the challenges of shelter and foster care, the average daily weight gain for study kitten was higher than that reported in other settings such as catteries and laboratories. Five study kittens (2.5%) died or were euthanized. Daily monitoring systems provide opportunities for interventions, increased live outcomes, and improved welfare for kittens in shelter and foster care.

Positive clinical outcomes of a group of surviving puppies from a litter affected by parvoviral myocarditis are detailed in this case report. Past reports focus on the negative outcomes of littermates of puppies who have died of parvoviral myocarditis. In this case, two puppies in a shelter setting, from a litter exposed to parvovirus, died suddenly with parvoviral myocarditis diagnosed at necropsy. The other seven puppies were screened for cardiac health with echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and cardiac troponin I prior to adoption. All seven puppies had normal echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and normal initial and recheck cardiac troponin I results. At recheck 2 years after the initial round of testing, two of the puppies were screened and continue to have normal cardiac diagnostics. All seven dogs are alive and thriving at 5 years old in homes with adopters who were given a complete medical history on the dogs prior to adoption. In summary, the outcomes for puppies in litters affected by parvoviral myocarditis are variable but they do not have to be grave. The use of cardiac diagnostics including echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and cardiac troponin I may serve as a prognostic basis for assessing the potential outcomes for the surviving puppies in affected litters., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Dines, Kellihan, Allen, Loynachan, Bochsler and Newbury.)

In forensic pathology, it is important to detect and recover as evidence residual metal particles and projectiles when evaluating potential gunshot wounds. This process can be challenging when the bullets are fragmented. This report presents our experience using multiple modalities to analyze the wound of an illegally killed Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) found in a mountainous region without its head and hind limbs. We performed postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and necropsy that showed a distant-range gunshot wound of the neck likely created by a centerfire rifle. A postmortem cut through the neck and absent head precluded a complete evaluation. To determine the composition of the metal-like fragments in the neck, sampling and metal analysis were performed in two ways. Samples extracted from the exposed wound surface without CT guidance were analyzed directly using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples from the bone, muscles, and cervical cord extracted under CT guidance were analyzed using x-ray analytic microscopy (XGT-9000, HORIBA, Kyoto, Japan). In wound surface samples, silicon and iron were detected as the main components on ICP-MS, suggesting that the materials were gravel. The samples taken under CT guidance and analyzed with XGT-9000 revealed that the high-density CT areas were mainly composed of lead. Combining CT-guided sample extraction and XGT-9000 can be useful for retrieving true projectile fragments and avoiding the confusion created by erroneously sampling non-projectile surface materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Shelter metrics can be used by shelters for self-assessment to optimise the health of their animal population and to identify risk factors for disease outbreaks. However, there is a need for a wider scope of these shelter metrics, as evidenced by the interest from shelters in the benchmarking of shelter progress and the development of national best practices. For the first time, Dutch shelter data were used retrospectively to signal trends using potentially reliable metrics for the analysis of shelter data. The aims of this study were to apply relevant metrics describing the different phases of shelter management for shelter cats (i.e., intake, stay and outcome) and a retrospective analysis of shelter data over the period between 2006 and 2021. Seven of the approximately 120 Dutch animal shelters participated in this study. Quantitative data on the intake of more than 74,000 shelter cats (e.g., stray cats, cats surrendered by their owners and cats obtained from other sources) and their outcomes (i.e., cats rehomed, returned to their owners, deceased, or otherwise lost) have been analysed. Metrics such as rehoming rate, return to owner rate, rates for mortality and euthanasia, length of stay and risk-based live release rate were determined. The main findings of the study during this 16-year period were that, over time, the number of cats per 1000 residents admitted to Dutch shelters was reduced by 39%, the number of feline euthanasia cases decreased by approximately 50%, the length of stay showed a reducing trend, while the return to owner and the risk-based live release rate increased. The shelter metrics examined in this study could be helpful in monitoring and evaluating the management, consequent health, and well-being of cats in shelters and eventually measuring progress of shelters both in the Netherlands and at a European level., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 van der Leij et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Infectious ocular surface disease (IOSD) is a common problem in shelter-housed domestic cats and has a widespread negative impact on animal welfare. While the common etiological agents are well-described, addressing IOSD in large groups of animals presents a management challenge to the clinician and logistical challenges to shelter employees. Treatments, diagnostics, and prevention strategies that are effective in privately owned or experimental animals may be impractical or ineffective in the shelter environment. This review article focuses on the relative prevalence of etiological agents in feline IOSD, practical diagnostic testing protocols, prevention strategies, and treatment of IOSD in shelter-housed cats. Discrepancies between experimental laboratory-based studies and clinical trials assessing therapeutics for treatment of feline herpes virus are highlighted. Further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to determine optimal preventative and therapeutic protocols for IOSD in shelter-housed cats., (© 2023 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

Shelter medicine appears to be popular among prospective veterinarians, but there is a shortage of veterinarians entering the field to fill available positions. The reasons for this discordance are not well understand. This study describes veterinary students' interest in shelter medicine, their perceptions of common duties, and their perceptions of employment attributes in shelter medicine, compared with those of current veterinarians. The sample included 146 first-year students, 155 final-year students, and 221 veterinarians who self-completed an online survey between September 2020 and March 2021. We found high levels of interest in shelter medicine, with 40% of first- and 43% of final-year students indicating they were likely to consider working in shelter medicine. Outreach clinics (84% of first-year students, 86% of final-year students), access-to-care clinics (82%, 83%), and loan forgiveness programs (75%, 64%) encouraged many veterinary students to consider working in shelter medicine. The risk of compassion fatigue, burnout, and stress (70%, 68%); weekend work (51%, 59%); euthanasia decision making (49%, 47%); euthanasia (43%, 41%); and expected salaries of shelter veterinarians (39%, 37%) acted as deterrents. Kruskal-Wallis H tests revealed students reported more positive ratings than veterinarians for most shelter medicine duties and employment characteristics, with moderate to strong consensus within groups. Little difference appeared between first- and final-year students. This study highlights target areas for animal shelters to boost recruitment of newly graduated veterinarians. Increasing veterinary students' exposure to shelter medicine throughout their veterinary training may also help address their concerns regarding euthanasia, salary, and quality of care.

Canine distemper virus remains an important source of morbidity and mortality in animal shelters. RT-PCR is commonly used to aid diagnosis and has been used to monitor dogs testing positive over time to gauge the end of infectious potential. Many dogs excrete viral RNA for prolonged periods which has complicated disease management. The goal of this retrospective study was to describe the duration and characteristics of viral RNA excretion in shelter dogs with naturally occurring CDV and investigate the relationship between that viral RNA excretion and infectious potential using virus isolation data. Records from 98 different humane organizations with suspect CDV were reviewed. A total of 5,920 dogs were tested with 1,393; 4,452; and 75 found to be positive, negative, or suspect on RT-PCR respectively. The median duration of a positive test was 34 days (n = 325), and 25% (82/325) of the dogs still excreting viral RNA after 62 days of monitoring. Virus isolation was performed in six dogs who were RT-PCR positive for > 60 days. Infectious virus was isolated only within the first two weeks of monitoring at or around the peak viral RNA excretion (as detected by the lowest cycle threshold) reported for each dog. Our findings suggest that peak viral RNA excretion and the days surrounding it might be used as a functional marker to gauge the end of infectious risk. Clarifying the earliest point in time when dogs testing positive for canine distemper by RT-PCR can be considered non-contagious will improve welfare and lifesaving potential of shelters by enabling recovered dogs to be cleared more quickly for live release outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Allen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Approximately 5% of cats in animal shelters in the United States test positive for either feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which translates to more than 100,000 positive cats managed by shelters each year. Little is known about the current status of retroviral management in animal shelters, particularly in regions burdened by chronic pet overpopulation and high shelter admissions, such as the southern United States. The purpose of this study was to describe feline retroviral management in Florida shelters. Shelters were surveyed on practices including selection of cats for testing, diagnostic techniques, and outcome options for cats with positive test results. Responses were received from 139 of 153 animal shelters known to admit cats, including 55 municipal shelters (40%), 70 private shelters (50%), and 14 private shelters with municipal contracts (10%). A total of 115 shelters (83%) performed at least some testing, most using combination point-of-care devices for simultaneous FeLV antigen and FIV antibody screening. Of shelters that performed any testing, 56 (49%) tested all cats for FeLV and 52 (45%) tested all cats for both FeLV and FIV. The most common reason for testing was screening adoptable cats (108 shelters; 94%) and cats available for transfer to other organizations (78; 68%). Testing cats in trap-neuter-return/return-to-field programs was least common (21; 18%). Most common outcome options for positive cats included adoption (74; 64%), transfer (62; 54%), and euthanasia (49; 43%). Euthanasia following a positive test result was more common for cats with FeLV (49; 43%) than for cats with FIV (29; 25%) and was more common in municipal shelters, rural shelters, shelters taking in <500 cats a year, and shelters with overall live outcome rates for cats <70%. Although Florida shelter compliance with national guidelines for identification and management of FeLV and FIV positive cats was variable, most had live outcome options for at least some of their cats with positive test results. Increased access to training and practical programmatic tools may help more shelters implement cost-effective testing protocols, reduce risk for transmission to other cats, and support the best outcomes for this vulnerable population of cats., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Dezubiria, Amirian, Spera, Crawford and Levy.)

Cat domestication likely initiated as a symbiotic relationship between wildcats (Felis silvestris subspecies) and the peoples of developing agrarian societies in the Fertile Crescent. As humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farmers ~12,000 years ago, bold wildcats likely capitalized on increased prey density (i.e., rodents). Humans benefited from the cats' predation on these vermin. To refine the site(s) of cat domestication, over 1000 random-bred cats of primarily Eurasian descent were genotyped for single-nucleotide variants and short tandem repeats. The overall cat population structure suggested a single worldwide population with significant isolation by the distance of peripheral subpopulations. The cat population heterozygosity decreased as genetic distance from the proposed cat progenitor's (F.s. lybica) natural habitat increased. Domestic cat origins are focused in the eastern Mediterranean Basin, spreading to nearby islands, and southernly via the Levantine coast into the Nile Valley. Cat population diversity supports the migration patterns of humans and other symbiotic species., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study used computer simulation modeling to estimate and compare costs of different free-roaming cat (FRC) management options (lethal and non-lethal removal, trap-neuter-return, combinations of these options and no action) and their ability to reduce FRC population abundance in open demographic settings. The findings provide a resource for selecting management approaches that are well matched for specific communities, goals and timelines, and they represent use of best available science to address FRC issues., Methods: Multiple FRC management approaches were simulated at varying intensities using a stochastic individual-based model in the software package Vortex. Itemized costs were obtained from published literature and expert feedback. Metrics generated to evaluate and compare management scenarios included final population size, total cost and a cost efficiency index, which was the ratio between total cost and population size reduction., Results: Simulations suggested that cost-effective reduction of FRC numbers required sufficient management intensity, regardless of management approach, and greatly improved when cat abandonment was minimized. Removal yielded the fastest initial reduction in cat abundance, but trap-neuter-return was a viable and potentially more cost-effective approach if performed at higher intensities over a sufficient duration. Of five management scenarios that reduced the final population size by approximately 45%, the three scenarios that relied exclusively on removal were considerably more expensive than the two scenarios that relied exclusively or primarily on sterilization., Conclusions and Relevance: FRCs present a challenge in many municipalities, and stakeholders representing different perspectives may promote varying and sometimes incompatible population management policies and strategies. Although scientific research is often used to identify FRC impacts, its use to identify viable, cost-effective management solutions has been inadequate. The data provided by simulating different interventions, combined with community-specific goals, priorities and ethics, provide a framework for better-informed FRC policy and management outcomes.

Objectives: Ear-tipping practices and the meaning of the ear tip in trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs have not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to report the frequency of common ear-tipping practices in the USA, to identify the most effective methods and to establish a foundation for ear-tipping practice standards., Methods: An anonymous 24-question survey was advertised from 4 to 20 October 2021 to individuals who participate in TNR programs that routinely perform ear tipping., Results: There were 526 survey responses from individuals who participate in TNR programs, of whom 410 completed the survey. For ear-tip meaning, nearly 100% of respondents indicated that an ear tip meant that a cat had been sterilized. Several respondents answered that it also indicated rabies vaccination or socialization status, with 92 (22%) selecting both, 79 (19%) selecting rabies only and 50 (12%) selecting unsocial only. The majority of respondents tipped the left ear (81%), used a visual estimate to determine the cut (92%) and described the ideal silhouette as straight across (92%). The median percentage of cats where ear tips bled after initial hemostasis was 5% (interquartile range [IQR] 2-10), and the median percentage of negative feedback regarding the ear tip was 1% (IQR 0-5). In terms of weighted rank order, the most common feedback was that too much ear tip was removed (5.5), followed by a cat being ear tipped in error (4.7), persistent bleeding (4.2) and not enough ear tip being removed (4.2). Responses revealed heterogeneity regarding technique for both excision and hemostasis, as well as personnel performing the procedure. There were no significant associations between techniques and bleeding or negative feedback., Conclusions and Relevance: There is variation in the methods for performing an ear tip, as well as what an ear tip signifies. Standards for this procedure would be helpful.

The rise in subsidized spay-neuter access helped drive the euthanasia of shelter pets in the US from an estimated 13. 5 million in 1973 to 1.5 million in 2019. When the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered lockdowns beginning in March 2020, many veterinary providers suspended nonessential services such as routine spay-neuter surgeries. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volume of spay-neuter procedures performed by spay-neuter clinics. A retrospective study of patient data from 212 spay-neuter clinics using Clinic HQ practice management software was conducted from January 2019 through December 2021. The clinics collectively performed 1,217,240 surgeries in the pre-COVID baseline year of 2019. A sharp decline in surgeries began in March 2020 (-22%) and reached a nadir in April 2020 (-80%). Surgeries began to increase in May 2020 (-39%), before plateauing in July 2020 (-6%) and remaining slightly below the 2019 baseline in most months through the end of 2021. Compared to 2019, total surgeries decreased 13% to 1,059,388 in 2020 and decreased 3% to 1,184,274 in 2021. In 2020, when clinic disruptions were highest, the impact of the surgery cutbacks varied by geographic region, species, age, and source of animals. Compared with 2019, in 2020 surgeries decreased 17% in the Midwest region, 15% in the Northeast and West, and 11% in the South. Surgeries were reduced 19% in dogs and 10% in cats. When grouped by age, surgeries were reduced by 18% in geriatrics, 14% in adults, and 11% in juveniles. Reductions were similar for females (-14%) and males (-12%) and similar for unowned/organization-owned animals (-14%) and privately owned animals (-12%). In total, 190,818 fewer surgeries were performed by the 212 studied clinics in the 24 months from January 2020 through December 2021 than would be expected had 2019 levels been maintained. If a similar pattern was experienced by other spay/neuter providers in the US, it would suggest there is a deficit of more than 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries that animal welfare organizations have yet to address., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Guerios, Porcher, Clemmer, Denagamage and Levy.)

Spay/neuter identification tattoos and ear-tipping are simple and cost-effective methods to minimize the likelihood of unnecessary anesthesia and surgery in companion animals or the misidentification of sexually intact animals. This study assessed training of sterilization identifiers in US and Canadian veterinary schools and practitioner compliance with guidelines for identifiers via surveys conducted in 2019. Faculty in all 34 schools responded to the survey, reporting that curricula included sterilization identifiers in 31% of lecture-based training, 75% of spay/neuter laboratory-based training, and 38% of clinical practice-based training. A total of 425 facilities performing spay/neuter reported frequency and technical aspects of sterilization identifiers in client-owned and unowned (shelter, rescue, trap-neuter-return) animals. Facilities encountering large numbers of animals of unknown background, performing a high number of surgeries, or with specialized spay/neuter training were significantly more likely to use identifiers. Only 5% of private practices tattooed all owned animals, and 21% tattooed all unowned animals. In contrast, 80% of shelters and 72% of spay/neuter clinics tattooed all owned animals, and 84% of shelters and 70% of spay/neuter clinics tattooed all unowned animals. Green was the most common tattoo color (97%); the most common placement was near or in the incision for female cats (99%), female dogs (99%), and male dogs (92%), and ventral abdomen in male cats (55%). Enhanced training and implementation of best practices described in professional guidelines for sterilization identifiers are needed throughout the veterinary industry to protect animals from unnecessary procedures and to prevent unintended litters in animals misidentified as previously sterilized., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Substantial societal investment is made in the management of free-roaming cats by various methods, with goals of such programs commonly including wildlife conservation, public health protection, nuisance abatement, and/or promotion of cat health and welfare. While there has been a degree of controversy over some of the tactics employed, there is widespread agreement that any method must be scientifically based and sufficiently focused, intensive and sustained in order to succeed. The vast majority of free-roaming cat management in communities takes place through local animal shelters. Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, this consisted primarily of ad hoc admission of cats captured by members of the public, with euthanasia being the most common outcome. In North America alone, hundreds of millions of cats have been impounded and euthanized and billions of dollars invested in such programs. Given the reliance on this model to achieve important societal goals, it is surprising that there has been an almost complete lack of published research evaluating its success. Wildlife conservation and public health protection will be better served when debate about the merits and pitfalls of methods such as Trap-Neuter-Return is grounded in the context of realistically achievable alternatives. Where no perfect answer exists, an understanding of the potential strengths and shortcomings of each available strategy will support the greatest possible mitigation of harm-the best, if still imperfect, solution. Animal shelter function will also benefit by discontinuing investment in methods that are ineffective as well as potentially ethically problematic. This will allow the redirection of resources to more promising strategies for management of cats as well as investment in other important animal shelter functions. To this end, this article reviews evidence regarding the potential effectiveness of the three possible shelter-based strategies for free-roaming cat management: the traditional approach of ad hoc removal by admission to the shelter; admission to the shelter followed by sterilization and return to the location found; and leaving cats in place with or without referral to mitigation strategies or services provided by other agencies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hurley and Levy.)

The historical norm for many animal shelters has been to admit animals on an unscheduled basis, without prior assessment of animal or client need or regard to the shelter's ability to deliver humane care or ensure appropriate outcomes. This approach allows little opportunity to provide finders or owners with alternatives to keep pets safe in their homes or community rather than being impounded. In addition to needlessly impounding animals and separating pets from families, unmanaged/unscheduled admission frequently results in animal influx exceeding shelter capacity, leading to crowding, stress, disease, and euthanasia of animals, as well as poor customer experience, compromised staffing efficiency and decreased organizational effectiveness. Many of these harmful consequences disproportionately impact vulnerable community members and their pets. Triage and appointment-based services have been well developed in healthcare and other service sectors allowing organizations to prioritize the most urgent cases, align services with organizational resources and provide situation-specific solutions that may include virtual support or referral as appropriate. This article discusses the trend in animal sheltering toward triage and appointment-based services that parallels the use of these practices in human healthcare. Reported positive results of this approach are detailed including improved staff morale, reduced disease rates and substantially reduced euthanasia. These positive outcomes support the endorsement of triage and appointment-based services by multiple North American animal welfare professional and academic organizations, recognizing that it better realizes the goals of shelters to serve the common good of animals and people in the most humane, equitable and effective possible way., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hurley.)

Case Series Summary: This case series describes three shelter-housed cats concurrently diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The cats were from a cohort of seven surrendered from the site of a house fire. The three cats presented with mild upper respiratory signs. Within 10 days they clinically declined: progressive signs included pyrexia, icterus, lethargy, anorexia and cavitary effusions. Necropsy followed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed a diagnosis of FIP in all three. Molecular analysis of the causative feline coronavirus (FCoV) revealed varied amino acid alterations in the spike gene both between cats and between sample types in individual cats. A fourth cat from the cohort remained healthy in the shelter but succumbed to FIP 6 weeks post-adoption., Relevance and Novel Information: This case series places FCoV genetic sequences in the context of clinical signs in a small shelter outbreak. Each of the three cats concurrently developed a slightly different clinical presentation. PCR amplification and genetic sequencing revealed that two cats shared an S1/S2 cleavage site mutation (R790S) previously described to be associated with the development of FIP; one of the cats had an additional S1/S2 cleavage site mutation (R793S). The third cat had a single, identical S1/S2 point mutation (R790G) unique from the other two cats; the R790G mutation has not been previously reported. This case series provides interesting data on point mutations associated with the development of FIP and provides support for a 'circulating virulent-avirulent theory' of FIP pathogenesis in a small shelter outbreak., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Heartworm (HTW) infection in cats is associated with persistent pulmonary pathology, even when clinical signs are absent. Treatment options for cats are limited once infected, making prevention an important topic for discussion with cat owners. In Brazil, tests to detect feline HTW infections are unavailable, likely leading to an underestimation of its impact on the wellbeing of cats. The present study investigated the seroprevalence of HTW antigen in cats living in an area with high canine HTW prevalence and investigated risk factors and clinical signs associated with HTW disease in cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clinical examinations were conducted, and serological evaluations performed with a point-of-care test (SNAP ® Feline Triple ® Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.). A total of 586 cats were examined. The HTW antigen seroprevalence was 1.2%. Heartworm positive results were significantly associated with vomiting and abnormal lung sounds. Results from this study indicate that cats residing in areas of high canine HTW prevalence should have HTW disease as a differential diagnosis when presenting with compatible clinical signs. Veterinarians should prioritize client education and promote regular use of effective prophylaxis to protect feline health., Competing Interests: NL is a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, IDEXX, and Zoetis in Brazil. JL is a consultant and research collaborator with IDEXX and Zoetis. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Alberigi, Campos, Branco, Bendas, Brum, Calixto, Alves, Pinheiro Júnior, Knackfuss, Labarthe, Levy and Mendes-de-Almeida.)

Understanding social, economic, and structural barriers to accessing pet care services is important for improving the health and welfare of companion animals in underserved communities in the U.S. From May 2018-December 2019, six questions from the validated One Health Community Assessment were used to measure perceptions of access to pet care in two urban and two rural zip codes. One urban and one rural community received services from a pet support outreach program (Pets for Life), while the other served as a comparison community. After propensity score matching was performed to eliminate demographic bias in the sample (Urban = 512 participants, Rural = 234 participants), Generalized Estimating Equations were employed to compare the six measures of access to pet care between the intervention and comparison communities. The urban community with the Pets for Life intervention was associated with a higher overall measure of access to pet care compared to the urban site that did not have the Pets for Life intervention. When assessing each of the six measures of access to care, the urban community with the Pets for Life intervention was associated with higher access to affordable pet care options and higher access to pet care service providers who offer payment options than the community without the Pets for Life intervention. Further analyses with a subset of Pets for Life clients comparing pre-intervention and post-intervention survey responses revealed statistically significant positive trends in perceptions of two of the six measures of access to pet care. This study provides evidence that community-based animal welfare programming has the potential to increase perceptions of access to pet support services., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Hawes, Hupe, Winczewski, Elting, Arrington, Newbury and Morris.)

Five cats were diagnosed with eyelid agenesis in a 6-month period at the Miami-Dade Animal Services, and a total of 9 blepharoplasties were performed using the lip commissure to eyelid transposition flap (LCET) technique. Eyelid agenesis affected 50%-80% of the superiolateral lid in all cats. Postoperatively, partial necrosis of the flap was observed in 4 and partial dehiscence was observed in 1 of the corrected eyelids, occurring where the buccal mucosa was sutured to the conjunctival mucosa. No cats with partial necrosis of the flap were known to have developed trichiasis due to scar tissue formed at the necrotic site. The single case in which dehiscence occurred developed slight trichiasis that may warrant further intervention to ensure permanent hair ablation. Eyelids were cosmetically acceptable and functional at final examination. Patients showed no evidence of initial discomfort at the surgical sites, nor discomfort or progression of corneal disease during the follow-up time. This case series documents a suitable technique to treat cat eyelid agenesis when referral to a specialist is not an option due to lack of resources, such as in shelters or low-cost veterinary clinics. The surgical technique, outcome and complications presented in this case series are evaluated, and discussed., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns that companion animals might be infected with, and could become a reservoir of, SARS-CoV-2. As cats are popular pets and susceptible to Coronavirus, we investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in shelter cats housed in Dutch animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this large-scale cross-sectional study, serum samples of shelter cats were collected during the second wave of human COVID-19 infections in The Netherlands. Seroprevalence was determined by using an indirect protein-based ELISA validated for cats, and a Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) as confirmation. To screen for feline SARS-CoV-2 shedding, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs of cats positive for ELISA and/or VNT were analyzed using PCR tests. In 28 Dutch animal shelters, 240 shelter cats were convenience sampled. Two of these cats (0.8%; CI 95%: 0.1-3.0%) were seropositive, as evidenced by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. The seropositive animals tested PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2. Based on the results of this study, it is unlikely that shelter cats could be a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 or pose a (significant) risk to public health.

Objectives: Kittens have unique requirements for care in a shelter setting given their higher susceptibility to infectious disease and socialization needs. Significant time and resources are necessary to care for this vulnerable population and dedicated kitten nurseries are one way to meet the requirements of kittens too young for neutering and rehoming. However, young kittens remain at a higher risk of dying relative to adult cats, even in specialized settings. Efforts to investigate kitten mortality have focused on post-mortem findings and little is known about pre-mortem clinical signs that may be associated with death. The purpose of this study was to elucidate predictors of mortality in underage kittens., Methods: The medical records of kittens aged <8 weeks reared in a kitten nursery in New York City during 2017 were examined. The data collected included signalment (estimated age and weight at intake, sex), physical findings (body condition score [BCS]), clinical signs (weight loss, anorexia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection [URI]), diagnoses (panleukopenia, trauma), how early in the feline breeding season the kitten entered (April-November), and whether the kitten had died or was euthanized. The data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard modeling with 1353 kittens to identify factors associated with any death or euthanasia., Results: Elevated risk of dying was found for kittens in the lightest weight group (13 times greater), diagnosed with panleukopenia (13 times greater), exhibiting weight loss (>9 times greater), diagnosed with URI (almost four times greater), exhibiting anorexia (three times greater), identified with a low BCS at intake (two times greater) and experiencing diarrhea (almost two times greater)., Conclusions and Relevance: These findings identify clinical signs and diagnoses that can serve as prognostic indicators for underage kitten survival in a shelter/rescue setting and can aid in enhancing protocols for monitoring, intervention and euthanasia decision-making.

Canine heartworm infection, caused by the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis , represents a serious and expanding animal welfare concern that is expected to increase due to the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. A body of evidence has emerged to support the use of a non-arsenical adulticide treatment protocol, using moxidectin and doxycycline to kill adult heartworms over a prolonged period. While a three-dose protocol using the arsenical drug melarsomine is currently the safest and most effective treatment for heartworm infection, this drug is not available in some countries and is inaccessible for many owners and animal shelters. Moxidectin-doxycycline (moxi-doxy) provides a viable alternative to no treatment at all, in cases where arsenical treatment is not possible. Based on current evidence, the most effective non-arsenical treatment regimen is doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO q 12 or 24 h for 28 days, combined with topical moxidectin at label dose. Moxidectin is repeated monthly until no antigen detected (NAD) status is confirmed. Sustained release injectable moxidectin, in combination with doxycycline, may provide an alternative in remote regions or in settings where significant compliance or accessibility concerns exist, but more studies are needed. In moxi-doxy protocols, doxycycline should be repeated annually until NAD. This review summarizes the safety and efficacy of moxi-doxy, addresses controversies surrounding this treatment approach, and provides detailed recommendations for treatment regimens and post-treatment testing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jacobson and DiGangi.)

In a frequently cited 2005 paper, a Ricker model was used to assess the effectiveness of trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs for managing free-roaming domestic cat populations. The model (which was originally developed for application in the management of fisheries) used data obtained from two countywide programs, and the results indicated that any population reductions, if they existed, were at best modest. In the present study, we applied the same analysis methods to data from two long-term (i.e., >20 years) TNR programs for which significant population reductions have been documented. Our results revealed that the model cannot account for some key aspects of typical TNR programs, and the wild population swings it predicts do not correspond to the relative stability of free-roaming cat populations. A Ricker model is therefore inappropriate for use in assessing the effectiveness of TNR programs. A more recently developed, stochastic model, which accounts for the movement of cats in and out of a given area, is better suited for predicting the sterilization effort necessary to reduce free-roaming cat numbers through TNR programs.

Although human interactions with cats are often even typically analyzed in the context of domesticity, with a focus on what sorts of interactions might make both people and cats "happy at home," a large number of cats in the world live, for one reason or another, beyond the bounds of domesticity. Human interactions with these more or less free-living cats raise deeply controversial questions about how both the cats and the people they interact with should be sensibly managed, and about the moral imperatives that ought to guide the management of their interactions through the laws and public policies regulating both human interactions with pets and with wildlife. We review the geography of human interactions with cats living beyond the bounds of domesticity. We acknowledge the contributions made to ideas about how to manage cats by the animal protection movement. We review the tensions that have emerged over time between advocates for the eradication of free-living cats, because of the impacts they have on native wildlife species, and those who have imagined alternatives to eradication, most notably one or another variant of trap-neuter-return (TNR). The conflict over how best to deal with cats living beyond the bounds of domesticity and their wildlife impacts raises the prospect of stalemate, and we canvass and critique possibilities for moving beyond that stalemate., Competing Interests: PW is employed by Best Friends Animal Society, advocating for the protection of domestic cats via public policy initiatives. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wandesforde-Smith, Levy, Lynn, Rand, Riley, Schaffner and Wolf.)

Background: Various heartworm (HW) diagnostic testing modalities detect products of, or reactions to, different life cycle stages of Dirofilaria immitis. Microfilariae (Mf) can be directly visualized in blood, antigen (Ag) from immature and adult heartworms may be detected on commercial assays, and antibody (Ab) tests detect the host immune response to larval stages. Ag and Mf tests are commonly used in dogs, which frequently carry adult HW infections, but Ab tests have only been validated for use in cats. In some HW-infected dogs, Ag is blocked by immune complexing leading to false-negative results. Heat-treatment (HT) to disrupt these complexes can increase the sensitivity of HW Ag tests. The aim of this study was to compare different methods for diagnosing HW infection in dogs at high risk using individual and paired diagnostic tests, including an exploration of using Ab tests designed for cats to test canine samples., Methods: One hundred stray adult (≥ 2-year-old) dogs in Florida shelters were tested using Mf, HW Ag, and HW Ab tests (feline HW Ab tests currently not commercially validated/approved for use in dogs); two versions of each test platform were used., Results: Fourteen dogs tested positive using point-of-care (POC) Ag tests; an additional 2 dogs tested positive with microtiter well assay, and an additional 12 dogs tested positive using HT Ag testing. For individual tests, Ag test sensitivity/specificity compared to HT Ag was 50-57%/100%, and Ab tests were 46-64%/82-94%. Sensitivity estimates for individual tests were higher when comparing to non-HT Ag. Pairing POC Ag tests with Mf tests improved sensitivity without loss of specificity, while pairing POC Ag and Ab tests modestly increased sensitivity at the expense of specificity., Conclusions: Screening dogs for HW infection using both POC Ag and Mf detection, which is recommended by the American Heartworm Society, improved diagnostic performance in this study compared to single Ag test use, but may have missed more than one in four infected dogs. The need to improve access to highly accurate, rapid, and inexpensive large-scale HW testing for dogs in animal shelters remains largely unmet by current testing availability. The development of practical and validated protocols that incorporate heat or chemical treatment to disrupt Ag-Ab complexes in POC testing or decreasing the cost and time required for such testing in reference laboratories might provide solutions to this unmet need. Similar studies performed in countries where the prevalence of parasites such as D. repens or A. vasorum is different to the USA could potentially yield very different positive predictive values for both HT and non-HT Ag tests.

Retroviruses belong to an important and diverse family of RNA viruses capable of causing neoplastic disease in their hosts. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a gammaretrovirus that infects domestic and wild cats, causing immunodeficiency, cytopenia and neoplasia in progressively infected cats. The outcome of FeLV infection is influenced by the host immune response; progressively infected cats demonstrate weaker immune responses compared to regressively infected cats. In this study, humoral immune responses were examined in 180 samples collected from 123 domestic cats that had been naturally exposed to FeLV, using a novel ELISA to measure antibodies recognizing the FeLV surface unit (SU) glycoprotein in plasma samples. A correlation was demonstrated between the strength of the humoral immune response to the SU protein and the outcome of exposure. Cats with regressive infection demonstrated higher antibody responses to the SU protein compared to cats belonging to other outcome groups, and samples from cats with regressive infection contained virus neutralising antibodies. These results demonstrate that an ELISA that assesses the humoral response to FeLV SU complements the use of viral diagnostic tests to define the outcome of exposure to FeLV. Together these tests could allow the rapid identification of regressively infected cats that are unlikely to develop FeLV-related disease.

Longitudinal studies of cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are important for understanding disease outcomes. Levels of p27 antigen and copy numbers of proviral DNA have been associated with FeLV-infection courses. The purpose of this prospective study was to establish cutoff values for p27 antigen concentration and proviral DNA load that distinguished high positive from low positive groups of cats and to evaluate an association with survival. At enrollment, 254 cats were tested by point-of-care and microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for p27 antigen and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for proviral DNA. The 127 positive cats were retested monthly for six months and monitored for survival over the four-year study. A receiver operating characteristic-based analysis of samples with concordant or discordant qualitative results for p27 antigen and proviral DNA was used to establish cutoff values, and when applied to test results at enrollment for classifying cats as high positive or low positive, a significant difference in survival was observed. High positive cats had a median survival of 1.37 years (95% CI 0.83-2.02) from time of enrollment, while most low positive cats were still alive (93.1% survival). Quantitative results for p27 antigen concentration and proviral DNA load were highly correlated with survival times in FeLV-infected cats.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess outcomes of cats referred to a specialized adoption program for feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-positive cats., Methods: Cats referred to an FeLV-specific adoption program between January 2018 and July 2019 at an animal shelter in Austin, TX, USA, were first identified based on their putative FeLV status as reported by the referring shelter, rescue group, veterinarian or individual. Each cat was re-screened for FeLV upon admission and subsequently deemed infected or uninfected. Data on cat source, admission date, outcome date, outcome type, signalment and comorbidities at the time of admission were extracted from the shelter database. Outcomes were recorded up to 15 December 2019., Results: In total, 801 cats suspected to be infected with FeLV were referred to the FeLV adoption program. Of these, 149 (18.6%) were ultimately deemed uninfected, and infection was confirmed in 652 (81.4%) cats. Adoption was the most common outcome for FeLV-infected cats (n = 514 cats; 78.8%), followed by euthanasia or death in care (n = 109; 16.7%). Upper respiratory infection (URI) was the most common comorbidity in FeLV-infected cats (n = 106; 16.3%) at the time of admission, which was not significantly different than URI in the cats that were deemed not to be infected with FeLV (n = 29; 19.5%)., Conclusions and Relevance: This study demonstrated high national demand for a lifesaving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV. FeLV infections could not be confirmed in approximately one in five cats referred to the FeLV adoption program, a reminder of the risk behind basing the fate of a cat on a single positive test result. The majority of cats referred to the FeLV program were adopted, demonstrating that programs centered on adopter education and post-adoption support can create lifesaving outcomes for most FeLV-infected cats, despite uncertainty regarding their long-term prognosis.

Reducing stress is important to maintaining the health of shelter cats and decreasing the risk of upper respiratory disease (URD). The aim of this study was to determine if the frequency and/or duration of daily routine handling of shelter cats affects the likelihood of URD development. At a closed admission shelter, each cat free of URD on intake was given a cage card for recording handling data. These data included: date and times when the cat was handled, duration of handling, if and when the cat developed signs of URD, and the handler identity. Cox regression was used to determine the relationship between these factors and URD development. We found cats that did not develop URD were handled significantly more than cats that did (1.1 times per day vs. 0.7 times per day, p < 0.001). Increased frequency of handling had a borderline significant effect on the hazard of developing URD (HR 0.37; CI: 0.13-1.1; p = 0.066). No other parameters were significantly associated with the development of URD; however, small sample size may be responsible for this finding. A larger study is needed to elucidate the relationship between handling and URD development.

This study investigated the frequency of false positive dermatophyte cultures, dermatophyte prevalence, and dermatophytosis risk factors in an animal sheltering system in British Columbia. Records for 80 471 incoming shelter animals over 3.5 years were accessed retrospectively. For 831 high-risk animals cultured, the false positive rate was 28% [N = 229; 95% confidence interval (CI): 25% to 31%]. Microsporum canis was diagnosed in 201 cases (0.25%, 95% CI: 0.22% to 0.29%) and Trichophyton was diagnosed in 43 cases (0.055%, 95% CI: 0.040% to 0.072%). Microsporum canis cases occurred only in cats and rabbits, but not in dogs. Cats were twice as likely to be diagnosed with Trichophyton as dogs. Puppies and kittens ( versus adults) and animals from cruelty investigations ( versus other sources) were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with dermatophytosis. Animals seized from 4 cruelty cases with enzootic dermatophytosis did not follow overall prevalence or population risk patterns. Understanding patient and population risk factors can help expedite diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, and reduce contagious risk to humans and animals., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

The cornerstones of diagnosis of heartworm (HW) in dogs are the detection of circulating antigen from adult female Dirofilaria immitis or the visualization of microfilariae in whole blood. These tests are less sensitive in cats because of the feline immune response leading to low numbers of adult worms, but heartworm antibody tests are also licensed for use in cats. HW antibodies in cats are detectable when there has at least been larval development in the tissues, but positive antibody tests cannot distinguish between current and previous larval infections; thus, cats with positive antibody test results are considered currently or previously infected with D. immitis . The aim of the present study was to use multiple HW diagnostic modalities to maximize detection of infection in dogs and cats at high risk of infection and to compare infection prevalence between these two hosts. Blood samples collected from 100 stray dogs and 100 stray cats at Florida animal shelters were tested for HW antigen (before and after heat treatment) and microfilariae; cats were also tested for HW antibody. Dogs were significantly ( P = 0.0001) more likely to be diagnosed with adult HW infection (28 %; 95 % CI: 20.1-37.6%) when compared with cats (4 %; 95 % CI: 1.6-10.2%) on the basis of positive antigen and microfilariae test results. Cats with current or previous adult, immature adult, or larval HW infections comprised 19 % (95 % CI: 12.4%-27.9%) of the feline population, which was not significantly different ( P = 0.1) from the prevalence of adult D. immitis infection in dogs. Testing unprotected cats for heartworm antibodies demonstrated a similar, high risk of infection to the matched unprotected dog population in Florida, which supports the use of HW preventives in cats in areas where HW transmission occurs., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Companion animal relocation programs are an important method to address geographic and resource disparities in pet overpopulation through transport from areas with high homeless pet populations to areas with high adopter demand. Despite mitigation by following best practices, a potential risk of animal relocation is increased disease incidence related to infectious disease spread and the effects of stress during transport. Surgical sterilization may compound disease risk due to the impact of surgical stress on disease susceptibility and the potential for disease exposure from other patients. Our study aimed to provide information about disease and surgical complication incidence as relates to the timing of surgical sterilization in relocated dogs. A population of 431 dogs relocated to a shelter in Washington State was monitored for disease while at the destination shelter and immediately post-adoption. No increased disease incidence was identified for dogs altered within two weeks of transport at the destination shelter compared with those altered within two weeks prior to transport at the source shelter. Because of disparities addressed by relocation programs, surgical sterilization of relocated companion animals is typically best performed at the destination shelter. Our study indicates that disease incidence is not increased by spay-neuter at the destination shelter., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the utility of using body weight for age determination in kittens., Methods: Medical records were reviewed for serial body weight measurements collected from neonatal kittens (up to 8 weeks of age) from a breeding colony of specific pathogen-free domestic shorthair cats and for single-point body weight measurements of privately owned pediatric kittens (6-20 weeks of age) presenting for elective sterilization. Body weights were compared with known dates of birth and age assessed by dental eruption in combination with developmental characteristics., Results: The coefficient of determination (R 2 ) between age and body weight in longitudinally sampled neonatal kittens was 0.88, while that for pediatric kittens sampled at a single time point was 0.54. Among neonatal kittens, predicted age based on the 1 lb (0.45 kg) of body weight gain per month of age guideline corresponded to within 1 week of actual age for 243 (98.8%), 234 (95.1%), 203 (82.5%) and 191 (77.6%) kittens at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, respectively. Among pediatric kittens, predicted age based on this guideline corresponded to within 1 week of actual age for 24 (77.4%), 411 (67.5%), 170 (57.0%), 96 (46.6%), 23 (28.8%), 15 (27.8%), one (25%) and five (17.9%) kittens at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 weeks, respectively., Conclusions and Relevance: Body weight was an effective means of predicting age in kittens through 10 weeks of age. Factors other than body weight should be considered when estimating kitten age beyond that time point.