Inter- and intra-observer reliability of quantitative sensory testing performed with the SMall animal ALGOmeter (SMALGO) to evaluate pain associated with feline gingivostomatitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-observer reliability of quantitative sensory testing performed with the SMall animal ALGOmeter (SMALGO) in healthy cats and in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS), and to evaluate the SMALGO as a tool to detect and quantify pain in cats with CGS. METHODS: Thirty cats from a private shelter were included and assigned to one of two groups: group C (healthy cats; n = 15) or group CGS (cats with CGS; n = 15). In all cats the mechanical thresholds were measured with the SMALGO, with the sensor tip applied to the superior lip above the canine root, by two independent investigators (A, experienced; B, unexperienced), on two different occasions (day 1 and day 2) with a 24 h interval. A CGS scale was used in the diseased cats to assess the severity of the condition. For the reliability analysis, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Other statistical tests used were Pearson correlation coefficient and a paired t-test. RESULTS: The inter- and intra-observer levels of agreement were fair (ICC = 0.50) and good, respectively (ICC = 0.73 for investigator A; ICC = 0.60 for investigator B). However, the thresholds measured in healthy cats (169 ± 59 g) did not differ from those obtained from diseased cats (156 ± 82 g; P = 0.35). There was no correlation between the scores of the CGS scale and the thresholds measured in diseased cats (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.047; P = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Quantitative sensory testing performed with the SMALGO in cats is repeatable and reliable, regardless of the expertise of the investigator. However, the findings of this study suggest that the mechanical thresholds measured with the SMALGO may not be a valuable indicator of pain in cats with CGS.

Quantitative sensory testing with Electronic von Frey Anesthesiometer and von Frey filaments in nonpainful cats: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement of sensory thresholds could represent a complementary tool to behavioural pain scores in cats. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of quantitative sensory testing (QST) with the Electronic von Frey Anesthesiometer (EVF) and von Frey filaments (VFF) in healthy cats, and to assess the limits of agreement (LOA) between the two devices. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: A total of 15 client-owned healthy cats. METHODS: Two investigators (A and B) carried out the measurements independently. The EVF and the VFF were applied on the upper lip and at the level of the medial aspect of the stifle. A 1-hour interval was allowed between the sets of measurements taken by investigators A and B; each investigator repeated the entire session of measurements after 24 hours. The LOA between the EVF and the VFF were analysed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and with the Bland Altman method. RESULTS: QST with both the EVF and the VFF was feasible in healthy cats; however, the willingness of the cats to cooperate was negatively affected by the repetition of the measurements on the second day. The presence of the cat owners seemed to facilitate the trial. There was a fair agreement between the EVF and the VFF (ICC = 0.49; 95% confidence interval: 0.13-0.70). CONCLUSIONS: and clinical relevance Our findings indicate that both EVF and VFF may be used for QST in cats. Further trials will be needed to verify the usefulness of QST with EVF and VFF in feline patients suffering from actual chronic pain.

Peri-anaesthetic mortality and nonfatal gastrointestinal complications in pet rabbits: a retrospective study on 210 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and the associated risk factors of peri-anaesthetic mortality and gastrointestinal complications in pet rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: A total of 185 pet rabbits admitted to the Exotic Referal Service of Beaumont Sainsbury's Animal Hospital over the period 2009-2016. METHODS: The clinical records of the rabbits were obtained from the database. To evaluate the incidence of peri-anaesthetic mortality, three possible outcomes were considered: alive, dead or euthanized within the 72 hours following the anaesthetic event. Food intake and stool production during the first 72 hours following the anaesthetic event were evaluated to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal complications. Thereafter, various hypothesized risk factors, including administration of alpha-2 agonists, body weight, American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification and endotracheal intubation were tested against peri-anaesthetic mortality and gastrointestinal complications, with both univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Twenty-five out of 185 rabbits underwent two anaesthetic events; therefore, data from 210 cases were used. Of these 210 cases, six died during sedation or general anaesthesia and four (one of which euthanized) died during the first 72 postoperative hours, accounting for an actual mortality rate equal to 4.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.025-0.086). Peri-anaesthetic gastrointestinal complications developed in 77 (38%) out of the 204 anaesthetic events whose outcome was not intraoperative death (95% confidence interval, 0.314-0.446). Species-specific risk factors could not be identified for peri-anaesthetic mortality; however, the odds for post-anaesthetic gastrointestinal complications increased significantly with body weight (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings confirm that rabbits continue to have a higher incidence of peri-anaesthetic mortality than dogs and cats, and highlight a high risk for nonfatal peri-anaesthetic gastrointestinal complications in this species.