Psychiatric nurse and educator perspectives on professional boundaries in nursing education: An interpretive description study.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric nurses are responsible for maintaining professional boundaries. However, professional boundaries are as described as unclear and psychiatric nursing students are at risk of crossing these boundaries. Educational instruction regarding professional boundaries within psychiatric nursing often lacks foundational structure placing students at risk of transgressions. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe boundaries in psychiatric nursing practice, identify strategies effective in teaching professional boundaries, and inform curriculum development in psychiatric nursing education. METHOD: Interpretive description was utilized to answer: How do psychiatric nurse educators interpret and explain professional boundaries in psychiatric nursing undergraduate education? Psychiatric nurse educators and psychiatric nurses were recruited from an academic institution in western Canada. Twenty participants engaged in semi-structured interviews. Eight of those participants also attended a focus group. RESULT: Participants reported that 'textbook' definitions of boundaries were insufficient in illustrating the complexities of the construct. Rather, relational forms of learning such as educators sharing clinical stories, role play activities, clinical supervision, and clinical debriefing were described as helpful strategies. CONCLUSION: Foundational knowledge regarding professional boundaries in psychiatric nursing practice appears to be incorporated in the formal curriculum. However, learning is enhanced through the informal and hidden curriculum.

Residue, distribution and depletion of fluralaner in egg following a single intravenous and transdermal administration in healthy shaver hens: fluralaner residue in egg.

The demand for the use of fluralaner in an extra label manner is increasing due to lack of efficacious treatment to combat mites and bed bugs in the poultry industry in the United States. Fluralaner residue data in eggs is lacking and residues might cause risks to human health. The present study aimed to determine the depletion profiles of fluralaner in eggs and estimate the drug withdrawal interval in whole eggs by adopting the US Food and Drug administration tolerance limit method with single intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) or transdermal administration (average 58.7 mg/kg) in healthy shaver hens. Hens were treated intravenously or trans-dermally with fluralaner. The eggs were collected daily for 28 d for intravenous treated and for 40 d from the transdermal route group. Fluralaner concentrations in yolk and albumen were determined by mass spectrometry. The greater percentage of fluralaner was observed in yolk when compared to the albumen for both administration routes. Noncompartmental analysis was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters in yolk, albumen and whole egg. The longest apparent half-life confirmed in yolk was 3.7 d for intravenous and 14.3 d for the transdermal route. The withdrawal intervals in whole egg for fluralaner following the intravenous and transdermal administration were 7 d and 81 d, respectively, with maximum residue limits (1.3 µg/g) at 13 d and 171 d, respectively, based on the limit of quantification (0.4 µg/g) from the analytical assay reported by EMA and APVMA.

Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and associated clinical signs in young dogs. Owners of dogs aged 8 months-4 years from a single practice, were contacted in random order, to participate in a general health screen. Clinical and orthopedic examinations were performed. Each joint was scored for pain reactions (0-4). Orthogonal radiographs of all joints were made under sedation. Each joint was scored for radiographic OA (rOA) severity on an 11-point scale. Clinical OA (cOA) was defined as an overlap of rOA and joint pain in ≥ 1 joint. Owners completed OA questionnaires. The owners of 123 dogs agreed to participate. Overall, 39.8% (49/123) of dogs had rOA in ≥ 1 joint, and 16.3% (20/123) or 23.6% (29/123) dogs had cOA, depending on the cut-off value of joint pain; moderate (2), or mild (1), respectively. Owners of dogs with cOA observed signs of impairment in approximately 30% of cases. Only 2 dogs with cOA were receiving OA pain management. The most commonly affected joints in descending order of frequency were elbow, hip, tarsus, and stifle. Radiographically visible OA is common in young dogs, and 40-60% of dogs with rOA had cOA. However, OA-pain appears underdiagnosed and undertreated in young dogs.

Environments that promote recovery in acute care mental health: nursing perspectives explored through interpretative description.

BACKGROUND: A significant change in mental health care has involved the need to implement recovery-oriented practices and services. However, recovery-oriented care has been poorly defined within acute care mental health settings. OBJECTIVES: The central aims of the study were to increase knowledge about what constitutes a recovery-oriented environment within contemporary acute care units and to inform recovery-oriented nursing practice. METHODS: Interpretative description was applied to answer the question: What strategies and resources do nurses identify as being most conducive to fostering a recovery-oriented environment in acute care mental health units? Purposive sampling was used to recruit 11 nurses from 6 acute care units. The inclusion criteria included a minimum of 1-year patients and holding active nursing registration. Nursing experience in community-based or chronic care settings and with children and adolescents were exclusion criteria. Six nurses also participated in a focus group. RESULTS: Key aspects of a recovery-oriented acute care environment included understanding the needs of individual patients along with the dynamics of the healthcare team. Nurses had important roles in promoting recovery-oriented environments and reported a need for increased resources to move beyond the bio-medical model and align practice with personal recovery. CONCLUSION: A recovery-oriented environment was described as a safe, peaceful and holistic environment with adequate space to balance needs for privacy, interaction and activity. This environment is fostered through respectful communication and healthy relationships among team members, patients, family and formal supports. These nurses had the knowledge, skill and desire to promote recovery-oriented environments, yet resources such as leisure activities and group therapy were required to promote personal recovery.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenously and trans-dermally administered fluralaner in healthy laying shaver hens: fluralaner in chickens.

Ectoparasite infestations negatively affect both backyard and commercial chicken flocks in the United States. Fluralaner is an isoxazoline shown to be efficacious in treating mite and bed bug infestations in poultry. Fluralaner is approved to treat fleas and ticks in dogs and cats in the United States and to treat mite infestations of chickens in Europe and Australia; however, the use of fluralaner in poultry is not yet approved in the United States. This study aimed to investigate the plasma fluralaner pharmacokinetic profile of intravenous and transdermal routes and apparent bioavailability of fluralaner administered trans-dermally in healthy shaver hens. A total of 12 individually housed healthy shaver hens received a single dose of either intravenous technical grade fluralaner at 0.5 mg/kg, or transdermal fluralaner (Bravecto (fluralaner transdermal solution) for dogs, 280 mg/mL, Merck Animal Health) at mean 58.7 mg/kg. Plasma from each hen was collected from the jugular, ulnar, or medial metatarsal vein at multiple intervals. Fluralaner concentrations in plasma were determined using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/MS). Noncompartmental analysis revealed that the geometric mean elimination half-life for intravenous and transdermal routes were 80.5 and 179.6 h, respectively. The geometric mean apparent bioavailability of transdermal routes was estimated as 3.4%. Prolonged fluralaner concentration in plasma above minimum inhibitory concentration of bed bugs following the single dose was observed in healthy shaver hens for both routes. It is important to understand the pharmacokinetic profile could be useful in determining the appropriate treatment strategy.

Mental Health Nurses Who Experience Disabilities: Adapting to Workplace Barriers.

Mental health nurses with disabilities experience discrimination and issues with inclusion and accessibility. Ten mental health nurses who self-identified with a disability were interviewed using interpretive description to gain insight into their experiences and to better understand practices that promote inclusion. Participants discussed challenges associated with the mental healthcare system, the need to adapt, and the importance of support and feeling accepted. To improve accessibility and inclusion of mental health nurses, the system requires increased flexibility. This would benefit all nurses and those who are cared for by them.

Pharmacokinetics of fluralaner as a systemic drug to control infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, in poultry facilities.

BACKGROUND: Bed bug infestations are re-emerging in the poultry industry throughout the USA. Although the impacts of bed bugs on birds' health and welfare are poorly understood, adverse outcomes are expected, including stress, anemia, infections and lower production rates. Worker welfare is also an important consideration in commercial poultry farms. A limited number of insecticides are available for use in the complex spatial environment of commercial farms. Systemic drugs have the potential to overcome the limitations of existing pest management tactics. A recent study showed that fluralaner administered to chickens caused high levels of mortality in bed bugs. METHODS: To further understand the efficacy of this approach, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of an oral solid formulation of fluralaner in 11 chickens and quantified its plasma concentration in chickens using UPLC/MS. We administered fluralaner to chickens with two doses of Bravecto® (each 0.5 mg/kg body mass) via gavage 1 week apart and evaluated its efficacy on bed bugs that fed on medicated chickens for up to 28 days post-treatment. RESULTS: Bed bugs that fed on fluralaner-treated chickens experienced > 50% mortality within 30 min of the administration of Bravecto and 100% mortality 2 days post-treatment. Mortality slowly declined to 66.6% by day 28. Fluralaner was quantifiable in the hens' plasma for at least 28 days post-treatment. The treatment resulted in maximal plasma concentrations (Cmax) of 106.4 ng/ml around day 9.0 (Tmax), substantially higher than the LC90, the concentration needed to kill 90% of the bed bugs. CONCLUSIONS: Fluralaner appears to be a promising candidate for bed bug control in poultry farms, with a treatment effect lasting at least 28 days.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim After Oral Administration of Single and Multiple Doses to Rhode Island Red Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP), a commonly prescribed antibiotic for backyard hens, is neither Food and Drug Administration approved nor prohibited in laying hens in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma concentrations above targeted minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint values for Enterobacteriaceae could be achieved with oral dosing. Five Rhode Island red hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were administered a single dose of 96 mg/kg SMZ-TMP (80 mg/kg SMZ and 16 mg/kg TMP) IV followed by the same dose orally after a washout period. Following oral dosing, mean SMZ concentrations exceeded the target breakpoint for approximately 12 hours; however, TMP only briefly exceeded the target breakpoint. Bioavailability was 60.5% for SMZ and 82.0% for TMP. Ten naïve birds were allocated into control (n = 4) and treatment (n = 6) groups for a 7-day multi-dose study. Treatment birds received an oral suspension dosed at 16 mg/kg TMP and 80 mg/kg SMZ every 48 hours (on days 1, 3, 5, and 7); TMP tablets were additionally dosed at 25 mg/bird on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and 50 mg/bird on days 2, 4, and 6. Plasma SMZ-TMP concentrations were measured on a multiple time interval by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic analyses were performed using a noncompartmental model. No accumulation for either drug was noted following repeated dosing, and no statistical differences in biochemical values, packed cell volumes, or weight were found between pre- and posttreatment in either the treatment or control groups. Sulfamethoxazole (80 mg/kg q48h PO) and TMP (24.1-28.0 mg/kg q24h PO) maintained therapeutic plasma concentrations at or exceeding the minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint of Enterobacteriaceae for 72 and 24 hours for TMP and SMZ, respectively, without evidence of adverse effects or drug accumulation. Further studies are needed to refine this dosage regimen and evaluate adverse effects in ill birds.

Activity patterns are associated with fractional lifespan, memory, and gait speed in aged dogs.

Maintaining an active lifestyle is considered a hallmark of successful aging. Physical activity significantly reduces the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in humans. However, pain and lack of motivation are important barriers to exercise. Dogs are a remarkable model for translational studies in aging and cognition as they are prone to Canine Cognitive Dysfunction syndrome, which has many similarities with Alzheimer's disease. According to owner reports, changes in activity levels are characteristic of this syndrome, with decreased daytime activity, but also excessive pacing, especially at sleep time. We used physical activity monitors to record the activity of 27 senior dogs and evaluated the association between activity level and age, fractional lifespan, cognitive status measured by an owner questionnaire and cognitive tests. We also assessed the relationship between activity and joint/spinal pain, and the off/on leash gait speed ratio (a potential marker of gait speed reserve and motivation). We found that activity patterns in dogs are associated with fractional lifespan and working memory. Additionally, dogs with higher on/off leash gait speed are more active in the afternoon of weekdays. These results encourage future studies evaluating how physical activity can improve or delay cognitive impairment in senior dogs.

Teaching Professional Boundaries in Psychiatric Nursing: Resource Development.

BACKGROUND: A standard of practice in psychiatric nursing pertains to the ability to maintain professional boundaries within a nurse-patient relationship. Nursing students are inexperienced in maintaining nurse-patient relationships and are at risk of crossing professional boundaries. Research regarding boundary instruction and available resources is needed to guide educators. METHOD: Psychiatric nurse educators (n = 11) and psychiatric nurses (n = 9) were interviewed to determine what resources psychiatric nursing educators use to teach professional boundaries to undergraduate students. Following the interviews and preliminary analysis, eight participants also attended a focus group. RESULTS: Participants reported resources such as textbooks were useful for defining professional boundaries. Participants also described case studies as a resource available to help operationalize boundaries in psychiatric nursing practice. CONCLUSION: Resources should be developed to address changes in care provision and technology to include cultural competence and guidelines for the use of social media. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(2):97-100.].

Effects of Intramuscular Alfaxalone and Midazolam Compared With Midazolam and Butorphanol in Rhode Island Red Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) often undergo veterinary procedures requiring sedation; however, there is little published research evaluating the efficacy of sedation protocols in this species. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of intramuscular alfaxalone and midazolam compared with intramuscular butorphanol and midazolam in chickens. In a complete crossover study, 11 healthy adult hens were randomly administered midazolam 2.5 mg/kg IM combined with either alfaxalone 15 mg/kg IM (AM, n = 11) or butorphanol 3 mg/kg IM (BM, n = 11), with a 35-day washout period between groups. Time to first effects, recumbency, standing, and recovery were recorded. Physiologic parameters and sedation scores were recorded every 5 minutes by 2 blinded investigators. Fifteen minutes after injection, positioning for sham whole body radiographs was attempted. At 30 minutes, flumazenil 0.05 mg/kg IM was administered to all hens. Peak total sedation score was significantly higher for AM compared with BM (P < 0.001). Mean ± SD or median (range) time to initial effects, recumbency, standing, and recovery in AM and BM were 1.9 ± 0.6 and 2.6 ± 0.9 (P = 0.02), 3.5 (1.6-7.6) and 4.8 (2.2-13.0) (P = 0.10), 40.3 (28.0-77.8) and 33.2 (5.2-41.3) (P = 0.15), and 71.2 (45.7-202.3) and 39.9 (35.9-45.9) minutes (P = 0.05), respectively. Radiographic positioning was successful in 6 of 11 (54.5%) and 0 of 11 (0%) birds in the AM and BM groups at 15 minutes, respectively. Heart and respiratory rates remained within acceptable clinical limits for all birds. Intramuscular AM resulted in significantly faster onset of sedative effects, significantly longer duration of recumbency, significantly higher peak sedation, and improved success of radiographic positioning compared with intramuscular BM. Intramuscular AM produces clinically effective sedation in chickens without clinically significant cardiorespiratory effects.

Systemic veterinary drugs for control of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, in poultry farms.

BACKGROUND: The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a hematophagous ectoparasite that was a common pest in poultry farms through the 1960s. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and organophosphates eradicated most infestations, but concurrent with their global resurgence as human ectoparasites, infestations of bed bugs have been reappearing in poultry farms. Although the impact of bed bugs on chicken health has not been quantified, frequent biting and blood-feeding are expected to cause stress, infections and even anemia in birds. Bed bug control options are limited due to the sensitive nature of the poultry environment, limited products labeled for bed bug control and resistance of bed bug populations to a broad spectrum of active ingredients. Veterinary drugs are commonly used to control endo- and ectoparasites in animals. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two common veterinary drugs on bed bugs by treating the host with systemic antiparasitic drugs. METHODS: We conducted dose-response studies of ivermectin and fluralaner against several bed bug strains using a membrane feeding system. Also, different doses of these drugs were given to chickens and two delivery methods (topical treatment and ingestion) were used to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin and fluralaner on bed bug mortality. RESULTS: Using an artificial feeding system, both ivermectin and fluralaner caused high mortality in insecticide-susceptible bed bugs, and fluralaner was found to be effective on pyrethroid- and fipronil-resistant bed bugs. Ivermectin was ineffective in chickens either by the topical treatment or ingestion, whereas bed bugs that fed on chickens which had ingested fluralaner suffered high mortality when feeding on these chickens for up to 28 days post treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that systemic ectoparasitic drugs have great potential for practical use to control bed bug infestations in poultry farms. These findings also demonstrate the efficacy of fluralaner (and potentially other isoxazolines) as a potent new active ingredient for bed bug control.

Setting a lived experience agenda for rural suicidality research in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: The perspectives of rural communities, specifically people with lived experience of suicidality and suicide loss in rural places, are often neglected in suicide research. It is critical that rural and remote health researchers acquire a deeper understanding of suicidality in rural Canadian communities for generation of relevant knowledge to better inform the development of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention solutions. This article presents research findings of how rural residents understand their community values, what information gaps they identify in relation to current suicide research, and how research can be mobilized to reach rural communities. METHOD: Researchers conducted six virtual focus groups with 47 participants from the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador between March and May 2021. All focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Focus group findings revealed the need for research that recognizes the significance of rural culture, the sense of community experienced and the ways in which they shape rural suicide experiences with associated impacts of suicide. Participatory, community-based action research methods are required to examine the interplay between rural residence, community, and suicide. In addition, the voices of rural people with lived experience of suicide are absent in the research literature. The need exists for qualitative research conducted for the purpose of investigating the lived experience of rural suicidality. CONCLUSION: Research participants asked that a lived experience agenda be prioritized to include the voices and stories of rural people, with consideration of rural culture, an aspect of rural suicidality currently not evident in Canadian research literature.

Clinicopathologic, Gross Necropsy, and Histopathologic Effects of High-Dose, Repeated Meloxicam Administration in Rhode Island Red Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Meloxicam is a commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for backyard poultry that has demonstrated pharmacodynamic efficacy at a single high dose of 5 mg/ kg. This study characterized the adverse effects of meloxicam administered in chickens at an approximate dose of 5 mg/kg orally twice daily for 5 days. Twenty-one adult Rhode Island Red hens (Gallus gallus domesticus), judged to be healthy based on an external physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), and plasma biochemistry panel, were recruited for this study. The subject birds were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 11) or control group (n = 10) and received a 15-mg tablet of meloxicam or a nonmedicated feed pellet, respectively, orally twice daily. Physical examinations and body weight measurements were performed daily, and observation for clinical signs occurred twice daily. Following completion of the 5-day treatment course, an external physical examination, blood collection for a CBC and plasma biochemistry panel, euthanasia, necropsy, and measurement of meloxicam tissue residues were performed. During the treatment course, 1 hen from the treatment group died with peracute clinical signs, 2 hens from the treatment group died suddenly with no clinical signs, and 1 hen from the treatment group became acutely lethargic and was euthanized. Within the meloxicam group, 7 out of 11 hens had gross and histologic evidence of varying levels of renal acute tubular injury and gout. Plasma uric acid concentrations were above the species reference intervals in all affected hens in the treatment group that were still available for testing. The control group had no evidence of renal injury or gout based on postmortem examinations. Based on the results of this study, repeated oral dosing of meloxicam in chickens at 5 mg/kg twice daily is not recommended.

Having Hard Conversations About Racism Within Nursing Education: A Collaborative Process of Developing an Antiracism Action Plan.

BACKGROUND: Multiple events that occurred in the United States in early 2020 prompted a widespread response to address racism that exists within systemic and social structures. Third-year psychiatric nursing students at a small Western Canadian university answered the call to action by initiating a process to address racism within clinical and educational settings in their faculty. METHODS: The researchers used collaborative autoethnography to examine the experience of students and faculty working collaboratively to create a Faculty of Health Studies antiracism action plan. RESULTS: The reflections of the student and faculty researchers highlighted three major themes: what inspired the work of creating an antiracism action plan, doing the work, and lessons learned. CONCLUSION: Engaging in this research provided an opportunity to critically reflect on the process of students and faculty working together in establishing an antiracism action plan. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(8):461-468.].

Intramuscular Alfaxalone-Butorphanol-Midazolam Compared with Ketamine-Butorphanol- Midazolam in New Zealand White Rabbits.

Rabbits are a common companion animal and research subject and frequently require sedation to facilitate procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of intramuscular butorphanol and midazolam combined with either alfaxalone or ketamine in rabbits. In a complete crossover study, healthy New Zealand white rabbits (n = 9; age, 6 mo) randomly received midazolam (1 mg/kg IM) and butorphanol (1 mg/kg IM) combined with either alfaxalone (2 mg/kg IM; ABM) or ketamine (5 mg/kg IM; KBM). Time to first effects, recumbency, and standing (recovery) were recorded. Every 5 min during recumbency, an investigator who was blind to treatment group collected serial physiologic parameters and sedation scores. At 5 min after rabbits became recumbent, manipulations were performed to mimic 2-view radiography and a cephalic intravenous catheter was placed. At 30 min after drug injection, flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg IM) was administered for reversal. Food consumption and fecal output were measured for 3 d after each study day. Time to standing and duration of recumbency differed significantly between groups. The median (range) of the total sedation score for ABM was 10 (8 to 10) and for KBM was 10 (6 to 10). Sham radiographs were successful in all rabbits in both groups. Physiologic parameters were not significantly different between groups over time. At 24 h after drug treatment, KBM-treated rabbits showed reduced food intake and both groups showed reduced fecal output. Total sedation scores decreased significantly over time in KBM rabbits ( P < 0.001) but not in ABM rabbits (P = 1). The duration of recumbency was significantly longer in ABM rabbits than in KBM rabbits. Both protocols produced sufficient sedation for radiograph acquisition without clinically significant adverse effects.

Strategies Used to Teach Professional Boundaries Psychiatric Nursing Education.

Issues in understanding professional boundaries have been reported amongst student psychiatric nurses. Nursing students are at risk of crossing and violating professional boundaries as they are inexperienced in maintaining therapeutic relationships. Despite these challenges, there was a lack of literature regarding boundary instruction in psychiatric nursing education. Interpretative description was applied as method to answer: What strategies do psychiatric nurse educators utilize to teach professional boundaries to undergraduate students? Eleven educators and nine psychiatric nurses were interviewed. Data was analyzed using an inductive approach. Eight participants also attended a focus group to help refine analysis. Boundary instruction strategies included sharing stories, reflective activities, discussion in clinical settings, role modeling, and role play. Boundary instruction should be incorporated into psychiatric nursing curriculum in a deliberate manner to ensure students are exposed to the topic in meaningful ways throughout their academic career.

Pharmacokinetics of maropitant citrate in Rhode Island Red chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) following subcutaneous administration.

Maropitant citrate is a synthetic neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist and substance P inhibitor used for control of emesis in dogs in cats. Maropitant citrate is used empirically in birds, despite a lack of pharmacokinetic data in avian species. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of a single dose of maropitant citrate 1 and 2 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) in eight Rhode Island Red hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). A crossover study design was used with 1-week washout between trials. Blood samples were collected over 36 h after drug administration. Plasma concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined via non-compartmental analysis. The mean maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum concentration, and elimination half-life following 1 and 2 mg/kg SC were 915.6 ± 312.8 ng/ml and 1195.2 ± 320.2 ng/ml, 0.49 ± 0.21 h and 1.6 ± 2.6 h, and 8.47 ± 2.24 h and 8.58 ± 2.6 h, respectively. Pharmacokinetic data suggests doses of 1 or 2 mg/kg SC may be administered every 12-24 h to maintain above target plasma concentration similar to dogs (90 ng/ml). These data provide a basis for further investigation of maropitant citrate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in birds.

Evaluation of a nutritional supplement for the alleviation of pain associated with feline degenerative joint disease: a prospective, randomized, stratified, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pain-alleviating and activity-enhancing effects of glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate (Dasuquin) in cats that had degenerative joint disease (DJD) and owner-noted mobility/activity impairment. We hypothesized that the nutritional supplement would produce pain-relieving and activity-enhancing effects in cats with painful DJD. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, stratified, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 59 cats with DJD pain were assigned to receive a placebo (n = 30) or supplement (n = 29) for 6 weeks after 2 weeks of placebo. Outcome measures (at-home accelerometry and client-specific outcome measures [feline (CSOMf); Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI); quality of life (QoL)]; and veterinarian examination) were collected at days 14, 28, 42 and 56. RESULTS: Twenty-seven cats in the treatment group and 30 in the placebo group completed the trial. Within the first 2 weeks (placebo administration to all cats), 78% of all cats had an improvement in CSOMf scores. Both groups showed significant improvement at most time points in CSOMf, FMPI, QoL and pain scores, with the placebo group showing greater improvement than the supplement group (significant for CSOMf [P = 0.01]). Overall, no differences in activity were seen between the groups. Cumulative distribution function analysis indicated that for most levels of activity, the placebo-treated cats were more active; however, the least active cats were more active on the supplement (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study showed a strong placebo effect. The glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement did not show pain-relieving effects when compared with placebo.