Effective Multidisciplinary Search Strategies for Assistance Animals: A Librarian's Perspective

Successful search strategies are based on good background knowledge and a focused clinical research question. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of research involving assistance animals means there is no one universal database to answer all research questions. The topic of assistance animals can yield better results when creating subheadings based on discipline focus. Subheadings have been divided into ethicolegal, sociocultural, psychobehavioral, and medical/veterinary. Each subheading, or discipline, has their own specific databases that will yield higher relevant content than others. Contacting local academic librarians and utilizing search guides created by those librarians can lead to successful search strategies. The goal of this article is to create a template for successful search strategies in assistance animals. Eighty-nine subject guides curated by academic librarians are reviewed to identify strong databases for each topic of ethicolegal, sociocultural, pscyhobehavioral, and medical/veterinary topics in relationship to assistance animals. A live subject guide has been created and maintained at https://www.library.ucdavis.edu/guide/assistance-animals

Protocol for a Scoping/Systematic Review: Scoping Review of Vaccination for the Prevention of Calf Scours in Cow-Calf Operations

Background: The use of antimicrobials in the livestock industry has been a topic of increasing concern in the last  few years. Calf scours is one of the main causes of mortality among calves younger than 1 month and affects the development of the animal, representing severe economic losses to the producers. The causes of the disease include a variety of viral, bacterial and protozoal pathogens, and other non-infectious causes. The treatment efficacy, in particular of antimicrobial therapy, depends on the type of infection. Blanket antimicrobial treatment for calf scours without identification of the pathogen may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. In this review we explore the available literature for evidence of effective methods to prevent calf scours in cow-calf operations in California through the use of vaccination.Objectives:  The objective of this scoping review is to examine and describe the existing literature on vaccination for the prevention of calf scours that might reduce the incidence of calf scours by different causes, and therefore reduce the use of antimicrobials due to calf scours.Design: Primary research on vaccination for pathogens that cause calf scours will be considered for inclusion, such as studies conducted in pre-weaned calves that report the efficacy of vaccines for the prevention of calf scours. The process for selection and inclusion of the studies will be reported in a flow chart according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The results will be summarized in tables and charts describing study types, interventions and outcomes

Does the Use of Intratesticular Blocks in Dogs Undergoing Orchiectomies Serve as an Effective Adjunctive Analgesic?

PICO questionIn dogs undergoing orchiectomy, does the use of intratesticular blocks reduce the pain in patients compared to not using intratesticular blocks?Clinical bottom lineLow level of evidence suggests that when compared to a pre-medication with pure-µ agonist opioids, intratesticular blocks do not appear to provide significant benefit.  However, based on our clinical scenario where pre-medication is with a partial-µ opioid like buprenorphine, there may be benefit in utilising intratesticular lidocaine or bupivicaine. <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/pr-icon.jpg" alt="Peer Reviewed" /

Protocol for a Scoping Review: Measuring occupational exposure for veterinary personnel involved with 18F-FDG PET/CT

Background: As Positron Emission Tomography use is increasing in veterinary medicine, personnel are potentially exposed to increasing levels of occupational radiation.Objectives: To estimate the average exposure received by veterinary personnel during an F18-FDG PET procedure by reviewing the existing literature in both veterinary and human medicine.&nbsp;Design:&nbsp; Primary and secondary literature, including grey literature (conference proceedings), was collected in English from 1978 from citation databases: CAB Abstracts (CABDirect), Scopus, CINAHL(Ebsco), and Biosis(Web of Science) on 12 January 2024 utilizing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.&nbsp; Data will be characterized from the study using tables and figures to describe protocol information, form of dosimetry, comparison/control populations, personnel role, animal species, average exposures, number of scans, duration of exposure, comparisons with other dosimetry or measures and reporting guidelines used in each study

Does the Use of Lidocaine in Dogs and Cats Reduce Post-Operative Tracheitis?

Clinical bottom line:Examination of a human systematic review and two veterinary prospective trials suggest topical application on the glottis, and placement of lidocaine on the endotracheal tube both seem to improve sore throat and laryngeal response in animals. Choice of pre-medicants and induction agents appears to have an impact on the extent of lidocaine efficacy. Consideration should be given in allowing enough time for lidocaine placement to have effect (around 60-90 seconds). Limitations in more confident assertions of the efficacy of lidocaine being utilized to prevent tracheitis is that only the human systematic review had enough follow up time to examine the benefits of lidocaine on sore throat in intubation.  <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/pr-icon.jpg" alt="Peer Reviewed" /

Can I Hang? Ideal Time to Replace Isotonic Crystalloid Intravenous Fluids and Sets to Prevent Fluid Contamination and Blood Stream Infection: a Knowledge Summary

Clinical bottom lineBased on very poor veterinary and human evidence, fluid bags and IV sets should be changed every 96 hours whether on one or multiple patients. Additionally, supportive evidence suggests that creating a routine of wiping ports with alcohol prior to injection or withdrawal may significantly decrease the likelihood of fluid contamination. This certainly seems to be an area that needs more research.  <img src="https://www.veterinaryevidence.org/rcvskmod/icons/pr-icon.jpg" alt="Peer Reviewed" /

&nbsp;Effectiveness of Antimicrobials in the Treatment of Neonatal Diarrhea in Calves: A protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.&nbsp;Authors:&nbsp; Bernal Cordoba, Erik Davis Fausak, N. Silva del Rio

Background:Neonatal diarrhea affects nearly 25% of pre-weaned calves. Prevention through management practices is the preferable approach to control diarrhea. Once calves experience diarrhea, fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance need to be restored. Severe cases of diarrhea should be treated with antimicrobials but the need of antimicrobials in mild and moderate clinical cases it is still under debate.Objectives:The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments or the comparative efficacy of antimicrobials treatments in calves with mild, moderate and severe diarrhea.Design: The search strategy will be based on population (calves with diarrhea), and intervention (antimicrobial therapy). The following data bases will be used: Medline, CAB abstracts, Scopus, and Biosis. The outcomes of interest will be the occurrence and persistence of clinical signs of diarrhea, rate of growth, weight gain, feed efficiency or mortality