Shauna Blois - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Shauna Blois

PubMed, Dec 1, 2016

A 5-y-old female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and letharg... more A 5-y-old female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy for 1 wk. Only mild dehydration was detected on physical examination. CBC analysis revealed marked erythrocytosis with an unremarkable plasma biochemistry panel; follow-up CBC analyses revealed a consistent primary erythrocytosis. Whole-body radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable except for a small nephrolith in the right kidney and a small cyst in the left kidney. The plasma erythropoietin level was 17.0 mIU/mL and considered normal. In light of the diagnostic work-up and consistent erythrocytosis, a diagnosis of polycythemia vera (primary erythrocytosis) was made. The initial presentation of diarrhea resolved after treatment with oral metronidazole (20 mg/kg PO BID for 7 d). Treatment for the polycythemia consisted of a phlebotomy initially followed by chemotherapy with hydroxyurea (10 mg/kg PO BID). During the subsequent 12 mo, the hydroxyurea dose adjusted according to follow-up CBC results, and finding an optimal dosage regimen proved to be challenging. One year after the initial diagnosis, the ferret presented to an emergency clinic for acute and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea and died shortly thereafter. The postmortem diagnosis was acute venous infarction of the small and large intestine. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the diagnosis and long-term management of polycythemia vera in a ferret and the use of hydroxyurea for this purpose.

Schalm's Veterinary Hematology, Mar 4, 2022

PubMed, May 1, 2016

A 22-month-old indoor/outdoor neutered male domestic short-haired cat had a history of progressiv... more A 22-month-old indoor/outdoor neutered male domestic short-haired cat had a history of progressive lethargy, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an irregular hyperechoic mass in the mid-abdomen. He was unresponsive to symptomatic medical management and was euthanized after 3 days of hospitalization. A diagnosis of disseminated extraintestinal toxoplasmosis was made based on the finding of intracytoplasmic protozoan parasites on histopathological examination of mesenteric lymph nodes, hepatic and intestinal samples, and on immunohistochemistry.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Nov 5, 2018

Javma-journal of The American Veterinary Medical Association, Jun 15, 2011

Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Jul 24, 2023

BackgroundThe Platelet function analyzer‐200 (PFA‐200) can determine the effect of clopidogrel in... more BackgroundThe Platelet function analyzer‐200 (PFA‐200) can determine the effect of clopidogrel in cats, but analysis traditionally must be performed at point‐of‐care (POC). The ability to ship samples of blood to a laboratory would allow widespread access.ObjectivesWe aimed to validate the shipping of blood samples for PFA‐200 analysis in cats to determine the effect of clopidogrel.MethodsTwenty healthy cats and 10 cats receiving clopidogrel were recruited. Blood was collected from cats and aliquoted into two samples, one was analyzed at POC within 2 hours using the PFA‐200, and the other was packaged and transported to a location 4 km away, stored, and transported back to the lab for analysis the following day.ResultsMedian closure times (CTs) with the collagen/adenosine diphosphate (COL/ADP) cartridge in healthy cats were 51.5 seconds (POC) and 78.8 seconds (shipped), which were significantly different (P < 0.001), and for cats on clopidogrel, median CTs were 147.5 seconds (POC) and 190 seconds (shipped), which were not significantly different (P = 0.131). Median CTs with the P2Y cartridge in healthy cats were 50.5 seconds (POC) and 64.9 seconds (shipped), which were significantly different (P = 0.03), and in cats receiving clopidogrel, median CTs were 300 seconds (POC) and 300 seconds (shipped) which were not significantly different (P = 1.000). Reference intervals for CTs differed for COL/ADP at POC (19.8–89.7 seconds) and shipped (50.9–161.6 seconds) and for P2Y at POC (35.5–118.8 seconds) and shipped (35.1–108.9 seconds). Receiver operating characteristics showed similar areas under the curve (AUCROCs) regarding the effect of clopidogrel for COL/ADP at POC (0.994 seconds) and shipped (0.932) and for P2Y at POC (0.904 seconds) and shipped (0.975 seconds). When classifying for the presence of clopidogrel effects, Cohen's Kappa was 0.62 for COL/ADP and 1.00 for P2Y.ConclusionsShipping blood samples for PFA analysis are feasible with similar performance to POC analyses for determining the effect of clopidogrel in cats.

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Mar 1, 2021

PubMed, Apr 1, 2009

A 6-year-old, spayed female dog was evaluated for a history of chronic coughing, excessive pantin... more A 6-year-old, spayed female dog was evaluated for a history of chronic coughing, excessive panting, and lethargy. Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed, and pulmonary mineralization was documented with a 99m Technitium-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) scan. Blood gas analysis showed hypoxia. Clinical signs resolved and blood gas values returned to normal when corticosteroid therapy was discontinued.

Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Jul 12, 2023

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Mar 1, 2023

BackgroundPlatelet function testing in cats allows determination of clopidogrel effect. Plateletw... more BackgroundPlatelet function testing in cats allows determination of clopidogrel effect. Plateletworks assesses aggregation based on decreasing platelet counts on hematology analyzers in response to agonists. It has not been validated for the IDEXX ProCyte Dx analyzer. Ideal time to perform analysis and the utility of other platelet parameters have not been fully assessed.ObjectivesTo validate Plateletworks ADP on the ProCyte Dx, to investigate the utility of various platelet parameters using Plateletworks ADP, and determine the ideal time to perform analysis.AnimalsTwenty healthy cats recruited from the general population used for transference of reference intervals to a new analyzer, and 10 cats receiving clopidogrel to determine clopidogrel effect.MethodsPlateletworks ADP using the ProCyte Dx and ADVIA 2120i analyzer was run simultaneously in both healthy cats and cats receiving clopidogrel, and CBC results at different timepoints were compared between analyzers.ResultsAggregation was significantly different (P < .001) between analyzers. Cohen's kappa showed almost perfect agreement for determination of clopidogrel effect, and the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic was 1.0. Lower limits of the aggregation reference interval in healthy cats were 28.8% on the ProCyte Dx and 12.5% on the ADVIA 2120i. Coefficients of variation for platelet parameters were not different between analyzers. No significant changes in mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, large platelets, and mean platelet component were identified. No significant change in aggregation was observed within the first hour after phlebotomy.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceOur study validated the Plateletworks ADP system on the ProCyte Dx analyzer. Samples may be analyzed up to 1 h after collection.

Journal of Small Animal Practice, Nov 9, 2017

To compare haemostatic function in healthy dogs after treatment with low-dose aspirin alone, fish... more To compare haemostatic function in healthy dogs after treatment with low-dose aspirin alone, fish oil alone or a combination of these two therapies. Double-blinded randomised controlled clinical trial on 16 healthy client-owned dogs. Comprehensive haemostatic testing was performed at baseline and after 7 days of therapy with low-dose aspirin in all dogs. Following a 14-day washout, six dogs received fish oil, and nine dogs received combination therapy of aspirin plus fish oil; haemostatic testing was performed before and at 7 and 28 days after treatment initiation. Aspirin was associated with significantly decreased platelet function as measured by a collagen-epinephrine cartridge and inhibited arachidonic acid-induced whole-blood platelet aggregometry. Fish oil alone did not significantly affect any haemostatic tests. The combination of aspirin plus fish oil therapy caused a significantly greater inhibition of adenosine diphosphate and collagen-induced whole blood aggregometry compared to aspirin alone. Fish oil added to aspirin therapy appears to augment inhibition of some measures of platelet function in healthy dogs.

PubMed, Aug 1, 2008

A 2-year-old, castrated male, Australian shepherd was presented with a history of chronic mild at... more A 2-year-old, castrated male, Australian shepherd was presented with a history of chronic mild ataxia, obesity, and lethargy. The dog was treated with levothyroxine, but the ataxia worsened. Cranial nerve abnormalities developed and the dog was euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed marked thyroid gland atrophy and widespread, severe central nervous system atherosclerosis.

Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Mar 26, 2018

Background: Thrombin plays a central role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Calibrated automated thro... more Background: Thrombin plays a central role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Calibrated automated thrombography (CAT), a thrombin generation assay, may be a useful test for hemostatic disorders in dogs. Objectives: To describe CAT results in a group of healthy dogs, and assess preanalytical variables and biological variability. Animals: Forty healthy dogs were enrolled. Methods: Lag time (Lag), time to peak (ttpeak), peak thrombin generation (peak), and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) were measured. Direct jugular venipuncture and winged-needle catheter-assisted saphenous venipuncture were used to collect samples from each dog, and results were compared between methods. Sample stability at À80°C was assessed over 12 months in a subset of samples. Biological variability of CAT was assessed via nested ANOVA using samples obtained weekly from a subset of 9 dogs for 4 consecutive weeks. Results: Samples for CAT were stable at À80°C over 12 months of storage. Samples collected via winged-needle catheter venipuncture showed poor repeatability compared to direct venipuncture samples; there was also poor agreement between the 2 sampling methods. Intra-individual variability of CAT parameters was below 25%; inter-individual variability ranged from 36.9% to 78.5%. Conclusions: Measurement of thrombin generation using CAT appears to be repeatable in healthy dogs, and samples are stable for at least 12 months when stored at À80°C. Direct venipuncture sampling is recommended for CAT. Low indices of individuality suggest that subject-based reference intervals are more suitable when interpreting CAT results.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Dec 7, 2022

Javma-journal of The American Veterinary Medical Association, May 11, 2022

completely unware. 9 This illustrates the importance of the CAPE. While veterinarians are aware o... more completely unware. 9 This illustrates the importance of the CAPE. While veterinarians are aware of the significance of the CAPE, 10 the results of previous research suggest that the performance and value of the CAPE may not be well communicated to veterinary clients. In a study 7 in which 1,400 veterinary clients were surveyed, only 8% of dog owners and only 7% of cat owners mentioned that their pet was examined when asked which services were provided during a veterinary visit. The study authors speculated that these low percentages may be because veterinarians are not making clients aware that an examination was being performed and suggested that veterinarians could better emphasize the value of the CAPE. Further, in a survey of 2,188 owners, of those who were taking their pet to a veterinarian less often than they had in the past, 63% and 68% of dog and cat owners, respectively, reported that they saw no need for an annual examination. 11 Concerns OBJECTIVE To describe veterinarians' communication of the companion animal physical exam (CAPE) to veterinary clients and to identify factors associated with the number of physical exam components communicated by veterinarians to clients. SAMPLE 376 video-recorded veterinarian-client-patient interactions, involving 60 veterinarians. PROCEDURES 18 CAPE components were studied in relation to veterinarians' use of 7 communication-related parameters. A mixed linear regression model was used to assess veterinarian, patient, and appointment factors associated with the number of components conveyed by a veterinarian. RESULTS Veterinarians conveyed 1,566 of 2,794 (56.1%) of the components that they examined to clients, as having been examined. Of those components that were examined and conveyed by veterinarians, the impact of the finding was communicated for 496 of 1,566 (31.7%) of the components. Visual aids and take-home literature were each used in relation to an examined component during 15 of the 376 interactions (4%). A significant association was found between number of CAPE components conveyed and gender of the veterinarian (females conveyed 1.31 more), as well as the type of appointment (2.57 more were conveyed in wellness appointments and 1.37 more in problem appointments, compared to rechecks). CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings identify an opportunity for veterinarians to further emphasize components of the CAPE, which may in turn increase clients' perceived value of the CAPE due to understanding the benefits for their pet. This may be accomplished with the Talking Physical Exam, in which veterinarians discuss CAPE components findings with clients in real time, and the relevance of the findings to the patient's health.

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Oct 1, 2019

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Nov 21, 2020

Background: Increased serum interleukin 17 (IL-17) concentration has been associated with the imm... more Background: Increased serum interleukin 17 (IL-17) concentration has been associated with the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in humans. No data are available about IL-17 in immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) of dogs. Objectives: Monitor changes in serum IL-17 concentration during the acute stages of IMHA in dogs, compared with results in healthy dogs, and its relationship with outcome. Animals: Thirty-one client-owned dogs with primary IMHA and 27 healthy dogs. Methods: Quantification of serum IL-17 concentration using a commercially available ELISA kit at the time of admission (D0), after 48 hours (D2) and after 96 hours (D4) as compared to concentration in healthy dogs. The IMHA dogs were classified as survivors if discharged from hospital, or nonsurvivors for any cause of in-hospital mortality. Results: Mean serum IL-17 concentration was higher in dogs with IMHA on admission compared with healthy dogs (D0), but this difference was not significant (mean, 19.52 pg/mL vs 10.52 pg/mL, respectively, P = .17). Throughout hospitalization, serum IL-17 concentration significantly decreased in survivors. Serum IL-17 concentration at D0 was not different between survivors and nonsurvivors, but surviving dogs had significantly lower serum IL-17 concentration at D2 and D4 (P = .04 and P = .004, respectively) compared with nonsurviving dogs. No correlation was found between serum IL-17 concentration and serum total bilirubin or lactate concentrations or CBC parameters.

Journal of Small Animal Practice, Aug 1, 2008

A 10-year-old female spayed cat was diagnosed with acromegaly secondary to a pituitary tumour. At... more A 10-year-old female spayed cat was diagnosed with acromegaly secondary to a pituitary tumour. At the time of diagnosis, the cat had insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus and its insulin-like growth factor-I levels were elevated. Clinical signs included polyuria, polydipsia and weight gain. Persistent hyperglycaemia and glucosuria were identified, and fructosamine levels remained elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a pituitary tumour. Transsphenoidal cryohypophysectomy was used to treat the pituitary tumour. Postoperatively, the serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels decreased and the diabetes mellitus was controlled with routine levels of insulin. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second reported case of acromegaly treated with cryohypophysectomy, and the first that reports a favourable long-term outcome. Cryohypophysectomy may be a safe and effective treatment for cats with a pituitary mass resulting in acromegaly.

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Jul 16, 2012

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical features, diagnostic work‐up, treatment, and outcome of a dog w... more ObjectiveTo describe the clinical features, diagnostic work‐up, treatment, and outcome of a dog with oral thermal injury secondary to chewing on a salbutamol metered‐dose inhaler (MDI).Case SummaryA Boxer dog was presented after chewing on a salbutamol MDI. The dog was anxious, tachycardic and had moderate hypokalemia. The dog was treated with potassium supplementation and discharged after 24‐hour hospitalization. Five hours after the discharge, the dog represented for dysphagia, anorexia, cervical pain, and a left‐sided head tilt. Oral examination revealed edematous and erythematous swelling of the soft palate causing airway compromise; histopathology demonstrated vascular necrosis and infarction. The dog was treated with supportive care including the placement of a tracheostomy tube. The dog recovered fully and was discharged 8 days after initial presentation.New or Unique Information ProvidedSalbutamol toxicity has been documented previously in dogs but oral thermal injury associated with a salbutamol MDI has not been reported in dogs. Although a rare complication, dogs who have been exposed to MDIs should have a thorough oral exam and be monitored closely for signs of respiratory compromise.