OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiorespiratory effects, quality and duration of sedation of 2 subcutaneous sedation protocols for noninvasive procedures in guinea pigs (GPs). ANIMALS: 24 pet GPs (15 females, 9 males) of 3 different age groups: infant (n = 8), juvenile (8), and adult (8). PROCEDURES: The study design was a randomized, crossover, blinded, clinical trial with a washout period of at least 7 days between protocols. Guinea pigs were sedated SC with alfaxalone (5 mg/kg; group A) or alfaxalone (5 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.5 mg/kg; group A + M) to facilitate blood sampling, radiography, or abdominal ultrasonography. Vital parameters, hemoglobin saturation (SpO₂), and sedation scores were recorded every 5 minutes. RESULTS: Mean heart rate was lower in group A than group A + M (P = 0.001), and respiratory rate was significantly (P = 0.001) decreased relative to baseline during sedation in both groups. The SpO₂ remained above 95% in both sedation groups. Rectal temperature was significantly (P = 0.001) lower during recovery versus baseline. Onset of sedation was shorter and the duration longer in group A + M than in group A. The duration and depth of the sedation was different between age groups (P = 0.001), being longer and deeper in adults. Bruxism, hectic movements, twitching, and some degree of hyperreactivity were observed during 41 of the 48 sedations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subcutaneous administration of alfaxalone provided reliable sedation for nonpainful procedures in GPs. When combined with midazolam, alfaxalone provided longer and deeper sedation that was more significant in adults than in younger patients.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a veterinary enhanced recovery after surgery (Vet-ERAS) protocol in dogs undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL). The protocol, adapted from human medicine, encompassed a multidisciplinary approach and interventions such as early goal-directed fluid resuscitation, antibiotic prophylaxis, anti-emetic therapy, multimodal analgesia, and early enteral nutrition. A prospective observational study compared outcomes between dogs managed with the Vet-ERAS protocol (n = 59) and historical controls (n = 82). Implementation of the Vet-ERAS protocol resulted in a significant reduction in perioperative complication rates (p = 0.003) and 15-day mortality (5% vs. 20.7%). Intraoperative complications, including tachycardia and hypothermia, were significantly lower in the Vet-ERAS group. Compliance with the protocol improved over time (p = 0.01). These findings suggest that integrating the Vet-ERAS protocol into perioperative management can improve outcomes in dogs undergoing EL.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a pathology of great impact worldwide. Its physiopathology is not completely known, and it is usually diagnosed by imaging techniques performed at advanced stages of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate early serum metabolome changes and identify the main metabolites involved in an inflammatory OA animal model. This study was performed on thirty rats. OA was induced in all animals by intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate into the knee joint. Blood samples were taken from all animals and analyzed by mass spectrometry before OA induction and 28, 56, and 84 days following induction. Histological evaluation confirmed OA in all samples. The results of this study allow the identification of several changes in 18 metabolites over time, including organic acids, benzenoids, heterocyclic compounds, and lipids after 28 days, organic acids after 56 days, and lipid classes after 84 days. We conclude that OA induces serological changes in the serum metabolome, which could serve as potential biomarkers. However, it was not possible to establish a relationship between the identified metabolites and the time at which the samples were taken. Therefore, these findings should be confirmed in future OA studies.