Hyperthyroidism is the most frequent endocrinopathy in older cats. To date, there is no consensus on how to best calculate the dose of radioiodine to administer to hyperthyroid cats. The goals of this study were to compare thyroid function, renal function, and survival time between hyperthyroid cats receiving a fixed dose of radioiodine and those receiving an individualized dose calculated using a clinical scoring system. Medical records of 110 cats treated with radioiodine therapy at the University of Bern between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. Thyroid function, renal function, and survival of cats treated with a fixed dose of radioiodine (2010–2015; n = 50) were compared to those of cats treated with an individualized dose (2015–2020; n = 60) at different time points after therapy. Treatment with a fixed dose of radioiodine (mean = 168 ± 26 MBq) was associated with 69% of euthyroidism, 19% persistent hyperthyroidism, and 12% hypothyroidism, whereas treatment with an individualized dose (mean = 120 ± 30 MBq) led to 54% euthyroidism, 23% hyperthyroidism, and 23% hypothyroidism (p = 0.73). More than 12 months after treatment, the incidence of azotemia was comparable between cats treated with a fixed dose (37%) and those treated with an individualized dose (31%) (p = 0.77). No factors were found to be predictive of treatment failure (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) after therapy. Median survival time after radioiodine therapy was 44 months. In a multivariate analysis, persistent hyperthyroidism was the only variable independently associated with a shorter survival time (HR = 6.24, p = 0.002). The method of calculating the dose of radioiodine (fixed vs. individualized) to treat feline hyperthyroidism does not appear to be decisive for posttreatment thyroid function, renal function, or survival.

Basal cortisol concentration is used to screen for hypoadrenocorticism (HAD) in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease, but low values often lead to unnecessary ACTH stimulation tests. This study evaluated treadmill exercise as a potential alternative method for stimulating cortisol release. Nineteen healthy pet dogs (mean age: 5.2 years, median weight: 23.4 kg) were included. After a baseline blood draw (T0), dogs were acclimated to a treadmill with treats to minimize stress. They then walked and trotted for 10 min, followed by a 30 min rest before a second blood draw (T1). Pre- and post-treadmill exercise cortisol levels were compared using a randomization (permutation) test for paired data. Median pre-exercise serum cortisol was 1.36 μg/dL (IQR: 0.9–2.095), and post-exercise was 1.1 μg/dL (IQR: 0.895–1.585), with no significant difference (p = 0.0915). After exercise cortisol increased in 9 of 19 and decreased in 10 of 19 dogs. These findings suggest that treadmill exercise for 10 min does not reliably stimulate cortisol release, assessed 30 min post-exercise. Basal cortisol concentrations in this cohort of clinically healthy dogs were lower than previously described.

BACKGROUND Clinical reasoning competency development is central to veterinary education. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) opens new possibilities for supporting students in acquiring these competencies, yet its effectiveness as a reasoning support tool in case-based learning (CBL) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether a commercially available GenAI chatbot could support veterinary students in CBL and evaluate its potential for clinical reasoning training. METHODS Following systematic evaluation, Microsoft Copilot was selected for its accessibility, functionality, and data protection compliance, and students were provided with a user-oriented manual including prompt instructions. In an interventional crossover study involving 60 fourth-year veterinary students at a Swiss university, participants alternated between AI-supported and traditional case-based learning (CBL) across four clinical cases. Clinical reasoning outcomes were assessed by a dedicated lecturer per case using 34 scored items, complemented by student surveys and lecturer reflections. RESULTS Clinical reasoning outcomes showed no meaningful evidence of a difference between AI-supported and traditional CBL groups (W = 6719, p = 0.464), with results varying across cases. Post-class surveys (n = 38) indicated that most students viewed GenAI support positively: 68% agreed the AI provided relevant inputs they had not previously considered, 58% perceived reduced task difficulty, and 61% found the AI-generated starting point effective. However, 45% also reported negative effects on case understanding and dissatisfaction with the overall learning experience. Qualitative feedback highlighted benefits such as information retrieval and stimulation of reflection, alongside limitations related to superficial or inaccurate AI outputs. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that AI integration alone is insufficient to enhance clinical reasoning in case-based learning. Without sufficient AI literacy on top of developing clinical competencies, the cognitive demands of verifying AI-generated outputs may offset potential benefits in complex reasoning tasks. Tailoring AI integration to learner experience, scaffolding, and prior AI exposure appear relevant to realizing GenAI's potential for clinical reasoning development in veterinary education.

While colonoscopies are generally benign procedures, rare complications such as colonic perforation may result in life-threatening consequences. A 15-year-old neutered male British Shorthair cat underwent colonoscopy for investigation of chronic gastrointestinal signs and persistent tenesmus. During endoscopic evaluation of a distal colonic stricture, the cat developed sudden tachycardia, severe hypoxaemia, and a dramatic decline in end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂), accompanied by diffuse subcutaneous emphysema. Intestinal perforation was suspected, and venous blood gas analysis revealed a markedly enlarged EtCO₂–PvCO₂ gradient, consistent with severe ventilation–perfusion mismatch and contributing to a presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary air embolism. Anaesthetic management focused on ventilatory adjustments, including an increased respiratory rate and initially high, then moderate peak inspiratory pressures, aimed at reducing EtCO₂ and improving oxygenation. However, improvements in oxygen saturation were limited and the cat was euthanised. Contrast-enhanced post-mortem computed tomography confirmed a distal colonic perforation with extensive air dissemination, including pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema.

Case summary: A 7-month-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of stunted growth, recurrent hypoglycaemia during the first months of its life and altered mentation. Complete blood count and biochemistry were unremarkable, except for mildly elevated serum creatinine concentration (despite low muscle mass) and concurrent isosthenuria. Hyposomatotropism was diagnosed based on persistent low circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations and a lack of response of circulating growth hormone (GH) concentration after the administration of GH-releasing hormone. Other endocrinopathies such as hypothyroidism and hypoadrenocorticism were excluded. MRI of the brain revealed a fluid-filled empty sella tursica, consistent with a pituitary cyst and atrophy/hypoplasia of the pituitary. Echocardiography was unremarkable at the time of diagnosis of hyposomatotropism. Three months later, ovariohysterectomy revealed immature ovaries, raising the suspicion of luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency. At 1 year of age, the cat developed congestive heart failure secondarily to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with severely reduced left ventricular systolic function and died a few days later. Pathology showed atrophy of the adenohypophysis, epithelial delineation of the pituitary cysts, mild cardiomegaly, multifocal fibrosis of the left ventricle and a mild, multifocal, chronic epicarditis. Relevance and novel information: GH deficiency is a very rare endocrinopathy in cats. This is the first case to describe the development of DCM with concurrent hyposomatotropism, which has previously been reported in human medicine. Other notable abnormalities that could be related to GH deficiency are juvenile self-limiting hypoglycaemia, behavioural changes and possible nephropathy.