Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery RSS feed: Current Issue. Each month, Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery features abstracts of material from recent publications and presentations, followed by comments from specialists in the field. Small animal veterinarians and veterinary technicians gain new insight into specific topics and increase their skills in judging how to apply new tests and treatments in practice situations. http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery1041-7826254April 2012 © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000382/abstract?rss=yesThe American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have published the synopsis of a task force focused on recommendations with regard to pain management. The initial critical question asked in their pain management algorithm is “Is the patient in pain now?” While this question appears straightforward, appropriate pain assessment is often taken for granted. More recent research has attempted to refine how pain is assessed, so practitioners have tools available to answer this question.The Cornerstone of Pain Management: Pain AssessmentCarolyn M. McKune10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.001Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Guest Editorial13http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000394/abstract?rss=yesThere is often an inheritable component to the development of anxiety and fear, noise phobia, impulse and control aggression, conspecific aggression, predatory aggression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs. Although these conditions may appear at between 1 and 2 years of age, signs of irrational fear in puppies may become evident as early as 3 months of age.Time of separation from the litter effect on behavior10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.002Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Behavior34http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000400/abstract?rss=yesPulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs is present when echocardiographic estimates of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) exceed 30 mm Hg. Precapillary PH results from abnormalities on the arterial side of the pulmonary vascular system. Precapillary PH occurs in dogs secondary to idiopathic primary arterial PH, heartworm disease, left-to-right cardiovascular shunts, vascular occlusive disease, hypoxemia, and various pulmonary diseases. In contrast, post-capillary PH is typically associated with left-sided heart disease. It occurs as a result of pulmonary venous hypertension, which leads to pulmonary capillary hypertension and subsequently to pulmonary arterial hypertension.Cardiac biomarkers and pulmonary hypertension10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.003Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Cardiology45http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000412/abstract?rss=yesPanniculitis is inflammation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. It has various causes. Some of the known causes include infectious agents, vasculopathies, pancreatic disorders, neoplasia, and a variety of other factors. Sterile panniculitis in dogs is an inflammation of the subcutaneous fat in the absence of microbial infection. The pathogenesis of sterile panniculitis is not well understood.Sterile panniculitis10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.004Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Dermatology56http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000424/abstract?rss=yesC-reactive protein (CRP) and specific canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (Spec cPL) are biomarkers of generalized or nonspecific inflammation and pancreatic inflammation in dogs, respectively. The smallest change necessary to represent a marker of pathology rather than biological variation has not been defined.C-Reactive protein and canine PLI variability in healthy dogs10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.005Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Gastroenterology66http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000436/abstract?rss=yesSmall-intestinal obstruction is a common cause of acute vomiting in dogs. Early recognition of obstruction is required to provide appropriate and successful therapy. Delay of surgery can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, bowel necrosis, peritonitis, and sepsis, with increased length of hospital stay and cost of hospitalization.Radiography and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.006Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Diagnostic Imaging68http://www.advancesinsmallanimal.com/article/PIIS1041782612000448/abstract?rss=yesEntropion, lid in-turning, is common in dogs, but the condition is hardly reported in the cat. However, the Persian and the Maine Coon cat breeds have eyelid in-turning tendencies associated with specific facial anatomical features. Young cats are at risk for entropion when they are affected by persistent ocular surface irritation, such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. Older cats develop entropions associated with lid laxity as is seen in geriatric humans or enophthalmos with lid in-turning as a secondary feature. Therefore, feline entropion differs quite substantially from the condition in dogs. Dogs have tarsal plate deformities seen in several breeds, excess facial skin in breeds such as the Shar Pei, and drooping of facial tissue as important causes of entropion.Feline entropion10.1016/j.asams.2012.03.007Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery 25, 4 (2012)2012-04-01Advances in Small Animal Medicine & Surgery2012-04-01254S1041-7826(12)X0004-5Ophthalmology88