Comparison of individually-adjusted heparin versus ultra low-dose aspirin for prevention of thromboemboli in immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and the safety of ultrasoud-guided fine needle aspiration of the feline pancreas: a case-control Study

Abstract

The following thesis is a compilation of the clinical studies designed and performed over a 3-year period at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. The studies, which include a prospective, randomized clinical trial and a retrospective case-controlled study, are unrelated to each other in subject matter, but both proved to be challenging in their own way, and had a lot to teach as far as the challenges and benefits unique to each type of clinical trial. The chapters first include a review of canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which provided significant insight into the common types of studies performed in veterinary medicine as well as provides background on a complex and interesting disease. The second and third chapters detail the studies performed, as well as discuss the specific challenges, shortcomings, and learning issues presented with each study. Despite careful planning and anticipation of the potential issues that would be encountered, each study was imperfect in its own way. Performing these studies was a very valuable way to learn about the challenges of study design, data collection, and data evaluation.