Javma-journal of The American Veterinary Medical Association最新文献

Objective: To demonstrate the proper technique for performing a systematic oral examination in dogs and to explain the clinical significance of oral health assessment in veterinary practice.

Animals: Client-owned dogs of various breeds, ages, and sizes presented for routine wellness examinations or oral health evaluations.

Methods: This instructional video outlines a step-by-step approach to conducting a conscious canine oral examination, including patient positioning, safe handling techniques, and systematic inspection of oral structures such as the lips, gingiva, teeth, tongue, palate, and oropharynx. The video also highlights normal anatomical features and common pathologies, such as periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and others. Footage was recorded in a clinical setting with a cooperative canine patient and voice-over narration for educational clarity.

Results: Viewers are provided with a practical visual guide to improve their ability to identify oral abnormalities and perform comprehensive oral assessments. Emphasis is placed on recognizing early signs of disease and understanding the limitations of conscious oral examinations compared to those performed under anesthesia.

Clinical relevance: Routine oral examinations are a critical component of canine health assessments. The conscious oral examination informs treatment planning for a complete oral health assessment under general anesthesia. Early detection of oral disease can lead to timely intervention, improve quality of life, and prevent systemic complications. This video aims to enhance clinical confidence and promote best practices among veterinary professionals and students by reinforcing the "why" and "how" of the canine oral examination.

Objective: The goal of this project was to examine the metabolic effects of IA methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) following injection into multiple low-motion joints.

Methods: Six 3-year-old geldings without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction or insulin dysregulation were randomly injected with 20 mg of IA MPA/joint (80 mg total; bilateral distal hock joints) or an equal volume of saline. Serial blood samples were collected for resting ACTH, cortisol, insulin, and glucose, as well as insulin and glucose following repeated low-dose oral sugar tests. Treatments were crossed over after a 6-week washout, and the process was repeated.

Results: IA treatment with a total dose of 80 mg of MPA caused significant decreases in resting ACTH and cortisol concentrations between 4 and 12 hours after MPA injection. No significant effects of IA MPA treatment were noted in relation to resting insulin or glucose concentrations, nor were there any effects of IA MPA on insulin or glucose concentrations following low-dose oral sugar tests.

Conclusions: 80 mg of IA MPA in metabolically normal horses failed to induce significant changes in insulin and/or glucose, in contrast to data reported with other IA corticosteroids.

Clinical relevance: With significant concern regarding corticosteroid-induced laminitis and the reported correlation of laminitis with IA corticosteroid administration, the present report provides additional information for equine veterinarians. Reported practitioner sentiment that IA MPA carries a lower risk for corticosteroid-induced laminitis may relate to the lack of postinjection hyperinsulinemia noted in this study. However, additional work in insulin-dysregulated and/or laminitis-prone horses is required before IA MPA should be considered safe to use in these horses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to update prevalence and incidence data for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in companion dogs in the US and evaluate potential risk factors based on data from the Dog Aging Project.

Methods: A nested case-control study was performed within data collected from the 47,444 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project from December 16, 2019, to December 31, 2023. Gastric dilatation-volvulus cases were selected by identifying dogs for which the owner had reported "bloat with torsion/GDV" or a description of GDV in the free text; control dogs without reported GDV history were selected at a 2.2:1 ratio.

Results: 170 dogs had an owner-reported GDV event. A total of 374 dogs were selected as a control population. The lifetime prevalence of GDV was 0.23%, and the incidence was 1.74/1,000 dog years at risk. Compared to controls, dogs at increased odds of GDV included those that were purebred, were male, had a body weight > 40 kg, had a low body condition score, and were Poodles/Poodle mixes. There was no increase in GDV odds associated with fearful/anxious behavior, neuter status, age at neuter, diet type, or number of meals fed per day.

Conclusions: Identification of Poodles as the breed with the highest occurrence of GDV was novel. Increasing body size, low body condition score, and male sex were confirmed as risk factors for development of GDV, but this analysis failed to identify increased anxiety or diet as risk factors.

Clinical relevance: Early identification of dogs at highest risk for GDV facilitates conversation with owners about prophylactic gastropexy and clinical signs of GDV.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is one of several neurotrophic proteins necessary for normal development and function of the mammalian nervous system. Nerve growth factor is necessary for normal brain cholinergic function, and reduced brain cholinergic activity is a hallmark pathological feature of human Alzheimer's disease (AD). In both aging humans and transgenic rodent models, disruption of the normal NGF metabolic pathway (NGF dysmetabolism) leads to brain neuronal damage, loss of synaptic plasticity, and cognitive decline. Nerve growth factor dysmetabolism in AD patients is a gradual process, beginning years prior to the development of mild cognitive impairment. In addition to changes in the levels of specific molecular regulators of the NGF pathway, there are changes in the proportions of the 2 major receptors for NGF and its precursor (proNGF) in the brain: the tropomyosin kinase A (TrkA) receptor and the p75 neurotrophin (p75NTR) receptor. Nerve growth factor has high affinity for TrkA receptors, the stimulation of which has neuroprotective effects. The precursor of NGF has higher affinity than NGF for p75NTR receptors; stimulation of p75NTR receptors by proNGF has deleterious effects on neurons. With NGF dysmetabolism, the respective ratios of available NGF/proNGF and TrkA/p75NTR receptors are decreased, favoring neuronal damage. In rodent models genetically engineered to produce monoclonal antibodies against NGF, neuronal damage and cognitive decline occur, even when the antibodies are targeted specifically against peripheral (ie, not CNS) NGF. Because canine cognitive dysfunction is a naturally occurring model of human AD, NGF dysmetabolism may be relevant to aging dogs. This article will review details of NGF dysmetabolism and how this aberrant pathway contributes to cognitive decline.

Background: Canine enteric coronavirus (CECoV) causes diarrhea and vomiting, often leading to outbreaks in kennels and shelters. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association does not recommend vaccination due to limited evidence of efficacy. This meta-analysis assesses CECoV vaccine immunogenicity and protective efficacy against diarrhea and viral shedding.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for experimental or observational studies of dogs vaccinated against CECoV, published from inception to September 29, 2025. Included studies confirmed dogs were free of CECoV infection and neutralizing antibodies before study. Exclusions applied to noncompliant studies. The Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation and funnel plots assessed bias risk. To assess vaccine immunogenicity, ELISA optical density (OD) values and log2 virus neutralization (VN) titers were regressed; pooled risk ratios evaluated protective efficacy.

Results: From 415 studies, 5 experimental studies with unclear bias risks were included. Most reported dog age but omitted sex or breed. Inactivated vaccines significantly increased both OD values and VN titers, whereas attenuated vaccines significantly increased OD values but not VN titers. Vaccination reduced diarrhea risk by 72% (risk ratio, -1.28; 95% CI, -2.05 to -0.51), but did not decrease viral shedding (risk ratio, -0.25; 95% CI, -0.70 to 0.21).

Clinical relevance: CECoV vaccines are immunogenic and reduce diarrhea, but do not significantly reduce viral shedding, potentially masking infections in clinical settings and thus complicating disease control in communal environments. Limited literature and studies from similar research groups suggest removing CECoV vaccines from guidelines. Standardized reporting is recommended to improve future canine epidemiological research reliability.

Objective: To describe the associations between Faffa Malan Chart (FAMACHA) score, fecal strongyle eggs per gram (EPG), Hct, total protein (TP), and body condition score (BCS) in small ruminants in New York State.

Methods: Pastured animals not given anthelmintics within 4 weeks were enrolled. From June 1 to August 11, 2021 (period A), 137 goats and 110 sheep on 20 farms with a FAMACHA score of 3 to 5 were enrolled. From July 6 to October 19, 2022 (period B), 79 goats and 72 sheep on 18 farms with FAMACHA scores of 1 to 5 were enrolled. Associations between FAMACHA score, strongyle EPG, Hct, TP, and BCS were investigated.

Results: FAMACHA scores were not associated with strongyle EPG in goats or sheep in either period. Increasing FAMACHA score was associated with lower Hct for goats in both periods and for sheep in period B, but not period A. Strongyle EPG was not associated with BCS in goats or sheep in either period. Increasing strongyle EPG was associated with declining Hct in both species and periods and with declining TP in both species in period A and in goats in period B.

Conclusions: We found no association between FAMACHA score and strongyle EPG. Further epidemiologic study of gastrointestinal nematodes is necessary to determine the best criteria for employing selective anthelmintic treatment in similar populations.

Clinical relevance: Veterinarians should consider using multiple parameters to estimate parasitic burden in addition to FAMACHA when deciding to administer anthelmintics to small ruminants in New York State.

Objective: To report complications and outcomes following ureteroneocystostomy performed in cats presenting for benign ureteral obstruction or ectopic ureters.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-institution study of 37 cats. Medical records were reviewed for pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables including preexisting disease, pre- and postoperative bloodwork, location and source of obstruction, surgical technique, ureteral stent placement, postoperative clinical signs, and survival time. Follow-up was ≥ 14 days or until death. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate median survival, and univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to examine correlation of variables with postoperative complications and mortality.

Results: Overall median survival was 1,980 days, with 92% of cats surviving to discharge. There was no intraoperative mortality and a relatively low incidence of short- (19%) and long-term (24%) complications. Highest mortality rate was within the first 30 days. Factors associated with increased mortality were increased preoperative BUN, creatinine, and phosphorous. Surgical ureteral stent removal occurred in 86% (6 of 7) of cases when placed, secondary to long-term recurrent urinary tract infections and stent migration.

Conclusions: Ureteroneocystostomy was a viable treatment option for benign obstructions and extramural ectopic ureters in cats, with overall longer median survival and lower long-term complication incidence compared to historical subcutaneous ureteral bypass device and ureteral stent literature. Preoperative azotemia was associated with poorer outcomes. Ureteral stents were associated with long-term complications, prompting removal.

Clinical relevance: Ureteroneocystostomy should be highly considered as a treatment option for cats presenting with benign ureteral obstructions and ectopic ureters.