Topics in companion animal medicine最新文献

Fish oil supplements for dogs are used therapeutically for various clinical conditions. However, products may be variable in quality, potency, and stability. The objective of this study was to analyze eleven canine fish oil supplements from two time points (2010 and 2021) for the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) arochlors, minerals, and vitamins A and D, and to compare their compositions to label claims. Molybdenum, cadmium, mercury, lead, and PCBs were not detected in any samples. Other minerals were detected in some products, and concentrations were well below general maximum tolerable levels or applicable regulatory maximums for dog foods. EPA and DHA concentrations varied widely among products and between timepoints. Overall, there were six instances of products not meeting label claims within 5 % for EPA, DHA, or both. Across both timepoints, five minimum content claims were made for vitamin A, and three for vitamin D. In 2010, the analyzed concentrations were below the claims for one product each for vitamins A and D, while for 2021 all products met their respective claims. Overall, products were assessed to have low risk for vitamins A and D or mineral toxicoses when used as recommended. At higher (therapeutic) doses, contributions to the overall intake for nutrients of concern should be considered, including selenium and fat soluble vitamins. In addition, there is room for improvement for manufacturers to ensure accurate label guarantees.

Environmental factors, largely influenced by human behavior, account for approximately 80 % of malignant tumors. Risk factors associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have been identified in various countries among both humans and domestic animals. This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for NHL in dogs residing in the district of Porto, Portugal. A comprehensive survey comprising 70 questions was undertaken and given to 113 dog owners, including 55 cases and 58 controls. Our findings revealed that dogs weighing over 10 kg (OR=9.1, p < 0.001), purebred dogs (OR=2.4, p = 0.037), those with consuming homemade food (OR=2.7, p = 0.03), and fruits and vegetables (OR=2.8, p = 0.022) exhibited higher odds of developing lymphoma. Notably, dogs with lymphoma were exposed to a significantly higher mean smoking index compared to the control group (13.7, SD=12.5 vs. 8.4, SD=9.3, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that lymphoma risk in dogs seems to be influenced by a combination of innate (genetic) factors and modifiable environmental factors linked to owner habits. Nevertheless, further large-scale epidemiological studies are warranted to validate these results.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a constant rate infusion of ketamine on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in dogs anesthetized with propofol.

Study design: Prospective randomized, blinded clinical study.

Animals: Sixteen healthy dogs.

Methods: Dogs were randomized into two groups, the propofol-ketamine group (GPK) and propofol group (GP), with eight animals each. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with a constant rate infusion (CRI) of propofol at a rate of 0.8 mg/kg/min. All dogs were mechanically ventilated throughout the study. Thirty-five minutes after anesthesia started, the GPK received a bolus of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg IV, over 2 minutes) followed by the CRI of ketamine at 30 μg/kg/min, while the GP received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl over 2 minutes followed by the CRI of 0.9% NaCl at the same rate. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic variables were recorded 15 min after initiating CRI of propofol (M0), immediately after each treatment bolus (M1), and 20 (M2) and 40 min (M3) after initiating CRI of ketamine or 0.9% NaCl solution in both groups.

Results: Cardiac index, stroke index, and peripheral vascular resistance index were not significantly different between treatments. No significant differences in left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions derived from echocardiographic variables were observed between groups.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: During treatment with CRI of ketamine at the proposed rate, hemodynamic parameters and echocardiographic variables, used to measure left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, were maintained stable in healthy dogs anesthetized with propofol.

Despite the increasing use of drugs to facilitate feline management in veterinary care, there is still a lack of information on the anxiolytic and sedative effects and their specific physiological impacts. We aimed to compare the sedative, hematological, biochemical and cardiovascular effects of oral single-dose trazodone and gabapentin, alone or in combination, in 8 healthy adult mixed-breed domestic cats on a prospective, randomized, cross-over, and placebo-controlled study. Cats were assigned to receive an oral single dose of trazodone (50 mg) (TG), gabapentin (100 mg) (GG), trazodone (50 mg) and gabapentin (100 mg) (GTG), or placebo (PG). Sedation score, physiological, hematological, biochemical, and cardiovascular variables were assessed at baseline and 120 minutes after drug administration. The mean dose of trazodone was 12.1± 1.1 mg/kg and gabapentin 24.2± 2.3 mg/kg. All data were normally distributed. Blood tests remained within the reference range, but plasma protein increased by 3.78 % in TG. Trazodone alone and associated with gabapentin significantly reduced respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure compared to baseline and placebo. GTG showed a reduction in heart rate and the highest sedation scores. Short-duration excitatory reactions were observed in 37.5 % of the cats in GTG and 12.5 % in TG. Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) increased in GTG and differed statistically from GG. On ECG, no clinically relevant changes were observed. The association of trazodone (50 mg/cat) and gabapentin (100 mg/cat) increases sedation scores compared to gabapentin alone, with a mild impact on HR, RR, BP, and IVRT in cats.

Monorchidism is an uncommon condition in tomcats, defined by the congenital absence of one of the testicles. Due to the lack of information regarding possible biomarkers, most monorchidism cases require laparotomy in order to differentiate it from cryptorchidism. Human data suggest that monorchid patients have lower serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels when compared to cryptorchids, premises that has been also scrutinized in veterinary medicine. Here, we describe a case of monorchidism in a tomcat, focusing on the clinical findings and the dynamics of AMH serum levels before and after the removal of the singularly identified testicle. To contribute to the limited knowledge of AMH levels across different reproductive statuses in tomcats, the findings from this monorchid case were compared to values obtained from two cryptorchid tomcats (one unilateral and one bilateral), three intact tomcats, and three castrated tomcats. In addition, clinical, histopathological and ultrasound examinations were conducted in all tomcats. The AMH levels in the monorchid tomcat revealed a consistent decrease after surgery, from 27.3 ± 0.2 ng/ml when the testicle was still present, to 2.3 ± 0.2 ng/ml 1 week later, and further decreasing below the detection limit (<0.15 ng/ml) for the last 2 weeks of the trial, matching the AMH level of the castrated male. AMH serum levels of the bilateral and unilateral cryptorchid tomcat (22.5 ± 0.3 ng/ml; 24.1 ± 0.2 ng/ml) were in agreement with those of the three intact males (19.1 ± 2.2 ng/ml) and the monorchid prior to surgery. AMH testing effectively confirmed the absence of testicular tissue after unilateral orchiectomy in a monorchid tomcat but did not differentiate between monorchidism and cryptorchidism. To our knowledge, this is the first case of monorchidism in tomcats, in which AMH levels before and after surgery have been determined.

Neoplasia is a common disease in companion animals. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of neoplasia often leads to a better disease outcome. Cytology is an inexpensive and minimally invasive method frequently used to diagnose neoplasia. However, the physical distance between veterinary practices and pathologists often impedes rapid diagnosis. Telecytology facilitates rapid interpretation of cytology results leading to prompt diagnosis. Smartphone cameras have been suggested as an alternative to image-capturing devices used in conventional telecytology. This project was designed to evaluate whether telecytology with smartphone cameras can be effectively used to diagnose canine round cell neoplasms. For this purpose, five round cell tumours [lymphoma, mast cell tumour (MCT), transmissible venereal tumour (TVT), plasmacytoma and histiocytoma] were imaged using a smartphone camera and the images were sent to two pathologists at distant locations via emails. For each tumour type, the cytopathological diagnosis from the two pathologists was compared with the histopathological diagnosis of the same tumour and the agreement was determined by Cohen's kappa test. Inter-pathologist variability was also determined using the same test. The diagnostic agreement between histopathology and cytopathology was excellent (κ = 1.0) for lymphoma and MCT when x10 objective images were used. Variable agreements were reported for TVT, plasmacytoma and histiocytoma. When both 10x and 40x objective images were used, diagnostic agreement between histopathology and cytopathology was excellent for all tumours except histiocytoma. The inter-pathologist agreement was excellent for lymphoma, MCT and TVT using the 10x objective, while with the 40x objective it was excellent for all tumours except histiocytoma. The diagnostic accuracy was greater when both 10x and 40x objective images were used for diagnosis than when only 10x objective images were used (χ2 = 40.0, p = < 0.001). The use of images obtained using 10x and 40x objectives increased the diagnostic accuracy compared to the use of only 10x objective. These findings suggest that telecytology performed with smartphone cameras is a promising method to rapidly diagnose canine round cell tumours. Future studies with larger number of samples and samples with atypical presentations of round cell neoplasms will be helpful to further elaborate the present findings.

Objectives: There is a lack of literature regarding the surgical management of high-grade patellar luxation in cats. Among the available options, corrective osteotomies are suitable for correcting severe bone deformities. Therefore, this study aimed to report on the surgical management of grade IV medial patellar luxation (MPL) through tibial corrective osteotomies in two cats.

Material and methods: The two cats were diagnosed with grade IV MPL. The marked alterations observed in radiographic and tomographic images indicated external tibial torsion of 15.7° and 21.8°, concomitant with tibial valgus of 13.9° and a tibial plateau angle (TPA) of 20°, respectively. For surgical treatment, chrondoplasty was performed in Case 1, and block recession trochleoplasty in Case 2, followed by a combination of techniques originally developed for dogs. Proximal total tibial osteotomy (PTO) was combined with medial crescentic closing wedge osteotomy (MCCWO) for one case and with cranial closing wedge ostectomy (CCWO) for the other case.

Results: Satisfactory postoperative results were obtained for both cats, resulting in realignment of the stifle extensor mechanism, with both tibial torsions close to 0° in subjective analysis. Additionally, a mechanical medial proximal tibial angle of 91° and a mechanical medial distal tibial angle of 99.3° were achieved for the first cat, whereas a TPA of 9.2° was achieved for the second cat. No major complications were observed, and the cats showed an early return to weight-bearing on the affected limb.

Conclusion: Both cases highlight that tibial corrective osteotomies are suitable for cats and may play a role in the decision-making process for treating high-grade MPL. Moreover, a combination of PTO with MCCWO or CCWO may help achieve satisfactory outcomes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on hematologic and biochemical markers in dogs with pyometra in sepsis. Eighteen patients were equally distributed between the control group (CG) and the hyperbaric group (HG). All patients underwent ovariohysterectomy, supportive therapy, and insertion of a central venous catheter. HG attended three HBOT sessions (2 absolute atmospheres, 45 min) postoperatively. Blood tests were performed on admission, 1 h postoperatively, 24 h, 48 ​​h, and 72 h postoperatively. Both groups showed a significant reduction in red blood cells (Hm) and hematocrit (Hto) after surgery, but this effect was reversed after three HBO sessions and maintained in CG. Despite the initial reduction in hemoglobin (Hg) in HG, the values ​​increased again after the end of the protocol. A reduction of >50 % in leukocytes was noted in HG in the last evaluation in relation to the values ​​at admission. Significant reduction was also found for neutrophils, metamyelocytes and rods in HG. There was no difference in biochemical markers. HBO associated with OVH and supportive therapy can be considered in the treatment of pyometra, with rapid and marked improvement, after three sessions, in the e red blood cells and leukogram.

Phaeohyphomycosis is an uncommon disease caused by dematiaceous fungi that is almost exclusively found in immunocompromised dogs. Here we describe the case of a dog treated with prednisone (1.1 mg/kg/day) and cyclosporine (11.2 mg/kg/day) for immune thrombocytopenia that developed cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions affecting both forelimbs 29 days after initiation of immunosuppression. The owner elected conservative outpatient treatment that consisted of wound care, antibiotics, mirtazapine, maropitant, and a dose reduction of prednisone (0.3 mg/kg/day) in lieu of biopsies or cultures. The dog was subsequently euthanized 13 days later because of an acute onset of increased respiratory rate and effort, obtunded mentation, and an inability to ambulate. Postmortem examination revealed widespread fungal dissemination in the heart, pericardium, intercostal muscles, lymph nodes, skin, subcutis, kidneys, lungs, pleura, and nasal cavity. Histopathology of the widespread plaques and nodules revealed fungal hyphae that were 4-8 µm in diameter, pigmented, variably septate, non-parallel, and toruloid with acute branching and occasional terminal bulbous dilations up to 20 µm in diameter, resembling chlamydoconidia. Yeast-like cells had a thick, variably pigmented wall and internal, foamy to granular, pale amphophilic contents. Fungal culture of swabs from the right elbow subcutaneous granulomas and from the left lateral pleural nodules yielded pure growth of Curvularia sp. Genomic DNA was extracted from harvested mycelia and molecular sequencing confirmed the presence of a novel Curvularia sp., C. arizonensis.

This case report discusses a unique case of renal eventration in a cat resulting from a lumbar hernia possibly of traumatic origin. A two-year-old indoor/outdoor male neutered domestic shorthair was evaluated for a rapidly growing mass noted in the right lumbar region. Initial physical examination revealed a firm, circular and slightly mobile mass in the lumbar region, along with pain and tenderness on palpation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed muscle discontinuity in the lumbar region consistent with a hernia, with eventration of the right kidney possibly caused by abdominal trauma. A paralumbar celiotomy was performed over the area of increased volume, revealing the right kidney with a hematoma on its surface and partial rupture of the renal capsule. The muscular defect was identified, and the kidney replaced in its anatomical location. The patient recovered quickly and was discharged from hospital 46 h later, with no reported complications. Recheck 2 months post-operatively confirmed unremarkable biochemical assessment (creatinine, urea and USG within normal limits) and abdominal ultrasound findings, and 2 years post procedure the patient remained clinically well. This unusual case emphasizes the importance of including renal eventration in the differential diagnosis for acutely presenting masses in the lumbar region of cats.