[Investigations of a controlled, decision tree based procedure for Selective Dry Cow Treatment in Bavarian dairy farms].

Objective: Four parameters of a decision tree for Selective Dry Cow Treatment (SDCT), examined in a previous study, were analyzed regarding their efficacy in detecting cows for dry cow treatment (DCT, use of intramammary antimicrobials). This study set out to review wether all parameters (somatic cell count [SCC≥ 200 000 SC/ml 3 months' milk yield recordings prior dry off (DO)], clinical mastitis history during lactation [≥1 CM], culturing [14d prior DO, detection of major pathogens] and California-Mastitis-Test [CMT, > rate 1/+ at DO]) are necessary for accurate decision making, whether there are possible alternatives to replace culturing, and whether a simplified model could replace the decision tree.

Material And Methods: Records of 18 Bavarian dairy farms from June 2015 to August 2017 were processed.

Clinical relevance of intradermal test results in atopic dogs.

Topic And Aims: Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory and pruritic skin disease and in most cases associated with IgE antibodies against environmental allergens. To date, the only causative therapeutic option is allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Offending allergens for AIT can be identified by intradermal testing (IDT) or serum allergen-specific IgE testing.

Canine vaccination in Germany: A survey of owner attitudes and compliance.

Background: Vaccination is the most important preventive measure for protection against infectious diseases in humans and companion animals. Nevertheless, scepticism about the safety and importance of vaccines is increasing in human and in veterinary medicine. Although owner attitudes towards vaccination have been investigated in cats, there are no similar studies in dogs.

Are Respiratory Clinical Signs in Horses Associated With Strongyle Egg Shedding Rates on Farms With Varying Egg Shedding Levels?

Respiratory signs or more specifically severe equine asthma (SEA) is in some studies reported to be associated with decreased strongyle egg shedding. This association can be reproduced in a larger population of unrelated horses. The owners of 209 horses, on seven farms in Bavaria, were interviewed using, an in prior studies validated questionnaire.

Effects of Calf Horn as Chews on the Behavior of Laboratory Dogs.

It is increasingly required that non-human animals in laboratories are provided with adequate enrichment to promote the welfare of the animals. In a previous publication we showed that laboratory dogs intensively used the horn of calf hooves as chewing objects. In this report, we describe the effect of calf horn on selected behaviors of 62 laboratory dogs (60 beagles, two Foxhound crossbreds) in three research facilities (A, B, C).

A survey of vaccine history in German cats and owners' attitudes to vaccination.

Objectives: Vaccination is the most important measure for prevention of feline infectious diseases. Cat owner compliance with vaccination recommendations has been investigated in the UK but not in other European countries. The aim of the present study was to determine cat owners' attitudes towards vaccination in cats in Germany, to identify factors that are associated with the vaccination status of their cats and to compare the results with those of the UK survey.

Caudal Fossa Ratio in Normal Dogs and Eurasier Dogs with VLDLR-Associated Genetic Cerebellar Hypoplasia.

Cerebellar and hindbrain malformations, such as cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), vermis hypoplasia, and Dandy-Walker malformation, occur in dogs as well as in humans. Neuroimaging is essential for a precise description of these malformations and defining translational animal models. Neuroimaging is increasingly performed in puppies, but there is a lack of data on developmental changes in the caudal fossa, which can impair assessment of caudal fossa size in this age group.

The diagnostic relevance of NT-proBNP and proANP 31-67 measurements in staging of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.

Background: There is no agreement in current publications regarding the reliability of serum concentrations of natriuretic peptides (NPs) to detect dogs with subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and to differentiate between asymptomatic stages.

Objectives: We sought to compare N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide 31-67 (proANP) concentrations between various stages of canine MMVD and to investigate the influence of age, weight, and sex.

Methods: In this prospective study, dogs were classified in different disease stages using the modified Canine Heart failure International Expert Forum (CHIEF) system.

Lowered N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in response to treatment predict survival in dogs with symptomatic mitral valve disease.

Objectives: In humans with congestive heart failure (CHF), better outcome is correlated with lower natriuretic peptide (NP) levels after starting treatment and greater percentage reduction of NP levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between absolute and relative changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide 31-67 (proANP 31-67) and overall cardiac survival in patients with symptomatic myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Furthermore, we sought to compare clinical and echocardiographic status of 12-month survivors and non-survivors.