Prevalence of hypercalcemia in primary hypoadrenocorticism in dogs: Multicenter, retrospective study.

Background: Hypoadrenocorticism is an important differential for hypercalcemia. The etiology of hypercalcemia in hypoadrenocorticism in dogs is unclear.

Objective: To review the prevalence of hypercalcemia and use statistical models to identify clinical, demographic, and biochemical variables associated with hypercalcemia in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism.

Splenectomy in the management of primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs.

Background: Current reports about the use of splenectomy for the management of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) or both in dogs are limited.

Objectives: To retrospectively describe the use of splenectomy as part of the management for IMHA, ITP, and concurrent IMHA and severe thrombocytopenia (CIST) in dogs. It was hypothesized that splenectomy would be beneficial in allowing for reduction of dose of immunosuppressive drugs or discontinuation in 1 or more of these groups.

The use of high-dose immunoglobulin M-enriched human immunoglobulin in dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Background: The IV use of human immunoglobulin (hIVIG) in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) has been described previously, but herein we describe the use of high-dose IgM-enriched hIVIG (Pentaglobin).

Hypothesis/objectives: Dogs treated with high-dose Pentaglobin will experience shorter time to remission and hospital discharge and have decreased transfusion requirements compared to dogs receiving standard treatment alone.

Animals: Fourteen client-owned dogs diagnosed with primary IMHA at specialist referral hospitals in the United Kingdom.

Cross-sectional study of approaches to diagnosis and management of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in primary care and referral veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.

Objectives: To determine whether veterinarians in primary care practices (PCPs) and board-certified clinicians (BCCs) approach treatment of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) similarly, and whether practitioners with more experience treat similarly to those with less experience. We hypothesised those in PCPs would show more variation in their approach to similar cases than BCCs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing a questionnaire to BCCs and veterinarians in PCPs.

Prevalence of canine primary hyperparathyroidism recurrence in Keeshond and non-Keeshond dogs after curative parathyroidectomy.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an uncommon condition in dogs, for which there is a documented genetic predisposition in Keeshonden and sporadic cases in other breeds. Secondary literature reports a 10 per cent prevalence for recurrence in patients successfully treated by surgical parathyroidectomy, however there is no published primary literature available on which to base this assertion. This study sought to document prevalence of recurrence within Keeshonden and non-Keeshonden breeds.

Canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia: management challenges.

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia is one of the most common manifestations of canine immune-mediated disease, yet treatment regimens remain nonstandardized and, in some cases, controversial. The main reason for this, as for most diseases in veterinary medicine, is the lack of large-scale placebo-controlled trials so that the efficacy of one treatment over another can be established. Most of the evidence used for treatment comes from retrospective studies and from personal preference and experience, and because of this, treatment regimens tend to vary among institutions and individual clinicians.

Effects of essential fatty acid supplementation in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy: a clinical trial.

The effects of essential fatty acid supplementation (EFA) on the control of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs were investigated in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Fifteen dogs were treated with triple purified Ω-3 oil containing 400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 250 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 22 mg vitamin E per 1.5 mL at a dose of 1.

Mutations in genes causing human familial isolated hyperparathyroidism do not account for hyperparathyroidism in Keeshond dogs.

The roles of the calcium sensing receptor gene (CaSR) and the multiple endocrine neoplasia gene (MEN1) were investigated in Keeshond dogs with familial hyperparathyroidism. Mutations in these genes have been shown to cause familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIH) in humans. Affected dogs were identified through measurement of blood calcium and parathyroid hormone levels.

Recognition and diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases in the cat and dog.

Lysosomal storage diseases are rare, inherited disorders caused by the deficiency of 1 or more enzymes within the lysosomes of cells or by the deficiency of an activating protein or cofactor necessary for enzyme activity. The enzyme deficiency leads to a catabolic blockade and subsequent accumulation of storage material, and this in turn leads, albeit indirectly, to a wide array of clinical signs. Many features of storage diseases make them difficult to recognize and diagnose.