Obstructive sleep apnea in a Chihuahua successfully managed with ondansetron.

While the persistence of clinical signs related to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, particularly sleep-disordered breathing patterns following appropriate surgical management is likely to be relatively rare, this potential sequela needs to be considered, along with being aware of possible medical management options such as serotonin antagonists.

Presumed immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia associated with pregnancy in a cat.

Case Summary: A 7-year-old female entire Birman presented with acute-onset haemorrhagic vulvar discharge. Moderate, normocytic, normochromic, non-/pre-regenerative anaemia, along with a moderate mature neutrophilia, were seen on haematology. Saline test for agglutination was positive.

Videofluoroscopy, CT angiography, and ultrasonography of congenital esophageal stenosis in a Labrador retriever.

A 7-week-old Labrador retriever presented for further investigation into acute onset regurgitation, following weaning from liquid to solid food. A videofluoroscopic swallow study demonstrated a severe, focal esophageal dilation in the mid-cervical region, with marked luminal narrowing distally. Computed tomography with angiography revealed esophageal stenosis, extending from C4-T2, secondary to circumferential esophageal wall thickening.

Assessment of the effects of diet and physical rehabilitation on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and protein-enriched diet, physical rehabilitation, or both on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and arthroscopic surgery for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease. DESIGN Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 48 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Evaluation of the clinical effects of diet and physical rehabilitation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE To assess clinical effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and protein-enriched diet, physical rehabilitation, or both in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and arthroscopic surgery for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. DESIGN Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 48 dogs with unilateral CCL disease.

Estimates of biologic variation in specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations in cats without clinical or ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis.

Background: Serum concentrations of feline-specific pancreatic lipase are commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis in cats, but little is known regarding biologic variation of this analyte.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine biologic variation, index of individuality, and reference change values (RCV) for specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations (Spec fPL) in apparently healthy cats.

Methods: Four blood samples were collected prospectively from 12 apparently healthy cats at 2-week intervals.

Validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of canine S100A12.

Background: Canine S100 calcium-binding protein A12 (cS100A12) shows promise as biomarker of inflammation in dogs. A previously developed cS100A12-radioimmunoassay (RIA) requires radioactive tracers and is not sensitive enough for fecal cS100A12 concentrations in 79% of tested healthy dogs. An ELISA assay may be more sensitive than RIA and does not require radioactive tracers.

Characterization, treatment, and outcome of bacterial cholecystitis and bactibilia in dogs.

Objective-To characterize historical, clinicopathologic, ultrasonographic, microbiological, surgical, and histopathologic features of bacterial cholecystitis and bactibilia in dogs and evaluate response to treatment and outcomes in these patients. Design-Retrospective case-control study. Animals-40 client-owned dogs (10 with bacterial cholecystitis on histologic analysis or bactibilia on cytologic examination [case dogs] and 30 without bactibilia [controls]) evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital between 2010 and 2014.

Influence of feeding on serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations.

Measurement of serum concentration of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) has been shown to be highly specific for exocrine pancreatic function and sensitive for the diagnosis of canine pancreatitis. Currently, it is recommended that food be withheld for at least 12 hours before collecting a blood sample for analysis from dogs. However, it is unknown whether feeding has any influence on serum canine PLI concentration.

Prevalence of blastocystis in shelter-resident and client-owned companion animals in the US Pacific Northwest.

Domestic dogs and cats are commonly infected with a variety of protozoan enteric parasites, including Blastocystis spp. In addition, there is growing interest in Blastocystis as a potential enteric pathogen, and the possible role of domestic and in-contact animals as reservoirs for human infection. Domestic animals in shelter environments are commonly recognized to be at higher risk for carriage of enteropathogens.

Effect of syringe and aggregate filter administration on survival of transfused autologous fresh feline red blood cells.

Objective: To assess the effect of transfusion using a syringe and microaggregate filter on short-term survival and circulating half-life of autologous feline RBCs.

Design: Prospective, internally controlled, observational study.

Setting: A University Teaching Hospital

Animals: Six apparently healthy, owned cats.

Serum alpha1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations in healthy dogs--method validation and determination of reference interval and intra-individual variation.

Background: A chronic loss of canine α1 -proteinase inhibitor (cα1 -PI) into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract could change the systemic proteinase-proteinase inhibitor balance. Serum cα1 -PI concentrations have not been studied in dogs with well-defined GI diseases.

Objectives: To further evaluate serum cα1 -PI concentrations in dogs with GI diseases, the objectives of this study were to (1) analytically validate a previously developed fecal cα1 -PI immunoassay to determine serum concentrations, (2) determine a population-based reference interval (RI) and assess the clinical utility, (3) determine stability of serum cα1 -PI, (4) determine the intra-individual variation in healthy dogs, and (5) determine the clinically relevant magnitude of change of serum cα1 -PI.

Evaluation of fecal α1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations in cats with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease and cats with gastrointestinal neoplasia.

Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastrointestinal lymphoma are common disorders in cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate fecal α(1)-PI concentrations, a marker of gastrointestinal protein loss, in cats with histopathological evidence of gastrointestinal inflammation or gastrointestinal neoplasia. Fecal and serum samples were obtained from 20 cats with chronic gastrointestinal disease in which endoscopic biopsies were performed.

Estimates of biological variation in routinely measured biochemical analytes in clinically healthy dogs.

Background: The degree of biological variation in routinely measured concentrations and activities of biochemical analytes has not been well defined in client-owned pet dogs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define indices of biological variation and, where appropriate, indices of individuality and critical change values for routinely measured serum biochemical analytes in a group of clinically healthy dogs owned and housed privately.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted.

Development and analytic validation of an immunoassay for the quantification of canine S100A12 in serum and fecal samples and its biological variability in serum from healthy dogs.

S100A12 (calgranulin C) is a Ca(2+)-binding protein that has been proposed to play a central role in both innate and acquired immune responses. In humans, S100A12 has been reported to be increased in serum and/or plasma in patients with various inflammatory disorders, and this protein has been suggested to be a sensitive and specific marker for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An immunoassay for S100A12 is currently available for use in humans, but antibodies against the human protein do not cross-react with canine S100A12 (cS100A12).

Influence of transfusion technique on survival of autologous red blood cells in the dog.

Objective: To determine the effect of 3 differing transfusion techniques on survival of autologous canine RBCs.

Design: Prospective, blinded study.

Setting: University Teaching Hospital.

Association between serum triglyceride and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations in miniature schnauzers.

The objective of this study was to investigate possible associations between serum triglyceride and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentrations in miniature schnauzers. One hundred and ninety-five miniature schnauzers were enrolled and divided into two groups based on whether they had normal (group 1) or increased (group 2) serum triglyceride concentrations. Serum cPLI concentrations were measured and compared between groups.

Gastric smooth muscle hamartoma in a cat.

An 11-year-old cat presented for evaluation of intermittent vomiting, constipation and hyporexia of 3 weeks duration. Ultrasonographic and endoscopic examination revealed a soft tissue mass adjacent to the lower gastro-esophageal sphincter. Surgical excision of the mass was successfully performed resulting in a resolution of clinical signs.

Stability of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration in serum samples and effects of long-term administration of prednisone to dogs on serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations.

Objective: To evaluate stability of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) in serum samples and to determine the effect of long-term administration of prednisone on serum cPLI concentrations.

Sample Population: 8 canine serum samples for the stability evaluation and serum samples obtained from 6 healthy young adult heterozygous (carrier) dogs with X-linked hereditary nephritis for determining the effect of prednisone administration.

Procedures: To evaluate stability of serum cPLI concentration, an aliquot of each serum sample was stored at each of 4 temperatures between -80 degrees and 24 degrees C; samples were analyzed on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for determination of Ntau-methylhistamine concentration in canine urine specimens and fecal extracts.

Objective: To develop and validate a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for determination of Ntau-methylhistamine (NMH) concentration in canine urine and fecal extracts and to assess urinary NMH concentrations in dogs with mast cell neoplasia and fecal NMH concentrations in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy.

Sample Population: Urine specimens were collected from 6 healthy dogs and 7 dogs with mast cell neoplasia. Fecal extracts were obtained from fecal specimens of 28 dogs with various severities of protein-losing enteropathy, as indicated by fecal concentration of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor.

Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of N-acetylcysteine in dogs with spinal cord trauma from acute intervertebral disc disease.

Study Design: The effect of N-acetylcysteine administration intravenously before hemilaminectomy surgery on neurologic outcome and 15F 2t isoprostane excretion in dogs was examined in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the effect of N-acetylcysteine administration on urinary 15F 2t isoprostane excretion and neurologic outcome following hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disc disease.

Summary Of Background Data: Oxidative stress is a mediator of secondary injury to the spinal cord following trauma.

Clinical characterization of a familial degenerative myelopathy in Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs.

Background: Adult dogs with degenerative myelopathy (DM) have progressive ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs, leading to paraplegia and euthanasia. Although most commonly reported in German Shepherd dogs, high disease prevalence exists in other breeds.

Objective: Our aim was the clinical and histopathologic characterization of familial degenerative myelopathy (FDM) in Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC) dogs.

Gastroenteropathy in Norwegian Lundehunds.

Norwegian Lundehunds are often affected by gastrointestinal disease, the most common clinical signs of which are intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, ascites, and subcutaneous edema of the hind legs. The most frequent laboratory changes include hypoalbuminemia (with or without hypoglobulinemia), hypocalcemia, a decrease in the serum cobalamin concentration, and an increase or decrease in the serum folate concentration, reflecting microbial synthesis or malabsorption, respectively. Histopathologic abnormalities can include chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal lymphangiectasia, and lymphoplasmacytic enteritis.