Basal plasma concentrations of routine variables and packed cell volume in clinically healthy adult small-sized dogs: effect of breed, body weight, age, and gender, and establishment of reference intervals.

Background: Plasma variables may be affected by breed or body weight (BW). Small-sized dogs are very common, but no specific reference intervals (RI) are used.

Objectives: The primary objective of this prospective study was to assess the potential effect of breed, BW, age, and sex on routine plasma analytes and packed cell volume (PCV) in small-sized dogs.

Influence of the observer's level of experience on systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure measurements using Doppler ultrasonography in healthy conscious cats.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the observer's level of experience on within- and between-day variability, and the percentage of successful systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial blood pressure (DAP) measurements obtained by Doppler ultrasonography (DU) in awake cats. For this purpose, six healthy conscious cats were used and four observers with different levels of training performed 144 SAP and DAP measurements on 4 days using DU. Measurements were recorded five consecutive times, and mean values were used for statistical analysis.

Basal plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in clinically healthy adult small size dogs: effect of body weight, age, gender and breed, and reference intervals.

Plasma NT-proBNP has previously been evaluated in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). However, reference intervals (RI) established according to the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations have never been provided. The objectives of this prospective study were to assess effects of breed, body weight, age, and sex on plasma NT-proBNP, and to establish RI according to CLSI for this biomarker in a large population of dogs predisposed to DMVD.

Prospective echocardiographic and tissue Doppler screening of a large Sphynx cat population: reference ranges, heart disease prevalence and genetic aspects.

Objectives: (1) To investigate heart morphology and function using echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), (2) to determine heart disease prevalence and characteristics, and (3) to assess potential genetic features in a population of Sphynx cats presented for cardiovascular screening.

Animals: A total of 147 echocardiographic examinations, including 33 follow-ups, were performed by trained observers on 114 Sphynx cats of different ages (2.62 ± 1.

Comparison of pharmacokinetic variables for creatinine and iohexol in dogs with various degrees of renal function.

Objective: To compare pharmacokinetics and clearances of creatinine and iohexol as estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs with various degrees of renal function.

Animals: 50 Great Anglo-Francais Tricolor Hounds with various degrees of renal function.

Procedures: Boluses of iohexol (40 mg/kg) and creatinine (647 mg/kg) were injected IV.