Dietary Features Are Associated with Differences in the Urinary Microbiome in Clinically Healthy Adult Dogs.

Nutrition plays an important role in shaping the gut microbiome composition, although the impact of diet on the urinary microbiome (i.e., urobiome) remains unknown.

A Novel Immunodeficiency Identified in a Subset of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with and Pneumonia.

Pet dogs are a valuable natural animal model for studying relationships between primary immunodeficiencies and susceptibility to and other opportunistic respiratory pathogens. Certain breeds, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, are over-represented for pneumonia (PCP), suggesting the presence of a primary immunodeficiency in the breed. Here, we report the discovery of a nonsense variant in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs with either PCP (n = 2) or refractory pneumonia (n = 1).

Sequence Analysis of Six Candidate Genes in Miniature Schnauzers with Primary Hypertriglyceridemia.

Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to primary hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of eight Miniature Schnauzers with primary HTG and screened for risk variants in six HTG candidate genes: , , , , , and . Variants were filtered to identify those present in ≥2 Miniature Schnauzers with primary HTG and uncommon (<10% allele frequency) in a WGS variant database including 613 dogs from 61 other breeds.

Clustering analysis of lipoprotein profiles to identify subtypes of hypertriglyceridemia in Miniature Schnauzers.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is prevalent in Miniature Schnauzers, predisposing them to life-threatening diseases. Varied responses to management strategies suggest the possibility of multiple subtypes.

Hypothesis/objective: To identify and characterize HTG subtypes in Miniature Schnauzers through cluster analysis of lipoprotein profiles.

Spontaneous remission and relapse of diabetes mellitus in a male dog.

An 8-year-old male neutered Miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus based on fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria after a 2-week history of polydipsia and periuria, in line with the Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology consensus definition. Treatment of insulin and dietary management was initiated. The insulin dose was gradually reduced and eventually discontinued over the next year based on spot blood glucose concentrations that revealed euglycemia or hypoglycemia.

Development of a burst wave lithotripsy system for noninvasive fragmentation of ureteroliths in pet cats.

Background: Upper urinary tract stones are increasingly prevalent in pet cats and are difficult to manage. Surgical procedures to address obstructing ureteroliths have short- and long-term complications, and medical therapies (e.g.

An Missense Variant Is Associated with Sudden Cardiac Death and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Juvenile Dogs.

Sudden cardiac death in the young (SCDY) is a devastating event that often has an underlying genetic basis. Manchester Terrier dogs offer a naturally occurring model of SCDY, with sudden death of puppies as the manifestation of an inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We performed a genome-wide association study for SCDY/DCM in Manchester Terrier dogs and identified a susceptibility locus harboring the cardiac ATP-sensitive potassium channel gene .

The impact of urine collection method on canine urinary microbiota detection: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The urinary tract harbors unique microbial communities that play important roles in urogenital health and disease. Dogs naturally suffer from several of the same urological disorders as humans (e.g.

Targeted sequencing of candidate gene regions for myelofibrosis in dogs.

Background: Myelofibrosis often lacks an identifiable cause in dogs. In humans, most primary myelofibrosis cases develop secondary to driver mutations in JAK2, CALR, or MPL.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of variants in JAK2, CALR, or MPL candidate regions in dogs with myelofibrosis and in healthy dogs.

Characterization of the urogenital microbiome in Miniature Schnauzers with and without calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Background: Calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths are common in dogs. Humans with CaOx urolithiasis exhibit alterations of the urinary and urogenital microbiomes that might mediate urolith formation. Detection of urogenital microbes associated with CaOx in dogs could inform disease pathophysiology.

Prevalence and Predictors of Radiographically Apparent Upper Urinary Tract Urolithiasis in Eight Dog Breeds Predisposed to Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis and Mixed Breed Dogs.

Data on upper urinary tract (UUT) uroliths in dogs are important to understanding their etiology. The aim of this retrospective case-control study was to determine the prevalence and identify predictors of radiographically apparent UUT uroliths in dog breeds at increased risk for calcium oxalate uroliths (CaOx risk breeds) and mixed breed dogs. Radiologist reports of three-view abdominal radiographs were reviewed from 251 purebred dogs of 8 CaOx risk breeds and 68 mixed breed dogs.

Efficacy of medical dissolution for suspected struvite cystoliths in dogs.

Background: Medical dissolution of struvite uroliths in dogs is commonly recommended, but data on success rates and complications are limited.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of medical dissolution for suspected struvite cystoliths in dogs.

Animals: Fifty client-owned dogs fed a therapeutic dissolution diet, with or without administration of antimicrobials, for treatment of suspected struvite cystoliths.

Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in juvenile dogs.

Background: The features of juvenile-onset calcium oxalate urolithiasis in dogs have not been previously reported.

Methods: Calcium oxalate urolith submissions to the Minnesota Urolith Center between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed to identify those originating from juvenile (≤2 years, n = 510) or mature (7-9 years, n = 39,093) dogs. Breed, sex, urolith salt type and urolith location were compared between groups.

Retrospective analysis of the effects of Blastomyces antigen concentration in urine and radiographic findings on survival in dogs with blastomycosis.

Background: The Blastomyces antigen concentration in urine (BACU) test is used to diagnose blastomycosis and monitor treatment in dogs. It is unknown if a higher BACU is associated with shorter survival.

Objectives: To determine if the magnitude of BACU before treatment is associated with survival in dogs with blastomycosis.

X-linked CD40 ligand deficiency in a 1-year-old male Shih Tzu with secondary Pneumocystis pneumonia.

An approximately 1-year-old male intact Shih Tzu dog was referred to a tertiary facility with a history of progressive tachypnea, increased respiratory effort, and weight loss over a 3-month period that failed to improve with empirical antimicrobial treatment. Upon completion of a comprehensive respiratory evaluation, the dog was diagnosed with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia and secondary pulmonary hypertension. Clinical signs resolved and disease resolution was confirmed after completion of an 8-week course of trimethoprim-sulfonamide, 4-week tapering dose of prednisone to decrease an inflammatory response secondary to acute die-off of organisms, a 2-week course of clopidogrel to prevent clot formation, and a 2-week course of a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor to treat pulmonary hypertension.

Animal models of naturally occurring stone disease.

The prevalence of urolithiasis in humans is increasing worldwide; however, non-surgical treatment and prevention options remain limited despite decades of investigation. Most existing laboratory animal models for urolithiasis rely on highly artificial methods of stone induction and, as a result, might not be fully applicable to the study of natural stone initiation and growth. Animal models that naturally and spontaneously form uroliths are an underused resource in the study of human stone disease and offer many potential opportunities for improving insight into stone pathogenesis.

Sequence analysis of the coding regions of the apolipoprotein C2 (APOC2) gene in Miniature Schnauzers with idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia.

It has been hypothesized that idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia in Miniature Schnauzers is hereditary, but the gene responsible has yet to be identified. The objective of this study was to determine if there were coding variants in the apolipoprotein C2 (APOC2) gene in Miniature Schnauzers with idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia. Blood samples from 12 Miniature Schnauzers with idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia were analyzed.

Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia.

Background: Total serum calcium (tCa) concentrations are poorly predictive of ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs.

Hypothesis: There is an optimal threshold of tCa concentration that is highly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia and this threshold is higher in hyperphosphatemic dogs as compared to nonhyperphosphatemic dogs.

Animals: Nonhyperphosphatemic (n = 1593) and hyperphosphatemic (n = 250) adult dogs.

Retrospective evaluation of factors associated with degree of esophagitis, treatment, and outcomes in dogs presenting with esophageal foreign bodies (2004-2014): 114 cases.

Objective: To characterize a population of dogs presenting for esophageal foreign body removal and evaluate factors associated with degree of esophagitis and minor and major complications.

Design: Retrospective evaluation of dogs who presented for esophageal foreign body removal between January 2004 and December 2014.

Setting: University veterinary teaching hospital.

Factors other than hTau overexpression that contribute to tauopathy-like phenotype in rTg4510 mice.

The tauopathy-like phenotype observed in the rTg4510 mouse line, in which human tau expression specifically within the forebrain can be temporally controlled, has largely been attributed to high overexpression of mutant human tau in the forebrain region. Unexpectedly, we found that in a different mouse line with a targeted-insertion of the same transgene driven by the same tetracycline-TransActivator (tTA) allele, but with even higher overexpression of tauP301L than rTg4510, atrophy and tau histopathology are delayed, and a different behavioral profile is observed. This suggests that it is not overexpression of mutant human tau alone that contributes to the phenotype in rTg4510 mice.

Vitamin D metabolism in dogs with and without hypercalciuric calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Background: There are abnormalities in vitamin D metabolism in people with calcium nephrolithiasis, but limited data are available on vitamin D status in dogs with calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis.

Objective: To compare serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites in dogs with and without hypercalciuric CaOx urolithiasis.

Animals: Thirty-eight dogs with (n = 19) and without (n = 19) a history of CaOx urolithiasis and hypercalciuria.