Publications by authors named "Karen Brenner"

Article Synopsis
  • Hypoadrenocorticism in cats is rare, often presenting with abnormal serum sodium and potassium levels, but some cases show normal values; a study analyzed 41 cats with varying results.* -
  • The study found that cats with electrolyte imbalances were more likely to exhibit symptoms like hypothermia and weakness, while over half of the subjects (85.4%) were discharged after treatment.* -
  • About one-third of the cats showed hypercalcemia, and those without serious underlying conditions often had a good prognosis post-hospitalization; testing for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is recommended.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A group of miniature dachshunds showed symptoms of muscle weakness and exercise intolerance, prompting a detailed study.
  • Researchers used muscle biopsies, immunofluorescence, and genetic sequencing to investigate the underlying condition, identifying signs of a specific muscular dystrophy known as sarcoglycanopathy.
  • A new genetic mutation associated with this condition was found in the sarcoglycan A subunit gene, providing insights into canine muscular dystrophies and their relevance to human health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Studies attempting to identify environmental risk factors for diseases can be seen to extract candidate variables from remotely sensed datasets, using a single buffer-zone surrounding locations from where disease status are recorded. A retrospective case-control study using canine leptospirosis data was conducted to verify the effects of changing buffer-zones (spatial extents) on the risk factors derived. The case-control study included 94 case dogs predominantly selected based on positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for leptospires in urine, and 185 control dogs based on negative PCR.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the process by which normal blood cells are produced outside the bone marrow. In humans, EMH effusions are rare and are characterized by the presence of megakaryocytes, immature erythrocytes, immature leukocytes, or combinations of those cells. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to describe a case of peritoneal EMH effusion in a dog.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Refeeding syndrome is characterized by severe hypophosphatemia occurring in patients given enteral or parenteral nutrition after severe weight loss. There are few veterinary reports that describe this syndrome but it is well documented in human medicine. This report describes a case of a domestic shorthair cat diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis following a 4-week history of decreased appetite and weight loss and in whom refeeding syndrome was documented after initiation of enteral nutrition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF