Low-dose desoxycorticosterone pivalate treatment of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) is a commonly used mineralocorticoid replacement for dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (HA), but manufacturer-recommended dosing protocols can be cost-prohibitive. Recent reports also have raised concerns that label dose protocols could be excessive.

Objective: To investigate the relative efficacy and adverse effects of 2 DOCP dosages in dogs with primary glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficient HA.

Asymptomatic carriage of canine infectious respiratory disease complex pathogens among healthy dogs.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of canine infectious respiratory disease pathogens among asymptomatic client-owned dogs, and to compare the risks of asymptomatic pathogen carriage between client-owned dogs and dogs in an animal shelter.

Materials And Methods: Pooled tonsillar, conjunctival and nasal cavity swabs from asymptomatic client-owned dogs (n=133) were tested using a real-time polymerase chain reaction canine respiratory panel. Identical samples from asymptomatic dogs in an animal shelter (n=295) were similarly tested for selected pathogens.