Relationship between thyroid function and sex hormones in female German shepherd dogs.

Background: Several variables influence the serum concentration of thyroid hormones in dogs, including breed, age, drugs, and concurrent diseases. However, data regarding the interaction between thyroid function and the estrous stage of female dogs are limited.

Hypothesis: Estrous stage may influence thyroid function in German Shepherd dogs.

Neonatal-Maternal Bodyweight Ratio at Birth: An Indicator for First-Week Survival Prognosis in Canine Newborns.

In dogs, neonatal bodyweight (NBW) varies at birth. Size-specific reference values for NBW are essential to correctly manage newborns. The present study aimed to define a new tool to evaluate NBW that could be routinely applied in canine neonatology, promptly identifying puppies requiring more care.

Are Italian-Polish veterinarians and breeders prepared to control an outbreak of Brucella canis infection in dogs?

Brucella canis infection is one of the most important causes of infertility in dogs and is a zoonosis for which no effective treatment or vaccines exist. It is not a mandatory notifiable disease. Following an increase of cases in Europe and worldwide, an investigation was performed to evaluate how much Italian and Polish veterinarians and breeders know about canine brucellosis and understand their perceptions of this infection.

Discrepancy Between In-clinic and Haemagglutination-Inhibition Tests in Detecting Maternally-Derived Antibodies Against Canine Parvovirus in Puppies.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is one of the most common causes of mortality in puppies worldwide. Protection against CPV infection is based on vaccination, but maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) can interfere with vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of an in-clinic ELISA test to assess the CPV MDA in unvaccinated puppies and CPV antibodies in bitches, comparing the results with the gold standard haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test.