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.

Neoplastic melanocytic pleural effusion in a Portuguese water dog.

A 9-year-old castrated male Portuguese water dog was presented following incomplete excision of a malignant melanoma at the left lip commissure by the referring veterinarian. Physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. The patient was staged using thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and fine-needle aspirates of the mandibular lymph nodes and spleen.

Correlating Gastrointestinal Histopathologic Changes to Clinical Disease Activity in Dogs With Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Prior studies have failed to detect a convincing association between histologic lesions of inflammation and clinical activity in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesized that use of a simplified histopathologic scoring system would improve the consistency of interpretation among pathologists when describing histologic lesions of gastrointestinal inflammation. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of histopathologic changes to clinical activity in dogs with IBD using this new system.

Association of fecal calprotectin concentrations with disease severity, response to treatment, and other biomarkers in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathies.

Background: Calprotectin is a marker of inflammation, but its clinical utility in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) is unknown.

Objective: Evaluation of fecal calprotectin in dogs with biopsy-confirmed CIE.

Animals: 127 dogs.

Effect of gastric acid-suppressive therapy and biological variation of serum gastrin concentrations in dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Background: Serum gastrin concentration can help diagnose gastrinomas in dogs if >3-10× the upper reference limit (URL), but antisecretory therapy and other conditions can also cause hypergastrinemia. Effects of antisecretory therapy (famotidine or ranitidine, omeprazole) on serum gastrin concentration in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) and its biological variation (BV) are unknown. Aim of the study was to evaluate serum gastrin in acid-suppressant-treated or -naïve CE dogs; test the association between serum gastrin and histopathologic findings in acid-suppressant-naïve CE dogs; and evaluate the BV of serum gastrin in dogs not receiving any gastric acid suppressive therapy.

Development and analytic validation of an electron ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI-GC/MS) method for the measurement of 3-bromotyrosine in canine serum.

Background: The activation of eosinophils causes the release of eosinophil peroxidase and subsequent production of 3-bromotyrosine (3-BrY), a stable byproduct. In people, 3-BrY is used as a biomarker for eosinophil activation. The method for measuring 3-BrY concentrations in biologic samples from dogs has not previously been described.

Serum and fecal canine α1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations reflect the severity of intestinal crypt abscesses and/or lacteal dilation in dogs.

Gastrointestinal (GI) protein loss, due to lymphangiectasia or chronic inflammation, can be challenging to diagnose. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of serum and fecal canine α1-proteinase inhibitor (cα1PI) concentrations to detect crypt abscesses and/or lacteal dilation in dogs. Serum and fecal cα1PI concentrations were measured in 120 dogs undergoing GI tissue biopsies, and were compared between dogs with and without crypt abscesses/lacteal dilation.

Analytic validation of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of six amino acids in canine serum samples.

Objective: To analytically validate a gas concentration of chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for measurement of 6 amino acids in canine serum samples and to assess the stability of each amino acid after sample storage.

Samples: Surplus serum from 80 canine samples submitted to the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University and serum samples from 12 healthy dogs.

Procedures: GC-MS was validated to determine precision, reproducibility, limit of detection, and percentage recovery of known added concentrations of 6 amino acids in surplus serum samples.

Urinary and faecal N-methylhistamine concentrations do not serve as markers for mast cell activation or clinical disease activity in dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Background: This study sought to correlate faecal and urinary N-methylhistamine (NMH) concentrations with resting versus degranulated duodenal mast cell numbers in dogs with chronic enteropathies (CE), and investigate correlations between intestinal mast cell activation and clinical severity of disease as assessed by canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), and between urinary and faecal NMH concentrations, mast cell numbers, and histopathological scores. Twenty-eight dogs with CE were included. Duodenal biopsies were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), toluidine blue, and by immunohistochemical labelling for tryptase.

Fecal and urinary N-methylhistamine concentrations in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Due to their ability to release inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, mast cells are potentially important in gastrointestinal disease. The purpose of this study was to measure N-methylhistamine (NMH), a histamine metabolite, in fecal and urine samples from dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease. Fecal and urinary NMH concentrations were compared between dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and control dogs, and/or to control ranges.

Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid concentrations in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypocobalaminemia or methylmalonic acidemia (or both) in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Sample: Serum samples from 56 dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and 43 control dogs.

Procedures: Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations were measured in all samples and compared between groups.

Development and analytical validation of a radioimmunoassay for the measurement of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations in feces from healthy puppies and adult dogs.

Canine α(1)-proteinase inhibitor (cα(1)-PI), a proteolysis-resistant protein with a molecular weight similar to albumin, has been shown to be clinically useful as a marker for gastrointestinal protein loss in dogs. A competitive, liquid-phase radioimmunoassay was developed and analytically validated. Fecal samples were collected from 101 healthy pet dogs of various breeds and ages, and fecal cα(1)-PI (Fcα(1)-PI) concentrations were compared between dogs of different age groups.

Partial characterization of cobalamin deficiency in Chinese Shar Peis.

A total of 22,462 serum sample results from dogs being evaluated for gastrointestinal disease at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University were evaluated retrospectively. The proportion of dogs with serum cobalamin concentrations below the reference interval and median serum concentrations were compared between Shar Peis and other dog breeds. Serum samples were also obtained prospectively from 22 healthy and 32 Shar Peis with chronic gastrointestinal disease and 59 healthy dogs of other breeds, and serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, and methylmalonic acid were determined and compared.

Laboratory tests for the diagnosis and management of chronic canine and feline enteropathies.

Chronic enteropathies are commonly encountered in both cats and dogs. Although definitive diagnosis often requires collection of gastrointestinal biopsies for histopathologic evaluation, less invasive laboratory tests can be highly informative and should be performed prior to biopsy collection. Tests for determination of infectious causes comprise those for helminthic, protozoal, bacterial, or fungal organisms.

Association between serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid concentrations in dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), a proposed marker of cellular cobalamin deficiency, and serum cobalamin concentrations in dogs. Serum samples from 555 dogs were grouped according to their serum cobalamin concentrations (<150 ng/L to 1000 ng/L). Additionally, serum samples were collected from 43 healthy dogs to calculate a reference interval for canine serum MMA.

Kinetic analysis of 5 sugar probes in dog serum after orogastric administration.

The objective of this study was to describe the kinetics of orally administered sugar probes in serum for the assessment of gastrointestinal permeability and intestinal absorptive capacity in dogs. Eight healthy dogs received lactulose (L), rhamnose (R), methylglucose (M), xylose (X), and sucrose (S) by orogastric intubation. Baseline blood samples and subsequently timed blood samples were taken during 24 hours.

Use of a bioelectric impedance device in obese and lean healthy dogs to estimate body fat percentage.

A hand-held bioelectric impedance device was used to obtain body fat percentages from obese and lean healthy client-owned dogs. Bioelectric impedance values were compared with body condition scores assigned on a 9-point scale during physical examination to evaluate the correlation of these two methods for assessing body composition. A good correlation was revealed between body fat percentage as measured by the bioelectric impedance device and body condition score.

Development and analytic validation of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the measurement of sugar probes in canine serum.

Objective: To develop and analytically validate a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the quantification of lactulose, rhamnose, xylose, 3-O-methylglucose, and sucrose in canine serum.

Sample Population: Pooled serum samples from 200 dogs. Procedures-Serum samples spiked with various sugars were analyzed by use of GC-MS.

Gastroenteropathy in Norwegian Lundehunds.

Norwegian Lundehunds are often affected by gastrointestinal disease, the most common clinical signs of which are intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, ascites, and subcutaneous edema of the hind legs. The most frequent laboratory changes include hypoalbuminemia (with or without hypoglobulinemia), hypocalcemia, a decrease in the serum cobalamin concentration, and an increase or decrease in the serum folate concentration, reflecting microbial synthesis or malabsorption, respectively. Histopathologic abnormalities can include chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal lymphangiectasia, and lymphoplasmacytic enteritis.

Evaluation of gastrointestinal permeability and mucosal absorptive capacity in dogs with chronic enteropathy.

Objective: To assess intestinal mucosal function by measuring permeability and absorptive capacity in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) before and after treatment and to determine whether those variables were correlated with clinical disease activity or histologic scoring of intestinal biopsy specimens.

Animals: 29 dogs with CE.

Procedure: Dogs were designated as having dietresponsive CE or CE requiring glucorticoid treatment.

Development of a 13C-glycocholic acid blood test to assess bacterial metabolic activity of the small intestine in canines.

The objectives of this study were to establish optimal doses of 13C-glycocolic acid (GCA) for use in a GCA blood test as a marker for canine small intestinal bacterial metabolic activity. Four doses of GCA were administered orally to 8 healthy dogs. Blood samples were collected at various time points up to 480 min.