The use of autologous skeletal muscle progenitor cells for adjunctive treatment of presumptive urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in female dogs.

Background: Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) is a common problem in female dogs, but some dogs fail to achieve continence with standard treatment. Urethral submucosal injection of autologous skeletal muscle progenitor cells (skMPCs) previously has been shown to restore urethral function in a canine model of USMI.

Hypothesis/objective: To determine if urethral submucosal injection of skMPC alters continence in dogs with USMI that had previously failed standard medical management.

Appetite-stimulating effects of once-daily omeprazole in cats with chronic kidney disease: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial.

Background: Cats with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often display clinical signs such as vomiting and decreased appetite, and frequently receive omeprazole or other acid suppressants despite a lack of evidence to support their use.

Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate the effect of once-daily PO omeprazole on appetite in cats with CKD. We hypothesized that omeprazole would improve subjective appetite assessments in cats with CKD.