d,l-Methionine in combination with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid successfully dissolves spontaneously occurring infection-induced struvite urocystoliths in dogs: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of a urinary acidifier (d,l-methionine [Methio-Form]) and an antimicrobial agent (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid [Clavamox]) without changing diet for dissolving infection-induced struvite urocystoliths in dogs.

Animals: 14 dogs were recruited for this prospective study; 11 completed it and 3 dogs withdrew due to inability of the owners to administer the treatment (n = 2) or refusal of treatment by the dog (1).

Procedures: All dogs were administered d,l-methionine (approx initial dose of 75 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (22 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) based on urine culture and sensitivity.

Clinicopathologic and gastrointestinal effects of administration of prednisone, prednisone with omeprazole, or prednisone with probiotics to dogs: A double-blind randomized trial.

Background: The efffect of administering of probiotics or twice-daily omeprazole on glucocorticoid-induced gastric bleeding in dogs is unknown.

Hypothesis: Compare gastrointestinal bleeding among dogs administered placebo, prednisone (2 mg/kg q24h), prednisone with omeprazole (1 mg/kg q12h), or prednisone with probiotics (Visbiome, 11.2-22.

Evaluation of a pet-separating automatic feeder and high-frequency meal feeding for weight loss in multi-cat households.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to determine if a feeder system providing individualized food access and automatic dispensing of meals makes weight-loss programs in multi-cat homes easier for cat owners; and (2) to assess if feeding six meals daily reduces food-seeking behavior and increases calorie requirements vs two meals per day.

Methods: Adult cats with body condition scores (BCSs) of 7/9 or greater underwent a weight-loss plan for up to 6 months using a traditional feeding bowl with two meals per day (B2) or an automatic feeder with two meals (A2) or six meals (A6) per day. Cats were weighed at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 and food intake was adjusted to maintain weight-loss rates between 0.

Effects of Synbiotics on the Fecal Microbiome and Metabolomic Profiles of Healthy Research Dogs Administered Antibiotics: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal signs occurred in 100% of dogs administered enrofloxacin with metronidazole in a previous study, and signs partially were mitigated by synbiotics. The objective of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was to compare the fecal microbiome and metabolome of dogs administered enrofloxacin and metronidazole, followed by either a placebo or a bacterial/yeast synbiotic combination. Twenty-two healthy research dogs were randomized to two treatment groups.

Randomized, controlled, crossover trial of prevention of antibiotic-induced gastrointestinal signs using a synbiotic mixture in healthy research dogs.

Background: Synbiotics decrease antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal signs (AAGS) in cats, but data supporting synbiotic use to ameliorate AAGS in dogs are lacking.

Objectives: To determine if administration of synbiotics mitigates AAGS in dogs.

Animals: Twenty-two healthy research dogs.

Body composition of lean outdoor intact cats vs lean indoor neutered cats using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Objectives: The objectives for this study were to compare the body composition of adult indoor neutered domestic cats with outdoor intact cats with an ideal body condition score using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and to report the body composition findings of free-roaming cats, as this has not been previously reported. Most domestic house cats differ from free-roaming cats as they are confined indoors and neutered. Indoor neutered cats have reduced activity and hormonal alterations that may result in lower muscle mass and higher body fat percentages vs outdoor intact cats, despite similar body condition scores.

Prevalence of asymptomatic urinary tract infections in morbidly obese dogs.

Background. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in dogs and, as in humans, cost of care has increased due to associated comorbidities. In humans, asymptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) may be more prevalent in the obese.

Influence of acidifying or alkalinizing diets on bone mineral density and urine relative supersaturation with calcium oxalate and struvite in healthy cats.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of acidifying or alkalinizing diets on bone mineral density and urine relative supersaturation (URSS) with calcium oxalate and struvite in healthy cats.

Animals: 6 castrated male and 6 spayed female cats.

Procedures: 3 groups of 4 cats each were fed diets for 12 months that differed only in acidifying or alkalinizing properties (alkalinizing, neutral, and acidifying).

Evaluation of plasma diazepam and nordiazepam concentrations following administration of diazepam intravenously or via suppository per rectum in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of diazepam administered per rectum via compounded (ie, not commercially available) suppositories and determine whether a dose of 2 mg/kg in this formulation would result in plasma concentrations shown to be effective for control of status epilepticus or cluster seizures (ie, 150 to 300 ng/mL) in dogs within a clinically useful interval (10 to 15 minutes).

Animals: 6 healthy mixed-breed dogs.

Procedures: Dogs were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 3 dogs each in a crossover-design study.

Preliminary evaluation of serial (18) FDG-PET/CT to assess response to toceranib phosphate therapy in canine cancer.

Palladia(TM) (toceranib phosphate-Pfizer Animal Health) is a novel orally administered receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for treatment of canine mast cell tumors. Receptor tyrosine kinase dysregulation leads to tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Toceranib's targets include vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2/Flk-1/KDR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and kit.

Giant platelet disorder in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, functional, and morphologic characteristics of platelets in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs (Cavaliers).

Materials And Methods: Blood from 69 clinically normal Cavaliers was collected and anticoagulated with ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citrate. Automated and manual platelet counts were obtained.

Comparison of various methods for estimating body fat in dogs.

Obesity is considered one of the most common forms of malnutrition occurring in dogs. Laboratory methods of evaluation of body composition in live dogs have included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and deuterium oxide (D(2)O) dilution. Clinical methods of evaluation include assigning a body condition score (BCS) based on visual observation, palpation, and morphometric measurements.

Effect of deracoxib, a new COX-2 inhibitor, on the prevention of lameness induced by chemical synovitis in dogs.

Twenty-four healthy, mixed-breed hound-type dogs were evenly and randomly assigned to a placebo control group, one of four dosages of deracoxib (0.3, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg), or carprofen (2.2 mg/kg).