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Effect of cranberry extract on bacteriuria in dogs with disk herniation
Acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (TL-IVDH) is common in chondrodystrophoid breeds of dog such as the Dachshund. Herniated disk material injures the overlying spinal cord, and while the resulting paralysis receives much attention, the effect on bladder function is also critical to both dog and owner. Injury to the thoracolumbar spinal cord causes failure of micturition, resulting in urine retention and over flow incontinence and a predisposition to the development of bacteriuria. After spinal cord injury, recovery of hind limb function and micturition occur gradually. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Neurology Source Type: research

Vitamin D and cancer risk in dogs
Vitamin D has become a frequent topic of research because its well-understood role in calcium metabolism has expanded to include maintenance of cellular health. Studies have found correlations between insufficient levels of vitamin D and increased risk of developing nonskeletal pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious diseases and asthma. Vitamin D is believed to directly or indirectly regulate more than 2,000 genes. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Oncology Source Type: research

Light meal decreases the incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux in dogs
Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is one of the major complications of general anesthesia and may result in pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents (GC), a potentially devastating complication. Indeed, one of the most common causes of death related directly to anesthesia in humans is pulmonary aspiration of GC. In dogs and cats, there has been no published report of pulmonary aspiration of GC at induction of anesthesia, but intraoperative GER has been considered to be one of the main causes of esophagitis, which may lead to stricture formation. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study – A Randomized Clinical Trial
Over the last 20 years, studies have demonstrated that certain drugs can prolong lifespan of dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) once they develop congestive heart failure (CHF). Studies first suggested that angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors could improve survival (although these have been subsequently challenged 1 –2) and almost a decade ago, a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that dogs receiving pimobendan with furosemide lived longer than those receiving an ACE inhibitor with furosemide. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Mark Rishniw Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Changes in bacterial composition associated with the development of periodontal disease in dogs
Periodontal disease is the most widespread oral disease in dogs. It is generally accepted that the buildup of plaque bacteria on the tooth surface causes periodontal disease, but the specific organisms involved in the initiation of disease and subsequent events are not yet known. It has been postulated that specific antigens or enzymes produced by bacteria in the plaque biofilm activate the host inflammatory response which causes the ligaments and bones that support the tooth to become inflamed and progressively destroyed. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Dentistry Source Type: research

Prior antimicrobial use as a risk factor in bacterial resistance
Bacterial skin and ear canal infections are common in dogs and are usually secondary to other skin diseases. It seems that the skin barrier in dogs is less effective than in other species, probably because of a relatively thin stratum corneum, diminished amount of intercellular lipids, and elevated pH. Most cases of super ficial bacterial pyoderma and all cases of deep pyoderma require treatment with systemic antibiotics, whereas otitis externa (OE) and surface bacterial overgrowth are usually treated with local/topical antimicrobials. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Dermatology Source Type: research

Accuracy of a flash glucose monitoring system in diabetic dogs
Glycemic control is a cornerstone for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in human and veterinary medicine. Self-monitoring blood glucose systems and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) are routinely used in human diabetic patients. In diabetic dogs, the evaluation of blood glucose curves (BGCs) allows the clinician to determine if the insulin administered is effective and identify the glucose nadir, time of peak insulin effect, duration of insulin effect, and degree of fluctuation in blood glucose concentrations in that particular dog. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Endocrinology Source Type: research

Prevalence of corneal surface disease in dogs receiving topical lubrication during general anesthesia
Corneal epithelial defects are a known consequence of the failure to apply topical lubrication during general anesthesia (GA) in human beings and dogs. A study in humans found that for reasons not understood, older patients and those undergoing longer GA suffer a higher incidence of corneal ulceration. A recent study reported a prevalence of corneal ulceration of 1.9% relating to GA. Other studies have evaluated tear production and corneal lesions without incidence described. Recommendations were made for the use of topical lubrication associated with sedation. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Ophthalmology Source Type: research

Collateral circulation in ferrets during temporary occlusion of the caudal vena cava
Hyperadrenocorticism is a common disease affecting domestic ferrets in the United States. Clinical signs and methods of diagnosis have been well described. Approximately 70% of ferrets with this disease develop clinically important alopecia, and 30% have pruritus. Clinical signs are related to increases in circulating concentrations of sex hormones produced by the abnormal adrenal tissue; glucocorticoid production is not typically affected in ferrets. Confirmation of hyperadrenocorticism can be achieved by performing an adrenal gland androgen assay which is available through the University of Tennessee. (Source: Advances i...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Small Mammals Source Type: research

Factors associated with major complications in the short-term postoperative period in dogs undergoing surgery for brachycephalic airway syndrome
Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS) is an increasingly prevalent disease in dogs due to the increase in popularity of brachiocephalic breeds. The components of BAS, stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, and hypoplastic trachea, result in increased negative pressure within the upper airway, leading to clinical signs varying from mild respiratory abnormalities to severe respiratory distress and collapse. The presence of nasal turbinates protruding beyond the choana appears to play a role in upper respiratory obstruction in dogs with BAS. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - April 1, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Surgery (Soft Tissue) Source Type: research

Interventions for Early Puppy and Kitten Trauma and Neglect
There are few data on the effects of anxiety on learning in dogs and cats, but we know from studies on rodents and human children that chronic glucocorticoid excess, at any time, including pre- and perinatally, interferes with learning at the cellular level (1). Such chronic glucocorticoid exposure also appears to affect the structural development of the hippocampus (the brain region responsible for associational learning and its further integration into cortical function) and the amygdala (the region responsible for developing and modulating fear) (2), and for the conscious, cognitive use of reward structures (3). (Source...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - February 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Karen L. Overall Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

Assessing dog welfare in the veterinary clinic waiting room
Veterinary visits are known to be stressful for many dogs. Behavioral parameters are of particular interest for assessing stress in pets, as they are easily measurable and non-invasive. There is also potential value in overall assessments of animals' emotional states. The use of multiple means to assess dog welfare is uncommon, and consistency between different methods is unknown. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - February 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Behavior Source Type: research

Comparison of 2 doses for ACTH stimulation testing in dogs
Spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is a frequently diagnosed endocrinopathy in dogs. The disease can be devastating to both the dog and the owner(s). Since HAC has a myriad of clinical signs and is common in clinical practice, veterinarians frequently screen for the disease. Dose assessment is best performed by evaluating clinical response in conjunction with an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. The preferred form of ACTH, cosyntropin, is expensive, and, as a result, the testing required for dosage adjustment and appropriate therapeutic monitoring can be cost-prohibitive. (Source: Advances in Small A...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - February 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research

Comparison of serum Spec fPL and 1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid- (60-methylresorufin) ester assay in cats using pancreatic histology
Histologic pancreatic inflammation appears to be a common finding in cats with the consequence that pancreatitis is also surmised to be a common clinical disorder in cats. However, reports on clinically relevant pancreatitis in cats are scarce, and the actual prevalence of clinically relevant pancreatitis remains currently unknown. Nonetheless, antemortem diagnosis continues to be difficult because of vague clinical signs and non-specific clinicopathologic findings. Although ultrasonographic examination of the pancreas is an option in many clinics, its sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of feline pancreatitis ar...
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - February 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Gastroenterology Source Type: research

Hypothermia in uremic dogs and cats
The concept of azotemic patients having lower body temperatures has long been recognized in human and veterinary medicine. Uremic hypothermia (UH) was documented in human dialysis patients with an increase in temperature after correction of uremia. A 1981 study investigating endogenous cryogens excreted by the kidneys concluded that dialysis of urinary cryogens led to increased body temperature. In 1985, another study failed to confirm the hypothesis that cyanate was responsible for hypothermia in anephric rabbits. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - February 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Nephrology/Urology Source Type: research