Comparison of the fecal microbiota of adult healthy dogs fed a plant-based (vegan) or an animal-based diet

PurposePet guardians are increasingly seeking vegan dog foods. However, research on the impact of these diets on gastrointestinal (GI) physiology and health is limited. In humans, vegan diets modify the GI microbiota, increasing beneficial digestive microorganisms. This study aimed to examine the canine fecal microbiota in response to a vegan diet compared to an animal-based diet.MethodsSixty-one client-owned healthy adult dogs completed a randomized, double-blinded longitudinal study. Dogs were randomly assigned into two groups that were fed either a commercial extruded animal-based diet (MEAT, n = 30) or an experimental extruded vegan diet (PLANT, n = 31) for 12 weeks. Fecal collections occurred at the start of the experimental period and after 3 months of exclusively feeding either diet. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the feces, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified using PCR and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. Beta-diversity was measured using Jaccard and Bray–Curtis distances, and the PERMANOVA was used to assess for differences in fecal microbiota within and between groups. Alpha-diversity indices for richness, evenness, and diversity, as well as relative abundance, were calculated and compared between groups.ResultsBeta-diversity differences occurred between diet groups at exit time-point with differences on Bray–Curtis distances at the family and genus levels (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively), and for the Jaccard distance at the family and genus level (p = 0.006 and p = 0.011, respectively). Significant differences in alpha-diversity occurred when comparing the PLANT to the MEAT group at the exit time-point with the PLANT group having a lower evenness (p = 0.012), but no significant differences in richness (p = 0.188), or diversity (p = 0.06). At exit-timepoint, compared to the MEAT group, the relative abundance of Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, and Campylobacter was lower in the PLANT group. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium decreased over time in the PLANT group, while no change was observed in the MEAT group.ConclusionThese results indicate that vegan diets may change the canine gut microbiota. Future studies are warranted to confirm our results and determine long-term effects of vegan diets on the canine gut microbiome

Effect of clinical signs, endocrinopathies, timing of surgery, hyperlipidemia, and hyperbilirubinemia on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele

Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study. Dogs with GBM that demonstrated abnormal clinical signs had significantly greater odds of death than subclinical dogs in a univariable analysis (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.14–8.23; P < 0.001). The multivariable model indicated that categorical variables including owner recognition of jaundice (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.19–3.77; P = 0.011), concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.08–3.47; P = 0.026), and Pomeranian breed (OR, 2.46; 95% CI 1.10–5.50; P = 0.029) were associated with increased odds of death, and vomiting was associated with decreased odds of death (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30–0.72; P = 0.001). Continuous variables in the multivariable model, total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.04; P < 0.001) and age (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08–1.26; P < 0.001), were associated with increased odds of death. The clinical utility of total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration as a biomarker to predict death was poor with a sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54–0.69) and a specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.59–0.66). This study identified several prognostic variables in dogs with GBM including total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration, age, clinical signs, concurrent hyperadrenocorticism, and the Pomeranian breed. The presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus did not impact outcome in this study.Supplemental Table S1. Number of dogs included from each institution and years reviewed.Supplemental Table S2. Included breeds.Supplemental Table S3. Distribution of various reasons given for performing cholecystectomy in the 179 subclinical dogs with gallbladder mucocele (GBM).Supplemental Table S4. Distribution of clinical signs associated with systemic illness in 982 dogs with gallbladder mucocele.Supplemental Table S5. Distribution of reasons for death in-hospital (i.e. euthanized and died) in 179 dogs with gallbladder mucocele that underwent cholecystectomy.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/tvjlhj2020Companion Animal Clinical Studie

Evaluation of thromboelastography in two factor XII-deficient cats

Case summary The current report describes thromboelastography (TEG) findings in two cats with factor XII (FXII) deficiency. The first cat was diagnosed with bilateral perinephric pseudocysts; hemostatic testing was performed prior to performing renal aspirates. The second cat was healthy; hemostatic testing was performed prior to inclusion into a research project. Both cats had markedly prolonged partial thromboplastin times and hypocoagulable TEG tracings when samples were activated with kaolin. However, when tissue factor (TF) was used to activate the sample, both cats had normal-to-hypercoagulable TEG tracings. The cats each had a subnormal FXII level. Relevance and novel information TEG is becoming widely used to investigate hemostasis in veterinary patients, and TEG results in cats with FXII deficiency have not been previously reported. FXII deficiency is the most common hereditary hemostatic defect in cats. While FXII deficiency does not lead to in vivo hemorrhagic tendencies, it can lead to marked prolongation in activated partial thromboplastin and activated clotting times, and cannot be differentiated from true hemorrhagic diatheses without measuring individual factor activity. With the increased use of TEG to evaluate hemostasis in veterinary patients, it is important to recognize the effects of FXII deficiency on this testing modality. The finding of a hypocoagulable kaolin-activated TEG tracing and a concurrent normal TF-activated TEG tracing in samples should prompt clinicians to consider ruling out FXII deficiency

Validation of Plateletworks ADP for the ProCyte Dx analyzer

Abstract Background Platelet function testing in cats allows determination of clopidogrel effect. Plateletworks assesses aggregation based on decreasing platelet counts on hematology analyzers in response to agonists. It has not been validated for the IDEXX ProCyte Dx analyzer. Ideal time to perform analysis and the utility of other platelet parameters have not been fully assessed. Objectives To validate Plateletworks ADP on the ProCyte Dx, to investigate the utility of various platelet parameters using Plateletworks ADP, and determine the ideal time to perform analysis. Animals Twenty healthy cats recruited from the general population used for transference of reference intervals to a new analyzer, and 10 cats receiving clopidogrel to determine clopidogrel effect. Methods Plateletworks ADP using the ProCyte Dx and ADVIA 2120i analyzer was run simultaneously in both healthy cats and cats receiving clopidogrel, and CBC results at different timepoints were compared between analyzers. Results Aggregation was significantly different (P < .001) between analyzers. Cohen's kappa showed almost perfect agreement for determination of clopidogrel effect, and the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic was 1.0. Lower limits of the aggregation reference interval in healthy cats were 28.8% on the ProCyte Dx and 12.5% on the ADVIA 2120i. Coefficients of variation for platelet parameters were not different between analyzers. No significant changes in mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, large platelets, and mean platelet component were identified. No significant change in aggregation was observed within the first hour after phlebotomy. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our study validated the Plateletworks ADP system on the ProCyte Dx analyzer. Samples may be analyzed up to 1 h after collection

Diagnosis and Management of Polycythemia Vera in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A 5-y-old female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy for 1 wk. Only mild dehydration was detected on physical examination. CBC analysis revealed marked erythrocytosis with an unremarkable plasma biochemistry panel; follow-up CBC analyses revealed a consistent primary erythrocytosis. Whole-body radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable except for a small nephrolith in the right kidney and a small cyst in the left kidney. The plasma erythropoietin level was 17.0 mIU/mL and considered normal. In light of the diagnostic work-up and consistent erythrocytosis, a diagnosis of polycythemia vera (primary erythrocytosis) was made. The initial presentation of diarrhea resolved after treatment with oral metronidazole (20 mg/kg PO BID for 7 d). Treatment for the polycythemia consisted of a phlebotomy initially followed by chemotherapy with hydroxyurea (10 mg/kg PO BID). During the subsequent 12 mo, the hydroxyurea dose adjusted according to follow-up CBC results, and finding an optimal dosage regimen proved to be challenging. One year after the initial diagnosis, the ferret presented to an emergency clinic for acute and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea and died shortly thereafter. The postmortem diagnosis was acute venous infarction of the small and large intestine. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the diagnosis and long-term management of polycythemia vera in a ferret and the use of hydroxyurea for this purpose

Description of the fasted serum metabolomic signature of lean and obese cats at maintenance and of obese cats under energy restriction.

This study aimed to investigate the serum metabolomic profile of obese and lean cats as well as obese cats before and after energy restriction for weight loss. Thirty cats, 16 obese (body condition score 8 to 9/9) and 14 lean (body condition score 4 to 5/9), were fed a veterinary weight loss food during a 4-week period of weight maintenance (L-MAINT and O-MAINT). The 16 obese cats were then energy restricted by a 60% energy intake reduction with the same food for a 10-week period (O-RESTRICT). Fasted serum metabolites were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance and direct infusion mass spectrometry after the maintenance period for L-MAINT and O-MAINT cats and after the energy restriction period for O-RESTRICT and compared between groups using a two-sided t-test. Obese cats lost 672 g ± 303 g over the 10-week restriction period, representing a weight loss rate of 0.94 ± 0.28% per week. Glycine, l-alanine, l-histidine, l-glutamine, 2-hydroxybutyrate, isobutryric acid, citric acid, creatine, and methanol were greater in O-RESTRICT compared to O-MAINT. There was a greater concentration of long-chain acylcarnitines in O-RESTRICT compared to both O-MAINT and L-MAINT, and greater total amino acids compared to O-MAINT. Glycerol and 3-hydroxybutyric acid were greater in O-MAINT compared to L-MAINT, as were several lysophosphatidylcholines. Thus, energy restriction resulted in increased dispensable amino acids in feline serum which could indicate alterations in amino acid partitioning. An increase in lipolysis was not evident, though greater circulating acylcarnitines were observed, suggesting that fatty acid oxidation rates may have been greater under calorie restriction. More research is needed to elucidate energy metabolism and substrate utilization, specifically fatty acid oxidation and methyl status, during energy restriction in strict carnivorous cats to optimize weight loss

Table_1_Extruded diet macronutrient digestibility: plant-based (vegan) vs. animal-based diets in client-owned healthy adult dogs and the impact of guardian compliance during in-home trials.pdf

IntroductionPlant-based (vegan) diets for dogs are commercially available, however, research investigating long-term nutritional adequacy of these diets is scarce. Use of client-owned animals has become increasingly popular for apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD) studies, yet low guardian compliance with the study protocol, such as providing daily dietary intake information, is a challenge. However, the impact of low diet reporting compliance on the overall ATTD results is unknown.MethodsSixty-one, client-owned healthy adult dogs completed a randomized, double-blinded longitudinal study. Dogs were randomly assigned into two groups that were fed either a commercial extruded meat-based diet (MEAT, n=30) or an experimental extruded vegan diet (PLANT, n=31) for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, pet guardians performed a 72-hour total fecal collection for ATTD assessment. Pet guardians were asked to complete a food diary for the duration of the trial, however only a subset of guardians (n=35) provided this food diary at the end of the study.ResultsNo evidence of an association between pet guardians providing a food diary and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of crude protein (CP) (p=0.14), crude fat (EE) (p=0.72), and dry matter (DM) (p=0.68) was found. Apparent digestibility coefficients for CP (p=0.52), EE (p=0.78), and DM (p=0.43) did not differ between PLANT and MEAT. Body weight and age were found to be associated with CP (p=0.03) and DM (p=0.01) digestibility, but no association with EE (p=0.07) digestibility was present.DiscussionThese results indicate that vegan- and animal-based diets with similar nutrient profiles can have comparable nutrient digestibility. Moreover, presence or absence of a guardian-reported food diary had no effect on the overall results of the ATTD study. Further studies investigating guardian compliance for ATTD trials are needed to develop a standardized protocol and reduce current challenges and limitations related to pet guardian’s participation in digestibility trials.</p