The carpal pad as an alternative sampling site for blood glucose testing in dogs

To investigate the feasibility and validity of sampling blood from the carpal pad in hospitalised healthy and diabetic dogs. METHODS The carpal pad was compared to the ear as a sampling site in 60 dogs (30 healthy and 30 diabetic dogs). RESULTS Lancing the pads was very well tolerated. The average glucose concentrations in blood samples obtained from the ears and carpal pads exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.938) and there were no significant differences between them (P = 0.914). In addition, 98.3% of the values obtained were clinically acceptable when assessed by the error grid analysis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The carpal pad is a good alternative sampling site for home monitoring, especially in animals with a soft and/or light-coloured pad

Bone marrow cytological evaluation in dogs with chronic kidneydisease

Since anemia is indicated as an important compromising factor for the quality of lifeof dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD), bone marrow cytological analysis mayprovide more information on the hematological profile these dogs and, therefore,allow clinicians to not only choose the most adequate treatment but also monitor theresponse to therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility withsternal bone marrow puncture in chronic kidney disease (CKD) using only localanesthesia and check if the cytological analysis is helpful to determine thehematological status. We found that erythroid hypoplasia occurred only in terminalCKD patients, and that the bone marrows of dogs with CKD stages 2 and 3 werequantitatively similar to those of elderly dogs. All dogs tolerated the bone marrowpuncture using only local anesthesia with lidocaine and bone marrow cytologicalevaluation may be a useful tool for hematopoietic evaluation of anemic dogs withCKD.Sendo a anemia apontada como um importante fator comprometedor da qualidade de vidados cães portadores de doença renal crônica (DRC), a análise citológica da medulaóssea poderia fornecer mais informações acerca do perfil hematológico desses animaie, portanto, possibilitar ao clínico não somente optar por um tratamento maiadequado, mas também monitorar a resposta à terapia. Diante disso, objetivou-se comeste estudo avaliar a praticabilidade e a aceitação do procedimento de coleta demedula óssea do osso esterno de cães com doença renal crônica (DRC) utilizandosomente anestesia local, bem como verificar se os resultados fornecidos na análisecitológica fazem-se úteis à composição do quadro hematológico desses pacientes.Observou-se que a manifestação de hipoplasia da série eritroide só ocorreu nopacientes em estádio terminal da DRC, e que as medulas ósseas dos DRC em estádio 2 e3 assemelharam-se quantitativamente à medula de animais idosos. Os cães de todos dogrupos toleraram bem a punção do osso esterno somente com uso de lidocaína, podendoser esta, portanto, uma ferramenta útil na complementação da abordagem hematopoiéticade cães anêmicos com DRC.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Transrectal bladder prolapse secondary to pelvic fracture in two dogs

This report describes the exteriorisation of the urinary bladder in two dogs as a result of a laceration of the rectum from a traumatic pelvic fracture. Clinical examination and contrast radiography of the bladder were used as diagnostic tools. Both patients were treated with exploratory laparotomy, where traction of the bladder was utilised to pull the bladder through the traumatic rectal laceration allowing the organ to return to its normal anatomical position. This procedure was followed by surgical reconstruction of the rectum, resulting in effective resolution of each case

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of adrenal glands in healthy adult dogs

ABSTRACT To describe the ARFI elastography in the evaluation of the adrenal glands in adult dogs, to evaluate the stiffness of adrenal parenchyma and to determine the qualitative and quantitative standards of the ARFI technique, which have not yet been described in veterinary medicine. Sixty adrenal glands from thirty healthy adult dogs were evaluated by B-mode and qualitative and quantitative ARFI elastography to assess the stiffness of healthy parenchyma and to determine the quality and quantity (shear velocity) standards of ARFI technique in body, cranial and caudal adrenal poles. Findings of ultrasonography evaluations were normal. Qualitative elastography showed that adrenal glands were not deformable and presented homogeneous middle-gray areas. The results of shear wave velocity were similar statically (P = 0.3087): 1) left adrenal - 1.42 m/s for cranial polar, 1.31 m/s for body region, and 1.71 m/s for caudal polar; 2) right adrenal - 1.42 m/s for cranial polar, 1.74 m/s for body region and 1.63 m/s for caudal pole. Quantitative and qualitative ARFI elastography of dogs' adrenal glands is feasible, well tolerated, easily implemented and may provide baseline data in the study of this structure to allow the use of ARFI

Bilateral extraluminal ectopic ureters in a Maine Coon cat

Ectopic ureters are rarely observed in cats. Therefore, for a better chance of success in the corrective surgical procedure and survival of the patient, diagnosis should be confirmed early. This report illustrates the occurrence of bilateral ectopic ureters in a seven month old Maine Coon cat and describes the medical and surgical management adopted for correction of the abnormality

Spleen evaluation using contrast enhanced ultrasonography and Doppler in dogs with subclinical ehrlichiosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the splenic parenchyma of dogs with subclinical ehrlichiosis using Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and provide reference values for this organ in affected animals. Seventeen dogs naturally infected with E. canis were selected for this study. Splenic parenchyma echotexture and echogenicity, size and borders were determined by ultrasound scan. The vascular indices of the splenic artery were determined by Doppler. SonoVue, at 0.1mL per animal, was used in microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to determine wash in, wash out and peak enhancement time in the splenic tissue. B-mode ultrasonography revealed splenomegaly with rounded borders, heterogeneous echotexture and mixed echogenicity. The vascular indices of the splenic artery were: systolic velocity of 22.59±8.07cm/s, diastolic velocity of 5.25±4.66cm/s and resistance index of 0.71±0.14; values not yet reported in Veterinary Medicine. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography recorded wash in time of 5.31±0.7s, peak enhancement time of 18.56±2.90s and wash out time of 94.56±35.21s. The combination of conventional ultrasonography of the spleen and hemodynamic evaluation by Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is important for the diagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis and could help monitor the clinical evolution of subclinical cases

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the glucagon-like peptide-1 analog liraglutide in healthy cats

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinal hormone that induces glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon secretion. Glucagon-like peptide-1 also increases beta cell mass and satiation while decelerating gastric emptying. Liraglutide is a fatty-acid derivative of GLP-1 with a protracted pharmacokinetic profile that is used in people for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of liraglutide in healthy cats. Hyperglycemic clamps were performed on days 0 (HGC) and 14 (LgHGC) in 7 healthy cats. Liraglutide was administered subcutaneously (0.6 mg/cat) once daily on days 8 through 14. Compared with the HGC (mean +/- standard deviation; 455.5 +/- 115.8 ng/L), insulin concentrations during LgHGC were increased (760.8 +/- 350.7 ng/L; P = 0.0022), glucagon concentrations decreased (0.66 +/- 0.4 pmol/L during HGC vs 0.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/L during LgHGC; P = 0.0089), and there was a trend toward an increased total glucose infused (median [range] = 1.61 (1.11-2.54) g/kg and 2.25 (1.64-3.10) g/kg, respectively; P = 0.087). Appetite reduction and decreased body weight (9% +/- 3%; P = 0.006) were observed in all cats. Liraglutide has similar effects and pharmacokinetics profile in cats to those reported in people. With a half-life of approximately 12 h, once daily dosing might be feasible; however, significant effects on appetite and weight loss may necessitate dosage or dosing frequency reductions. Further investigation of liraglutide in diabetic cats and overweight cats is warranted. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved