Epidemiologic Evaluation of Risk Factors for Calcium Oxalate Urolith Formation and Recurrence in Dogs

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. June 2017. Major: Veterinary Medicine. Advisor: Jody Lulich. 1 computer file (PDF); 1ix, 137 pages.Calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolith is the most common urolith in dogs. The exact mechanism for CaOx urolith formation is not well understood but thought to be multifactorial. However, urolith recurrence is common after removal. Knowledge of which group of dogs are greater risk for formation and recurrence, can help veterinarians select effective therapy and prevention, as well as earlier recognize urolith formation or recurrence to increased opportunity for nonsurgical removal, early dietary modification to minimize urolith growth, early removal to avoid urinary obstruction, and early recognition of potential metabolic diseases Dogs which had a greater risk for CaOx urolith formation included; male, small breed (Bichon, Miniature Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, and Maltese). To minimize the morbidity and mortality due to urolithiasis, these dogs should be prescreened at approximately 5 years-old. The recurrence of CaOx urolith is common. Small breed, male, dogs with history of previous urolithiasis, dogs 6 - 10 years old, and dogs with CaOx dihydrate were greater risk for recurrence. Therefore, intensive prevention therapy of these dogs will be benefit for minimizing recurrence. To detect early CaOx urolith recurrence, the screening by means of medical imaging should be performed at least once a year to minimize morbidity and permit simple non-invasive urolith removal in most. For prevention of recurrence, clinician should promote low urine specific gravity (< 1.030)

Assessment of left atrial myocardial deformation using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in cats with cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism

ABSTRACTArterial thromboembolism (ATE) in cats usually relates to cardiogenic causes that can be diagnosed by conventional echocardiography. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is a new ultrasound modality with higher sensitivity. Our objective was to investigate left atrial myocardial deformation in cats with both cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic ATE and normal cats using 2D-STE. Twenty-three normal cats and 21 cats with ATE cats were recruited and performed conventional echocardiography and 2D-STE. From the results, left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate from 2D-STE were significantly decreased in cats with cardiogenic ATE (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in non-cardiogenic ATE compared with normal cats. From the correlation test, the use of left atrial strain during the reservoir phase (LASr) could represent the overall LA deformation. The intra- and inter-observer coefficient of variation of LASr was less than 15%. The logistic regression revealed that the LASr value of less than 11% was a significant factor for the occurrence of ATE (odd ratio = 189.0, P < 0.001). In conclusion, LASr derived by 2D-STE is a repeatable and non-invasive technique to assess LA myocardial deformation in cats with ATE. By 2D-STE, impaired LA function was detected in cats with cardiogenic ATE. LASr < 11% may use as a predictor of the risk of ATE occurrence in cats