Determining the pH in canine urine: comparing visual and automated reading variability of urine dipstick analysis within a small animal teaching hospital

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is present in approximately 70-80% of dogs with left-sided congestive heart failure (L-CHF) and contributes to clinical signs and outcome. Anecdotal evidence suggests that PH in cats with L-CHF is much less frequent. However, data on the prevalence of PH in cats with L-CHF is not available. This study addresses the general hypothesis that PH secondary to L-CHF is uncommon in cats and that echocardiographic findings in cats with PH are different compared to dogs. This retrospective observational study included 56 healthy cats and 131 cats with L-CHF imaged between 2004 and 2016 at the Ohio State University, Veterinary Medical Center. Key diagnostic variables included tricuspid regurgitation (TR) peak velocity, right atrial (RA) size, right ventricular (RV) size and function, RV wall thickness, pulmonary artery (PA) size, Doppler-derived systolic time intervals of PA flow (STIs), presence of septal flattening, and variables characterizing left atrial size and left ventricular size and function. PH was identified if TR peak velocity was >2.7 m/s (estimated systolic PA pressure >35 mmHg). Parametric and non-parametric statistical test procedures were used to compare normal cats to cats with L-CHF, and cats with and without PH. Tricuspid regurgitation was present in 57/131 (44%) of cats with L-CHF. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 22/131 of cats with L-CHF (17%). In 15/22 cases PH was associated with cardiomyopathy, in 5/22 cases with congenital heart disease, and in 2/22 cases to other causes. All cats with PH (22/22, 100%) had subjectively-assessed right-sided enlargement, with larger RA and RV diameters (P21.5 mm; Sensitivity [Sn] 0.82, Specificity [Sp] 0.42) and RV ventricular diameter (>7.8 mm; Sn 0.91, Sp 0.64) had the most accurate cutoff to predict PH compared to other variables. Method reproducibility (measurement variability) was good, with most coefficients of variation <15%. Compared to dogs, PH is not a common finding in cats with L-CHF. Right-sided enlargement is the main finding in cats with PH, and right-heart dimensions should be used to suspect PH if TR is absent or difficult to measure. Further studies are needed to identify reasons and mechanisms for the obvious differences between dogs and cats

Early oral voluntary nutrition in anorexic critical ill dogs with severe parvoviral infection: a retrospective study in 49 dogs (2012-2014)

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effect of early oral voluntary nutrition on mortality and length of hospitalization (LH) in dogs with severe CPV infection, and anorexia. Forty-nine dogs were included, 21male, 28 female, with the median age of 3 months and the median body weight of 3 kg. Four dogs (8%) were mildly anorexic, 9 (18 %) moderately anorexic and 36 (74%) severely anorexic at time to presentation. Eight dogs (16%) started eating voluntarily within 72 h from admission, 12 dogs (24 %) after 72 h from admission, and 29 dogs (60 %) never ate food voluntarily. All dogs that never ate food voluntarily died, of them 24 dogs had severe anorexia, and 5 moderate anorexia at presentation. Strong correlation was evident between LH, and the time of start eating (r = 0.82; p=0.001). Statistically significant difference was observed in LH between dogs that gained voluntary eating within 72 h (median 2 days) and after 72 h (median 4.5 days) from admission (p=0.002). In conclusion, early oral voluntary nutrition in dogs with severe CPV infection, and anorexia is associated with a lower mortality rate and shorter length of hospitalization

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pancreas in a dog

A large, ill-defined, firm, multinodular mass involving the pancreas was confirmed on postmortem examination of a 5-y-old, male Rottweiler that died following acute respiratory distress syndrome, after a period of anorexia and lethargy. Histologically, the mass consisted of plump spindle cells admixed with a variable number of macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Foci of coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage were also observed. Spindle cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, α–smooth muscle actin, and calponin, whereas desmin was expressed only mildly and focally. Pan-cytokeratin, KIT, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and S100 protein were nonreactive. Variable numbers of MAC 387–positive cells, CD3+ lymphocytes, and numerous blood vessels were also detected throughout the mass. Histologic and IHC findings were consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pancreas

Early oral voluntary nutrition in anorexic critical ill dogs: a retrospective study in 137 dogs.

Critically ill dogs are characterized by marked variations in energy requirement. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effect of early oral voluntary nutrition on mortality and length of hospitalization in anorexic dogs with SIRS. Medical records of anorexic dogs admitted with criteria of SIRS (Hauptman, 1997) at Ospedale Veterinario Gregorio VII and OVUD of University of Teramo, between January 2012 and August 2014 were reviewed. The severity of anorexia was defined by the time of on-set and duration of anorexia prior to presentation (mild 72 hours). Medical treatment for SIRS was instituted depending on the underlying disease and mainly consisted of fluid-therapy support, analgesia, antibiotics; antithrombotic therapy and blood or plasma transfusion when required. Antiemetic therapy (maropitant, 1 mg/kg q 24 h SC and metoclopramide 1.1–2.2 mg/kg q 24 h CRI) was given to each anorexic dog independently by the concurrent presence of vomiting. Nutritional requirement was calculated by basal metabolic rate (BMR - 97 x BWkg 0.655 -); recovery diet (Royal Canine) or a/d (Hill's) was given via oral voluntary or friendly eating. The partial parenteral nutrition (0.70 x BMR) was given in each dog with severe anorexia. Chi squared test was utilized for statistical analysis of categorical data, and Mann Whitney test for independent non parametric data (MedCal). One hundred thirty-seven dogs were included, fourteen (10%) were mildly anorexic, 34 (25%) moderately anorexic and 89 (65%) severely anorexic. Fifty-six dogs (41%) were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, 11 (8%), with septic peritonitis, 10 (7%) with pyometra, and 7 (5%) with acute pancreatitis. Forty-six dogs (34%) started eating voluntarily within 72 hours from admission, 30 dogs (40%) 72 hours after admission, and 61 dogs (44%) never ate food voluntarily. Fiftynine dogs (43%) died: fifty-seven dogs (42%) never resumed eating, and two dogs (1%) started eating after 72 hours from admission. Significant difference in mortality rate was found between severe anorexic group and moderate anorexic group (p = 0.0095). No significant differences were found in mortality rate and in length of hospitalization among different disease processes. Statistically significant difference was observed in length of hospitalization between dogs that gained voluntary eating within 72 hours (5 ± 2 days) and after 72 hours (8 ± 3 days) after admission (p = 0.001). In conclusion, early oral voluntary nutrition in anorexic dogs with SIRS is associated with a lower mortality rate and shorter length of hospitalization

Determining the pH in canine urine: comparing visual and automated reading variability of urine dipstick analysis within a small animal teaching hospital

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is present in approximately 70-80% of dogs with left-sided congestive heart failure (L-CHF) and contributes to clinical signs and outcome. Anecdotal evidence suggests that PH in cats with L-CHF is much less frequent. However, data on the prevalence of PH in cats with L-CHF is not available. This study addresses the general hypothesis that PH secondary to L-CHF is uncommon in cats and that echocardiographic findings in cats with PH are different compared to dogs. This retrospective observational study included 56 healthy cats and 131 cats with L-CHF imaged between 2004 and 2016 at the Ohio State University, Veterinary Medical Center. Key diagnostic variables included tricuspid regurgitation (TR) peak velocity, right atrial (RA) size, right ventricular (RV) size and function, RV wall thickness, pulmonary artery (PA) size, Doppler-derived systolic time intervals of PA flow (STIs), presence of septal flattening, and variables characterizing left atrial size and left ventricular size and function. PH was identified if TR peak velocity was >2.7 m/s (estimated systolic PA pressure >35 mmHg). Parametric and non-parametric statistical test procedures were used to compare normal cats to cats with L-CHF, and cats with and without PH. Tricuspid regurgitation was present in 57/131 (44%) of cats with L-CHF. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 22/131 of cats with L-CHF (17%). In 15/22 cases PH was associated with cardiomyopathy, in 5/22 cases with congenital heart disease, and in 2/22 cases to other causes. All cats with PH (22/22, 100%) had subjectively-assessed right-sided enlargement, with larger RA and RV diameters (P21.5 mm; Sensitivity [Sn] 0.82, Specificity [Sp] 0.42) and RV ventricular diameter (>7.8 mm; Sn 0.91, Sp 0.64) had the most accurate cutoff to predict PH compared to other variables. Method reproducibility (measurement variability) was good, with most coefficients of variation <15%. Compared to dogs, PH is not a common finding in cats with L-CHF. Right-sided enlargement is the main finding in cats with PH, and right-heart dimensions should be used to suspect PH if TR is absent or difficult to measure. Further studies are needed to identify reasons and mechanisms for the obvious differences between dogs and cats