A prospective, randomized, single-blinded study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of disease modifying osteoarthritis agents (DMOAAs) and carprofen by using force plate gait analysis and orthopaedic assessment score (OAS) in osteoarthritic dogs. Forty dogs with hip and/or stifle osteoarthritis (OA) were assigned randomly into four treatment groups: PCSO-524, treated with a marine-based fatty-acid compound; GC-ASU, treated with a combination of glucosamine-chondroitin sulphate and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables; CPF, treated with carprofen; and CPF-PCSO, treated with a combination of carprofen and PCSO-524. Each group received the therapeutic agent orally for four weeks. Peak vertical force (PVF), OAS, haematology and blood chemistry values were evaluated before treatment, and on the second and fourth weeks post-treatment. No significant effect was found in the PVF, OAS and blood values among the four treatment groups. Analyses within groups revealed significant increase in PVF among the PCSO-524, CPF and CPF-PCSO groups (p < 0.05). OAS showed significant decrease in the PCSO-524, CPF and CPF-PCSO groups (p < 0.05). Average BUN in the CPF group increased significantly (p < 0.05). PVF negatively correlated with OAS with r = -0.39 (p = 0.014), r = -0.49 (p = 0.001) and r = -0.48 (p = 0.002) before treatment and on the second and fourth weeks post-treatment, respectively. Even though increased PVFs were demonstrated within the PCSO-524, CPF and CPF-PCSO groups, the greatest improvement was demonstrated in the CPF-PCSO group. The preliminary results imply the clinical benefits of PCSO-524 in combination with carprofen in the treatment of OA.
The diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism is not straightforward because the results of thyroid tests can be influenced by severe illness and medications. The need to find diagnostic tests that are not affected by these factors is urgent. The objectives of this investigation can be summarized as follows: (1) to establish a reference range for percentage colloid from healthy euthyroid dogs; (2) to compare the mean percentage colloid of the healthy dogs with that of severely ill dogs; (3) to define a group of ill‐euthyroid dogs based on the percentage colloid and evaluate their serum concentrations of total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine by equilibrium dialyses (fT4d) and endogenous TSH (eTSH); and (4) to determine if the mean percentage colloid correlates with the serum concentrations of TT4, fT4d and eTSH. Sixty‐one healthy‐euthyroid dogs and 66 severely ill dogs were included on the study. Thyroid glands were removed immediately after death. Morphometric analyses were performed on each thyroid lobe to determine the percentage colloid. Serum hormone concentrations were analyzed using commercially available tests validated at our laboratory. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results of the average percentage colloid and hormone concentrations. Unpaired Student’s t ‐test was applied to compare the percentage colloid between the group of healthy‐euthyroid dogs and the groups of sick dogs. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient method was used to determine the correlation between each of the measured thyroid hormone values and the percentage colloid. The statistical analyses were carried out using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. A P‐ value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was observed in mean percentage colloid between the groups of severely ill and healthy‐euthyroid dogs. Serum TT4 and fT4d concentrations were below the reference range in 57.6 and 31.8% of severely ill dogs, respectively. Only 6.1% of severely ill dogs had increased eTSH concentrations. No clinically significant correlation was found between serum thyroid hormones and percentage colloid. In conclusion, serum TT4 and fT4d concentrations were more frequently altered by severe illness than eTSH in dogs with percentage thyroid colloid equivalent to normal dogs. Serum thyroid hormones did not have a direct correlation with percentage colloid.
Abstract Objective —To determine effects of storage temperature and time on pH and specific gravity of and number and size of crystals in urine samples from dogs and cats. Design —Randomized complete block design. Animals —31 dogs and 8 cats. Procedure —Aliquots of each urine sample were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection or after storage at room or refrigeration temperatures (20 vs 6°C [68 vs 43°F]) for 6 or 24 hours. Results —Crystals formed in samples from 11 of 39 (28%) animals. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 1 cat and 8 dogs. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 2 dogs. Compared with aliquots stored at room temperature, refrigeration increased the number and size of crystals that formed in vitro; however, the increase in number and size of MAP crystals in stored urine samples was not significant. Increased storage time and decreased storage temperature were associated with a significant increase in number of CaOx crystals formed. Greater numbers of crystals formed in urine aliquots stored for 24 hours than in aliquots stored for 6 hours. Storage time and temperature did not have a significant effect on pH or specific gravity. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance —Urine samples should be analyzed within 60 minutes of collection to minimize temperature- and time-dependent effects on in vitro crystal formation. Presence of crystals observed in stored samples should be validated by reevaluation of fresh urine. ( J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:176–179)
Generally, rectal body temperature (BTrectum) is used to prefer as core body temperature in dogs. However, this procedure is time- and labor-consuming with stress induction. Therefore, infrared auricular temperature (BTear) and surface temperature (ST) could be applied to estimate BTrectum. This study aimed to estimate BTrectum from BTear or ST in various areas and determined the factors that influenced the accuracy of prediction equations.Under controlled temperature (n=197) and ambient temperature (n=183), the parameters BTrectum, BTear, and ST at internal pinna, auricular canal, lateral aspect of shoulder, hip, axillary area, inguinal area, footpad, and anal area (STrectum) were measured. In addition, temperature and humidity levels of the surrounding environment were recorded. The correlation between each measurement technique was calculated. The BTrectum prediction equation was created using all measured data and several influencing factors (environmental condition, size, coat type, and body condition score [BCS]).The highest correlation with BTrectum was observed for BTear (r=0.61, p<0.01), which was similar to STrectum (r=0.61, p<0.01). Based on multiple linear regression model results using BTrectum as the dependent variable, BTear or STrectum were first selected as independent variables in all estimation equations. Ambient temperatures (R2=0.397), small breed (R2=0.582), long hair (R2=0.418), and/or a BCS of 2 (R2=0.557) provided the highest coefficients of determination of the prediction equation.The most appropriate predictors for estimating BTrectum were STrectum and BTear, which were impacted by the dog's signalments and the environment. To obtain satisfactory outcomes, the equation must be selected depending on the dog's signalments and the environmental conditions. However, based on the findings of this investigation, the accuracy remains low in several equations, and further studies are needed to improve the accuracy of the equation, mainly by increasing the sample size and developing a specific equation for each dog's signaling and environmental condition.
