Stress-induced and emotional eating in animals: A review of the experimental evidence and implications for companion animal obesity

Eating in response to stress or negative emotional states is well-documented in humans as well as animals in experimental settings and has been shown to work by alleviating the unpleasant emotional experience. This type of eating behavior, termed stress-induced or emotional eating, is linked to the development of obesity. Standard approaches to companion animal obesity have failed to incorporate this concept. Not every animal given more food than they need will become overweight, which raises the critical question: Why does the animal that overeats do so? If it is to help alleviate stress or negative emotional states, then the standard obesity management approach of restricting food intake without alleviating the emotional distress may actually exacerbate the distress by removing one of the animal's coping mechanisms. Moreover, because emotional eating is a coping mechanism, overeating may be a sign that an animal's psychological well-being is impaired.     

Prospective trial of autologous conditioned plasma versus hyaluronan plus corticosteroid for elbow osteoarthritis in dogs

This prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial compared outcomes in dogs with bilateral elbow osteoarthritis (OA) treated with hyaluronan plus methylprednisolone (HA + S) or autologous conditioned plasma (ACP^®; Arthrex). An investigator blinded to the treatments graded lameness (0–4) before and 6 months after a single injection with either HA + S or ACP. Clients were blinded to treatment and completed a validated survey before and 1, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after injection. Ten dogs (5 per group) completed all parts of the study. Pre-treatment lameness grades were 1.2 ± 0.97 for HA + S and 1.8 ± 1.1 for ACP and were not different between groups. Post-treatment lameness grades were 0.4 ± 0.55 for HA + S and 0.8 ± 0.64 for ACP with significant (P < 0.05) improvement with either treatment but without differences between groups. Client-based assessments demonstrated improvements in activity, lameness, and pain with HA + S and ACP. These data suggest that both treatments have beneficial effects for dogs with bilateral elbow OA.     

Prevalence of obesity in mature horses: an equine body condition study

Obesity is becoming a major health concern in horses because of its associations with insulin resistance, oxidative stress/inflammation, and laminitis. However, there is limited information on the prevalence of obesity in horses. The USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) 1998 Equine study estimated that approximately 1.4% of the U.S. horse population is overweight or obese. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a subpopulation of horses in Virginia. A random sample of 300 mature, Light Breed horses (140 mares, 151 geldings, and 9 stallions) was selected from the VMRCVM Equine Field Service practice. Horses were evaluated during summer 2006. Body Condition Score (BCS) was assigned using a scale of 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) by two independent scorers. Neck circumference (cm) was measured at three locations and averaged (ANC). Girth, body length, and height at the withers were measured and used to calculate body weight (BW) and Body Mass Index (BMI). ANC and height at the withers were used to calculate Neck Circumference to Height Ratio (NCHR). Horses were categorized based on BCS as under condition (BCS <4), optimal condition (BCS 4–6), over condition (BCS 6.5–7), and obese condition (BCS 7.5–9). Six horses (2%) were under condition, 141 horses (47%) were in optimal condition, 96 horses (32%) were over condition, and 57 (19%) were obese. BW (p = 0.047), ANC, BMI and NCHR (all p < 0.001) increased with BCS. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in these horses was much higher than previously reported.     

Association of hyperlactatemia with age,diagnosis, and survival in equine neonates

Objective – To investigate the association between blood lactate concentration, measured at admission and following 12–36 hours of treatment, and age, diagnosis, and survival in neonatal foals. Design – Retrospective, observational study. Setting – Two equine referral hospitals. Animals – One hundred and twelve foals ≤96 hours of age were included. Interventions – Arterial or venous blood samples were obtained from all foals at admission and surviving foals at 12–36 hours. Measurements – The lactate concentration (LAC) was recorded at 2 time points: admission (LAC‐Admission) and 12–36 hours following treatment (LAC‐24 hours). Main Results – LAC decreased by 0.05 mmol/L for each increased hour of age at presentation. Premature/dysmature foals demonstrated increased odds of nonsurvival of 55% for each 1 mmol/L increase in LAC‐Admission while foals with major diagnoses of neonatal encephalopathy (NE), enteritis and ‘Other’ had increased odds of nonsurvival of 52%, 113%, and 247%, respectively, for each 1.0 mmol/L increase in LAC. Blood‐culture positive foals had significantly lower LAC than blood culture negative foals. LAC‐Admission and LAC‐24 hours were significantly larger in nonsurviving foals. LAC‐Admission of >6.9 mmol/L and LAC‐24 hours >3.2 mmol/L, respectively, correctly classified 85.6% and 94.1% of cases as survivors or nonsurvivors. No differences were found when the 24‐hour change in LAC was investigated in terms of outcome, age at admission, or major diagnosis; however, LAC‐24 hours remained significantly associated with survival. Conclusions – Admission or persistent hyperlactatemia is associated with a nonsurvival. Younger foals, premature/dysmature foals, and foals with neonatal encephalopathy had the largest LAC.     

Clostridium difficile associated with acute colitis in mature horses treated with antibiotics

Clostridium (C.) difficile, or its cytoxin, was demonstrated in faecal samples from 10 of 25 (40%) mature horses investigated with acute colitis treated primarily with antibiotics for disorders other than diarrhoea. C. difficile was not found in faecal samples from 140 horses without signs of enteric disorders, from 21 nondiarrhoeic horses treated with antibiotics, nor from 22 horses with colitis untreated with antibiotics. Except for C. difficile neither Salmonella nor any other investigated intestinal pathogen was isolated in any of the diarrhoeic horses. The findings strongly support some earlier reports that C. difficile is associated with acute colitis in mature horses treated with antibiotics. Of the 10 horses, 4 proved positive for C. difficile both in culture and in the cytotoxin test, 4 in culture only and 2 only in the cytotoxin test. Eight of 10 horses positive for C. difficile were or had recently been hospitalised, indicating that C. difficile may be a nosocomial infection in horses. All horses positive for C. difficile were treated with beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Mutations in genes causing human familial isolated hyperparathyroidism do not account for hyperparathyroidism in Keeshond dogs

The roles of the calcium sensing receptor gene (CaSR) and the multiple endocrine neoplasia gene (MEN1) were investigated in Keeshond dogs with familial hyperparathyroidism. Mutations in these genes have been shown to cause familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIH) in humans. Affected dogs were identified through measurement of blood calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. Parathyroid tissue and whole blood was used to clone the cDNAs and individual exonic sequences of both candidate genes. No sequence abnormalities were identified when comparing normal and affected dogs, suggesting that a mapping strategy may be the most appropriate approach for identifying the genetic basis of this valuable comparative canine disease model.     

Self-oriented regular arrays of carbon nanotubes and their field emission properties

The synthesis of massive arrays of monodispersed carbon nanotubes that are self-oriented on patterned porous silicon and plain silicon substrates is reported. The approach involves chemical vapor deposition, catalytic particle size control by substrate design, nanotube positioning by patterning, and nanotube self-assembly for orientation. The mechanisms of nanotube growth and self-orientation are elucidated. The well-ordered nanotubes can be used as electron field emission arrays. Scaling up of the synthesis process should be entirely compatible with the existing semiconductor processes, and should allow the development of nanotube devices integrated into silicon technology.