Repeatability of equine health and management information obtained via a telephone questionnaire

The repeatability of equine health and management data obtained via a telephone survey of 60 horse owners and trainers was evaluated by using a test-retest method. One month following completion of the initial telephone questionnaire, the owners and trainers were asked to complete a retest questionnaire which contained a subset of 31 questions from the original survey. The second (retest) questionnaire collected information concerning the same time period as the first interview, i.e. the 4 week period prior to the original admission date of the horse. Measures of agreement were calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for continuous variables and the Kappa statistic for categorical variables.

Overall, measures of agreement were very favorable, ranging from good to excellent for nearly all questions examined. The results of this study indicate that repeatable information concerning equine health and management data can be obtained via a telephone interview and that a telephone questionnaire is a feasible method for obtaining information from horse owners and trainers.     

Repeatability and validity of a combined mail and telephone questionnaire on demographics, diet, exercise and health status in an insured-dog population.

The validity and repeatability of a telephone questionnaire on demographics, diet, living patterns, exercise and health status in a well-defined dog population was assessed. Randomly selected dogs aged 1-3 years in the largest animal-insurance database of Sweden were included in the study.The repeatability was measured by doing two identical interviews with 64 dog owners on average 39 (S.D. 17) days apart. The overall response percentage was 66% (64/97). The repeatabilities for demographic data were excellent (r(sp) 0.82-1.00), and dietary intake and feeding patterns correlated well between interviews (r(sp) 0.66-0.99, kappa 0.57-0.95). However, correlations for the frequency and daily intake of specific table foods had a wide range (r(sp) 0.06-0.97). The energy and specific nutrient intakes had high repeatabilities (r(sp) 0.72-0.79). Dog owners were quite consistent in reporting living patterns, exercise and dog-training activities (r(sp) 0.65-0.94, kappa 0.43-0.88), except for number of walks per day (r(sp) 0.50). The repeatabilities also were excellent for the evaluation of health status (r(sp) 0.78-0.99, kappa 0.81-1.00).The questionnaire also was compared to a 7-day weighed record of total food intake and registration of exercise to give data on the validity. The questionnaire was given 62 (S.D. 19) days before the weighed registrations, and the overall response percentage was 76% (58/76). Correlations for the frequency and amount of commercial feeds given were high (0.81-0.92), although correlations for specific table foods had a wider range (0.03-0.81). Correlations for total energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate intakes were between 0.80 and 0.85 in the total diet, and 0.79-0.85 in the commercial part of the diet. The correlations for frequency and amount of exercise ranged between 0.50 and 0.77. Corresponding correlations for training activities (such as hunting, tracking, and obedience) were 0.51-0.68.     

Repeatability of a telephone questionnaire on cat-ownership patterns and pet-owner demographics evaluation in a community in Texas, USA

The repeatability of a telephone questionnaire on cat-ownership patterns, demographics and attitudes towards homeless cats in a community was evaluated. Randomly selected households (n = 100) within Caldwell, Texas, were included in the study. The response percentage was 84% (100/119) among those contacted and 75% (100/134) among all eligible respondents. Repeatability was measured by administering the same survey twice to the first 100 responding subjects, with an average (range) of 48 (25–64) days between interviews. The survey was initially administered from 6 June to 28 June 2005 and the follow-up survey was administered from 19 July to 11 August 2005. Repeatability for most cat-ownership characteristics was fair to good between the two interviews (kappa 0.47–0.82). Knowledge of companion animals and subject attachment to pet questions had good correlations between the two interviews (r_sp 0.52 and 0.60, respectively). Subject-demographic questions had excellent repeatability (kappa 0.66–1.00).     

Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet

A previously undocumented hypokalaemic condition with a cyclical nature, comprising acute bouts of polymyopathy followed by spontaneous recoveries, is described in the cat. Cats being fed a high protein vegetarian diet developed recurrent episodes of polymyopathy, characterised by ventroflexion of the head and neck, stiff forelimb gait, lateral head-resting and generalised muscle weakness. Plasma potassium concentrations (mean +/- standard deviation) were reduced from 3.28 +/- 0.33 mmol/l at the beginning of the experiment to 2.45 +/- 0.24 mmol/l during bouts of myopathy. This hypokalaemia was associated with increased creatine kinase activities indicative of muscle damage, and decreased urinary potassium concentrations, and was caused by insufficient dietary potassium. Cats that received the same diet supplemented with potassium did not develop hypokalaemic polymyopathy. Spontaneous recoveries of affected cats were not associated consistently with increases in plasma potassium concentrations. Plasma taurine concentrations decreased and glutamic acid increased markedly in all cats fed the experimental diet. There was no evidence of thiamin deficiency associated with the high glutamic acid intake. Veterinarians should be aware that hypokalaemic cats, and in particular those on potassium-deficient diets, may show cyclical disease with episodes of polymyopathy recurring after periods of spontaneous clinical recovery. This condition in cats may be a useful animal model for familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in humans.     

Septicemic salmonellosis in two cats fed a raw-meat diet

Salmonella gastroenteritis and septicemia were diagnosed in two cats presented for necropsy. Both cats resided in the same household and were fed a home-prepared, raw meat-based diet. Salmonella was isolated from multiple organs in both cats and from samples of raw beef incorporated into the diet fed to one of the cats. Subtyping of the bacterial isolates yielded Salmonella newport from one cat and from the diet it had been fed. This report provides evidence that the practice of feeding raw meat-based diets to domestic cats may result in clinical salmonellosis.     

Development of a questionnaire assessing health-related quality-of-life in dogs and cats with cancer

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) has been studied extensively in human medicine. There is currently no standard HRQoL evaluation for veterinary oncology patients. The aim of this study was to assess the practicality, usefulness and robustness, from a pet owner and clinician perspective, of a questionnaire for the assessment of HRQoL in canine and feline cancer patients. A HRQoL assessment entitled 'Cancer Treatment Form' and two questionnaires entitled 'Owner Minitest' and 'Clinician Minitest' were designed. The first and second were completed by owners of patients presenting to a veterinary oncology referral service and the third by attending clinicians. The 'Cancer Treatment Form' was well received by owners and clinicians and provided a valuable assessment of HRQoL with 98% (82/84) of owners reporting an accurate reflection of their pet's quality-of-life. Following this, minor improvements to the form could be suggested prior to regular use in evaluation of clinical oncology patients.     

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-methemoglobin reductase activity in erythrocytes from cats

Reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-methemoglobin reductase activity in feline erythrocyte lysates was determined, using potassium ferricyanide as substrate. The optimum conditions for the assay were pH 8 and 37 C. Mean NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity in cats was 15.7 +/- 4.1 mumoles of substrate converted/g of hemoglobin/min. The migration of NADH-ferricyanide reductase was similar to that of the NADH-methemoglobin reductase (NADH diaphorase) on starch gel electrophoresis.     

Increase in plasma lipid peroxide in cats fed a fish diet.

Plasma lipid peroxide levels were examined in cats. Plasma lipid peroxide levels in 3 of 4 clinical cases which had been fed raw fish were higher than those in normal cats. When healthy cats were put on a raw fish diet in controlled conditions, a remarkable increase in plasma lipid peroxide was observed. This increase occurred within 1 to 3 weeks in cats without obvious clinical disorders. We also showed that a continuous raw fish diet is necessary to cause the increase, but the increase was transient and restored in spite of a continuous raw fish diet, indicating the development of an unidentified antioxidant process. Our results clearly indicate that intake of foods high in polyunsaturated fatty acid can induce oxidative stress in cats.     

Development and validation of a questionnaire for measuring behavior and temperament traits in pet dogs

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a questionnaire to assess behavior and temperament traits of pet dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of dog owners. Animals-1,851 dogs belonging to clients of a veterinary teaching hospital or members of national breed clubs and 203 dogs examined by canine behavior practitioners because of behavior problems. PROCEDURE: Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of 152 items eliciting information on how dogs responded to specific events and situations in their usual environment. Data from completed questionnaires were subjected to factor analysis, and the resulting factors were tested for reliability and validity. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 11 factors from 68 of the original questionnaire items that together accounted for 57% of the common variance in questionnaire item scores. Reliability was acceptable for all but 1 of these factors. Behavior problems in 200 of the 203 dogs with behavior problems could be assigned to 7 diagnostic categories that matched 7 of the factors identified during factor analysis of questionnaire responses. Dogs assigned to particular diagnostic categories had significantly higher scores for corresponding questionnaire factors than did those assigned to unrelated diagnostic categories, indicating that the factors were valid. Validity of the remaining 4 factors could not be examined because of a lack of information on dogs with behavior problems related to these factors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggest that the resulting 68-item questionnaire is a reliable and valid method of assessing behavior and temperament traits in dogs. The questionnaire may be useful in screening dogs for behavior problems and in evaluating the clinical effects of various treatments for behavior problems.     

Taurine depletion and cardiovascular disease in adult cats fed a potassium-depleted acidified diet.

Although low plasma taurine concentrations have been associated with congestive cardiomyopathy in cats, the cause of taurine depletion in cats consuming adequate quantities of taurine is unknown. Taurine depletion and cardiovascular disease (cardiomyopathy and thromboembolism) developed unexpectedly in 3 of 6 healthy adult cats during a potassium-depletion study. Plasma taurine concentration decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) and rapidly over an 8-week period (from 98 to 36 nmol/ml) in 6 cats that consumed a potassium-deficient diet (0.20% potassium, dry matter basis) that was acidified with 0.8% ammonium chloride, despite containing dietary taurine concentrations (0.12% dry matter basis) in excess of amounts currently recommended. Taurine concentrations were significantly lower in cats fed the acidified diet than in 6 cats fed a potassium-deficient diet that was not acidified (36 nmol/ml vs 75 nmol/ml) after 8 weeks. In addition, plasma taurine concentrations did not decrease over a 6-month period in 8 cats that were fed a potassium-replete diet with acidifier. Plasma taurine concentrations were lowest in 3 cats that died of cardiovascular disease in the group receiving potassium-deficient, acidified diets. These data indicated an association between taurine and potassium balance in cats and suggested that development of taurine depletion and cardiovascular disease may be linked to concurrent potassium depletion.     

Aldose reductase activity and glucose-related opacities in incubated lenses from dogs and cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine responses of canine and feline lenses to incubation in a medium with a high glucose concentration. SAMPLE POPULATION: Lenses from 35 dogs and 26 cats. PROCEDURE: Glucose concentrations were measured in paired lenses from 25 dogs and 17 cats after incubation for 14 days in high-glucose (30 mmol of glucose/L) or control (6 mmol of glucose/L) medium. Aldose reductase activity was measured spectrophotometrically in the incubated lenses and in freshly frozen lenses from 10 dogs and 9 cats. Two lenses of each group were studied histologically. RESULTS: Canine and feline lenses in high-glucose medium developed glucose-specific opacities of variable localization and extent. Canine lenses developed equatorial vacuoles, but severity of the lesions was not associated with the age of the dog. Lenses from young cats (< or = 4 years old) developed extensive posterior cortical opacities, whereas those from older cats (> 4 years old) did not. Glucose concentrations were similar in all lenses incubated in high-glucose medium; however aldose reductase activity was significantly lower in lenses from older cats, compared with lenses from young cats and from dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High aldose reductase activity and glucose-related opacities suggest a central role for this enzyme in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataracts in dogs and cats. Because onset of diabetes mellitus usually occurs in cats > 7 years of age, low activity of aldose reductase in lenses of older cats may explain why diabetic cataracts are rare in this species despite hyperglycemia.     

日粮营养水平对鸡免疫功能的影响

在生产过程中 ,由于传染性疾病、应激等因素的影响 ,常使鸡处于营养的临界状态 ,甚至营养不良 ,而营养不良又加重传染性疾病的发生。因此 ,为维持机体健康 ,提高生产性能 ,缓解种种应激因素的不利影响 ,对营养与鸡免疫力的关系进行了研究。本文就近年来有关日粮营养素水平对鸡免疫功能影响的研究作一综述。１氨基酸１．１蛋氨酸蛋氨酸是鸡饲料中第一限制性氨基酸。肉鸡日粮缺乏蛋氨酸时 ,产生抗体的能力降低。日粮蛋氨酸的水平与鸡免疫机能有着很重要的关系。Ｔｓｉａｇｂｅ（１９８７）在肉鸡日粮中分别添加０．０６３ % ,０．１２５ %和０…     

Efficacy of a commercial hydrolysate diet in eight cats suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or adverse reaction to food

Eight of 28 cats presenting with chronic vomiting and/or diarrhoea were diagnosed as suffering from chronic enteropathy. All cats had undergone a complete diagnostic work-up, including endoscopy. Histopathology findings varied from normal, eosinophilic, to lymphoplasmacytic gastroenteritis. On the basis of findings, the cats were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or an adverse reaction to food. A hydrolysed protein diet was used as sole therapy, and clinical signs resolved within 4-8 days in all eight cats. After 2 months the cats had gained weight. A challenge trial with their previous diet resulted in recurrence of the clinical signs, which resolved in seven cats when the test diet was reintroduced. We conclude that the hydrolysed protein diet used in the current study was effective in managing these cases.     

Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in healthy cats and cats with induced hepatic disease

Activities of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined in healthy cats and in cats before and after treatment: common bile duct ligation, carbon tetrachloride administration, sham surgery, or anesthesia only. Significant (P less than 0.01) increases in serum GGT, ALP, and ALT occurred in cats with ligated bile ducts. Significant (P less than 0.01) increases in serum ALT occurred in carbon tetrachloride-treated cats. Increases of serum GGT, ALP, or ALT were not observed in cats subjected to sham surgery or anesthesia only compared with these cats' baseline values and values in healthy cats. Tissue GGT activity was measured in liver, renal cortex, jejunal mucosa, and bile ducts. There was a 1.5-fold increase in GGT activity in livers of cats with ligated bile ducts, compared with that in livers of healthy cats.