Canine multicentric lymphoma 2: Comparison of response to two chemothera-peutic protocols

This paper describes the chemotherapeutic response of 90 cases of canine multicentric lymphoma. All the dogs were treated with a combination protocol using cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone. Forty-seven dogs received additional intravenous cytosine arabinoside on the first four days of treatment. Eighty-eight per cent of all cases had shown either a complete or partial response to this treatment at six weeks from the start of treatment and the overall mean survival time was 37 weeks (SD = 35.8). There was no significant difference in response or survival rates between the two treatment groups. The age and sex of the patient, the clinical stage of the disease and previous treatment with corticosteroids were all analysed to determine whether these parameters were of prognostic significance. Those dogs in clinical stages 4 and 5 carried a worse prognosis than those in stages 1 to 3. Previous treatment with corticosteroids adversely affected both tumour response and patient survival rates.     

Comparison of the Recurrence Rate of Gastric Dilatation with or Without Volvulus in Dogs after Circumcostal Gastropexy Versus Gastrocolopexy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the recurrence rate of acute gastric dilatation with or without volvulus (GDV) after circumcostal gastropexy (CCGP) or gastrocolopexy (GCP) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, controlled, clinical trial with two groups (A and B). ANIMALS: Fifty-four client-owned dogs presented for treatment of GDV. METHODS: Dogs with acute GDV that had not previously had a gastropexy performed were included. The preoperative treatment before gastropexy was standardized. A CCGP was performed on dogs in group A, and a GCP was performed on dogs in group B. Postoperative treatment was standardized, but deviation did occur according to the special needs of particular patients. A minimal follow-up time of 180 days was required for dogs not excluded from the study. The median follow-up time in group A was 700 days; in group B, it was 400 days. The occurrence of abdominal pain and gastrointestinal problems after surgery were recorded by the owners. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate of GDV between the two groups. At the end of the study, the recurrence rate was 9% and 20% in group A and in group B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical techniques are effective in preventing recurrence of GDV.     

Liver-related biochemical changes in the serum of dogs being treated with phenobarbitone

The concentrations of phenobarbitone, albumin, bile acids and cholesterol, and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) were measured in the serum of 95 epileptic dogs whose clinical signs were controlled with phenobarbitone. The dogs were divided into groups on the basis of the concentration of phenobarbitone in their serum, the dose administered and the duration of the treatment. The concentration of phenobarbitone in serum was directly related to the activities of ALT, AP, GGT and GLDH and inversely related to the concentration of albumin. There was no significant relationship between the duration of treatment and the serum concentration of phenobarbitone, but there was a significant relationship between the duration of treatment and the activities of ALT, AP and GLDH. Thirty-five of the dogs (37 per cent) had serum activities of AP above the normal range, 19 had abnormally high activities of ALT, and 15 had high activities of GLDH, but these incidences were not related to the serum concentration of phenobarbitone. The dogs receiving higher doses for longer periods had the highest incidence of high activities of AP, ALT and GLDH. The concentration of bile acids in seven of the dogs was above the normal range but there was no relationship between the concentration and either the serum concentration, dose or duration of treatment with phenobarbitone.     

Subclinical versus clinical hepatitis in the dobermann: evaluation of changes in blood parameters

Concentrations of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were determined in blood samples from 626 randomly selected clinically healthy dobermann. ALT levels greater than three times the normal upper value were detected in 55 dogs. These dogs were selected for further investigation; the owners of 23 of the dogs allowed a liver biopsy to be performed. Histopathological examination revealed various degrees of hepatitis and excessive amounts of copper in 21 of the dogs. These cases, referred to as subclinical dobermann hepatitis (DH), were selected for a follow-up investigation in which the clinical signs and serum parameters (ALT, AP and bilirubin) were studied for a period of three to 48 months. Serum parameters of those with subclinical DH were compared with blood samples collected from 22 dogs with clinical DH. Individual dogs showed great variation in the levels of ALT and AP between consecutive serum samples. These enzyme levels never, however, fell to the normal range. During the subclinical stage no statistically significant (P>0–05) change occurred in the concentrations of ALT or AP. When dogs with subclinical DH were compared with dogs with clinical DH, there was no statistically significant (P>0–05) difference in ALT levels, whereas AP concentrations were significantly (P<0001) higher among clinically affected dogs. Elevated levels of bilirubin were detected almost exclusively in dogs with clinical DH. After the onset of clinical signs there was a decrease in the ALT levels and an increase in AP concentrations as the disease progressed, but the changes were not statistically significant (P>0–05).     

美洛昔康片对比格犬的靶动物安全性评价

为研究美洛昔康片对靶动物比格犬的安全性,选取24只健康的比格犬随机分成4组,每组6只。各组试验犬分别以0、推荐剂量(0.2 mg/kg bw)、3倍推荐剂量(0.6 mg/kg bw)、5倍推荐剂量(1.0 mg/kg bw)口服美洛昔康片,每日1次,连续给药7 d。对一般临床状况、采食量、增重、饲料转化率、血液生理和生化指标、病理组织学等进行观察和检测。结果显示,除5倍推荐剂量对犬的肾脏和胃有一定的病理性影响外,其他各项指标与空白对照组相比差异均不显著。表明美洛昔康片毒性小,在犬体内耐受性高,以推荐剂量给药对靶动物犬是安全的。     

Assessing the efficacy of perioperative oral carprofen after cranial cruciate surgery using noninvasive, objective pressure platform gait analysis

OBJECTIVE: To document, using pressure platform gait analysis, the effect of perioperative oral carprofen on limb function and pain after cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Blinded, prospective clinical investigation. ANIMALS: Twenty dogs with naturally occurring unilateral cranial cruciate disease. PROCEDURE: Physiologic indices, subjective pain scoring, and pressure platform gait analyses were performed before and 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Correlations were assessed between methods of evaluation and the data was compared across treatment groups. RESULTS: No strong correlations were noted between physiologic data, subjective scoring systems, or gait analysis data at a walk or stance. Although average measures of limb function were nearly twice as large in dogs treated with carprofen, no significant differences between groups over time were identified. No significant differences were noted in any other measure of pain or limb function. Power analysis of peak vertical force at a walk indicated that significant difference would have been detected had the number of dogs in each group been increased to 35. CONCLUSION: When limb function was assessed with pressure platform gait analysis no statistical difference was noted between groups with respect to PVF and VI at a walk or stance, although average ground reaction forces for dogs in the carprofen group were greater than the traditional pain management group at all time points. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral carprofen appears to provide some benefit for the treatment of postoperative orthopedic pain.     

A double-blind placebo-controlled study into the efficacy of a homeopathic remedy for fear of firework noises in the dog (Canis familiaris)

Seventy-five dogs that showed a fear response to fireworks participated in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a homeopathic remedy for the alleviation of their behavioural signs. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; the homeopathic treatment or the placebo treatment. At the baseline assessments the owners identified the behavioural signs of fear that their dogs normally displayed in response to fireworks, rated their frequency and intensity, and assessed the global severity of their dog's responses. These measures were repeated at the final assessment and owners also completed weekly diaries for the length of the trial. There were significant improvements in the owners' rating of 14/15 behavioural signs of fear in the placebo treatment group and all 15 behavioural signs in the homeopathic treatment group. Both treatment groups also showed significant improvement in the owners' rating of the global severity of their dog's responses. However, there was no significant difference in the response seen between the two treatment groups.     

Effects of different liver diseases on the platelet count in dogs

Changes of the platelet count in liver diseases are described in humans. Thrombocytopenia was observed more frequently than thrombocytosis. There are only a few investigations on platelet counts in liver diseases in dogs. The goal of the present study was to investigate the influence of different liver diseases including degeneration, hepatitis and liver tumours, on the platelet count. Platelet counts of 52 dogs with different liver diseases were measured and compared with 52 healthy dogs. The results showed, that dogs with liver degeneration have thrombocytosis in 41% of the cases and a group of dogs with liver tumours (malignant histiocytosis, hepatoma, malignant lymphoma anaplastic sarcoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma) had thrombocytopenia in 50% of the cases. The dogs with hepatitis showed no specific changes in the platelet count. The statistical comparison of our patients with liver disease and a control group of healthy dogs showed significantly higher platelet counts in cases of liver degeneration (p < 0.0001) and significantly lower platelet counts in cases of liver tumour (p < 0.001). The comparison between the dogs with different liver diseases showed significantly lower platelet counts in dogs with liver tumours when compared to dogs with liver degeneration (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between dogs with liver tumours and dogs with hepatitis and between dogs with liver degeneration and dogs with hepatitis. Based on the results of this study the author recommends to assess platelet counts in all dogs with liver disease, especially if liver biopsy is planed.     

Comparison of once-daily versus twice-weekly terbinafine administration for the treatment of canine Malassezia dermatitis - a pilot study

Background – Terbinafine, an allylamine antifungal, is used in pulsatile dose regimens for superficial mycoses in human medicine. Objectives – To compare the clinical efficacy of twice‐weekly versus once‐daily terbinafine administration to determine whether preliminary proof‐of‐concept evidence exists for pulsatile administration of terbinafine in the treatment of canine Malassezia dermatitis and to determine whether twice‐weekly treatment results in fewer clinical and owner‐perceived adverse events. Animals – Twenty client‐owned dogs with Malassezia dermatitis. Methods – In this randomized, single‐blinded clinical trial, dogs were randomly assigned to receive terbinafine (30 mg/kg) either once daily for 21 days (n = 10) or once daily on two consecutive days per week for six doses (n = 10). On day 0 and day 21, a mean yeast count was calculated from eight anatomical locations via adhesive tape‐strip cytology, clinical lesion scores were assigned to the same locations, and owners assessed pruritus using a visual analog scale. Results – There was no significant difference between treatment groups with respect to the reduction in mean yeast count (P = 0.343) and clinical lesion scores (P = 0.887). Pruritus measured by visual analog scale was significantly decreased in the twice‐weekly treatment group compared with the daily treatment group (P = 0.047). Seven of 20 dogs had a clinically measurable or owner‐reported adverse event during treatment that included gastrointestinal disturbances, excessive panting and elevated hepatic enzymes, with no significant difference noted between treatment groups. Conclusions and clinical importance – This pilot study indicates that twice‐weekly terbinafine administration may be an effective alternative treatment for canine Malassezia dermatitis and merits further investigation.     

Evaluation of clomipramine as an adjunct to behavioural therapy in the treatment of separation-related problems in dogs

Forty-nine dogs showing signs of separation-related problems were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group A (15 dogs) received a placebo twice daily; group B (17 dogs) received clomipramine at 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg twice daily; and group C (17 dogs) received clomipramine at 1.0 to 2.0 mg/kg twice daily. All the dogs also received behavioural therapy. Their owners were required to complete questionnaires about their dog's behaviour initially, and one, four and eight weeks after the treatment with clomipramine began. Bipolar ratings scales were used to monitor the frequencies of 'general', 'attachment-related' and 'separation-related' behaviours. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Kendall Rank correlations were used to determine any initial differences between the treatment groups, and the association between the initial scores and behavioural changes after one week of treatment with clomipramine. Extended Mantel-Haenszel statistics were used to evaluate the effects of clomipramine treatment versus the placebo, and Page's test was used to assess the effectiveness of behavioural therapy on its own. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics of the owners of the dogs assigned to the three groups. The dogs differed slightly in age between groups, and the dogs in the two clomipramine-treated groups were reported as showing problems at a significantly earlier age than those in the placebo group. Clomipramine treatment had a sustained suppressive effect on the dogs' general activity levels, and a more modest suppressive effect on their attachment-related tendency to want much physical contact with their owners. The typical signs of separation-related behaviour problems were not significantly affected by treatment with clomipramine, but behavioural therapy on its own was highly effective in reducing behavioural problems.     

Influence of long-term treatment with tetracycline and niacinamide on antibody production in dogs with discoid lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of long-term treatment with tetracycline and niacinamide on antibody production in dogs by measuring postvaccinal serum concentrations of antibodies against canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus. ANIMALS: 10 dogs receiving long-term treatment with tetracycline and niacinamide (treatment group) and 10 healthy dogs (control group). PROCEDURE: The treatment group included 9 dogs with discoid lupus erythematosus and 1 dog with pemphigus foliaceus on long-term treatment (> 12 months) with tetracycline and niacinamide. The control group included 10 healthy dogs with no clinical signs of disease and no administered medications for the past 3 months. Blood samples were obtained from all dogs by jugular venipuncture. Serum antibody titers against canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus antigens were measured, using hemaglutination inhibition and serum neutralization, respectively, and compared between groups. RESULTS: A significant difference in antibody titers between treatment- and control-group dogs was not found. All dogs had protective antibody titers against canine distemper virus, and 8 of 10 dogs from each group had protective titers against canine parvovirus infection. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results provide evidence that long-term treatment with tetracycline and niacinamide does not interfere with routine vaccinations and thus does not seem to influence antibody production in dogs.     

A Comparative Study of Serum Biochemistry,Metabolome and Microbiome Parameters of Clinically Healthy,Normal Weight,Overweight, and Obese Companion Dogs

The aim of this study was to compare fecal microbiome, plasma, fecal and urine metabolomes, and serum biochemistry of adult companion dogs according to body condition scores. Blood, serum/plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected from 66 clinically healthy, adult companion dogs of either normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), or obese dogs (OB). analyses included fecal microbiome analyses via 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon; sequencing, nontargeted plasma, fecal, and urine metabolomics using liquid chromatography/gas chromatography-mass; spectrometry, and serum biochemistry for each dog. Few significant differences in serum biochemistry and fecal microbiome Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) were found between weight groups and there was high OTU variation between individual dogs. NW dogs had higher relative abundance of the genus Eubacterium (log-fold change 4.3, adjusted P value?=?.003) and lower relative abundance of the family Bifidobacteriaceae (log-fold change ?3.6, adjusted P value?=?.02) compared to OB dogs. The microbiome of NW dogs had higher OTU richness compared with OB dogs. Metabolome analysis showed 185 plasma, 37 fecal, and 45 urine metabolites that significantly differed between NW and OW or OB dogs. There were notable significant differences in relative abundance of several plasma phospholipid moieties and fecal volatile fatty acids between weight phenotypes. The combinations of host and gut microbiota and metabolic shifts suggest a pattern that could help detection of early metabolic changes in overweight dogs before the development of obesity related disease. The results of this study support the need for continued investigation into sensitive measures of metabolic aberrancies in overweight dogs.     

Anaplasmosis in dogs: the relation of haematological, biochemical and clinical alterations to antibody titre and PCR confirmed infection

Laboratory and clinical parameters of 149 dogs, exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), and 19 control dogs were evaluated and compared retrospectively. The aim of our study was to determine statistically significant differences of selected parameters between groups of patients, divided according to the immunofluorescence (IFA) titres, in attempt to improve current diagnostic and treatment criteria. Exposure to A. phagocytophilum was confirmed by IFA and infection by PCR. Based on the results, the dogs were divided into 8 groups (6 groups of seropositive dogs according to the antibody titre, 1 group of PCR positive dogs, and a control group). Selected parameters were compared between groups. Thrombocytopenia was confirmed to be the most prominent haematological change in IFA and/or PCR positive dogs. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and haematological observations between groups of different IFA titre but clear overall differences between each IFA and PCR positive groups compared to the control group. Our results showed the necessity of introducing additional diagnostic procedures in clinical practice, since antibody titre and haematological parameters are not sufficient to confirm the clinical relevance of exposure to A. phagocytophilum in a particular patient.     

Assessment of biomarkers influencing treatment success on small intestinal lymphoma in dogs

This study aimed to determine a reliable therapeutic biomarker for localized small intestinal lymphoma (SIL) in dogs based on clinical and histopathological features. We retrospectively investigated 84 dogs with localized SIL, including 36 dogs receiving surgery and 48 dogs receiving chemotherapy. The dogs receiving surgery were divided into two subgroups: 18 dogs (group 1) with overall survival (OS) <120 days (median OS) and 18 dogs (group 2) with OS ≥120 days. Correspondingly, the dogs receiving chemotherapy were divided into 24 dogs (group 3) with OS <98 days (median OS) and 24 dogs (group 4) with OS ≥98 days. Clinical, haematological, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were comparatively evaluated among the four subgroups. There was no significant difference in OS between the surgery and chemotherapy groups. In dogs receiving surgery, the rate of Ki67‐positive cells was significantly increased in group 1 compared to group 2 and showed no significant difference between groups 3 and 4. In dogs receiving chemotherapy, the rate of O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 4 and showed no significant difference between groups 1 and 2. Additionally, our data showed that OS in dogs with higher Ki67 expression might be significantly increased by chemotherapy than by surgery, that of those with higher MGMT expression might be significantly increased by surgery than by chemotherapy, and Ki67 and MGMT were independent of each other. Indices of Ki67 and MGMT are suggested therapeutic biomarkers to determine the optimal first‐line treatment for localized SIL in dogs.     

Perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody and response to treatment in diarrheic dogs with food responsive disease or inflammatory bowel disease

The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) and clinical scores before and after treatment in diarrheic dogs with food-responsive disease (FRD) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). pANCA serology was evaluated prospectively by indirect immunofluorescence in 65 dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease, and if positive, pANCA antibody titers were determined. Thirty-nine dogs with FRD responded to a novel diet, and 26 dogs with IBD were treated with corticosteroids. The severity of clinical signs was scored by means of a canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI). At initial examination, a significantly (P = .002) higher percentage of dogs were pANCA-positive in the FRD group (62%) compared with the IBD group (23%). pANCA titers were significantly higher (P = .003) before treatment in the FRD group (median titer 100) compared with the IBD group (median titer 1). However, there was no difference in pANCA titers between the groups after respective treatments because dogs in the IBD group had a significant increase in pANCA titer after treatment. The CIBDAI score decreased significantly (P < .001) after treatment in both groups (74% moderate to severe in FRD dogs before versus 8% after treatment; 85% moderate to severe in IBD dogs before versus 32% after treatment). There was no correlation between pANCA status in FRD or IBD dogs before treatment and scores for CIBDAI, endoscopy, or histopathology before or after treatment, except for the endoscopic duodenal score in dogs with FRD after treatment (P = .03). A positive pANCA test before therapy may aid in the diagnosis of FRD.     

Ascites is a Negative Prognostic Indicator in Chronic Hepatitis in Dogs

Background: Chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is common but little is known about factors associated with survival. Ascites is a well-recognized negative prognostic indicator in humans.
Hypothesis: Ascites is a negative prognostic indicator in CH in dogs.
Animals: Thirty-four dogs with histologically confirmed CH presented to 1 institution between 1996 and 2005.
Methods: Retrospective observational study. CH was diagnosed by histopathology of liver tissue according to the WSAVA criteria. Ascites was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. The association of ascites with survival from diagnosis or onset of owner-reported clinical signs until death from any cause or from liver disease was analyzed. Ascitic and nonascitic groups were further analyzed for differences in treatment and sex.
Results: Fourteen of 34 dogs had ascites. Survival from diagnosis to death from liver disease was 0.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2–0.6) for ascitic dogs and 24.3 months (CI 11.4–37.1) for nonascitic dogs ( P < .001), and from onset of signs to death from liver disease was 2.0 months (CI 0.0–5.6) for ascitic dogs and 33.0 months (CI 8.6–57.4) for nonascitic dogs ( P = .0020). Diet and spironolactone use differed between groups.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Ascites is a significant negative prognostic indicator in dogs with CH. Veterinarians and owners can use this information to aid clinical decision making in affected dogs.     

Preemptive carprofen for peri-operative analgesia in dogs undergoing Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO): a prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial

Eighteen client-owned dogs undergoing Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) were included in this blinded clinical study and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group C (carprofen) received intravenous (IV) carprofen, 4 mg/kg, prior to anesthesia, whereas group P (placebo) received IV saline. General anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and a constant rate infusion (CRI) of sufentanyl IV. Intra-operatively, assessment of nociception was based on changes in physiological parameters and on the analgesics requirement, whereas in the post-operative period evaluation of pain was performed by using a Hellyer and Gaynor pain score and by comparing the doses of rescue buprenorphine required by the two treatment groups. Although no statistically significant differences in intra-operative sufentanyl doses were found between treatment groups, group C had superior cardiovascular stability, and lower post-operative pain scores and rescue buprenorphine doses than group P. Our results indicate that administration of carprofen prior to surgery was effective in improving peri-operative analgesia in dogs undergoing TPLO.     

Primary Hepatitis in Dogs: A Retrospective Review (2002–2006)

Background: Little is known about etiology, disease progression, treatment outcome, survival time, and factors affecting prognosis in dogs with primary hepatitis (PH).
Objectives: To review retrospectively different forms of hepatitis in a referral population, by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Standardization criteria.
Animals: One-hundred and one dogs examined for histologically confirmed PH between 2002 and 2006. Dogs with nonspecific reactive hepatitis were excluded.
Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed for prevalence, signalment, clinical and clinicopathologic manifestation, outcome, survival time, and prognostic factors for shortened survival.
Results: PH occurred in 0.5% of dogs in this referral population. Acute (AH) and chronic hepatitis (CH) were diagnosed in 21 and 67 dogs, respectively. Progression from AH to CH occurred in 5/12 of the repeatedly sampled dogs. CH was idiopathic in 43 (64%) dogs, and was associated with copper accumulation in 24 (36%) dogs. Median survival time was longer in dogs with AH than in dogs with CH (either idiopathic or copper associated), and dogs with lobular dissecting hepatitis had the shortest survival time. Prognostic factors predicting shortened survival were associated with decompensated liver function and cirrhosis at initial examination.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The majority of PH in dogs is CH. Previous studies appear to have underestimated the etiologic role of copper in both AH and CH. Prognosis is reduced in dogs with hepatic cirrhosis or cirrhosis-related clinical findings. Further research into etiology and treatment effectiveness in all PH forms is needed.     

Evaluation of the results of a L-asparaginase-based continuous chemotherapy protocol versus a short doxorubicin-based induction chemotherapy protocol in dogs with malignant lymphoma.

The results of an L-asparaginase-based continuous chemotherapy protocol (n = 52) versus a short doxorubicin-based induction chemotherapy protocol (n = 65) were evaluated in 117 dogs with malignant lymphoma. There were no differences between the two groups in patient characteristics or incidence of protocol-related toxicity. Complete remission was induced in 71.2% of the dogs treated with the L-asparaginase protocol and in 67.7% of the dogs treated with the doxorubicin-plus protocol. The calculated Kaplan-Meier one- and two-year survival fractions in the L-asparaginase group were 48% and 26%, and in the doxorubicin-plus group 35%, and 22%, respectively. Differences in remission and survival between the two treatment groups were not significant. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards survival analysis revealed that elevated pretreatment plasma creatinine concentration and prior treatment with prednisolone were associated with shorter survival times. An elevated pretreatment plasma creatinine concentration and total leucocyte count were associated with a decrease in the disease-free period. Differences in efficacy and toxicity between the two protocols were not significant. There is no apparent advantage in using the continuous L-asparaginase protocol, and the shorter doxorubicin-plus protocol is less expensive and less time consuming.     

The evaluation of Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) test in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with cyclosporine or prednisone

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical state of dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) by use of CADESI test in own modification during the first visit in the Dermatology Consult Room as well as during the treatment. The study was performed in two groups (I-E and II-C) of 20 dogs in each group. In dogs which were qualified to the I-E group, as antiallergic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic treatment, prednisone (oral preparation Encorton--Polfa Pabianice) at dose 0.5 mg/kg b.w./day was administered, while in dogs qualified to the II-C group--cyclosporine (oral preparation Sandimmun Neoral--Novartis Pharma) at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w./day; the treatment was continued for 6 weeks in both groups. During the study, skin lesions were assessed in 15 specified body areas using 4 parameters and 5-point scale. In group I-E and II-C the amount of received points in CADESI test was decreased by 82.26% and by 83% respectively, after the treatment. Statistical analyses of the results obtained revealed no statistically significant (P = 0.05) differences between means of I-E and II-C groups in consecutive examinations, which indicates comparable clinical efficacy of both drugs. Statistically significant differences (P = 0.05) of the parameters assessed were found after secondary dermatoses treatment, and after every two weeks of antipruritic and anti-inflammatory treatment.