A Randomized Blinded Crossover Clinical Trial to Determine the Effect of an Oral Joint Supplement on Equine Limb Kinematics,Orthopedic, Physiotherapy,and Handler Evaluation Scores

Despite the range of oral joint supplements available, there has been very limited research into their efficacy. The study aimed to determine the effect of an oral joint supplement on limb kinematics, orthopedic, physiotherapy, and handler evaluation in horses. Supplement S or placebo P was fed to 24 horses for 21 days each in a random order. Horses were evaluated at days 0 (baseline), 21 (after first treatment), and 42 (after second treatment). Assessments included the following: clinical orthopedic evaluation for straight line/lunging circle in walk and trot; high-speed motion capture determined hindlimb kinematics for straight-line trotting; grading of limb range of motion (ROM) and muscle tone based on standardized physiotherapy criteria; handler grading of specific criteria during pasture, groundwork, and ridden exercise. Effect of treatment, sequence, limb, and interactions were investigated using linear-mixed models. S was associated with significantly lower lameness grade in a straight line (P = .001) and circle (P = .010), with individual horses improving up to 2/10 grades over P/baseline. S was associated with significantly improved ROM and muscle tone. Ridden/groundwork scores were significantly higher with S compared to P/baseline. With S, horses were graded significantly higher for “ease of movement” at pasture compared with P/baseline. For horses with hindlimb lameness, S was associated with significantly greater tarsal flexion than baseline (4.2% greater, P < .020) or P (2.7% greater, P < .037). S was associated with less lameness and improved physiotherapy scores, ridden/groundwork scores, and pasture “ease of movement.” Increased midstance tarsal flexion of lame limbs may indicate improved mobility/comfort during peak loading, supporting a positive effect of S.     

Postamputation Orthopedic Surgery in Canine Amputees: Owner Satisfaction and Outcome

Surgical management of postamputation orthopedic disease (PAOD) in canine amputees has rarely been documented, and no reports describing outcome of stifle surgery in canine amputees are available. The objective of this multisite retrospective case series was to describe cases and evaluate satisfaction with and outcome of postamputation orthopedic surgery in canine amputees. Data was obtained through medical records and owner survey responses; data included signalment, amputation cause, diagnosis, surgical treatment, timeframes, and outcome assessment. Outcome was categorized as acceptable or unacceptable, and complications were classified as catastrophic, major, or minor. Eleven thoracic limb amputees and 6 pelvic limb amputees with surgically treated PAOD were identified. Surgically treated PAOD was reported at a median of 9.7 months (range 0.5-110 months) after amputation. All 17 amputees were treated for pelvic limb disease, predominantly for cranial cruciate ligament disease that occurred in 11 of 17 dogs. Major complications following orthopedic surgeries performed in 3 thoracic limb amputees consisted of infection (n?=?2) and uncontrolled pain (n?=?1). No major complications were reported following orthopedic surgeries performed in pelvic limb amputees. Acceptable mid-to-long-term outcome was achieved in 16 of the 17 canine amputees. Surgical treatment of pelvic limb disease did not appear to be associated with a high number of major complications in this case series. These findings suggest that orthopedic surgery, specifically stifle surgery, in canine amputees might be considered a feasible treatment option. Although there are inherent methodological limitations of retrospective studies and owner surveys, our case series provides new information that might help guide surgical treatment decisions in canine amputees suffering from orthopedic disease. Prospective studies using objective outcome measures evaluating surgical management of PAOD are necessary to confirm the provided information.     

Effects of a Novel Dietary Supplement on Indices of Muscle Injury and Articular GAG Release in Horses

This study determined the ability of an oral nutraceutical supplement to attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammation that occurs in muscles and joints with repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise in horses. The supplement, fed daily, was comprised of whole dried mushrooms, golden flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acids, plant-based enzymes, a melon-concentrate powder, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii. Ten horses participated in a partial cross-over design, with 7 horses completing the Control trial and 7 horses completing the supplement trial. Blood and synovial fluid samples (from the intercarpal joint) were taken before, and at 1 and 24 hours after a standardized, repeated high-intensity exercise test that was performed before supplementation and on the 22nd day of supplementation. At the end of the supplement trial exercise resulted in reduced concentrations of plasma markers of oxidative stress (decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, with increased total antioxidant status and increased superoxide dismutase activity); there was no effect on plasma markers of muscle injury (creatine, creatine kinase, and aspartate aminotransferase) or inflammation (PGE₂, nitric oxide). Within synovial fluid, there was a tendency for increased superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased concentration of glycosaminoglycans. It is concluded that the supplement, when fed to horses as part of the normal diet for 23 days, was associated with reduced concentrations of markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in muscle and synovial fluid.     

Obesity induced changes to plasma adiponectin concentration and cholesterol lipoprotein composition profile in cats

Feline obesity generally results in aberrations to plasma metabolite levels, such as lipid concentrations and lipoprotein composition. This study sought to investigate the resultant effect of obesity on cholesterol lipoprotein composition and circulating adiponectin concentrations in cats. Plasma glucose, lipids (triglyceride, cholesterol and free fatty acid), insulin and adiponectin concentrations, and cholesterol lipoprotein composition were measured and compared between body condition score (BCS) determined normal healthy control and obese cats. Although the obese group demonstrated higher levels of plasma cholesterol, glucose, and triglycerides, as compared to healthy controls, the difference was insignificant thus indicating that the BCS determined obese cats may have been overweight and not morbidly obese. Plasma insulin levels were significantly higher (25–30%) versus healthy control animals thereby possibly hinting at the ensuing emergence of obesity induced insulin resistance. However, the BCS determined obese cat demonstrated a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in plasma adiponectin concentration and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in LDL-cholesterol % as compared to age matched healthy control animals. This would indicate that changes in plasma adiponectin concentration and cholesterol lipoprotein composition may be good early indicators of obesity in cats.     

Prevalence and risk factors for the development of diabetes mellitus in Swedish cats

Background

The prevalence and risk factors for the development of feline diabetes mellitus (FDM) in Swedish cats have not previously been reported. The objective of the present pilot study was to indicate prevalence and possible risk factors for FDM in Swedish cats. Twenty diabetic cats from the database at the University Animal Hospital in Uppsala participated in the study, and these were matched with 20 healthy controls on sex and age. A mail-and-telephone questionnaire focusing on diet, activity and obesity was used.

Results

The prevalence of FDM during the years 2000–2004 based on the results of the hospital records in the present study was 21 per 10,000 cats. The diabetic cats were on average 9 years old when the disease signs were discovered (median, min-max 2–15). Among FDM cases, it was more common to be male (n=17 males vs n=3 females; P≤0.05). Ten out of twenty owners to cases (50%) reported their cats to be obese at the time of the diagnosis (median 9 years, min-max 2–15), as compared to five out of twenty (25%) controls at the same age. The median BW at the time for diagnosis was 5.5 kg (min-max 2.0-9.0) for cases, and 5.0 kg (min-max 3.0-8.0 kg) for controls, respectively. Despite that both cases and controls had the same median age at the time of the study (13 years, min-max 3–18), a significantly higher number of controls were alive at that age (n=16 controls vs 8 cases; P≤0.05). A significantly higher proportion of cases that were obese at the time of the FDM diagnosis were dead at the time of the study compared to the proportion of controls that were obese at a similar age (P≤0.05).The diets given at the time for diagnosis for cases compared to diet of the controls at a similar time were mainly commercial foods, and controls consumed a higher proportion of dry foods compared to cases (medians 79 vs 44% of DM intake/d, respectively; P≤0.05). Cases were less active compared to the controls (2.3 and 3.2 h/d, respectively; P≤0.05).

Conclusions

The results indicate that the proportions of dry foods in the diet, to perform low activity and to be obese could be identified as preliminary risk factors for FDM in Swedish cats, and should be taken into account in preventive measures as well as in the design of future epidemiological studies in this population.