Caudal articular process dysplasia of thoracic vertebrae in neurologically normal French bulldogs,English bulldogs,and Pugs: Prevalence and characteristics

The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of thoracic caudal articular process dysplasia in French bulldogs, English bulldogs and Pugs presenting for problems unrelated to spinal disease. In this retrospective cross‐sectional study, computed tomography scans of the thoracic vertebral column of these three breeds were reviewed for the presence and location of caudal articular process hypoplasia and aplasia, and compared between breeds. A total of 271 dogs met the inclusion criteria: 108 French bulldogs, 63 English bulldogs, and 100 Pugs. A total of 70.4% of French bulldogs, 84.1% of English bulldogs, and 97.0% of Pugs showed evidence of caudal articular process dysplasia. Compared to French and English bulldogs, Pugs showed a significantly higher prevalence of caudal articular process aplasia, but also a lower prevalence of caudal articular process hypoplasia, a higher number of affected vertebrae per dog and demonstrated a generalized and bilateral spatial pattern more frequently. Furthermore, Pugs showed a significantly different anatomical distribution of caudal articular process dysplasia along the vertebral column, with a high prevalence of caudal articular process aplasia between T10 and T13. This area was almost completely spared in French and English bulldogs. As previously suggested, caudal articular process dysplasia is a common finding in neurologically normal Pugs but this also seems to apply to French and English bulldogs. The predisposition of clinically relevant caudal articular process dysplasia in Pugs is possibly not only caused by the higher prevalence of caudal articular process dysplasia, but also by breed specific anatomical characteristics.     

Clinical effects of short-term oral budesonide on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease

Six dogs were entered into a 30-day, prospective, nonrandomized, uncontrolled clinical trial evaluating the effects of an oral preparation of budesonide on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during therapeutic management of active inflammatory bowel disease. Oral budesonide, at a dose of 3 mg/m(2), was administered once daily. Upon entry and completion of the trial, serum basal cortisol, adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)-stimulated cortisol, endogenous ACTH concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) activity, and urine specific gravity were evaluated, as well as owner assessment of glucocorticoid-associated side effects. Significant suppression of the HPA axis occurred. No significant differences in SAP activity, urine specific gravity, or owner-subjective assessments were detected.     

The effects of bimatoprost and unoprostone isopropyl on the intraocular pressure of normal cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects on intraocular pressure (IOP), pupillary diameter (PD), blepharospasm score, conjunctival injection score, and aqueous humor flare score when either 0.03% bimatoprost solution is applied once daily or 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution is applied twice daily topically to the eyes of normal cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aforementioned parameters were evaluated daily in each of 12 cats throughout the entirety of the study. During an initial 10-day treatment phase a single eye of six of the cats was treated with 0.03% bimatoprost solution while a single eye of the remaining six cats was treated with buffered saline solution (BSS) once daily. During a second 10-day treatment phase a single eye of six of the cats was treated with 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution while a single eye of the remaining six cats was treated with BSS twice daily. Contralateral eyes of all cats remained untreated at all time points. RESULTS: Blepharospasm score, conjunctival injection score, and aqueous humor flare score never rose from a value of 0, for any eye of any cat during the study. The mean +/- SD of IOP for eyes treated with 0.03% bimatoprost solution and BSS were 16.55 +/- 3.06 mmHg and 18.02 +/- 3.52 mmHg, respectively. The mean +/- of PD for eyes treated with 0.03% bimatoprost solution and BSS were 5.7 +/- 1.57 mm and 6.39 +/- 1.78 mm, respectively. The mean +/- SD of IOP for eyes treated with 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution and BSS were 15.7 +/- 2.91 mmHg and 17.2 +/- 2.9 mmHg, respectively. The mean +/- SD of PD for eyes treated with 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution and BSS were 5.8 +/- 1.43 mm and 6.9 +/- 1.37 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > or = 0.05) in IOP or PD between eyes treated with 0.03% bimatoprost solution vs. eyes treated with BSS. Similarly, there was no significant difference (P > or = 0.05) in IOP or PD between eyes treated with 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution vs. eyes treated with BSS. CONCLUSION: Neither once daily topical administration of 0.03% bimatoprost solution nor twice daily topical administration of 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution significantly affect the IOP of normal cats. Both 0.03% bimatoprost solution and 0.15% unoprostone isopropyl solution induced no significant ocular side effects in normal cats when dosed over a 10-day treatment period.     

Ectopic ureterocele in a cat

A 9-month-old, castrated male domestic shorthair cat with urinary incontinence was referred for surgical correction of an ectopic ureter. Excretory urography revealed hydronephrosis of the right kidney, right hydroureter, and ureterocele. A partial ureterocelectomy and neoureterocystostomy were performed. This report describes the surgical modification of the ureterocele and ectopic ureter to correct ipsilateral hydronephrosis, hydroureter, and urinary incontinence.     

Dietary supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus extract enhances gut health in weanling piglets

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) as a dietary additive on gut health in weanling piglets by examining diarrhea frequency, intestinal microbiota and morphology. A total of 96 Duroc× (Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets weaned at 21 days of age with an average initial body weight (BW) of 5.6 ± 0.4 kg were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups with 4 duplicates of 8 piglets each. The piglets were fed basal diet to which had been added 0 or 1 g/kg of ASE, or 0.7 g/kg antibiotics, respectively. Fecal consistence was monitored twice daily and the frequency of diarrhea was calculated. On day 21 after the initiation of supplementation, 8 piglets were randomly selected from each treatment group (2 piglets per pen) and slaughtered. The jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum were then excised and fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution to determine villus height and crypt depth, after their contents were collected to determine microbiota. The results showed that dietary supplementation with ASE increased (P < 0.05) the density of bacterial populations that co-migrated with Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium lituseburens, but decreased (P < 0.05) those co-migrating with Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Ruminococcus forques, and E. coli O157:H7 in the PCR-DGGE profiling analysis when compared with the control group. The villus height of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum increased (P < 0.05) by 14.8, 13.7 and 10.0%, while the crypt depth decreased (P < 0.05) by 17.9, 9.1 and 12.1%, respectively, in response to dietary ASE supplementation. Additionally dietary supplementation with ASE or an antibiotic decreased (P < 0.05) the frequency of diarrhea by 55.6 and 52.2%, respectively, compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that dietary supplementation with ASE could regulate the microbiota composition and maintain a normal morphology of gut mucosa in weanling piglets, thereby decreasing diarrhea that resulted from weaning stress.     

Actinomyces bowdenii ulcerative keratitis in a dog

A 5‐year‐old spayed female diabetic mixed‐breed dog underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation to correct bilateral hypermature cataracts. Two months postsurgery, the patient presented with ulcerative keratitis and multifocal stromal abscessation OD, which was controlled, but never resolved, with topical fluoroquinolone therapy. The patient re‐presented 2 months later with a new, raised, white gritty corneal opacity associated with hyperemia, chemosis, and blepharospasm OD. Cytology of the right cornea revealed filamentous bacteria, suggestive of Actinomyces spp. Actinomyces bowdenii was subsequently isolated in pure culture and identified via 16s rDNA sequencing. Actinomyces bowdenii has never before been described as a cause of ocular infection. An immunosuppressed corneal environment likely contributed to this opportunistic Actinomycosis. The infection was not controlled with fluoroquinolone therapy, and the isolate, in vitro, was resistant to three fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin), which also has not been previously reported for this species of Actinomyces. A superficial keratectomy with conjunctival graft was employed to successfully manage the infection.