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The clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and histopathologic effects of epidural ketorolac in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and histopathologic effects of epidural ketorolac. STUDY DESIGN: Blinded, randomized, placebo controlled study. ANIMALS: Twenty-two adult mixed breed dogs with 16 treatment and 6 control dogs, weighing 14.4 to 29.8 kg. METHODS: Dogs were anesthetized and epidural catheters were placed at the lumbosacral space. Catheter placement was evaluated fluoroscopically. Ketorolac (0.4 mg/kg) or placebo (5% ethanol) was administered epidurally over a 52-hour period, with 5 injections given at 12-hour intervals. At 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours after the first and last injection of ketorolac, dogs were anesthetized and CSF was obtained. Control dogs had CSF sampled 1 hour after the first and last ethanol injection. Neurologic function and pain responses were evaluated before and during the study. Selected dogs were then killed and necropsies performed. RESULTS: None of the dogs exhibited any clinical or neurologic abnormalities during the study. No statistical difference was noted in pain response or CSF analysis between treatment and control dogs. Gross necropsy revealed gastrointestinal ulceration of varying degrees in all treatment dogs. Histopathologic analysis of the spinal cord and meninges revealed minimal focal leptomeningeal phlebitis in 2 of 8 treatment dogs and minor subdural inflammation in 1 control dog. No changes to the neural structures were noted in any dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural administration of ketorolac did not cause clinical signs, alteration in CSF values, or pathologic changes to the spinal cord when used for short duration. Gastrointestinal ulceration was common when ketorolac was administered epidurally at 0.4 mg/kg every 12 hours for 5 treatments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study documented the neurologic safety of epidural ketorolac in dogs before an efficacy trial can be performed. Gastrointestinal ulceration may limit use to short duration or a single injection.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Thoracoscopic visualization and ligation of the thoracic duct in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a technique for thoracoscopic visualization and ligation of the thoracic duct in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experimental study. ANIMALS: Five mature, healthy dogs. METHODS: Dogs were normal based on physical examination, negative occult heartworm test, normal complete blood count and biochemical profile, and normal thoracic radiographs. The dogs were anesthetized, and a ventral midline laparotomy was performed for catheterization of a mesenteric lymphatic. Lymphangiography was performed to determine thoracic duct anatomy. Thoracoscopy was performed in the caudal, right hemithorax after single lung intubation or bronchial blockade. At least two 10-mm clips were placed across the thoracic duct in each dog. Lymphangiography was repeated to assess duct ligation. If complete duct occlusion was not achieved, thoracoscopy was repeated for additional clip placement. After surgery the dogs were euthanatized, and necropsies were performed. RESULTS: Lymphangiography showed that multiple branches of the thoracic duct were present in every dog; bilateral thoracic duct branches were most common. Thoracoscopic identification and ligation of the thoracic duct was successful in all five dogs. Two dogs required a second thoracoscopic procedure to completely occlude flow of contrast through the thoracic duct. Surgery time for thoracoscopy averaged 59 plus minus 9.6 minutes. Retroperitoneal contrast accumulation after thoracic duct ligation occurred in two dogs. One dog required bilateral pulmonary ventilation. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopy can be used to visualize the thoracic duct for ligation in normal dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thoracoscopic ligation of the thoracic duct may be a therapeutic option for management of chylothorax in dogs.

Animals↗

Digestibility of a nutritionally-balanced cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) diet and its effect on growth in young male dogs.

Experiments were carried out to study the digestibility of a cassava (gari) diet and its effect on growth in young male dogs. Three groups of dogs were fed on diets with rice (control), cassava (gari), and rice + cyanide respectively as the carbohydrate source. Each diet contained 130 g crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25)/kg, was supplemented with vitamins and minerals, and was fed for 14 weeks. Variables measured were body-weight gain, bone growth, plasma alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity, total serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and some plasma free amino acids. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter, protein and fat were not significantly different in the three groups, but the digestibility of gari fibre was significantly lower than the digestibility of rice fibre when fed to dogs (P less than 0.05). Proximate analysis of the faeces showed that the group of dogs fed on the gari diet had faeces which had a significantly higher moisture content than the faeces of the other groups (P less than 0.05), and also a significantly higher fibre content (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in body-weight gain and bone growth between the control and gari-fed groups of dogs, but these variables were significantly lower in the dogs fed on the rice + cyanide diet (P less than 0.05). At the end of the 14-week experimental period total serum T3 and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity were not significantly different between the control group of dogs and the gari-fed group, but were significantly lower in the rice + cyanide group. Plasma free methionine, leucine, isoleucine and valine concentrations were higher in the rice + cyanide group of dogs than in the control group and the gari group, indicating that these amino acids were accumulating and not being utilized for protein synthesis and growth to the same extent in the rice + cyanide group of dogs as in the other groups. It was concluded that the digestibilities of cassava starch and rice starch were the same in the dog but that rice fibre was more digestible in the dog than cassava fibre. It was also concluded that growth proceeded normally when a balanced gari diet or a balanced rice diet containing 130 g crude protein/kg was fed to dogs, but growth was retarded when a balanced rice + cyanide diet containing 130 g crude protein/kg was fed to dogs because total serum T3 concentration became greatly depressed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Comparative metabolism of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in rat and dog.

1. There is a significant species difference in the toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The oral no overall adverse effect level (NOAEL) for chronic toxicity of 2,4-D in rat is 5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) and in dog is 1 mg kg(-1) day(-1). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in rat is 150 and 75 kg(-1) day(-1) for male and females, respectively. The MTD in dog is 7.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for males and females. 2. In an attempt to explain the increased sensitivity to 2,4-D in dog, male and female rats and dogs were orally dosed with either 5 or 50 mg kg(-1) 14C-2,4-D. The rates and routes of excretion were investigated along with plasma toxicokinetics and biotransformation of the compound. 3. Elimination of the radioactive dose of 2,4-D from rat plasma was significantly faster than in dog. The approximate t(1/2) were 1.3-3.4 h for rat and 99-134 h for dog following a 5 or 50 mg kg(-1) dose, respectively. This led to large differences in the calculated AUC(0-infinity) 21-57 microg eq. h g(-1) for rat and 4889-5298 microg eq. h g(-1) for dog at 5 mg kg(-1), and 122-2358 microg eq. h g(-1) for rat and 34,110-44,296 microg eq. h g(-1) for dog at 50 mg kg(-1)). 4. In rat, the major route of excretion was in the urine. Excretion was essentially complete after 24 h for the low dose and after 48 h for the high dose. For dog, elimination was incomplete over the sampling period with only about 50% of the dose recovered. Urine was the principal route of excretion at the low dose, but about equal amounts were excreted in urine and faeces at the high dose over 120 h. 5. In rat, 2,4-D was unmetabolized and excreted in urine as the parent compound. In dog, the dose was excreted mainly following metabolism. 2,4-D in dog was conjugated forming the taurine, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, cysteine, sulphate and glucuronide conjugates, plus an unidentified metabolite, which were excreted in urine. Plasma, however, only contained unmetabolized 2,4-D. 6. The results show that the body burden of 2,4-D in dog is significantly higher than in rat for an equivalent dose, which is consistent with the increased sensitivity of dog to 2,4-D toxicity.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Effects of lactoferrin supplementation on ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal microbial populations, and immune characteristics of ileal cannulated, healthy, adult dogs.

Orally supplemented lactoferrin derived from bovine milk is purported to have beneficial effects on gut health of animals. Bovine lactoferrin (0, 60, or 120 mg/d) was fed to ileal cannulated, adult dogs in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design with 14 d periods. Control dogs tended (p = 0.06) to have higher fecal DM concentrations compared with dogs supplemented with 120 mg/d lactoferrin (34.5 vs. 32.9%). Fecal scores ranged from 3.0 - 3.3, suggesting that feces of all dogs was near the desired consistency, with dogs supplemented with 120 mg/d lactoferrin tending (p = 0.08) to have higher fecal scores. Ileal azoreductase activity tended (p < 0.10) to be higher in dogs supplemented with 60 or 120 mg/d lactoferrin (609 vs. 592 nmol/h per g ileal DM, respectively) as compared with unsupplemented dogs (272 nmol/h per g ileal DM). The following bacterial groups were measured: bifidobacteria, Campylobacter spp., Clostridium spp., eubacteria, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. Fecal streptococci concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) for dogs receiving 60 mg/d lactoferrin (8.60 log10 cfu/g fecal DM) as compared with unsupplemented dogs (9.19 log10 cfu/g fecal DM) or dogs receiving 120mg lactoferrin/d (9.43 log10 cfu/g fecal DM). Dogs supplemented with 120mg/d lactoferrin tended (p = 0.08) to have higher fecal indole concentrations as compared to unsupplemented dogs (1.80 vs. 1.46 micromol/g fecal DM). Because most bacterial groups measured were unaffected, it appears that lactoferrin did not exhibit prebiotic activity, and based on the data collected, lactoferrin also did not appear to have major effects on indices of health in the dog.

Animal Feed↗

Mutagenicity of the bile of dogs with an experimental model of an anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct.

To learn the reasons for the high incidence of biliary carcinoma in patients with anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary duct (APBD) mutagenicity of the bile of APBD-modeled dogs that had received a dorsal pancreatico-cholecystostomy was assayed by the Ames Salmonella mutation test. The bile from two out of 18 APBD dogs was mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 under the condition of metabolic activation by rat liver S9 fraction, while the bile from 17 normal dogs was not mutagenic. Furthermore, the bile from five APBD dogs i.p. administered 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), which is a typical environmental mutagen, was more mutagenic for strain TA98 than that from 1-NP-treated normal dogs. The bile from the APBD dogs had very high amylase activity, indicating that the bile contained pancreatic juice as a result of the pancreatico-cholecystostomy. When pancreatic juice from a normal dog was added to the bile from 1-NP-treated normal dogs, mutagenicity of the bile increased 1.6- to 2.0-fold. Furthermore, sulfatase increased the mutagenic activity of the bile in the presence of the pancreatic juice. HPLC revealed that the bile from a 1-NP-treated APBD dog contained mutagenic 1-nitro-6/8-hydroxypyrene and 1-nitro-3-hydroxypyrene, while bile from a 1-NP-treated normal dog did not contain these deconjugated products. The pancreatic juice from a normal dog had very high gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and aminopeptidase activities and low sulfatase activity, but it had no beta-glucuronidase activity. In addition, the bacteria that easily infect the biliary duct of APBD dogs, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Proteus, had high beta-glucuronidase activity. In particular, Klebsiella showed a very high sulfatase activity. These results suggest that pancreatic juice enzymes and bacteria infecting the biliary duct deconjugate the detoxified mutagens in the bile and induce mutagenicity of the bile from APBD dogs or APBD patients.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Genetic variability in East Asian dogs using microsatellite loci analysis.

An analysis of eight microsatellite loci in 213 animals was performed to define the genetic structure and variability of 11 East Asian native dog populations. Allele diversity, observed heterozygosities, expected heterozygosities, F-statistics, G(ST) estimates, number of migrants per generation (Nm), and Nei's DA distance were calculated. Expected mean heterozygosities of Asian native dogs varied within a range of 0.310-0.718 with a mean value of 0.580. In a sample of 11 Asian dogs, the highest genetic diversity was exhibited in the Korean native dogs and the lowest in the Shiba, the Japanese native dog. All populations except the Kishu and Akita showed statistically significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at more than one locus. After corrections for multiple significance tests, deviations over all loci were statistically significant in 7 of 11 dog populations, meaning that Asian dogs are genetically subdivided (global F(ST) = 0.154). Despite the locus-specific deviations, statistically significant departures from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium reflect deviations in the direction of heterozygote deficit, the global F(IS) being 0.072. In the neighbor-joining and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrograms based on Nei's DA distance, the Korean native breeds (the Sapsaree and the Jindo) were grouped together, then with the Eskimo dog. The two Japanese native dogs (the Hokkaido and the Akita) also clustered together, with moderate bootstrap support. In spite of some deviation, the three-dimensional scattergram based on principal components supported the conclusions suggested by the dendrograms based on Nei's DA distance. From these two analyses, the Korean native dogs formed the closest groups and then showed a close relationship to the Eskimo dogs, reflecting the fact that the Korean native dogs might be originated from dogs in the northern part of Far East Asia.

Animals↗

Histidine, an essential amino acid for adult dogs.

Twenty-seven adult female mongrel dogs were studied to evaluate whether histidine is an essential amino acid. Dogs were tube-fed isocaloric, isonitrogenous amino acid diets which provided either no histidine or 67 mg histidine/kg body weight/day. The histidine-free diet was fed to 10 dogs for 5.6 +/- 3.6 (SD) days and to six dogs for 59.2 +/- 6.0 days. In the short-term studies, there were no differences between the responses of the dogs fed the histidine-free and histidine-replete diets. In the long-term studies, dogs fed the histidine-free diet developed a significant decrease in plasma and muscle histidine, muscle carnosine, body weight, hematocrit and serum albumin. The dogs fed the histidine-free diet tried to avoid the feedings, and after several weeks, they often manifested reduced activity and listlessness. One dog died on the 72nd day. None of these manifestations occurred in the dogs fed the histidine-replete diet in the long-term studies. Plasma zinc and copper were not different in the two groups of dogs. However, at the end of the long-term studies, the dogs fed the histidine-free diet had significantly lower final whole blood zinc and copper concentrations as compared to the histidine-replete dogs. These findings indicate that histidine is an essential amino acid in adult female dogs. The syndrome associated with histidine-deficiency tends to develop slowly over many days to several weeks.

Amino Acids↗

Renal nerves are not involved in sodium and water retention during mechanical ventilation in awake dogs.

BACKGROUND: The role of renal nerves during positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation (PEEP) has only been investigated in surgically stressed, anesthetized, unilaterally denervated dogs. Anesthesia, sedation, and surgical stress, however, decrease urine volume and sodium excretion and increase renal sympathetic nerve activity independent of PEEP. This study investigated in awake dogs the participation of renal nerves in mediating volume and water retention during PEEP. METHODS: Eight tracheotomized, trained, awake dogs were used. The protocol consisted of 60 min of spontaneous breathing at a continuous positive airway pressure of 4 cm H2O, followed by 120 min of controlled mechanical ventilation with a mean PEEP of 15-17 cm H2O (PEEP), and 60 min of continuous positive airway pressure. Two protocols were performed on intact dogs, in which volume expansion had (hypervolemic; electrolyte solution, 0.5 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and had not (normovolemic) been instituted. This was repeated on the same dogs 2 or 3 weeks after bilateral renal denervation. RESULTS: Hypervolemic dogs excreted more sodium and water than did normovolemic dogs. There was no difference between intact and renal-denervated dogs. Arterial pressure did not decrease when continuous positive airway pressure was switched to PEEP. Plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and antidiuretic hormone concentrations were greater in normovolemic dogs. The PEEP increased aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone concentrations only in normovolemic dogs. CONCLUSIONS: In conscious dogs, renal nerves have no appreciable contribution to sodium and water retention during PEEP. Retention in normovolemic dogs seems to be primarily caused by an activation of the renin-angiotensin system and an increase in the antidiuretic hormone. Excretion rates depended on the volume status of the dogs.

Aldosterone↗

Effect of age and level of cognitive function on spontaneous and exploratory behaviors in the beagle dog.

Cognitively characterized young and aged beagle dogs were administered six different spontaneous behavior tests, which provided measures of locomotion, exploration, and social interaction. Consistent with our previous findings, we obtained no overall effect of age on locomotion. We did find, however, that for the aged dogs locomotion correlated with level of cognitive function, being lowest in age-unimpaired dogs and highest in impaired dogs. Exploratory behavior, as measured by response to novelty, varied with age, with young dogs scoring the highest. Young dogs spent more time with novel toys and a person, responded more to a silhouette of a dog, and interacted more with a model dog compared to aged dogs. Among the aged dogs, age-unimpaired dogs spent the greatest amount of time sitting or standing beside a person whereas age-impaired dogs spent the most time reacting to a reflection in a mirror. The age-impaired dogs show undirected, stereotypical types of behavioral patterns. These differences in activity patterns may be linked to underlying age-associated neuropathology.

Aging↗

Pigeon-serum-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the dog.

Pigeon serum (PS) is one of the most common causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). PS-induced HP was examined in a dog model. The dogs (n = 6) were immunized by i.m. injections of PS, followed by insufflation with aerosolized PS, while all control dogs (n = 3) received saline only. All animals insufflated with PS developed tachypnea 2-4 h after PS inhalation. After PS insufflation, a significant decrease in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was detected in sensitized dogs. No change in PaO2 was detected in sensitized dogs after saline or in the controls after PS insufflation. In intradermal skin tests with PS antigen, a positive skin reaction was found in 3/6 dogs in 30 min, and in 5/6 dogs in 6 and 48 h after the PS injections. Sensitized dogs showed a significant increase in PS-specific IgG in serum and lavage fluid (LF). In LF of sensitized dogs, an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils was detected. Sensitized dogs developed chronic interstitial inflammation with lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells, and eosinophils in lungs. Granulomas with lymphocytes, histiocytes, and giant cells were detected in both the interstitium and the bronchiolar wall in the lungs of sensitized dogs. PaO2 was lowest in dogs showing the most severe interstitial inflammation in the lungs. The results indicate that dogs can be successfully used in immunologic and physiologic studies of PS-induced HP.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗

Decreased potency of contraction to alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation in renal arteries from obese hypertensive dogs.

The contractile potencies of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PhE) and two nonadrenergic vasoconstrictors, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and endothelin, were evaluated in renal arterial muscle strips isolated from obese hypertensive (OH) dogs. Responses were compared with those obtained from renal arteries isolated from lean normotensive (LN) dogs. Identical dose-response curves were produced by PGF2 alpha in arteries from OH and LN dogs. This was also true for endothelin. However, the vasoconstrictor potency of PhE for arteries from OH dogs was approximately 2.5-fold less than that for arteries from LN dogs. This difference was not dependent on endothelial integrity. Although they were less potent to PhE, arteries from OH dogs did not produce weaker maximum contractile responses than arteries from LN dogs; responses produced by maximum K+ depolarization (S(o)) were approximately 2 x 10(5) N/m2, and responses to the maximally effective concentrations of PhE, PGF2 alpha, and endothelin were approximately 0.97-, 0.50-, and 0.87-fold S(o), respectively. In addition to the rightward shift in contractile potency to PhE, arteries from OH dogs precontracted with a maximum PhE concentration relaxed more to a high nitroglycerin concentration than did arteries from LN dogs. At a PhE concentration that produced equivalent maximum force responses, arteries from OH dogs had a lower rate of muscle shortening than did arteries from LN dogs, suggesting reduced cross-bridge activation in the arteries from OH dogs. These data suggest that alpha-adrenoceptor-induced activation was selectively downregulated in renal arteries from OH dogs.

Animals↗

The essentiality of insulin and the role of glucagon in regulating glucose utilization and production during strenuous exercise in dogs.

UNLABELLED: In order to elucidate the role of insulin and glucagon during strenuous exercise (100 m/min, slope 10-12 degrees), we have determined the rates of production (Ra), utilization (Rd), and metabolic clearance (M) of glucose in normal dogs before pancreatectomy and 2 wk after total pancreatectomy (a) when they were being maintained on constant intraportal basal insulin infusion, (245 muU/kg-min) and (b) when insulin supply had been withheld before and during exercise. Such an intense exercise induced in normal dogs a prompt decrease in mean immunoreactive serum insulin (IRI) from 20 +/- 3 to 11 +/- 2 muU/ml. In depancreatized insulin-infused dogs serum IRI during rest and exercise was between 14 +/- 1 and 12 +/- 2 muU/ml. In the third group, after cessation of insulin infusion, IRI decreased by 76% (from 17 +/- 5 to 4 +/- 1) and did not decrease futher during exercise. During exercise, serum immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) increased threefold in normal dogs. In depancreatized dogs serum IRG was the same as in normal resting dogs (indicating a nonpancreatic source of the hormone) but it did not increase during exercise. In normal dogs exercise induced proportional increases in Ra, Rd, and M (threefold) and normoglycemia was maintained. Changes in glucose turnover in depancreatized insulin-infused dogs were similar to those seen in normal dogs suggesting that a decrease in insulin secretion and a rise in IRG are not essential to prevent hypoglycemia in diabetic dogs. With the cessation of insulin infusion in resting depancreatized dogs, Ra increased, M decreased, and hyperglycemia ensued. During exercise, Ra continued to rise, but M did not increase significantly. CONCLUSIONS: (a) Regulation of glucose production by liver during exercise is multifactorial. A decrease in IRI and an increase in IRG are not the only factors which can promote delivery of glucose to the peripheral tissues. The insulin glucagon molar ratio was found not to be an essential metabolic functional unit in regulating glucose metabolism during exercise. (b) It is hypothesized that increases in blood flow and capillary surface area can lead to an increase in the amount of insulin delivered to the muscle even when serum levels of IRI are reduced during exercies. It is suggested that small, but adequate amounts of insulin (as found in normal and depancreatized insulin-infused dogs) are essential in regulating glucose uptake in the working muscle. (c) Since totally depancreatized dogs had normal serum levels of IRG (originating presumably from the gastrointestinal tract), the question of essentiality of basal glucagon activity in glucose homeostasis during exercise could not be resolved by these experiments. It appears, however, that regulation of secretion of nonpancreatic glucagon differs from that of pancreatic glucagon.

Animals↗

Plasma catecholamines, heart rate, and cardiac sympathetic activity in exercising dogs.

Plasma catecholamines, heart rate, and cardiac sympathetic activity in exercising dogs. Med. Sci. Sports Exercise, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 291-285, 1982. The purposes of the study were, 1) to assess the respective roles of locally released norepinephrine in the sinus node and of plasma catecholamines in the control of heart rate during exercise and 2) to verify whether the heart is a source of plasma catecholamines during exercise. Plasma catecholamines (radioenzymatic assay) and heart rate were measured in the last minute of a 5-min exercise period (3.2 km . h-1, 39% slope) in six normal dogs, in six dogs treated with 5 mg . kg-1 sotalol, and in six dogs sympathectomized with 50 mg . kg-1 6-hydroxydopamine. Compared to the exercise heart rate values of the normal dogs (228 +/- 8 beats . min-1) and the sympathectomized dogs (226 +/- 9 beats . min-1), the sotalol-treated dogs had significantly lower rates (148 +/- 6 beats . min-1). However, plasma catecholamine response was higher in the sotalol-treated dogs (7380 +/- 1350 pg . ml-1) and in the sympathectomized dogs (4280 +/- 680 pg . ml-1) than in the normal dogs (1890 +/- 360 pg . ml-1). Since the action of plasma catecholamines on the sinus node is potentiated by denervation hypersensitivity, it is suggested that in exercising normal dogs, heart rate control could be ensured by locally released norepinephrine rather than by plasma catecholamines. Plasma catecholamines were assessed in six normal dogs at rest and at various exercise levels (HR = 90-200 beats . min-1) and in blood sampled simultaneously in the aorta and the coronary sinus. Plasma catecholamines in the coronary sinus and aorta were similar at rest (490 +/- 90 vs 580 +/- 80 pg . ml-1, respectively) and at the low-intensity exercise (710 +/- 140 vs 880 +/- 120 pg . ml-1, respectively). For moderate and severe work loads, plasma catecholamine concentrations in the coronary sinus (960 +/- 160 and 1570 +/- 340 pg . ml-1, respectively) were lower than in the aorta (1380 +/- 260 and 2950 +/- 100 pg . ml-1, respectively). These results suggest that in exercising dogs the heart is not a source of plasma catecholamines.

Animals↗

Serum alpha-fetoprotein values in dogs with various hepatic diseases.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values were measured in hepatic diseased dogs with or without tumor and non-hepatic tumor bearing dogs by a sandwich ELISA using anti-dog AFP antiserum. Serum AFP values were less than 70 ng/ml in clinically healthy dogs. The values in dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma were higher than 1,400 ng/ml in 7 of 9 dogs, wherever those in two dogs with cholangiocarcinoma were in the normal range. Serum AFP values in hepatic diseased dogs without tumor were also high, however, the values were below 500 ng/ml in 90% of the dogs. In non-hepatic tumor dogs, serum AFP values were less than 500 ng/ml in 76% of the dogs. In the surgically removal cases with hepatocellular carcinoma, serum AFP values rapidly decreased. These results suggested that the sandwich ELISA using anti-dog AFP antiserum was an available method for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in dogs.

Animals↗

Safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam, compared with that of ketoprofen and butorphanol in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam with that of ketoprofen and butorphanol in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery. ANIMALS: 36 dogs undergoing laparotomy, splenectomy, or cystotomy. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. In the first part of the study, dogs were given a single dose of meloxicam, ketoprofen, or a placebo, and buccal mucosal bleeding times were measured. In the second part of the study, dogs were given meloxicam, ketoprofen, or butorphanol prior to surgery. Dogs in the butorphanol group received a second dose immediately after surgery. Pain scores (1 to 10) were assigned hourly for 20 hours after surgery and used to determine an overall efficacy score for each dog. Dogs with a pain score > or =3 were given oxymorphone for pain. Dogs were euthanatized 8 days after surgery, and gross and histologic examinations of the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract were conducted. RESULTS: Overall efficacy was rated as good or excellent in 9 of the 12 dogs that received meloxicam, compared with 9 of the 12 dogs that received ketoprofen and only 1 of the 12 dogs that received butorphanol. No clinically important hematologic, biochemical, or pathologic abnormalities were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that preoperative administration of meloxicam is a safe and effective method of controlling postoperative pain for 20 hours in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery; the analgesic effects of meloxicam were comparable to those of ketoprofen and superior to those of butorphanol.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗

Complications associated with the use of indwelling epidural catheters in dogs: 81 cases (1996-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complications associated with use of indwelling epidural catheters in dogs in a clinical setting. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 81 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for dogs in which a 19-gauge epidural catheter was placed percutaneously at L7-S1 and advanced to the point of maximum efficacy for pain control (between L7 and T4, depending on the procedure). Catheters were used to provide perioperative epidural analgesia during surgeries that included perineal (n = 6), hind limb (33), abdominal (43), thoracic (5), forelimb (2), and cervical (1) procedures. RESULTS: Catheters were maintained in situ from 1 to 7 days (mean, 2.3 days; median, 2.0 days). Sixty-four dogs did not have complications; 17 dogs had minor complications. Catheter dislodgement was the most common complication (13/80 [16%] dogs). Catheter site contamination without inflammation developed in 2 (2.4%) dogs; inflammation at the catheter site developed in 2 (2.4%) dogs but was not related to duration of time the catheter was in place. Complications were not serious and did not require treatment other than catheter removal. Dogs that dislodged their catheters were significantly younger (mean, 2.9 years; median, 2.0 years) than other dogs (mean, 6.2 years; median, 6.0 years). Dogs that received femoral fracture repair dislodged their catheters more often (62.5%) than dogs undergoing other procedures (10.9%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The complication rate associated with temporary epidural catheterization of dogs appears to be low, and complications generally are not serious.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

Evaluation of laparoscopic-assisted placement of jejunostomy feeding tubes in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate feasibility of performing laparoscopic-assisted placement of a jejunostomy feeding tube (J-tube) and compare complications associated with placement, short-term feedings, and medium-term healing with surgically placed tubes in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 15 healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly allocated to undergo open surgical or laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement. Required nutrients were administered by a combination of enteric and oral feeding while monitoring for complications. Radiographic contrast studies documented tube direction and location, altered motility, or evidence of stricture. RESULTS: Jejunostomy tubes were successfully placed in the correct location and direction in all dogs. In the laparoscopic group, the ileum was initially selected in 2 dogs, 2 dogs developed moderate hemorrhage at a portal site, and 2 J-tubes kinked during placement but were successfully readjusted postoperatively. All dogs tolerated postoperative feedings. All dogs developed minor ostomy site inflammation, and 1 dog developed bile-induced dermatitis at the ostomy site. Despite mild, transient neutrophilia, no significant difference was noted in WBC counts between groups. No dog had altered gastric motility or evidence of stricture, although the jejunopexy site remained identifiable in several dogs at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Requirements for successful J-tube placement were met by use of a laparoscopic-assisted technique, and postoperative complications were mild and comparable to those seen with surgical placement. Laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement compares favorably to surgical placement in healthy dogs and should be considered as an option for dogs requiring enterostomy feeding but not requiring a celiotomy for other reasons.

Animals↗