ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the impact of acute stress on tear production in companion cats to provide a basis for minimizing stress-inducing stimuli during ophthalmic evaluations. METHODS: A total of 24 healthy owned cats (12 males, 12 females) of mixed breed, aged 8 months to 7 years, with no history of ocular diseases, were selected for the study. The cats were housed in individual cages under controlled conditions for 6 days. The Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1) was performed in the morning (between 9:00 am and 11:00 am) using test strips from the same batch. The first test (without stress) was conducted on the fifth day of acclimation, and the second test (with stress) on the sixth day. The stress stimulus consisted of recordings of barking dogs, cats fighting and the murmuring of people. For both tests, the heart rate was assessed with a stethoscope before, during and after the tests, and the environmental stress level was also evaluated. Results are presented as mean ± SD and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The study found that STT-1 values were significantly higher (P = 0.009) with stress (22.2 ± 6.0 mm/min [95% CI 19.9-24.6]) than without stress (17.5 ± 6.9 mm/min [95% CI 14.8-20.2]). Similarly, the heart rate was significantly higher (P = 0.028) in stress vs non-stress conditions (213.4 ± 37.5 beats per minute [bpm] [95% CI 198.7-228.1] vs 171.5 ± 28.6 bpm [95% CI 160.3-182.7], respectively), and the environmental stress score was significantly higher (P <0.001) in stress vs non-stress conditions (3.3 ± 0.5 [95% CI 3.1-3.5] vs 1.2 ± 0.4 [95% CI 1.1-1.4], respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Stress increased tear production in cats. Although the mean STT-1 value obtained under stress conditions was within the normal range, stress can influence the test results. The use of cat friendly handling techniques facilitates execution of the STT-1.
Subject(s)
Lacrimal Apparatus , Tears , Male , Female , Cats , Animals , Dogs , Tears/physiology , Reference Values , Physical ExaminationABSTRACT
A miosite eosinofílica é uma doença imunomediada que acomete cães e caracteriza-se pela produção de anticorpos direcionadoscontra as fibras que constituem os músculos responsáveis pela mastigação. Esse distúrbio apresenta-se nas formas aguda oucrônica. A aguda é a mais comumente encontrada e envolve pseudotrismo, podendo progredir até a impossibilidade da aberturabucal. A forma crônica se caracteriza por atrofia e necrose dos músculos mastigatórios. A dosagem sérica de creatina quinase(CK) e o exame histopatológico do músculo envolvido são importantes para estabelecer o diagnóstico e avaliar a eficácia notratamento realizado. A resposta à terapia e o prognóstico mostram-se melhores quando a doença é tratada em sua forma aguda.Este artigo relata um caso de miosite dos músculos mastigatórios em um canino, fêmea, da raça Shar-Pei, atendido e tratado noHospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET/UFMT), com curso de cinco meses. A CK apresentavaseelevada e ao exame histopatológico constatou-se necrose coagulativa, multifocal moderada de fibras musculares, infiltradoperivascular composto por células fagocíticas e frequente regeneração muscular. O animal foi tratado com prednisona (2 mg/kg),uma vez ao dia (SID), durante 20 dias consecutivos e apresentou melhora considerável. Conclui-se que a miosite dos músculosmastigatórios do animal em questão era de caráter i
