An evidence-based review of therapies for canine chronic kidney disease.

Successful treatment and prevention of kidney disease in dogs requires a multi-dimensional approach to identify and eliminate causes or exacerbating factors, provide professional evaluation on a regular basis and implement a comprehensive treatment programme when necessary. Over the years, many therapeutic and preventive interventions have been developed or advocated for chronic kidney disease in dogs, but evidence of efficacy or effectiveness is often lacking or highly variable. Accordingly, the main objective of this systematic review was to identify and critically appraise the evidence supporting various aspects of managing canine chronic kidney disease.

Relationship between circulating and dietary taurine concentrations in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.

A retrospective study was conducted to determine dietary taurine concentrations in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to compare the clinical outcome of taurine-deficient and non-taurine-deficient dogs. Taurine concentrations were low in blood samples from 20 of 37 dogs with DCM. Median dietary taurine concentration was not significantly different between taurine-deficient and nondeficient dogs. There was no correlation between dietary and circulating taurine concentrations. The outcome of taurine-deficient dogs supplemented with taurine was not different from the outcome of nondeficient dogs. The role oftaurine and its relationship to dietary intake in canine DCM remain unclear.

The histamine content of commercial pet foods.

The histamine contents of a range of North American commercial pet foods and pet food ingredients were determined by a spectrofluorometric technique. The change in histamine content of open cans of pet food stored in a refrigerator or at room temperature was also investigated. The histamine content of the pet foods examined ranged from a low of 0.16 microg/g in a liquid critical care diet to a high of 65.5 microg/g in a canned fish diet. The amount of histamine in the foods tested was insufficient to cause histamine toxicosis but it cannot be excluded that some of the foods contained sufficient histamine to cause idiosyncratic reactions in histamine-sensitive cats. Storage of opened cans of pet food, either under refrigeration or at room temperature, did not significantly increase the histamine content of most pet foods.

The effect of combined therapy with captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet on serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function in normal dogs and dogs with congestive heart failure.

Captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet were administered to 6 normal dogs and 10 dogs with congestive heart failure. Serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function were monitored in both groups. In the normal dogs, no clinically meaningful changes in serum electrolyte, urea nitrogen, or creatinine concentrations developed during therapy with a sodium-restricted diet and 4 weeks each of furosemide alone, captopril alone, or furosemide plus captopril. Three of 6 normal dogs on furosemide and a sodium-restricted diet had at least one serum potassium concentration above the reference range during the 4 weeks of observation. One normal dog on captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet developed azotemia, and 2 dogs had serum potassium concentrations above the reference range during the 4 weeks of observation. Ten dogs with congestive heart failure were treated with captopril, furosemide, a sodium-restricted diet, and digoxin. Etiopathogenesis of the heart failure included valvular insufficiency (n = 6), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 3), and dilated cardiomyopathy and dirofilariasis (n = 1). Serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function were monitored for 5 consecutive weeks in 7 of the 10 dogs and for 17 weeks or longer in 6. Two dogs were euthanized after 4 weeks because of acute decompensation of heart failure, and one dog developed severe azotemia and uremia. Six of 10 dogs with congestive heart failure had at least one serum potassium concentration above the reference range sometime during the 5 weeks of observation, although the changes in the mean serum potassium concentrations were not statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Showcase, a veterinary case authoring and presentation system.

Showcase is an instructional authoring and case presentation system for veterinary medicine. It is intended to permit instructors and students to deal with clinical case information in a dynamic and interactive way. The programs are distributed as "adware;" and, it is hoped, the case files will be freely shared and distributed.

Laryngoscopy.

The larynx normally functions in vocalization, deglutition, and respiration. There is no substitute for direct laryngoscopy in animals suspected of having laryngeal disease. Clinical signs that should alert the veterinarian include cough, choking while eating or drinking, exertional cyanosis and syncope, noisy breathing, inspiratory dyspnea, stridor, and significant change in sound production. Controlled anesthesia is mandatory for animals with suspected laryngeal disease because many of these patients have compromised respiratory function. Laryngoscopy is used to note abnormalities in the shape, color, and motility of the larynx with special attention to correlating the movement of the arytenoid cartilages and vocal folds with the respiratory cycle.

Tracheobronchoscopy.

Fiberoptic tracheobronchoscopy is a safe and rewarding technique for the diagnosis and management of a wide spectrum of respiratory tract diseases. A nomenclature system has recently been developed that allows the systematic identification of canine endobronchial anatomy during bronchoscopy. This system results in an improved ability to communicate bronchoscopic findings and provides a basis for performing a thorough bronchoscopic examination. Complications of tracheobronchoscopy are uncommon, but patients must be carefully monitored during the procedure because complications may be severe and life-threatening when they occur. Special techniques enhance the diagnostic spectrum of bronchoscopy and include brush cytology, forceps biopsy, bacterial culture, transbronchial lung biopsy, transbronchial needle aspiration, and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Ketoconazole-induced changes in selected canine hormone concentrations.

The effects of administering ketoconazole at a high dosage (30 mg/kg of body weight/day) and at a low dosage (10 mg/kg/day) on steroidogenesis in the dog were compared. Ketoconazole significantly suppressed basal plasma cortisol concentrations (P = 0.001), cortisol responsiveness to ACTH (P = 0.002 to 0.005), and serum testosterone concentrations (P = 0.0005). The data indicated a rebound effect after ketoconazole treatment was stopped and that testosterone suppression was being overridden at lower ketoconazole doses. Plasma 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations (P = 0.0005) and serum progesterone concentrations (P = 0.014 to 0.003) were significantly increased during ketoconazole treatment. Aldosterone, 11-desoxycortisol, and 17-beta-estradiol concentrations did not change significantly during ketoconazole treatment.

Mycotic pneumonias.

Mycotic pneumonias are common problems seen in small companion animals because of the wide environmental distribution of fungi and their use of airborne spores for reproduction. This article outlines the important clinical features and pathogenesis of mycotic pneumonias and includes a detailed discussion of the therapeutic approach to patients with these infections.

Duodenal aspiration via flexible endoscope for diagnosis of giardiasis in a dog.

A 1-year-old male Pointer was admitted for evaluation of chronic diarrhea and mild weight loss. An aspirate of duodenal contents was obtained after infusing 0.9% Na Cl through a flexible endoscope passed into the proximal portion of the duodenum. Examination of the aspirated duodenal contents revealed a Giardia trophozoite, and the dog improved with metronidazole therapy. Duodenal aspiration via a flexible endoscope offers a new diagnostic technique for giardiasis.

Pleural effusion as a sequela to aelurostrongylosis in a cat.

A two-year-old domestic cat was admitted with dyspnea and coughing. Unilateral pleural effusion with characteristics of an eosinophilic exudate was demonstrated. A direct fecal smear was positive for Aelurostrongylus abstrussus larvae. Treatment with levamisole and fenbendazole was curative. Aelurostrongylosis should be suspected in any cat with dyspnea, coughing, or pleural effusion.