Incidence of Vitis fruit-induced clinical signs and acute kidney injury in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of clinical signs and Vitis fruit-induced acute kidney injury in dogs and cats with a Vitis fruit ingestion reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center, and a description of the therapies instituted by the veterinarians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of Vitis fruit ingestions in dogs and cats reported to the center between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 were included in this study. Veterinarians and pet owners were contacted by phone or email to obtain follow-up information. Information was collected using a standardised data collection sheet. RESULTS: Ninety-five dogs and 13 cats with proven Vitis fruit ingestion were included. Fourteen dogs and two cats developed clinical signs: emesis (11/16, 68.8%), lethargy (5/16, 31.3%), diarrhoea (3/16, 18.8%), anorexia (3/16, 18.8%), tremor (2/16, 12.5%) and restlessness (1/16, 6.3%). The overall incidence for developing clinical signs was 14.7% in dogs and 15.4% in cats. One (1/95, 1%) dog developed acute kidney injury after ingestion of Vitis fruit. No cats developed acute kidney injury. Induction of emesis and/or administration of activated charcoal was instituted in 72 of 82 (88%) and eight of 11 (73%) of asymptomatic dogs and cats and six of 14 (43%) and two of two (100%) of symptomatic dogs and cats, respectively. Overall, emesis was induced in 72 of 95 (76%) dogs (100% success rate) and removed Vitis fruits in the majority of cases (98% when induced <4 hours after ingestion and 83% when induced 4 to 12 hours after ingestion). Emesis was induced in seven of 13 (54%) cats (86% success rate) and removed Vitis fruits in 83% of the cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, a significant proportion (around 15%) of dogs and cats developed clinical signs after ingestion of Vitis fruits, which were predominantly related to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomatic acute kidney injury was rare. Our findings suggest the use of decontamination measures, i.e. induction of emesis, may be warranted up to 12 hours after ingestion.

Gastric carcinoma in canines and humans, a review.

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the most common neoplasm in the stomach of dogs. Although incidence in the general population is reported to be low, breed-specific GC has a high incidence. Median age at presentation ranges from 8 to approximately 10 years. The disease is mostly located in the lesser curvature and antropyloric region of the stomach. Unfortunately, diagnosis is usually made when the disease is at an advanced stage and, therefore, prognosis is poor. Due to similarities in clinical presentation, diagnosis, histology and prognosis, canine GC may serve as a valuable model for human GC. Extensive pedigrees of canine gastric carcinoma cases could reveal insights for human gastric carcinoma. Putative species differences include the role of Helicobacter in pathogenesis, the wide array of genetic data and screening available for humans, and treatment protocols that are available for human GC.

Urinary excretion of copper, zinc and iron with and without D-penicillamine administration in relation to hepatic copper concentration in dogs.

Hereditary copper-associated hepatitis in dogs resembles Wilson's disease, a copper storage disease in humans. Values for urinary copper excretion are well established in the diagnostic protocol of Wilson's disease, whereas in dogs these have not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to characterize both basal and D-penicillamine induced urinary copper, zinc and iron excretion in dogs in relation to hepatic copper concentration. Beagles, Beagle-Bedlington terrier cross-breeds homozygous for the COMMD1 gene mutation that causes copper toxicosis, and Labrador retrievers with normal or increased hepatic copper concentrations were investigated. The hepatic copper phenotype was determined by histological evaluation of liver biopsies and measurement of the hepatic copper concentration by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Urinary excretion of copper, iron and zinc was measured via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry under basal conditions and after oral administration of a single dose (20mg/kg bodyweight) of the chelator D-penicillamine. There was a rapid increase in urinary excretion of copper and zinc, but not iron after D-penicillamine administration. This increase was not different between dogs with high or normal hepatic copper concentrations. D-penicillamine-induced urinary copper excretion and the copper/creatinine ratio did not correlate with hepatic copper concentrations in the dogs studied, although basal urinary copper/zinc ratios did correlate with hepatic copper concentrations in Labrador retrievers. The latter parameter may be useful in diagnostic and follow-up protocols for copper-associated hepatitis in Labrador retrievers.