Effect of l-theanine tablets in reducing stress-related emotional signs in cats: an open-label field study.

BACKGROUND: L-theanine is an aminoacid found in tea leaves which has relaxing effects in humans and animals. It is a structural analogue of glutamate which can bind glutamate receptors. Although the relaxing action of L-theanine has been shown in humans, laboratory animals and dogs, it has never been published in cats. The goal of this open-label, multicentre and prospective trial was to determine whether an L-theanine based oral supplement (Anxitane®, Virbac, France) could attenuate manifestations of stress in cats under field conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: Thirty-three privately owned cats presenting signs associated with stress or fear (inappropriate urination/defecation, fear-induced aggressiveness, hypervigilance/tenseness or physical/functional manifestations of stress) for at least 1 month, were included in the study. They were given L-theanine (Anxitane®, 25 mg twice a day) for 30 days and 20 stress-related parameters were scored at Days 0, 15 and 30. The evolution of some parameters was also rated relative to Day 0. All median scores of the 20 parameters were significantly reduced at D30, and 30/33 cats (91%) had a reduced global score at the end of the study, including 21/33 with ≥50% score reduction. The median (IQR) global scores went from 18 (13-23) at D0 to 11 (8-13) at D15 and 5 (3-12) at D30 (p < 0.0001; Friedman test; significant reduction starting from D15). All the stress-related signs were significantly improved compared to D0, according to the owners, especially inappropriate elimination. Tablet palatability was judged good or very good in 94% of cases with spontaneous intake by cats when given by hand or in food. Tolerance was satisfactory as well, and no side effects were reported, so that most owners (27/33; 82%) were satisfied with the product. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of a placebo group, it can be concluded that L-theanine (Anxitane®) helped to improve the undesirable manifestations of stress in cats in as soon as 15 days, though better results could be seen after 30 days of administration. These encouraging results show that L-theanine can help manage stress-related behaviour, but additional trials with a placebo group should be run to confirm this effect.

Comparison of two shampoos for the treatment of canine Malassezia dermatitis: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Two antimicrobial shampoos for treatment of canine Malassezia dermatitis (CMD) were compared in a prospective, randomised, single-blinded, field clinical trial. METHODS: Sixty-seven dogs with pedal or generalised dermatitis associated with Malassezia overgrowth (MO) were treated with 3% chlorhexidine shampoo (3%CHX) or 2% miconazole-2% chlorhexidine shampoo (2%MIC/CHX) and evaluated for up to 6 weeks until cytological recovery. Pruritus, erythema, papules, greasy seborrhoea, scaling, malodour, excoriations, secondary hairloss, lichenification, hyperpigmentation and lesion extent were each scored on a 0-3 severity scale and combined making an aggregate score. RESULTS: Among 54 dogs with good treatment compliance, reduction of yeast counts by at least 88% was recorded in 21 of 22 dogs with 3%CHX and 30 of 32 dogs with 2%MIC/CHX. No significant difference was detected between products for yeast count reduction (P=0·592). Time to cytological recovery was not significantly different between groups (P=0·960). Lesion score was significantly reduced in both groups after treatment (72·5 ±25·7% with 3%CHX versus 78·7 ±22·3% with 2%MIC/CHX, P=0·309). Four dogs treated with chlorhexidine shampoo showed minor adverse effects. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, 3%CHX was clinically as effective as 2%MIC/CHX for treatment of CMD.

Effect of S-adenosylmethionine tablets on the reduction of age-related mental decline in dogs: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Oral S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) tosylate supplementation (Novifit tablets, Virbac) was evaluated as a dietary aid for the management of age-related mental impairment in dogs. Thirty-six dogs older than 8 years that had displayed signs of cognitive dysfunction for at least 1 month were selected for the study. The dogs were administered 18 mg/kg SAMe tosylate (n=17) or identical placebo tablets (n=19) for 2 months. Concurrent behavioral treatment was forbidden. A 14-item standardized questionnaire evaluated behavior and locomotion difficulties. Compared with the placebo group, SAMe-treated dogs showed greater improvement in activity (41.7% versus 2.6% after 4 weeks, P<.0003; 57.1% versus 9.0% after 8 weeks, P<.003) and awareness (33.3% versus 17.9% after 4 weeks, P<.05; 59.5% versus 21.4% after 8 weeks, P<.01). The aggregate mental impairment score was reduced by more than 50% in 41.2% and 15.8% of dogs treated with SAMe and placebo, respectively, at week 8. SAMe tosylate tablets proved safe and effective in improving signs of age-related mental decline in dogs.

Effects of a topically applied preparation of epidermal lipids on the stratum corneum barrier of atopic dogs.

Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized ultrastructurally by disorganization of the lamellar lipids (LLs) in the stratum corneum (SC), similar to that seen in the human disease. This study, based on the examination of biopsy samples, was designed to investigate the expression of canine epidermal lipids and to evaluate quantitatively, by means of electron microscopy and ruthenium tetroxide post-fixation, the effect of a new topical skin lipid complex (SLC) on the structural deficit in the skin of five dogs with AD. The non-lesional skin of atopic dogs differed from the skin of healthy dogs in that the LLs were reduced in number and highly disorganized. After repeated applications of SLC to the non-lesional skin of dogs with AD, numerous LLs were observed in the deepest part of the SC, occupying 74% of the inter-corneocyte space, while they accounted for only 31.8% of the inter-corneocyte space in comparable biopsy samples from untreated (control) skin of the same dogs. In contrast, the LLs filled 89.5% of the deepest inter-corneocyte spaces in the SC of healthy dogs. Many keratinosomes were observed at the interface between living epidermis and SC after treatment of non-lesional AD skin. Stacks of short LL discs represented 57.6% of the total LLs found in the newly formed SC compactum in the treated atopic dogs. It is suggested that the treatment with SLC stimulated the production and secretion of endogenous SC lipids, contributing to the formation of an improved epidermal barrier.

A field trial evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of amitraz-impregnated collars against canine babesiosis (Babesia canis rossi) in South Africa.

South African canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis rossi is a common clinical disease in dogs in South Africa and remains a significant cause of domestic dog mortality. To determine whether tick-repellent, 9% amitraz-impregnated tick collars (Preventic-Virbac) could prevent tick-borne exposure to B. canis rossi, 50 dogs were assigned to two groups. Group 1 (20 dogs), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)--and reverse line blot (RLB)-negative for B. canis rossi, were fitted with amitraz collars and blood samples collected monthly, over a 6-month period, and analysed for B. canis rossi. Group 2 (30 dogs) included 5 dogs selected on a month-by-month basis from a population of dogs from the same geographical area as the group 1 dogs, but with no history of previous tick control, which were blood-sampled together with the treatment group and analysed for B. canis rossi by PCR and RLB, to serve as the control group. Eight of the 30 control dogs (26.6%) were PCR/RLB positive for B. canis rossi, indicating high pathogen exposure during the trial period. All twenty of the treatment group dogs remained negative for B. canis rossi throughout the 6 months of the trial. These results suggest that the use of amitraz-impregnated collars had a significant effect on reducing infection with B. canis rossi.

The efficacy of an antiseptic and microbial anti-adhesive ear cleanser in dogs with otitis externa.

A new antimicrobial ear cleanser was evaluated for the treatment of bacterial and yeast ear infection in dogs. Forty-five dogs with erythemato-ceruminous or purulent otitis externa were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: reference ear cleanser (Epiotic, Virbac) or test ear cleanser (Epiotic Advanced, Virbac). Ear cleansing was performed twice daily for 2 weeks, and no other treatment was allowed. By week 2, clinical (exudate quantity, erythema, stenosis, excoriation, and odor) and discomfort (pain, ear scratching, and head shaking) scores were significantly decreased (P < .0001 for all) and no microbial overgrowth could be detected in 25 (64.1%) and 32 (68.1%) ears treated with Epiotic and Epiotic Advanced, respectively. The new pH-balanced, propylene glycol-free test ear cleanser, which incorporates microbial adhesin-blocking carbohydrates, proved as effective as the reference acidic formula.