Prognostic value of serum cystatin C concentration in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Impaired renal function is 1 of the poor prognostic factors in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). However, the value of cystatin C (Cys-C), a marker of renal function, as a prognostic marker for MMVD in dogs has not yet been explored. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of Cys-C in dogs with MMVD. ANIMALS: Fifty client-owned small-breed dogs with MMVD were included in this study. METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. The prognostic value of serum Cys-C concentration was assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox hazard regression analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for MMVD-specific survival in dogs stratified into high and low Cys-C groups were generated and analyzed using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Serum Cys-C concentrations were significantly associated with MMVD-related death (P < .01) in both univariable (hazard ratio [HR], 5.086; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.950-13.270) and multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis (HR, 4.657; 95% CI, 1.767-12.270). The high Cys-C group (n = 14) had a significantly shorter MMVD-specific survival time than the low Cys-C group (n = 36; P < .01). In dogs with normal blood creatinine concentrations, the high Cys-C group (n = 10) had a significantly shorter MMVD-specific survival time than the low Cys-C group (n = 36; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High serum Cys-C concentrations were associated with a worse prognosis of MMVD. Furthermore, serum Cys-C could be a predictor of MMVD prognosis even in dogs with normal blood creatinine concentration.

Erythritol inhibits the growth of periodontal-disease-associated bacteria isolated from canine oral cavity.

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common oral disease that is caused by infection with periodontal-disease-associated bacteria (PDAB) such as Porphyromonas gulae and Porphyromonas macacae in dogs as well as in humans. Unlike humans, most dogs do not follow daily oral hygiene routine, and this results in many dogs being affected by PD. Thus, to prevent PD, it is important to control PDAB. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that inhibits the growth of oral bacteria in humans. However, xylitol is poisonous to dogs and can lead to hypoglycemia and hepatic failure. Herein, we show the inhibitory effect of erythritol, a sugar alcohol that can be used safely in dogs, on the growth of PDAB isolated from dogs with PD. Oral bacteria were isolated from the oral cavities of dogs with PD, and the distribution of PDAB was evaluated. Interestingly, Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium typically responsible for PD in humans, was not isolated from dog samples. The bacteriostatic effect of erythritol supplementation was investigated on isolated PDAB in vitro. Our results show that erythritol exert bacteriostatic effects on PDAB comparable to xylitol. Thus, application of erythritol can be suggested to control PDAB in dogs in the future.

Effect of age, sex, and breed on serum cystatin C and creatinine concentrations in dogs.

This study investigated the effects of age, sex and breed on serum cystatin C (Cys-C) and creatinine in small breed dogs. This retrospective study included 250 dogs weighing less than 15 kg without azotemia. Serum Cys-C and creatinine concentrations were analyzed, along with their correlation with age, and the difference between sexes or dog breeds. Serum Cys-C concentration correlated with age (P < 0.001), and did not differ between sexes or dog breeds. By contrast, serum creatinine concentration did not correlate with age. Serum creatinine concentration was higher in males than females (P < 0.05), and was lower in Miniature Dachshunds and Chihuahuas, and was higher in Shiba Inus compared to the general study population (P < 0.001). Serum Cys-C concentration correlates with age, and might be more sensitive to aging-associated subclinical renal dysfunction than serum creatinine concentration in dogs. Unlike serum creatinine concentration, serum Cys-C concentration is not affected by sex or dog breed.

Visual and histological evaluation of the effects of trafermin in a dog oronasal fistula model.

The standard procedure to treat oronasal fistula in dogs requires tooth extraction to close the fistula; hence, the subject would lose its tooth. In this study, trafermin was applied to four dog models with oronasal fistula to investigate the periodontal tissue regenerative effects of trafermin in the treatment without tooth extraction. A fistula was created along the palatal side of each upper canine tooth. One of the fistulae was filled with trafermin, whereas that on the contralateral side was left unfilled as a control. The results showed a significant decrease in the non-calcified periodontal tissue volume on the trafermin side after the fourth week. In addition, oronasal fistula closure was visually and histologically confirmed at the eighth week on the trafermin side of all four models.