Fecal microbiota composition, serum metabolomics, and markers of inflammation in dogs fed a raw meat-based diet compared to those on a kibble diet.

Introduction: Despite the potential health risks associated with feeding raw and non-traditional diets, the use of these diets in dogs is increasing, yet the health outcomes associated with these diets is not well understood. This study investigates the effect of feeding dogs a kibble or raw meat-based diets on fecal microbiota composition, serum metabolomics and inflammatory markers. Methods: Clinically healthy dogs with a history of consuming either kibble (KD, n = 27) or raw meat-based diets (RMBD, n = 28) for more than 1 year were enrolled. Dogs were fed a standardized diet of either a single brand of KD or RMBD for 28 days. Serum and fecal samples were collected for analysis of microbiota, metabolomics, and inflammatory markers. Multiple regression analysis was performed for each of the metabolites and inflammatory markers, with feed group, age and BCS included as independent variables. Results: The fecal microbiota composition differed between the KD and RMBD groups. Beta-diversity and some indices of alpha-diversity (i.e., Shannon and Simpson) were different between the two diet groups. Sixty- three serum metabolites differed between KD and RMBD-fed dogs with the majority reflecting the differences in macronutrient composition of the two diets.Fecal IAP, IgG and IgA were significantly higher in RMBD dogs compared to KD dogs, while systemic markers of inflammation, including serum c-reactive protein (CRP), galectin, secretory receptor of advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), haptoglobin, and serum IgG were similar in dogs fed either diet. Discussion: Diet composition significantly affected fecal microbiota composition and metabolome. Although it had a potentially beneficial effect on local inflammatory markers, feeding RMBD had no impact on systemic inflammation. The influence of these changes on long term health outcomes provides an area for future study.

A single injection of high-concentration buprenorphine significantly reduces food and water intake as well as fecal and urine production in New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate selected gastrointestinal side effects of high-concentration buprenorphine (HCB) in healthy rabbits. ANIMALS: 10 healthy New Zealand White rabbits ranging in body weight between 3.0 and 3.8 kg. METHODS: Eight, 6-month-old, New Zealand White rabbits received a single injection of HCB SC (0.24 mg/kg). The rabbits were previously randomized to receive SC and oral saline as a control. Two rabbits received saline for the purpose of blinding the outcome assessors. Food and water consumption, fecal and urine production, and fecal pellet number were recorded for all rabbits before HCB administration and the 3 days postinjection. RESULTS: A clinically and statistically significant decrease in food and water consumption was observed in rabbits receiving an injection of HCB, compared to rabbits receiving saline. In the 24 hours after injection, HCB-treated rabbits consumed a median of 17 g of food (range, 0 to 82 g), while saline-treated rabbits consumed 122 g of food (31 to 181 g). Rabbits receiving HCB injections also produced significantly less feces both in terms of pellet numbers and overall quantity, along with decreased urine production. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A single administration of HCB has a clinically significant impact on multiple physiological functions in healthy rabbits. Administration of this drug could potentially worsen clinical signs of anorexia and decrease defecation in healthy rabbits. The effects of HCB on diseased or painful rabbits are not yet known.

Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets.

The interest and demand for healthy and less processed foods for human consumption have been mirrored in the pet industry, with an explosion of alternative diets available. Several nontraditional feeding methodologies including raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) are believed by many dog owners to be superior to traditional extruded commercial dog foods. Despite the strong opinions, limited data are available comparing objective health measures among healthy dogs fed using different methods of diet preparation. Therefore, we compared health markers in client-owned dogs fed an RMBD to markers in dogs fed a high-quality extruded kibble. We hypothesized that healthy adult dogs fed RMBD would show differences in biochemical and hematological parameters and improved clinical health scores (e.g., dental, external ear canal, and integument scores) compared with dogs fed a kibble diet. A cross-sectional observational study was performed comparing hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis management history, and clinical health scores in healthy client-owned dogs reported as fed RMBD (n = 28) or kibble (n = 27) for >1 yr. Dental, external ear canal, and integument health scores were assigned by a single veterinary evaluator blinded to feed group, using a scale where 0 was normal and 3 was most severely affected. Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated to assess the strength and direction of the relationship of biochemical outcomes with age and body condition score (BCS), while analysis of variance was used to determine if biochemical analytes differed by breed or gender. Biochemical data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models, adjusting for the covariates gender, breed, age, and BCS. A composite clinical health score, (CCS) = 9 - (dental score + otitis score + integument score), was compared between feeding groups using Mann-Whitney test. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.001) and globulin concentration (P < 0.001) were lower, while lymphocyte count (P < 0.05) was higher in dogs fed RMBD. No differences were found in urinalysis between diet groups. Dogs fed RMBD showed a slight improvement in CCS compared with kibble-fed dogs (CCS: P = 0.03). Owner management significantly differed with a greater likelihood of management interventions including dietary supplements and sporting activities in the RMBD group. Further work is needed to specifically determine the impact of diet processing and nutrient content on canine health.

Subcutaneous B Cell Lymphoma in a Dog from the West Indies.

A 9-year-old male castrated mixed-breed dog from the West Indies was presented for multiple, nonpainful, nodular, circumscribed, subcutaneous masses located on the dorsum, lateral thorax, head, forelimbs, and scrotum. En bloc surgical resection of a mass on the right paw, left forehead, and left medial forelimb with proportional margins was performed. Three punch biopsies were taken from the masses located along the right lateral flank. Histopathologic and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examination of the skin lesions revealed a diagnosis of subcutaneous B cell lymphoma. Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound were negative for signs of gross metastatic disease. Chemotherapeutic intervention included intravenous doxorubicin (30 mg/m2) administered at 3-week intervals for 3 treatments and oral prednisone (2 mg/kg/d) for 3 weeks. There were no complications following the chemotherapy protocol. As of 3 years, there has been no regrowth of the tumors and the patient continues to be cancer free. To date, this is the first reported case of subcutaneous B cell lymphoma diagnosed in a dog treated successfully with gross tumor resection and chemotherapy.

Transcutaneous transmission of photobiomodulation light to the spinal canal of dog as measured from cadaver dogs using a multi-channel intra-spinal probe.

The target level photobiomodulation (PBM) irradiances along the thoracic to lumbar segment of the interior spinal canal in six cadaver dogs resulting from surface illumination at 980 nm were measured. Following a lateral hemi-laminectomy, a flexible probe fabricated on a plastic tubular substrate of 6.325 mm diameter incorporating nine miniature photodetectors was embedded in the thoracic to lumbar segment of the spinal canal. Intra-spinal irradiances at the nine photodetector sites, spanning an approximate 8 cm length caudal to T13, were measured for various applied powers of continuous wave (CW) surface illumination at 980 nm with a maximal power of 10 W corresponding to a surface irradiance of 3.14 W/cm2. The surface illumination conditions differed in skin transmission when the probe was off-contact with tissue and probe-skin contact when the skin was in place. For each condition of surface illumination, the beam was directed to respectively T13 (surface site 1), a spinal column site 4 cm caudal to T13 (surface site 5), and a spinal column site 8 cm caudal to T13 (surface site 9). Off-contact surface irradiation of 3.14 W/cm2 at surface sites 1, 5, and 9 transmitted respectively 234.0 ± 120.7 µW/cm2, 230.7 ± 178.3 µW/cm2, and 130.2 ± 169.6 µW/cm2 to the spinal canal without the skin, and respectively 35.7 ± 33.2 µW/cm2, 50.9 ± 75.3 µW/cm2, and 15.7 ± 16.3 µW/cm2 with the skin. Transmission with skin was as low as 12% of the transmission without the skin. On-contact surface irradiation of 3.14 W/cm2 at surface sites 1, 5, and 9 transmitted respectively 44.6 ± 43.1 µW/cm2, 85.4 ± 139.1 µW/cm2, and 22.0 ± 23.6 µW/cm2 to the spinal canal. On-contact application increased transmission by a maximum of 67% comparing to off-contact application. The information gathered highlights the need to clinically consider the impact of skin transmission and on-contact application technique when attempting to treat spinal cord disease with PBM.

Flexible nine-channel photodetector probe facilitated intraspinal multisite transcutaneous photobiomodulation therapy dosimetry in cadaver dogs.

Noninvasive photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) of spinal cord disease remains speculative due to the lack of evidence for whether photobiomodulatory irradiances can be transcutaneously delivered to the spinal cord under a clinically acceptable PBMT surface irradiation protocol. We developed a flexible nine-channel photodetection probe for deployment within the spinal canal of a cadaver dog after hemilaminectomy to measure transcutaneously transmitted PBMT irradiance at nine sites over an eight-cm spinal canal length. The probe was built upon a 6.325-mm tubular stem, to the surface of which nine photodiodes were epoxied at approximately 1 cm apart. The photodiode has a form factor of 4.80 mm×2.10 mm×1.15 mm (length×width×height). Each photodiode was individually calibrated to deliver 1 V per 7.58 µW/cm2 continuous irradiance at 850 nm. The outputs of eight photodiodes were logged concurrently using a data acquisition module interfacing eight channels of differential analog signals, while the output of the ninth photodiode was measured by a precision multimeter. This flexible probe rendered simultaneous intraspinal (nine-site) measurements of transcutaneous PBMT irradiations at 980 nm in a pilot cadaver dog model. At a surface continuous irradiance of 3.14 W/cm2 applied off-contact between L1 and L2, intraspinal irradiances picked up by nine photodiodes had a maximum of 327.48 µW/cm2 without the skin and 5.68 µW/cm2 with the skin.