Investigating the relationship between inbreeding and life expectancy in dogs: mongrels live longer than pure breeds.

This study aimed to investigate the establishment of relationship between inbreeding and life expectancy in dogs. A dataset of N = 30,563 dogs sourced from the VetCompass™ Program, UK was made available by the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, containing information about breed and longevity and was subject to survival analysis. A Cox regression proportional hazards model was used to differentiate survivability in three groups of dogs (mongrel, cross-bred and pure breed). The model was found highly significant (p < 0.001) and we found that mongrel dog had the highest life expectancy, followed by cross-bred dogs with only one purebred ancestor and purebred dogs had the lowest life expectancy. A second Cox regression was also found highly significant (p < 0.001) differentiating the lifespan of different dog breed and correlating positively the hazard ratio and the Genetic Illness Severity Index for Dogs (GISID). The results show that survivability is higher in mongrel dogs followed by cross-bred with one of the ancestor only as a pure breed, and pure breed dog have the highest morbidity level. Higher morbidity is associated with higher GISID scores, and therefore, higher inbreeding coefficients. These findings have important implications for dog breeders, owners, and animal welfare organizations seeking to promote healthier, longer-lived dogs.

Experimental study of rapid and effective magnetic artificial blood vessel transplantation for caval reconstruction in canines / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To evaluate the performance of the magnetic artificial blood vessel device for fast non-suture anastomosis of caval reconstruction with artificial blood vessel transplantation after resection in canines. 【Methods】 Sixteen adult mongrel dogs of either gender were randomly divided into two groups for vena cava reconstruction with artificial blood vessel transplantation after inferior vena cava (IVC) resection. Group MCA (n=8): magnetic artificial blood vessel device for IVC reconstruction; Group manual sewing (MS) (n=8): hand suturing for IVC reconstruction. Operation time and stoma errhysis were recorded during operation. Patency and stoma stenosis were confirmed via color Doppler ultrasound scanning and X-ray cholangiography at different time points as late as 4 weeks after surgery. 【Results】 The time required to perform the vascular anastomosis was significantly shorter for the magnetic artificial blood vessel device (6.25±2.25)min than for MS (27.32±5.12)min (P<0.001). There were four cases of stoma errhysis in MS group which had to be repaired (P=0.077). Vascular X-ray angiography and color Doppler ultrasound found normal blood flow and no stoma stenosis in MCA group, but three cases of stoma stenosis in MS groups (P=0.200). Compared with MS group, the magnetic ring device stoma was associated with smooth re-endothelialization and depressed infiltration of inflammatory cells at the anastomotic site. 【Conclusion】 The magnetic artificial blood vessel device offers a simple, fast, reliable, and efficacious technique for vena cava reconstruction with artificial blood vessel transplantation.

Para-clinico-pathological observations of insidious incidence of canine hepatozoonosis from a mongrel dog: a case report.

A rare case of canine hepatozoonosis in a mongrel dog with para-clinico-pathological observations has been reported. The study included detailed haemato-biochemical changes at two stages, i.e. before treatment and after treatment with adopted therapy. Before therapy, blood picture revealed normocytic hypochromic anaemia and neutrophilic leucocytosis with variable counts of platelets. Thirty-seven percent of neutrophils were found infected with gametocytes of Hepatozoon canis. Following treatment, further decrease in haemoglobin value with a relative increase in lymphocyte count was seen. Biochemically, increase in alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels along with hyperproteinemia was seen. The 14 days chemotherapy did not bring a respite for the dog and the level of parasitaemia was 33% after the treatment. The alkaline phosphatase and creatinine level further rose up following therapy with sulphadiazine and clindamycin. Continual study is required to explain the best possible therapeutic combination to deal H. canis.

Effects of Shuguan Capsule on myocardial blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption in dogs / 中成药

AIM: To investigate the effects of Shuguan Capsule on myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MOC) in anesthetized dogs. METHODS: Coronary blood flow (CBF) of twenty-five thoracotomized dogs was detected by electromagnetic flow meter and the MBF was calculated. While the oxygen content in the artery (AO2 ) and in the coronary venous sinus (VO2) was determined with blood oxygen analysis.Moreover, the other cardiac hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate (HR), femoral arterial blood pressure (BP), were observed by physiological polygraph. RESULTS: It was found that Shuguan Capsule (48.5 mg/kg and 194 mg/kg) could significantly increase the MBF, and then decease the coronary artery resistance. Furthermore, Shuguan Capsule could also lower the AO2, but increase the VO2, which led to the decreased MOC. CONCLUSION: Shuguan Capsule exhibits the effects to keep the balance between blood supply and oxygen consumption in the heart by modulating the coronary resistance and by reducing MOC in dogs.