Two unrelated dogs residing in the same house including an 11-year-old, female spayed, mixed breed dog and a 7-year-old, female spayed, mixed breed dog ingested approximately 75 capsules of a human ...joint health supplement (Ligaplex I; Standard Process, WI, USA). A total of 2,062 mg of manganese was ingested between both dogs. Dog 1 developed acute fulminant liver failure and a severe coagulopathy that led to hepatic fractures and exsanguination from hemoabdomen. The estimated maximum time from ingestion of the joint health supplement to death was 36 to 48 h. Histologic examination revealed severe periportal hepatic necrosis with mild evidence of preexisiting liver disease and renal tubular epithelial necrosis. Manganese concentrations in liver and kidney tissue were severely increased. Dog 2 developed a severe acute liver injury and was hospitalized for 6 days. Therapies provided during hospitalization included intravenous fluids, maropitant, pantoprazole, N-acetylcysteine, vitamin C, S-adenosylmethionine, and silybin. The dog was treated long-term with S-adenosylmethionine, silybin, ursodiol, and vitamin C. Clinical and biochemical resolution occurred on the recheck examination that took place on day 44. The veterinary literature is comprised of only 2 reports containing 3 dogs that describe acute manganese intoxication. Here, we provide a detailed description of 2 dogs that developed manganese-induced toxicosis after ingestion of a human joint health supplement.
Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common biliary disorder in dogs. Gallbladder hypokinesia has been proposed to contribute to its formation and progression. The specific cause of gallbladder stasis in ...dogs with GBM as well as viable treatment options to resolve dysmotility remains unknown. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the many potential causes of gallbladder hypokinesia in humans and repletion results in complete resolution of stasis. Improving our understanding of the relationship between serum vitamin D and GBM could help identify dogs as a model for humans with gallbladder hypokinesia. Furthermore, this relationship could provide insight into the pathogenesis of GBM and support the need for future studies to investigate vitamin D as a novel treatment target. Therefore, goals of this study were i) to determine if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin(OH)D concentrations were decreased in dogs with GBM, ii) if serum 25(OH)D concentrations were different in clinical versus dogs subclinical for GBM, and iii) to determine if serum 25(OH)D concentrations could predict the ultrasonographic type of GBM. Sixty-two dogs (clinical, n = 26; subclinical, n = 36) with GBM and 20 healthy control dogs were included in this prospective observational study. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured with a competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay. Overall, dogs with GBM had lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations than control dogs (P = 0.004). Subsequent subgroup analysis indicated that this difference was only significant in the subclinical group compared to the control dogs (P = 0.008), and serum 25(OH)D concentrations did not significantly differ between dogs clinical for GBM versus subclinical or control dogs, indicating that inflammatory state in clinical dogs was not the major constituent of the observed findings. Decreasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations, but not clinical status, was associated with a more advanced developmental stage of GBM type determined by ultrasonography. Our results indicate that vitamin D has a role in dogs with GBM. Additional studies are needed to assess if reduced vitamin D in dogs with GBM is a cause or effect of their biliary disease and to investigate if vitamin D supplementation could be beneficial for dogs with GBM.
Hypovitaminosis D has been extensively documented in critically ill humans. However, whether or not critically ill dogs have alterations in vitamin D concentrations remains unconfirmed. The primary ...aims of our study were to compare serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol 25(OH)D concentrations in critically ill dogs with healthy control dogs, determine the prognostic utility of serum 25(OH)D concentration as a biomarker in critically ill dogs, and to assess if serum 25(OH)D concentrations in critically ill dogs are associated with length of stay in the intensive care unit or illness severity. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D together with a range of other clinical, biochemical, and hematological parameters, were measured in 99 dogs within 24 hours of admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Critically ill dogs (P = 0.001) and dogs with sepsis (P = 0.002) had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations compared to healthy control dogs. In addition, serum 25(OH)D concentration was an independent predictor of in-hospital and 30 day survival. Using a cut-off of 33 ng/mL, serum 25(OH)D concentrations had excellent sensitivity (0.94; 95% CI, 0.71-1.00), but poor specificity (0.41; 95% CI, 0.31-0.53) for detection of survival. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation (APPLE) fast score but were not associated with ICU length of stay. Hospitalized dogs with critical illness have decreased serum 25(OH)D concentrations compared to healthy dogs and can be used to predict survival in this cohort.
To determine whether dogs with cytochrome b5 reductase (CYB5R) deficiency have a constitutive proinflammatory phenotype, characterize hematologic and serum chemistry results, and describe changes in ...methemoglobin (MetHb) levels and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations after long-term per os (PO) methylene blue (MB) therapy.
21 client-owned dogs (CYB5R deficient, n = 10; healthy controls, 11).
In this prospective, case-control study, methemoglobin levels were measured using a blood gas analyzer with co-oximetry. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were measured using a canine-specific multiplex bead-based assay. Serum CRP concentrations were measured with a canine-specific commercial ELISA kit. Serum CRP concentration and MetHb levels were measured in 6 dogs with CYB5R deficiency after ≥ 60 days of PO MB therapy.
As expected, MetHb levels were higher in dogs with CYB5R deficiency compared to controls (P < .001). Plasma TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and serum CRP concentrations were no different between CYB5R-deficient and control dogs. Dogs with CYB5R deficiency had lower absolute lymphocyte (P = .005) and eosinophil counts (P = .04) and higher alanine transaminase (P = .04) and alkaline phosphatase activity (P = .02) than controls, but these changes were not clinically relevant. Methemoglobin levels decreased after PO MB therapy (P = .03).
These results suggest that otherwise healthy dogs with CYB5R deficiency do not have a constitutive proinflammatory phenotype and clinically relevant abnormalities in hematologic and serum chemistry panels are not expected. Dogs with decreased quality of life attributed to methemoglobinemia from CYB5R deficiency might benefit from PO MB therapy.
Background
Clinicopathologic variables predictive of disseminated coccidioidomycosis are known in humans but have not been explored in dogs. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin (OH)D correlates with severity of ...disease of various etiologies in dogs but its role in coccidioidomycosis is unknown.
Objective
Determine whether serum 25(OH)D concentrations are different in dogs with coccidioidomycosis compared with healthy controls and if clinicopathologic variables are associated with extent of disease.
Animals
Thirty‐five dogs with coccidioidomycosis (pulmonary, n = 13; disseminated, n = 15; uncharacterized, n = 7), and 25 healthy control dogs.
Methods
Prospective cohort study. Serum 25(OH)D and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured with modified‐HPLC and a commercial ELISA kit, respectively.
Results
There was no difference in 25(OH)D concentrations between dogs with coccidioidomycosis (median, interquartile range IQR; 31.9 ng/mL, 23.3‐49.2) and controls (29.5 ng/mL, 25.6‐40.8, P = .73). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was lower in dogs with coccidioidomycosis and IgG titers ≥1:32 than dogs with titers below this cut‐off (P = .02). Dogs with IgG titers ≥1:32 were more likely to have disseminated disease (OR, 7.5; 95% CI: 1.1‐68; P = .03). Serum CRP concentrations were higher in dogs with IgG titers ≥1:16 (median, IQR; 4474.8 ng/mL, 2885.8‐8236.1) than in those below this cut‐off (151.2 ng/mL, 30.4‐2907.3; P = .02). There was a significant inverse association between serum 25(OH)D and CRP at 25(OH)D concentrations ≤33 ng/mL.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance
Serum 25(OH)D concentration was lower for dogs with IgG titers ≥1:32, indicating a potential association between semi‐quantitative titers and 25(OH)D concentrations in dogs with coccidioidomycosis. IgG titers ≥1:32 yielded higher odds of disseminated disease, but was inadequate as a standalone test to determine form of disease.
Background
Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin (OH)D, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and haptoglobin are useful biomarkers in various infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders in dogs, but their utility in ...histoplasmosis is unknown.
Objective
Determine if serum 25(OH)D, CRP, and haptoglobin concentrations are different in dogs with histoplasmosis compared to healthy controls and whether serum globulin, albumin, CRP, or haptoglobin are associated with 25(OH)D concentration.
Animals
Twenty‐two client‐owned dogs (histoplasmosis, n = 12; controls, n = 10).
Methods
Prospective case‐control study. Dogs with histoplasmosis were categorized as pulmonary, disseminated, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Serum 25(OH)D was measured using modified high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum CRP and haptoglobin were measured with ELISA assays.
Results
Dogs with histoplasmosis were grouped as disseminated (n = 8) and GI tract (n = 4). No dogs had pulmonary tract involvement alone. Dogs with histoplasmosis (median, interquartile range IQR; 11.6 ng/mL, 16.8) had lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations than controls (35.7 ng/mL, 17.6; P < .001). Serum CRP and haptoglobin concentrations were higher in dogs with histoplasmosis (CRP: median, IQR; 63.5 mg/L, 37.1 and haptoglobin: 459.7 mg/dL, 419.6) than controls (CRP: 1.9 mg/L, 2; P < .001 and haptoglobin: 85.5 mg/dL, 106.7; P = .003). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was positively associated with fold change in serum albumin concentration (ρ = 0.77; P < .001), and negatively associated with fold change in serum globulin (ρ = −0.61; P = .003) and CRP concentrations (ρ = −0.56; P = .01).
Conclusion and Clinical Importance
Assay of serum 25(OH)D, CRP, and haptoglobin could have clinical value in dogs with histoplasmosis.
To determine associations between antibody serologic tests and tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy (TBL) in dogs with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and identify variables associated with time to ...resolution of TBL.
32 client owned dogs with newly diagnosed pulmonary coccidioidomycosis from October 2020 to February 2021.
Prospective cohort study. Thoracic radiographs and anti-Coccidioides spp antibody serology were performed at baseline and once every 3 months until remission or for a maximum of 12 months. Radiographic tracheobronchial lymph node height, length, and area were measured and recorded as ratios via comparison with the length of the T4 vertebral body (LT4) and length of the manubrium. Severity of TBL was also subjectively categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.
Tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy was identified in 81% (26/32; 95% CI, 64% to 93%) of dogs. There was no relevant association between TBL presence or severity and antibody serology results. Tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy resolved in 72% (n = 18) of dogs at the 3-month evaluation. The median time to resolution of TBL after initiation of fluconazole was 96 days (range, 72 to 386 days). Univariate analysis identified increasing TBL severity (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.84; P = .02) and length:LT4 ratio (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.82; P = .01) as variables associated with reduced probability of resolution of TBL.
Antibody serologic test results are not clinically useful to predict TBL presence or severity in dogs with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, and larger tracheobronchial lymph nodes are more likely to take longer to resolve. Resolution of TBL occurs in most dogs within 3 to 6 months after fluconazole administration.
Background
Albuterol by inhalation (IH) is a common treatment for hyperkalemia in humans but its effect on blood potassium concentrations in dogs is unknown.
Objective
Determine whether albuterol ...(IH) decreases blood potassium concentrations in healthy normokalemic dogs and if effects are dose‐dependent.
Animals
Ten healthy dogs.
Methods
Prospective, crossover experimental study. Albuterol sulfate was administered at a low‐dose (90 μg) in phase I and, 7 days later, high‐dose (450 μg) in phase II. Blood potassium and glucose concentrations (measured via blood gas analyzer) and heart rates were obtained at baseline and then 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 360 minutes after inhaler actuation.
Results
Blood potassium concentrations decreased rapidly after albuterol delivery with a significant reduction compared to baseline within 30 minutes in both phases (P = .05). The potassium nadir concentration of phase I occurred at 60 minutes (mean, SD; 4.07 mmol/L, 0.4) and was significantly decreased from baseline, (4.30 mmol/L, 0.3; t(9) = 2.40, P = .04). The potassium nadir concentration of phase II occurred at 30 minutes (mean, SD; 3.96 mmol/L, 0.39) and was also significantly decreased from baseline, (4.33 mmol/L, 0.4; t(9) = 2.22, P = .05). The potassium nadir concentration decreased by 0.1 mmol/L for each 10 μg/kg increase in dose of albuterol (P = .01). Five dogs had ≥1 hyperglycemic measurement (ie, >112 mg/dL). No median heart rate was tachycardic nor was any mean blood glucose concentration hyperglycemic at any time point.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance
Albuterol IH decreases blood potassium concentrations in a dose‐dependent manner without clinically meaningful alterations to heart rate or blood glucose concentrations in healthy dogs. The mean decrease in potassium concentration at the high‐dose of albuterol was modest (0.38 mmol/L).
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