The center of mass (CoM) is the location in a body where mass distribution is balanced. It has a fundamental role in balance and motion which has been poorly described in the dog. The objective of ...this study was to estimate the variance of the center of mass (CoM) in a heterogeneous population of client-owned dogs and to describe the relationship between CoM, subject morphometrics and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) box positioned ventrally on a neck collar. A single force platform and a reaction board were used to determine CoM in the transverse, sagittal and dorsal planes in thirty-one healthy adult dogs. A series of morphometric measurements were acquired with each dog standing, including distances relative to an IMU box positioned ventrally on a neck collar. Mean transverse plane CoM was 48% the distance from ischium to the IMU box, near the xiphoid process. Mean sagittal place CoM was 59% the width of the chest on the left side. Mean dorsal plane CoM was 41% the distance from the most dorsal to the most ventral aspect of the body. Dog length was the primary variable required to maximize the relationship between three-dimensional CoM and identifiable variables measured. A CoM based normalization procedure should be considered to normalize mass or motion based outcome measure output (e.g., ground reaction forces, vector acceleration) in a heterogeneous population of dogs. Future research will be needed to determine if CoM-based normalization procedures reduce variance in outcome measures affected by subject morphometrics.
To document the caregiver placebo effect in owners and veterinarians of dogs with lameness from osteoarthritis.
Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical ...trial.
58 dogs with lameness secondary to osteoarthritis.
Dogs enrolled in the placebo arm of an FDA-approved study were evaluated to determine the relationship between subjective (caregiver responses) and objective (force platform gait analysis) patient outcome measures.
A caregiver placebo effect for owners evaluating their dog's lameness occurred 39.7% of the time. A caregiver placebo effect occurred 44.8% of the time when veterinarians examined dogs for lameness at a walk, 44.8% of the time when veterinarians examined dogs for lameness at a trot, and 43.1% of the time when veterinarians evaluated dogs for signs of pain on palpation of the joint. This effect was significantly enhanced with time. Mean ground reaction forces (GRFs) remained unchanged for dogs during treatment with the placebo. Individually, of 58 dogs, 5 had GRFs that worsened by ≥ 5% over 42 days, 7 had GRFs that improved by ≥ 5% over 42 days, and 46 had GRFs that remained unchanged.
A caregiver placebo effect was common in the evaluation of patient response to treatment for osteoarthritis by both pet owners and veterinarians. Force platform gait analysis was an unbiased outcome measure for dogs with lameness from osteoarthritis. A caregiver placebo effect should be considered when interpreting owner and veterinary reports of patient response to treatment.
Objective
To assess the 12‐month survival of intra‐articular, decellularized allografts for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) in dogs.
Study design
Prospective case series.
...Animals
Twenty client‐owned dogs with spontaneous CCL rupture.
Methods
Affected stifles were treated solely by implantation of an intra‐articular, decellularized, deep digital flexor tendon allograft. Functional outcome was evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after surgery with the Liverpool Osteoarthritis for Dogs questionnaire and force platform gait analysis. At 12 months after surgery, dogs underwent arthroscopy to visually assess the allografts.
Results
Scores on owner questionnaires (improved 62.5%; P = .005) and ground reaction forces (improved 34.4%; P = .017) were improved in all dogs 12 months after surgery. Dogs with an intact graft (IG) were more likely to have a successful outcome compared with dogs with a torn graft (P = .011). According to arthroscopy, 45% of grafts seemed to survive at 12 months after surgery.
Conclusion
About half of intra‐articular allografts survived 12 months after implantation in CCL‐deficient stifles. Dogs with IG had successful outcomes at 12 months after surgery according to assessment by force platform gait analysis.
Clinical significance
These results preclude immediate clinical application but provide evidence to justify further investigation of intra‐articular grafts as a repair option for CLLD.
Kinetic gait analysis and ground reaction forces (GRFs) have been used in hundreds of scientific manuscripts. Specific methodology, interpretation of results, and translation to clinical veterinary ...medicine have been inconsistent. This impedes the advance of veterinary medicine and poses a risk to patients. The objective of this report was to address methodological variations and share our consensus on a recommended approach with viable alternatives to data collection methods, analysis, reporting, and interpretation for GRFs in the dog. Investigators with experience performing kinetic gait analysis reviewed the literature and discussed the topics that most influenced GRF data collection, reporting, and interpretation. Methodological variations were reported and a consensus from the group was devised. There are several reasonable alternatives to collect, report, and interpret GRFs in dogs appropriately. Attention to detail is required in several areas to collect and report them. This review and consensus report should assist future investigations and interpretations of studies, optimize comparison between publications, minimize use of animals, and limit the investment in cost and time.
Bacterial infections are a costly sequela in any wound. The corrosion properties of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 g of Mg metal were determined in Mueller-Hinton broth by serially measuring the Mg(2+) ...concentrations and pH over 72 h. In addition, the effect of Mg metal, increased Mg(2+) concentration and alkaline pH on the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated in three separate experiments. The primary outcome measure for culture studies was colony-forming units/ml compared to appropriate positive and/or negative controls. Regardless of the mass of Mg added, there was a predictable increase in pH and Mg(2+) concentration. The addition of Mg and an increase of pH resulted in antibacterial effects similar to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic; however, a simple increase in Mg(2+) concentration alone had no effect. The results demonstrate an antibacterial effect of Mg on three common aerobic bacterial organisms, the mechanism of which appears to be an alkaline pH.
Objective
To assess the 6‐month outcome and survival of enhanced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) implants as a replacement for the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs with spontaneous CCL ...disease (CCLD).
Study design
Pilot, prospective case series.
Animals
Ten client‐owned large breed dogs with unilateral spontaneous CCLD.
Methods
Dogs were evaluated before and 6 months after intra‐articular placement of a PET implant with the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs questionnaire and force platform gait analysis. Arthroscopy was performed 6 months after surgery to visually assess implant integrity.
Results
Scores on owner questionnaires and limb asymmetry improved in all dogs that reached the 6‐month time point, by 51.7% (p = .008) and 86% (p = .002), respectively. The PET implant appeared intact and functioning in two stifles, partially intact and functioning in four stifles and completely torn in three stifles. One dog had an implant infection and was removed from the study. Evidence of deterioration and tearing occurred in the midbody of the implant.
Conclusion
Although function improved over the course of this study, only 2/10 implants appeared intact 6 months after placement.
Clinical significance
Implant survivability prohibits further clinical investigation using this implant.
To estimate the economic impact to veterinary clients for the medical and surgical treatment of rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) in dogs for the year 2003.
Economic impact survey.
501 ...diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) indicating that their area of surgical emphasis was small animal orthopedic surgery or small animal general and orthopedic surgery and 4,000 veterinarians indicating to the AVMA that their professional area was small animal practice exclusive or mixed animal practice (at least 80% small animal).
Veterinarians were surveyed concerning the cost for medical and surgical treatment of RCCL for 2003. The economic impact was calculated by multiplying the number of RCCL surgeries performed by the mean cost of surgery. This was added to the number of RCCL cases managed medically multiplied by the mean cost of medical management. This estimate for survey responders was extrapolated to the total number of veterinarians in the study population for the ACVS or AVMA.
Estimates for the total cost of surgery were $171,730,134.72 and $1,020,167,907 for veterinarians in the ACVS and AVMA populations, respectively. The cost of medical management was $2,885,687.86 and $126,558,155.16 for veterinarians in the ACVS and AVMA populations, respectively. After combining the ACVS and AVMA populations, we estimated that owners spent $1.32 billion for the treatment of RCCL in the United States in 2003.
RCCL is a prevalent, costly injury. Results may motivate veterinary and consumer agencies to prioritize funding for a better understanding of the injury.
Case series summary
Three cats (five stifles) were diagnosed with varying degrees of pelvic limb lameness secondary to medial patellar luxations (MPLs). Lameness did not resolve with medical ...management in any cat before referral for orthopedic evaluation. All cats underwent semi-cylindrical recession trochleoplasty (SCRT), medial fascial release and lateral imbrication for surgical repair of MPLs. All cats were re-evaluated at 3 and 8 weeks postoperatively and two cats were also evaluated at 16 weeks postoperatively. At the final rechecks, all cats had resolution of lameness of the operated limb(s) and no evidence of recurrence of patellar luxation.
Relevance and novel information
This case series demonstrated SCRT with soft tissue reconstruction as an acceptable option for surgical correction in three cats with MPLs. Short-term outcomes revealed minor complications and all patellae remained centralized.
To assess the safety and efficacy of an orally administered nutraceutical (Glu/CS+; + for additional ingredient) for the treatment of clinical osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs.
In this double-blind, ...randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, client-owned dogs with clinical signs of OA in one or more joints were assigned to a Glu/CS+ (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) group. Dogs were administered Glu/CS+ or placebo orally and wore an activity monitor (AM) continuously throughout a 97 day study period. Prior to the initiation of the treatment, seven days of baseline activity was collected. On days -7, 30, 60 and 90 of the study, owners completed a patient assessment form (Canine Brief Pain Inventory). Data between groups were compared.
No serious adverse events were reported. No difference was found between groups when evaluating daily activity counts during the seven-day pre-treatment period and the 90-day treatment period. Owner assessment (pain interference and pain severity scores) improved over the 90-day treatment period for both groups, however no difference was found between treatment groups.
Treatment with oral Glu/CS+ for a 90 day treatment period when compared to placebo treatment did not result in a significant increase in activity counts in dogs with clinical OA. However, owner assessment scores similarly improved throughout the study period for dogs in both groups, suggesting a caregiver placebo effect in this outcome measure.
Objective-To determine short- and long-term rates of successful outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical treatments for overweight dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). Design-Prospective, ...randomized, clinical trial. Animals-40 client-owned overweight dogs with unilateral CCLR. Procedures-Dogs were randomly assigned to nonsurgical (physical therapy, weight loss, and NSAID administration) or surgical (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) treatment groups; dogs in both groups received the same nonsurgical treatments. Dogs were evaluated immediately before and 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after initiation of treatments via owner questionnaires, gait analysis, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. A successful outcome was defined as an affected limb net ground reaction force > 85% of the value for healthy dogs and a ≥ 10% improvement in values of questionnaire variables. Results-Owner questionnaire responses indicated dogs in both groups improved during the study, but dogs in the surgical treatment group seemed to have greater improvement. Body fat percentages for dogs in both treatment groups significantly decreased during the study. Surgical treatment group dogs had significantly higher peak vertical force for affected limbs versus nonsurgical treatment group dogs at the 24- and 52-week evaluation times. Surgical treatment group dogs had a higher probability of a successful outcome (67.7%, 92.6%, and 75.0% for 12-, 24-, and 52-week evaluations, respectively) versus nonsurgical treatment group dogs (47.1%, 33.3%, and 63.6% for 12-, 24-, and 52-week evaluations, respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Overweight dogs with CCLR treated via surgical and nonsurgical methods had better outcomes than dogs treated via nonsurgical methods alone. However, almost two-thirds of the dogs in the nonsurgical treatment group had a successful outcome at the 52-week evaluation time.
