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Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the best evidence of the primary research designs for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. However, if RCTs are incompletely reported, the methodological rigor with which they were conducted cannot be reliably evaluated and it may not be possible to replicate the intervention. Missing information also may limit the reader's ability to evaluate the external validity of a trial. Reporting guidelines are available for clinical trials in human healthcare (CONSORT), livestock populations (REFLECT), and preclinical experimental research involving animals (ARRIVE 2.0). The PetSORT guidelines complement these existing guidelines, providing recommendations for reporting controlled trials in pet dogs and cats. The rationale and scientific background are explained for each of the 25 items in the PetSORT reporting recommendations checklist, with examples from well-reported trials.

BackgroundReporting of clinical trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dog and cat populations is not optimal, which inhibits the ability to assess the reliability and validity of trial findings and precludes the ability to include some trials in evidence synthesis.ObjectiveTo develop a reporting guideline for parallel group and crossover trials that addresses the unique features and reporting requirements for trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dog and cat populations.DesignConsensus statement.SettingVirtual.ParticipantsFifty-six experts from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia working in academia, government (research and regulatory agencies), industry, and clinical veterinary practice.MethodsA steering committee created a draft checklist for reporting criteria based upon the CONSORT statement and the CONSORT extensions for reporting of abstracts and crossover trials. Each item was presented to the expert participants and was modified and presented again until >85% of participants were in agreement about the inclusion and wording of each item in the checklist.ResultsThe final PetSORT checklist consists of 25 main items with several sub-items. Most items were modifications of items contained in the CONSORT 2010 checklist or the CONSORT extension for crossover trials, but 1 sub-item pertaining to euthanasia was created de novo.ConclusionThe methods and processes used to develop this guideline represent a novel departure from those used to create other reporting guidelines, by using a virtual format. The use of the PetSORT statement should improve reporting of trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dogs and cats and published in the veterinary research literature.

There is scant literature on primary nonhematopoietic malignant liver tumors (PMLT) in cats. In this retrospective study, medical data of 40 cats diagnosed with PMLT were reviewed over a period of 22 years (2000-2021). The most frequent epithelial tumors were hepatocellular (42.5%) and bile duct carcinomas (32.5%), only six (15%) cats had mesenchymal tumors. The median age was 13 years and clinical signs commonly included ano-/hyporexia (62.5%), apathy/lethargy (52.5%), weight loss (42.5%) and vomiting (35%). At initial diagnosis, metastases were confirmed in 1 (2.5%) and suspected in three (7.5%) cats. Massive was the most frequent morphology (75%). Most intrahepatic tumors were left-sided (54.2%) with the left medial lobe being primarily affected (25%). Extrahepatic tumors were rare (5%). In 34 (85%) cats, liver lobectomy was performed (surgery group), four (10%) were treated palliatively (non-surgery group), and two (5%) received no treatment. Intraoperative complications occurred in 11.8% with four (15.4%) postoperative deaths. Recurrence was detected in 28.6% at a median of 151 days (range, 79-684 days), while postoperative metastases were suspected in 21.4% at a median of 186 days (range, 79-479 days). The median survival time (MST) was significantly longer in cats of the surgery group (375 days) than in the non-surgery group (16 days) (P = 0.002). MST was 868 days for hepatocellular compared to 270 days for bile duct carcinomas (P = 0.06). In summary, liver lobectomy is associated with prolonged survival times and good prognosis in cats with hepatocellular, and an acceptable prognosis in cats with bile duct carcinoma.

The updated VCOG-CTCAE v2 guidelines contain several important updates and additions since the last update (v1.1) was released in 2011 and published within Veterinary and Comparative Oncology in 2016. As the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) is no longer an active entity, the original authors and contributors to the VCOG-CTCAE v1.0 and v1.1 were consulted for input, and additional co-authors sought for expansion and refinement of the adverse event (AE) categories. VCOG-CTCAE v2 includes expanded neurology, cardiac and immunologic AE sections, and the addition of procedural-specific AEs. It is our intent that, through inclusion of additional authors from ACVIM subspecialties and the American College of Veterinary Surgery, that we can more comprehensively capture AEs that are observed during clinical studies conducted across a variety of disease states, clinical scenarios, and body systems. It is also our intent that these updated veterinary CTCAE guidelines will offer improved application and ease of use within veterinary practice in general, as well as within clinical trials that assess new therapeutic strategies for animals with a variety of diseases. Throughout the revision process, we strived to ensure the grading structure for each AE category was reflective of the decision-making process applied to determination of dose-limiting events. As phase I trial decisions are based on these criteria and ultimately determine the maximally tolerated dose, there is impact on standard dosing recommendations for any new drug registration or application. This document should be updated regularly to reflect ongoing application to clinical studies carried out in veterinary patients.

Objectives: To report (1) the incidence of post-attenuation seizures (PAS) in dogs that underwent single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (cEHPSS) attenuation and (2) to compare incidence of PAS in dogs that either did or did not receive prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam (LEV). Study Design: Multi-institutional retrospective study. Sample Population: Nine-hundred-and-forty dogs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs that underwent surgical attenuation of a single cEHPSS from January 2005 through July 2017 and developed PAS within seven days postoperatively. Dogs were divided into three groups: no LEV (LEV-); LEV at >15mg/kg TID for >24 hours or a 60mg/kg intravenous loading dose preoperatively, followed by >15mg/kg TID postoperatively (LEV1); ); and LEV at less than 15mg/kg TID, for less than 24 hours preoperatively, or continued at less than 15mg/kg TID postoperatively (LEV2). Results: Nine-hundred-and-forty dogs were included. Seventy-five (8.0%) developed PAS. Incidence of PAS was 35/523 (6.7%), 21/188 (11.2%) and 19/228 (8.3%) in groups LEV-, LEV1 and LEV2, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.14). No significant differences between groups of dogs that seized with respect to variables investigated were identified. Conclusions: The overall incidence of PAS was low (8%). Prophylactic treatment with LEV according to the protocols investigated in our study was not associated with a reduced incidence of PAS. Clinical Significance: Prophylactic treatment with LEV does not afford protection against development of PAS. Surgically treated dogs should continue to be monitored closely during the first seven days postoperatively for seizures.

The medical records of 87 dogs treated with surgery for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) of the haired skin were retrospectively reviewed for overall survival time (OST), progression-free survival time (PFS), and prognostic factors. The post-surgery median PFS and median OST were 1282 days and 1363 days, respectively. The post-surgery metastatic rate was 21.8% with a local recurrence rate of 8%. Increasing mitotic index (MI) was predictive of a significantly decreased OST and PFS on multivariable analysis [hazard ratio (HR): 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02 to 1.07 and HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.06, respectively]. Increasing age was likewise predictive of a significantly decreased OST and PFS on multivariable analysis (HR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.65 and HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.54, respectively). These results confirm clinical impressions that long survival times are likely in dogs diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the haired skin when treated with surgery alone.