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The urinary normetanephrine to creatinine ratio (uNMN/Cr) and urinary metanephrine to creatinine ratio (uMN/Cr) are commonly evaluated for the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas (PCC) in dogs. This study aimed to establish reference intervals for uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr in 56 healthy dogs in Japan and to investigate the effect of urine collection methods on these measurements in 15 non-PCC dogs. The upper limits of reference intervals for uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr were 124.4 nmol/mmol (90% confidence interval [CI] 107.7-137.0) and 121.1 nmol/mmol (90% CI 102.8-145.1), respectively. Both uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr were significantly higher when urine was collected in the hospital compared to at home. Several factors, including the method of urine collection, should be considered when utilizing these reference intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an endemic disease in eastern Sudan, particularly in Al Gadarif State, causing significant morbidity and fatality rates. This disease is induced by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum. Several studies have suggested that dogs (Canis familiaris), which are known for being the primary reservoir hosts of L. infantum (causing canine leishmaniasis), may play a vital role in transmitting human VL caused by L. donovani. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of leishmaniasis in general and L. donovani, particularly in dogs, and to investigate the potential risk factors associated with the disease in Al Gadarif State. Blood samples were collected from 151 dogs from five localities and examined using Giemsa-stained blood smears and PCR. The overall prevalence was 44.4% based on microscopic examination. Significant variation in the prevalence of leishmaniasis was observed among the localities (p = 0.000), where the highest prevalence was reported in Algurreisha (85%) and the lowest was observed in Alhawata (4.2%). Dog type was another risk factor that was shown to be significantly associated with infection (p = 0.041). The highest prevalence was reported in household dogs (47.7%) compared to stray dogs (23.8%). The analysis revealed that factors such as the use of dogs, sex, and age were not statistically linked to the disease. However, among household dogs, the highest prevalence was reported in pet dogs (59.7%), males (49.1%) compared to females (32.6%), and young dogs (50%) compared to older dogs (40.9%). All blood samples tested negative for L. donovani by PCR, thus requiring further investigation to identify the causative species in dogs and their possible roles in the epidemiology of zoonotic leishmaniasis in Sudan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate liver size differences in dogs with various types of congenital portosystemic shunts (PSSs) using computed tomographic hepatic volumetry (CTHV). PSSs can cause the liver to be small (microhepatia) and less functional due to blood bypassing the liver via the shunting vessel. The study measured liver volumes in dogs with different types of PSSs (intrahepatic (IH), extrahepatic portocaval (EHPC), extrahepatic portoazygos (EHPA), and extrahepatic portophrenic (EHPP)) in dogs without prior surgery. The study found that while the normalized liver volume (nLV) was similar across PSS types, the severity of microhepatia was more pronounced in dogs with EHPC and EHPA shunts compared with those with IH shunts. In addition, smaller dogs had more severe microhepatia, and liver volume decreased with age. These findings suggest that the severity of microhepatia varies with shunt type and body size and highlight the need for further research to truly understand the presence of microhepatia in dogs with PSSs. This study adds to the understanding of liver volume changes in dogs with PSSs and may help veterinarians provide better care for affected animals. CTHV is a non-invasive and accurate method for assessing liver volume in dogs. CTHV has not been studied in each type of extrahepatic PSS in dogs. This study aimed to use CTHV to compare liver volumes in dogs with different types of PSSs that had been confirmed by computed tomography angiography. Dogs with PSSs were retrospectively included and categorized into IH, EHPC, EHPA, or EHPP shunt groups. Manual CTHV was performed, and the normalized liver volume (nLV) and the difference in nLV from the estimated liver volume calculated based on body weight (LV%diff) was calculated. The study included 57 dogs: 20 IH, 21 EHPC, 9 EHPA, and 7 EHPP. The median nLV (cm3/kg) and LV%diff (%) for each group were as follows: IH 17.3 (−40.4%); EHPC 16.9 (−60.3%); EHPA 15.1 (−56.7%); and EHPP 17.2 (−59.2%), respectively. There were no significant differences in nLV among the PSS types. However, LV%diff was significantly more pronounced in the EHPC and EHPA groups compared with the IH group. Additionally, smaller dogs exhibited more severe microhepatia, with a significant positive correlation between LV%diff and body weight (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that microhepatia severity varies by shunt type and is more severe in smaller dogs, highlighting the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancestral Coast Salish societies in the Pacific Northwest kept long-haired woolly dogs that were bred and cared for over millennia. However, the dog wool-weaving tradition declined during the 19th century, and the population was lost. In this study, we analyzed genomic and isotopic data from a preserved woolly dog pelt from Mutton, collected in 1859. Mutton is the only known example of an Indigenous North American dog with dominant precolonial ancestry postdating the onset of settler colonialism. We identified candidate genetic variants potentially linked with their distinct woolly phenotype. We integrated these data with interviews from Coast Salish Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and weavers about shared traditional knowledge and memories surrounding woolly dogs, their importance within Coast Salish societies, and how colonial policies led directly to their disappearance.

Globally, there are a growing number of dogs in schools. Research suggests that there are potential benefits of interactions between children and dogs in educational contexts, for example in terms of social–emotional, cognitive and physical development. However, there is a lack of research examining the potential challenges and limitations of involving a dog in school, particularly regarding the well-being of the dogs themselves. The present study investigated the experiences and perceptions of 453 educators around the world who have implemented a school dog program. The study found great variety in terms of the activities school dogs engage in. Despite respondents having positive perceptions of the benefits school dogs bring, many reported unexpected incidents from toileting and barking to more significant incidents such as growling and biting. This article highlights the relatively under explored tension between the practical, hands-on reality of including a sentient dog in the classroom, versus the ideas and expectations that teachers have about school dogs.

ObjectiveDetermine diagnostic yield of chest, abdomen, and 4-site screening to diagnose metastatic disease and secondary diseases of prognostic significance in dogs with oral cancer.SampleMedical records from 381 dogs with histologically confirmed oral tumors that underwent preoperative screening were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThoracic metastasis was diagnosed in 4.9% (0.9% odontogenic, 6.5% nonodontogenic) of oral tumors. Oral malignant melanoma and multilobular osteochondrosarcoma were most at risk. Abdominal metastasis was diagnosed in 2% of oral tumors (0% odontogenic, 3.1% nonodontogenic) and cytologically confirmed in 2 cases (0.6% [2/295)] of all abdominal ultrasounds (AUS) 5.5% [2/36] of all AUS that had cytology). Both cases had oral malignant melanoma. Incidental disease was diagnosed in 53.1% and 81.3% of thoracic and abdominal screenings, respectively. Major findings were more common in AUS (7.8%) compared to thoracic screening (1.9%). The prevalence of incidental findings was similar for odontogenic and nonodontogenic tumors. Both metastasis and major findings were diagnosed more commonly with thoracic CT compared to radiographs. Metastasis or a major finding of prognostic significance was diagnosed in at least 1 test in 27.8% of patients that had head CT, lymph node cytology, thoracic screening, and AUS (n = 115).Clinical relevanceMajor incidental findings were more commonly detected with AUS and were diagnosed in 1 in every 12 patients. However, metastatic disease was most commonly detected with thoracic screening. When all 4 screening tests are performed, there is an approximately 1 in 4 chance of diagnosing metastasis or major significant disease regardless of tumor type.

ObjectiveDetermine locoregional diagnostic yield of 4-site screening (head, neck, chest, and abdomen) to diagnose metastatic disease or clinically significant comorbid diseases in dogs with oral cancer.Animals381 dogs with histologically confirmed oral tumors.MethodsMedical records from 381 dogs with histologically confirmed oral tumors that underwent preoperative screening were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsSkull and neck CT scan was performed on 348 patients. Bone lysis was present in 74.4% of tumors. Oral squamous cell carcinoma, sarcomas, and T2-T3 (> 2 cm) tumors had a significantly (P < .05) increased incidence of lysis compared to odontogenic and T1 (< 2 cm) tumors, respectively. Minor incidental findings were present in 60.6% of CT scans. Major incidental findings were found in 4.6% of scans. The risk of diagnosing an incidental finding increased by 10% and 20% per year of age for minor and major findings, respectively. Lymph node metastasis was diagnosed with CT or cytology in 7.5% of cases (10.7% of nonodontogenic tumors, 0% of odontogenic tumors). Oral malignant melanoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and T3 tumors had the highest prevalence of metastatic disease at the time of staging. The presence of bone lysis was not associated with cervical metastasis.Clinical relevanceMajor incidental findings were rare (< 5%) but primarily included secondary extraoral tumors. Lymphatic metastasis was diagnosed in 10.7% of nonodontogenic tumors, but cytology was not performed in the majority of cases and often included only a single mandibular node. Therefore, these results likely underestimate the incidence of lymphatic metastasis. Guided lymph node sampling is highly recommended, especially for oral malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and T2-T3 tumors.

Since 1996, goose/Guangdong lineage H5 highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (HPIAV) have caused an unprecedented panzootic. In 2020, subclade 2.3.4.4b HPIAV H5N1 emerged and spread to multiple continents causing substantial [...]

Abstract Background Oclacitinib (OCL), a Janus kinase inhibitor, is a novel immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive agent which is an approved as the first-line treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) in dogs. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of OCL on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and their selected subsets under clinical conditions, i.e. in dogs suffering from AD, in terms of both safety and immune mechanisms underlying its therapeutic actions. Eight dogs were treated for 28 days with OCL at the recommended dose. Blood samples were taken at day 0, 7, 14 and 28. Results The study showed that the mean percentage and absolute count of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells on the 14th and 28th day of the treatment with OCL did not differ from the corresponding baseline values, i.e. those before the treatment. On the 7th day of the treatment, the mean absolute count of CD4+ T cells and the mean percentage and absolute count of CD8+ T cells were significantly increased. The research found that on the 14th day of the treatment, the mean percentage and absolute count of CD25+CD4+ and CD25+CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased; the reduction in the percentage of CD25+CD4+ T cells persisted on 28th day of the treatment. A two-week treatment with OCL resulted in an increase in the mean percentage of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells, and this effect was sustained at the last time point. The treatment with OCL decreased the eosinophil level but does not affect the absolute counts of basophils, monocytes and neutrophils. Conclusions The findings of the study strongly suggest that: (a) in terms of the impact of OCL on the number of PB CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, monthly treatment with the drug should be considered as a relatively safe; (b) the eosinophil-reducing effect and the down-regulation of the AD up-regulated CD25 expression on CD4+ Teff cells may constitute significant elements of the mechanism of action underlying the therapeutic effects of the drug in the treatment of canine AD; (c) the generation of inducible Foxp3-expressing CD4+ regulatory T cells - resulting in the shift of the CD4+ Treg cell (i.e. Foxp3+CD4+)/activated Teff (i.e. CD25+CD4+) cell balance toward an increased proportion of Treg cells - may be considered as additional mechanism involved in producing the immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive properties of OCL.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection causes a multifocal demyelinating progressive disease within the central nervous system (CNS) that results in wide range of neurological symptoms. Pathological changes in the brain or CNS could be observed by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the concentrations of amino acids in the CSF of dogs with neurological form of CDV infection, and to identify amino acids as markers that can be used in the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of the disease. Heathy dogs (n=6), confirmed by clinical and laboratory examinations (Healthy group), and CDV-infected dogs (n=10) with neurological symptoms, confirmed by clinical, laboratory, and rapid diagnostic test kits (Distemper group), were used. CSF samples were obtained with an appropriate method and were subjected to 1H-NMR analysis. Identification was made on 10, whereas quantification on 8 amino acids. L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, and L-alanine concentrations were significantly lower, while L-histidine and L-tryptophan were significantly higher than the Healthy group (p

Abstract Background Cryptosporidium spp. is a ubiquitous, globally distributed intestinal protozoan infecting humans and at least 260 animal hosts. Due to close human contact with pet dogs and identification of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in these animals, dog health is not only a veterinarian issue but also a public health issue. This study aimed to understand occurrence and genetic characterization at both genotype and subtype levels in pet dogs in Yunnan Province, China. Results A total of 589 fresh fecal specimens were collected from adult pet dogs in the rural areas of eight cities/autonomous prefectures of Yunnan Province, China. 16 fecal specimens were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, with an average occurrence rate of 2.7% (16/589) being observed. Three zoonotic Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. parvum (n = 7), C. suis (n = 5) and C. canis (n = 4). At the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) locus, only three C. parvum and two C. canis specimens were successfully amplified and sequenced, with subtype IIaA17G2R1 (n = 3) and subtypes XXa4 (n = 1) and XXa5 (n = 1) being identified, respectively. Conclusions The present finding of three zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in dogs implied that dogs infected with Cryptosporidium spp. may pose a threat to human health. C. suis was identified in dogs in this study for the first time, expanding the host range of this species. Identification of C. parvum subtype IIaA17G2R1 and C. canis subtypes XXa4 and XXa5 will be helpful to explore the source attribution of infection/contamination and assess the transmission dynamics of C. parvum and C. canis in the investigated areas in the future.

Haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are obligate epierythrocytic bacteria that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. The molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma organisms in dogs has not previously been attempted from India. Hence, in the present study, the molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma spp. in dogs of different zones of Kerala was attempted using 16S rRNA gene. An overall prevalence of 18% for M. haemocanis was detected. The NCBI-BLAST analysis of all the selected sequences revealed > 99% identity with the sequences of M. haemocanis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of M. haemocanis and M. haemofelis in a single clade indicating low genetic variability. It was further supported by the genetic distance data and haplotype analysis.

Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode of dogs, other carnivores and, occasionally, humans. Globally, D. immitis infection (which causes heartworm) is typically more prevalent in tropical than temperate regions. In this study, the seroprevalence of D. immitis was determined from a sample of 335 non-stray dogs from four municipalities, two each from the states of Puebla and Guerrero in Mexico, using polyclonal antibodies to detect serum antigens using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The accuracy of the assay was compared with the modified Knott’s test. The polyclonal antibody used in the direct ELISA had a high sensitivity (100%) with variable specificity (98.2–98.8%) in the municipalities of Puebla and Guerrero. The area under the curve for the four municipalities was 1.0, indicating a high accuracy test, with a cut-off value ranging from 0.45 to 0.50. The overall prevalence of D. immitis infection was 17.56% (59 out of 335). The highest prevalence was in Acapulco (24.78%), followed by Chilpancingo (20.93%), Tecamachalco (10.81%) and Quecholac (8.06%). The highest percentage of positive samples was detected in tropical regions (23.12%) and the lowest in temperate regions (9.56%). This study demonstrates that polyclonal anti-D. immitis antibodies can successfully diagnose heartworm-infected dogs and be used to monitor prevalence effectively and develop prevention strategies against Dirofilaria infection.

Abstract Background Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) are vectors of pathogens adversely affecting the health of dogs in many regions of the world. The three-host life cycle of R. sanguineus s.l., with all stages feeding on dogs, can lead to an uncontrolled build-up of large tick populations if not controlled by acaricides. However, frequent tick control on dogs using acaricides has led to the emergence of resistance to permethrin and fipronil. Currently, the larval packet test (LPT) is the standard tick resistance test, which is laborious, requires laboratory facilities, and takes at least 6 weeks before larvae derived from engorged female ticks can be tested. Our novel approach is to expose semi-engorged adult ticks to acaricides immediately after removing them from dogs, obtaining results within 24 h. Methods Adult ticks from three laboratory colonies of R. sanguineus s.l. were tested in RaTexT®, a rapid tick exposure test in which ticks were confined to small compartments and exposed to an acaricide-impregnated, specially designed matrix. Resistance was confirmed by testing larvae derived from the same laboratory colonies using the LPT. RaTexT® was also used to determine the susceptibility of R. sanguineus acaricides in dog shelters. Results RaTexT® detected resistance to permethrin in adult R. sanguineus s.l. ticks from two Brazilian laboratory colonies compared to a susceptible laboratory strain originating in Greece. Resistance was confirmed by LPT testing of larvae from the same colonies with resistance factors between 2.2 and 3.1. All laboratory strains were susceptible to fipronil. A suspected case of fipronil resistance at a dog shelter in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, was resolved within 24 h by testing adult ticks in RaTexT® and could be attributed to improper treatment. Conclusions RaTexT® is a valuable tool for monitoring the development of resistance to synthetic pyrethroids or phenylpyrazoles in tick-infested dogs. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) are typically classified into food‐responsive enteropathy (FRE), antibiotic‐responsive enteropathy (ARE), immunomodulator‐responsive enteropathy (IRE), and nonresponsive enteropathy (NRE) based on response to therapy(ies). Reassessment of initial categorization (especially IRE and NRE) is lacking. Objectives Investigate validity of categorization scheme when reassessed at least 1 year after diagnosis. Animals Sixty client‐owned dogs with CIE. Methods Retrospective study. Clinical information was gathered from records and owners from time of diagnosis (TD), time of initial response (TIR), and at least 1 year after diagnosis (T≥1y). Category change was defined as a switch between groups. Results Median disease activity index (CIBDAI) at TD was 9 and reduced significantly to 1 at T≥1y (P

Abstract Background Effects of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors enalapril and telmisartan on circulating RAAS in dogs with proteinuric chronic kidney disease (pCKD) are undescribed. Objectives To characterize the RAAS in untreated dogs with pCKD compared to healthy, life‐stage‐ and sex‐matched controls, and in dogs with pCKD after 30 days of treatment with enalapril or telmisartan. Animals Dogs with pCKD (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 20). Methods Retrospective study of banked samples and previously collected data. Day 0 serum equilibrium concentrations of angiotensin I, II, III, IV, 1‐5, and 1‐7, and aldosterone, and urinary aldosterone‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) from pCKD dogs were compared to values on day 30 of treatment with enalapril (0.5 mg/kg PO q12) or telmisartan (1 mg/kg PO q24h) and to those of healthy dogs. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results Compared with healthy dogs, pCKD dogs had significantly higher Ang I, III, 1‐5, and 1‐7 concentrations, and UACR. Relative to pretreatment values, day 30 Ang II concentrations were significantly increased and decreased in telmisartan‐ and enalapril‐treated pCKD dogs, respectively (both P

Abstract The control of African trypanosomiasis (AT) in Eastern and Southern Africa, including Zambia, faces huge challenges due to the involvement of wild and domestic animal reservoirs. Free-roaming dogs in wildlife-populated and tsetse-infested villages of Zambia’s Mambwe district are exposed to infectious tsetse bites. Consuming fresh raw game meat and bones further exacerbates their risk of contracting AT. We focus on the reservoir role of such dogs in maintaining and transmitting diverse species of trypanosomes that are infective to humans and livestock in Zambia’s Mambwe district. A cohort of 162 dogs was enrolled for follow-up at 3 different time points from June to December 2018 in selected villages of Malama, Mnkhanya, and Nsefu chiefdoms of Mambwe district, eastern Zambia. Blood and serum were screened for AT by microscopy, GM6 ELISA, PCR (ITS1 and SRA), and Sanger sequencing. Out of the 162 dogs in the cohort, 40 were lost to follow-up and only 122 remained traceable at the end of the study. GM6 ELISA detected Trypanosoma antibodies in 121 dogs (74.7%) and ITS1-PCR detected DNA involving single and mixed infections of T. congolense, T. brucei, and suspected T. simiae or T. godfreyi in 115 dogs (70.9%). The human-infective T. b. rhodesiense was detected by SRA PCR in 67 dogs (41.4%), and some sequence data that support the findings of this study have been deposited in the GenBank under accession numbers OL961811, OL961812, and OL961813. Our study demonstrates that the Trypanosoma reservoir community in Zambia is wider than was thought and includes domesticated dogs. As dogs are active carriers of human and livestock-infective trypanosomes, they pose a risk of transmitting AT in endemic villages of Mambwe district as they are neglected and left untreated. To fully bring AT under control, countries such as Zambia where the role of animal reservoirs is important, should not limit their prevention and treatment efforts to livestock (especially cattle) but also include dogs that play an integral part in most rural communities.

The purpose of the research is to study the effects of ivermectin-containing drug in recommended and increased doses on adult dogs and cats.Materials and methods. The drug tolerance on dogs and cats was studied on 24 clinically healthy animals that were divided into experimental groups of 6 animals each, according to the principle of analogs, at the Podolsk Experimental Production Base of the VNIIP – FSC VIEV. The drug was administered seven times with a 3-day interval at a therapeutic dose of 0.2 mg of ivermectin per 1 kg of body weight to the first experimental group; and 0.6 mg of ivermectin per 1 kg of body weight to the second experimental group. The overall health status of the dogs and the cats was monitored daily, and blood samples were taken on days 20 and 34 of the experiment to study some morphological and biochemical parameters. Statistical data was processed in Microsoft Excel 2016 using the paired Student's t-test for dependent samples.Results and discussion. The studied ivermectin-containing drug had no negative effects on the adult dogs and cats’ overall health status, physiological status and behavior, or morphological and biochemical blood parameters. When using the drug in a threefold increased dose, three dogs and one cat showed depression which spontaneously disappeared within 48 hours. In addition, the animals from the second experimental group developed an allergic reaction, decreased functional activity of the liver and kidneys, and metabolic processes intensity, and red blood system destabilization. On day 34 of the experiment, the above changes were absent in the dogs and the cats, which indicates the restored physiological and biochemical status in the experimental animals.

Abstract Domestic dogs have been shown to copy their caregiver’s actions, including ones which are causally-irrelevant to a physical goal—a behaviour called “overimitation”. In a new overimitation task with a non-food reward, this study investigated “causal misunderstanding”—falsely assuming causally-irrelevant actions to have functional relevancy—as an explanation for dog overimitation (N = 81). By providing dogs with prior experience of the task to learn about the consequences of its irrelevant box-stepping and relevant bucket-opening action to obtain a toy-ball, we tested whether and when dogs would copy their caregiver’s irrelevant-action demonstrations. Dogs with and without prior experience were compared to a third (control) group of dogs, who had neither prior experience nor caregiver demonstrations of the task. Results revealed that the timing of overimitation, rather than its frequency, was closely related to dogs' prior experience: dogs with prior experience attended to their reward first, then interacted with the irrelevant box later (“post-goal overimitation”), while dogs without prior experience first interacted with the irrelevant box (“pre-goal overimitation”). Our results suggest that, when action consequences are understood, dogs are overimitating for a secondary social goal that is clearly distinct from the task goal of obtaining a physical reward.

Iron deficiency (ID) has important effects on both animals and humans, causing illness and non-specific signs. The blood changes associated with ID develop as a decrease in some erythrocyte pa-rameters and microcytic anaemia. In this study, 175 blood samples from dogs were obtained for the measurement of complete blood count (CBC), copper, and iron profiles that included serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS%), unbound iron binding capacity (UIBC), and canine ferritin. The cut-off values for serum iron and TS% were found using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve test. The estimated cutoffs for the diagnosis of iron deficiency in the dogs were 115.74 mg/dL (serum iron) and 34.07% (TS%). The dogs with serum iron ≤ 115.74 mg/dL and TS% ≤ 34.07 were iron deficient. The dogs were divided into three groups based on the ROC curve results: iron deficiency (ID), iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), and non-iron deficiency anaemia (NIDA). The iron concentration and TS% of ID and IDA dogs were significantly lower than those of NIDA dogs, while the TIBC, UIBC, and ferritin did not differ among groups. The serum copper was not significantly lower in dogs with ID, but in the ID group (85.85±11.30 mg/dL) was less than levels in IDA and NIDA dogs (98.46±15.92 and 78.69±11.77, respectively). The study con-cluded that the ROC curve and area under the curve provided guidelines for the diagnostic accuracy of tests and the diagnosis of iron deficiency in dogs. The coefficient of variation of red blood cell distribution width (RDWc) was significantly higher when iron deficiency anaemia developed, as indicated by red blood cell (RBC) anisocytosis. The decreases in serum iron and TS% were considered "golden tests" for the diagnosis of IDA in dogs.