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During the gestation and lactation period, the energy demand in pregnant and lactating bitches is elevated. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are utilized either directly from the fed diet or from body fat storage. High NEFA concentration in the blood plasma leads to an increased risk for diseases. Therefore, measuring blood NEFA concentrations may be an indicator for a period of scarcity. The aim of this study is to explore if serum NEFA concentrations in healthy bitches change during gestation and lactation. Healthy pregnant and lactating bitches were sampled on three appointed dates around parturition. NEFA values were examined with a multiparameter clinical chemistry analyser. All statistical analyses were performed using R. Overall, 38 bitches were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one bitches were sampled on all three appointed dates. The median NEFA concentration antepartum was 0.73 mmol/L (IQR: 0.59, 1.01); during peak lactation, it was 0.57 mmol/L (IQR: 0.44, 0.82); and around weaning, it was 0.58 mmol/L (IQR: 0.46, 0.73). NEFA concentrations rose slightly with litter size in late gestation. Body condition score had no influence on observed NEFA values. We conclude that NEFA concentrations widely remain within reference ranges in well-fed pregnant and lactating bitches. Nevertheless, they may be a valuable parameter to assess the actual metabolic status of malnourished pregnant and lactating bitches., (© 2024 The Author(s). Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

It is believed that thyroid function has a significant effect on fertility and fetal development in mammals. So far, however, only few studies have been published about potential effects of the reproductive cycle stage on thyroid hormone concentrations in dogs. Therefore, over the course of 122 pregnant and non-pregnant cycles in healthy bitches, Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free Thyroxine (fT4), total Thyroxine (tT4) and Progesterone (P4) were measured six times to assess the influence of the cycle stage and pregnancy on hormone concentrations. The aim was to evaluate established reference intervals for the thyroid hormones in a female study population. Of the 122 bitches, 98 became pregnant. Blood samples were collected during estrus, three times in pregnancy, during lactation and after weaning, or at equivalent times during and after estrus in non-pregnant dogs. No differences between pregnant and non-pregnant animals in any of the thyroid hormones were found. Hormone concentrations, however, differed significantly between the six samplings (p < .01). TSH initially declined during pregnancy, then rose again. The mean concentration of all dogs exceeded the overall upper reference limit of 0.70 ng/mL during lactation. Concentrations of tT4 and ft4 increased during the first third of pregnancy and then subsequently declined. The overall reference limits for tT4 were 0.47-3.20 μg/dL, and for fT4 4.86-29.60 pmol/L, but the reference intervals varied between the sampling dates. The observed patterns may reflect that maternal tT4 and fT4 seem to have important effects during early pregnancy, including a pronounced negative feedback effect on TSH. The initial increase and subsequent decline of tT4 and fT4 concentrations during the course of pregnancy is in accordance with findings in humans and may support the development of fetal thyroid function. The observed peak of TSH concentrations during lactation suggests that the demand for thyroid hormones in this phase is largest. Even if the underlying causes and mechanisms of thyroid regulation are not fully understood, the results of this study show relevant changes of hormone concentrations in the course of the sexual cycle and pregnancy. In that regard, cycle stage needs to be considered when assessing thyroid function in bitches., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

During pregnancy and parturition, female dogs have to cope with various challenges such as providing nutrients for the growth of the fetuses, hormonal changes, whelping, nursing, milk production, and uterine involution. Metabolomic research has been used to characterize the influence of several factors on metabolism such as inter- and intra-individual factors, feeding, aging, inter-breed differences, drug action, behavior, exercise, genetic factors, neuter status, and pathologic processes. Aim of this study was to identify metabolites showing specific changes in blood serum at the different phases of pregnancy and lactation. In total, 27 privately owned female dogs of 21 different breeds were sampled at six time points: during heat, in early, mid and late pregnancy, at the suspected peak of lactation and after weaning. A validated and highly automated canine-specific NMR metabolomics technology was utilized to quantitate 123 measurands. It was evaluated which metabolite concentrations showed significant changes between the different time points. Metabolites were then grouped into five clusters based on concentration patterns and biochemical relationships between the metabolites: high in mid-pregnancy, low in mid-pregnancy, high in late pregnancy, high in lactation, and low in lactation. Several metabolites such as albumin, glycoprotein acetyls, fatty acids, lipoproteins, glucose, and some amino acids show similar patterns during pregnancy and lactation as shown in humans. The patterns of some other parameters such as branched-chain amino acids, alanine and histidine seem to differ between these species. For most metabolites, it is yet unstudied whether the observed changes arise from modified resorption from the intestines, modified production, or metabolism in the maternal or fetal tissues. Hence, further species-specific metabolomic research may support a broader understanding of the physiological changes caused by pregnancy that are likely to be key for the normal fetal growth and development. Our findings provide a baseline of normal metabolic changes during healthy canine pregnancy and parturition. Combined with future metabolomics findings, they may help monitor vital functions of pre-, intra-, and post-partum bitches and may allow early detection of illness., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Claudia Ottka was an employee and Hannes Lohi is a shareholder and the chairman of the board of PetBIOMICS Ltd, who developed and provides the metabolomics test. All other authors declare to have no competing interests. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials., (Copyright: © 2023 Arlt et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Reproduction causes major hormonal and physiological changes to the female body. However, the metabolic changes occurring during canine reproduction are scarcely studied., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the metabolic effects of canine reproductive status using a 1 H NMR metabolomics platform optimized and validated for canine use. The study population consisted of a total of 837 healthy, intact female dogs in breeding age, of which 663 dogs were in anestrus, 78 in heat, 43 were pseudopregnant, 15 were pregnant, and 38 were lactating. The differences in metabolite profiles between these states were studied by the Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc tests performed using the Dunn's test, and visualized by box plots and a heatmap. The ability of the metabolite profile to differentiate pregnant dogs from non-pregnant ones was assessed by creating a multivariate Firth logistic regression model using forward stepwise selection., Results: Lactation, pregnancy and heat all were associated with distinct metabolic changes; pregnancy caused major changes in the concentrations of glycoprotein acetyls, albumin and creatinine, and smaller changes in several lipids, citrate, glutamine, and alanine. Pseudopregnancy, on the other hand, metabolically largely resembled anestrus. Lactation caused major changes in amino acid concentrations and smaller changes in several lipids, albumin, citrate, creatinine, and glycoprotein acetyls. Heat, referring to proestrus and estrus, affected cholesterol and LDL metabolism, and increased HDL particle size. Albumin and glycoprotein acetyls were the metabolites included in the final multivariate model for pregnancy detection, and could differentiate pregnant dogs from non-pregnant ones with excellent sensitivity and specificity., Discussion: These results increase our understanding of the metabolic consequences of canine reproduction, with the possibility of improving maternal health and ensuring reproductive success. The identified metabolites could be used for confirming canine pregnancy., Competing Interests: This study received funding from PetBiomics Ltd. The funder had the following involvement with the study: the salaries of CO and KV were funded by PetBiomics Ltd. CO and KV were employees and HL the board director and an owner of PetBiomics Ltd., a company that provided the used NMR metabolomics platform for dogs. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ottka, Vapalahti, Arlt, Bartel and Lohi.)

Dog breeders often require breeding soundness evaluations which include andrological examinations of the genital organs, hormone measurements, and semen analyses. During the past decades, a considerable number of research results have been published, allowing diagnoses of specific andrological conditions and fertility assessment. For specific examinations, however, no standard procedures have been defined and for some parameters different reference ranges have been published. Therefore, examination results from different facilities are difficult to compare and profound conclusions regarding health and fertility of a male dog are not always possible. Conventional semen examination, however, is still useful in identifying deviations or no deviations from normality, especially if confounding factors are taken into account and if the exam is repeated in case of inconclusive findings. A standardization of examination procedures and reference ranges would help to harmonize the exchange of examination results and interpretation of the findings., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although fetal fluids, amnion (AM) and allantois (AL), have been studied at the end of pregnancy in the bitch, little is known about their composition during gestation. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the biochemical parameters of fetal fluids collected from healthy pregnant bitches in mid pregnancy. Fetal fluids were collected from 26 pregnant bitches between 35 and 62 days from ovulation based on ultrasonography. A total of 149 samples were analyzed; 94 samples of known origin (61 a.m. and 33 AL) from 17 dams, which included 17 paired samples (AM and AL from the same fetus; 34 samples), and 55 of unknown origin from nine dams. Reference ranges were formulated for 22 biochemical parameters in AM and AL based on the samples of known origin (n = 94). All parameters (creatinine, albumin, GGT and urea) significantly different between AM and AL were included (by mixed model ANOVA) in the analysis and an algorithm to predict the origin of the fluid was developed (by logistic regression). Overall, of the 94 samples, 79 samples (84%) were correctly identified by the algorithm. For the 33 allantois samples, and for the 61 amnion samples, 23 (69.7%) and 56 (91.8%) were correctly identified by the algorithm, respectively. Based on the algorithm, 31 of the unknown samples (58%) were classified as amnion and 22 samples (42%), as allantois fluid. For all the unknown samples, the average certainty was 86% (compared to 81% for the samples whose fluid type was known), showing the degree of precision of the classification., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are an important energy substrate in mammals. Measurement of the NEFA concentration in blood serum is common practice and enables reliable detection of a negative energy balance in several species. This parameter can be used to detect subclinical metabolic diseases or to optimise feeding to prevent severe negative energy balance. Since no reference values for dogs have been published, the aim of this study was to establish such values., Methods: Blood serum from 85 healthy dogs was examined with a multiparameter clinical chemistry analyser. Given that NEFA values are not usually normally distributed, reference intervals (RIs) were calculated nonparametrically using bootstrapping (5000 replicates) for the 90% confidence intervals., Results: The examined cohort had a median age of 62.16 months (2-180 months) and a median weight of 19.2 kg (3.0-55.0 kg) and comprised 27 (31.8%) males and 58 (68.2%) females, with 32 (37.6%) neutered or spayed. The fasting time was 5.9 h (range 0-23 h). The tested confounders age, sex, neuter status, bodyweight and body condition score did not significantly affect the NEFA concentrations., Conclusions: The NEFA RI for dogs in this study was 0.2-1.47 mmol/L. The results may be used to adjust food composition and amount in healthy dogs or to detect metabolic disorders. Further research on NEFA metabolism in dogs maintained in standardised conditions and in specific nutritional situations or with particular diseases is warranted., Competing Interests: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Background: Dogs are widely used in research to answer questions about canine or human conditions. For the latter, research dogs are often used as models, since they are physiologically more similar to humans than other species used in research and they share similar environmental conditions. From a veterinary perspective, research findings are widely based on academic research, and thus are generated under experimental conditions. In that regard, the question arises: do the dogs used for research adequately represent the dog population seen in veterinary practice? It may, for example, be assumed that Beagle dogs are often used as experimental animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the signalment of dogs used in veterinary research. Furthermore, we aimed to assess other relevant criteria regarding the validity of clinical trials in the context of six different veterinary medicine specialties: cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, orthopaedics, reproduction, and surgery., Methods: A literature search was conducted and 25 studies per specialty were randomly selected. The breed, sex, neuter status, median age, and median weight of the dogs used for clinical studies ( n = 150) published between 2007 and 2019 were evaluated., Results: In total, 596,542 dogs were used in the 150 trials. Breed information was given for 33,835 of these dogs (5.7%). Of the latter, 1.9% were Beagles. Nine clinical trials exclusively used Beagles. The most frequently used breeds were German Shepherds (7.3%), Labrador Retrievers (6.7%), and Golden Retrievers (4.7%). The major reporting deficits found were missing breed specification in 25.3% of the articles; missing information about the sex of the dogs in 16.2%; missing age and weight information in 22.7 and 32.7%, respectively; and missing neuter status in 38.7% of the clinical studies. The median sample size was 56 (Q1:29; Q3:365) dogs., Conclusions: The presented project revealed that Beagle dogs represent only a small proportion of dogs in veterinary research. Based on the evaluated publications, it seems that some relevant dog attributes differ between the specialties. The results, however, show deficits in the reporting of demographic data for the dogs. The need for an improvement in the documentation and/or reporting of animal signalment is obvious and should be addressed by authors, reviewers, and journal editors in the future.

Objective: Several dog breeds suffer from health and welfare problems due to unfavorable anatomies and high prevalence of inherited diseases. Veterinarians should care for animal health and welfare but they may also be involved in breeding management including the use of reproductive techniques., Material and Methods: An online survey was conducted to find out how veterinarians who are involved in small animal reproduction regard ethical issues, which services they provide, how they discuss and handle ethical concerns and talk about them with breeders., Results: In total, 83 participants mainly from Europe completed the online survey. Opinions on which interventions are ethical or not were heterogeneous. Most respondents (79.2 %) found it ethical to perform artificial insemination (AI) in dogs which did not reproduce naturally before. However, 62.7 % of participants stated that surgical insemination is not ethical. Elective cesarean sections are considered not ethical by approximately half of the participants. A closer look at responses to the questions of whether AI is ethical under specific conse quences suggests that most veterinarians are making ethical and value judgments in terms of what is justifiable or not. However, more than 80 % feel at least sometimes compromised by ethical conflicts., Clinical Relevance: This research intended to foster discussion of this topic. International strategies should be developed to support solving conflicts and dilemmas related to ethical issues in dog breeding and assisted reproduction, as well as diminishing physical disabilities and heritable diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the past it has been criticised that only a low proportion of well-designed and well-reported studies in some medical specialities is available. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the quality of literature about canine medicine published in peer-reviewed journals in relation to six specific veterinary medicine specialities., Methods: A literature search was conducted and 25 studies per speciality were selected. The quality of the articles (n = 150) published between 2007 and 2019 was evaluated with a validated checklist., Results: In articles related to all specialities, deficits were found, such as not adequate number of animals in 60.0% of the studies. In 88.0%, information about housing and feeding of the dogs were not specified. In 69.4% of the prospective clinical studies, an ethical approval was reported, and written informed consent of the owners was obtained in 46.2%., Conclusions: The findings revealed extensive deficits in the design and reporting of studies in canine medicine. The demand for improvement is obvious and should be addressed by authors, reviewers and journal editors in the future. Our results underline that practitioners should critically appraise the quality of literature before implementing information into practice., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Pregnancy and lactation are amongst the most challenging times of a bitch's life. Most studies focusing on the endocrinological aspect of pregnancy consider only a small number of animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate progesterone (P4) concentrations in a large number of bitches during early, mid and late pregnancy. In total, 126 bitches of various breeds were recruited following a thorough clinical and gynecological examination during estrus. Blood samples were collected three times (T1-T3) during pregnancy or from non-pregnant dogs in diestrus, and P4 was measured via chemiluminescence. At T1 (11-19 days post-ovulation (dpo)), serum P4 concentrations were 30.23 ± 6.65 ng/mL and 28.45 ± 6.26 ng/mL, at T2 (23-32 dpo) they were 22.73 ± 6.27 ng/mL and 22.59 ± 5.77 ng/mL and at T3 (52-60 dpo) they were 6.68 ± 2.18 ng/mL and 3.17 ± 2.26 ng/mL, in pregnant ( n = 98) and non-pregnant ( n = 23) dogs respectively. The P4 concentrations differed significantly between pregnant and non-pregnant animals at the last examination ( p ≤ 0.001). In the context of hypoluteoidism, the gathered data yielded interesting results. Overall, 28 out of 98 pregnant bitches showed a greater decline (>15 ng/mL) in P4 concentrations from early to mid-pregnancy, and 56 bitches showed P4 concentrations lower than deemed adequate (>20 ng/mL at T1 and T2, >5 ng/mL at T3) according to existing recommendations. Despite not being supplemented with P4, none of those animals suffered from abortion or preterm delivery. Considering that supplementation of P4 can entail considerable risks for the bitch and the puppies, more research on P4 concentration patterns, diagnosis of hypoluteoidism and treatment indications and options is indicated.

Background: In humans, analysis of amniotic fluid is widely used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Amniocentesis has scarcely been used in veterinary medicine to date, despite a tremendous potential for clinical and research applications in dogs. Our study aimed to establish a safe method for foetal fluid sampling in female dogs., Methods: Two transabdominal ultrasound-guided methods were assessed: the "free hand" and the needle-guided bracket sampling. In addition, through a subsequent routinely scheduled ovariohysterectomy, fluid was directly collected. Samples from 98 conceptuses were collected at day 46.7 ± 7.5 of pregnancy., Results: The amount of fluid retrieved varied between 0.5 and 5.0 ml per collection. Macroscopic examination of the uterus and conceptuses identified 53% of the puncture sites. Neither fluid leakage nor foetal injury was detected, and six hematomas (5.8%) were visible. Ultrasound-guided foetal fluid collection was found to be potentially safe, and it can be performed by using either transabdominal method., Conclusion: Foetal fluid collection is possible with relative ease and low short-term risk, and may open paths for diagnostic, therapeutic and research purposes in dogs. The procedure can provide new insights into prenatal clinical medicine, including diagnostics of foetal deaths, early identification of heritable diseases and so on., (© 2021 British Veterinary Association.)

Measuring the body temperature is an essential component of the clinical examination of bovines. Next to its value for the diagnosis of diseases, body temperature also is an important value in clinical studies concerning estrus detection, calving time point prediction, or the evaluation of heat stress. This systematic review critically evaluates different methods of measuring bovine body temperature including rectal measurement, vaginal or ruminal temperature loggers, milk temperature, and infrared body surface thermography. Although body temperature measurement is a commonly employed and established diagnostic test, a close look at scientific studies displays multiple factors influencing body temperature data. The variability of results emphasizes the relevance of critically evaluating new measuring methods before introducing them into research or routine practice. Especially in terms of identifying specific cut-off values, i. e. for fever defined as body temperature > 39.5°C, the precision of the method is of importance, as the acquired values possess a high degree of influence on the veterinary decision taking process., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Around parturition, a bitch has to cope with various challenges such as hormonal changes, whelping, nursing, milk production, and uterine involution. Monitoring the health of bitches in this period is essential to detect potential illnesses and dystocia early. In that regard, it is elementary to know the normal progress and parameters during pregnancy, parturition and in the puerperium. Some research has been published in the past 50 years giving insights into hormonal and functional changes and findings including definitions of normal parturition and dystocia or puerperal conditions. However, taking a closer look into the literature reveals that for some issues heterogeneous data and varying conclusion were presented, indicating that further research is required. This paper gives an overview on endocrinology and methods to predict the time of parturition in the dog. Furthermore, the stages and mechanisms of parturition and signs of dystocia and puerperal health monitoring are discussed. Fields in which contradictory data have been published include for example the decline of hematocrit in the second half of pregnancy, the body temperature immediately before and after parturition, the interpretation of ultrasound findings, and the length of the canine puerperium. Even if thresholds are not clear for each parameter, examinations such as regular temperature measurement or ultrasound are important to monitor the bitches' health status. Nevertheless, for the practitioner it is important to know that research findings for some parameters used in daily practice are controversial., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Virtual patients have become an interesting alternative in medical education. Due to increasing demands regarding theoretical and clinical teaching and to improve an interdisciplinary approach, a new blended learning concept including virtual patients was developed and implemented in the veterinary curriculum of the Freie Universität Berlin. In the presented project, three virtual patients from the field of canine reproduction were developed. They focus on pregnancy diagnosis with suspected luteal insufficiency, pyometra and benign prostatic hyperplasia, respectively. The results of an evaluation by veterinary students of the 7th semester showed a high acceptance of virtual patients in a blended learning reproduction module in the interdisciplinary lectures. Students especially preferred videos, such as video lectures, hands-on videos and animations as well as a glossary for background information, to successfully and autonomously work on a virtual case. The content covered by the new modules that were developed in the context of this project is part of a spiral curriculum; they will be revised and enhanced during the clinical year., (© 2019 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The concepts of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) provide a methodological and systematic approach to include the best evidence from research into clinical decision-making. These concepts include steps as the search and assessment of relevant research findings and consideration of individual aspects. In addition, owners and other persons involved in animal health care should be included in shared decision-making. Some breeders have good basic knowledge concerning breeding management and characteristics of diseases and concerning advantages and disadvantages of different therapeutic approaches, while others are notable to understand complex medical interrelations or emergency situations. All these aspects need to be addressed when communicating and discussing different diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic options. In special fields, such as small animal reproduction, veterinarians often see animals with rare diseases or complex conditions so that an application of standard therapies and well-established textbook recommendations is not possible. To learn more about cases too rare for successful systematic research, the case collection tool REPROCASES (www.evssar.org/reprocases) is now available. The aim of this project is to gather information from specialists on small animal reproduction in a multicentre approach. If you see rare or not well-investigated cases such as cystic ovarian diseases, cryptorchidism or others, you are more than welcome to share your findings via the database. Even if this approach cannot completely replace standardized clinical trials, the idea is to gather more information on effects, prognosis, side effects and long-term fertility for specific conditions., (© 2020 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Critically appraised topics (CATs) are evidence syntheses that provide veterinary professionals with information to rapidly address clinical questions and support the practice of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM). They also have an important role to play in both undergraduate and post-registration education of veterinary professionals, in research and knowledge gap identification, literature scoping, preparing research grants and informing policy. CATs are not without limitations, the primary one relating to the rapid approach used which may lead to selection bias or restrict information identified or retrieved. Furthermore, the narrow focus of CATs may limit applicability of the evidence findings beyond a specific clinical scenario, and infrequently updated CATs may become redundant. Despite these limitations, CATs are fundamental to EBVM in the veterinary profession. Using the example of a dog with osteoarthritis, the five steps involved in creating and applying a CAT to clinical practice are outlined, with an emphasis on clinical relevance and practicalities. Finally, potential future developments for CATs and their role in EBVM, and the education of veterinary professionals are discussed. This review is focused on critically appraised topics (CATs) as a form of evidence synthesis in veterinary medicine. It aims to be a primary guide for veterinarians, from students to clinicians, and for veterinary nurses and technicians (hereafter collectively called veterinary professionals). Additionally, this review provides further information for those with some experience of CATs who would like to better understand the historic context and process, including further detail on more advanced concepts. This more detailed information will appear in pop-out boxes with a double-lined surround to distinguish it from the information core to producing and interpreting CATs, and from the boxes with a single line surround which contain additional resources relevant to the different parts of the review., (Copyright © 2020 Brennan, Arlt, Belshaw, Buckley, Corah, Doit, Fajt, Grindlay, Moberly, Morrow, Stavisky and White.)

The objective of this study was to identify the physiological ranges of body temperature of bitches in the first 7 days after parturition by measurement with ingestible temperature loggers. Twenty bitches swallowed one ingestible temperature logger daily. Bitches were defined to be healthy by spontaneous parturition and leucocyte concentration. Mean core body temperatures of eight healthy bitches were (Mean ± SD) 38.8°C ± 0.40 on day 0 p.p., 38.9°C ± 0.47 on day 1 p.p., 38.9°C ± 0.35 on day 2 p.p. 38.7°C ± 0.31 on day 3 p.p., respectively. In the following days, the three remaining healthy bitches showed mean core body temperatures (Mean ± SD) of 38.8°C ± 0.30 on day 4 p.p., 38.6°C ± 0.35 on day 5 p.p., 38.5°C ± 0.27 on day 6 p.p. and 38.4°C ± 0.34 on day 7 p.p., respectively. Three out of the eight healthy bitches showed temperatures ≥39.5°C. Bitches with leucocytosis showed significant higher mean core body temperatures (39.0°C ± 0.49) than healthy bitches (38.8°C ± 0.39) during the first 3 days after parturition (p < 0.01). We conclude that the physiological ranges of body temperature of healthy bitches in the first days after parturition do not differ from those of healthy dogs in general, while the appearance of short episodes of febrile temperatures seems to be physiological. Puerperal bitches with leucocytosis show higher body temperatures increased by only 0.2°C., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background: A previous study reported a significant statistical interaction between experiment date and treatment effect of Argentum nitricum 14x-30x on the growth rate of duckweed (Lemna gibba L.). The aim of the present study was to investigate the stability of the test system and intra-laboratory reproducibility of the effects found., Methods: Duckweed was treated with A. nitricum potencies (14x-30x) as well as succussed and unsuccussed water controls. The outcome parameter area-related growth rate for day 0-7 was determined by a computerised image analysis system in two series of independent randomised and blinded experiments. Systematic negative control (SNC) experiments were carried out to investigate test system stability. Statistical analysis was performed with full two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and protected Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test., Results: In the first repetition series we found a significant treatment effect (p = 0.016), while in the second series no effect was observed. The negative control experiments showed that the experimental system was stable. An a posteriori subgroup analysis concerning gibbosity revealed the importance of this growth state of L. gibba for successful reproduction of the statistically significant interaction in the original study; flat: no interaction (p = 0.762); slight gibbosity: no interaction (p = 0.356); medium gibbosity: significant interaction (p = 0.031), high gibbosity: highly significant interaction (p = 0.005)., Conclusions: With the original study design (disregarding gibbosity status of L. gibba) results of the original study could not be reproduced sensu stricto. We conclude that the growth state gibbosity is crucial for successful reproduction of the original study. Different physiological states of the test organisms used for bioassays for homeopathic basic research must carefully be considered., (Copyright © 2017 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Throughout cryopreservation, sperm are exposed to major osmotic challenges. Only intact membranes of sperm cells are able to regulate these volumetric changes, which can be determined by the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS test). Correlations between the HOS test and conventional semen variables are inconsistent. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to examine relationships between HOS test results and standard semen variables before freezing and after thawing and (2) to evaluate the prognostic value of the HOS assessments on post-thaw quality of dog semen. Semen of 35 dogs was collected and analyzed before freezing and after thawing following a 7-day freeze-thaw interval. Conventional semen variables such as sperm cell motility, membrane integrity morphology were evaluated and the HOS test was conducted with results from this test being recorded. In fresh semen the HOS test was positively correlated with progressive motility of sperm cells: r=0.52, sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 and normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.46 (P<0.05). In frozen-thawed semen, the data obtained with the HOS test were positively correlated with progressive sperm cell motility: r=0.67 and membrane integrity: r=0.86 (P<0.05). The data obtained with the HOS test in fresh semen were positively correlated with sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.55 and data from the HOS test (r=0.43; P<0.05) with frozen-thawed semen. For the prediction of individual cryopreservation capacity, results from assessment of the fresh semen variables of good and poor semen quality were statistically compared. Based on these results, it is not possible to predict the quality of frozen-thawed dog semen using the HOS test., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Reproducibility of basic research investigations in homeopathy is challenging. This study investigated if formerly observed effects of homeopathically potentised gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth of duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) were reproducible., Methods: Duckweed was grown in potencies (14x-30x) of GA3 and one time succussed and unsuccussed water controls. Outcome parameter area-related growth rate was determined by a computerised image analysis system. Three series including five independent blinded and randomised potency experiments (PE) each were carried out. System stability was controlled by three series of five systematic negative control (SNC) experiments. Gibbosity (a specific growth state of L. gibba) was investigated as possibly essential factor for reactivity of L. gibba towards potentised GA3 in one series of potency and SNC experiments, respectively., Results: Only in the third series with gibbous L. gibba L. we observed a significant effect (p = 0.009, F-test) of the homeopathic treatment. However, growth rate increased in contrast to the former study, and most biologically active potency levels differed. Variability in PE was lower than in SNC experiments. The stability of the experimental system was verified by the SNC experiments., Conclusions: Gibbosity seems to be a necessary condition for reactivity of L. gibba to potentised GA3. Further still unknown conditions seem to govern effect direction and the pattern of active and inactive potency levels. When designing new reproducibility studies, the physiological state of the test organism must be considered. Variability might be an interesting parameter to investigate effects of homeopathic remedies in basic research., (Copyright © 2014 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The oral administration of the amino acid, tyrosine, has been for years recommended in order to improve fertility, especially to improve copulation behaviour in female dogs. However, evidence is comparatively poor. The objective of our study was to determine whether oral administration of tyrosine has an effect on oestradiol-17β concentrations and the oestrous behaviour in the bitch. Fifty bitches were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups in which each dog received 100mg/kg/day of either tyrosine or milk sugar orally between Day 3 and Day 9 of heat. Every two to three days, a gynaecological examination was performed and blood samples were taken to determine oestradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations. The day of ovulation was estimated by clinical findings, and according to the specifications of the laboratory, once progesterone values exceeded 12.7nmol/l. The observed copulation behaviour was not different between the groups. No differences in volume and visual nature of vaginal discharge were observed. At the day of ovulation, mean oestradiol-17β concentration in the treated group was 163.4pmol/l and 162.2pmol/l in the placebo group, respectively. In conclusion, feeding tyrosine to female dogs between Day 3 and Day 9 of heat did not alter visual signs of heat or copulation behaviour, and did not alter oestradiol-17β concentration.

In current veterinary education, skills such as retrieving, critically appraising, interpreting, and applying the results of published scientific studies are rarely taught. In this study, the authors tested the concept of team-based development of critically appraised topics (CATs) in training students in evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM). The 116 participants were in their fifth year and attending the clinical rotation at the Clinic for Animal Reproduction. Students developed 18 CATs of varying quality on topics of their choice. Preparing the CATs in teams stimulated discussion on the topic and the quality of the retrieved papers. Evaluation of the project revealed that more than 90% of the students endorsed training in critical appraisal of information in veterinary education. In addition, more than 90% considered the development of CATs an effective exercise for assessing the quality of scientific literature. A provided literature evaluation form was perceived as a useful tool for systematically summarizing a publication's quality. In conclusion, team-based development of CATs during clinical rotations is highly valuable for training in EBVM. Learning and intrinsic motivation seem to be enhanced by creating a situation similar to veterinary practice because the task is embedded into an authentic clinical problem. This approach to clinical training helps to prepare students to integrate evidence from literature into practice.

This study's objective was to determine respondents' inter-observer agreement on a detailed checklist to evaluate three exemplars (one case report, one randomized controlled study without blinding, and one blinded, randomized controlled study) of the scientific literature in the field of bovine reproduction. Fourteen international scientists in the field of animal reproduction were provided with the three articles, three copies of the checklist, and a supplementary explanation. Overall, 13 responded to more than 90% of the items. Overall repeatability between respondents using Fleiss's κ was 0.35 (fair agreement). Combining the "strongly agree" and "agree" responses and the "strongly disagree" and "disagree" responses increased κ to 0.49 (moderate agreement). Evaluation of information given in the three articles on housing of the animals (35% identical answers) and preconditions or pretreatments (42%) varied widely. Even though the overall repeatability was fair, repeatability concerning the important categories was high (e.g., level of agreement=98%). Our data show that the checklist is a reasonable and practical supporting tool to assess the quality of publications. Therefore, it may be used in teaching and practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine. It can support training in systematic and critical appraisal of information and in clinical decision making.

Implementing evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) into clinical practice requires not only the ability to retrieve, interpret, and apply the results of published scientific studies, but also the ability to critically evaluate the quality of the literature. These skills, however, are not widely taught in the veterinary curriculum. The objective of this study was to test a literature evaluation form (LEF) designed to assist veterinary students in appraising the quality of literature on animal reproduction and to compare their ability to do so with that of students who were provided with a control form (CF). The 68 participants were in their fifth year of study and attended a clinical rotation at the Clinic for Animal Reproduction. Students in the LEF group determined the quality of two scientific papers, considering statements about study design, information content, and objectivity, and determined rating points to obtain an overall score. Participants using the CF ranked the quality of the article without the assistance of the quality assessment form. The LEF group was able to more correctly assess the quality of the literature and the variability of the chosen evidence levels was higher in the CF group. The questionnaire was found to be a useful tool for the systematic assessment of the quality of publications within a reasonable period of time. Seventy-eight per cent of the participants agreed that the LEF helps them evaluate the quality and validity of biomedical scientific information. We conclude that courses that introduce EBVM should be taught in the first semesters of the veterinary curriculum so that students can develop competence in defining a clinical problem, retrieving information from the literature, and developing independent critical thinking.

Case History: A 7-year-old female Bernese Mountain dog was presented for treatment to prevent oestrus. One 4.7-mg deslorelin implant was injected S/C between the shoulder blades. Three months later, the dog was re-examined because of prolonged oestrus., Clinical Findings: Ultrasound showed multiple thin-walled cysts on both ovaries. Blood samples were taken at various intervals during the following weeks. Concentrations of oestradiol and vaginal smears indicated pro-oestrus. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) remained at basal concentrations., Diagnosis: Follicular cysts and prolonged oestrus., Treatment: Two treatments of 360 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) were administered 42 days apart, that induced a partial or complete degeneration of the cysts. However, concentrations of oestradiol rose again within a few weeks. After the second treatment with hCG the bitch developed pyometra. After successful conservative treatment with antibiotics and aglepristone the dog underwent ovariohysterectomy., Clinical Relevance: Slow-release biocompatible implants containing deslorelin provide an opportunity for effective contraception for male dogs. Some authors describe deslorelin also as safe and efficacious for the use in female dogs but those recommendations are derived from few studies, with a small number of animals. Based on the outcome of this case and the experience of other authors we suggest a complete gynaecological examination be performed before implanting deslorelin, and weighing the risks against the advantages in controlling fertility. It is well known that the risk of induction of oestrus can be reduced when implants are administered at concentrations of progesterone in plasma of ≥16.0 pmol/L. The implant should be administered S/C, cranial and close to the umbilicus, to have the option of relocation and excision if necessary.