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The use of compounded formulations of chemotherapy in veterinary medicine is common. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drug amount of two compounded chemotherapeutics (chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide) from multiple veterinary compounding pharmacies, to determine if there was a difference in drug amounts between those that came from 503A versus 503B pharmacies, and finally to determine heterogeneity in drug amounts within each individual pharmacy. Nine veterinary compounding pharmacies (eight 503A, one 503B) were sampled in total, with two different batches sampled from each pharmacy. Each capsule's actual concentration was compared to the intended (prescribed) concentration. Of the 68 total samples obtained, 20 (29%) tested outside the FDA-acceptable discrepancy of ±10%. Of these, 12 (60%) were chlorambucil and 8 (40%) were cyclophosphamide. 503A cyclophosphamide samples had an average discrepancy of 6.6% from the intended dose while samples from the 503B pharmacy had a discrepancy of 1.8%. 503A chlorambucil samples had an average discrepancy of 10.4% from the intended dose while samples from the 503B pharmacy had a discrepancy of 9.6%. Heterogeneity within the same pharmacy and batch ranged from 0.1% to 51% for the 503A pharmacies and 2.6% to 7.5% for the 503B pharmacy. Heterogeneity between different batches within the same pharmacy ranged from 0.4% to 58.3% for the 503A pharmacies and 5% to 14.8% for the 503B pharmacy. Although the drug amounts of compounded cyclophosphamide and chlorambucil manufactured by the 503B compounding pharmacy was more reliably maintained compared to that compounded by the 503A pharmacies, there was ultimately still potential for variability in drug amounts regardless of the pharmacy designation., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of bacterial biomarkers by comparing the performance of molecular detection assays with clinical assessments of dog's oral health performed by veterinarians., Methods: Supragingival and subgingival plaque samples were collected from 127 client-owned dogs, pre-booked for procedures under general anesthesia, visiting veterinary practices in the United States. DNA was extracted and bacterial biomarkers quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gingivitis and periodontitis were recorded by a trained clinician using the Weighted Gingivitis Periodontitis Score which involved assessing the buccal surfaces of 18 teeth while under general anesthesia. Intraoral dental radiographs of the left and right mandibular first molar teeth were also obtained. These data were then used to establish the diagnostic performance of the molecular assay to detect periodontitis., Results: An initial conscious, visual oral examination performed by the veterinarian identified 67.7% of dogs as having periodontitis, but examination under general anesthesia indicated a higher proportion (86.6%). Analysis of supragingival plaque samples collected by veterinarians from conscious and unconscious dogs demonstrated the assay had an accuracy of 77.7 to 80.9%, a sensitivity of 77.6 to 81.0%, and a specificity of 80.0%., Discussion: Use of this molecular screening tool in conscious dogs has the potential to improve early periodontal disease detection and support veterinary decision making, ultimately improving the oral health of dogs and consequently their quality of life., Competing Interests: CW, LC-M, RR, PB, TSM, TM, LH, PW, and AC are employees of Mars Petcare, a manufacturer of commercial petfood and provider of veterinary services. Mars Petcare has filed a number of patents relating to the compositional analysis of the canine oral microbiome as a diagnostic for canine periodontal disease. CH and MS-R received payment from Mars Petcare for consultation relating to this research. CH is employed by the company Colin Harvey LLC., (Copyright This work is authored by Wallis, Soltero-Rivera, Harvey, Reynolds, Carvell-Miller, Colyer, McKee, Millis, Bergman, Watson and Holcombe. © 2024 Mars Petcare UK and its affiliates for Wallis, Reynolds, Carvell-Miller, Colyer, Watson and Holcombe and © 2024 VCA Clinical Studies for McKee, Mills and Bergman.)

Recent emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks, such as that of SARS-CoV-2, have demonstrated the need for wider companion animal disease surveillance. We tested 1000 dogs and cats belonging to employees of a US veterinary hospital network that were exposed to human COVID-19 cases in the household between 1 January 2020 and 10 March 2022 for SARS-CoV-2 and surveyed their owners about clinical signs and risk factors. The seropositivity was 33% for 747 dogs and 27% for 253 cats. Pet seropositivity correlated with the US human case rates over time, exhibiting peaks corresponding with the major COVID-19 surges. Antibodies persisted longer than previously documented (828 days in dogs; 650 days in cats). Increasing age and duration of proximity to infected people were associated with increased seropositivity in dogs but not cats. Cats were more likely to have clinical signs, but an association between seropositivity and the presence of clinical signs was not found in either species.

The enhanced understanding of immunology experienced over the last 5 decades afforded through the tools of molecular biology has recently translated into cancer immunotherapy becoming one of the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields. Human cancer immunotherapy is now recognized as one of the pillars of treatment alongside surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The field of veterinary cancer immunotherapy has also rapidly advanced in the last decade with a handful of commercially available products and a plethora of investigational cancer immunotherapies, which will hopefully expand our veterinary oncology treatment toolkit over time., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr P.J. Bergman is a co-inventor on patent US7556805B2 and was the veterinary principal investigator for the canine melanoma vaccine Oncept which received USDA-CVB conditional licensure in 2007 and full licensure in December of 2009. He also receives a minority royalty stream payment., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Melanoma of the dog and cat poses a clinical challenge to veterinary practitioners across the globe. As knowledge evolves, so too do clinical practices. However, there remain uncertainties and controversies. There is value for the veterinary community at large in the generation of a contemporary wide-ranging guideline document. The aim of this project was therefore to assimilate the available published knowledge into a single accessible referenced resource and to provide expert clinical guidance to support professional colleagues as they navigate current melanoma challenges and controversies. Melanocytic tumors are common in dogs but rare in cats. The history and clinical signs relate to the anatomic site of the melanoma. Oral and subungual malignant melanomas are the most common malignant types in dogs. While many melanocytic tumors are heavily pigmented, making diagnosis relatively straightforward, melanin pigmentation is variable. A validated clinical stage scheme has been defined for canine oral melanoma. For all other locations and for feline melanoma, TNM-based staging applies. Certain histological characteristics have been shown to bear prognostic significance and can thus prove instructive in clinical decision making. Surgical resection using wide margins is currently the mainstay of therapy for the local control of melanomas, regardless of primary location. Radiotherapy forms an integral part of the management of canine oral melanomas, both as a primary and an adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant immunotherapy or chemotherapy is offered to patients at high risk of developing distant metastasis. Location is the major prognostic factor, although it is not completely predictive of local invasiveness and metastatic potential. There are no specific guidelines regarding referral considerations for dogs with melanoma, as this is likely based on a multitude of factors. The ultimate goal is to provide the best options for patients to extend quality of life and survival, either within the primary care or referral hospital setting., 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., (Copyright © 2024 Polton, Borrego, Clemente-Vicario, Clifford, Jagielski, Kessler, Kobayashi, Lanore, Queiroga, Rowe, Vajdovich and Bergman.)

Background: The melanocortin 4 antagonist TCMCB07 is safe and effective in reversing cachexia caused by sepsis or cancer in rodents. The safety and pharmacokinetics of TCMCB07 are demonstrated in healthy beagle dogs., Hypothesis/objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the safety, peak plasma concentrations, and potential for efficacy of TCMCB07 in pet dogs with naturally occurring cachexia over a 4-week time period., Animals: Fourteen dogs with cachexia of any underlying cause, except cancer of the oral cavity or gastrointestinal tract, were eligible for enrollment with informed client consent., Methods: This study was a prospective, 1-armed open-label trial. Physical examination, complete blood count, chemistry panel, and owner-assessed quality of life surveys were checked at weeks 1, 2, and 4. Due to potential for bradycardia and hypotension, Holter monitoring and blood pressure evaluations were scheduled at pre-enrollment and week 4., Results: Fourteen dogs completed the trial. Significant changes detected included increased mean body weight (18.6-19.5 kg, P < .02), increased body condition score (median Tufts 5-point thin dog scale score P < .004 and WSAVA muscle condition score P < .02) and increased mean blood urea nitrogen (21.79-30.43 mg dL -1 , P < .004). On quality of life surveys, pet owners perceived their dog appeared to be panting less (P < .002) and that the general health improved (P < .03). Four dogs had a change in coat pigmentation. The peak plasma concentration of TCMCB07 in cachectic dogs was similar to that in healthy beagle dogs., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: TCMCB07 was safe and has potential efficacy in pet dogs with cachexia., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Background: The veterinary care of cats and dogs is increasingly embracing innovations first applied to human health, including an increased emphasis on preventative care and precision medicine. Large scale human population biobanks have advanced research in these areas; however, few have been established in veterinary medicine. The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ (MPB) is a prospective study that aims to build a longitudinal bank of biological samples, with paired medical and lifestyle data, from 20,000 initially healthy cats and dogs (10,000 / species), recruited through veterinary hospitals over a ten-year period. Here, we describe the MPB protocol and discuss its potential as a platform to increase understanding of why and how diseases develop and how to advance personalised veterinary healthcare., Methods: At regular intervals, extensive diet, health and lifestyle information, electronic medical records, clinicopathology and activity data are collected, genotypes, whole genome sequences and faecal metagenomes analysed, and blood, plasma, serum, and faecal samples stored for future research., Discussion: Proposed areas for research include the early detection and progression of age-related disease, risk factors for common conditions, the influence of the microbiome on health and disease and, through genome wide association studies, the identification of candidate loci for disease associated genetic variants. Genomic data will be open access and research proposals for access to data and samples will be considered. Over the coming years, the MPB will provide the longitudinal data and systematically collected biological samples required to generate important insights into companion animal health, identifying biomarkers of disease, supporting earlier identification of risk, and enabling individually tailored interventions to manage disease., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To report the clinical signs, histopathology results, and prognostic factors for outcomes following excision for feline insulinoma (INS)., Study Design: Retrospective study., Sample Population: Twenty client-owned cats., Methods: Medical records from 2006 to 2020 were reviewed by Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology members for cats with hypoglycemia resulting from INS, with surgical excision and follow up. Clinical signs and histopathology results were summarized. Factors potentially related to disease-free interval (DFI), disease-related death (DRD), and overall survival time (OST) were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis., Results: All cats were hypoglycemic on presentation with neurologic signs in 18 out of 20 and inappropriate insulin levels in 12/13. Excision of insulinomas resulted in immediate euglycemia or hyperglycemia in 18 cats. Eighteen cats survived to hospital discharge. The median time to death or last postoperative follow up was 664 days (range: 2-1205 days). Prognostic factors included age at presentation (for DFI); time to postoperative euglycemia (for DRD); preoperative and postoperative serum blood glucose concentrations; metastasis at the time of surgery (DFI and DRD), and histopathologic tumor invasion (for OST). The median OST for all cats was 863 days. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 75%, 51%, and 10%, respectively., Conclusion: Excision of insulinoma resulted in euglycemia or hyperglycemia in most cats. Negative prognostic factors included young age, low serum glucose concentrations, metastasis at time of surgery, tumor invasion, and shorter time to euglycemia., Clinical Significance: Surgical excision resulted in survival times comparable to those of canine INS., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

One of the primary objectives of the Oncology Pathology Working Group (OPWG) is for oncologists and pathologists to collaboratively generate consensus documents to standardize aspects of and provide guidelines for veterinary oncologic pathology. Consensus is established through review of relevant peer-reviewed literature relative to a subgroup's particular focus. In this article, the authors provide a critical review of the current literature for the diagnosis of, and histopathologic prognostication for, canine cutaneous and oral/lip melanocytic neoplasms, suggest guidelines for reporting, provide recommendations for clinical interpretation, and discuss future directions. This document represents the opinions of the working group and the authors and does not constitute a formal endorsement by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine or the Veterinary Cancer Society., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The objective of this study was to report the clinical indications, outcomes, and complications associated with medicinal leech therapy (MLT) in dogs and cats. Medical records (2012-2016) of client-owned dogs (n = 9) and cats (n = 3) treated with MLT at one institution were retrospectively reviewed. Retrieved data included the signalment, indications, physical examination findings, laboratory results, methods of leeching, outcomes, and complications associated with MLT. Following MLT sessions, nine patients (75%) visibly showed clear improvement of the affected tissue. One patient (8%) was euthanized before complete healing owing to pulmonary parenchymal disease. Improvement or appearance of tissue following MLT was not recorded in two patients (17%). Results suggest that MLT may be a safe and effective treatment modality for venous congestion and necrosis in compromised skin flaps and wounds with success in resolving 75% of the lesions in this study. This study is suggestive of the value of MLT when more conventional treatment methods fail in dogs and cats. A data collection form was created for veterinarians to use with the goal of obtaining standardized, objective MLT data for future studies., (© 2022 by American Animal Hospital Association.)

Background: Canine peripheral nodal T-cell lymphoma is considered chemotherapy resistant and carries a relatively poor prognosis. Prospective evaluations reporting the impact of chemotherapy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival time for dogs with T-cell lymphoma are lacking. This study examined the impact of L-CHOP (L-asparaginase, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy or L-CHOP in combination with AT-005, a US Department of Agriculture-licensed caninised monoclonal antibody, on PFS and response rates in dogs with clinical intermediate- and high-grade peripheral nodal T-cell lymphoma., Methods: A prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, investigator- and owner-blinded, multicentre study was completed. All dogs received a 19-week L-CHOP chemotherapy protocol with randomisation (1:1) into placebo or AT-005 groups. Response was evaluated via the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group criteria for canine lymphoma., Results: Forty-nine dogs were enrolled (25 received placebo and 24 received AT-005). Most demographic factors were similar between the two groups, with the exception that more dogs with stage IV and V disease were treated with AT-005 (34% vs. 8%; p = 0.03). Median PFS was 103 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 56-118) in the placebo group versus 64 days (95% CI, 36-118) in the AT-005 group. The overall response rate (ORR) for all dogs was 98% (48 of 49); complete response rate in the placebo group (64%) was not different from the AT-005 group (67%)., Conclusions: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first prospective study to document that treatment with L-CHOP chemotherapy, with or without AT-005, may result in a high ORR, but relatively brief PFS in dogs with clinical intermediate- and high-grade T-cell lymphoma., Competing Interests: Chad Johannes, Laura Treml and Lydia Cook McAnulty are former employees of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. and were employed by Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. during the study period. Elizabeth McNiel is a former employee of Elanco Animal Health. Chad Johannes, Craig Clifford and Philip Bergman are advisory board members for Elanco Animal Health and receive honoraria. Margaret Musser has not declared any conflicts of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate initial antimicrobial therapy in cats diagnosed with upper or lower bacterial urinary tract infections at veterinary practices in the USA and Canada., Methods: Electronic medical records from a veterinary practice corporation with clinics in the USA and Canada were queried between 2 January 2016 and 3 December 2018. Feline patient visits with a diagnosis field entry of urinary tract infection, cystitis and pyelonephritis, as well as variation of those names and more colloquial diagnoses such as kidney and bladder infection, and where an antimicrobial was prescribed, were retrieved., Results: Prescription data for 5724 visits were identified. Sporadic cystitis was the most common diagnosis (n = 5051 [88%]), with 491 (8.6%) cats diagnosed with pyelonephritis and 182 (3.2%) with chronic or recurrent cystitis. Cefovecin was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial for all conditions, followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Significant differences in antimicrobial drug class prescribing were noted between practice types and countries, and over the 3-year study period. For sporadic cystitis, prescription of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid increased significantly and cefovecin decreased between 2016 and 2018, and 2017 and 2018, while fluoroquinolone use increased between 2017 and 2018., Conclusions and Relevance: The results indicate targets for intervention and some encouraging trends. Understanding how antimicrobials are used is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship and is required to establish benchmarks, identify areas for improvement, aid in the development of interventions and evaluate the impact of interventions or other changes.

Objective: To calculate prescribed daily doses (PDDs) for selected antimicrobials and evaluate application of defined daily doses (DDDs) using an antimicrobial purchasing dataset., Animals: Data from dogs and cats treated for bacterial cystitis at a veterinary practice network were evaluated., Procedure: A dataset containing antimicrobial prescriptions for dogs and cats diagnosed with bacterial cystitis was evaluated. Median dose and frequency and median weight of treated animals were used to calculate PDDs. To account for differences in use between dogs and cats, an adjusted DDD was calculated based on adjustment for proportional use in dogs versus cats., Results: PDDs for dogs and cats were determined and adjusted DDDs were calculated and applied to an antimicrobial purchasing dataset from 886 veterinary clinics, demonstrating the difference between mass-based and DDD data., Conclusions: DDDs can be estimated using prescription datasets, accounting for differences in weights (between and within species) and relative use between dogs and cats. These can be applied to broader (sales, purchase) datasets to provide a more detailed understanding of how antimicrobials are used., Clinical Relevance: DDDs could be a useful measure for assessing mass-based antimicrobial use datasets as part of antimicrobial stewardship surveillance efforts., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Objective: To investigate risk factors, clinical features, and prognostic indicators in guinea pigs with urolithiasis., Animals: 158 guinea pigs with urolithiasis., Procedures: Medical records of an exotics animal specialty service were searched, identifying guinea pigs with urolithiasis. Signalment, clinical data, and outcomes were recorded. Variables of interest were analyzed for statistical associations with outcome., Results: Overall, 54.4% (86/158) of animals survived to discharge. Median survival time was 177 days. Females (53.2%; 84/158) were more common than males (46.8%; 74/158). Males were presented younger (mean age, 3.64 years) than females (4.41 years). In 81 of 154 (52.5%) cases, animals were presented with primary urinary concerns, while 73 (47.5%) presented for nonurinary primary concerns. Females more commonly presented with distal urinary tract urolithiasis (63/84; 75%) but fared better overall with a longer median survival time (1,149 days) than males (59 days). Surgical intervention was not a risk factor for nonsurvival; however, increased age (> 4.1 years), male sex, anorexia, weight loss, and lower rectal temperature (< 37.2 °C) on presentation were associated with nonsurvival. Reoccurrence was noted in 13.9% (22/158) of cases, at an average of 284 days., Clinical Relevance: Urolithiasis should always be considered a differential diagnosis for any unwell guinea pig. In particular, distal urinary tract urolithiasis should be considered in females. A poorer prognosis was associated with older, male guinea pigs, and those displaying anorexia, weight loss, and hypothermia. The need for surgical intervention should not confer a poorer outcome. Further studies are needed to determine specific risk factors and identify possible preventative measures.

Objective: To report the incidence of short-term incisional complications in dogs receiving intraoperative local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine., Study Design: Retrospective study., Animals: Client-owned dogs (n = 218)., Methods: Medical records were searched for dogs whose surgical site was infiltrated with liposomal bupivacaine. Records were reviewed for complications within 20 days postoperatively. Cases were categorized by: (1) surgical wound classification (clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated); (2) labeled versus off-label use in orthopedic surgery - stifle surgery to address cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease versus other orthopedic procedures; and (3) orthopedic versus soft-tissue surgery., Results: Complications were documented in 43/218 (19.7%) records, including 27/218 (12.4%) complications that resolved spontaneously or with topical treatment. The incidence of short-term incisional complications did not differ between surgical wound classifications (P = 0.55) or between labeled versus off-label use in orthopedic surgery (P = 0.21). Complications seemed more common after soft-tissue procedures (32/123; 26.0%) than orthopedic procedures (11/95; 11.6%) (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Surgical wound classification or type of orthopedic procedure did not seem to influence incisional complications of infiltrated surgical sites. Complications were more common after soft-tissue procedures than orthopedic procedures., Clinical Significance: Infiltration of surgical sites with liposomal bupivacaine seems safe in a broader range of orthopedic procedures than currently labeled. The results also justify further investigation in soft-tissue surgery., (© 2022 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bexagliflozin on glycemic control in poorly regulated diabetic cats and to evaluate for adverse events associated with this medication. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a newer class of drugs used in the management of humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the orally administered drug, bexagliflozin in a group of poorly regulated diabetic cats over a 4-week study period. Five client-owned cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy were enrolled. Bexagliflozin was administered once daily. Serum fructosamine, serum biochemistry profile, and 10-hour blood glucose curves were assessed at baseline (Day 0), Day 14, and Day 28. All cats had a significant reduction in insulin dose requirement ( P = 0.015) and insulin was discontinued in 2 cats. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose concentration obtained from blood glucose concentration curves during the study period ( P = 0.022). Serum fructosamine decreased in 4 of the 5 cats with a median decrease of 152 μmol/L (range: 103 to 241 μmol/L), which was not statistically significant ( P = 0.117). No cats had any documented episodes of hypoglycemia. Adverse effects were mild. The addition of bexagliflozin significantly improved diabetic management in this group of cats., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Background: Rabacfosadine (RAB, Tanovea-CA1) is a novel chemotherapy agent conditionally approved for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs., Hypothesis/objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of RAB in dogs with lymphoma., Animals: One hundred and fifty-eight client-owned dogs with naïve or relapsed multicentric lymphoma were prospectively enrolled from January to October 2019., Methods: Dogs were randomized to receive RAB or placebo at a 3 : 1 ratio. Treatment was given every 21 days for up to 5 treatments. Study endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) at a given visit, best overall response rate (BORR), and percent progression free 1 month after treatment completion. Safety data were also collected., Results: The median PFS was significantly longer in the RAB group compared to placebo (82 vs 21 days; P < .0001, HR 6.265 [95% CI 3.947-9.945]). The BORR for RAB-treated dogs was 73.2% (50.9% complete response [CR], 22.3% partial response [PR]) and 5.6% (0% CR, 5.6% PR) for placebo-treated dogs (P < .0001). One month after the last treatment, 37 RAB-treated dogs (33%) were progression free compared with no placebo-treated dogs (P < .0001). The most common adverse events observed in the RAB group were diarrhea (87.5%), decreased appetite (68.3%), and vomiting (68.3%) and were generally low grade and reversible. Serious adverse events were reported in 24 RAB-treated (20%) and 5 placebo-treated dogs (13%)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Rabacfosadine demonstrated statistically significant antitumor efficacy in dogs with lymphoma when administered every 21 days for up to 5 treatments as compared to placebo., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To determine the incidence of and potential risk factors for postoperative regurgitation and vomiting (PORV), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and aspiration pneumonia in geriatric dogs using premedication with maropitant and famotidine, intraoperative fentanyl, and postoperative fentanyl as part of an anesthetic protocol., Animals: 105 client-owned geriatric dogs that underwent general anesthesia for a major surgical procedure between January 2019 and March 2020., Procedures: Medical records were reviewed to collect data on signalment, historical gastrointestinal signs, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, indication for surgery, duration of anesthesia and surgery, patient position during surgery, mode of ventilation, and perioperative administration of maropitant, famotidine, anticholinergics, opioids, colloidal support, NSAID, corticosteroids, and appetite stimulants. The incidence of postoperative regurgitation, vomiting, nausea, and aspiration pneumonia was calculated, and variables were each analyzed for their association with these outcomes., Results: 2 of 105 (1.9%) dogs regurgitated, 1 of 105 (1.0%) dogs developed aspiration pneumonia, 4 of 105 (3.8%) dogs exhibited nausea, and no dogs vomited. Identified possible risk factors included older age (≥ 13 years old) for postoperative regurgitation, regurgitation for postoperative aspiration pneumonia, and high ASA score (≥ 4) for both regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The use of an antiemetic protocol including maropitant, famotidine, and fentanyl in geriatric dogs resulted in very low incidences of PORV, PONV, and aspiration pneumonia. Future prospective studies are warranted to further evaluate and mitigate postoperative risks.

Background: Antimicrobials are commonly used to treat urinary tract disease in dogs. Understanding antimicrobial use is a critical component of antimicrobial stewardship efforts., Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate antimicrobial prescriptions for dogs diagnosed with acute cystitis, recurrent cystitis, and pyelonephritis., Animals: Dogs prescribed antimicrobials for urinary tract disease at veterinary practices in the United States and Canada., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of antimicrobial prescriptions was performed., Results: The main clinical concerns were sporadic bacterial cystitis (n = 6582), recurrent cystitis (n = 428), and pyelonephritis (n = 326). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (2702, 41%), cefpodoxime (1024, 16%), and amoxicillin (874, 13%) were most commonly prescribed for sporadic bacterial cystitis. The median prescribed duration was 12 days (range, 3-60 days; interquartile range [IQR], 4 days). Shorter durations were used in 2018 (median, 10 days; IQR, 4 days) compared to both 2016 and 2017 (both median, 14 days; IQR, 4 days; P ≤ .0002). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (146, 33%), marbofloxacin (95, 21%), and cefpodoxime (65, 14%) were most commonly used for recurrent cystitis; median duration of 14 days (range, 3-77 days; IQR, 10.5 days). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (86, 26%), marbofloxacin (56, 17%), and enrofloxacin (36, 11%) were most commonly prescribed for pyelonephritis; however, 93 (29%) dogs received drug combinations. The median duration of treatment was 14 days (range, 3-77 days; IQR, 11 days)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Decreases in duration and increased use of recommended first-line antimicrobials were encouraging. Common drug choices and durations should still be targets for antimicrobial stewardship programs that aim to optimize antimicrobial use, concurrently maximizing patient benefits while minimizing antimicrobial use and use of higher tier antimicrobials., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To retrospectively compare clinical outcomes associated with 3 commercially available antivenom products (2 F[ab']2 products and 1 IgG product) in dogs with crotalid envenomation., Animals: 282 dogs with evidence of crotalid envenomation treated with antivenom at a single high-volume private emergency facility in southwestern Arizona from 2014 to 2018., Procedures: Data were collected on all dogs regarding signalment, coagulation test results, snakebite characteristics, type and number of units of antivenom received (1 of 3 products), survival to hospital discharge (yes or no), and complications following discharge. Survival rates and other variables were compared among antivenoms by means of bivariable analyses., Results: 271 of 282 (96.1%) dogs survived to discharge; 11 (3.9%) were euthanized or died in the hospital. No significant difference in survival rates was found among the 3 antivenom products. Infusion reaction rates were higher for the IgG product than for each F(ab')2 product. A higher percentage of dogs treated with the IgG product (vs either F[ab']2 product) received only 1 unit of antivenom. Variables associated with a lower probability of survival included older age and lower body weight, thoracic (vs other) location of snakebites, and presence of an antivenom infusion reaction., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Given that survival rates were high for all 3 antivenom products, clinicians may consider other factors when selecting an antivenom, such as preference for a fractionated versus whole immunoglobulin product, risk of infusion reaction, cost, shelf life, availability, ease of use and administration, species of crotalids used for antivenom production, approval by federal regulatory bodies, and clinical preference.

Background: Limited data exist about the use, efficacy, and prognostic factors influencing outcome when CyberKnife is used to treat dogs with intracranial neoplasia., Objectives: To determine the prognosis and associated prognostic factors for dogs that were imaged, determined to have primary intracranial tumors, and treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy., Animals: Fifty-nine dogs treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy for primary intracranial tumors., Methods: Retrospective medical record review of cases from January 2010 to June 2016. Data extracted from medical records included signalment, weight, seizure history, tumor location, tumor type (based on imaging), gross tumor volume, planned tumor volume, treatment dates, radiation dose, recurrence, date of death, and cause of death., Results: The median progression-free interval (PFI) was 347 days (range 47 to 1529 days), and the median survival time (MST) was 738 days (range 4 to 2079 days). Tumor location was significantly associated with PFI when comparing cerebrum (median PFI 357 days; range 47-1529 days) versus cerebellum (median PFI 97 days; range 97-168 days) versus brainstem (median PFI 266 days; range 30-1484 days), P = .03. Additionally, the presumed tumor type was significantly associated with MST (P < .001)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Use of Cyberknife and SRT might improve MST, compared with RT, in dogs with intracranial neoplasia., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To report the signalment, staging, surgical treatment, and survival time of juvenile dogs treated surgically for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)., Study Design: Retrospective study., Animals or Sample Population: Twenty-five dogs, <2 years of age with OSCC treated with surgery., Methods: Cases were solicited from the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology. Data retrieved included sex, breed, age, weight, clinical signs, tumor location, preoperative diagnostics and staging, histopathological diagnosis with margin evaluation, disease-free interval, and date and cause of death. A minimum follow-up time of 3 months was required for inclusion., Results: Eighteen dogs were <12 months of age, and seven were <24 months. Various breeds were represented, with a mean body weight of 22.3 ± 14.4 kg. No dogs had evidence of metastatic disease prior to surgery. All dogs underwent partial maxillectomy or mandibulectomy. Histological margins were complete in 24 dogs and incomplete in one. No dogs had evidence of metastatic disease or tumor recurrence. The median follow-up time was 1556 days (92 to 4234 days). All dogs were alive at the last follow-up except for one documented death, due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Median disease-specific survival time was not reached., Conclusion: The prognosis after wide surgical excision of OSCC in juvenile dogs was excellent., Clinical Significance: OSCC in juvenile dogs can be effectively treated with surgery alone., (© 2021 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) is an aggressive bone tumour in dogs. Standard-of-care treatment typically results in relatively short survival times; thus, alternative treatments are needed to confer a survival advantage. It has been shown that OSA is an immunogenic tumour, suggesting that immune modulation may result in superior outcomes. A cryopreserved, Listeria-based OSA vaccine was recently developed and an initial study in dogs reported prolonged survival for patients receiving the vaccine in conjunction with standard-of-care. The goal of the current observational study was to report on the safety of the lyophilized formulation of this vaccine (the canine OSA vaccine, live Listeria vector [COV-LLV]) in a group of dogs previously diagnosed with OSA. Forty-nine (49) dogs received the COV-LLV and were included for analysis. Adverse events (AEs) noted during and after vaccinations were recorded. The AEs observed were typically mild and self-limiting, with nausea, lethargy and fever being most common. Four dogs (8%) cultured positive for Listeria (three infections including an amputation site abscess, septic stifle joint and bacterial cystitis; and one dog whose lungs cultured Listeria-positive on necropsy within 24 hours of COV-LLV administration). These cases join the previously reported Listeria-positive thoracic abscess that developed in a canine following use of COV-LLV. Although uncommon, it is important to realize this clinically significant AE is possible in patients treated with live therapeutic Listeria vaccines. As Listeria is zoonotic, caution is required not only for the patient receiving the vaccine, but also for the health care workers and family caring for the patient., (© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of surgery on outcome for dogs with naturally occurring urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Forty-seven dogs met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-one dogs (Group A) were treated with partial cystectomy and adjunctive medical therapy and 16 dogs (Group B) were treated with medical therapy alone. Overall survival was greater in dogs treated with partial cystectomy and adjunctive medical therapy (498 days for Group A versus 335 days for Group B, hazard ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 5.7; P = 0.026). Progression-free survival was not different between groups (85 days for Group A versus 83 days for Group B; P = 0.663). No prognostic factors were identified for progression-free survival. Due to the many cases in Group A that were lost to follow-up, time-to-event survival analysis was performed. No significant difference in overall survival was noted, and no prognostic factors were identified in the time-to-event analysis. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to determine the role of partial cystectomy in the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Objective: To determine whether serum total thyroxine (TT4) concentration at admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) was associated with mortality rate and duration of hospitalization for critically ill dogs., Animals: 166 client-owned dogs that were hospitalized in the ICU of a private veterinary practice from January 2013 through December 2016 and for which serum TT4 concentration had been measured at admission., Procedures: Medical records were reviewed to collect data regarding patient signalment, concurrent illnesses, medications, reason for hospitalization, outcome (death, euthanasia, or survival to hospital discharge), duration of hospitalization, and initial serum TT4 concentration., Results: Mean age of the 166 dogs was 8.6 years (range, 1 to 16 years). Overall mortality rate was 15.7%, with 26 dogs failing to survive to hospital discharge. Of these 26 dogs, 7 died and 19 were euthanized. No significant association was identified between serum TT4 concentration at admission and survival to discharge (yes or no) or duration of hospitalization. Age was significantly associated with survival to discharge, with older dogs less likely to survive than younger dogs. Duration of hospitalization was also associated with survival to discharge, with longer hospital stays associated with a lower likelihood of survival to discharge., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Findings suggested that serum TT4 concentration at admission to an ICU had no prognostic value in this population of critically ill dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine if clinical findings, histologic grade, or other histologic features were associated with clinical outcome in dogs with subcutaneous mast cell tumors (MCTs). Medical records of 43 client-owned dogs were retrospectively reviewed, and follow-up information was gathered via phone or follow-up examination. Progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free interval (DFI), and overall survival were calculated. Forty-two and twenty-two dogs, respectively, had grade 2 (Patnaik grading system) or low-grade tumors (two-tier grading system). Median PFS was 1474 days. Median DFI was not reached at >1968 days. Overall median survival time was not reached at >1968 days. In univariate analysis, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and mitotic index were negatively prognostic for PFS whereas Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and microvessel density were negatively prognostic for DFI. In multivariate analysis, AgNORs remained negatively prognostic for PFS. Results suggest that proliferation indices, especially AgNORs, may be useful in predicting the rare poor outcomes in dogs with subcutaneous MCTs. The vast majority of subcutaneous MCTs appear to be low or intermediate grade with excellent outcomes from good local tumor control.

Background: Rabacfosadine (RAB), a novel antineoplastic agent conditionally licensed for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs, is efficacious in both naïve and previously treated dogs. Its use in combination with L-asparaginase (L-ASP) has not been studied., Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of L-ASP given concurrently with RAB in dogs with relapsed multicentric lymphoma., Animals: Fifty-two dogs with relapse of lymphoma after treatment with at least 1 doxorubicin-based chemotherapy protocol., Methods: Open-label, multicenter, prospective single-arm clinical trial. Dogs were treated with RAB at 1.0 mg/kg IV every 21 days for up to a total of 5 doses. L-asparaginase was administered at 400 IU/kg SQ concurrently with the first 2 treatments of RAB., Results: The overall response rate (ORR) for all dogs was 67%, with 19 dogs (41%) achieving a complete response (CR). The median progression-free survival time (MPFS) was 63 days (range 5-428 days). Dogs experiencing a CR as their best response had an MPFS of 144 days (range 44-428 days). Adverse events were similar to previous studies evaluating single agent RAB. Failure to achieve a CR and having previously received L-ASP were negative prognostic factors on multivariate analysis., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Concurrent RAB/L-ASP appears to be both efficacious and safe for treating relapsed multicentric lymphoma in dogs. Adverse events were most often mild and no unexpected toxicoses were observed., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To determine the success rate and complications associated with inducing emesis in dogs that have ingested foreign material., Design: Retrospective case series, 2010-2014., Setting: Private practice and referral center., Animals: Sixty-one client-owned dogs that had emesis induced for the treatment of ingestion of foreign material., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Emesis was successfully induced in 59 of 61 (97%) dogs administered an emetic. Of those 59 dogs, 46 (78%) produced the foreign body. There were no complications reported in any of the dogs in which emesis was successfully induced. Dogs in which emesis was successfully induced were likely to produce the foreign body (P = 0.01)., Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, emesis appears to be a safe and effective means for the removal of certain gastric foreign bodies in dogs., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2020.)

Objective: To determine the influence of prophylactic administration of oral antimicrobial medications after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on surgical site infections (SSI) and antimicrobial-resistant infections., Study Design: Retrospective study., Sample Population: Dogs treated with unilateral TPLO (n = 308) between January 2013 and December 2015., Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, surgically treated limb, duration of surgery and anesthesia, postoperative administration of antimicrobial medications, antibiotic agent, surgeon, and development of SSI. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, analysis of variance, Fisher's protected least significant difference, and χ 2 testing., Results: Data were collected from records of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and 277 dogs that did receive oral antimicrobial medications for 14 days after TPLO. Superficial incisional SSI was detected in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 48 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .1194). Deep incisional SSI occurred in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 27 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .5513). Antibiotic-resistant deep incisional SSI occurred in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 18 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .9920). Body weight correlated with deep incisional SSI and resistant infections. Prolonged duration of surgery and anesthesia were associated with superficial incisional SSI, deep incisional SSI, and antibiotic resistance. Surgeons influenced deep incisional SSI., Conclusion: Previously reported predisposing factors for infection were confirmed, but postoperative administration of antimicrobial medications was not protective against SSI nor did it predispose to antibiotic resistance in our clinical setting., Clinical Significance: This study does not provide evidence to support administration of prophylactic oral antimicrobial medications after unilateral TPLO., (© 2019 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

The enhanced understanding of immunology experienced over the last 4 decades afforded through the tools of molecular biology has recently translated into cancer immunotherapy becoming one of the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields. Human cancer immunotherapy is now recognized as one of the pillars of treatment alongside surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The field of veterinary cancer immunotherapy has also rapidly advanced in the last decade with a handful of commercially available products and a plethora of investigational cancer immunotherapies that will hopefully expand the veterinary oncology treatment toolkit over time., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify factors associated with dehiscence and mortality rates following gastrointestinal surgery in dogs., Animals: 170 client-owned dogs that underwent gastrointestinal surgery from 2010 to 2016., Procedures: Medical records of all included dogs were reviewed to collect information on preoperative (breed, sex, age, body weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status classification, emergency status, and plasma lactate concentration), intraoperative (indication for surgery, type of surgery, and whether bacterial peritonitis was identified), and postoperative (development of dehiscence and survival status at 2 weeks after surgery) factors. Preoperative and intraoperative factors were evaluated for associations among each other and with postoperative factors., Results: Univariate analyses revealed that preoperative plasma lactate concentration increased with increasing ASA status, and lactate concentrations were significantly higher for nonsurvivors (mean ± SD, 4.6 ± 3.7 mmol/L) than for survivors (2.4 ± 1.7 mmol/L). Multivariate analysis controlling for age, body weight, and plasma lactate concentration revealed that dogs with an ASA status ≥ 3 were more likely to develop dehiscence after gastrointestinal surgery than were dogs with a lower ASA status (OR, 17.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.17 to 144.06). Multivariate analysis also revealed that dogs with an ASA status ≥ 3 or high lactate concentration were less likely to survive than were other dogs., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: These findings regarding ASA status and preoperative plasma lactate concentration and their associations with outcome may help clinicians to determine and provide optimal perioperative care to dogs requiring gastrointestinal surgery as well as to inform owners about prognosis.

Background: Effective treatment options for inoperable, metastatic, or recurrent canine pheochromocytomas are lacking. In humans, specific germline mutations exist that drive the development of pheochromocytomas. Pharmaceutical blockade of these abnormalities with small molecule inhibitors are an effective treatment strategy. Similar mutations may exist in the dog, and thus, treatment with similar small molecule inhibitors may provide a survival advantage. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of toceranib phosphate in the treatment of inoperable, metastatic, or recurrent canine pheochromocytomas., Results: Retrospectively, medical records of dogs that had a diagnosis or suspect diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma were reviewed for information regarding response to toceranib phosphate and overall outcome. Five dogs were identified that fit the inclusion criteria. All five experienced clinical benefit (1 partial response, 4 stable disease). Progression-free interval (PFI) for the dog with the partial response was 61 weeks. PFI for the two dogs with stable measurable disease were 36 weeks and 28 weeks. PFI in the two dogs with stable metastatic disease were at least 11 weeks and 18 weeks., Conclusions: Based on this limited series of dogs, the results suggest that toceranib may have biological activity in dogs with primary and metastatic pheochromocytomas. Larger studies are needed to define the use and response to toceranib in dogs with gross, microscopic, and metastatic pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE To validate that dogs become hypocoagulable following rattlesnake envenomation and to determine whether thromboelastographic abnormalities are correlated with envenomation severity for dogs bitten by rattlesnakes native to southern California. ANIMALS 14 dogs with observed or suspected rattlesnake envenomation (envenomated dogs) and 10 healthy control dogs. PROCEDURES For each dog, a citrate-anticoagulated blood sample underwent kaolin-activated thromboelastography. For each envenomated dog, a snakebite severity score was assigned on the basis of clinical findings, and prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and platelet count were determined when the attending clinician deemed it necessary and owner finances allowed. RESULTS For 12 of 14 envenomated dogs, the thromboelastographically determined clot strength was below the 25th percentile for the clot strength of control dogs, which was indicative of a hypocoagulable state. No envenomated dog had thromboelastographic results indicative of a hypercoagulable state. One envenomated dog had a prolonged prothrombin time, but the activated partial thromboplastin time and all thromboelastographic variables were within the respective reference ranges for that dog. Seven of 13 envenomated dogs were thrombocytopenic (platelet count, ≤ 170,000 platelets/μL). Snakebite severity score was negatively correlated with platelet count but was not correlated with any thromboelastographic variable. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that dogs generally become hypocoagulable following rattlesnake envenomation. Thromboelastography might provide an objective measure of the coagulation status of envenomated dogs and aid in the identification of dogs that are in a hypocoagulable state and in need of antivenin treatment prior to the onset of progressive clinical signs.

The ideal cancer immunotherapy agent should be able to discriminate between cancer and normal cells, be potent enough to kill small or large numbers of tumor cells, and be able to prevent recurrence of the tumor. Tumor immunology and immunotherapy are among the most exciting and rapidly expanding fields; cancer immunotherapy is now recognized as a pillar of treatment alongside traditional modalities. This article highlights approaches that seem to hold particular promise in human clinical trials and many that have been tested in veterinary medicine., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to describe the toxicity profile of toceranib phosphate in tumour bearing cats. Medical records were reviewed from seven institutions. Patients with incomplete medical records and those receiving concurrent chemotherapy or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) were excluded. Fifty-five cats met the inclusion criteria. Carcinoma was diagnosed in 55% of cases. Median oral toceranib dose was 2.7 mg kg -1 and was most commonly administered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Thrombocytopenia (16.3%) and neutropenia (9.1%) were the most common haematologic toxicities. Azotemia (14.5%) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations (7.2%) were the most frequently encountered biochemical alterations. Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was seen in 21.8% of cats, and was lower than previously reported in dogs. The results of this study showed that treatment of cats with toceranib is well-tolerated and toxicity is uncommon. Additional studies to define a more structured dosing schedule and to evaluate the efficacy of toceranib in the treatment of feline cancers are needed., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Age is the single greatest risk factor for most causes of morbidity and mortality in humans and their companion animals. As opposed to other model organisms used to study aging, dogs share the human environment, are subject to similar risk factors, receive comparable medical care, and develop many of the same age-related diseases humans do. In this study, 24 middle-aged healthy dogs received either placebo or a non-immunosuppressive dose of rapamycin for 10 weeks. All dogs received clinical and hematological exams before, during, and after the trial and echocardiography before and after the trial. Our results showed no clinical side effects in the rapamycin-treated group compared to dogs receiving the placebo. Echocardiography suggested improvement in both diastolic and systolic age-related measures of heart function (E/A ratio, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction) in the rapamycin-treated dogs. Hematological values remained within the normal range for all parameters studied; however, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was decreased in rapamycin-treated dogs. Based on these results, we will test rapamycin on a larger dog cohort for a longer period of time in order to validate its effects on cardiac function and to determine whether it can significantly improve healthspan and reduce mortality in companion dogs.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA, accounting for about one in every four deaths. Age is the greatest risk factor for heart disease in both people and dogs; however, heart disease is generally not considered as a major cause of morbidity or mortality in dogs. As part of the preliminary selection process for a veterinary clinical trial, 40 companion dogs with no history of cardiac pathology that were at least 6 years old and weighed at least 18 kg underwent a cardiac screening using Doppler echocardiography. Eleven dogs from this cohort were diagnosed with valvular regurgitation by echocardiography, and seven of these cases were of sufficient severity to warrant exclusion from the clinical trial. In only one case was a heart murmur detected by auscultation. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher in the dogs with moderate to severe valvular regurgitation compared to the rest of the cohort. These observations suggest that asymptomatic degenerative valvular disease detectable by echocardiography, but not by a standard veterinary exam including auscultation, may be present in a significant fraction of middle-aged companion dogs, indicating a previously underappreciated similarity between human and canine aging. Further, these data suggest that companion dogs may be a particularly useful animal model for understanding mechanisms of age-related degenerative valve disease and for developing and testing interventions to ameliorate cardiac disease. Future studies should address whether dogs with asymptomatic valve disease are at higher risk for subsequent morbidity or early death.

Objectives A xenogeneic human tyrosinase DNA vaccine was developed for treatment of dogs with oral malignant melanoma (Oncept; Merial). No studies have evaluated the safety or efficacy of this vaccine in cats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of the canine melanoma vaccine in cats diagnosed with melanoma. Methods Medical records were reviewed from cats diagnosed with malignant melanoma and treated with the canine melanoma DNA vaccine (Oncept). Data regarding signalment, melanoma location, treatments received, vaccine adverse effects and cause of death were collected. Results A total of 114 melanoma vaccines were administered to 24 cats. Seven cats (11.4%) had clinical adverse effects from a total of 13 vaccines classified as grade 1 or 2 based on the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group's common terminology criteria for adverse events v1.1. These included pain on vaccine administration, brief muscle fasciculation, transient inappetence, depression, nausea and mild increase in pigmentation at the injection site. Nineteen cats were deceased at study close. The most common cause of death was melanoma (14 cats). Hematological and biochemical changes were observed in six cats, five of which had concurrent disease or treatments that likely caused or greatly contributed to the laboratory abnormalities found. Therefore, these adverse events were considered unlikely to be caused by the melanoma vaccine. One cat had transient grade 1 hypoalbuminemia, which was possibly caused by the vaccination but not thoroughly evaluated. Conclusions and relevance The canine melanoma DNA vaccine can be safely administered to cats, with minimal risk of adverse effects.

The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs with Type I intervertebral disc extrusion has been reported as high as 38% within 6 wk of surgery. Proper treatment of a UTI is important with myelopathy because it is a risk factor for persistent infection and reinfection in dogs. The study authors' investigated the incidence of UTIs in dogs having received either cefovecin or cefazolin as a preoperative prophylactic antibiotic for thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy. Thirty-nine dogs were retrospectively identified and assigned to groups based on preoperative antibiotic administration and postoperative urinary tract management. Urinalysis and urine culture performed preoperatively, at 2 wk, and at 6 wk, were reviewed to determine the incidence of UTIs. Urinary tract management, grade of neurologic deficit, time to ambulation, and time to voluntary urination were identified to evaluate for additional risk factors. No significant prevalence of UTI incidence was appreciated between the cefovecin and cefazolin groups. Patients with higher grades of neurologic deficit and that took longer to regain ambulation and voluntary urination were at significantly greater risk for UTIs throughout the postoperative period. This study reemphasizes the importance of continued surveillance for UTIs in patients with prolonged neurologic recovery.

Table of Contents: A1 One health advances and successes in comparative medicine and translational researchCheryl StroudA2 Dendritic cell-targeted gorilla adenoviral vector for cancer vaccination for canine melanomaIgor Dmitriev, Elena Kashentseva, Jeffrey N. Bryan, David T. CurielA3 Viroimmunotherapy for malignant melanoma in the companion dog modelJeffrey N. Bryan, David Curiel, Igor Dmitriev, Elena Kashentseva, Hans Rindt, Carol Reinero, Carolyn J. HenryA4 Of mice and men (and dogs!): development of a commercially licensed xenogeneic DNA vaccine for companion animals with malignant melanomaPhilip J. BergmanA5 Successful immunotherapy with a recombinant HER2-expressing Listeria monocytogenes in dogs with spontaneous osteosarcoma paves the way for advances in pediatric osteosarcomaNicola J. Mason, Josephine S. Gnanandarajah, Julie B. Engiles, Falon Gray, Danielle Laughlin, Anita Gaurnier-Hausser, Anu Wallecha, Margie Huebner, Yvonne PatersonA6 Human clinical development of ADXS-HER2Daniel O'ConnorA7 Leveraging use of data for both human and veterinary benefitLaura S. TremlA8 Biologic replacement of the knee: innovations and early clinical resultsJames P. StannardA9 Mizzou BioJoint Center: a translational success storyJames L. CookA10 University and industry translational partnership: from the lab to commercializationMarc JacobsA11 Beyond docking: an evolutionarily guided OneHealth approach to drug discoveryGerald J. Wyckoff, Lee Likins, Ubadah Sabbagh, Andrew SkaffA12 Challenges and opportunities for data applications in animal health: from precision medicine to precision husbandryAmado S. GuloyA13 A cloud-based programmable platform for healthHarlen D. HaysA14 Comparative oncology: One Health in actionAmy K. LeBlancA15 Companion animal diseases bridge the translational gap for human neurodegenerative diseaseJoan R. Coates, Martin L. Katz, Leslie A. Lyons, Gayle C. Johnson, Gary S. Johnson, Dennis P. O'BrienA16 Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapyDongsheng DuanA17 Polycystic kidney disease: cellular mechanisms to emerging therapiesJames P. CalvetA18 The domestic cat as a large animal model for polycystic kidney diseaseLeslie A. Lyons, Barbara GandolfiA19 The support of basic and clinical research by the Polycystic Kidney Disease FoundationDavid A. BaronA20 Using naturally occurring large animal models of human disease to enable clinical translation: treatment of arthritis using autologous stromal vascular fraction in dogsMark L. WeissA21 Regulatory requirements regarding clinical use of human cells, tissues, and tissue-based productsDebra A. WebsterA22 Regenerative medicine approaches to Type 1 diabetes treatmentFrancis N. KaranuA23 The zoobiquity of canine diabetes mellitus, man's best friend is a friend indeed-islet transplantationEdward J. RobbA24 One Medicine: a development model for cellular therapy of diabetesRobert J. Harman.