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Background: Hypothermia is a cause of neonatal calf death in cold climates. Practical and effective rewarming methods are important for bovine health within affected regions. Hypothesis/Objectives: To compare the rewarming rate and blood analytes (glucose, lactate, and cortisol) of calves resuscitated with forced air with warm water bath, with or without oral administration of caffeine. Animals: Twenty healthy neonatal Holstein bull calves. Methods: In this randomized, prospective study, calves born healthy and without history of dystocia were cooled to 32°C rectal temperature then thermally resuscitated using either forced air rewarming or warm water bath (40°C) with or without oral administration of caffeine. Rectal temperatures were used to quantify recovery rate. Measurements of glucose, lactate, and cortisol were recorded for every 2°C change in rectal temperature. Results: Rectal temperature decline (0.03°C per minute) and total cooling time (191.0 ± 33.3 minutes) did not significantly differ among treatment groups. Calves were successfully resuscitated to 38°C by either method. Time required to euthermia using warm water was significantly faster (0.1°C per minute; 64.3 ± 17.8 minute; P <.05) than forced air (0.05°C per minute; 123.1 ± 20.0 minutes). Caffeine had no significant effect on resuscitation rate (P =.14; 95% CI, −0.002 to 0.024) in either treatment; however, caffeine was associated with reduced time to euthermia by 8.3 and 10.8 minutes, respectively. Changes in metabolic variables (glucose, lactate, and cortisol), were inversely related to rectal temperature with no statistical significance among rewarming methods. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Although warm water submersion is faster, forced air rewarming is an effective alternative for restoration of euthermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive tumor with a short overall survival time (OST) despite treatment with splenectomy and adjuvant doxorubicin. Modulation of the immune system has been shown to be effective for a variety of human tumors, and may be effective for canine tumors, including HSA. Immunocidin® is a non-specific immunotherapy based on a mycobacterial cell wall fraction. Preliminary work suggests Immunocidin® is safe to give intravenously (IV) in tumor-bearing dogs. This work aimed to evaluate the safety of doxorubicin and Immunocidin® combination in dogs with naturally occurring splenic HSA. A secondary aim of this study was to collect preliminary efficacy data to support a subsequent comprehensive, prospective clinical trial in canine patients with HSA, if the combination of doxorubicin and Immunocidin® was found to be safe. Eighteen dogs with stage II-III splenic HSA were recruited to receive 5 doses of sequential IV doxorubicin and Immunocidin® at two-week intervals following splenectomy. Adverse events (AEs) were graded according to the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group v1.1 (VCOG) scheme. Overall survival time was calculated from the date of splenectomy to date of death or loss to follow-up. AEs during administration were infrequent, the most common being hypertension. One patient developed limb and facial twitching and was removed from the study. After infusion, common AEs included lethargy, hyporexia, and diarrhea. One patient developed VCOG grade 5 diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Modifications in the treatment regimen were made to prevent these signs in subsequent patients. The median OST in dogs treated with the combination therapy was estimated at 147 days (range: 39-668 days). Although generally safe, the combination of doxorubicin and Immunocidin® appeared to cause more gastrointestinal effects than doxorubicin alone, and no apparent improvement in OST was noted in this population of dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the association of admission total plasma protein (TPP) and the administration of red blood cell transfusions in dogs with diagnosed hemoabdomen. To secondarily evaluate additional point‐of‐care parameters associated with red blood cell transfusion administration. Design: Retrospective study between 2009 and 2019. Setting: University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Ninety dogs admitted to a university veterinary teaching hospital after a diagnosis of traumatic or nontraumatic hemoabdomen (NTH). Measurements and Main Results: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed; signalment, point‐of‐care diagnostics, and transfusion administration information was recorded. A total of 47 dogs (traumatic hemoabdomen 11/26; NTH 36/64) received packed red blood cell transfusions. For each 1 g/dL unit decrease in TPP, dogs had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44–3.40, P < 0.001) of receiving a red blood cell transfusion. Dogs diagnosed with NTH were more likely to receive a red blood cell transfusion than dogs with a traumatic hemoabdomen (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.11–7.141, P = 0.03). Lower PCV values (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12, P < 0.001), bicarbonate values (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.09–1.56, P = 0.003), and base excess (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.1–1.49, P = 0.003) were associated with a higher likelihood of red blood cell transfusion. Additionally, higher lactate (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.63, P < 0.001) and Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE)fast scores (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.17, P < 0.001) were associated with increased red blood cell transfusion administration. Conclusions: Low admission TPP, independent of low PCV, was associated with red blood cell transfusions regardless of underlying cause. For each 1 g/dL unit decrease in TPP on presentation, dogs were approximately 2 times more likely to receive a red blood cell transfusion during hospitalization. Other factors that were associated with increased transfusion administration included presenting PCV, PCV/TPP ratio, bicarbonate, base excess, lactate, and APPLEfast scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study evaluated the daily administration of 1 × 109 cfu Bacillus subtilis probiotics (DE-CA9TM) on general health, fecal scores, microbiome, as well as fecal and serum metabolome in 10 healthy adult Beagle dogs. Our data suggest that this probiotic is safe to administer to healthy Beagle dogs. Furthermore, DE-CA9TM administration had a potential positive effect on several markers of oxidative stress, in addition promoting an increase in serum tryptophan levels in supplemented dogs. Background: There is increasing interest in the use of Bacillus species as probiotics since their spore-forming ability favors their survival in the acidic gastric environment over other probiotic species. The subsequent germination of B. subtilis to their vegetative form allows for their growth in the small intestine and may increase their beneficial effect on the host. B. subtilis strains have also previously been shown to have beneficial effects in humans and production animals, however, no reports are available so far on their use in companion animals. Study design: The goal of this study was therefore to investigate the daily administration of 1 × 109 cfu DE-CA9TM orally per day versus placebo on health parameters, fecal scores, fecal microbiome, fecal metabolomics, as well as serum metabolomics and oxidative stress markers in ten healthy Beagle dogs in a parallel, randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled design over a period of 45 days. Results: DE-CA9TM decreased the oxidative status compared to controls for advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMS), suggesting an antioxidant effect of the treatment. Fecal metabolomics revealed a significant reduction in metabolites associated with tryptophan metabolism in the DE-CA9TM-treated group. DE-CA9TM also significantly decreased phenylalanine and homocysteine and increased homoserine and threonine levels. Amino acid metabolism was also affected in the serum metabolome, with increased levels of urea and cadaverine, and reductions in N-acetylornithine in DE-CA9TM compared to controls. Similarly, changes in essential amino acids were observed, with a significant increase in tryptophan and lysine levels and a decrease in homocysteine. An increase in serum guanine and deoxyuridine was also detected, with a decrease in beta-alanine in the animals that ingested DE-CA9TM. Conclusions: Data generated throughout this study suggest that the daily administration of 1 × 109 cfu of DE-CA9TM in healthy Beagle dogs is safe and does not affect markers of general health and fecal scores. Furthermore, DE-CA9TM administration had a potential positive effect on some serum markers of oxidative stress, and protein and lipid metabolism in serum and feces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CE) is a common cause for persistent or intermittent diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in dogs. Since there is evidence that imbalances in intestinal bacteria (dysbiosis) are associated with mucosal inflammation, probiotics, prebiotics, or a combination of the two (synbiotics) may reduce intestinal inflammation and decrease severity of dysbiosis. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplement synbiotic-IgY on clinical signs, inflammatory indices, and the mucosal microbiota in the dogs with CE. Twenty dogs with CE completed a prospective randomized clinical trial and were administered a hydrolyzed diet with the dietary supplement (synbiotic-IgY) or placebo (hydrolyzed diet) continuously for 6 weeks. At trial completion, results indicated that clinical disease activity and endoscopic scores decreased in both groups. Compared to dogs who were fed placebo, dogs administered supplement exhibited decreased levels of inflammatory markers fecal calprotectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) two weeks post-treatment, decreased levels of hs-CRP two- and six-weeks post-treatment, increased numbers of mucosal Clostridia and Bacteroides and decreased numbers of Enterobacteriaceae in colon biopsies at the completion of the trial. Results suggest that hydrolyzed diet and supplement effect favorable changes to host responses and the mucosal microbiota in dogs with CE. Chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CE) is a common cause of persistent gastrointestinal signs and intestinal inflammation in dogs. Since evidence links dysbiosis to mucosal inflammation, probiotics, prebiotics, or their combination (synbiotics) may reduce intestinal inflammation and ameliorate dysbiosis in affected dogs. This study's aim was to investigate the effects of the synbiotic-IgY supplement on clinical signs, inflammatory indices, and mucosal microbiota in dogs with CE. Dogs with CE were enrolled in a randomized prospective trial. Twenty-four client-owned dogs were fed a hydrolyzed diet and administered supplement or placebo (diet) for 6 weeks. Dogs were evaluated at diagnosis and 2- and 6-week post-treatment. Outcome measures included clinical activity, endoscopic and histologic scores, inflammatory markers (fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein), and composition of the mucosal microbiota via FISH. Eleven supplement- and nine placebo-treated dogs completed the trial. After 6 weeks of therapy, clinical activity and endoscopic scores decreased in both groups. Compared to placebo-treated dogs, dogs administered supplement showed decreased calprotectin at 2-week post-treatment, decreased CRP at 2- and 6-week post-treatment increased mucosal Clostridia and Bacteroides and decreased Enterobacteriaceae in colonic biopsies at trial completion. Results suggest a beneficial effect of diet and supplements on host responses and mucosal microbiota in dogs with CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]