Serum protein electrophoresis in Galgos.

The Galgo is a member of the sighthound family and is one of the most popular breeds in Spain. Several sighthound breeds have laboratory values that are outside the reference intervals established for the general population of dogs. Serum protein electrophoresis has not been studied in Galgos and they are often interpreted as if they were Greyhounds. However, recent studies suggest that each sighthound breed presents its own specific laboratory features, and the extrapolation of the information described in Greyhounds to other sighthound breeds could lead to misdiagnoses. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to evaluate the results of serum protein electrophoresis in healthy Galgos and compare them with a control group of age- and gender-matched dogs of other breeds and (2) to determine if serum protein electrophoresis profiles in Galgos are similar to those previously reported in Greyhounds. Serum protein electrophoresis using agarose gel was measured in 30 healthy Galgos and 22 age- and gender-matched control dogs of other breeds to assess any differences. Galgos had higher albumin, β-globulins and albumin to globulin ratio and lower total globulins, α2-globulins and γ-globulins, than those in the control group. These data confirm that Galgos have breed-specific features in serum protein electrophoresis and that those values previously described in Greyhounds should not be extrapolated to Galgos. The knowledge of these breed-specific differences will help avoid misdiagnoses when interpreting serum protein electrophoresis in Galgos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]