Time for announcements

We have all been there already:

You are in the middle of a heated discussion, with many opinionated parties. Everyone wants to tell their own story, and you have uncle Jim reminding of the time he had that particularly nasty case, while aunt Emma starts with the philosophy lesson on how things should run.

In the middle of the storm, you think to yourself "didn't we discuss this already 1000 times already?"

Fact is, noone was there to write it down, and if you ask 3 people in the group you get 7 different versions of what was discussed last time.

Now that's science: everyone write things down.

But not everyone can prove that what you wrote down is correct.

So every time in a while, someone sits down and tries to get all the strings together and make sense of them.

This week, we owe it to Arielle Johnson-Pitt for her wonderful review on the role of inflammation in canine diabetes.

And a big thank you also to the ENOVAT for their new guidelines for Antimicrobial use in Canine Acute Diarrhea.

Enjoy!

Reviews and Guidelines

Is Exocrine Pancreatic Inflammation a Hidden Factor in Canine Diabetes?

In this review, Arielle Johnson-Pitt et al from THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE , UK, explore the link between exocrine pancreatic inflammation and canine diabetes mellitus, proposing that exocrine pancreatic inflammation could be an under-recognized cause of β-cell death, contributing to insulin-deficiency diabetes in dogs. Up to 30% of diabetic dogs show evidence of pancreatitis post-mortem, yet current diagnostics for pancreatitis remain imprecise. The review examines the limitations of current treatments and highlights the need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that address both pancreatitis and diabetes more effectively in canine patients.

Johnson-Pitt A, Catchpole B, Davison LJ. Exocrine pancreatic inflammation in canine diabetes mellitus – an active offender?. The Veterinary Journal, 2024, 106241, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106241.

ENOVAT Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Canine Acute Diarrhea

The European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Therapy (ENOVAT) provides evidence-based guidelines for treating canine acute diarrhea (CAD). Developed by a multidisciplinary panel using the GRADE framework, the guidelines include four strong recommendations and three conditional ones based on varying levels of evidence. The guidelines emphasize judicious antimicrobial use and incorporate input from veterinarians and dog owners. ENOVAT encourages national and regional adaptations to ensure practical, evidence-based approaches for managing acute diarrhea in dogs.

L.R. Jessen, M. Werner, D. Singleton, C. Prior, F. Foroutan, A.A. Ferran, C. Arenas, C. R. Bj?rnvad, E. Lavy, F. Allerton, K. Allensbach, L. Guardabassi, S. Unterer, T. Bodnárová, U. Windahl, M.L. Brennan, J.S. Weese, K. Scahill. European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Therapy (ENOVAT) guidelines for antimicrobial use in canine acute diarrhoea. The Veterinary Journal. Volume 307, 2024, 106208, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106208.

Dog Research

Delayed Heartworm Microfilarial Reduction in Dogs After Advocate? Treatment

This study from Power and ?lapeta from the 澳大利亚悉尼大学 , Australia, examines two cases of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in Australia, where dogs showed delayed reductions in microfilariae after treatment with Advocate? (imidacloprid and moxidectin). Despite claims of rigorous prevention, both dogs exhibited less than 40% microfilariae reduction after seven days, a phenomenon typically associated with macrocyclic lactone (ML) resistance. However, genetic testing indicated no ML-resistant mutations. The findings suggest that while these dogs displayed poor phenotypic response to treatment, their heartworm genotypes remain susceptible, raising questions about potential factors influencing treatment efficacy outside the USA.

Power RI, ?lapeta J. Delayed canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) microfilarial reduction following Advocate? for dogs (imidacloprid, moxidectin) treatment. The Veterinary Journal, Volume 307, 2024, 106209, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106209.

Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin-Impregnated Collagen Sponges in Dogs

In this study, Tri Bhawono Dadi et al, from the Universiteit Gent , Belgium, investigated the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges (GICS) implanted subcutaneously in six healthy dogs. Local gentamicin concentrations peaked within 0.5 to 1 hour post-implantation, providing high antibiotic levels for bacterial elimination. Systemic gentamicin levels peaked at 1.2 hours but dropped below therapeutic levels within six hours. The study shows that GICS provides rapid and high local antibiotic concentrations, potentially effective against resistant bacteria, although wound hydration may influence release rates.

T. Bhawono Dadi, N. Devriendt, M. Cherlet, M. Devreese, I. Polis, H. de Rooster. Pharmacokinetic study of local and systemic gentamicin concentrations after subcutaneous implantation of a gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponge in dogs,. The Veterinary Journal, Volume 307, 2024, 106201, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106201.

Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Alone or with Ketamine or Midazolam for Sedating Dogs

Majid Jafarbeglou et al from the Lebanese University . Lebanon, compared the sedative effects of intranasal dexmedetomidine (Dex) alone or combined with midazolam (DexM) or ketamine (DexK) in healthy dogs. The results showed that DexK provided the fastest onset of sedation, while Dex alone was better tolerated with fewer adverse effects. DexM was less effective, with some dogs failing to reach adequate sedation and experiencing paradoxical excitement. Dex and DexK reached peak sedation faster and more consistently than DexM, making them more suitable for sedation in dogs.

Jafarbeglou M, Marjani M, Bakhshi-Khanghah R, Paryani M, Oghbaei M. Intranasal atomized dexmedetomidine alone or in combination with ketamine or midazolam to sedate healthy dogs. The Veterinary Journal, Volume 307, 2024, 106224, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106224.

Montelukast Pharmacokinetics in Dogs: A Preliminary Study Under Fasted and Fed Conditions

This preliminary study from Charbel Fadel et al from the Università di Pisa , Italy, explores the pharmacokinetics of montelukast (MTK), a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, in six dogs following a single oral dose under fasted and fed conditions. The results showed no significant differences between the two states, with the drug reaching peak concentrations in about 4 hours and having a half-life of approximately 8 hours. The findings suggest that further research is needed to determine the appropriate dosing and efficacy of MTK in dogs, particularly for its off-label use in treating atopic dermatitis.

Fadel C, ?ebkowska-Wieruszewska B, Lisowski A, Serih F, Poapolathep A, Giorgi A. Exploring montelukast in dogs: A preliminary pharmacokinetic study following oral administration under fasted and fed conditions. The Veterinary Journal, Volume 307, 2024, 106210, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106210.

Auranofin Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Canine Mammary Tumor Cells

This study from Lin et al. from the 安徽农业大学 , China, investigates the anti-tumor effects of Auranofin (AF), a gold complex, on canine mammary tumor (CMT) cells. Using five CMT cell lines and primary cells, researchers found that AF suppressed tumor growth, migration, and invasion, while effectively inducing apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway. The findings suggest that Auranofin has significant potential as a treatment for CMT, warranting further research into its therapeutic applications in dogs.

Lin, Z., Chen, R., Wang, J., Zheng, Y., He, Z., Yan, Y., Zhang, L., Huang, X. and Zhang, H. (2024), Auranofin Suppresses the Growth of Canine Mammary?Tumour Cells and Induces Apoptosis via the?PI3K/AKT Pathway. Vet Comp Oncol. https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.13005

Cat Research

High Prevalence and Risk Factors of Feline Leukemia Virus in Chilean Urban Cats

Cristobal Castillo Aliaga et al from the 英国诺丁汉大学 , UK, investigated the prevalence and risk factors of Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in 182 urban cats in Chile. Using PCR testing, the study found a high FeLV prevalence of 54.95%. Key risk factors included lack of vaccination, while cats from Concepcion and those sampled in 2022 showed lower infection rates. The findings emphasize the need for better FeLV control, including promoting vaccination, health screenings before adoption, and owner education to reduce FeLV circulation in Chile.

Cristobal Castillo-Aliaga, Susana Castro-Seriche, Alonso Jerez-Morales, Rachael Tarlinton. High prevalence and risk factors of feline leukemia virus infection in Chilean urban cats (Felis catus). Research in Veterinary Science, 2024, 105403, ISSN 0034-5288, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105403.

Cats & Dogs

Fine-Needle Aspiration vs. Core Needle Biopsy for Diagnosing Mammary Tumors in Dogs and Cats

In this study Pakdeesaneha et al from the Chulalongkorn University , Thailand, compared the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in pre-surgical diagnosis of mammary gland tumors in dogs and cats. With excisional histopathology as the gold standard, both methods showed high accuracy for feline tumors (90%–97.7%) but were less accurate for canine tumors, with CNB using larger needles (16G) performing better. The findings suggest that while FNA and CNB are useful diagnostic tools, their accuracy can vary by species and technique.

Pakdeesaneha, T., Chankow, K., Techarungchaikul, S., Thongsima, T., Kongtia, M. and Tharasanit, T. (2024), Comparison of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Core Needle Biopsy for the Pre-Operative Diagnosis of Canine and Feline Mammary Gland Tumours. Vet Comp Oncol. https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.13006

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I am Davide - Founder & CEO of Lab4Paws . With my life science company I help #AnimalHealth scientists develop therapeutic & diagnostic solutions for companion animals and work to reduce animal testing for human drug development.

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