Pets

Brachycephalic dogs commonly suffer from breathing difficulties and other chronic health problems, yet strong consumer demand is widely reported. Whether the popularity of brachycephalic breeds persists across different contexts is largely untested. Census data from 1,510,085 canine consultations conducted at a single veterinary hospital from 2004 to 2023 in Hong Kong were collected and analysed. Individual dogs (n = 96,777) were counted once, in the first year of presentation. Males (53.5% to 57.7%) and purebreds (86.2% to 91.2%) predominated each year. Neutered dogs increased from 52% to 70% annually. Poodles were the most popular breed from 2009. Brachycephalic breeds, collectively, declined progressively from 36.3% to 15.4% of the annual population. This trend was exaggerated in dogs < 1-year-old (27.4% to 11.7%). Absolute numbers of common brachycephalic breeds declined, except for French Bulldogs and Pugs. A historical cohort study was conducted with a subset of the data (2016–2023) to investigate the hypothesis that veterinary service use would be higher in brachycephalic breeds compared with other groups. The hypothesis was proven. Relative demand for brachycephalic breeds in Hong Kong is decreasing, with the exception of French Bulldogs and Pugs. Investigating drivers of these observations will inform behaviour change strategies, and facilitate comparisons across different regions.

Viper envenomation in dogs represents a significant medical emergency in regions where vipers are endemic. Despite its clinical relevance, detailed data on the haematological and biochemical alterations in canine viper envenomation remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and haematological, biochemical and coagulative changes occurring in dogs following bites from the Vipera aspis species, and to assess their diagnostic and prognostic significance. Twelve dogs with suspected Vipera aspis envenomation were encompassed in the study. Clinical data were gathered and blood samples were collected at hospital admission (T1), 24 h (T2) and 48 h later (T3). Complete blood counts, biochemical profiles and coagulation parameters were analysed using standard automated systems. Common clinical signs included local pain and swelling, depression, fever, haematuria and melena. Haematological evaluation revealed progressive anaemia, leucocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Biochemical findings showed elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatine kinas (CK), indicating hepatic and muscular injury; however, no consistent evidence of renal failure was found. Coagulation analysis revealed a significant shortening of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) over time, alongside marked increases in fibrinogen and antithrombin III. This indicates an inflammatory rather than consumptive coagulopathy. Viper envenomation in dogs induces complex haematological and biochemical alterations, reflecting both direct venom toxicity and systemic inflammatory responses. Early recognition, supportive care and continuous laboratory monitoring are essential for improving prognosis.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders in which protein loss occurs through the gastrointestinal tract. One of the underlying causes is chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE). Conventional therapies for CIE often include diet, immunosuppressives, anti-microbials, probiotics, and, recently, fecal microbial transplantation (FMT). This case report highlights the use of lyophilized material-based FMT through oral capsules and enema in a dog with PLE and concurrent protein-losing nephropathy (PLN). The patient initially had a significantly increased dysbiosis index (DI) and required repeated FMT treatments, resulting in a positive clinical response through improvement in body weight, serum albumin concentrations, fecal scores, and normalization of the DI over time. To maintain clinical responses, FMT had to be performed monthly. Approximately 1 year after starting FMT therapy, the patient then developed an episode of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) associated with netF-gene-encoding Clostridium perfringens strains, after which the DI became abnormal again. The patient responded clinically well to monthly FMT treatments again, but it took several months for normalization of the DI after the AHDS episode. In summary, this case report highlights the continued use of adjunct lyophilized FMT in a dog with PLE resulting in improved clinical control over time.