Search Results (1,229)

Oxidative stress, arising from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, is a shared pathogenic mechanism underlying numerous chronic diseases in humans and, increasingly, in companion animals that consume structurally similar processed diets. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on dietary and feed-derived sources of ROS, spanning intrinsic pro-oxidant systems in unprocessed foods (lipid hydroperoxides, heme iron, and polyphenol autoxidation) and heat processing-generated toxicants (advanced glycation end products, acrylamide, heterocyclic aromatic amines, and lipid oxidation products), and examines the molecular mechanisms that link these compounds to organ-specific and systemic disease, including receptor-mediated signaling, cytochrome P450 activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and antioxidant depletion. Comparative analysis across humans, dogs, and cats reveals parallel disease burdens in metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, alongside instructive species-specific divergences in atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disease driven by differences in lipoprotein metabolism and toxicokinetics. The review further reassesses canonical dietary antioxidants, including polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as context-dependent redox modulators capable of both cytoprotective and pro-oxidant activity. Collectively, these findings position dietary and feed processing as an under-recognized, modifiable contributor to chronic disease across species. In this context, companion animals emerge as valuable naturalistic translational models for studying diet-induced oxidative pathology. Priority research needs include standardized dose–response and biomarker frameworks, characterization of gut microbiome-mediated effects, and assessment of combinatorial pro-oxidant exposures. Full article

The original function of many dog breeds no longer fits the requirements of an easy-going companion. Caretakers can also be overdemanding regarding their dogs’ ability to cope with societal expectations. We propose and evaluate four strategies for readjusting the dog–human relationship by highlighting their positive and negative outcomes. (1) ‘Converge’: dog breeds should be changed towards the amicable dog’s behavioural characteristics; thus, once the goal is reached, even novice dog owners can safely own almost any dog they fancy. (2) ‘Diverge’: the original behavioural/temperament traits of dog breeds should be fortified through stabilizing selection. This method emphasizes dog owners’ responsibility when choosing among the various dog breeds. (3) ‘Split’: a combination of the previous two, when clearly distinct and reliable companion and working types are selected within the same breed. (4) ‘Merge’: we should create new ‘urban dog breeds’. This method would provide ‘foolproof’ companion dog variants and at the same time relies on the prospective owners’ responsibility to choose their dog wisely. We provide a critical assessment of potential positive and negative features of each strategy, including ethical and feasibility concerns. Biologists should provide a scientific background to support a solution that favours the needs of both species in coexistence. Full article

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging microbiome-directed intervention for dogs and cats, but its clinical role remains incompletely defined. This structured narrative review integrates peer-reviewed clinical, mechanistic, methodological, and safety evidence on companion-animal FMT published between 2005 and 2026, with emphasis on efficacy, tolerability, mechanisms, product preparation, donor screening, and research priorities. In dogs, the most consistent clinical signal concerns chronic enteropathy (CE), where observational studies frequently report reduced disease activity scores after FMT, whereas small randomized trials have shown mixed results; however, causal inference remains limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, and concurrent therapies. The strongest controlled canine signal comes from parvoviral enteritis, where adjunctive enema-based FMT accelerated diarrhea resolution and shortened hospitalization. Feline data support short-term tolerability and measurable microbiome activity, but clinical efficacy remains preliminary; notably, the first controlled feline chronic enteropathy (CE) trial showed no significant improvement in dysbiosis index or clinical activity scores compared with controls. Proposed mechanisms include donor microbial engraftment, metabolic restoration, immune modulation, and gut–brain and gut–skin axis signaling, although veterinary-specific validation remains limited. Standardized donor screening, batch-level quality control, dose-finding studies, long-term safety surveillance, and adequately powered sham-controlled trials are the main prerequisites for responsible clinical translation. Full article

Amid the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), attention is increasingly directed toward investigating additional factors that may contribute to or mediate its development, among which companion animals have emerged as a potential reservoir and transmission interface. Despite this, the contribution of free-roaming animal populations living in proximity to humans and domestic animals has yet to be thoroughly investigated worldwide. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales in free-roaming cats in Israel. Rectal swabs were collected from 214 free-roaming cats admitted to two veterinary clinics between 2023 and 2024. ESBL-PE were recovered from 51 cats (23.8%), yielding 61 isolates, which were tested for susceptibility to multiple antimicrobials. Eleven bacterial species were identified, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently recovered (62.3%, 38/61). Nine purposively selected E. coli isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Multidrug resistance (MDR), defined as non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories, was observed in 72.1% (44/61) of isolates, and four isolates were carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). These findings suggest that free-roaming cats may serve as a previously overlooked ‘One Health’ link, possibly connecting environmental contamination to human and animal health risks. Full article

Background: Non-associative immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is uncommon in cats and carries substantial mortality. Glucocorticoids are first-line treatment, and cyclosporin A (CsA) is frequently added, but data on the clinical course and long-term outcome are limited. We describe clinical findings, treatment, adverse events and outcome in cats with non-associative IMHA. Methods: In this retrospective observational single-center study (October 2014–October 2024), 37 cats diagnosed by the 2019 ACVIM consensus criteria were included; 15 received prednisolone alone (PG) and 22 prednisolone combined with CsA (CPG), allocated at the clinician’s discretion. Between-cohort comparisons are exploratory. Results: Cats in the CPG cohort presented with more severe anemia. Overall mortality was 24.3%, with all deaths within four weeks; survival to discharge was 13/15 (PG) and 19/22 (CPG). Median follow-up was 50 [8–430] and 70 days [12–330]. Two cats achieved sustained treatment-free remission of 4.2 and 1.9 years. Five cats relapsed, four while receiving ongoing immunosuppression. Conclusions: Most cats survived the acute phase but required prolonged immunosuppression, and sustained treatment-free remission was uncommon. Relapses occurred predominantly during ongoing therapy rather than after discontinuation. Because CsA was used preferentially in more severely affected cats, comparative efficacy cannot be assessed and remains to be addressed prospectively. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing concern in veterinary medicine and within the One Health framework, yet long-term data from companion animals remain limited in Jordan. This retrospective study characterized bacterial pathogens and archived antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among clinical samples from dogs and cats presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Jordan University of Science and Technology between 2012 and 2024. Records from 232 clinical cases comprising 248 submitted samples were reviewed. Among 237 samples with known culture outcomes, 121 yielded bacterial growth (51.1%), resulting in 141 bacterial isolates. Escherichia coli (E. coli) (33.3%) was the most frequently recovered organism, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (19.1%), Staphylococcus spp. (15.6%), and Proteus spp. (9.9%). AST results were available for 96/141 isolates (68.1%). Archived interpretations showed frequent non-susceptibility to several tested agents, whereas fluoroquinolone non-susceptibility was generally lower. Using the historical study rule of non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial classes, 87/96 isolates (90.6%) met the screening criterion. However, intermediate results were grouped with resistant results, AST panels and breakpoint standards varied over 13 years, and the archived records did not permit reliable exclusion of intrinsic resistance for every organism–drug combination. Accordingly, the MDR estimate is descriptive and should not be interpreted as a standardized contemporary prevalence. These data provide a baseline for companion-animal bacterial surveillance in Jordan and support prospective standardized AST and antimicrobial stewardship. Full article

Veterinary education has traditionally focused on companion and farm animals, while wildlife medicine and wildlife management remain insufficiently represented despite their growing importance within the One Health framework. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge, practical skills, and attitudes toward wildlife management and wildlife medicine among veterinary students enrolled in the Bulgarian- and English-language programmes at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University (Bulgaria), and in the Veterinary Medicine degree programme at the University of Milan (Italy). A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 307 veterinary students. The questionnaire evaluated students’ understanding of wildlife management, knowledge of the legislative and institutional framework governing wildlife conservation, practical experience in wildlife medicine, and preferred pathways for acquiring additional competencies. More than half of the respondents correctly associated wildlife management with the monitoring and active conservation of wildlife. However, knowledge of the relevant government authorities responsible for wildlife management was limited, with approximately one-third of the Bulgarian-language and English-language students and one-fifth of the Italian students unable to identify the responsible institutions. Practical experience in wildlife medicine was generally limited, particularly among Italian students, although students from Trakia University more frequently reported experience in multiple practical areas. Despite these gaps, respondents demonstrated a strong interest in wildlife medicine, with the majority expressing a willingness to develop competencies across multiple areas and preferring a combination of undergraduate education, postgraduate training, and voluntary practical experience. These findings highlight the need for stronger integration of wildlife medicine into undergraduate veterinary curricula through interdisciplinary teaching and practical training. Expanding educational opportunities in wildlife medicine would better prepare future veterinarians to contribute to wildlife health, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and the implementation of the One Health approach. Full article

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance among ESKAPE pathogens represents a major One Health challenge, yet several clinically relevant members of this group remain underrecognized in companion animals because of diagnostic limitations and research bias. This review critically evaluates current evidence on neglected ESKAPE pathogens in dogs and cats, with particular emphasis on diagnostic blind spots, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic implications, and the potential of phytotherapeutic strategies. A structured literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by reports from international health organizations, was conducted to identify studies addressing pathogen occurrence, resistance mechanisms, transmission pathways, and plant-derived antimicrobial compounds. The available evidence indicates that organisms such as the Enterobacter cloacae complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Enterococcus faecium, and Acinetobacter baumannii remain substantially underinvestigated despite their clinical relevance and multidrug-resistant phenotypes. Advanced diagnostic approaches, including MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing, together with integrated One Health surveillance, may improve their detection and epidemiological characterization. Current phytotherapeutic research demonstrates promising antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antibiotic-potentiating activities of plant-derived compounds but remains largely focused on well-characterized pathogens. Targeted investigation of neglected ESKAPE pathogens using chemically characterized plant extracts and clinically relevant veterinary isolates may support the development of complementary antimicrobial strategies and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship within the One Health framework. Full article

Two client-owned Lionhead rabbits underwent median sternotomy for mediastinal mass excision. Premedication included methadone, dexmedetomidine, and midazolam, with ketamine added for one rabbit. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and a ketamine infusion. Bilateral ultrasound-guided TTP blocks were performed at the level of the second and fifth intercostal spaces using a linear transducer and a spinal needle advanced in-plane in a lateromedial direction. Bupivacaine 0.5% was injected at a total dose of 2 mg/kg per rabbit, divided equally among four injection sites (total volumes of 0.9 mL and 1.0 mL for the first and second rabbits, respectively). Only one rabbit exhibited a brief intraoperative nociceptive response. The second rabbit developed severe postoperative respiratory compromise related to inadequate thoracic drain function and died 4 h after surgery. These cases indicate that the TTP block is technically feasible in rabbits and can contribute to intraoperative analgesia during thoracic surgery. Further studies are needed to evaluate the optimal injectate volume and its distribution, as well as the safety and efficacy of the anesthetic dose. Full article

Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eyeworm infecting companion animals, wildlife, and humans, but chromosome-scale genomic resources from Chinese clinical material remain limited. We generated a genome supported by Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) high-fidelity (HiFi) sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) from 100 adult worms recovered from naturally infected dogs in Beijing and compared its chromosome-scale organization with Portuguese assembly GCA_965194785.1. The final assembly spans 119.53 megabases (Mb) and comprises 115 top-level sequences, including four pseudomolecules totaling 91.26 Mb (76.34%) and 111 unanchored sequences. Genome-mode Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis recovered 98.5% complete chromadorean orthologues, and the representative 11,788-protein gene set recovered 92.6%. Sequence-level alignment resolved Chinese chromosomes 1–4 (chr1–chr4) to Portuguese chr1, chrX, chr3, and chr2, respectively, with retained alignments covering 95.9–99.2% of each Chinese pseudomolecule and estimated sequence identities of 99.75–99.91%. Strong chromosome-scale collinearity was accompanied by localized reverse-collinear regions, including 0.243 Mb and 0.115 Mb intervals on chr2–chrX and chr3–chr3. The anchored sequences contained 96.7% of predicted genes and were substantially more gene-dense than the unanchored sequences. These results establish a clinically sourced Chinese chromosome-scale reference and provide a validated framework for future individual-worm, population-genomic, structural-variation, and comparative genomic studies of this parasite. Full article

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to humankind, valued across ancient civilisations for treating parasitic, microbial, and metabolic diseases. Its exceptionally rich phytochemical composition, dominated by punicalagins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, flavonoids, piperidine alkaloids, and the unique conjugated fatty acid punicic acid, confers a remarkably broad spectrum of biological activities of direct relevance to contemporary veterinary medicine. While human-health applications have been extensively reviewed, a comprehensive synthesis of veterinary evidence across multiple species remains lacking. This review consolidates current preclinical and field knowledge on the pharmacological effects of pomegranate preparations in poultry, ruminants, swine, fish, companion animals, and laboratory models. In poultry—the most extensively studied taxon—dietary inclusion of pomegranate peel powder or extract consistently enhances growth performance, antioxidant status, and humoral immunity while exerting meaningful anticoccidial activity. The antiparasitic properties are compellingly supported by evidence against gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants, tapeworms, schistosomes, and protozoa including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Leishmania spp., as well as monogenean fish parasites. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity extends to major veterinary pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), and Clostridium perfringens. Rodent models have validated antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and reproductive benefits, including improved post-thaw sperm quality and enhanced litter size. The safety profile is generally favourable at conventional doses, although high dietary inclusion elicits anti-nutritional effects from condensed tannins, and potential drug interactions via cytochrome P450 inhibition warrant clinical caution. Despite this substantial evidence, significant translational barriers persist, including extract heterogeneity, absence of pharmacokinetic data in target species, and scarcity of controlled clinical trials. By providing a species- and pathology-driven synthesis, this review identifies critical research priorities and highlights the immense potential of this ancient, accessible, and economically viable phytobiotic as a natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters and synthetic antiparasitics in veterinary practice. Full article

Background: Bacteria of the genus Providencia are emerging pathogens associated with a wide range of infections, particularly in healthcare settings. In veterinary medicine, infections caused by these organisms are uncommon, and, to date, there have been no reports of carbapenem-resistant Providencia spp. causing infection in companion animals. Methods and Results: This study describes a comprehensive investigation of bacterial endocarditis caused by carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a cat, including clinical, imaging, pathological, microbiological, and genomic findings. A 1.5-year-old mixed-breed female cat was admitted to a referral veterinary hospital with an extensive pelvic limb wound and a recent history of laparotomy. During hospitalization, a heart murmur was detected, and echocardiographic examination revealed vegetation-like lesion on the mitral valve. Despite intensive treatment, the patient’s clinical condition progressively deteriorated over a 15-day period, ultimately leading to euthanasia. Necropsy confirmed bacterial endocarditis with evidence of systemic septic embolization. P. rettgeri was isolated from blood collected from both heart ventricles and from an endocardial swab and its identity was confirmed by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated resistance to meropenem. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the species identification and revealed a Col3M plasmid carrying multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, including the carbapenemase gene bla_NDM-1. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of carbapenem-resistant Providencia spp. causing infection in a companion animal. This case highlights the emergence of Providencia spp. as potential veterinary pathogens capable of causing severe, invasive and fatal infections. Full article

Companion animals have increasingly become central to human emotional life, yet the literature linking living with companion animals, human–animal interaction, and mental health remains fragmented. This study mapped global research trends on companion animals and mental health from 2000 to 2024 using bibliographic records retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). A final dataset of 930 peer-reviewed articles was analyzed with Bibliometrix (RStudio), CiteSpace, and VOSviewer to characterize publication growth, national and institutional collaboration, influential authors and journals, co-cited references, keyword clusters, and citation bursts. Results show a strong nonlinear increase in output after 2015, with the United States as the dominant contributor and Australia and the WoSCC country node labelled England (distinct from Scotland) as important international bridges. Core knowledge clusters center on human–animal interaction, animal-assisted intervention, older adults, child/adolescent development, loneliness, attachment, and post-traumatic stress. Recent burst terms and references indicate a shift from general companion-animal caregiving and physiological stress buffering toward intervention design, vulnerable populations, and pandemic-era mental health. Overall, the field has matured into an interdisciplinary research area with growing methodological sophistication, but future work should strengthen cross-cultural evidence, longitudinal designs, standardized outcome measures, and explicit assessment of animal welfare. Full article

As urban housing becomes increasingly compact and companion animals become more deeply integrated into domestic life, human–cat cohabitation presents design challenges related to spatial efficiency, furniture wear, maintenance, and everyday coexistence. This study examines shared-interface conflicts in compact apartments and proposes an integrated SOR–Kano–FBS pathway for sustainable human–cat shared furniture design. In-home observations, semi-structured interviews, behavioral path recording, and Kano questionnaires were used to identify high-frequency activity contexts and prioritize user requirements. These requirements were translated through the FBS model into functional objectives, behavioral scripts, and structural strategies. The results indicate that ease of cleaning and maintenance, structural stability and user-perceived safety, and dedicated scratching guidance primarily represent must-be requirements. Movement-path separation, centralized storage, and aesthetic integration function as performance-enhancing requirements, whereas shared yet stratified zoning, elevated observation points, and moderate visual connection improve the cohabitation experience. Two conceptual designs—a human–cat shared living-room sofa system and a foldable work/study system—were developed. Their descriptive comprehensive acceptance indices were 0.802 and 0.794, respectively, while a combined conventional-furniture reference set scored 0.520. Because the reference set represented two conventional activity contexts, these values were used only as diagnostic, user-perception-based evidence and not as inferential proof or a direct ranking between the schemes. The findings suggest that the proposed pathway can support design-level sustainability in compact human–cat cohabitation; however, further validation through physical prototypes, long-term in-home testing, and life-cycle assessment is required. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed among humans and companion animals. Fecal samples from members of the university community at the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá, Colombia, and their companion animals (pets) were analyzed to investigate a possible association between MP loads in humans and their dogs and/or cats. Structures compatible with microplastics were detected in the feces of 97.78% of humans and 100% of companion animals. No significant correlation was found between MP loads in humans and their companion animals (p = 0.6846), suggesting that exposure is not determined solely by the shared household environment. If the home were the dominant and exclusive source of exposure, a positive correlation between owners and their companion animals would be expected. Instead, the results indicate the existence of species-specific exposure routes. This exploratory study provides the first report of MP-like structures in fecal samples from humans and their companion animals in Colombia. Full article