Search Results (827)

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired cardiac disease in small-breed dogs and shows particularly high prevalence and early onset in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). Although MMVD is considered a complex, polygenic disease, the clinical relevance of individual genetic variants remains incompletely understood. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene variant rs850683722 has previously been associated with altered ACE activity and differences in renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system-related responses in dogs with MMVD. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rs850683722 in a Polish population of CKCS dogs and to assess whether this variant is associated with the clinical course of MMVD. A total of 105 CKCS dogs were included in the study. All dogs underwent standardized cardiovascular evaluation, including echocardiography, electrocardiography, and systolic blood pressure measurement. MMVD diagnosis and staging were performed according to current ACVIM consensus criteria. Genotyping of the rs850683722 variant was performed using Sanger sequencing for 95 dogs, while next-generation sequencing data was obtained for 10 dogs. Genotype distribution, allele frequencies, conformity with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), sex-related differences, and associations between genotype and age at progression to selected MMVD stages or the primary clinical endpoint were assessed statistically. The most frequent genotype was AA, detected in fifty-nine dogs, followed by GG in thirty-seven dogs and AG in nine dogs. When dogs carrying at least one A allele were considered variant-positive, the overall prevalence of the variant-positive genotype was 64.8%. The calculated allele frequencies were 0.605 for the A allele and 0.395 for the G allele. The observed genotype distribution deviated markedly from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, mainly because of a pronounced deficit of heterozygous dogs. No significant association was detected between genotype and sex. Genotype was also not significantly associated with age at progression to stage B2 or stage C. A statistically significant difference in age of death was demonstrated by genotype, but this difference was not reflected in the survival analysis. The rs850683722 variant was highly prevalent in the studied Polish CKCS population, with a frequency comparable to previously reported data for this breed. Despite its documented biological association with ACE activity and RAAS-related responses, the variant was not significantly associated with the clinical progression of MMVD in this cohort. These findings suggest that rs850683722 alone seems unlikely to be a reliable marker for predicting the severity or rate of MMVD progression in Polish CKCS dogs. Further studies including larger cohorts, longer follow-up, pedigree information, and the direct assessment of RAAS activity may help clarify whether this variant has stage-dependent or treatment-related clinical relevance. Full article

Search and rescue (SAR) dog–handler teams work under challenging conditions that may influence long-term physiological stress and arousal. Hair steroid analysis provides a reliable measure of chronic endocrine activity in SAR teams. Hair cortisol (HCL) and hair testosterone (HTL) offer non-invasive markers of chronic hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and (the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal) HPG axis activity. This study examined long-term endocrine patterns in SAR dogs and their handlers and explored correlations within and between species. Hair samples were collected from 60 SAR dogs and their handlers. Dog hair was taken from the interscapular region, and human hair from the occipital area. Cortisol and testosterone were extracted using established methanol-based protocols and quantified via ELISA. Dogs showed a mean HCL of 10.974 pg/mg and a mean HTL of 3.008 pg/mg. Female dogs had significantly higher cortisol levels than males, and cortisol tended to increase with age. Testosterone did not differ by sex, breed, or castration status. Handlers showed a mean HCL of 10.874 pg/mg and a mean HTL of 2.925 pg/mg, with no sex differences. However, handler cortisol levels varied significantly by dog breed. Additionally, HCL levels of dogs and their handlers were negatively correlated. Full article

Objectives: To describe the clinical, clinicopathological and ultrasonographic characteristics of dogs with an acute pancreatitis (AP) and to identify prognostic markers associated with short-term mortality in a referral population. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 192 dogs hospitalised with AP at a referral centre in Spain between 2021 and 2024. Dogs were classified as survivors or non-survivors based on survival to hospital discharge. Signalment, clinical findings, clinicopathological and ultrasonographic variables, comorbidities, treatments and duration of hospitalisation were recorded. Variables associated with outcome in univariable analyses were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of death. Results: Of the 192 dogs, 141 (73.4%) survived and 51 (26.6%) died or were euthanised during hospitalisation. Non-survivors had higher serum creatinine, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) concentrations than survivors. In multivariable analysis, increased serum creatinine (odds ratio [OR] 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–4.11), total bilirubin (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.03–2.06) and ALKP (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.07–2.16) were independently associated with an increased risk of short-term mortality. Ultrasonographic abnormalities compatible with AP were identified in 121 dogs (63%), but were not independently associated with short-term mortality. Breed, age, sex, body weight, comorbidities and treatments were not associated with outcome. Clinical Significance: Measurement of serum creatinine, total bilirubin and ALKP concentrations at presentation may help identify dogs with AP at increased risk of death. Early recognition of high-risk patients may assist clinical decision-making, guide the intensity of monitoring, and facilitate communication with owners. Full article

Intervertebral disc disease remains the most common spinal pathology in dogs and is characterized by degeneration of the intervertebral disc, primarily through chondroid metaplasia of the nucleus pulposus. Current histological grading systems for disc degeneration do not include inflammation, despite its potential relevance in clinical presentation through extradural swelling and compression. In this retrospective study, surgically removed disc extrusion material from 74 dogs was histologically processed and evaluated using a semi-quantitative grading system for disc degeneration and inflammation. A high prevalence of chondroid metaplasia was observed, frequently accompanied by inflammatory infiltrates, hemorrhage, and necrosis. A significant positive correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.636, p < 0.001) was found between the degree of degeneration and the intensity of inflammation. Notably, thoracolumbar extrusions exhibited significantly higher inflammatory scores than cervical cases. In Dachshunds, more severe neurological deficits were associated with lower histological degeneration scores, indicating that neurological severity depends on multiple interacting factors that may differ between breeds. No significant associations were identified with age, sex, breed, body weight, neurological localization, or lesion severity in other groups. These findings suggest that inflammation is an active component in the pathophysiology of intervertebral disc disease. Incorporating inflammatory grading into histological grading systems could refine functional outcome predictions and guide therapeutic decisions. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Animal hoarding is a recognized form of animal cruelty characterized by the accumulation of animals under conditions of inadequate care, leading to compromised welfare and an increased risk of disease transmission. Veterinarians are often the first to identify such cases through clinical presentation. This case report describes a forensic investigation of a dog associated with animal hoarding and environmental neglect in Bangkok, Thailand. Case Presentation: A 7-year-old male mixed-breed dog was presented with seizures, emaciation, dehydration, and ectoparasite infestation. Hematological findings revealed leukopenia and anemia, and diagnostic testing confirmed infection with canine distemper virus (CDV) and Dirofilaria immitis. Despite supportive treatment, the dog died within 48 h. A subsequent site inspection, conducted using the TRACE model and based on crime scene investigation principles, identified 13 dogs housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Environmental assessment revealed poor sanitation, waste accumulation, and fluorescent stains of unknown origin detected under ultraviolet light (365 nm) in the cage areas. Among the animals, infections with CDV (23.08%), Dirofilaria immitis (53.85%), and Ehrlichia canis (61.54%) were identified, indicating a high burden of infectious and vector-borne diseases. Conclusions: This case demonstrates the value of integrating clinical veterinary findings with forensic investigation in the assessment of animal neglect. The combined use of clinical, laboratory, and environmental evidence strengthens documentation and supports potential legal action. Enhanced veterinary forensic training and standardized protocols are recommended to improve early detection and intervention in animal cruelty cases. Full article

Although extensively studied in humans, data on the middle cranial fossa foramina remain limited in dogs, despite their different skull morphology and high relevance to veterinary neurology, surgery and oncology. In this retrospective anatomic study, we aimed to fill this gap by presenting the morphometric data of these foramina in domestic dogs of different breeds, ages, body weights, and skull sizes. The study used CBCT images of 40 dogs. Dogs were divided into three groups (small, medium, and large), regardless of sex, body weight, and breed, using neurocranium length. Then, morphological and morphometric analyses of the foramina were performed. The neurocranium length of each group differed significantly from the others (p < 0.001). In each group, the orbital fissure and round and oval foramina were bilaterally located rostrally to caudally and were of similar size (p > 0.05). While the orbital fissure was a canal in 80% of dogs, in dogs with medium and large skull sizes (17.5%), the spinous foramen showed variation, becoming both a foramen and a canal. The opening sizes increased along with the skull size (p < 0.001); the widest opening was the orbital fissure, and the narrowest opening (except for the spinous foramen) was the oval foramen. The findings may guide skull base surgeries, regional anesthesia, and the diagnosis of cranial nerve dysfunctions. Furthermore, a classification based on neurocranial length is anticipated to provide more objective craniometric measurements in animals with diverse head types and body weights. Full article

Spinal arachnoid diverticulum is a fluid-filled dilation within the subarachnoid space that can result in compressive myelopathy, prompting investigation into optimal surgical management and outcomes. This retrospective study reviewed clinical records of dogs treated surgically between January 2021 and July 2025, including 11 cases that met the criteria of chronic progressive para- or tetraparesis, MRI-confirmed diagnosis, and use of a standardized surgical technique. All dogs underwent dorsal laminectomy followed by durotomy, durectomy, and microsurgical dissection of adhesions performed by the same surgeon, with optical magnification and specialized instruments to ensure consistency. The condition was more common in males, with French Bulldogs overrepresented (n = 6); lesions were thoracolumbar in small breeds and cervical in the single large-breed dog. Short-term outcomes, assessed one month postoperatively, showed neurological improvement in all but one dog. These findings suggest that the described microsurgical approach is feasible and associated with favorable short-term neurological recovery in most cases. However, the absence of long-term follow-up limits definitive conclusions, and further studies are needed to evaluate sustained outcomes. Full article

Garlic (Allium sativum) contains organosulfur compounds capable of inducing oxidative damage to erythrocytes in dogs, leading to hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia. Although Allium toxicosis is relatively common, fatal cases with detailed histopathological characterization are rarely reported. This case report describes a fatal episode of garlic toxicosis in a 3-year-old female mixed-breed dog. At necropsy, gastric contents included food material and raw garlic cloves (16 g). Gross findings included pulmonary hyperemia and thoracic hemorrhagic effusion. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal myocardial hemorrhages, diffuse pulmonary capillary congestion, hepatic sinusoidal dilation with hemorrhagic areas, splenic hemorrhage, and renal glomerular capillary dilation. These lesions were consistent with systemic hypoxic and vascular injury secondary to oxidative erythrocyte damage. The lower quantity of garlic recovered compared with reported toxic doses suggests possible individual susceptibility or incomplete recovery of ingested material. This case highlights the diagnostic value of histopathology in suspected Allium fatal toxicosis and contributes to increasing the limited literature describing these outcomes in dogs. Full article

The “experimenter gender effect” is a pervasive confound in rodent behavioral neuroscience: the sex of the human handler alters stress, social, and pharmacological responses via olfactory cues and conserved neural circuits. Whether this effect extends to dog—a species co-domesticated with humans for over 15,000 years—has never been systematically tested. Here, we examined sex-biased social preferences in Beagle dogs during both intra- and cross-species interactions, and asked whether baseline neuroendocrine states predict such preferences. Thirty-four adult Beagles (17 males, 17 females) from a standardized laboratory colony underwent social interaction tests with same and opposite-sex conspecifics and with male and female experimenters. Baseline plasma corticosterone, serotonin (5-HT), and dopamine were measured by ELISA. Results indicated that Beagles did not exhibit significant sex-based preferences for either gender of conspecifics or human experimenters in either dog–dog or human–dog social interaction tests (all p > 0.05). However, males showed markedly higher baseline corticosterone, 5-HT, and dopamine than females (all p < 0.0001), a hormonal dimorphism that did not correlate with any behavioral measure in Spearman correlation analysis (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, this study has several limitations: only baseline hormone levels were measured (not stress-induced responses), behavioral tests involved only low-stakes affiliative interactions, and only one breed was studied under standardized conditions. These results suggest that Beagle dogs may lack experimenter-gender preference in social interactions, exhibiting stable, gender-neutral social behavior despite profound underlying hormonal differences. This decoupling of internal state from behavioral output suggests that domestication may have shaped a social phenotype resistant to the experimenter gender effect, supporting the Beagle as a valuable translational model with a stable baseline and low susceptibility to confounding social cues, making it suitable for research on affective and social-cognitive disorders. Full article

The information available on cervical myelopathies (CMs) and cervical pain (CP) in non-chondrodystrophic breeds remains limited compared to chondrodystrophic breeds. The expression of CP in CMs may depend on lesion type, severity and onset of clinical signs. This retrospective single-centre study reviewed the medical records of 112 purebred non-chondrodystrophic dogs referred for neurological evaluation, in which C1-T2 lesions were subsequently confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical onset was categorised as acute (≤7 days) or chronic (>7 days). Neurological grade was classified into four neurological groups (G1–G4). CP was graded using a study-specific, non-validated five-point ordinal clinical scale. Multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and multivariable binomial logistic regression were performed. ANOVA showed significant effects of group (p < 0.0001), disease category (p < 0.05), and clinical onset (p < 0.02) on CP scores. Post-hoc comparison showed significantly lower CP scores in chronic onset than in acute onset (p < 0.0001). Acute onset was associated with CP in G2 (OR = 71.0; p < 0.0002) and remained associated with CP after adjustment for groups (adjusted OR = 4.42; 95% CI: 1.28–15.28; p = 0.019). These findings suggest that clinical onset may contribute to CP expression in non-chondrodystrophic dogs with CMs. Acute onset, particularly in ambulatory myelopathic patients, appears more frequently associated with CP. However, due to the retrospective design, the heterogeneous diagnostic composition, and the study-specific nature of the CP score, these associations should be interpreted cautiously. Full article

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that epilepsy extends beyond the brain, involving systemic metabolic, immune, and microbiome perturbations that shape neuronal excitability and treatment response. Canine idiopathic epilepsy (CE) offers a naturally occurring model with strong electrophysiological, pharmacological, and clinical homology to human epilepsies. Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic literature search was performed in Web of Science and MEDLINE (PubMed) to identify original studies reporting metabolic, immunometabolic, or neurochemical alterations in CE compared with healthy controls. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed original research involving client-owned dogs diagnosed with CE according to international consensus criteria (IVETF guidelines). Studies focusing exclusively on genetics or neuroimaging without metabolic outcomes were excluded. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened for eligibility, and data were extracted from included studies using a standardized approach. Identified metabolic domains were synthesized narratively and grouped into functional systems, including amino acid and lipid metabolism, micronutrients, neurotransmission, oxidative stress, inflammation and immunology, endocannabinoid signalling, microRNAs, and gut–brain axis-related pathways. In a second step, the identified metabolic domains were evaluated for translational relevance through a targeted, non-systematic narrative synthesis of the human epilepsy literature. This approach aimed to assess cross-species parallels and to provide a conceptual framework to guide future research, rather than to perform a comprehensive systematic review of metabolic alterations in human epilepsy. Results: Across CE studies, consistent alterations were observed in multiple interconnected functional systems, including metabolic, immune, and gut–brain axis pathways, in agreement with findings reported for human epilepsy. These data support a model of epileptogenesis involving systemic dysfunction beyond the central nervous system. Translationally, these findings suggest opportunities for biomarker development, patient stratification, and mechanism-based interventions, including dietary and metabolic approaches (e.g., medium-chain triglyceride supplementation), microbiome modulation, and immunometabolic targeting. The current evidence is limited by small and heterogeneous cohorts, potential confounding effects of antiseizure medications, variability in dietary and fasting conditions, breed-related effects, and a predominance of associative over causal relationships. Conclusions: This review positions CE as a reference framework for future research into epilepsy metabolism, integrating current evidence and its translational relevance to human disease. The findings support a shift toward a systems-level view of epileptogenesis, involving interconnected metabolic, immune, and gut–brain axis pathways beyond the brain. CE represents a valuable translational model to identify shared mechanisms, inform biomarker discovery, and guide the development of mechanism-based therapeutic strategies across veterinary and human epilepsy. Full article

This study investigated context-associated variation in vocalizations in Malinois dogs through acoustic parameter analysis. Vocalizations from thirty adult Malinois dogs (15 males, 15 females) aged 2 to 3 years were recorded across 11 behaviourally defined contexts. Using Praat software, key acoustic parameters—fundamental frequency (F0), harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), and formant frequencies—were extracted and analyzed. Results indicated that different vocalization types (barking, whimpering, growling, snarling, howling) exhibited distinct acoustic profiles. Whimpering and howling showed significantly higher F0 values than barking (p < 0.05), with whimpering uniquely displaying both low and high F0 components. Dogs in contexts expected to be positively valenced (e.g., food anticipation) showed lower HNR than those in contexts expected to be negatively valenced (e.g., separation) (p < 0.05). However, the actual internal states were not independently verified. Formant analysis revealed that snarling and howling had lower Formant 1 (F1) values (p < 0.05), while formant dispersion varied with emotional state. These findings suggest that acoustic analysis of dog vocalizations can provide objective insights into dogs’ motivational and arousal changes, thereby improving our understanding of canine vocal communication, social behavior, and the human–dog bond. This approach has potential applications for working-line Malinois breeding programs and for enhancing human–working dog interactions. Full article

Post–core restoration serves as an effective treatment for fractured canine teeth. However, the influence of post length on the stability of the teeth for small animals remains controversial. This study employs finite element analysis and a force machine in vitro to evaluate the biomechanical effects of varying fiber post lengths in maxillary canine teeth, aiming to establish theoretical guidelines for optimizing post–core restoration in canine dentistry. Three-dimensional models of the canine teeth of large, medium, and small dogs (German Shepherds, Beagles, and Teddy dogs) were constructed using finite element analysis (FEA). Fiber posts with post-to-root length ratios of 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 were established. Stress distribution (σ₁/σ₂) and total deformation under 100–1100 N loading were analyzed virtually in ANSYS (version 17.0.0.19190), as well as in a force machine in vitro. FEA and in vitro fracture tests showed good correlation (p > 0.05). Fracture loads for large, medium, and small breeds were 1115.851 ± 6.984 N (distal) and 1177.39 ± 5.82 N (lingual), 901.627 ± 7.49 N (distal) and 976.504 ± 6.399 N (lingual), and 812.733 ± 5.476 N (distal) and 897.642 ± 6.42 N (lingual), respectively. The fiber post with a root–post ratio of 2/3 exhibited the highest fracture resistance, potentially making it be the best choice for post–core restoration. Full article

Objective: To develop and validate a fully automated deep learning workflow that localizes key anatomical landmarks on standard canine hindlimb lateral radiographs, derives the tibial plateau angle (TPA), and recommends a saw blade size for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) preoperative planning. Study Design: Retrospective validation study. Animals: Two hundred annotated lateral radiographs obtained from 130 dogs representing 14 breeds, with body weights ranging from 2.4 to 38.0 kg. Methods: A customized four-stage U-Net was trained using three complementary grayscale representations (normalized, contrast-enhanced, and gamma-adjusted images) to detect five TPLO-related landmarks. A deterministic geometric module then calculated TPA and mapped the derived osteotomy geometry to the nearest clinically available saw blade class. Results: The mean absolute error for TPA prediction was 1.34 ± 1.73°, and the median absolute error was 0.75°. Overall, 164/200 cases (82.0%) were within 2° and 188/200 cases (94.0%) were within 4.8° of the surgeon reference. Mean bias was −0.39°, the 95% limits of agreement ranged from −4.62° to 3.85°, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.87. For saw blade size prediction, mean absolute error was 0.32 ± 0.85 mm, exact agreement was achieved in 175/200 cases (87.5%), and all predictions remained within one adjacent class. Conclusions: The proposed pipeline provided clinically useful automated estimates of TPA and saw blade size from routine lateral radiographs. However, occasional high-impact landmark failures remained, indicating that the system should be positioned as an interpretable decision-support tool that requires surgeon verification rather than as an unsupervised autonomous planning system. Full article