Thoracolumbar myelopathies in pug dogs.

BACKGROUND: Constrictive myelopathy (CM) involving a fibrous band around the spinal cord is a newly recognized disease in pug dogs. OBJECTIVES: To identify the frequency of CM based on diagnostic imaging supplemented with necropsy; to determine whether a relationship exists between the sites of CM and other described T3-L3 myelopathies; and to determine the frequency of caudal articular process dysplasia (CAPD). ANIMALS: Thirty-two client-owned pug dogs diagnosed with a chronic, progressive T3-L3 myelopathy based on neurological examination performed by a board-certified neurologist. METHODS: This is a prospective study. All dogs underwent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reviewed by a board-certified radiologist. Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were categorized into diseases; CM only, CM plus other non-CM condition(s), or non-CM condition. Sites of CAPD were reported on CT. Nineteen dogs underwent necropsy. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed 3 dogs with CM only, 17 with CM plus at least 1 other myelopathy, 11 dogs with non-CM myelopathies only, and 1 with no MRI abnormalities. Nineteen of 32 dogs had >1 myelopathy diagnosis on MRI whereas 15/32 had >1 site of spinal cord compression. All dogs had CAPD at >1 site in the T3-L3 vertebral column on CT. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Constrictive myelopathy affected more than half of pug dogs presenting with chronic thoracolumbar myelopathies. Most had multilevel disease, concurrent myelopathies, or both. There was no apparent relationship between anatomic locations of CAPD and most severe myelopathy or myelopathy type.

Refinements in the care and use of animals in toxicology studies-regulation, validation, and progress.

During the past decade, important advances have been made in the humane care and use of laboratory animals used in toxicology studies, and there is strong international interest by the pharmaceutical sector in continuing with this progress. Because of the potential influence on human health, safety studies are highly regulated, and implementing refinements in laboratory animal care and use may require an initial validation study to demonstrate a lack of effect on study outcome. This paper provides an overview of issues surrounding implementation of animal care refinements in toxicology laboratory settings, including regulatory constraints, conducting validation studies, current progress in refinements, and areas for future consideration.

Validation study of social housing of canines in toxicology studies.

Optimal housing conditions for canines have evolved in light of changing research findings and animal welfare initiatives. Social housing of canines in toxicology studies was not considered standard housing in our facility. When the decision was made to explore social housing for toxicology studies in our facility, we noted a lack of published information. This study was performed to develop and validate social housing as an option for canines in toxicology studies. The potential impact to data gathered through toxicology studies in which the canines are socially housed is discussed.