Isolation and characterization of feline endometrial mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been a growing interest in stem cells for human medicine. Limited feline endometrial mesenchymal stem cell (fEM-MSC) research in veterinary medicine necessitates reporting for future feline disease research and therapy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to isolate fEM-MSCs from feline endometrial tissues and evaluate their morphology, proliferative ability, differentiation ability, and immunophenotype. METHODS: Feline endometrial tissues were obtained from the ovariohysterectomies of healthy cats and isolated using an enzymatic method. The morphology and proliferative ability of the isolated cells were assessed using a doubling time (DT) assay from passages 3 to 6 (P3 - P6). We measured pluripotency gene expressions of cells in P2 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To investigate MSC characteristics, a trilineage differentiation assay was conducted in P4, and cells in P4 were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry. RESULTS: fEM-MSCs showed a typical spindle-shaped morphology under a microscope, and the DT was maintained from P3 to P6. fEM-MSCs could differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes, and expressed three pluripotency markers (OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG) by qRT-PCR. Immunophenotypic analysis showed that the fEM-MSCs were CD14 -, CD34 -, CD45 -, CD9+, and CD44+. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the feline endometrium was a novel source of MSCs, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation method and characteristics of fEM-MSCs.

Thromboelastographic evaluation in dogs with Asian pit viper (Gloydius) envenomation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the thromboelastography (TEG) variables and platelet count after Asian pit viper (Gloydius) envenomation in dogs compared with healthy control dogs. Ten dogs with snake envenomation and twenty healthy dogs were included. There was a significant decrease in G (P=0.017), maximum amplitude (MA) (P=0.012), angle value (P=0.041), platelet count (P<0.001, as well as an increase in K value (P=0.034) and R value (P=0.007) in dogs with snake envenomation. The results of this study revealed that dogs with Asian pit viper (Gloydius) envenomation showed a hypocoagulable state compared with healthy dogs. Our findings may support the use of TEG for diagnosing and monitoring coagulopathy after Asian pit viper (Gloydius) envenomation in dogs.

Case report: Lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis presented with marked eosinophilia and basophilia in a cat.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition in cats, characterized by recurring gastrointestinal signs with histologic evidence of intestinal inflammation. A 9-month-old neutered male Sphynx cat was presented with a 5-week history of vomiting and hematochezia. Conservative patient management with a therapeutic gastrointestinal formula, antibiotics, and antiemetics resulted in a positive response to treatment, with relapse of signs when the medications were discontinued. A new finding of marked eosinophilia and basophilia was identified 3 months after the initial presentation. Colonoscopy revealed cecal erosions and a surgical biopsy with histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis. For this diagnosis, the patient was treated with prednisolone, tylosin, and metronidazole. Antibiotics were gradually tapered as the cat showed clinical improvement. The patient showed resolution of the gastrointestinal signs, and the numbers of eosinophils and basophils returned within the reference range 8 weeks after the treatment began. Basophilia and eosinophilia has been reported in conjunction with feline T-cell lymphoma. However, marked basophilia accompanying eosinophilia is extremely rare in cats with inflammatory bowel disease. We herein provide clinical details, including ultrasonography, endoscopy, histopathology, and disease course of feline lymphocytic-plasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis with marked basophilia and eosinophilia. This case highlights the importance of considering enteritis as potential diagnoses when eosinophilia and basophilia are concurrently observed in cats.

Correlation between the Leaflet-Annulus Index and Echocardiographic Indices in Maltese Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common chronic heart valve disease, leading to left-sided cardiomegaly in dogs. The leaflet-annulus index (LAI) was originally used in humans as a predictor of mitral regurgitation (MR) after mitral valve repair surgery. This index represents the quantity and severity of MR since it is affected by annular dilation. Recently, LAI was adapted to veterinary medicine, and its usefulness as an indicator of annular dilation on 2D transthoracic echocardiography in MMVD dogs was suggested. For this study, 135 Maltese dogs were selected and divided into groups of control, B1, and B2, according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. The following data were collected: radiographic indices including the vertebral heart score and vertebral left atrial size, echocardiographic indices including the left-atrium-to-aortic-root ratio (LA:Ao), left ventricular internal diameter at diastole, normalized for body weight, and anteroposterior length and LAI measured on right parasternal long-axis view. The results showed a significant difference in LAI between each group, becoming smaller as the disease progressed. Also, there was a significant correlation between LAI and each index, showing the strongest correlation with LA:Ao. LAI could be helpful as a new indicator used for the determination of severity and prognosis in Maltese dogs with MMVD.

Case report: Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli infection with the extension of gas into multiple locations in two non-diabetic dogs: a computed tomographic diagnosis and successful management.

Emphysematous cystitis is an extremely rare, complicated urinary tract infection with the presence of gas in the bladder wall and lumen caused by gas-producing bacterial infections. A 7-year-old spayed female pomeranian dog was presented with a 3-day history of hematuria and pollakiuria (case 1), and a 9-year-old spayed female jindo dog was presented with a 4-day history of intermittent hematuria (case 2). Imaging modalities, including radiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography, and bacterial culture tests were used for the diagnosis. Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli infection with the extension of gas into multiple locations was identified in both cases. Based on the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing, systemic antibiotics were initiated. Both animals had an excellent response to antibiotic treatment, and the clinical signs of the gas collection were completely resolved within ~1 month after treatment initiation. This response was sustained without recurrence in the follow-up period. This case report describes clinical details of extremely rare canine cases of emphysematous cystitis with the extension of gas into multiple locations and evaluates the clinical efficacy of antibiotic therapy.

Snake envenomation in three cats in South Korea.

Case series summary: Three cats in South Korea were diagnosed with snake envenomation based on the appearance and location of bite wounds. Two cats were envenomed by the Gloydius species and one by an unidentified species. Clinical signs were detected, including local bite-site swelling, haemorrhagic discharge and necrosis. All three cats were given supportive treatment. An antivenom was administered to one cat, and the cat showed no adverse reactions. All cats survived, but skin necrosis remained a complication of the snake envenomation. This was observed during the 1-year follow-up period. Relevance and novel information: Cats with snake envenomation are extremely rare in South Korea, and information regarding clinical details are limited. This study is the first to describe the clinical details and prognosis of feline snake envenomation in South Korea.

Mott Cell Differentiation in Canine Multicentric B Cell Lymphoma with Cross-Lineage Rearrangement and Lineage Infidelity in a Dog.

Lymphoma is a severe condition characterized by the proliferation of neoplastic lymphoid cells. A 4-year-old female mongrel dog presented with solitary lymph node enlargement. Significant right prescapular lymphadenopathy and abdominal enlargement were observed during physical examination. A complete blood count revealed lymphocytosis, and a peripheral blood smear revealed lymphoblastosis and Mott cells. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the right prescapular lymph node revealed a predominant population of lymphoblasts and Mott cells. Based on the FNAC and blood smear results, the patient was diagnosed with leukemic state multicentric B-cell lymphoma with Mott cell differentiation. Subsequent PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement and flow cytometry revealed that the patient exhibited cross-lineage rearrangement (CLRA) and lineage infidelity (LI), respectively. CHOP-based chemotherapy was initiated, however, the patient's disease was progressive. The patient died three months after the initial presentation. Mott cell differentiation in canine B-cell lymphoma (MCL) has rarely been reported in the veterinary literature and seems to show an unusual clinical course. To the best of our knowledge, no reports of MCL with CLRA and LI exist. We report the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of MCL with CLRA and LI.

A Retrospective Evaluation of Snake Envenomation in Dogs in South Korea (2004-2021).

Snake envenomation is a medical emergency capable of causing local and systemic complications. However, information on venomous snakebite in dogs in South Korea is scarce. In this study, fifty-nine dogs treated at a private veterinary clinic from 2004 to 2021 were retrospectively studied. The aim was to characterize the demographics, elapsed time between snakebite and veterinary clinic presentation, laboratory findings, clinical signs, treatments, adverse reactions to antivenom, and prognosis of venomous snakebite. Snakebite was mostly observed between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. from April to October. On the days of envenomation, the weather conditions were mostly cloudy, followed by rain/precipitation, and least frequently fair weather. Grassland was the most common incident location, and leashed dog walking was the most frequent activity when snakebite occurred. The main local symptoms were edema, hemorrhagic discharge, cutaneous erythema, ulceration, and necrosis. Major systemic clinical signs were tachypnea, tachycardia, altered mentation, ptyalism, and hypotension. Based on the time interval between snakebite and presentation at the veterinary clinic, two groups were defined: <4 h (Group 1, 49.2%) and ≥4 h (Group 2, 50.8%). Systemic inflammation was more frequently observed in Group 2. The level of C-reactive protein at presentation (p = 0.036) and the highest-level during hospitalization (p = 0.023) were significantly elevated in Group 2 (≥4 h). The dogs in Group 2 displayed more frequent muscle damage (increased creatine kinase) than the dogs in Group 1, and a higher level of creatine kinase was associated with delayed (≥4 h) presentation after snakebite (p = 0.003). All of the dogs were treated symptomatically, and 34 dogs (58%) received antivenom. Treatment with antivenom showed no adverse reactions in this study. All of the treated dogs recovered. One dog was euthanized without any treatment due to respiratory distress, hypotension, and cost constraints. In conclusion, this study provides baseline information on venomous snakebite in dogs in South Korea. The prognosis was excellent, especially when the dogs were treated within 4 h.

Effects of Synbiotic Preparation Containing Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 on Body Fat in Obese Dogs: A Pilot Study.

Obesity is an important health concern in humans and dogs. It can cause a variety of secondary problems, including low bacterial diversity. Several approaches have been tried to solve this problem; one of them is probiotic supplementation. Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 is derived from breast milk and has been proven to be effective for obesity in humans. However, there have been no studies using a synbiotic preparation containing L. gasseri BNR17 for obesity management in dogs. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of a synbiotic preparation containing L. gasseri BNR17 in reducing body fat in obese dogs. A group of obese dogs were fed a synbiotic preparation for 10 weeks. Obesity variables included body weight, body condition score, subcutaneous fat thickness, subcutaneous fat mass and proportion of the fat mass. In addition, feces collected at 0-week and 10-week time points were analyzed for the intestinal microbiome. Results showed a significant decrease in body weight, body condition score, and subcutaneous fat mass and proportion at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. Diversity and functional analysis of the microbiota in obese dogs showed increased microbial diversity, and increased abundance of metabolism of carbohydrate, and lipid after supplementation with a synbiotic preparation. This study was conducted as a pilot study, and the results demonstrated that a synbiotic preparation containing L. gasseri BNR17 may play a role in reducing body fat and resolving the obesity in dogs.

Presumptive Non-Ischemic Priapism in a Cat.

A 14-year-old neutered male British shorthair cat presented with a 21-day history of persistent erection and dysuria, along with overgrooming of the perineal region. Mild palpation induced pain and rigid corpora cavernosa with flaccid glans were observed during physical examination. Ultrasonography of the penis did not detect significant blood flow in the penile cavernosal artery. The drawing of aspirate blood from cavernosal bodies for gas analysis was impossible because of the anatomically small penis size of cats. Conservative management, including topical steroid ointment, lidocaine gel, gabapentin, and diazepam, was prescribed for supportive management. The clinical signs resolved, and ultrasonographic examination of the penis revealed no abnormalities. The cat remains clinically well without recurrence during the 6 months after treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-ischemic priapism in a cat.

Treatment of acute erythroleukaemia with high-dose cytarabine in a cat with feline leukaemia virus infection.

Erythroleukaemia is a malignant neoplasm of the erythroid lineage that rarely occurs in cats. It is associated with the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), and owing to the poor prognosis, treatment is rarely reported. A 4-year-old female Korean domestic shorthair cat was presented with hyporexia, fever, lethargy, severe anaemia and rubricytosis. An FeLV antigen test was positive, but a subsequent polymerase chain reaction test was negative. Serum biochemistry analysis results were normal, except for slightly elevated alanine aminotransferase. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with acute erythroleukaemia, and single high-dose (600 mg/m2 ) cytarabine chemotherapy was administered via constant rate infusion for 12 h a day for 5 days. After the first cytarabine administration, the clinical signs and anaemia improved, though no change was noted to other haematological parameters. The patient died of shock 16 days after the second cytarabine administration; the total survival time after diagnosis was 67 days. Post-mortem cytological evaluation of bone marrow aspiration revealed that the myeloid/erythroid ratio was 0.49, the erythroid progenitor cells were 64% of all nucleated cells and the blast cells were 84% of the non-erythroid cells. Histopathology images indicated that the spleen was diffusely expanded by atypical round cells, possibly erythroid precursors. This is the first case report on the prognosis and effects of high-dose cytarabine chemotherapy for acute feline erythroleukaemia with FeLV infection. Although the clinical signs improved, the treatment was not effective. Further studies on erythroleukaemia chemotherapy protocols are required.

Evaluation of compounded trilostane packets for dogs with naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism.

BACKGROUND: Dogs treated for naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism (NOH) in Korea often appear to require higher doses of trilostane than recommended by authors in the United States, Europe, or the United Kingdom. This phenomenon may be related to compounding trilostane into packets, which is a common practice among veterinary clinics in Korea. OBJECTIVE: Analyze packets filled by hand and others filled using a semi-automatic packing device for accuracy of trilostane strength. ANIMALS: Medication packets prepared for 3 dogs with preexisting prescriptions for NOH were analyzed. METHOD: A trilostane assay was developed for analysis. Trilostane (Vetoryl) capsules were used as clinical controls. Forty-four medication packets containing trilostane (Vetoryl), prepared by 3 clinicians for 3 dogs with NOH were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 44 trilostane-containing packets, only 40.9% (18 packets) had acceptable strength of trilostane. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Clinicians should be aware that compounding trilostane into packets fails to consistently provide measured amounts of trilostane, potentially interfering with response to treatment for NOH in dogs.

Secondary lymphoma development after chemotherapy in three dogs.

Lymphoma is widely recognized in veterinary medicine. However, studies focused on secondary lymphoma after chemotherapy do not exist in veterinary medicine. An 11-year-old, spayed female Shih-Tzu dog was diagnosed with mammary gland carcinoma. Twenty-five months after carboplatin treatment, the dog developed generalized lymphadenopathy (GL), diagnosed as high-grade T-cell lymphoma by immunohistochemistry. Another spayed female Shih-Tzu dog who was 15-year-old had biopsy-induced gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Three months after being treated with Toceranib, the dog developed GL that was diagnosed by PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement as T-cell lymphoma. An eight-year-old, castrated male Mongrel dog was diagnosed with mast cell tumour. The dog was treated with vinblastine, but 14 months later, GL was revealed. Fine-needle aspiration indicated lymphoma. The owner declined to investigate the cell lineage. All three dogs developed GL after chemotherapy. We suggest that secondary lymphoma can develop in dogs after chemotherapy for a primary cancer, and thus long-term follow-up is necessary.

Two cases of acute polyradiculoneuritis in dogs consuming a raw poultry diet.

A 9-year-old female mixed-breed dog presented with ascending flaccid tetraparesis, and a 5-year-old castrated male Poodle dog presented with ventroflexion of neck, dysphonia, and hindlimb weakness, which progressed to acute ascending tetraparesis. Both dogs were fed raw poultry for over 9 and 5 years, respectively. Blood examination and other test results were normal or unrelated to the present case. Fecal polymerase chain reaction analysis in the Poodle dog was positive for Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter jejuni. Tetraparesis improved with supportive care in both dogs. Human IV immunoglobulin was only administered to the Poodle dog, which showed a shorter recovery (12 days compared to 34 days in the mixed-breed dog). Both dogs returned to normal conditions eventually.

Evaluation and comparison of serum procalcitonin and heparin-binding protein levels as biomarkers of bacterial infection in cats.

OBJECTIVES: As bacterial infection can lead to sepsis and high mortality, early and easy diagnosis of sepsis can improve survival. In cats, the diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection is quite challenging, and, usually, non-specific markers for inflammation are employed. In humans, procalcitonin, heparin-binding protein and absolute neutrophil count are biomarkers that are studied in bacterial infections and sepsis owing to their high sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: A total of 56 cats were categorised into 16 healthy cats and 40 bacterially infected cats, diagnosed by various examinations. In all cats, serum procalcitonin and heparin-binding protein levels were measured using ELISA and an absolute neutrophil count was performed. RESULTS: The median values of procalcitonin levels and absolute neutrophil count were significantly higher in the infection group than in the normal group, but heparin-binding protein levels were not. A procalcitonin level >366 pg/ml was a better biomarker of bacterial infection than heparin-binding protein and absolute neutrophil count (sensitivity: 67.5%; specificity: 93.8%). Procalcitonin was not correlated with heparin-binding protein (r = 0.213, P = 0.115) and absolute neutrophil count (r = 0.393, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: High procalcitonin levels in cats were associated with bacterial infection. Hence, procalcitonin could be a valuable marker for diagnosing bacterial infections in cats.

Evaluation of salivary vasopressin as an acute stress biomarker in healthy dogs with stress due to noise and environmental challenges.

BACKGROUND: Stress is associated with various detrimental changes in physiological health that affect an animal's quality of life. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adreno-medullar (SAM) axis are two main physiological pathways that constitute the stress response of an organism. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a mediator of the HPA axis and is known to be related to social behaviours and stress. The serum concentration of AVP is higher in more aggressive dogs and humans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Salivary biomarker analysis is a non-invasive method to assess stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using salivary AVP as an acute stress biomarker in dogs. Salivary AVP concentration was measured before and after exposure to all relevant environmental stimuli (i.e. car trip to the lab, physical examination by the veterinarian, and sampling procedure,) and then after 30 min of vacuum noise exposure. Behavioural assessments, physiologic parameter assessments, and serum cortisol analysis were conducted in combination. Statistical analysis was conducted separately in the total study population, the less stressed group, and the more stressed group, respectively. RESULTS: Based on stress behaviour analysis scores, 28 dogs were classified into less or more stressed groups. All four physiologic parameters (blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate) were significantly increased after noise and environmental challenges, in the more stressed group. Serum cortisol did not show any significant change. Salivary AVP significantly decreased after noise and environmental stimulation in the more stressed group but not in the less stressed group. Salivary AVP and blood pressure changes were negatively correlated in the more stressed group. CONCLUSION: Salivary AVP may be a potential acute stress biomarker in dogs.

Investigation on urinary and serum alpha klotho in dogs with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: As a co-receptor for fibroblast growth factor 23, klotho plays a pivotal role in phosphate metabolism. The kidney is known to be the main source of soluble alpha-klotho and the principal regulator of its concentration. Previous studies in human participants showed that the concentration of soluble alpha-klotho in serum and urine decreased in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, no previous study has assessed soluble alpha-klotho levels in dogs. This study aimed to measure serum and urinary alpha-klotho levels in CKD dogs and identify their associations with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) CKD stages and other parameters known to be associated with CKD. RESULTS: Serum and urinary alpha klotho concentrations were measured by a commercially available canine-specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and compared between groups by a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationships between variables. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to estimate the effects of independent predictors on klotho concentrations. The urine klotho-to-creatinine ratio (UrKl/Cr) was significantly lower in stage 3 dogs than the control group and was significantly lower in dogs with stage 3 and 4 CKD than in those with stage 1 and 2 disease. UrKl/Cr was negatively correlated with serum symmetric dimethylarginine (sSDMA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and phosphorus concentration. Serum alpha-klotho concentration in dogs with stages 2 and 3 CKD was significantly lower than those in the control group. There was no significant correlation between serum alpha-klotho and BUN, creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations. No statistically significant differences were observed in UrKl/Cr and serum alpha-klotho concentration between groups based on sex, age, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), or blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: UrKl/Cr decreased in dogs with advanced CKD, and it was negatively correlated with sSDMA, BUN, creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations. Thus, klotho is associated with CKD and its clinical consequences, including CKD-mineral bone disorder, in dogs. Although serum klotho concentration was negatively correlated with sSDMA levels, it was not apparently related to IRIS CKD stage or other parameters known to be associated with CKD.

Effect of 7.5% hypertonic saline solution on whole blood coagulation in healthy dogs using thromboelastography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of 7.5% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) on whole blood coagulation in healthy dogs and to compare electrolyte and osmolality measurements between in vivo and in vitro dilution with HSS. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Twelve adult purpose-bred Beagles. INTERVENTIONS: All 12 dogs received 5 mL/kg 7.5% HSS at 1 mL/kg/min. After a 14-day washout period, 5 of these dogs were randomly selected and received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl. Blood samples were collected before infusion, immediately after infusion, and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes after infusion for the measurement of coagulation using thromboelastography. For comparison of electrolyte concentrations and osmolality between in vitro dilution and in vivo dilution of HSS, 6-mL blood samples were diluted with 7.5% HSS (1:18 ratio) at baseline. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: None of the thromboelastography variables differed significantly between the 7.5% HSS group and the 0.9% NaCl group. The sodium and chloride levels, and the osmolality, were significantly increased at all postinfusion time points compared to baseline, while those levels were significantly higher with in vitro dilution than all postinfusion time points. However, almost all the values gradually decreased and became similar to baseline values in case of in vivo dilution. CONCLUSIONS: The clinically relevant dose of 7.5% HSS (5 mL/kg) did not affect whole blood coagulation significantly in healthy Beagles. Further studies are necessary to assess the effect of HSS on blood coagulation in canine patients with shock.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous administered two different high doses of ascorbic acid in healthy beagle dogs.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a randomized two-way crossover study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of two high-dose ascorbic acid (AA) after IV infusion in healthy beagle dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dogs were administered IV AA at two doses of 1.5 and 3 gm/kg for 4 h, and the AA concentration in plasma and urine pH was measured before and after administration. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of AA in both groups peaked 3 h after administration. Among the two groups, the urine pH was not significantly different (p = 0.1299-0.7944). High-dose IV AA did not induce serious adverse events in dogs. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the high dose of AA which reaches the therapeutic dose for cancer and supports the safety of high-dose IV AA in dogs.

Intestinal Microbial Dysbiosis in Beagles Naturally Infected with Canine Parvovirus.

Canine parvoviral enteritis (PVE) is an important intestinal disease of the puppies; however, the potential impact of the canine parvovirus (CPV) on the gut microbiota has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the gut microbial shifts in puppies naturally infected with CPV. Fecal samples were collected from healthy dogs and those diagnosed with PVE at 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. The distal gut microbiota of dogs was characterized using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes. The sequence data were analyzed using QIIME with an Operational Taxonomic Unit definition at a similarity cutoff of 97%. Our results showed that the CPV was associated with significant microbial dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. Alpha diversity and species richness and evenness in dogs with PVE decreased compared to those of healthy dogs. At the phylum level, the proportion of Proteobacteria was significantly enriched in dogs with PVE while Bacteroidetes was significantly more abundant in healthy dogs (p < 0.05). In dogs with PVE, Enterobacteriaceae was the most abundant bacterial family accounting for 36.44% of the total bacterial population compared to only 0.21% in healthy puppies. The two most abundant genera in healthy dogs were Prevotella and Lactobacillus and their abundance was significantly higher compared to that of dogs with PVE (p < 0.05). These observations suggest that disturbances of gut microbial communities were associated with PVE in young dogs. Evaluation of the roles of these bacterial groups in the pathophysiology of PVE warrants further studies.