Clinical course and radiographic resolution of pneumonia in dogs treated with a shorter versus longer course of antimicrobials: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and radiographic outcomes in dogs with uncomplicated pneumonia receiving a shorter (2-week) versus longer (4-week) duration of antimicrobial therapy. ANIMALS: 30 client-owned dogs with radiographic evidence of pneumonia. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to either a 2-week course of antimicrobials followed by a 2-week course of placebo medication (2-week group) or a 4-week course of antimicrobials (4-week group). All study investigators and owners were masked to the treatment group. Dogs were reevaluated at 12 ± 2 days and again at 28 ± 2 days for a physical examination and thoracic radiography. Standard documentation at visits included owner-reported clinical signs, nurse-acquired history, the clinician's physical examination, the number of affected lung lobe segments, and the global radiographic severity scores assigned. Outcomes investigated included the persistence of clinical and radiographic signs of pneumonia. RESULTS: 28 dogs (93.3%) experienced complete resolution of clinical signs by the first visit, and no dogs in either group experienced relapse of clinical signs during the study period. Eighteen of 30 dogs (60%) and 25 of 30 dogs (83%) experienced complete resolution of radiographic lesions at the first and second study visits, respectively. The remaining 5 dogs (17%) had either stable (4 dogs) or continued (1 dog) improvement in radiographic lesions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Resolution of clinical and radiographic signs followed similar courses in dogs with uncomplicated pneumonia receiving a 2-week course of antimicrobials compared to a 4-week course. Clinical signs may be more useful for guiding discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy for pneumonia than radiographic signs.

Mineralocorticoid before glucocorticoid deficiency in a dog with primary hypoadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism.

A dog with an unexpected presentation of primary hypoadrenocorticism was evaluated for clinical signs and electrolyte abnormalities characteristic of Addison's disease. Although the initial adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test documented serum cortisol concentrations within the reference range, subsequent assessments confirmed hypoaldosteronism. Mineralocorticoid replacement promptly normalized electrolytes and transiently improved clinical illness. Six weeks after initial ACTH stimulation testing, the dog became glucocorticoid deficient. Concurrent primary hypothyroidism was also documented. Hypoaldosteronism preceding hypocortisolemia is a unique presentation of canine Addison's disease.

Comparison of a Chromogenic Urine Culture Plate System (UTid+) and Conventional Urine Culture for Canine and Feline Specimens.

In companion animal medicine, urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common indications for antimicrobial therapy. Definitive diagnosis of UTI requires isolation of bacteria with routine urine culture from an animal with concurrent clinical signs. Urine culture is typically performed at reference laboratories where paired susceptibility testing can be performed, but delays in shipment or processing can affect results. This study evaluated the use of a selective chromogenic, point-of-care culture system (UTid+) compared to conventional urine culture. A total of 119 (73 canine and 46 feline) cystocentesis urine samples were evaluated. Conventional urine culture was positive for 28 (23.5%) of the 119 cultures and UTid+ culture was positive for 26 (21.8%). The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 92.3%, 97.8%, 92.3%, 97.8 and 96.6% for UTid+ respectively. Overall, the UTid+ culture system showed an acceptable level of accuracy when compared to conventional urine culture. Agreement of identification results was high (κ = 0.90) with an important exception being Proteus spp. which was only identified in 1/3 positive cultures. UTid+ may be useful in scenarios where a common UTI pathogen is expected and identification within 24 h is ideal; however, conventional urine culture remains the gold standard.