Survey research on reverse sneezing in 779 dogs in Southeast of Spain: Prevalence and possible related factors.

Reverse sneezing (RS) is considered an innate reflex that may occur in normal dogs in response to a stimulus in the upper airways but currently, the prevalence is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of RS in dogs in Southeast Spain and to determine the possible influence of selected demographic and environmental variables. This study was based on a questionnaire answered by 779 owned dogs randomly selected in two months. The total prevalence of dogs suffering RS was 52.9% (412/779). A statistically significant predisposition depending on sex and sexual condition (neutered females), the size and weight of the animal (toy dogs with <5 kg and small dogs of 5 to 14 kg), the breed (mainly Yorkshire, Chihuahua, Bichon, and Shit-tzu), on age (>10 years old) was found. Dogs that live in an urban habitat without other pets in the same house had also significantly more predisposition. Dogs with these profiles tend also to have a higher frequency of RS episodes (more than one episode daily) and more acute presentations (last 15 days). Reverse sneezing is an important reflex that could be present in more than half of the canine population as happened in our study. Its predisposition varies depending on sex, sexual condition, size, breed, age, habitat, and cohabitation with other pets. Further attention is warranted regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of RS.

Changes in biomarkers of redox status in serum and saliva of dogs with hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder diagnosed in dogs, leading to deleterious effects on a dog's life quality. This study aims to evaluate changes in the redox status in canine hypothyroidism. For this purpose, a comprehensive panel of antioxidants and oxidants biomarkers were measured in serum and saliva of 23 dogs with hypothyroidism, 21 dogs with non-thyroidal illness, and 16 healthy dogs. Among the antioxidants, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), thiol, paraoxonase type 1 (PON-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in serum and CUPRAC, ferric reducing ability of saliva (FRAS) and TEAC in saliva. The oxidant biomarkers included were total oxidant status (TOS), peroxide-activity (POX-Act), reactive oxygen-derived compounds (d-ROMs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in serum and AOPP and TBARS in saliva. RESULTS: Results showed a significantly higher TEAC, PON-1, GPx, TOS, POX-Act, and d-ROMs, and a significantly lower AOPP in serum of dogs with hypothyroidism. Meanwhile, significantly lower FRAS and AOPP were observed in saliva of dogs with hypothyroidism. Once salivary concentrations were corrected based on their total protein concentrations, the only analyte showing significant changes was TBARS which was significantly higher in dogs with hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that dogs with hypothyroidism present alterations in the redox status in both serum and saliva. This study should be considered a preliminary study and further research addressing these changes should be made using larger populations.

Serum Proteomic Changes in Dogs with Different Stages of Chronic Heart Failure.

MMVD, the most common cause of CHF in dogs, is a chronic disease with variable clinical signs, with some patients remaining asymptomatic while others develop CHF. Here, we aimed to evaluate serum proteins by proteomic analysis in dogs at different stages of CHF due to MMVD, and proteome behaviors after conventional treatment. A total of 32 dogs were divided equally into four groups-stage A (healthy/controls), stage B2 (asymptomatic), stage C and stage D (symptomatic)-according to the ACVIM consensus. Serum proteomes were evaluated using LC/MS-based label-free differential proteome analysis. The study revealed 157 different proteins; 11 were up- and 21 down-regulated in dogs with CHF compared to controls. In stage B2 dogs, angiotensinogen (AGT) was up-regulated, but immunoglobulin iota chain-like, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and carboxypeptidase (CPN) were down-regulated. In stage C dogs, complement C3 (C3) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain were up-regulated, but hemopexin, and actin-cytoplasmic-1 (ACT-1) were down-regulated. In stage D dogs, AGT was up-regulated, whereas tetranectin, paraoxonase-1, adiponectin and ACT-1 were down-regulated. A decrease in CPN, C3 and AGT and an increase in ACT-1 were observed after treatment of dogs in stage C. This pilot study identified that dogs at different stages of CHF show different serum protein composition which has potential to be biomarker for diagnose and treatment monitorization.