The role of the sequential organ failure assessment score in evaluating the outcome in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score could be indicative of outcome (survival to discharge) in dogs with parvoviral enteritis. METHODS: In 35 naturally infected dogs, the SOFA score and clinical score were calculated and the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was verified on admission and during the first four days of hospitalization. RESULTS: 26 dogs survived, and out of the 9 non-survivors, 6 dogs had positive blood cultures. Mean SOFA scores and clinical scores between survivors and non-survivors and between septic and non-septic dogs on admission and on each hospitalization day were significantly different. Trends in SOFA score indicated that in non-survivors and septic dogs there was an increase in SOFA score during the first four days of hospitalization and a decrease occurred in survivors and non-septic dogs. The area under the curve (ROC curve analysis) for SOFA score predicting the outcome was 0.797 and predicting sepsis was 0.834. The best cut-off point of SOFA score for predicting the final outcome was 3.5 and the best cut-off of SOFA score for predicting sepsis was also 3.5. CONCLUSIONS: Either single values or trends in SOFA score can assist in suspecting sepsis and reaching prognosis in parvoviral enteritis.

Lymphoplasmacytic Prostatitis Associated With Urethral Obstruction in a Dog; A Case Report.

A 10-year-old, male intact, mixed breed dog was admitted with a history of intermittent lower urinary tract signs of 18-months duration. Dysuria, stranguria, pollakiuria and overflow incontinence developed 2 weeks prior to presentation, while vomiting, polydipsia and anorexia were seen a few days prior to admission. Physical examination revealed prostatomegaly. Biochemistry results were compatible with postrenal azotemia. Abdominal imaging confirmed prostatomegaly with consequent urethral obstruction, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of the prostate gland was consistent with granulomatous inflammation. The dog was hospitalized, urethral patency was preserved and upon laparotomy a cystostomy tube was placed, and prostatic biopsy was obtained. Orchiectomy was also performed. Urine culture performed 2 days prior to the surgery was negative. Prostatic histopathology revealed mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic prostatitis. Three months postoperatively, clinical signs had resolved completely and urinations remained normal while the dog is still in good health 3 years after diagnosis. This is the first case of canine lymphoplasmacytic prostatitis in which clinical signs, diagnostic evaluation, management and long-term follow up are available.

Cardiac troponin I concentrations, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables remained unchanged in dogs experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME, Ehrlichia canis) has occasionally been associated with myocardial injury. The aim of the present study was to serially measure and evaluate cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with experimentally induced acute and subclinical CME and to evaluate potential associations between cTnI concentration and an array of echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters. Serum cTnI concentration and simultaneous echocardiographic and electrocardiographic recordings were evaluated in 12 healthy Beagle dogs prior to experimental infection and on days 20 and 90 post-inoculation with E. canis. Almost all serum cTnI concentrations were below the limit of detection and selected electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters remained unchanged throughout the study.