Effect of Cranberry Extract on the Frequency of Bacteriuria in Dogs with Acute Thoracolumbar Disk Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Dogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to increased residual urine volume. Cranberry extract inhibits binding of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, potentially reducing risk of bacteriuria. HYPOTHESIS: Cranberry extract reduces risk of bacteriuria in dogs after acute TL-IVDH. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with acute onset TL-IVDH causing nonambulatory status. METHODS: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, prospective clinical trial. Dogs with acute TL-IVDH were recruited 48 hours postoperatively and randomized to receive cranberry extract or placebo in a masked fashion. Urine cultures and neurological examinations were performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. The number of dogs with bacteriuria (all bacterial species) and bacteriuria (E. coli) were primary and secondary outcome measures and were evaluated using chi-squared test. Urine antiadhesion activity (AAA) was measured in a subset (N = 47) and examined in a secondary analysis evaluating additional risk factors for bacteriuria. RESULTS: Bacteriuria was detected 17 times in 94 dogs (6 placebo, 11 cranberry, P = .12). There were 7 E. coli. positive cultures (1 placebo, 6 cranberry, P = .09). Dogs in both groups had positive urine AAA (14/21: placebo, 16/26: cranberry), and dogs with urine AAA had significantly fewer E. coli positive cultures (n = 1) than dogs without it (n = 4) (P = .047). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This clinical trial did not show a benefit of oral cranberry extract but had low power. Cranberry extract supplementation did not impact urine AAA, but a possible association between urine AAA and lower risk of E. coli bacteriuria was identified. Other doses could be investigated.

A Placebo-Controlled, Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Polyethylene Glycol and Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate in Dogs with Intervertebral Disk Herniation.

BACKGROUND: Acute intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) is a common cause of spinal cord injury in dogs and currently there is no proven medical treatment to counter secondary injury effects. Use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) as neuroprotectants is advocated but controversial because neither treatment has been tested in placebo-controlled, randomized, blinded trials in dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Polyethylene glycol will improve the outcome of severe spinal cord injury caused by IVDH compared to MPSS or placebo. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with acute onset of thoracolumbar IVDH causing paralysis and loss of nociception for <24 hours. METHODS: Dogs were randomized to receive MPSS, PEG, or placebo; drugs appeared identical and group allocation was masked. Drug administration was initiated once the diagnosis of IVDH was confirmed and all dogs underwent hemilaminectomy. Neurologic function was assessed 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively using an open field gait score (OFS) as the primary outcome measure. Outcomes were compared by the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Sixty-three dogs were recruited and 47.6% recovered ambulation. 17.5% developed progressive myelomalacia but there was no association with group. There was no difference in OFS among groups. Although full study power was not reached, conditional power analyses indicated the futility of continued case recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical trial did not show a benefit of either MPSS or PEG in the treatment of acute, severe thoracolumbar IVDH when used as adjunctive medical treatment administered to dogs presenting within 24 hours of onset of paralysis.

A comparison of clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings in dogs with gliomatosis cerebri, focusing on cases with minimal magnetic resonance imaging changes(‡).

The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri (GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people.

Nimodipine for treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of the calcium channel antagonist nimodipine in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 10 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs were included if seizures were inadequately controlled despite treatment with barbiturates and serum phenobarbital concentrations were > 25 micrograms/ml, if dogs had intolerable adverse effects when treated with barbiturates, or if dogs had mild, inadequately treated seizures. PROCEDURES: Dogs were treated with nimodipine (2.5 mg/kg [1.1 mg/lb] of body weight, PO, q 12 h), and other medications were slowly withdrawn. Dogs were monitored for seizure frequency and severity as well as any adverse effects to the medication. RESULTS: Few adverse effects were reported. Seizure control, however, was generally inadequate. All but 2 dogs were withdrawn from the study because of poor seizure control. Plasma nimodipine concentrations were low, with a mean peak concentration of 105.3 ng/ml. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nimodipine was not successful in controlling seizures in dogs used in this study.

Medical care of the neurosurgical patient.

Proper medical care before and after surgery play an important role in the overall care of patients requiring neurosurgery and will have an impact on the neurological recovery. Prevention of spinal cord destruction resulting from the cascade of events which occur secondary to central nervous system trauma is a critical part of a patient's preoperative care. High doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate given within the first 8 hours of trauma are currently recommended to provide protection to neural tissue after trauma. Other promising drugs for patients with spinal trauma, such as 21-aminosteroids and GM-1 gangliosides, may become available in the near future. Knowledge of potential complications after surgery and methods to prevent complications from occurring is an important part of the postoperative care of neurosurgical patients. This includes management of micturition and defecation dysfunction, management of postoperative pain, physical therapy to speed recovery, and providing good supportive care to the recumbent patient.

Dysautonomia in dogs: a retrospective study.

Dysautonomia was diagnosed in 11 young (median age, 14-months), predominantly medium- to large-breed dogs from 1988 to 1995. Clinical signs caused by autonomic dysfunction of the urinary, alimentary, and ocular systems were most common. Dysuria, mydriasis, absence of pupillary light reflexes, decreased tear production, dry mucous membranes, weight loss, and decreased anal tone were present in over 75% of affected dogs. Ocular pharmacological testing with a dilute (0.1%) solution of pilocarpine was used to demonstrate iris sphincter receptor function in all dogs. A low-dose (0.0375 mg/kg s.c.) bethanechol test and pharmacological testing with phenylephrine and epinephrine also demonstrated cholinergic and adrenergic receptor function in 4 dogs. All dogs died or were euthanized as a results of autonomic dysfunction. Neuronal depletion, with associated gliosis and minimal inflammation were noted histologically in the autonomic ganglia of each dog. The pelvic, ciliary, celiac, cranial cervical, and cranial and caudal mesenteric ganglia were affected in all dogs. The cause of autonomic failure in these dogs was not determined.

Lactose intolerance in a calf.

Lactose intolerance was identified as the cause of bovine neonatal diarrhea. Glucose and xylose oral absorptions were normal whereas lactose absorption was reduced relative to normal calves. Lactase deficiency is common in people but rarely reported in animals. The treatment of whole milk with lactase alleviated the diarrhea.