Catestatin, vasostatin, cortisol, and visual analog scale scoring for stress assessment in healthy dogs.

The neuroendocrine glycoprotein chromogranin A is a useful biomarker for stress in humans. Chromogranin A epitopes catestatin and vasostatin can be measured in dogs using radioimmunoassays. The objective of this study was to evaluate catestatin and vasostatin as canine stress biomarkers in a clinical setting. Blood and saliva were collected from 33 healthy dogs that were familiar with sampling procedures and the animal hospital environment (control group) and 30 healthy dogs that were unacquainted (stress group). During sampling, stress behavior was scored by the same observer using visual analog scale (VAS). Plasma was analyzed for catestatin and vasostatin, serum for cortisol, and saliva for catestatin. Differences between groups were analyzed using two-sample t-tests and P<0.05 was considered significant. Stress behavior VAS score in the control group was significantly lower than in the stress group during blood (P=0.002) and saliva (P=0.0009) sampling. Serum cortisol and saliva catestatin concentrations in the stress group were higher than the control group (P=0.003 and P<0.0001, respectively). Serum cortisol concentrations were correlated with those of saliva (r=0.34, P=0.04) and plasma catestatin (r=0.29, P=0.03). Plasma catestatin and vasostatin did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, concentrations of saliva catestatin, and serum cortisol, and stress behavior VAS scores were significantly higher in the stress group. The results indicate that saliva catestatin may be useful as a biomarker for acute psychological stress in dogs.

Breed variations in the incidence of pyometra and mammary tumours in Swedish dogs.

Dogs enrolled in a Swedish insurance company (during 1995-2006) were studied for development of pyometra and mammary tumours (MTs), with special attention to breed and age. There were over 260,000 female dogs with over 1,000,000 dog-years at risk (DYAR) in the database, using data on bitches up to 10 years of age and 110 breeds with over 1000 DYAR. In total, 20 423 bitches were diagnosed with pyometra and 11,758 with MTs and 30,131 with either or both of the two diseases. The incidence rate (IR) for pyometra was 199 (95% CI 196-202), for MTs 112 (95% CI 110-114) and for either or both of the two diseases 297 (95% CI 294-301) dogs per 10,000 DYAR. The mean age of diagnosis pyometra was 7.0 years (SD ± 2.2), MTs 8.0 years (SD ± 1.6). In all breeds, the overall proportion of the bitches that developed disease by 10 years of age was for pyometra 19%, MTs 13%, and either or both of two diseases 30%. The top 10 breeds diagnosed with either or both of the two diseases were the Leonberger (73%), Irish Wolfhound (69%), Bernese Mountain Dog (69%), Great Dane (68%), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (66%), Rottweiler (65%), Bullterrier (62%), Doberman (62%), Bouvier des Flandres (60%), Airdaleterrier (60%). These data provide information of the combined disease incidence in a large number of different breeds. Breed variations in incidence rate suggests genetic components in disease development. Our study may be valuable in the search for genetic risk-factors or protective factors.

Comparison of haemodynamic changes during two surgical methods for neutering female dogs.

The aim was to investigate if intraoperative registrations of blood pressure and heart rate could be used to estimate surgical trauma. In a prospective clinical trial, registrations in eight dogs neutered by laparoscopic ovariectomy (LOE) were compared with eight dogs subjected to open ovariohysterectomy (OHE). For comparisons phases were used: phase zero=steady state after induction of anaesthesia; phase one=opening of abdomen; phase two=severing of ovarian pedicles; and, phase three=abdominal closure. During LOE, mean systolic blood pressure increased by 7 mmHg (p=0.05) and 15 mmHg (p=0.01) from phase zero to phase one and two, respectively, and during OHE by 3 mmHg (ns) and 29 mmHg (p<0.0001), respectively. The increase from phase one to phase two differed between groups (p=0.03). Heart rate did not change. Frequent intraoperative measurements of blood pressure appear a promising method for evaluating surgical trauma.