Timed up and go demonstrates strong interrater agreement and criterion validity as a functional test in geriatric dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To measure interobserver agreement for 4 functional tasks and their summed geriatric functional score (GFS) and correlate tasks and GFS with client-specific outcome measurements (CSOMs): Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) pain severity, CBPI pain interference, and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs. ANIMALS: 89 geriatric dogs were recruited between April and September 2023 from staff, friends, and clients of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine with a median age of 11.0 years and weight of 26.4 kg. METHODS: Dogs underwent 4 sequential functional tests: timed up and go (TUG), cavallettis, figure 8s, and down to stands. Two observers independently scored each dog. The GFS was calculated based on the summed scores of the individual tests. Additional information collected included signalment, weight, measurements reflecting the comorbidities of aging (body condition score and muscle condition score), and CSOMs. RESULTS: Strong interrater agreement was found for all functional tests. The TUG in seconds (sTUG) and figure 8s demonstrated significant (P < .05) moderate to strong correlations to all CSOMs. The GFS showed similar significant correlations with all CSOMs except CBPI pain severity; however, when correlating individual tests to CSOMs, only figure 8s and TUG were significantly contributing to GFS results. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined highly functional dogs as those completing the sTUG in under 3.83 seconds. The sTUG represented the best test for geriatric function given it was objective, reliable, correlated well to CSOMs, and could help identify highly functioning dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The sTUG appears to be the first practical and reliable functional test of canine geriatric mobility.

Regenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy in the Canine.

Regenerative medicine is used in the canine to optimize tissue healing and treat osteoarthritis and soft tissue injuries. Rehabilitation therapy is also often implemented in the treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions in the canine. Initial experimental studies have shown that regenerative medicine and rehabilitation therapy may work safely and synergistically to enhance tissue healing. Although additional study is required to define optional rehabilitation therapy protocols after regenerative medicine therapy in the canine, certain fundamental principles of rehabilitation therapy still apply to patients treated with regenerative medicine.

Platelet-Rich Plasma as an Orthobiologic: Clinically Relevant Considerations.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood-derived product processed to concentrate platelets and the associated growth factors. PRP has been shown to be relatively well-tolerated and safe to use for a number of conditions in humans, equines, and canines. There are multiple commercial systems that have been validated for canine use. These systems use a variety of methodologies to produce a PRP product. However, PRP products have been shown to differ greatly between systems. Further study is needed to fully elucidate optimal component concentrations for various indications.

Canine Geriatric Rehabilitation: Considerations and Strategies for Assessment, Functional Scoring, and Follow Up.

Geriatric animals account for half of the pet population in the United States with their numbers increasing annually. Furthermore, a significant percentage of veterinary patients with movement limitations could be grossly categorized as geriatric and living within the end stage of their predicted lifespans. Because mobility is correlated to quality of life and time to death in aging dogs, a major goal in optimizing canine geriatric health is to improve functional movement. Within the geriatric population, identifying disabilities that affect daily living and quality of life may be used by the rehabilitation practitioner to provide stronger prognoses, treatment goals, and outcome measures. Examples of such means are described within this review. In human medicine, the concept of "optimal aging", or "healthy aging", has emerged in which inevitable detrimental age-related changes can be minimized or avoided at various levels of physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Both environment and genetics may influence aging. Identifying and improving environmental variables we can control remain a key component in optimizing aging. Furthermore, diagnosing and treating age related comorbidities common to older populations allows for improved quality of life and is often directly or indirectly affecting mobility. Obesity, sarcopenia, and a sedentary lifestyle are a trifecta of age-related morbidity common to both people and dogs. Healthy lifestyle choices including good nutrition and targeted exercise play key roles in reducing this morbidity and improving aging. Disablement models act as essential tools for creating more effective physiotherapy plans in an effort to counter dysfunction and disability. Within these models, functional testing represents a standard and validated means of scoring human geriatric function as well as monitoring response to therapy. Because of the great need in dogs, this review aims to provide a reasonable and testable standardized framework for canine functional scoring. We believe a complete assessment of canine geriatric patients should comprise of identifying environmental variables contributing to health status; diagnosing comorbidities related to disease and aging; and characterizing disability with standardized methods. Only through this process can we construct a comprehensive, reasonable, and targeted rehabilitation plan with appropriate follow up aimed at healthy aging.

Validation and Characterization of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Feline: A Prospective Analysis.

Objective: To quantitate key parameters of the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) product from a commercially available system in healthy, adult felines. Materials and methods: A prospective study was performed from January 2019 to April 2019. 11 adult, healthy cats were used to prospectively analyze a commercially available PRP system. A whole blood sample and a PRP sample that was processed immediately following blood draw according to the manufacturer's protocol were collected from each cat. The mean whole blood and PRP product platelet, RBC, WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte concentrations were determined. The mean PRP product values were compared to the mean whole blood baseline values using a paired t-test with significance established at p = 0.05. Results: Mean platelet concentration was significantly increased (p = 0.0155). Mean RBC concentration was significantly decreased (p < 0.0001). Mean neutrophil concentration was significantly decreased (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in mean WBC, monocyte, and lymphocyte concentrations. Clinical Relevance: The analyzed PRP system increased platelet concentration, while significantly reducing the RBC and neutrophil concentrations. Further study is warranted to determine the clinical applications and efficacy of PRP in felines, and the ideal concentrations of and relationships between platelets, red blood cells, and leukocytes needed for therapeutic effect.

The Use of Adipose-Derived Progenitor Cells and Platelet-Rich Plasma Combination for the Treatment of Supraspinatus Tendinopathy in 55 Dogs: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical findings and outcomes for 55 dogs with supraspinatus tendinopathy (ST) treated with adipose-derived progenitor cells and platelet-rich plasma (ADPC-PRP) therapy. METHODS: Medical records of client-owned dogs diagnosed with ST that were treated with ADPC-PRP combination therapy were reviewed from 2006 to 2013. Data collected included signalment, medical history, limb involvement, prior treatments, physical and orthopedic examination, objective temporospatial gait analysis findings, diagnostic imaging results (radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, musculoskeletal ultrasonography), arthroscopy findings, and outcome. RESULTS: Following ultrasound-guided injection of ADPC-PRP, objective gait analysis was available on 25 of the 55 dogs at 90 days post ADPC-PRP therapy. Following treatment, a significant increase in total pressure index percentage (TPI%) was noted in the injured (treated) forelimb at 90 days post treatment (p = 0.036). At 90 days following treatment, 88% of cases had no significant difference in TPI% of the injured limb to the contralateral limb. The remaining 12% of cases had significantly improved (p = 0.036). Bilateral shoulder diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound revealed a significant reduction in tendon size (CSA) in the treated tendon at 90 days following treatment when compared to the initial CSA (p = 0.005). All cases showed significant improvement in fiber pattern of the affected supraspinatus tendon by the ultrasound shoulder pathology rating scale. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that ADPC-PRP therapy should be considered for dogs with ST.

Quantitative Comparison of the Walk and Trot of Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers, Breeds with Different Performance Requirements.

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that breed differences of Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers would be reflected in the temporospatial characteristics of the walk and trot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy Border Collies and 20 healthy Labrador Retrievers made three passes across a pressure sensing walkway system that recorded quantitative temporospatial information at a walk and a trot. The following variables were measured for each dog: velocity, total pressure index percentage (TPI%), ratio of weight borne on the thoracic vs. pelvic limbs (T/P TPI%), stance time percentage (ST%), and thoracic limb stride length (TSrL). RESULTS: The mean T/P TPI% for Border Collies at a walk and at a trot were significantly lower than for Labrador Retrievers (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0003). Border Collies had a significantly lower ST% than Labrador Retrievers for the thoracic limbs and pelvic limbs at a walk (p = 0.0058 and 0.0003) and the trot (p = 0.0280 and 0.0448). There was no relationship between ST% and TSrL in Border Collies and an inverse correlation between ST% and TSrL in Labrador Retrievers (p = 0.0002). DISCUSSION: Key quantitative gait differences were identified in Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers, which could potentially provide each breed with an advantage for their working function.

Canine Platelet-Rich Plasma Systems: A Prospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitate key parameters of the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) product from five commercial canine PRP systems in healthy, adult canines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed from January 2013 to April 2014. Five commercial systems were analyzed using 10 healthy dogs per system.(-) Blood was obtained according to the manufacturer's protocol for each system. The mean baseline whole blood platelet, RBC, WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte concentrations were determined for each PRP system. All blood samples were processed according to the manufacturer's protocols. The mean PRP product platelet, RBC, WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte concentrations were determined for each PRP system. These values were then compared to the mean baseline values. Comparisons of mean whole blood and mean PRP product parameters were calculated using a paired t-test with significance established at p = 0.05. RESULTS: Platelet concentration was significantly increased for System 1 (p = 0.0088) and System 3 (p < 0.0001), and was significantly decreased for System 2 (p < 0.0001). All five systems significantly decreased the red blood cell concentration (p < 0.0001 for each system comparison). Neutrophil concentration was significantly decreased for System 2, System 3, and System 4 (p < 0.0001 for each system comparison). Neutrophil concentration was significantly increased for System 5 (p = 0.0089). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The systems with the highest platelet yield were System 1 and System 3. System 3 increased platelet concentration while significantly reducing the RBC and neutrophil concentrations. Further study is indicated to assess the efficacy of PRP therapy in canines, the efficacy of canine PRP systems, and the clinical applications for PRP therapy in dogs.