• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.435-440
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• 2012

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Rhubarb extracts ($Rubenal^{(R)}$) in dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF). Client-owned 40 dogs with CRF graded International renal interest Society (IRIS) II-III were enrolled in this study. The dogs were equally allocated and blindly administered with $Rubenal^{(R)}$ or placebo. The following items were evaluated at day 0, 30, 90 and 180: body condition score (BCS), clinical score (appetite, polydipsia/polyuria, quality of life score), hemogram (WBC, RBC, PCV), serum biochemistry (ALT/AST, ALP, Creatinine/BUN, total protein, albumin), serum electrolyte (Na, K, Cl, Ca, P), systolic blood pressure, urinalysis (UPC, USG) and IRIS stage. In this study, we found that the $Rubenal^{(R)}$ preparation was well tolerated by dogs and induced no adverse effects. Statistically significant improvements were observed in clinical score (quality of life score by vet and clients), serum BUN and creatinine levels, serum phosphorus concentration, level of proteinuria, and the IRIS score of CRF in dogs after 6 month of treatment of $Rubenal^{(R)}$. Those findings suggested that the Rhubarb extracts can improve the clinical signs of CRF (i.e. azotemia, hypertension, proteinuria, hyperphosphoremia) and the quality of life (i.e. BCS, clinical score) and can retard the progression of CRF in dogs. Therefore the Rhubarb extracts can be a good supplementary drug for treating dogs with subclinical and clinical renal diseases. However, care should be taken for interpreting our result, because this study is not double-blinded controlled study but pilot study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2008

Eighty-four Holstein cows were used to evaluate effects of feeding two diets that differed in dietary cation-anion difference (cationic; +28 or anionic; -138 mEq/kg DM) on prepartum and postpartum dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), serum Ca concentrations and on subsequent milk production and composition. Treatments were in a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement that included prepartum diet, dry period length (30 d dry, 30 d dry+estradiol cypionate (ECP), and 60 d dry), and prepartum and postpartum bST ($POSILAC^{(R)}$ 10.2 mg/d). No interaction of prepartum diet with dry period length or bST supplementation was detected for any measure evaluated either prepartum or postpartum. No significant effects of prepartum diet on prepartum DMI, BW or BCS were observed. Mean DMI during the first 28 d postpartum were similar for cows fed the cationic or anionic diets prepartum (25.5 vs. 26.1 kg/d). During postpartum wk 1 to 14, no differences in mean BW or BCS were detected due to prepartum diet fed but decreases for both groups were observed during the first 6 wk postpartum. No differences due to prepartum diet were observed for mean milk or 3.5% FCM yields or for milk composition during the first 10 wk of lactation. Similarly, mean milk yield of cows during the first 21 wk did not differ significantly due to prepartum diet fed (38.5 vs. 38.6 kg/d). Overall, cows fed the prepartum cationic or anionic diets had similar mean postpartum serum concentrations of Ca (9.34 vs. 9.35 mg/dl). Subsequent milk production, milk composition and concentrations of Ca did not differ. Importantly, the two prepartum diets were equally satisfactory in minimizing incidence of milk fever and in supporting initiation of lactation, irrespective of dry period length and supplemental ECP and bST.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body weight, body condition score (BCS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, cholesterol and number of transferable embryos for the purpose of improving reproductive performance in Hanwoo donors. Seventy five cows, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR together with injection of 1mg estradiol benzoate and 50 mg progesterone, and gonadotropin treatment begann. Four days later, the animals were superovulated with a total of 28AU FSH (Antorin, 2AU = 1 ml) administered twice daily in constant doses over 4 days. On the 3rd administration of FSH, CIDR was withdrawn and 25 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was administered. Cows were artificially inseminated twice after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals. The cows received $100{\mu}g$ GnRH at the time of 1st insemination. Embryos were recovered 7 days after the 1st insemination. In conclusion, cows with body weight < 400, 400~450 and > 450kg had number of transferable embryos of $4.2{\pm}1.7$, $6.1{\pm}2.7$ and $4.8{\pm}2.6$, cows with BCS <2.25, 2.25~2.75 and ${\geq}2.75$ had number of transferable embryos of $4.6{\pm}1.6$, $5.7{\pm}2.4$ and $5.1{\pm}2.7$ respectively. These data indicate that a body weight and BCS for superovulation of CIDR-treated Korean native cows does not affect the embryo yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.630-637
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• 2013

To determine the effects of dry period (DP) length on milk yield, milk composition, some blood metabolites, complete blood count (CBC), body weight and score and follicular status, twenty five primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with DP-60 (n = 13) and DP-20 (n = 12) dry period lengths. Cows in the DP-60 produced more milk, protein, SNF, serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta hydroxyl butyrate acid (BHBA) compared with cows in DP-20 ($p{\leq}0.05$). Serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were all similar among the treatments. Body Condition Score (BCS), body weight (BW), complete blood count (CBC) and health problems were similar between the treatments. Diameter of the first dominant follicle and diameter of the dominant follicle on d 14 were different among the treatments. Thus, results of this study showed that reducing the dry period length to DP-20 had a negative effect on milk production, milk composition and reproductive performance in Holstein dairy cows.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2008

The objective of this study is to investigate the changes in concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and sex steroid hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in Korean cattle (Hanwoo) with reproductive disorders and to examine the relationship between BUN and body condition score (BCS) in Hanwoo. The concentration of BUN was 16.2 mg/dl, 17.8 mg/dl, 15.1 mg/dl, 17.9 mg/dl, and 28.3mg/dl in pregnancy, repeat breeding, follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and ovarian atrophy, respectively. In Hanwoo with BCS $2.0{\sim}2.9$, $3.0{\sim}3.5$ and $3.6{\sim}4.0$, the concentration of BUN was 15.8 mg/dl, 17.0 mg/dl, and 17.6 mg/dl, respectively. Fluoroimmunoassay showed that serum estrogen and progesterone levels were decreased in reproductive disorders Hanwoo, such as ovarian atrophy, endometritis, and weak estrus. The testosterone level was significantly decreased in Hanwoo with reproductive disorders compared to that in pregnant Hanwoo ($0.02{\sim}0.03\;ng/ml$ vs 0.13 ng/ml, p<0.05). The progesterone and estrogen concentrations in follicular fluid obtained from ovary with follicular cyst were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in normal follicle fluid. These results show that there is no relationship between BUN and BCS in Hanwoo, and the concentration of sex steroid hormone in serum and follicular fluid are changed in reproductive disorders Hanwoo.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2012

In humans, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was shown to be inversely related to obesity; in addition, its association with contributing factors for obesity such as insulin, lipids, and glucose profiles has been demonstrated in the literature. However, this association between NT-proBNP and the severity of obesity has not been investigated in veterinary medicine. Our study hypothesis is that plasma levels of NT-proBNP may be related to body condition score (BCS) and contributing factors to obesity in dogs with heart diseases. To achieve our study goal, we collected blood samples from 73 client-owned dogs of small breeds at different stages of heart failure due to chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI). Fasting glucose concentrations, lipid profiles (i.e., total triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]), fructosamine, insulin and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured. The insulin/glucose ratio was also determined. NT-proBNP showed not only a significant correlation with the severity of CMVI related heart failure but also an inverse relationship to body condition scores (BCS), insulin plasma levels and fructosamine concentrations. We found the presence of an inverse relationship between plasma levels of NT-proBNP and the severity of obesity. In addition, NT-proBNP was associated with lower levels of contributing factors to obesity such as fructosamine and insulin, creating a possible link between the obesity and NT-proBNP in dogs with heart disease. This is also the first report demonstrating an inverse association between obesity and NT-proBNP in dogs with heart failure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.580-585
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to determine cow characteristics and farm management factors during the dry period associated with early postparturient intramammary infection (IMI) and subsequent clinical mastitis (CM). Data were collected three times: before drying off (P1), during the dry period (P2), and 5 to 14 days after calving (P3), using questionnaires and farm investigation. Milk samples were aseptically collected for bacterial identification at P1 and P3. Factors associated with IMI and CM were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. The final model showed that IMI in early postpartum was significantly associated with full insertion of dry cow antibiotic, dry cows in barns with a combination of tie and free stalls, body condition score (BCS) in dry period and after calving, and milk yield before drying off. For IMI cows, factors significantly associated with clinical expression of mastitis were having daily barn cleaning, teat disinfected with alcohol before administration of dry cow therapy, BCS before drying off, milk yield before drying off, and days in milk at drying off. In conclusion, both cow and farm management factors are associated with the IMI rate and subsequent expression of clinical signs of mastitis in early postpartum cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2014

The present study compared leptin, adiponectin, and thyroid hormone concentrations in normal and obese dogs, and evaluated the association between leptin and adiponectin concentrations and thyroid function. The serum leptin, adiponectin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), and cortisol concentrations were measured in 18 normal dogs (body condition score [BCS]: 4-5/9) and 16 obese dogs (BCS: 8-9/9). Leptin and T3 concentrations were higher in the obese group than the normal weight group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). In both groups, the T3 and leptin concentrations were correlated (r = 0.370, p < 0.05), as were the TSH and fT4 and adiponectin concentrations (r = -0.373, p < 0.05 and r = 0.369, p < 0.05, respectively). In the normal weight group, the TSH and fT4 concentrations were correlated with the adiponectin concentrations (r = -0.528, p < 0.05 and r = 0.482, p < 0.05, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that leptin and T3 concentrations are significantly higher in obese dogs than normal weight dogs, and the serum T3 and leptin concentrations are positively correlated.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2004

We investigated the effect of reproductive herd health program (RHHP) on the reproductive performance in high yielding dairy herds. Data collected from 205 lactations at Boeun County, Chungbuk from April 2001 to Dec. 2003 included postpartum reproductive and metabolic diseases, body condition score (BCS), reproductive performance and milking records. First we compared the reproductive performance of cows without RHHP (pre-RHHP group) and cows with RHHP (RHHP group). Intervals from calving to first service (99.6 vs. 81.8 days) and to conception (160.3 vs. 131.8 days) were shorter in the RHHP group than in the pre-RHHP group. Secondly, we determined the effect of milk yield (305 days) on the occurrence of postpartum diseases, BCS changes, and reproductive performance in cows under RHHP. The occurrence of metritis and metabolic diseases were greater in the over-10,000 kg group than in the under-10,000 kg group. The over-10,000 kg group lost more body condition than the under-10,000 kg group from calving to month 3 postpartum. Nevertheless, reproductive performance did not differ between the two groups. These results indicate that reproductive performance can be improved by the application of RHHP in high yielding dairy herds and that reproductive performance in the cows under RHHP are not affected by high milk yielding.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify clinical features of sound (non-lame) dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL). Medical records of 72 dogs diagnosed with MPL were retrospectively reviewed. There were no significances in breed, sex, body weight, body condition score (BCS), osteoarthritis (OA) score, inclination of the femoral head angle (IFA), and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) between sound and lame dogs, respectively. The mean age of sound dogs was significantly higher than that of lame dogs (P < 0.05), especially in MPL grade 3. The frequency of sound dogs with MPL grade 1 and 2 was 2.3 times higher than that of sound dogs with MPL grade 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA) of sound dogs was significantly lower than that of lame dogs (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistical differences in aLDFA between sound and lame dogs in MPL grade 1, 2, and 4, except for MPL grade 3. This study suggests that in case of MPL grade 1 and 2, frequency of sound dogs is significantly high, and also that in MPL grade 3, if mean ± (standard deviation) age of the dogs is 7.4 ± 3.6 years old and the aLDFA is 105.6 ± 4.1 degrees, they are very highly possible to be sound dogs.