• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.207-211
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• 2019

This study was performed to compare the radiographic and echocardiographic features of cardiovascular changes between small and large dogs with heartworm diseases. Total of 49 dogs from two institutions were included in this study. The dogs were diagnosed with heartworm infestation and underwent thoracic and echocardiography. On thoracic radiographs, vertebral heart scale, reverse D shape, main pulmonary artery dilation, peripheral pulmonary artery dilation, and evidence of right heart failure were evaluated. On echocardiographs, visibility of worms, main pulmonary artery to aortic root (MPA/Ao) ratio, right to left ventricular basal diameter (RVD/LVD) ratio, and pulmonary hypertension were evaluated and analyzed between small and large dogs. The proportion of reverse D shape of the heart and accuracy for right ventricular hypertrophy in small dogs were lower than those of the large dogs. For echocardiographic parameter, the MPA/Ao and RVD/LVD ratio in the small dogs were significantly lower than those of the large dogs. As the results, thoracic radiography have a tendency to underestimate the severity of HWD in small dogs and should be used with echocardiography.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.330-335
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• 2023

Platelet function evaluation by PFA-100 or -200 has been known to be objective and sensitive for assessing platelet function and dysfunction of Von Willebrand Factor in humans and dogs. However, using the C/EPI cartridge in dogs is controversial. This study aimed to establish a reference range for PFA closure time in healthy small breed dogs (body weight < 10 kg) and to evaluate the effectiveness of both C/ADP and C/EPI cartridges for these dogs. Citrated blood samples were collected from 50 clinically healthy small breed dogs that were admitted for presurgical procedures or health checkups, and closure times were measured using the PFA-200. Reference ranges were determined as 42-144 s (median 67 s, mean 71.2 s, SD ± 21.2 s, 95% RI 43-140 s) , for CT-C/ADP and 41-200 s (median 87, mean 91.2 s, SD ± 31.8 s, 95% RI 44-195 s) for CT-C/EPI. The present study demonstrated that the reference ranges for PFA closure times in small breed dogs are in line with existing reference ranges. The utilization of C/ADP cartridges is the preferred choice for evaluating platelet function in small breed dogs. However, due to variable responses of epinephrine to platelet aggregation in dogs, caution should be exercised when using C/EPI cartridges.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2023

Sarcopenia and myosteatosis can increase the risk of adverse effects in dogs and humans. However, such imaging study results for evaluating sarcopenia and myosteatosis in small dogs have not yet been available. The objective of this study was to assess age-related changes according to the breed in epaxial muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration using CT to evaluate sarcopenia and age-related myosteatosis in small breed dogs. In 144 dogs (92 Maltese dogs, 27 Poodle dogs, and 25 Shih Tzu dogs), Hounsfield Unit (HU) values and CSA of left epaxial muscle were measured at the thirteenth thoracic vertebral level on non-contrast transverse CT images. Differences in HU values and CSA according to age and breed were analyzed. The geriatric group (≥12 years) had significantly lower HU values of epaxial muscle than mature adult group (2 to 6 years) of all breeds. The geriatric group had significantly lower CSA of epaxial muscle than mature adult and senior groups (7 to 11 years) of Maltese dogs. HU values of epaxial muscle were not significantly different among all age groups of all breeds. Maltese dogs had significantly lower CSA of epaxial muscle than Poodle and Shih Tzu dogs in all age groups. Results of this study showed that as age increased in small breed dogs, muscle mass and density decreased.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.483-494
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• 1996

The present study was undertaken to identify the species of nematodes and determine infection state of small intestinal nematodes from dogs in Taegu area. One hundred and eleven healthy dogs which were 8 months old or more were examined by means of autopsy from September to November, 1993. All of the worms in small intestine were collected and preserved in 10% formalin solution. The worms were cleared in the lactophenol solution and examined by stereomicroscope and lightmicroscope. The result obtained were summarized as follows : Fifty three dogs(47.7%) out of the 111 experimental dogs were infected with small intestinal nematodes. Hookworm infection was recognized in 30(27.7%) dogs. All of the hookworms were identified morphologically as Ancylostoma caninum which had 3 pairs of ventral teeth, a pair of triangular dorsal teeth and a pair of centrolateral teeth. No Uncinaria stenocephala infection was detectable. Roundworm infection was recognized in 37(33.3%) dogs. Twenty one(18.9%) dogs were infected with Toxascaris leonina which had characteristic dorsal lips, paired spicules and a simple tail without process. The individual worm burden of the infected dogs ranged from one to 361 with mean of 25.5%. Among them 0~358(mean $17.8{\pm}30.66$) were Ancylostoma caninum, 0~18(mean $1.6{\pm}3.44$) were Toxocara canis and 0~60(mean $6.0{\pm}12.05$) were Toxascaris leonina. Single infection with Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina were observed in 16(14.4%) dogs, in 9(8.1%) dogs, and in 11(9.9%) dogs respectively. Double infection with Ancylostoma caninum plus Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis plus Toxascaris leonina occurred in 5(0.5%) and in 3(2.7%) dogs respectively. Triple infection with Ancylostoma caninum plus Toxocara canis plus Toxascaris leonina occurred in 7(6.3%) dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.79.1-79.14
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• 2021

Background: In contrast to human medicine, only a small number of serum tumor markers are established in veterinary medicine even though they are a non-invasive diagnostic tool. Objectives: This study examined whether survivin could be suitable as a potential canine serum tumor marker. Methods: This study measured the serum survivin concentrations of dogs with mammary tumors (n = 33), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9), soft-tissue sarcoma (n = 18) and multicentric lymphoma (n = 22), using a commercially available, competitive immunoassay kit (BlueGene). The serum survivin concentrations were compared with those of a healthy control group (n = 20) and a control group of dogs with non-neoplastic diseases (n = 17). Results: Dogs with malignant tumors had serum survivin concentrations between 15 and 5,906 pg/mL (median, 72 pg/mL), those in the healthy group ranged from 7 to 99 pg/mL (median, 21 pg/mL) and those in the group of dogs suffering from non-neoplastic diseases from 15 to 93 pg/mL (median, 42 pg/mL). The differences in the survivin concentrations between the healthy dogs and dogs with malignant tumors and between the dogs with non-neoplastic diseases and those with malignant tumors were significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions: The serum survivin concentrations in dogs with malignant tumors, with some exceptions, are higher than in dogs with benign tumors and dogs that do not suffer from a malignancy. Therefore, survivin can provide information on the presence of malignant tumors and be used as a tumor marker in dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2020

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of autoligation techniques for castrating healthy male small breed dogs. Forty dogs were divided into four groups, with 10 in each group, based on maturity and the surgical technique used: 1) immature dogs aged less than 1 year, with autoligation of the spermatic cord via a scrotal approach (SAL) as the surgical technique (SAL-IM); 2) mature dogs aged 1 year or older, with the same SAL surgical technique (SAL-M); 3) immature dogs aged less than 1 year, with double ligation of the spermatic cord with an absorbable suture via a prescrotal approach (PDL) as the surgical technique (PDL-IM); and 4) mature dogs aged 1 year or older, with the same PDL surgical technique (PDL-M). The effectiveness of the surgical technique was evaluated by comparing the operating time and complications between these four groups. The significant decreases in operating times were found in SAL-IM and SAL-M compared with those of PDL-IM and PDL-M (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01). Regardless of maturity, the SAL surgical technique reduced operating time by approximately 69.5% compared with the PDL surgical technique. When the complication severities were scored, the results showed no significant differences among the four group. The autoligation technique for castration in healthy male small breed dogs is considered to be effective because the operating time consuming is less than conventional techniques.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.840-845
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to propose a standard for differentiation between normal dogs and patients with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) by measuring skin thickness via ultrasonography in small breed dogs. Significant changes in skin thickness of patients treated with prednisolone (PDS) or patients with HAC treated with trilostane were evaluated. Skin thickness was retrospectively measured on three abdominal digital images obtained from small breed dogs weighing < 15 kg that underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Mean skin thickness of normal dogs was $1.03{\pm}0.25mm$ (mean ${\pm}$ SD). Both the HAC and PDS groups showed significantly thinner skin than that in the normal group. Seven of the 10 HAC patients treated with trilostane had increased skin thickness. The area under the curve value of 0.807 was based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for differentiating normal dogs from HAC patients. Sensitivity was 76% and specificity was 73% when skin thickness was less than the 0.83 mm cutoff value. In conclusion, measurement of skin thickness in small breed dogs by using ultrasonography is likely to provide clinical information useful in differentiating HAC patients from normal dogs. However, exposure to PDS, trilostane, and other conditions may have a significant effect on skin thickness.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.5
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• 2023

Syringobulbia is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a fluid-filled cavity in the brainstem. In this study, clinical signs, features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the diseases present concurrently with syringobulbia were investigated in 33 small breed dogs. Most dogs (97%) had concurrent syringomyelia, and some dogs (24%) presented with vestibular or cranial nerve symptoms associated with the medulla oblongata. MRIs revealed slit-like, bulbous, and vertical linear shapes of the cavities on T2-weighted hyperintense and T1-weighted hypointense signals similar to the cerebrospinal fluid. Chiari-like malformations were identified in all dogs. This study highlights the association of syringobulbia with syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformations in small breed dogs with or without brainstem-associated clinical signs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.197-200
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• 2019

Cryptosporidium is a common intestinal protozoan that can lead to diarrhea in humans and dogs. The predominant species of infection are C. hominis and C. parvum in humans, and C. canis in dogs. However, C. canis can infect immunocompromised humans. Considering the close contact with humans, dogs have the potential to be reservoirs for human cryptosporidiosis. Breeding kennels are the major supply source of puppies for pet shops. The present study is to determine the molecular prevalence and characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. found in breeding kennel dogs. A total of 314 fecal samples were collected from young and adult dogs kept in 5 breeding kennels. A polymerase chain reaction targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. To determine the species, the DNA sequences were compared to GenBank data. Overall, 21.0% of the fecal samples were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. infection. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in all 5 facilities. A sequencing analysis demonstrated that all isolates shared 99-100% similarity with C. canis. The results suggest that Cryptosporidium spp. infection is present at a high-level in breeding kennel dogs. However, because dominant species in this survey was C. canis, the importance of breeding kennel dogs as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium spp. transmission to humans is likely to be low in Japan.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.297-300
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• 2020

Lameness is a variation of normal gait in an animal, and it means that one or more limbs cannot be used correctly to allow the animal to walk. In the usual context, the incidence of hindlimb lameness in dogs is most likely the result of trauma, joint diseases, and/or congenital diseases. Generally speaking, the factors influencing hindlimb lameness include the animal's specific breed, size, weight, and whether it engages in frequent or strenuous activities. Many studies have investigated the incidence of lameness of large breed dogs, as compared to small breed dogs. Considering that many domestic dogs are small breeds, the lameness of small breed dogs with a high population in Korea was evaluated. The major causes of hindlimb lameness were found to be joint, musculoskeletal, and neurological abnormalities and the most were identified as joint diseases. Among the joint diseases, it was noted that a patellar luxation was the most common, of which the grade 3 medial patellar luxation was the highest rated type of joint disease noted.