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References

Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas.

Summary:

To investigate associations between age at gonadectomy and estimated risk or age at diagnosis of neoplastic and behavioral disorders in Vizslas.

Conclusion:

Additional studies are needed on the biological effects of removing gonadal hormones and on methods to render dogs infertile that do not involve gonadectomy. Veterinarians should discuss the benefits and possible adverse effects of gonadectomy with clients, giving consideration to the breed of dog, the owner’s circumstances, and the anticipated use of the dog.

Author & Journal:Zink MC, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 244:309-319
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Evaluation of the safety of long-term, daily oral administration of grapiprant, a novel drug for treatment of osteoarthritic pain and inflammation, in healthy dogs.

Summary:

To investigate the safety of daily oral administration of grapiprant to dogs.

Conclusion:

Results suggested the safety of long-term oral administration of grapiprant to dogs. Efficacy of grapiprant in the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis needs to be evaluated in other studies.

Author & Journal:Rausch-Derra LC, et al, Am J Vet Res 2015;76:853-859
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Evaluation of treatment with a pulsed electromagnetic field on wound healing, clinicopathologic variables, and central nervous system activity of dogs.

Summary:

To evaluate effects of treatment with a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on healing of open and sutured wounds, clinicopathologic variables, and CNS activity of dogs.

Conclusion:

The PEMF treatment enhanced wound epithelialization in open cutaneous wounds and provided indications of early contraction without significant short-term changes in other variables.

Author & Journal:Scardino MS, et al, Am J Vet Res. 59(9):1177-1181, 1998
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Examination of synovial fluid and serum following intravenous injections of hyaluronan for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Summary:

A randomized, blinded, prospective clinical trial was performed to determine the effects of intravenous (i.v.) administration of hyaluronan sodium (HA) on serum glycosaminoglycans (GAG) concentrations, synovial fluid (SF) hyaluronan concentrations and viscosity in dogs treated for unilateral rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament.

Conclusion:

Data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon sign rank test (p < 0.05). Mean +/- SD viscosity (cP) was significantly higher (p = 0.011) in SF obtained from the intact stifle (450 +/- 604.1) than injured (54.8 +/- 60.8) prior to surgery. Mean +/- SD HA concentrations (ug/ml) were significantly higher (p = 0.02) in synovial fluid obtained from the injured stifles (281.4 +/- 145.9) than intact stifles (141.6 +/- 132.5). No significant difference was noted within or between treatment groups in SF viscosity, HA concentrations, or serum GAG concentrations at any time following surgery. Stifles with cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency had significant alterations in SF viscosity and HA concentrations.

Author & Journal:Canapp SO, et al, Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2005;18:19-174
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Exercise enhances memory consolidation in the aging brain.

Summary:

Exercise has been shown to reduce age-related losses in cognitive function including learning and memory, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. Memory formation occurs in stages that include an initial acquisition phase, an intermediate labile phase, and then a process of consolidation which leads to long-term memory formation. An effective way to examine the mechanism by which exercise improves memory is to introduce the intervention (exercise), post-acquisition, making it possible to selectively examine memory storage and consolidation. Accordingly we evaluated the effects of post-trial exercise (10 min on a treadmill) on memory consolidation in aged canines both right after, an hour after, and 24 h after acute exercise training in concurrent discrimination, object location memory (OLM), and novel object recognition tasks.

Conclusion:

In summary, the results of this study indicate that acute and chronic exercise are both effective against the functional deficits associated with cognitive aging. Exercise may therefore be a viable training mechanism to improve cognitive reserve in the brain and bolster resiliency against the consequences of brain aging.

Author & Journal:Snigdha S, et al, Front Aging Neurosci 6(3):1-14, 2014
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Exercises in canine physical rehabilitation: range of motion of the forelimb during stair and ramp ascent.

Summary:

To evaluate overall joint range of motion of the forelimb in healthy dogs ascending stairs compared with incline slope walking.

Conclusion:

In healthy dogs, ramp and stair ascent consistently had greater range of motion compared to trotting on a flat surface, and ramp ascent had significantly greater range of motion compared to stair ascent (P<0·05). Shoulder flexion and extension, elbow extension and carpal flexion were all significantly greater while ascending the ramp compared to stairs. Shoulder extension on the flat was significantly greater than while ascending stairs.

Author & Journal:Carr JG, et al, J Small Anim Pract 54(8):409-413, 2013
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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves short-term limb use after canine tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

Summary:

To determine the influence of postoperative extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on hind limb use after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).

Conclusion:

CONCLUSION:
Weight bearing increased faster after TPLO in dogs treated with postoperative ESWT.

RESULTS: The PVF (5.5 ± 1.0 N/kg, mean ± SD) and VI (0.67 ± 0.14 N-s/kg) of surgically treated limbs in the ESWT cohort were higher 8 weeks after surgery compared with preoperative (3.8 ± 1.1 N/kg, P < .0001 and 0.47 ± 0.21 N-s/kg, P = .0012, respectively) values. In the control cohort, PVF (2.9 ± 1.3 N/kg, P = .0001) and VI (0.33 ± 0.20 N-s/kg, P = .0003) 2 weeks after surgery and VI (0.42 ± 0.2 N-s/kg, P = .0012) 8 weeks after surgery were lower (4.59 ± 2.33 N/kg and 0.592 ± 0.35 N-s/kg, respectively) than before surgery. Other parameters did not differ between groups.

Author & Journal:Barnes, Kate et al, Vet Surg. 2019 Aug 30. doi: 10.1111/vsu.13320
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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies.

Summary:

Many clinical trials have evaluated the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating patients with chronic tendinosis of the supraspinatus, lateral epicondylitis, and plantar fasciitis. Although extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been reported to be effective in some trials, in others it was no more effective than placebo. The multiple variables associated with this therapy, such as the amount of energy delivered, the method of focusing the shock waves, frequency and timing of delivery, and whether or not anesthetics are used, makes comparing clinical trials difficult. Calcific tendinosis of the supraspinatus and plantar fasciitis have been successfully managed with extracorporeal shock wave therapy when nonsurgical management has failed.

Conclusion:

Results have been mixed in the management of lateral epicondylitis, however, and this therapy has not been effective in managing noncalcific tendinosis of the supraspinatus. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has consistently been more effective with patient feedback, which enables directing the shock waves to the most painful area (clinical focusing), rather than with anatomic or image-guided focusing, which are used to direct the shock waveto an anatomic landmark or structure.

Author & Journal:Sems A, et al, J Am Acad Orthop Surg 14:195-204, 2006
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Face validity of a proposed tool for staging osteoarthritis: Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST).

Summary:

This article outlines the rationale and thought processes behind the construction of this proposed instrument and the ‘item generation’ — determination by expert opinion of what the instrument should contain and look like (face validity). It gives a detailed overview of COAST, and practical details on how it is proposed to be used.

Conclusion:

This report describes a novel instrument developed by an expert panel to facilitate diagnosis of OA through standardized and guided assessment. Ultimately, an effective staging tool like this may help improve pain control and general clinical management of dogs with OA by providing standardized ‘scores’ over time that can be related to treatment efforts. With COAST, the authors are proposing a schematic approach to diagnosing and staging canine OA, utilizing inputs from the pet owner and from the veterinarian consultation and examination.

Author & Journal:Cachon T, Frykman O, Innes JF, et al, Vet J 2018
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Factors influencing canine mammary cancer development and postsurgical survival.

Author & Journal:Schneider R, et al, J Natl Cancer Inst 1969;43:1249-1261
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