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Dermatological conditions may be complicated by Staphylococcus spp. infections influencing skin and nasal microbiota. We investigated the associations between the resident nasal microbiota of shelter dogs with and without dermatological conditions carrying methicillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus spp. Nasal sampling of 16 dogs with and 52 without dermatological conditions were performed upon shelter admission (baseline), and then bi-weekly until discharge (follow-up). All samples were cultured for Staphylococcus spp., while 52 samples underwent microbiota analysis. Two elastic net logistic regression (ENR) models (Model 1—baseline samples; Model 2—follow-up samples) were developed to identify predictive associations between dermatological conditions and the variables: signalment, antimicrobial treatment, and nasal microbial genera. Follow-up nasal samples of dogs with dermatological conditions had decreased microbiota diversity and abundance compared to dogs without dermatological conditions. Our ENR models identified predictive differences in signalment and nasal microbial genera between baseline and follow-up samples. Co-occurrence networks showed nasal microbial genera were more dissimilar when comparing dogs with and without dermatological conditions at follow-up. Overall, this study is the first to investigate Staphylococcus spp. carriage effects on nasal microbial genera in a canine animal shelter population, and ultimately reveals the importance of investigating decolonisation and probiotic therapies for restoring nasal microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To determine characteristics of and outcomes for dogs with congenital distal ureteral orifice stenosis (CDUOS) treated by cystoscopic-guided laser ablation (CLA). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 16 client-owned dogs with CDUOS treated by CLA at 2 veterinary hospitals between 2010 and 2014. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed and data collected regarding clinical findings, imaging results, surgery characteristics, treatment, and outcome. Follow-up information was collected from dog owners and referring veterinarians via standardized interview. RESULTS Dogs included 10 males and 6 females; median age was 11.5 months (range, 4 to 112 months). Labrador Retriever (n = 6; 3 males) was the most common breed. Intramural ectopic ureteral openings were identified at the site of stenosis in 15 dogs (18/20 stenotic ureteral openings). Treatment with CLA to enlarge and relocate the stenotic opening was successful in all dogs. Median duration of anesthesia and hospitalization was 105 minutes and 24 hours, respectively. No complications were noted. Fourteen dogs remained alive (2 lost to follow-up) during a median follow-up period of 14.5 months. Owners of 11 of 13 dogs reported improvement in their dog's quality of life after CLA. The treated ureteral orifice remained patent in the 2 dogs that were reimaged. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE CDUOS should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with idiopathic distal ureteral obstruction, particularly young male Labrador Retrievers, and was most often associated with an intramural ectopic ureter in this study. Treatment with CLA was safe and effective for opening the ureteral orifice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs which depends largely on histologic examination of biopsy samples. The study aims to assess the diagnostic value of biopsy samples taken from duodenum and ileum in dogs with diffuse gatrointestinal disease. It concludes that the type and severity of inflammation may vary depending on the anatomic site sampled in dogs with diffuse bowel diarrhea.

In this article, the authors discusses a study on the recurrence of uroliths in cats using the database of the Minnesota Urolith Center at the University of Minnesota. They say that urolithiasis is a common diagnosis in general small-animal practice and occur mostly in cats than dogs. They mention that to prevent uroliths, the cat must undergo proper diet, canned food is recommended and a neutral urine pH should be maintained.

The article discusses a study which aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal nematode parasitism in dogs and to detect signalment factors associated with increased risk of infection in the U.S. The intestinal parasites examined consist of Toxocara, Ancylostoma and Trichuris species calculated with the number of positive dogs. It finds the importance of the risk of intestinal nematode infection depending on signalment and geographic location to help prioritize differentials in dogs.

The article offers a recap on a study regarding canine chronic hepatitis determination and ascites validation. It discusses the guidelines published by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) about standardization of clinical and histologic subtypes of liver disease in small animals including necrosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular regeneration. Further, it offers a commentary regarding the incidence of primary chronic hepatitis among dogs.

The article offers a study which intends to compare the location of presumptive injection-site sarcomas in cats diagnosed between 1990 and 1996, against diagnosed in 1996 and 2006. It mentions that findings of the study suggest that many veterinarians stick to the recommendations of Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force in 1996 on the recommended sites for routine feline vaccination. Findings also mean that the rabies vaccine could be the most oncogenic.

The article presents a study about blastomycosis in dogs. According to the study, blastomycosis, caused by the agent blastomyces dermatitidis, is a systemic fungal disease that primarily affects dogs and humans. It explores the common causes of blastomycosis as well as the alternative medicine in treating it.

Background: Canine allergic dermatitis is a common diagnosis in veterinary practices which can lead to secondary infections requiring treatment with antimicrobials. A previous study suggested that dogs treated with oclacitinib in an Australian referral hospital required fewer courses of antimicrobial therapy compared to dogs receiving other anti-pruritic treatments. This study aimed to quantify the effect of oclacitinib treatment on the use of antimicrobials and other therapies in general practice veterinary clinics across Australia. A retrospective case-controlled review of patient records was designed to investigate the number of courses of antimicrobials and other therapies in dogs that received oclacitinib (Apoquel®), compared with those who received an anti-pruritic treatment that was not oclacitinib. Results: The target population included canine patients with a presumptive diagnosis of allergic dermatitis presenting between 2008 and 2018 to general practices contributing to the VetCompass Australia database. Patient records of interest were identified using search terms relating to allergic dermatitis, resulting in over 700,000 observations. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to determine whether cases were prescribed fewer antimicrobial courses than controls, after adjusting for the presence of concurrent skin infections or infectious agents in ears. Our results indicate that fewer antimicrobial courses were prescribed in the cases compared to the controls. After adjusting for the concurrent skin infections, there was a significant reduction in the use of cefovecin [OR:0.62(0.39–0.98), P = 0.043], chlorhexidine [OR:0.57(0.42–0.77), P < 0.001], neomycin [OR:0.4(0.28–0.56), P < 0.001] and amoxycillin clavulanic acid (AMC) [OR: 0.55(0.39–0.78), P = 0.001] in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a potential sparing effect of oclacitinib on the prescription of antimicrobials for the treatment of allergic skin diseases in dogs. This information may assist in the planning of treatment for canine allergic dermatitis, with consideration for antimicrobial stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]