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AbstractHypoalbuminemia has been considered as a cause of gallbladder wall thickening in humans and dogs. Recent study revealed that gallbladder wall thickening in dogs with hypoalbuminemia may not be associated with serum albumin/plasma levels within 48 h of ultrasound study. However, gallbladder wall edema may change within 48 h, and the ultrasonographic features of gallbladder wall thickening in dogs with hypoalbuminemia have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between serum albumin levels within 24 h of ultrasound and gallbladder wall thickening, and to describe the ultrasonographic features of thickened gallbladder walls in dogs with hypoalbuminemia. 37 hypoalbuminemic dogs with gallbladder ultrasound images were retrospectively included. Ultrasound studies were reviewed, and gallbladder wall thickness, layering appearance, echogenicity, echotexture, distribution, evidence of gallbladder mucocele, and presence of peritoneal effusion were recorded. Additionally, serum albumin levels within 24 h of ultrasound study and the administerd sedation were recorded. The prevalence of gallbladder wall thickening in dogs with hypoalbuminemia was 13.5%. The 3-layer appearance of the gallbladder wall was observed in 4 dogs, and a single-layer gallbladder wall thickening in one dog. Diffuse thickening was observed in all 5 dogs. The serum albumin level of dogs with gallbladder wall thickening was not different (p = 0.14) from dogs without thickening. Gallbladder wall thickening was not common, occurring only with mild hypoalbuminemia, and was commonly associated with a 3-layer appearance and considered as gallbladder wall subserosal edema. Causes other than hypoalbuminemia may be responsible for thickening of the gallbladder wall in dogs with hypoalbuminemia.

BackgroundGastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) can lead to organ failure including acute kidney injury (AKI). Due to its cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, lidocaine has a potential to prevent AKI in dogs with GDV.Design and settingProspective, observational cohort study in client-owned dogs with GDV.ObjectiveTo determine concentrations of renal biomarkers for AKI in dogs with GDV with and without intravenous (IV) lidocaine therapy.MethodsThirty-two dogs were randomized to receive either IV lidocaine (2 mg/kg, followed by a lidocaine constant rate infusion at a dose of 50 μg/kg/min over 24 h; n = 17) or no lidocaine (n = 15). Blood and urine samples were taken at admission (T0) (only blood), during or immediately after surgery (T1), and 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) h after surgery. Plasma creatinine (pCr), plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL), urinary NGAL (uNGAL), uNGAL to creatinine ratio (UNCR), and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase to creatinine ratio (uGGT/uCr) were evaluated. Biomarker concentrations were compared between dogs with and without IV lidocaine and the course of each marker was determined in comparison to its admission value.ResultsIn the entire population, a significantly higher pCr at T0 (median, 95 μmol/L, interquartile range, 82–105) compared with T1 (69 μmol/L, 60–78), T24 (63 μmol/L, 52–78), and T48 (78 μmol/L, 65–87) (P < 0.001) was found. Plasma NGAL increased significantly between T0 (5.66 ng/mL, 3.58–7.43) and T24 (7.50 ng/mL, 4.01–11.89) (P = 0.006) and T48 (9.86 ng/mL, 5.52–13.92) (P < 0.001), respectively. Urinary NGAL increased significantly between T1 (0.61 ng/mL, 0.30–2.59) and T24 (2.62 ng/mL, 1.86–10.92) (P = 0.001) and T48 (4.79 ng/mL, 1.96–34.97 (P < 0.001), respectively. UNCR increased significantly between T1 (0.15 μg/mmol, 0.09–0.54) and T24 (1.14 μg/mmol, 0.41–3.58) (P = 0.0015) and T48 (1.34 μg/mmol, 0.30–7.42) (P < 0.001), respectively. Concentrations of uGGT/uCr increased significantly from T0 highest at T24 (6.20 U/mmol, 3.90–9.90) and significantly decreased at T48 (3.76 U/mmol, 2.84–6.22) (P < 0.001). No significant differences in any renal biomarker concentration were found between dogs with and without IV lidocaine therapy.Conclusion and clinical relevancePlasma NGAL, uNGAL and UNCR remained increased up to 48 h post-surgery. No evidence of lidocaine-associated renoprotection was found.

Abstract Background Ultrasonographic appearance of unorganized hyperechoic striations (UHS) has been observed in the canine gastric muscularis layer. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence, sonographic and postmortem histologic features, and to determine the clinical significance of canine gastric muscularis UHS. In the prospective study, 72 dogs were included. The presence of gastric muscularis UHS were reviewed to determine its distribution and location. In the retrospective study, 167 dogs that had both abdominal ultrasonography and necropsy were included. Results The prevalence of gastric muscularis UHS in dogs was 37.5% in the prospective and 5.4% in the retrospective studies respectively. The higher prevalence in prospective study was due to greater anticipation by the radiologists in search for gastric muscularis UHS. In the ventral gastric wall, the muscularis UHS were better defined when the gastric lumen was empty or non-distended, and were mostly parallel with the serosa when the gastric wall was distended (with gas or fluid). Visualization of the dorsal gastric wall was often obscured by gas shadowing from luminal gas. Histopathology was performed on eight dogs with gastric muscularis UHS, three of which had fibrous tissue observed with Masson’s trichrome stain. Conclusion Presence of gastric muscularis UHS in dogs may have been attributable to presence of incomplete interfaces between the inner oblique, middle circular and outer longitudinal layers of the gastric tunica muscularis or due to presence of fibrous tissue within the gastric muscularis layer. The clinical significance of canine gastric muscularis UHS is uncertain.

In dogs and cats an assessment of renal function is often needed, however, existing methods including urine and plasma clearances are invasive, cumbersome and time consuming. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a transcutaneous glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement in dogs and cats. Additionally the optimal dose and location for the transcutaneous measurement device were investigated. Renal elimination of fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labelled sinistrin (FITC-S) was measured transcutaneously for 4 hours. The procedures were performed in awake, freely moving animals using escalating doses of FITC-S (10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg) with a wash-out period of at least 24 h in between. Multiple devices were placed on each animal. The resulting FITC-S disappearance curves were visually assessed to determine the most suitable location and the appropriate dose to reach an adequate transcutaneous peak signal for kinetic analysis. In both species 30 mg/kg were adequate for kinetic calculation. The most suitable place for the device was the lateral thoracic wall in dogs and the ventral abdominal wall in cats, respectively. Transcutaneous FITC-S clearance was then repeated using the optimal dose and location and in parallel with an additional plasma sinistrin clearance. Plasma elimination half-lives [min] were 26, 31 and 35, and corresponding transcutaneous elimination half-lives [min] were 26, 34 and 55, respectively in the dogs. Plasma elimination half-lives [min] were 51, 60 and 61, and corresponding transcutaneous elimination half-lives [min] were 75, 96 and 83, respectively in the cats. In conclusion, transcutaneous FITC-S clearance is a feasible method for the assessment of GFR in awake dogs and cats. It is noninvasive, well tolerated and easy to perform even in a clinical setting with results being readily available. A dose of 30 mg/kg of FITC-S seems adequate for kinetic assessment. Further studies are now needed to establish reference values and evaluate transcutaneous renal clearance in various conditions.