Browsing by Subject "Canine"
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Item Comparison of Dermatological Complications Associated with Repeated use of a High Anionic vs a Low Anionic Soap to Decontaminate Canines(2015-01-26) Mabry, Christopher JamesHarmful materials are released into the environment during emergencies and disasters. These materials pose a risk to animals involved in search and rescue efforts without the benefit of personal protective equipment. Search and Rescue (S&R) canines are often decontaminated multiple times during deployments to limit their potential exposure to toxic or harmful substances they come into contact with. Consecutive decontamination has the potential to induce epidermal irritation, decrease the natural protections associated with a healthy dermis and thereby increase the risk of absorption and internalization of hazardous material. The focus of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two soap products in the removal of oil-based contaminants and to determine the subsequent likelihood of inducing epidermal irritation and transepidermal water loss when used serially over a standard 14-day deployment. The results of this study revealed that Dawn? Ultra is more effective than DermaLyte? at removing oil-based contaminants. The serial use of each of these products resulted in mild to moderate epidermal irritation within 4.9 to 15.8 days for Dawn? soap and 5.8 to 21.4 days for DermaLyte? soap. Transepidermal water loss did not quantify or predict visibly scored epidermal irritation. These results will guide the development of S&R dog decontamination protocols.Item Investigations into Hyperlipidemia and its Possible Associations with Pancreatitis in Dogs(2012-07-16) Xenoulis, PanagiotisThe relationship between hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis remains obscure in dogs. The aim of the present study was to investigate any possible association between hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis in dogs. In the first part of the study, Miniature Schnauzers with hypertriglyceridemia were found to have significantly higher serum cPLI concentrations than Miniature Schnauzers with normal serum triglyceride concentrations (P=0.0001). Also, Miniature Schnauzers with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>862 mg/dL) had 4.5 times higher odds (P=0.0343) for having a serum cPLI concentration consistent with pancreatitis. In the second part of the study, 17 Miniature Schnauzers prospectively enrolled with a history of pancreatitis were significantly more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia (71 percent) after resolution of pancreatitis than 34 age-matched Miniature Schnauzers without a history of pancreatitis (33 percent; odds ratio=5.02; P=0.0163). For the third part of the study, assessment of the feasibility and usefulness of a novel density gradient ultracentrifugation method using NaBiEDTA for lipoprotein profiling in dogs was attempted. Density gradient ultracentrifugation using NaBiEDTA was found to be useful for the study of lipoprotein profiles in dogs. Significant differences were detected in the lipoprotein profiles (mainly involving TRL and specific LDL fractions) among healthy Miniature Schnauzers, dogs of various other breeds, and hypertriglyceridemic Miniature Schnauzers. In the fourth part of the study, the effect of a commercially available low-fat diet on serum lipid and pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) concentrations and lipoprotein profiles in Miniature Schnauzers with primary hypertriglyceridemia was evaluated. The study diet was found to be effective in significantly reducing serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and changing the lipoprotein profiles of the dogs studied within 2 months. However, there was no significant effect of the study diet on serum Spec cPL concentrations. In the last part of the study, serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and lipoprotein profiles were compared between dogs with naturally occurring pancreatitis and healthy dogs. The majority of dogs with naturally occurring pancreatitis had normal serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. Important differences were identified in lipoprotein profiles between dogs with pancreatitis (higher LDL2, LDL3, and LDL4 fractions and lower TRL, HDL2a, and HDL3c fractions) and healthy control dogs.Item Purification and Characterization of a Recombinant Glycoprotein, Canine Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, as a Prelude to the Development of the Reproductive Glycoproteins(2012-10-19) Delovio, Malcolm LeihuluA baculovirus (Spodoptera frugiperda) system was designed to express recombinant canine thyroid stimulating hormone (rcTSH). The efficacy of rcTSH was measured against pituitary derived bovine thyroid stimulating hormone (bTSH) through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Initial purification of rcTSH was performed in order to characterize the hormone for further analyses. Ion exchange columns and tangential flow membranes were chosen based upon the traits of the rcTSH molecule. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels visualized by Coomassie blue, silver stain, and western blot demonstrated the effectiveness of the purification process. Primary cell, static tissue, and perifusion tissue cultures were employed to investigate in vitro thyroid cell/tissue response to rcTSH and bTSH. Canine thyroid cells were liberated from tissue samples, cultured, then exposed to TSH treatments in which media was subsequently harvested and measured for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a second messenger in the TSH downstream signaling cascade. The cAMP concentrations measured were sporadic and not consistent with expected concentrations for treatments or controls. For the static tissue culture, slices of bovine thyroid tissue were incubated and exposed to a series of media-only wash steps as well as treatment steps using varying concentrations of rcTSH. Unfortunately, the experiment was compromised resulting in the slow release of thyroxine (T4) for all samples due to tissue death. Perifusion experiments conducted on bovine thyroid tissue compared the release of T4 due to bTSH and rcTSH stimulation in a dynamic system. Unable to perform statistical analysis due to small sample sizes, graphical representation demonstrated stimulatory effects by bTSH and rcTSH when compared to control. Biological assays were used to compare the in vivo efficacy of rcTSH to bTSH which included 3 species (goldfish, rat, and canine). Results from mammalian experiments when subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) resulted in the rejection of the null hypothesis of equal means (P<0.05) between control, bTSH, and rcTSH treatments. Further analysis by Tukey's W procedure demonstrated the stimulatory actions of rcTSH and bTSH to be similar (P>0.05) to each other while greater (P<0.05) than control at the 4 and 6 hour post injection time.Item A review and synthesis of dog cognition research : the world from a dog’s point of view(2013-05) Bensky, Miles Kuiling; Gosling, SamDriven by both applied and theoretical goals, scientific interest in canine cognition has experienced a rapid surge in popularity, especially over the last 15 years (Morell, 2009). Here we provide the most comprehensive review to date of dog cognition research, capturing all the articles (285) we could find on the subject going back to 1911. We begin by summarizing general research trends, first documenting the rapid recent growth in dog cognition research (particularly in the domain of social cognition), and then identifying a number of trends in terms of the cognition topics and dog populations studied. Next, we summarize and synthesize the substantive conclusions emerging from research on non-social (discrimination learning, object permanence, object learning, categorization, object manipulation, quantitative understanding, spatial cognition, memory) and social (responses to human cues, perspective taking, dog-human communication, social learning) cognition. In light of burgeoning research on individual differences in cognition and on the biological organization of cognitive domains, we highlight the potential impact of these topics on dog cognition. Finally, based on our syntheses, we outline some ideas for future research, including recommendations that studies focus on: (1) incorporating multiple sensory modalities (most notably olfaction); (2) using more diverse populations of subjects; (3) replicating studies where current knowledge is based on small study sets or on small samples; (4) identifying fundamental developmental patterns of cognitive development; (5) identifying individual differences in cognitive ability; and (6) identifying potential cognitive constraints (e.g., cognitive abilities that are non-independent due to pleiotropic biological organization).Item Urine Protein Analysis and Correlation of Urinary Biomarkers with Renal Disease Progression in Dogs with X-Linked Hereditary Nephropathy(2012-02-14) Nabity, Mary B.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of illness in dogs, and it is commonly caused by glomerular diseases that result in proteinuria and a progressive decline in renal function. Despite the importance of glomerular lesions, tubulointerstitial fibrosis identified by histologic evaluation of renal biopsies correlates best with renal function. However, performing a renal biopsy is invasive. Most current non-invasive tests for renal function lack adequate sensitivity and specificity for renal disease. Proteinuria can be both a sensitive and specific marker for renal damage. However, its evaluation in veterinary medicine beyond determination of the magnitude of proteinuria (e.g., urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC)) is limited. Therefore, in this report, further evaluation of the UPC was performed to aid in the monitoring of renal disease progression and response to treatment. In addition, qualitative evaluation of proteinuria was performed in dogs with progressive CKD in order to identify better non-invasive markers for tubulointerstitial injury. The day-to-day variability of the UPC was determined utilizing data obtained from female dogs that are carriers for X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN). Despite an unchanging magnitude of proteinuria in these dogs, substantial variation in their UPC was observed. Using these results, guidelines were suggested to help assess whether disease progression or treatment leads to a significant change in UPC. Qualitative characterization of proteinuria in dogs with CKD was performed using urine from male dogs affected with XLHN, and results were correlated with clinical and histologic findings concerning renal function and damage. The two discovery proteomic techniques utilized (chromatographic chip array and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) revealed several proteins that have not previously been implicated as markers for canine CKD, providing a basis for future studies. Specific assays for urinary biomarkers of renal injury were used to serially evaluate renal function in these dogs. All proteins evaluated proved to be sensitive markers for renal damage. However, only retinol binding protein provided clear evidence for renal disease progression. These results will provide the foundation for future studies aimed at monitoring urinary biomarkers in dogs with CKD, which will ultimately help veterinarians better diagnose and monitor proteinuric renal disease.