Justin Shmalberg

This exploratory cross-sectional study analyzed owner-reported survey data from 5653 cats belonging to current and prospective customers of a UK fresh cat food company to identify factors associated with body condition in companion cats and to compare owner classifications made using a structured body condition score (BCS) tool with those made by unguided judgment. Owners classified fewer cats as ideal using the structured BCS tool than by unguided judgment, with lower agreement for underweight than for overweight cats. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed for overweight, underweight, and ideal body condition. A higher proportion of fresh food was associated with greater odds of ideal body condition (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04–1.42), while dry food was associated with overweight (OR 1.83, 95% CI: 1.33–2.51) and wet food with underweight (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.06–2.16), though this association was less robust to differing model specifications. Further associations included certain additional calorie sources, feeding practices, treat type, activity, enrichment, household composition, and established demographic factors. These hypothesis-generating findings highlight a gap between structured and unguided owner assessment and identify associations that merit prospective evaluation in a more generally representative population.

Evidence linking higher intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with increased risk of chronic diseases in humans has grown since the establishment of the NOVA classification and its widespread adoption in nutrition research. Extruded dry and wet diets for cats and dogs (commonly known as kibble and canned/tinned foods) share many features with human UPFs. As these formats are the predominant pet diets in developed countries, similar concerns have been raised. However, progress in this field is constrained by the absence of a clear definition of UPFs in pet nutrition. This Perspective outlines the human UPF definition, with emphasis on the NOVA classification, and reviews mechanisms proposed to explain their negative health impacts in humans. We then compile the current state of knowledge on pet food processing across both traditional dry and wet diets and emerging dietary formats, illustrating the diversity of products available and their potential implications for canine and feline health. We argue that findings from human UPF research cannot be directly extrapolated to dogs and cats, but highlight the need to develop an objective, systematic classification of pet foods based on processing levels. Such a framework would enable research into health effects of processing in companion animals while incorporating the perspectives of manufacturers, regulators, and researchers. Finally, we propose a set of key factors that should inform this classification to reflect the diversity of pet food formats and facilitate its acceptance and use within the veterinary nutrition and pet food research communities.

Pruritic dermatitis (PD) is a common presentation of canine allergic skin diseases, with diversity in severity and treatment response due to complex etiopathogenesis. Evidence suggests the gut microbiota (GM) may contribute to the development of canine allergies. A 10-week double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluated a novel probiotic and nutraceutical blend (PNB) on clinical signs of skin allergy, health measures, and the GM of privately owned self-reported pruritic dogs. A total of 105 dogs were enrolled, with 62 included in pruritus and health analysis and 50 in microbiome analysis. The PNB supported greater improvement of owner-assessed clinical signs of PD at week 2 than the placebo (PBO). More dogs that received the PNB shifted to normal pruritus (digital PVAS10-N: <2) by week 4, compared to week 7 for the PBO. While a placebo effect was identified, clinical differences were supported by changes in the GM. The PNB enriched three probiotic bacteria and reduced abundances of species associated with negative effects. The PBO group demonstrated increased abundances of pathogenic species and reduced abundances of several beneficial species. This trial supports the potential of the PNB as a supplemental intervention in the treatment of PD; however, further investigation is warranted, with stricter diagnostic criteria, disease biomarkers and direct veterinary examination.

Pythium insidiosum, an aquatic oomycete with pathogenic potential in mammals, causes gastrointestinal and cutaneous disease in dogs. Mefenoxam, an agricultural anti-oomycotic compound, has a demonstrated the ability to inhibit P. insidiosum growth in vitro and has been associated with efficacy in treating gastrointestinal pythiosis in several case reports. Electronic medical records of dogs seen at University of Florida Small Animal Hospital and treated with mefenoxam between 2013 and 2020 were searched. Dogs were included in this study upon previous definitive diagnosis with either organism identification using culture, PCR, or antibody ELISA, or a combination of these tests with or without supportive histopathological analysis. Since 2013, mefenoxam had been administered to 25 dogs with cutaneous pythiosis and 16 dogs with gastrointestinal pythiosis. In both gastrointestinal and cutaneous pythiosis groups, the administration of mefenoxam was associated with a survivability rate of approximately 51%. There was a statistically significant difference in the time to death between cutaneous (245 days (52–530)) and gastrointestinal (90 days (21–203)) groups; dogs infected with cutaneous pythiosis survived significantly longer after being diagnosed with the disease (p = 0.035). The dogs in this study experienced increased survival rates and time to death, in the absence of side effects due to mefenoxam, compared with previously published literature. The results of this retrospective study, with some limitations, are promising and should prompt further investigation into the use of mefenoxam in the treatment of both gastrointestinal and cutaneous pythiosis.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is commonly utilized for various human conditions with a low incidence of major adverse effects (0.002–0.035%). Despite growing use in veterinary patients, there remains a paucity of literature describing its use and associated complications. The purpose of this study was to report clinical use of HBOT in small animals and identify the rate of major adverse events at a university teaching hospital. Electronic medical records were searched for small animals receiving HBOT between November 2012 and February 2020. Data extracted from the medical records included signalment, treatment indication, and adverse events. Treatment sessions totaled 2,792 in 542 dogs, 24 cats, and 10 pocket pets and exotics. Common indications included neurologic injuries (50.4%), tissue healing (31.4%), control of oomycete infection (5.5%), neoplasia or post-radiation injury (5.4%), and various miscellaneous conditions (7.4%). Observed minor adverse events included agitation in two dogs and vomiting in three dogs. The most common major adverse event was central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity in 19 dogs. Central nervous system oxygen toxicity, manifesting as focal or generalized seizures, occurred in 0.7% of treatment sessions, with increasing age (p = 0.01) and female sex (p = 0.01) identified as risk factors. One dog developed pulmonary edema following HBOT which is a reported adverse event in humans or may have been a manifestation of progression of the dog's underlying disease. No adverse events were noted in cats or other species. In conclusion, HBOT appeared safe across various indications, although oxygen toxicity affecting the CNS was higher than reports in humans. Future prospective, randomized, controlled trials should evaluate specific clinical indications and outcomes.

Dogs possess the ability to obtain essential nutrients, established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), from both animal‐ and plant‐based ingredients. There has been a recent increase in the popularity of diets that limit or completely exclude certain plant‐based ingredients. Examples of these diets include ‘ancestral’ or ‘evolutionary’ diets, raw meat‐based diets and grain‐free diets. As compared to animal sources, plant‐derived ingredients (including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds) provide many non‐essential phytonutrients with some data suggesting they confer health benefits. This review aims to assess the strength of current evidence on the relationship between the consumption of plant‐based foods and phytonutrients (such as plant‐derived carotenoids, polyphenols and phytosterols) and biomarkers of health and diseases (such as body weight/condition, gastrointestinal health, immune health, cardiovascular health, visual function and cognitive function) from clinical trials and epidemiological studies. This review highlights the potential nutritional and health benefits of including plant‐based ingredients as a part of balanced canine diets. We also highlight current research gaps in existing studies and provide future research directions to inform the impact of incorporating plant‐based ingredients in commercial or home‐prepared diets.

A survey approved by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges was sent to the academic deans of all 49 accredited veterinary colleges to obtain information on educational programs offered in integrative veterinary medicine (IVM). Results were compared to a previous survey with a similar design performed 7 years earlier. Survey responses were received from 43 of 49 institutions (87.8%). Thirteen respondents (30.2%) reported offering a formal course in IVM, 33 (76.7%) offered some level of instruction in the curriculum, and 32 (74.4%) provided clinical services in IVM. The most common IVM topics covered in the curriculum were rehabilitation and acupuncture. Dedicated courses in IVM had decreased since the previous survey, although faculty trained in at least one aspect of IVM increased. Clinical services incorporating IVM were present in the majority of veterinary teaching hospitals. Further investigation is required to determine the effectiveness of current IVM training in preparing veterinary graduates to discuss or utilize IVM in practice.

Commercial fresh cooked foods have started gaining popularity among American dog owners in recent years. However, nutrient digestibility and the estimation of metabolizable energy (ME) of commercial fresh dog foods remain inadequately understood, even though both measures are critical to provide the intended calories for the target animal. In this preliminary study, different cohorts of normal-weight dogs were fed one of five test diets of comparable macronutrient composition: a chicken-based extruded dry kibble diet (n = 12), and chicken- (n = 12), beef- (n = 6), pork- (n = 6), or turkey-based fresh food (n = 6) for 10 d. Daily food intake and fecal characteristics were recorded, and fecal samples were collected for nutrient analysis. Despite comparable dry matter (DM) and caloric intakes between the two chicken-based diets, the fresh diet led to lower defecation frequency (1.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5 times/d, adjusted P < 0.001), lower fecal DM (24 ± 8 vs. 47 ± 10 g/d, adjusted P < 0.001), and lower fecal calories (92 ± 31 vs. 189 ± 43 kcal/d, adjusted P < 0.001) than the kibble diet. The apparent total tract digestibility of DM, protein, fat, nitrogen-free extract, and calories of the kibble diet were all significantly lower than any of the fresh diets (adjusted P < 0.001 for all). Measured ME per food DM in all of the fresh diets, except the pork-based recipe, was significantly higher than that of the kibble diet (adjusted P < 0.001 for all). For the kibble diet, the modified Atwater calculation underestimated the ME and the NRC 2006 calculation was the most accurate predictor of ME. The standard Atwater calculation performed best for the two fresh diets that had the highest fat content (chicken, beef) and the NRC 2006 calculation performed best for the fresh diet that had the highest protein content (pork). ME of the turkey-based diet was equally overestimated and underestimated with the standard Atwater and NRC 2006 methods, respectively. We propose that commercial and home-prepared fresh diets should be assessed using standard Atwater factors as commonly done in human nutrition, or preferably for commercial products, by direct measurement in conforming feeding trials.

Background: The oomycete Lagenidium giganteum forma caninum is an uncommon cause of severe dermal and subcutaneous infections in dogs with possible vascular invasion and other fatal sequelae. Infection within the central nervous system of affected dogs has not been previously reported.Case Description: A 6-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog was evaluated at a referral institution with a 2-month history of suspected fungal infection in the region of the right mandibular lymph node that was refractory to surgical resection and empiric medical therapy. Physical examination identified a 6-cm fluctuant subcutaneous mass caudoventral to the ramus of the right mandible and a second firm mass in the region of the right caudal maxilla. Lesional punch biopsies were submitted for fungal culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which subsequentlyidentified L. giganteum forma caninum infection. Initial treatment consisted of anti-inflammatory doses of prednisone and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Four weeks following initial evaluation, the patient was presented with progressive neurological signs consistent with a forebrain lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed soft-tissue, contrastenhancing lesions ventral to the calvarium adjacent to the site of original surgical resection and throughout the brain. Humane euthanasia was elected, and postmortem examination was consistent with the extension of local disease from the right masseter muscle into the right ventral calvarium. Postmortem DNA sequencing confirmed the identity of the organism as L. giganteum forma caninum.Conclusion: This is the first reported case of intracranial lagenidiosis in the dog. PCR distinguished this species from other Lagenidium species and from oomycetes of other genera, such as Pythium insidiosum and Paralagenidium karlingii. Regional extension of cutaneous lagenidiosis should therefore be considered in cases with concurrent or spontaneous neurologic disease. Keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Lagenidium giganteum forma caninum, Neurologic disease, Oomycete.

An 18-week-old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that was hit by a car sustained a Salter-Harris type III fracture of the left proximal tibial physis and ipsilateral diaphyseal femoral and tibial fractures. The diaphyseal fractures were successfully stabilized with bone plate fixation. Premature closure of the caudal aspect of the proximal tibial physis, secondary to the proximal physeal fracture, resulted in an excessively high tibial plateau angle (TPA) of 50° with a limb length discrepancy of 13% by 24 weeks of age. The deformity was addressed by performing a proximal tibial osteotomy and subsequent distraction osteogenesis to reduce the TPA while concurrently lengthening the crus. A radial osteotomy was performed in the proximal metaphyseal region and the hinged fixator was applied. Distraction was initiated the day following surgery at a rate of 1 mm per day as measured along the caudal cortex of the tibia with a rhythm of three distractions daily. Distraction was terminated 19 days postoperatively. Sequential distraction of the osteotomy resulted in 17 mm of tibial lengthening and a final TPA of 3°. The fixator was removed 52 days after application. Complications included wire tract inflammation involving the wires securing the proximal segment and a calcaneal fracture which required bone plate stabilization. The left pelvic limb was only 8% shorter than the right pelvic limb and the dog had only a subtle lameness 12 months after surgery. The hinged circular fixator construct allowed for both the reduction of the TPA and limb segment lengthening in this dog.