Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was measured, using an automated immunoturbidimetric assay, in 44 clinically normal dogs and 67 dogs with band neutrophil count greater than or equal to 10(9) cells/L, and values were found to be significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different. Correlation of serum CRP concentration and band neutrophil count in the 67 dogs with greater than or equal to 10(9) band neutrophils/L resulted in a statistically significant P less than or equal to 0.05), but low correlation coefficient of 0.34. Serum CRP concentration and CBC values were determined for 6 clinically normal dogs undergoing anesthesia (controls) and 6 clinically normal dogs undergoing anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Significant alterations in CBC results and serum CRP concentration, compared with baseline values, were lacking in dogs of the control group. Serum CRP concentration was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased above baseline values in dogs undergoing surgery and was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased, compared with values in control dogs by 12 hours after surgery. In dogs undergoing surgery, serum CRP concentration was also significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different from values in control dogs at 28 and 36 hours, but not at the 76- and 124-hour sample collection times. Alterations in CBC values compatible with possible or convincing inflammation were detected in 83% of the dogs undergoing surgery at the 8- and 12-hour postsurgery sample collection times, 100% of dogs at 16, 22, 28, and 36 hours after surgery, 83% of dogs at 52 and 76 hours after surgery, 67% of dogs at 100 hours after surgery, and 0% of dogs at 124 hours after surgery It was concluded that significant increases in CRP, concentration in dogs with surgical trauma were not detected earlier than CBC alterations compatible with possible or convincing inflammation.

The effect of topically applied 2% pilocarpine and 0.25% demecarium bromide on aqueous humor flare was evaluated while treating normal eyes of dogs 3 times daily for 8 days. Fifteen clinically normal Beagles were allotted to 2 drug treatment groups, and flare was measured, using laser flaremetry. Pilocarpine caused an increase of flare to 167 photon counts (pc)/ms at 7 hours, compared with the nontreated control eye mean value 3.7 pc/ms. By 31 hours, flare had decreased to 70 pc/ms with 3 daily topical treatments. By 55 hours, the flare measurement was in the normal range. Intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased in the treated eyes, compared with the nontreated eyes, and maximal decrease in IOP was observed at the same time as maximal flare. Demecarium induced a similar increase in flare and decrease in IOP, with peak effect seen at 31 hours. At that time, the flaremetry result was 28 pc/ms, compared with 3.4 pc/ms in the nontreated control eyes. After 8 days of 3 times daily treatment, flare values had returned to normal in eyes of dogs in both treatment groups. The transient increase in aqueous humor protein concentration did not result in ocular or visual damage, and long-term changes were not seen. The amount of flare increase attributable to topical application of pilocarpine was greater than the increase in human eyes when measured by use of laser flaremetry.