Background: Mitral valve disease is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs. Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) due to endocardiosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dog. Echocardiography as a non-invasive tool is routinely used to evaluate and diagnose different disorders in the heart. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of medical treatments and follow-up administration by the veterinarians in Tehran, using radiography and echocardiography. Methods: A total of 35 dogs from various breeds with cardiac heat failure (CHF) because of MR were selected for prospective randomized study. After clinical examination and radiography, progressive mitral endocardiosis was confirmed by echocardiography.  After that, patients were treated by a routine plans recommended by the general practitioners (12 active small animal clinicians). Follow-up radiography and echocardiography were performed again after 3 months for checking the efficacy of treatment protocol on cardiac output. Results: None of the medically treated patients statically showed significant improvement in their radiographic or echocardiographic parameters, that can be the outcome of incompatibility of using protocols with the standard ones. Conclusions: Although more studies are needed, based on the present results there was no significant change in cardiac parameters after 3 months of treatment. It seems that the current routine medication used by the active practitioner is not effective and cannot make a better quality of life in short term and requires changing the dose, the drugs producers or use of different  prescription items.

Background: Soil and plant contamination in copper exposure causes chronic copper poisoning (CCP) in animals following the consumption of plants in these soils. Objectives: The present study was carried out on 10 clinically affected copper poisoned cases (in each season) from autumn 2015 to the end of summer 2016, in four seasons in Kerman province to evaluate the seasonal effects of CCP in sheep. Methods: All samples were taken from clinically affected cases of copper poisoning that were then necropsied and the poisoning was confirmed by pathognomic pathological findings and serum copper concentration. Samples from liver, lung, kidney, heart and spleen were collected immediately after death and their copper concentration was measured. Results: The highest levels of copper in lung, heart, spleen and kidney were observed in the summer. Liver had the highest amounts of copper in spring and the levels of copper in wool and serum were detected in winter. The copper levels of liver and kidney were positively correlated in autumn, but the copper levels in these tissues were negatively correlated in both spring and winter. Conclusions: Severity of the copper toxicity (judged by the liver copper concentration) is season-dependent in sheep and seasonal variations affect this toxicity. Environmental climate and stressors may be the main causes of copper contents of different tissues and the liver is the main organ to reserve copper in poisoned sheep.

Background: Colonoscopy is the preferred procedure for diagnosis of large-bowel diseases in dogs. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the most commonly used laxative for colonic cleansing. Senna has been used in traditional medicine as a laxative and an aid to treat constipation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of senna as an alternative or adjunct to polyethylene glycol solution in dogs using hematology and biochemistry. METHODS: For this purpose, 20 mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to receive 1 of 4 different bowel preparation regimens including PEG, senna or their combinations plus enema. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, total calcium, phosphorus, chloride, magnesium, PCV, total protein, ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine were measured at 0, 1, 2, 5, 6 and 24 hours after the first ingestion of laxative solutions. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that PEG or senna solutions had no significant effect on serum concentration of the evaluated parameters (P>0.05). Despite the significant changes in serum concentration of all measured parameters based on time of sampling in all groups, they were in their normal ranges (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evaluation of the safety of bowel preparation with senna in dogs. This study showed that the use of PEG and senna for colon cleansing in dogs did not have any deleterious effects on their serum biochemical and electrolytes concentration.

Background: Recently, tendency to use veterinary specific Portable blood glucose meter (PBGMs) has increased. However, assessment of their analytical and clinical accuracy is a matter of concern. OBJECTIVES: To assess accuracy of two veterinary (AlphaTRAK2 and CERA-PET) and one human-based (Bionime) PBGMs for canine blood samples. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 160 client-owned dogs with various signalment and disease were included. Venous blood samples were obtained from a peripheral vein of each dog and blood glucose was measured with the three PBGMs. Immediately afterward, serum was harvested and sent to laboratory until analysis with reference methods. RESULTS: Blood glucose measured with the reference method was 21 to 650 mg/dl. There was a significant correlation between results of the reference method and PBGMs. Both of the veterinary specific PBGMs showed significant proportional and constant bias, nevertheless, no proportional and constant bias were recorded for human-based one. Mean deviation from reference methods was -7.4, 9.8, and -3.9 for AlphaTRAK2, CERA-PET, and Bionime respectively.  Although most of the PBGMs readings lay in the calculated 95% limits of agreement, none of the devices completely satisfied the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15197:2013) criteria. Error grid analysis revealed all measurements for AlphaTRAK2 in zone A and B, while CERA-PET demonstrates one measurement in zone D. Bionime showed two  measurements in zone C and D. CONCLUSIONS: Only the result of AlphaTRAK2 could be interpreted without any hazardous outcome on medical decision making.

BACKGROUND: GReliable prediction of patient response to fluid resuscitation is a crucial issue in the management of hemorrhagic shock. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate vertebral heart score (VHS) variation in fluid resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock patients and the feasibility of this method in determining resuscitation endpoint.  METHODS: VHS values were assessed using previously published standard method in left to right lateral view. After induction of anesthesia (control assessments), hemorrhagic shock was induced by blood withdrawal to a mean arterial pressure of 40 to 50 mmHg within 30 minutes and then maintained in hypovolemic situation for an additional 30 minutes (second and third stages of assessments). Afterward, the dogs were randomly assigned to two groups which received 20 ml/kg lactated Ringer’s solution or 5 ml/kg Hydroxyethyl starch, in four consecutive 15 minute intervals (fourth stage of assessments). One hour after the last resuscitation step, final radiographic assessments were performed.  RESUTLS: Hemorrhagic shock caused significant decrease in VHS values to a mean of 7.7 vertebrae (P<0.05). Following the fluid resuscitation VHS increased and returned to pre-shock values in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the breed-specific VHS assessment can be a useful method in monitoring of patient’s response to fluid therapy and determination of resuscitation endpoint in dogs with hemorrhagic shock.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion of tetsis is a male infertility condition which occurs because of oxidation demage. Echinacea purpurea extract (EPE) has antioxidant and protective effect. OBJECTIVES: So, the main purpose of this research was to determine effects of EP extract on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat. METHODS: 50 adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: group one as control, group two, 2 hour I/24 hours R period, group three, 1 hour I which after 1 hour of ischemia, rat was injected 25 mg/kg EPE and ischemia continued for an hour, then was followed by 24 hours R period. Groups 4 and    5 were similar to experiment 3, except rats were injected with 50 and 100 mg/kg of EPE, respectively.  Then 24 hours later, the left testis was removed for histological and antioxidant enzyme activity including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS). RESUTLS: Based on the findings, MDA concentration was significantly elevated in I/R rat (P<0.05)  while EPE diminished MDA concentration in I/R rat (P<0.05). SOD and GPx activity decreased in I/R  rat (P<0.05). Injection of the of the EPE (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) increased SOD and GPx concentrations (P<0.05). There was significant fluctuation on TAS in EPE treated groups in comparision to the control group (P>0.05). Seminiferous tubules degenerated and few spermatocytes were observed in testis tubules of the I/R rat. EPE (50 and 100mg/kg) improved testis characteristics in experimental I/R-induced rat in which normal spermatocyte in seminiferous tubules was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested EPE has protective effect against against testicular I/R.

BACKGROUND:  Canine low-dose sepsis model provides a reliable setting to study innovative drugs. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a major constituent of bacterial outer membrane, have been demonstrated to play a critical role in the initiation of pathogenesis. Lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis has been extensively studied in laboratory animals; but its importance has mainly remained unknown in dogs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present survey was to examine the effectiveness of quercetin, along with hydrocortisone on clinical and hematological alterations, and organ failure (liver and heart) in low-dose lipopolysaccharide-induced canine sepsis model. METHODS: For this purpose, fifteen clinically healthy mixed dogs were randomly divided into three equal groups. Lipopolysaccharide (0.1 μg/kg, IV) was injected to dogs in group A (control). Group B was similar to group A, but quercetin bolus (2 mg/kg, IV, once) was injected 40 minutes after LPS injection. Group C was similar to group B; however, hydrocortisone bolus (2 mg/kg, IV, once) was administered instead of quercetin. Serum levels of glucose, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase isoenzyme muscle/brain (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) concentration were measured by commercial kits. RESULTS: In control group, red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (HCT) significantly decreased and serum activities of AST, ALP, LDH, CK-MB, and plasma cTn-I significantly increased (p <0.05). RBCs, Hb, and HCT significantly increased in quercetin group, compared with hydrocortisone and control groups (p <0.05). Quercetin group significantly decreased LDH, CK-MB, and cTn-I compared with hydrocortisone and control groups (p <0.05). Quercetin significantly decreased AST in comparison to control group and ALP in comparison to hydrocortisone group, also (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that quercetin protects RBCs in the early stages of sepsis and decreases organs dysfunction (heart and liver), therefore it has a positive influence on sepsis and may be more effective than routine corticosteroid (hydrocortisone) therapy.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory reactions in pathophysiologic conditions of lung are a critical problem in the treatment process, which in some cases lead to death, particularly in neonate. Exogenous lung surfactant has been considered as a candidate to treatment of inflammation in the lungs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of this substance in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE) was obtained from freshly slaughtered calves’ minced isolates. For in vivo study: the New Zealand white rabbits as appropriate animal model were treated with formulated CLSE, then peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected and the level and gene expression of IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ and TGF-β were assessed before and after surfactant treatment for 30 days. In vitro study: four different formulated drug concentrations were added to rabbit PBMC and cytokines level and gene expression were evaluated. RESULTS: Our results indicate that IFN-γ and TGF-β increased at 24, 48 and 72 h which were statistically significant compared to baseline. While, IL-6 and IL-1β also started to decrease, IFN-γ and TGF-β increased due to surfactant therapy which reached its maximum expression after 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that CLSE could contribute in reducing pathology effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inducing regulatory response in lung which can be used as auxiliary and protective drug in respiratory diseases.

Background: Intraosseous injection is a way to administration of drugs. Objective: The clinical comparison of intraosseous and intravenous injection of Thiopental-Na. Methods: First all birds (Twenty six healthy pigeons) were split out into two groups randomly. Group A received 20 mg kg-1 Thiopental-Na by intraosseous route and group B intravenous route. After one week that needs for washing out of drug, group A received 20 mg kg-1 Thiopental-Na by intravenous route and group B intraosseous route. The respiratory rate (fR), heart rate (HR) and cloacal temperature (T) were measured before (0 minute) and 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes after anesthetic drug administration. Reaction to injection, number of efforts for injection, duration to onset the anesthesia and different scores of anesthesia were checked. Returning from anesthesia in two groups was written out and compared. Results: Statistical assessment showed anesthesia onset in the method of intravenous injection was significantly less than the method of intraosseous injection (p=0.003), and the fR in two groups was different in 1 minute after drug administration (P=0.036). There was not statistically difference in other minutes for fR, HR and T in two groups (P >0.05). Statistical analysis showed that there were no significant differences in terms of number of efforts for anaesthetizing as well as anesthesia stage in both methods in different minutes (p>0.05). Also no significant alterations were recorded for recovery time for both groups. There was not any visible lameness or pain for intraosseous route after recovery. Conclusions: Intraosseous anesthesia injection in birds is a practicable and fast procedure and comparable with intravenous route.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the researches about herbal medicines as substitutes for chemical drugs have risen in number. OBJECTIVES: To add more aspects to this research area, this study evaluated the changes in biochemical factors of the blood serum due to the consumption of Thymus daenensis extract and the effect of the period of its consumption into the diet of herd dogs. METHODS: Eight adult male dogs were chosen and fed with a fixed diet for 1 month. Then they were ran- domly assigned to two groups of four. The members of first (control) group were fed only with the fixed diet and the second group received 200mg/ml, administered as 1ml/kg of Thymus daenensis extract into their fixed diet. Finally, the dogs were bloodlet at 3 different times, namely before intervention, 7 and 14 days after the in- tervention to measure the factors of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferases. RESULTS: Comparing to the control group and the starting point of this experiment, levels of FBS, LDL, TGL, CHOL, AST factors significantly decreased 14 days after intervention, but the HDL factor increased after 7 and 14 days of intervention (P<0.05). The level of ALT factor did not change during period of the study (P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, oral consumption of Thymus daenensis extract led to decrease in the amounts of glucose and lipids of blood and this herb can be recommended for treating diabetics and persons suffering from high cholesterol.