Background In dogs with protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE), data on the clinical characteristics of food‐responsive PLE (FR‐PLE) remain scarce. Objective To determine the clinical characteristics of FR‐PLE in dogs responsive to ultralow‐fat diet (ULFD) management. Animals Thirty‐three dogs diagnosed with PLE based on standard diagnostic criteria. Methods Retrospective review of medical records. Clinical findings were compared between dogs with FR‐PLE (FR‐PLE group) and those with immunosuppressant‐responsive PLE (IR‐PLE) or nonresponsive PLE (NR‐PLE) (IR/NR‐PLE group). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the ability of factors to differentiate the FR‐PLE and IR/NR‐PLE groups. Survival time was compared between the FR‐PLE and IR/NR‐PLE groups. Results Twenty‐three dogs responded to ULFD management and were diagnosed with FR‐PLE. The canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI) was significantly lower in the FR‐PLE group than in the IR/NR‐PLE group (P < .001). The AUC of CCECAI for differentiating the FR‐PLE group was 0.935 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845‐1.000) with an optimal cutoff value of 8 (sensitivity, 0.826; specificity, 0.889). Survival times were significantly longer in the FR‐PLE group (median, not reached) than in the IR/NR‐PLE group (median, 432 days; P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs that respond to ULFD management and are diagnosed with FR‐PLE are expected to have a favorable prognosis. Clinical scores, specifically the CCECAI, could be useful for differentiating FR‐PLE from IR‐PLE or NR‐PLE.

Background A strong correlation between left atrial (LA) dysfunction and the severity of cardiac disease has been described in human patients with various cardiac diseases. The role of LA dysfunction in dogs with chronic mitral valvular heart disease (CMVHD) has not been addressed. Objectives To investigate the correlation between LA function and the prognosis of dogs with CMVHD. Animals Thirty‐eight client‐owned dogs with CMVHD. Methods Prospective clinical cohort study. Dogs were divided into 2 groups (survivors and nonsurvivors) based on the onset of cardiac‐related death within 1 year. Physical examination and echocardiographic variables were compared between the groups. For the assessment of the comparative accuracy in identifying patients with cardiac‐related death, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate logistic analysis were used. Results The highest accuracy was obtained for the LA active fractional area change (LA‐FAC_act), with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.95, followed by the left atrial to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), with an AUC of 0.94; peak early diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E), with an AUC of 0.85; and LA total fractional area change (LA‐FAC_total), with an AUC of 0.85. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, LA‐FAC_act emerged as the only independent correlate of cardiac‐related death within 1 year (odds ratio = 1.401, P = .002). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Regarding both the size and function, the LA has a strong correlation with the prognosis of dogs with CMVHD. The most significant independent predictor of mortality in this study was LA‐FAC_act.

Background Lymphocytic‐plasmacytic enteritis is the common form of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs. In human IBD, disturbances of amino acid metabolism have been demonstrated to be involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. Therefore, plasma amino acid profile might represent a novel marker of human IBD. Objectives To determine the plasma amino acid profiles of dogs with IBD and its usefulness as a novel marker of IBD in dogs. Animals Fasting blood plasma was obtained from 10 dogs with IBD and 12 healthy dogs. Methods All IBD dogs were prospectively included in this study, and heparinized blood samples were collected. The plasma concentrations of 21 amino acids were determined using the ninhydrin method. The relationships among the plasma amino acid concentrations and plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration, canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), and overall World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) score were investigated. Results Median concentration (nmol/mL) of methionine [46.2; range, 30.0‐59.3], proline [119.4; range, 76.7‐189.2], serine [115.1; range, 61.4‐155.9], and tryptophan [17.4; range, 11.9‐56.3]) were significantly lower than in control dogs [62.6; range, 51.0‐83.6, 199.1; range, 132.5‐376.7, 164.3; range, 124.7‐222.9, and 68.3; range, 35.7‐94.8, respectively]. A negative correlation was identified between the plasma serine concentration and CCECAI (r _s = −.67, P = .03), but there were no correlations between plasma amino acid concentrations and CRP concentration or overall WSAVA score. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Plasma serine concentration might represent a novel maker of IBD in dogs.

Background: Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography with perflubutane microbubbles improves the diagnostic accuracy to differentiate benign and malignant focal liver lesions in dogs. Hypothesis: Perflubutane microbubbles‐enhanced ultrasonography is useful for differentiation of benign from malignant focal splenic lesions in dogs. Animals: Twenty‐nine clinical dogs with single or multiple focal splenic lesions detected by conventional ultrasonography. Methods: Prospective clinical observational study. Perflubutane microbubbles‐enhanced ultrasonography was performed in 29 dogs with focal splenic lesions. Qualitative assessment of the enhancement pattern was performed in the early vascular, late vascular, and parenchymal phases. Results: In the early vascular phase, a hypoechoic pattern was significantly associated with malignancy (P= .02) with sensitivity of 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25–38%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 84–100%). In the late vascular phase, a hypoechoic pattern was significantly associated with malignancy (P= .001) with sensitivity of 81% (95% CI, 66–90%) and specificity of 85% (95% CI, 65–95%). There was no significant difference between malignant and benign lesions during the parenchymal phase. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Hypoechoic splenic nodules in the early and late vascular phases with perflubutane microbubbles‐enhanced ultrasonography are strongly suggestive of malignancy in dogs.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most common disease of the canine exocrine pancreas, and accurate noninvasive diagnosis is challenging. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine the feasibility of using quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to detect pancreatic perfusional changes in cerulein-induced AP in dogs. Animals: Six adult female Beagles. Methods: Each dog received 2 hours of IV infusion with 7.5 μg/kg/h of cerulein diluted in saline. As control, all dogs received 2 hours of IV infusion of saline 2 weeks before cerulein infusion. CEUS of the pancreas and duodenum were performed before (0 hour), and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after saline and cerulein infusion. Time-intensity curves were created from regions of interest in the pancreas and duodenum. Five perfusional parameters were measured for statistical analysis: time to initial up-slope, peak time, time to wash-out, peak intensity (PI), and area under the curve (AUC). Results: In cerulein-induced AP, pancreatic PI increased at 2 and 4 hours when compared to 0 hour, and at 2, 4, and 6 hours when compared to control. AUC increased at 4 hours when compared to 0 hour, and at 2 and 4 hours when compared to control. Time to wash-out was prolonged at 4 hours when compared to control. For saline control, peak time was faster at 2 hours when compared to 0 hour. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: CEUS parameters PI and AUC can provide useful information in differentiating acute pancreatitis from normal pancreas. Cerulein-induced AP was characterized by prolonged hyperechoic enhancement on CEUS.