Objective: To determine cutoff values for the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability (AAI) based on cross‐sectional imaging in small‐breed dogs.Study design: Retrospective multicenter study.Sample population: Client‐owned dogs (n = 123) and 28 cadavers.Methods: Dogs were assigned to three groups: a control group, a “potentially unstable” group, and an AAI‐affected group, according to imaging findings and clinical signs. The ventral compression index (VCI), cranial translation ratio (CTR), C1‐C2 overlap, C1‐C2 angle, atlantoaxial distance, basion‐dens interval, dens‐to‐axis length ratio (DALR), power ratio, and clivus canal angles were measured on CT or T2‐weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to define cutoff values in flexed (≥25°) and extended (<25°) head positions.Results: Cutoff values for the VCI of ≥0.16 in extended and ≥0.2 in flexed head positions were diagnostic for AAI (sensitivity of 100% and 100%, specificity of 94.54% and 96.67%, respectively). Cutoff values for the other measurements were defined with a lower sensitivity (75%‐96%) and specificity (70%‐97%). A combination of the measurements did not increase the sensitivity and specificity compared with the VCI as single measurement.Conclusion: Cutoff values for several imaging measurements were established with good sensitivity and specificity. The VCI, defined as the ratio between the ventral and dorsal atlantodental interval, had the highest sensitivity and specificity in both head positions.Clinical significance: The use of defined cutoff values allows an objective diagnosis of AAI in small‐breed dogs. The decision for surgical intervention, however, should remain based on a combination of clinical and imaging findings.

The aim of this study was to monitor hematochemical changes during and after OHE in bitches. Twenty-four females were anesthetized with alfaxalone, midazolam, morphine and sevoflurane. Blood samples were taken before anesthesia (T0), at 30 (T1), and 60 min (T2), at 3 (T3), 6 (T4), 12 (T5), and 24 h (T6), and at 3 (T7) and 7 days (T8) from the start of surgery. Red blood cells (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly from T1 to T5 and hemoglobin (HB) concentration from T4 to T6. Both the white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil (NFS) count increased significantly from T3 to T6, monocyte (MON) from T2 to T5, and eosinophil (EOS) at T5. Platelet (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) significantly decreased at T5 and increased from T6 to T8; platelet distribution width (PDW) increased significantly from T3 to T6. Creatine kinase (CK) activity increased significantly from T5 to T7. Glucose (GLU) concentrations increased significantly at T2 and P from T2 to T3. TG levels decreased from T2 to T4 and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels from T1 to T7, subsequently increasing until T8. Changes possibly resulting from stress and surgical trauma, as well as hemodilution and splenic storage, are due to anesthesia and surgery. In healthy bitches, these changes tend to gradually stabilize after the ending of OHE. A post-operative follow-up is essential to detect possible post-operative complications.

Traditionally, canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) has been defined as a multifactorial syndrome characterized by lumbosacral pain triggered by the compression of the nerve rootlets of the cauda equina. There is still no consensus on the treatment of this condition, probably because there are a plethora of possible causes. In addition to compression, inflammation is a very important factor in the physiopathology of the disorder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) consists of an increased concentration of autologous platelets suspended in a small amount of plasma. Platelets are a source of several growth factors. Growth factors were shown to help in wound healing and biological processes, such as chemotaxis, neovascularization and synthesis of extracellular matrix, and growth factors were used to improve soft tissue healing and bone regeneration. PRP also facilitates the restoration of the structural integrity of the affected anatomy. Fourteen dogs diagnosed with DLS were treated with three epidural injections of PRP on days 0, 15 and 45. All dogs showed clinical improvement 3 months after the initial treatment. Gait was also objectively assessed by means of the use of force platform analysis before and after treatment, showing significant improvement. The results show that PRP may provide a good alternative to other nonsurgical treatments, such as prednisolone epidural injection.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease in both humans and companion animals, causing progressive cartilage destruction for which no curative treatment currently exists. Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) has shown chondroprotective effects in veterinary and preclinical models, but its efficacy is limited by the viscosity of synovial fluid and rapid degradation of growth factors within the joint. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intra-articular co-administration of PRGF and urease-powered enzymatic nanobots on serum biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and cartilage metabolism in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) full-depth chondral defect model (approval code: CEEA 2023-VSC-PEA-0242). Forty-one New Zealand White rabbits were allocated to a Control group (PRGF alone; n = 9 evaluable) or a Nanobots group (PRGF + nanobots; n = 24 evaluable). Twelve serum biomarkers were measured at baseline and days 28, 56, and 84. The Nanobots group showed markedly elevated serum hyaluronic acid at all timepoints (p < 0.006), significantly lower type II collagen cleavage neoepitope at day 28 (p = 0.018), persistently lower ferric reducing ability of plasma (p < 0.003), and higher C-reactive protein at days 56 and 84 (p < 0.035). These results provide preliminary in vivo evidence that urease-powered nanobots produce a distinct biomarker profile when combined with PRGF in a rabbit chondral defect model, with potential translational relevance for veterinary orthopedic therapy.