The neuroendocrine glycoprotein chromogranin A is a useful biomarker in humans for neuroendocrine tumors and stress. Chromogranin A can be measured in both blood and saliva. The objective of this study was to investigate concentrations of and correlation between the chromogranin A epitopes catestatin and vasostatin in healthy dogs accustomed to the sample collection procedures. Blood and saliva samples were collected from 10 research Beagle dogs twice daily for 5 consecutive days, and from 33 privately-owned blood donor dogs in association with 50 different blood donation occasions. All dogs were familiar with sample collection procedures. During each sampling, stress behavior was scored by the same observer using a visual analog scale (VAS) and serum cortisol concentrations. Catestatin and vasostatin were analyzed using radioimmunoassays for dogs. The dogs showed minimal stress behavior during both saliva sampling and blood sampling as monitored by VAS scores and serum cortisol concentrations. Few and insufficient saliva volumes were obtained and therefore only catestatin could be analyzed. Catestatin concentrations differed significantly and did not correlate significantly with vasostatin concentrations (P < 0.0001). Age, gender, breed, and time of sample collection did not significantly affect concentrations of plasma catestatin, vasostatin, and saliva catestatin. The normal ranges of plasma catestatin (0.53–0.98 nmol/l), vasostatin (0.11–1.30 nmol/l), and saliva catestatin (0.31–1.03 nmol/l) concentrations in healthy dogs accustomed to the sampling procedures were determined. Separate interpretation of the different chromogranin A epitopes from either saliva or plasma is recommended.

The stress reaction induced by surgery and associated pain may be detrimental for patient recovery and should be minimized. The neuropeptide chromogranin A (CGA) has shown promise as a sensitive biomarker for stress in humans. Little is known about CGA and its derived peptides, catestatin (CST) and vasostatin (VS), in dogs undergoing surgery. The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare concentrations of CGA epitopes CST and VS, cortisol, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, scores of the short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale (CMPS-SF) and visual analog scales (VAS) for stress and pain behavior in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy. Thirty healthy privately owned female dogs admitted for elective ovariohysterectomy were included. Physical examination, CMPS-SF, pain behavior VAS, and stress behavior VAS were recorded and saliva and blood samples were collected before surgery, 3 h after extubation, and once at recall 7–15 days after surgery. Dogs were premedicated with morphine and received carprofen as analgesia for 7 days during the postoperative period. At 3 h after extubation, CMPS-SF and pain behavior VAS scores had increased (p < 0.0001) and stress behavior VAS scores, temperature, respiratory rate (p < 0.0001), plasma CST concentrations (p = 0.002) had decreased significantly compared to before surgery. No significant differences were observed in the subjective and physiological parameters between before surgery and at recall, but plasma CST (p = 0.04) and serum cortisol (p = 0.009) were significantly lower at recall. Plasma VS, saliva CST, and heart rate did not differ significantly at any observed time. Study parameters for evaluating surgery-induced stress and pain changed in dogs subjected to ovariohysterectomy. To further evaluate CST and VS usefulness as pain biomarkers, studies on dogs in acute painful situations are warranted.

The neuroendocrine glycoprotein chromogranin A is a useful biomarker for stress in humans. Chromogranin A epitopes catestatin and vasostatin can be measured in dogs using radioimmunoassays. The objective of this study was to evaluate catestatin and vasostatin as canine stress biomarkers in a clinical setting. Blood and saliva were collected from 33 healthy dogs that were familiar with sampling procedures and the animal hospital environment (control group) and 30 healthy dogs that were unacquainted (stress group). During sampling, stress behavior was scored by the same observer using visual analog scale (VAS). Plasma was analyzed for catestatin and vasostatin, serum for cortisol, and saliva for catestatin. Differences between groups were analyzed using two-sample t-tests and P<0.05 was considered significant. Stress behavior VAS score in the control group was significantly lower than in the stress group during blood (P=0.002) and saliva (P=0.0009) sampling. Serum cortisol and saliva catestatin concentrations in the stress group were higher than the control group (P=0.003 and P<0.0001, respectively). Serum cortisol concentrations were correlated with those of saliva (r=0.34, P=0.04) and plasma catestatin (r=0.29, P=0.03). Plasma catestatin and vasostatin did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, concentrations of saliva catestatin, and serum cortisol, and stress behavior VAS scores were significantly higher in the stress group. The results indicate that saliva catestatin may be useful as a biomarker for acute psychological stress in dogs.

Traumatic bone fractures cause moderate to severe pain, which needs to be minimized for optimal recovery and animal welfare, illustrating the need for reliable objective pain biomarkers for use in a clinical setting. The objectives of this study were to investigate catestatin (CST) and vasostatin (VS) concentrations as two new potential biomarkers, and cortisol concentrations, scores of the short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale (CMPS-SF), and visual analog scale (VAS) in dogs suffering from traumatic bone fractures before and after morphine administration in comparison with healthy dogs. Fourteen dogs with hind limb or pelvic fractures and thirty healthy dogs were included. Dogs with fractures were divided into four groups according to analgesia received before participation. Physical examination, CMPS-SF, pain and stress behavior VAS scores were recorded in all dogs. Saliva and blood were collected once in healthy dogs and in dogs with fractures before and 35–70 min after morphine administration. Blood samples were analyzed for CST, VS, and cortisol. Saliva volumes, however, were insufficient for analysis. Catestatin and cortisol concentrations, and CMPS-SF, and VAS scores differed significantly between dogs with fractures prior to morphine administration and healthy dogs. After morphine administration, dogs with fractures had significantly decreased CMPS-SF and VAS scores and, compared to healthy dogs, CST concentrations, CMPS-SF, and VAS scores still differed significantly. However, CST concentrations remained largely within the normal range. Absolute delta values for CST significantly correlated with delta values for CMPS-SF. Catestatin and cortisol did not differ significantly before and after morphine administration. Vasostatin concentrations did not differ significantly between groups. Catestatin and cortisol concentrations, CMPS-SF, and VAS scores differed significantly in the dogs with traumatic bone fractures compared to the healthy dogs. Morphine treatment partially relieved pain and stress according to the subjective but not according to the objective assessments performed. However, because of the large degree of overlap with normal values, our results suggest that plasma CST concentrations have a limited potential as a clinically useful biomarker for pain-induced stress.

Introduction: With little to no regulation of the supplement markets and a paucity of quality information regarding clinical utility of individual marketed supplements, it is difficult for veterinarians to provide any evidence-based recommendations to owners. The current study aimed to provide clinically useful comparative efficacy data on certain marketed supplements.Methods: Using a prospective, block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, one hundred and one pet dogs with clinical hip OA-associated pain with one side worse than the other (index limb) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: Green lipped Mussel plus Krill oil extracts (Antinol® Rapid, EAB-277); Biota orientalis extracts (4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte); an NSAID (meloxicam); or placebo (sunflower oil). Peak vertical force (PVF, expressed as a percentage of bodyweight) of the index limb, orthopedic assessment score (OAS) and hematology and blood chemistry values were evaluated before treatment (week 0), at 2, 4 and 6 weeks during treatment.Results: At 6 weeks, the changes from baseline in PVF of the index limb in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups were significantly greater than the change in the placebo and 4CYTE™ groups, and the placebo and 4CYTE groups were not different from each other. At 6 weeks, there were significant differences between the groups for overall OAS scores with the lowest scores (least impairment) in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups, followed by the 4CYTE group and then the placebo group.Discussion: Results of this study indicate that meloxicam and EAB-277 have significant objectively measured benefits in managing OA-related pain in dogs compared to placebo, but 4CYTE does not differ from placebo.

Background and Aim: The Apgar score is a useful assessment of neonatal viability in dogs. The Apgar score in puppies born by cesarean section can be lower than vaginal delivery because all anesthetic drugs can cross the placenta. Therefore, anesthetic drugs with minimal cardiorespiratory effect and rapid elimination are recommended for cesarean section. The present study aimed to compare Apgar scores in puppies born after the induction of etomidate, alfaxalone or propofol, and those maintained with isoflurane inhalation during cesarean section. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six bitches were equally divided in the three anesthetic drug groups. Modified Apgar scores were assessed at 5, 15, and 60 min after delivery. Intraoperative vital signs and Apgar scores were compared using a linear mixed model and adjusted pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni analysis. Results: A total of 125 puppies were included in this study. Age, body weight, litter size, type of surgery, delivery time, anesthetic and surgical duration, and intraoperative vital signs did not significantly differ between the groups. Puppies in the alfaxalone and propofol groups had significantly higher Apgar scores than the etomidate group in both elective and emergency surgery. In elective surgery, Apgar scores at 5 min after delivery did not differ significantly between groups. At 15 and 60 min after delivery, Apgar scores in the etomidate group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. In emergency surgery, Apgar scores were significantly lower in the etomidate group than in the alfaxalone group at all time points. Conclusion: Induction with alfaxalone and propofol resulted in better outcomes with higher Apgar scores and neonatal viability than etomidate. Therefore, alfaxalone and propofol should be used as anesthetic induction drugs in both elective and emergency cesarean sections. Keywords: anesthesia, Apgar, puppies, viability, vigorous.