Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis with multisystemic involvement in canine species, capable of causing a pulmonary hemorrhagic syndrome (LPHS) in the most severe cases. In humans, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelets to lymphocytes (PLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been described as predictors of morbidity and mortality in various pathologies, but no such studies have been developed for canine leptospirosis. Hence, we aimed to assess the usefulness of NLR, PLR and SII in dogs affected with leptospirosis, focusing on those that died or survived after hospitalization, whether or not they developed LPHS. The leptospirosis group was composed by 36 dogs while the control group consisted of 32 healthy dogs. The NLR, associated with inflammation, demonstrated a threefold or greater increase in all leptospirosis groups compared to the control group (median 2.44 ± 1.66) (developing or not LPHS). Dogs that died (median 67.78 ± 158.67), developed LHPS (median 85.17 ± 143.77), or both developed LHPS and died (median 67.78 ± 155,14) had a lower PLR in comparison to the control group (median 101,82 ± 53,75) and the rest of groups, but no statistically significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). The SII was higher in leptospirosis-affected dogs that survived (median 1356,92 ± 2726,29) and statistically significant differences were observed in those who did not develop LPHS (median 1770,41 ± 2630,77; p < 0.05) compared to the control group (median 555,21 ± 313,26). Our data shows that NLR may be used as inflammation indicator, while more studies are needed for PLR and SII in canine leptospirosis.

The aim was to evaluate if medetomidine and dexmedetomidine affected arterial ovarian blood flow in dogs. The dogs were randomly assigned to two different groups. In Group 1, medetomidine (10 µg/kg) was administered intramuscularly and, in Group 2, dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) was used. After a preliminary exam, arterial blood pressure (BP) was measured and a duplex Doppler ultrasonographic examination of both ovarian arteries was performed. Twenty minutes after the administration of medetomidine or dexmedetomidine, BP and ovarian Doppler ultrasonography were repeated. High quality tracings of ovarian artery flow velocity were obtained in all dogs and Doppler parameters: Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV) and Resistive Index (RI) were measured before and after drug administration in the left (LO) and right (RO) ovaries. PSV and EDV values decreased significantly after drug administration (p < 0.05) compared to the non-sedated values, but no differences were found between the LO and RO (p > 0.05). The RI was not affected by drugs administration in neither of the groups studied (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of medetomidine or dexmedetomidine causes a decrease in blood flow velocity in the ovarian artery and may be a good choice to avoid excessive bleeding prior surgeries in which ovariectomy.

Canine leishmaniosis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is a zoonotic disease often leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early detection of renal damage is critical for prognosis and treatment, as conventional biomarkers, such as serum creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), are inadequate for detecting early stages of renal dysfunction. This study evaluates the urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase-to-creatinine ratio (uGGT/c) as an early biomarker for renal injury in dogs with leishmaniosis, including 17 healthy dogs and 77 dogs with leishmaniosis, categorized using the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines. Plasma and urinary parameters, including uGGT/c, were analyzed. Elevated uGGT/c ratios were observed in over 50% of non-azotemic and non-proteinuric dogs and all dogs with mild-to-moderate proteinuria. The uGGT/c ratio demonstrated a 90.4% sensitivity and 80% specificity for early detection of renal tubular damage, outperforming plasma creatinine (44.2%) and SDMA (51.9%). The uGGT/c ratio correlated strongly with proteinuria (UPC; r = 0.716, p < 0.001) and SDMA (r = 0.591, p < 0.001), indicating its usefulness as an early indicator of renal dysfunction. Despite the small sample size, the implementation of the uGGT/c ratio as promising biomarker could improve early diagnosis and clinical intervention, helping to avoid irreversible renal damage in dogs affected by leishmaniosis.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired heart valve disease in dogs and it may contribute to cardiovascular–renal axis disorders (CvRD) in dogs. Sensitive and early biomarkers of renal involvement are needed. In this prospective and observational study, 84 dogs were enrolled (20 healthy dogs and 64 dogs with MMVD), categorised using the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine guidelines. Serum and urinary parameters were analysed, including tubular biomarkers expressed as creatinine-ratios: urinary alkaline phosphatase (uALPc), gamma-glutamyl transferase (uGGTc), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (uNAGc), and cystatin C (uCystc). uALPc, uGGTc, and uNAGc were higher in MMVD than in controls; uALPc and uGGTc were increased from stage B1, uNAGc was higher in stages with cardiomegaly (B2 and C+D), and uCystc increased mainly in clinical stages (C+D). Serum renal markers increased only in clinical stages. ROC analysis showed good discrimination for MMVD with uALPc (AUC 0.87) and uGGTc (0.86); for cardiomegaly with uALPc (0.77) and uNAGc (0.75); and for congestive heart failure with SDMA (0.85) and uCystc (0.75). No urinary biomarker was associated with daily furosemide dose. Urinary tubular biomarkers, particularly uALPc and uGGTc, detect early CvRD in dogs with MMVD and complement traditional serum markers.

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is an important concern in veterinary oncology, and early detection of myocardial injury remains clinically challenging. This exploratory pilot study described changes in cardiac fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), NT-proBNP, conventional echocardiographic variables, and 24-h Holter-derived heart rate variability parameters in dogs with hemangiosarcoma treated with doxorubicin. Fourteen dogs were prospectively evaluated before treatment initiation and one week after the third doxorubicin dose, corresponding to a cumulative dose of 90 mg/m². The study did not include a control group, a predefined cardiotoxicity endpoint, or diagnostic-performance analysis. Plasma biomarkers, echocardiographic parameters, ventricular arrhythmic events, and Holter-derived time- and frequency-domain heart rate variability variables were compared between both time points. Cardiac troponin I increased significantly after three doxorubicin doses, from a median of 0.05 ng/mL to 0.15 ng/mL (p = 0.002). In contrast, h-FABP did not change significantly, with median values of 2.43 ng/mL at baseline and 2.62 ng/mL after treatment (p = 0.27). NT-proBNP also showed no significant change (p = 0.87). Among echocardiographic variables, E-point septal separation, fractional shortening, ejection fraction, LA/Ao, and LVDd index did not change significantly. Ventricular arrhythmic events were infrequent and were described descriptively, whereas Holter-derived HRV variables did not show statistically significant differences between time points. In this exploratory cohort, cTnI increased after three doxorubicin doses, whereas h-FABP and NT-proBNP did not change significantly at the evaluated time point. Because h-FABP was measured one week after treatment, its potential short-term post-infusion release cannot be assessed. Larger studies with serial early sampling, predefined cardiotoxicity endpoints, appropriate control groups, and adjusted statistical analyses are required.