Proteinuria and systemic hypertension are well recognised risk factors in chronic renal failure ( crf ). They are consequences of renal disease but also lead to a further loss of functional kidney tissue. The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between proteinuria, systemic hypertension and glomerular filtration rate ( gfr ) in dogs with naturally occurring renal and non‐renal diseases, and to determine whether proteinuria and hypertension were associated with shorter survival times in dogs with crf . Measurements of exogenous creatinine plasma clearance ( ecpc ), urine protein:creatinine ratio ( upc ), and Doppler sonographic measurements of systolic blood pressure ( sbp ) were made in 60 dogs with various diseases. There was a weak but significant inverse correlation between upc and ecpc , a significant inverse correlation between sbp and ecpc and a weak but significant positive correlation between upc and sbp . Some of the dogs with crf were proteinuric and almost all were hypertensive. Neoplasia was commonly associated with proteinuria in the dogs with a normal ecpc . crf was the most common cause leading to hypertension. In the dogs with crf , hypertension and marked proteinuria were associated with significantly shorter survival times.

A human kit for cystatin C determination was evaluated for use with canine sera. A reference range was also established. The association between cystatin C and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was evaluated in 60 dogs with various diseases, by using exogenous creatinine plasma clearance (ECPC) as a measure of GFR. The correlation between cystatin C and ECPC (correlation coefficient [r] = −0.630; P <0.001) was stronger than the correlation between serum creatinine and ECPC (r = −0.572; P <0.001). Nonrenal diseases (e.g., neoplasia, infection) did not influence serum cystatin C concentration. Test sensitivity was significantly better ( P <0.001) for cystatin C (76%) than for creatinine (65%). Specificities for the two tests were 87% and 91%, respectively.

Summary: Objective: Measurement of rectal temperature is the most common method and considered gold standard for obtaining body temperature in dogs. So far, no study has been performed comparing agreement between rectal and auricular measurements in a large case series. The purpose of the study was to assess agreement between rectal and auricular temperature measurement in normothermic, hypothermic, and hyperthermic dogs with consideration of different environmental conditions and ear conformations. Materials and methods: Reference values for both methods were established using 62 healthy dogs. Three hundred dogs with various diseases (220 normothermic, 32 hypothermic, 48 hyperthermic) were enrolled in this prospective study. Rectal temperature was compared to auricular temperature and differences in agreement with regard to environmental temperature, relative humidity, and different ear conformations (pendulous versus prick ears) were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Correlation between rectal and auricular temperature was significant (r: 0.892; p < 0.01). However, Bland-Altman plots showed an inacceptable variation of values (bias: 0.300 °C; limits of agreement: –0.606 to 1.206 °C). This variation was above a maximal clinical tolerance of 0.3 °C, which was established by experts’ opinion (n = 16). Relative humidity had a significant influence (p = 0.001), whereas environmental temperature did not. Conclusion: Variation between the two methods of measuring body temperature was clinically unacceptable. Clinical relevance: Although measurement of auricular temperature is fast, simple, and well tolerated, this method provides a clinically unacceptable difference to the rectal measurement.

Zusammenfassung: Ziel: Die feline Hyperthyreose ist eine häufige Endokrinopathie bei älte ren Katzen. In früheren Studien wurden unausgewogene Ernährung, Schilddrüsen-Disruptoren, hohes Alter sowie fehlende Reinrassigkeit als Risikofaktoren diskutiert, ein endgültiger Auslöser bleibt jedoch unbekannt. Die Ziele dieser prospektiven Studie waren a) die Berech nung der Klinikprävalenz in einer Katzenpopulation in Süddeutschland, b) die Feststellung, wie häufig die Diagnose nach dem klini schem Verdacht bestätigt wurde und c) die Auswertung mutmaßlicher in- und extrinsischer Risikofaktoren anhand des Signalements der Katzen und eines Fragebogens. Methoden: Gesamt-Thyroxin (T4) wurde im Serum von 495 Katzen ≥ 8 Jahre gemessen und die Prävalenz mit einem 95%-Konfidenzintervall (95%-KI) berechnet. Abhängigkeiten zwischen Signalement und Hyperthyreose wurden durch den Student-T-Test, Chi-Square-Test und den Mann-Whitney U-Test analysiert. Das Signifikanzniveau lag bei 0,05. Zur Ermittlung extrinsischer Risikofaktoren diente ein logistisches Regressionsmodell. Ergebnisse: Bei 61 Katzen wurde eine Hyperthyreose diagnostiziert, was eine Prävalenz von 12,3% ergibt (95%-KI: 9,7–15,5). Ältere (p < 0,001) weibliche Katzen (p = 0,019; Odds Ratio 1,9) waren signifikant häufiger betroffen. Hauskatzen (Europäisch Kurz- und Langhaarkatzen) erkrankten häufiger als Rassekatzen (p = 0,016). Bei 164 Katzen wurde die Verdachtsdiagnose Hyperthyreose gestellt und in 20,1% (33/164) der Fälle verifiziert. In 2,4% (12/495) der Fälle war die erhöhte T4-Konzentration ein Zufallsbefund. Hyperthyreote Katzen wurden häufiger mit Nassfutter aus Aluminiumschalen (p < 0,013) gefüttert als nichthyperthyreote Katzen. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Re levanz: Ältere, weibliche Hauskatzen sind prädisponiert, an einer Schilddrüsenüberfunktion zu erkranken. Die Diagnose lässt sich häufig nach initialem klinischem Verdacht stellen, woraus in der Studienpopulation eine Prävalenz von 12,3% resultierte. Rückstände aus Aluminiumschalen oder das Nassfutter selbst scheinen eine Rolle in der Ätiopathogenese zu spielen.

Two siblings, a 6-month-old sexually intact male weighing 2.5 kg (cat 1) and a sexually intact female (cat 2) British Shorthair cat weighing 2.3 kg, were examined because of a 3-week history of polyuria, lethargy and laboured breathing. One year previously, another sibling (cat 3) had been presented because of similar, yet more severe, clinical signs at the age of 5 months. Physical examination revealed lethargy, dehydration and polypnoea with slightly increased inspiratory effort. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe hypercalcaemia (cats 1–3), renal azotaemia (cats 1 and 3) and a radiologically generalised miliary interstitial pattern of the lungs (cats 1–3) attributable to hypervitaminosis D caused by ingestion of commercial cat food. Cat 3 was euthanased. Cats 1 and 2 were treated with isotonic saline solution (180 ml/kg IV daily), sucralfate (30 mg/kg PO q12h), terbutaline (only cat 1: 0.1 mg/kg SC q4h), furosemide (1.5 mg/kg IV q8h) and tapering doses of prednisolone. Cat 2 was normal on day 14. Cat 1 had stable renal disease and was followed up to day 672. The radiological generalised military interstitial pattern of the lungs had improved markedly. Excessive cholecalciferol-containing commercially available cat food poses a great hazard to cats. Supportive treatment may result in long-term survival and improvement of radiological pulmonary abnormalities.

Case Description—A 2-year-old 38.9-kg (85.58-lb) sexually intact male German Shepherd Dog was examined because of a 4-month history of severe nasal swelling and nasal mucosa congestion. The signs were slowly progressive. Clinical Findings—Physical examination revealed that the dorsal aspect of the dog's nose was swollen and hard. Mucous membranes in both nostrils were hyperemic and edematous. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe nasal osteolysis and pyogranulomatous rhinitis and nasopharyngitis attributable to blastomycosis. Treatment and Outcome—Oral administration of itraconazole was initiated (5 mg/kg [2.27 mg/lb], q 12 h for 5 days and then q 24 h). After a treatment period of 3 months, the nose had regained its normal appearance. After 5 months of treatment, the Blastomyces infection was eliminated as confirmed by results of rhinoscopy and biopsy specimen examination. No relapse was evident within 1 year after discontinuation of treatment. Clinical Relevance—In dogs, nasal and nasopharyngeal blastomycosis can result in severe osteolysis of the nasal bone. Resolution of disease can be achieved with oral administration of itraconazole for a period of at least 5 months.