Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Summer 2020

Research News
NEW RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS MULTIPLE HEALTH ISSUES FOR FLAT-FACED DOGS
HIGHER HEATSTROKE RISK
Brachycephalic breeds – such as chow chows, bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs – are at particular risk of developing heat stroke, the largest study of its kind suggests.
RVC VetCompassTM research in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University analysed the clinical records of over 900,000 UK dogs. More than 1,200 dogs had received care for heat stroke during the study, with almost 400 affected in a single year. As many dogs affected with heat stroke may not even be taken to a vet practice – this could be the tip of the iceberg.
The research identified some other important predictors for heat stroke in dogs, including being above average weight and being over two years old. Dogs that were big for their breed – including both obese dogs and large or muscular dogs – had almost one and a half times the risk compared to those that were smaller than the breed average.
Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke)
in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 Emily J. Hall, Anne J. Carter & Dan G. O’Neill https://www.nature.com/ articles/s41598-020-66015-8
BREEDS MOST AT RISK
CHOW CHOW BULLDOG
FRENCH BULLDOG
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
GREYHOUND
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL
PUG
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
SPRINGER SPANIEL
IMPORTANT PREDICTORS
x17
x5 x4
x3 x3 x3 x3
BEING OVER TWO YEARS OLD
FRENCH BULLDOGS PREDISPOSED TO CATASTROPHIC ELBOW FRACTURES
x14 x6
Issue: Spring 2020
BEING ABOVE AVERAGE WEIGHT
RVC’s Small Animal Orthopaedic Service in collaboration with the VetCompass programme, ran an extensive study into elbow fractures in dogs.
The study involved reviewing the most recent 112 elbow fractures seen at the RVC Small Animal Hospital.
EPILEPSY RESEARCH
SIGNS AND CHANGES DOGS PRE-SEIZURE
An international study, which recruited owners
of dogs diagnosed with epilepsy, has revealed various signs and changes in behaviours of dogs before a seizure. These findings are an important step in helping owners not only have advance warning of seizures, but also to identify the triggers
Nearly two thirds of owners reported pre-seizure changes in their dog (65%)
Nearly half of owners (43%) also reported seizure triggers, which commonly involved stress, food and excitement
Over half of owners (60%) believed they were able to predict an upcoming seizure in their dog by using a combination of pre-seizure changes and recognising triggers.
Investigating the potential for seizure prediction in dogs with
idiopathic epilepsy: owner-reported prodromal changes and seizure triggers, Sarah Louise Finnegan, Holger Andreas Volk, Lucy Asher, Monica Daley, Rowena Mary Anne Packer https:// veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/early/2020/05/21/vr.105307
Apr 20. doi: 10.1111/vsu.13432. open access and now available.
The full paper is
The research showed a statistically significant predisposition in French Bulldogs - that they are eight times more likely to have suffer an elbow fracture than cross breed dogs. The study also identified that the French Bulldog was nearly seven times more likely than other breeds to fracture one
side (medial) of the elbow vs the other side (lateral) suggesting that their elbow shape may be influencing how their elbows break.
Impact of breed on canine humeral condylar
fracture configuration, surgical management, and outcome. Sanchez Villamil C, Phillips ASJ, Pegram CL, O'Neill DG, Meeson RL. Vet Surg. 2020
DIETARY TREATMENT SHOWS
GREAT POTENTIAL
Research conducted by the RVC shows that small changes to the diets of dogs with hard-to-treat epilepsy has the potential to reduce the number of seizures and improve the quality of life for affected dogs and their owners. Previous RVC research involving an MCT supplement (specific type of
fat known as medium-chain triglycerides) had shown that this could have beneficial effects when included within a dry kibble diet.
This new research investigated if the oil was added as a supplement to a dog’s existing diet whether the same benefits could be achieved. The oil was tested in a rigorous clinical trial during which 28 dogs received the MCT oil for three months and a placebo oil for three months. Both owners and investigators were blind to which oil dogs were receiving during each phase.
Overall, dogs had significantly fewer seizures during the MCT phase compared the placebo phase, and there was an improved owner-reported quality of life.
A multicenter randomized controlled trial of medium-chain triglyceride dietary
supplementation on epilepsy in dogs Benjamin A. Berk Tsz H. Law Rowena M. A. Packer Annette Wessmann Andrea Bathen-Nöthen Tarja S. Jokinen Anna Knebel Andrea Tipold Ludovic Pelligand Zoe Meads Holger A. Volk https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.15756
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