Abstract
Endurance-trained sled dogs provide a unique translational model to characterize changes in hematologic and serum biochemical analytes due to the aging process. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of age and sex on specific hematologic and serum biochemical parameters in the endurance trained sled dog. Longitudinal and cross-sectional data were analyzed from 9,746 blood and serum samples from 4,804 dogs collected over 7 years as part of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race pre-race examination program. Mixed models analysis was used for statistical analysis and P < 0.01 was considered significant. Dogs ranged from 1–12 years of age and 39% were female. Serum total calcium and phosphorus concentrations and white blood cell count decreased nonlinearly to asymptotic values by 6.6, 3.1, and 6.9 years of age, respectively, equivalent to estimated physiologic ages in human years of 44, 27, and 46 years. Serum glucose concentrations reached their lowest value at 7.8 years of age, equivalent to an estimated human physiologic age of 50 years, after which time the concentration increased. Serum globulin concentrations increased with age, but nonlinearly for females and linearly for males. Most sex-related differences were <5%; however, females had lower serum urea nitrogen (14.7%) and creatinine (7.3%) concentrations, lower serum alanine aminotransferase activity (16.6%), and higher serum total bilirubin concentration (12.8%) and platelet count (6.0%). The endurance-trained sled dog provides an excellent model to separate the physiologic effects of age from those of a sedentary lifestyle on hematologic and serum biochemical analytes.
Highlights
Blood samples were collected as part of the standard pre-race examination of all dogs being considered for participation in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race over seven consecutive years (2012 to 2018)
The authors were given permission to use the data after analysis for diagnostic purposes had taken place. As this testing is a requirement of race participation and a veterinary-client-patient relationship was present at the time of collection, ethical approval from our institution was not Effect of age and sex on hematologic and serum biochemical analytes in endurance-trained sled dogs required [14, 15]
The greatest effects of age were a decrease in serum Ca concentration from 1 to 6.6 years-of-age, a decrease in serum Gluc concentration until 7.8 years-of-age, after which time serum Gluc concentration increased, a decrease in the blood white blood cell (WBC) count until 6.9 years-of-age, and a decrease in serum Phos until 3.1 years-of-age
Summary
The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of age and sex on specific hematologic and serum biochemical parameters in the endurance trained sled dog. The primary aims of this study were to characterize the hematologic and serum biochemical changes that occur with age and between the sexes in the endurance-trained sled dog, and to establish appropriate hematologic and serum biochemistry reference intervals for this population
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