Geriatric Dogs Research Articles

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Geriatric Dogs and Cats

The word “geriatric” refers to the medicine of the elderly and it is used in veterinary medicine for animals that have completed 75% of their lifespan. As the size of an animal increases, the age at which they become geriatric decreases, therefore; geriatric age varies amongst different species and breeds. Homeostatic changes occur with increasing age and some diseases such as obesity, tumor formation, orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular disorders and neurological disorders are frequently seen. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to such diseases. Thus, regular screening tests and clinical examinations are important for early diagnosis. Geriatric physiotherapy is a developing field that is noninvasive and, in some cases, can be used as a form of primary treatment or supportive treatment. Physiotherapy prevents muscle atrophy and reduces pain caused by inflammation all the while improving the patient’s quality of life. There is a wide range of different methods used in physiotherapy; TENS and NMES devices, passive and active movement exercises, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, ECSWT and cryotherapy. However, treatment protocols are tailored by physicians to fit each patient’s needs depending on the disease and severity of the disease to be treated.

Effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract on aging-related changes in healthy geriatric dogs: A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled study.

This study aimed to explore the clinical potential of Withania somnifera/ashwagandha root extract (ARE) to mitigate age-related changes in healthy geriatric dogs. We hypothesized that ARE can reduce the effects of advancing age, including physiological changes, immune response decline and susceptibility to diseases, by its immunomodulatory effects. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Telangana, India, from July 2022 to September 2022. Twenty apparently healthy dogs, aged 8 years or older, were enrolled. The dogs were divided into two groups to receive ARE (15mg/kg, once daily, orally) or a placebo control. Various parameters, including serum cortisol levels, haematological profiles, biochemical markers, antioxidant indicators and anti-inflammatory responses, were assessed at the initiation of study, day 30, and day 60. The erythrocyte count and haemoglobin levels were significantly increased with ARE (p<0.001), whereas leukocyte count decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, significant decreases in important markers of liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and globulin; p<0.001 at day 60), as well as kidney function markers (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen; p<0.001 at days 30 and 60), were observed in ARE-treated dogs compared to the placebo control group. In addition, the levels of markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and malondialdehyde) were significantly modulated by ARE intervention, indicating strong antioxidant effects. Interestingly, serum cortisol levels reduced significantly with ARE (p<0.001). Compared to baseline, ARE significantly decreased key inflammatory markers, including interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells and interleukin-10 (p<0.001) levels at day 60. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that ARE has adaptogenic properties in healthy geriatric dogs by improving haematological and biochemical profiles, enhancing antioxidant defence, reducing stress and modulating inflammatory responses.

Safety of Gonadal Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Geriatric Dogs with Chronic Disease.

Ensuring the safety of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a fundamental requirement in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the safety of using gonadal tissue-derived MSCs (n = 10) compared to the commonly utilized adipose tissue-derived MSCs (n = 9) in geriatric dogs with chronic diseases. All participants received allogeneic MSC therapy, and no allergic reactions due to allogeneic cell immunogenicity were noted. Both groups showed no adverse changes in physical exams or hematological parameters before and after therapy. Importantly, there were no instances of tumor formation or growth post-treatment in either group. The findings demonstrated that dogs treated with gonadal tissue-derived MSCs experienced no clinical adverse effects. However, clinical adverse effects were reported in one case of adipose tissue-derived MSC therapy. Despite limitations in monitoring beyond one year and constraints due to a small and diverse patient group, this pioneering study validates the safe use of gonadal tissue-derived MSCs in aged companion animals. It underscores the potential of utilizing tissues from neutering procedures to advance regenerative medicine and expand cell banks and therapy options for companion animals.

Partial incision blunt scissors lamellar keratectomy under topical anesthesia for the treatment of presumed calcific corneal degeneration in dogs.

The aim of the study was to investigate clinical features of lamellar keratectomy for presumed calcific corneal degeneration in a population of geriatric dogs using blunt scissors dissection under topical anesthesia. Retrospective analysis of dogs with clinically diagnosed calcific degeneration treated by keratectomy under topical anesthesia between 2015 and 2021 at two veterinary ophthalmology practices was performed. Descriptive data regarding signalment, concurrent systemic and ocular disease, complications, healing time, and recurrence were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to calculate 1-year recurrence probability. Sixty-five eyes in 57 dogs met inclusion criteria. All 54 eyes with follow-up healed within a median of 14 days (7-74), including 17 with complicating factors of infection or deep stromal ulceration. Globe rupture occurred intraoperatively in three eyes (4.6%), for which subsequent conjunctival graft was performed. Calculated 1-year recurrence probability from 47 eyes followed long term was 25%. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling showed a significant association between documented systemic disease and time to recurrence (p = .035), irrespective of topical EDTA use (p = .432). Median follow-up time available for all cases was 249 days. Blunt lamellar dissection with corneal scissors can be performed in dogs under topical anesthesia, yielding healing times and recurrence comparable to previously reported treatments for calcific corneal degeneration. Globe rupture is an inherent risk of both the disease and procedure and occurred in 4.6% of treated eyes. This approach expands non-anesthetic treatment options for affected patients but should only be performed with advanced microsurgical training and client counseling on individual risk and benefit.

Common Neurologic Diseases in Geriatric Dogs.

The increase in the canine geriatric population means that veterinarians are more often confronted with diseases that are more prevalent in patients in this age group. As in other organ systems, degenerative, neoplastic, and vascular diseases are the most prevalent neurologic disorders in older dogs. A neurological disease in an older dog poses a challenge for the clinician due to the presence of concomitant diseases and age-related changes that make it difficult to interpret the neurological examination. In addition, given the age of the patients, some owners do not allow advanced imaging tests, and it is necessary to establish the most likely presumptive diagnosis to initiate treatment. Although many of these diseases can cause clinical signs that can be very upsetting, some of them can be managed with symptomatic therapy and have a good prognosis, such as idiopathic vestibular syndrome. Moreover, advances in and the greater availability of therapeutic options such as surgery and radiation therapy may increase survival and quality of life in diseases with a more serious prognosis, such as tumours. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the more frequent diseases affecting the central nervous systems of geriatric dogs.

Timed up and go demonstrates strong interrater agreement and criterion validity as a functional test in geriatric dogs.

To measure interobserver agreement for 4 functional tasks and their summed geriatric functional score (GFS) and correlate tasks and GFS with client-specific outcome measurements (CSOMs): Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) pain severity, CBPI pain interference, and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs. 89 geriatric dogs were recruited between April and September 2023 from staff, friends, and clients of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine with a median age of 11.0 years and weight of 26.4 kg. Dogs underwent 4 sequential functional tests: timed up and go (TUG), cavallettis, figure 8s, and down to stands. Two observers independently scored each dog. The GFS was calculated based on the summed scores of the individual tests. Additional information collected included signalment, weight, measurements reflecting the comorbidities of aging (body condition score and muscle condition score), and CSOMs. Strong interrater agreement was found for all functional tests. The TUG in seconds (sTUG) and figure 8s demonstrated significant (P < .05) moderate to strong correlations to all CSOMs. The GFS showed similar significant correlations with all CSOMs except CBPI pain severity; however, when correlating individual tests to CSOMs, only figure 8s and TUG were significantly contributing to GFS results. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined highly functional dogs as those completing the sTUG in under 3.83 seconds. The sTUG represented the best test for geriatric function given it was objective, reliable, correlated well to CSOMs, and could help identify highly functioning dogs. The sTUG appears to be the first practical and reliable functional test of canine geriatric mobility.

Updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs.

Since publication of the last consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs, there has been revision of leptospiral taxonomy and advancements in typing methods, widespread use of new diagnostic tests and vaccines, and improved understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of the disease. Leptospirosis continues to be prevalent in dogs, including in small breed dogs from urban areas, puppies as young as 11 weeks of age, geriatric dogs, dogs in rural areas, and dogs that have been inadequately vaccinated for leptospirosis (including dogs vaccinated with 2-serovar Leptospira vaccines in some regions). In 2021, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Board of Regents voted to approve the topic for a revised Consensus Statement. After identification of core panelists, a multidisciplinary group of 6 experts from the fields of veterinary medicine, human medicine, and public health was assembled to vote on the recommendations using the Delphi method. A draft was presented at the 2023 ACVIM Forum, and a written draft posted on the ACVIM website for comment by the membership before submission to the editors of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. This revised document provides guidance for veterinary practitioners on disease in dogs as well as cats. The level of agreement among the 12 voting members (including core panelists) is provided in association with each recommendation. A denominator lower than 12 reflects abstention of ≥1 panelists either because they considered the recommendation to be outside their scope of expertise or because there was a perceived conflict of interest.

Electrochemotherapy for Mammary Tumour in Dogs

Background: Mammary neoplasms are the most common tumours in the bitch. Even though surgery remained the treatment of choice for mammary gland tumours except those with inflammatory carcinomas or distant metastasis; it did not seem to reduce the chances of recurrence in case of malignancy in dogs. Other alternatives to surgery are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy etc. The major disadvantage of chemotherapeutic agents was the lack of selectivity for tumour cells. To overcome this problem, electrochemotherapy could be used as a single or as an adjuvant therapy to surgery which could be used for treatment of inoperable tumours. Cisplatin and bleomycin are the two chemotherapeutic agents used in veterinary oncology for electrochemotherapy. This study was carried out on clinical cases of mammary tumours to study and compare the efficacies of electrochemotherapy using Cisplatin and bleomycin Methods: The research was carried out on clinical cases of canine mammary tumour presented to the Small Animal Surgical Out-Patient Unit of Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital for a period of one year from September 2018 to May 2021. Routine Clinical, Haematological, Biochemical and Radiographic evaluations were performed. Twelve dogs with mammary tumours, with a single solitary lump were selected for the study irrespective of the age, breed and location. Group I Cases were treated by electrotherapy with cisplastin and Group II were treated by electrotherapy with bleomycin intralesionally following which surgical excision was performed. Result: Most cases in the cisplatin group produced partial response (3/6) according to the response evaluation criteria, whereas most cases in the bleomycin group produced complete response (100% regression). Bleomycin was comparatively more efficient (1.7 times) than cisplatin in electrochemotherapy for mammary tumours. The time under anaesthesia was low which makes this procedure a suitable alternative to geriatric dogs that cannot be anaesthetised for a longer duration for surgery.

Current definition, diagnosis, and treatment of canine and feline idiopathic vestibular syndrome.

Idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) is one of the most common neurological disorders in veterinary medicine. However, its diagnosis and treatment varies between publications. The aim of the current study was to gather experts' opinion about IVS definition, diagnosis, and treatment. An online-survey was used to assess neurology specialists' opinion about the definition, diagnosis and treatment of IVS. The study demonstrated that the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of IVS are largely consistent worldwide, with the EU prioritising less frequently advanced imaging and more often otoscopy to rule out other diseases. IVS was defined by most specialists as an acute to peracute, improving, non-painful peripheral vestibular disorder that often affects cats of any age and geriatric dogs. Regarding diagnosis, a detailed neurological examination and comprehensive blood tests, including thyroid values, blood pressure, and otoscopic examination, was seen as crucial. A thorough workup may also involve MRI and CSF analysis to rule out other causes of vestibular dysfunction. Treatment of IVS typically involved intravenous fluid therapy and the use of an antiemetic, with maropitant once daily being the preferred choice among specialists. Antinausea treatment was considered, however, only by a handful specialists. This survey-based study provides valuable insights from neurology experts and highlights areas that require further research to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Systolic blood pressure measurements with Doppler ultrasonic flow detector and high-definition oscillometry are comparable on population level but show large intra-individual differences in apparently healthy elderly dogs.

Agreement of systolic blood pressure measurements (SBP) between noninvasive blood pressure devices in conscious dogs is poorly studied. Situational hypertension is expected in clinics, but studies are lacking. This study aimed to compare SBP measurements obtained with Doppler ultrasonic flow detector (Doppler) versus high-definition oscillometry (HDO) in clinics and at home and to estimate the prevalence of situational hypertension in conscious, apparently healthy elderly dogs. 122 apparently healthy elderly or geriatric dogs were prospectively recruited. Systolic blood pressure was obtained consecutively with Doppler and HDO techniques in a randomized order per dog, following a standardized protocol. An at-home measurement was advised for in-clinic hypertensive dogs (SBP ≥ 160 mmHg), also using both devices. Dual measurements were available in 102 dogs. Median SBP was 147.3 mmHg (range, 105 to 239 mmHg) for Doppler and 152.3 mmHg (range, 113 to 221 mmHg) for HDO. Forty-six percent (56/122) were hypertensive, of which 9% (11/122) were hypertensive with both methods. No significant difference was found between the 2 devices in the global study population or within the group of hypertensive dogs. Repeated at-home measurements were performed in 20/56 (35.7%) hypertensive dogs, resulting in a 10 and 26 mmHg lower median SBP value for Doppler and HDO, respectively (P > .05). In-clinic situational hypertension was presumed in 8/20 (40%) dogs. The choice of the noninvasive blood pressure device did not significantly impact SBP results, but large interindividual differences in SBP between techniques occurred. Situational hypertension was frequently observed in clinic.

Computed Tomographic Features of Thymus in Dogs: Correlation with Age, Gender, Breed and Body Fat Content.

The thymus is the first lymphoid organ formed to regulate a newborn's immunity. It reaches its maximum size during puberty, after which it undergoes an atrophic procedure called involution, but its ability to grow again in response to some stresses, such as infections, neoplasia, surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is maintained. There is no comprehensive study on computed tomographic features of thymus in dogs. So, the goal of the present study is to gain better insight into the thymus using computed tomography as a non-invasive method. One hundred and fifty dogs classified in five age groups and five breed groups were recruited to this study and the thymus was evaluated using a 2-slice computed tomography machine. The inclusion criteria for the present study were having a normal complete blood count, plain and post-contrast CT scan examination of the thoracic region and no history of neoplasia, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The visibility, density, enhancement, grade, size, volume, shape, borders and lateralization of the thymus were evaluated and statistical analysis was performed. The effect of obesity on thymic grade and volume was also investigated. The visibility, density, dorsal length, volume and grade decreased with increasing age. The thymic shape and lateralization were mostly wedge shaped and left sided, respectively. The borders became concave with aging and increasing body fat content caused an increase in the fatty degeneration of the thymus. Declining thymic density, grade, size and volume with aging are related to thymic involution and fatty degeneration was accelerated by increasing body fat content. Females and males were different only in thymic shape and small and large breeds were different only in thymic volume. The thymus was visible in some geriatric dogs with no underlying disease. We expect that the present work can be used by radiologists in reading thoracic computed tomography but investigation of thymic characteristics in dogs with neoplasia and history of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and thoracic surgeries can complete this study.

Effect of Aging on the Immune Response to Core Vaccines in Senior and Geriatric Dogs.

Elderly dogs are steadily increasing worldwide as well as veterinarians' and owners' interest in their health and wellness. Aging is not a disease, but a combination of changes negatively affecting the organism in general and the immune system in particular, resulting in a decline in protection over time. The aim of this study was to measure the specific serum antibody titers against the main dangerous and widespread viral diseases preventable by core vaccinations in senior and geriatric dogs using the in-practice test VacciCheck. A cohort of three hundred fifty elderly dogs was analyzed for Protective Antibody Titers (PATs) against CPV-2, CDV and CAdV-1. The age ranged from 5 to 19 years, with two hundred fifty-eight seniors (73.7%) and ninety-two geriatrics (26.3%), and 97.4% of them were vaccinated at least once in their lives. More than half of the entire study population (52.9%) had PATs simultaneously for all three diseases, with 80.5% seniors and 19.5% geriatrics. Specific PATs were found in 88.6% of aging dogs for CPV-2, 82.3% for CadV-1 and 66.0% for CDV, demonstrating that unprotected aging dogs represent a minority. Unexpectedly, the larger elderly dogs resulted as more protected than smaller ones for CPV-2. Protection then decreases over time, with geriatric dogs less protected than senior ones. Veterinary practitioners should therefore always consider whether to maintain core vaccinations in aging dogs as in adults on a three-year basis or opt instead for closer boosters (every 1 or 2 years). PATs for core vaccines could then represent a good biomarker of protection and their titration could become a standard of care, especially in such a sensitive period of the dogs' life.

Inflammaging in domestic dogs: basal level concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in serum of healthy dogs of different body sizes and ages.

Inflammaging, a "hallmark of aging," refers to a chronic, progressive increase in the proinflammatory status of mammals as they age, and this phenotype has been associated with many age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis and cancer. Though, inflammaging research is common in humans, there is a lack of data for this process for the domestic dog. Here, serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in healthy dogs of different body sizes and ages were measured to determine whether inflammaging may play a mechanistic role in aging rates in dogs, similar to those found in humans. Using a four-way ANOVA, a significant decrease in IL-6 concentrations in young dogs with the rest of the age categories showing increased IL-6 concentrations was found, similar to humans. However, only young dogs have decreased IL-6 concentrations, with adult dogs having similar IL-6 concentrations to senior and geriatric dogs, implying differences in aging rates between humans and dogs. And, there was a marginally significant interaction between sex*spayed or neutered status and IL-1β concentrations with intact females having the lowest IL-1β concentrations compared with intact males, and spayed and neutered dogs. The presence of estrogen in intact females may, overall, decrease inflammatory pathways. This implies that age at spaying or neutering may be an important aspect to consider for inflammaging pathways in dogs. Furthermore, sterilized dogs often die of immune-related diseases, which could be linked to the increases in IL-1β in sterilized dogs found in this study.

PetSavers resources

A major study recently funded by BSAVA PetSavers at the University of Liverpool is the Old Age Pets (OAP) research project, aiming to help vets and clients provide the best care for senior and geriatric dogs. The fruits of that research have now been translated into the BSAVA PetSavers Ageing Canine Toolkit.

The influence of sex and age on bone turnover markers in the adult to geriatric Kangal shepherd dogs.

The objective of this research was to learn more about bone metabolism in intact female and male Kangal shepherd dogs during the aging process following skeletal maturity. It also evaluated the potential application of biochemical bone indicators in veterinary clinical practice. Bone markers were determined as bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in this study. Kangal shepherd dogs of different age (adult, senior, and geriatric) and sex (male and female) groups were split into six groups of equal numbers (n=8/group). In this study, the effect of age was observed on serum BALP, OC, CTX, and ICTP concentrations. Specifically, BALP was highest in geriatric female Kangal shepherd dogs, while serum OC, CTX, and ICTP concentrations were highest in geriatric male Kangal shepherd dogs. However, no effects of sex and age-sex interactions were identified. Moreover, the effects of age, sex, and age-sex interactions had no significant effect on serum creatinine, CK, LDH, Mg, and P concentrations or ALT activities. However, only sex was found to affect serum AST activities and gradually decreased with age in females. The effect of age and age-sex interactions on serum Ca concentrations was significant (the lowest serum Ca concentrations were in geriatric females), but the effect of sex was not. These results show the effect of age and sex on bone turnover in Kangal shepherd dogs and provide information about bone biomarkers.

Refractive errors inmixed breed dogs ofdifferent ages.

The purpose ofthe study was toevaluate the occurrence and range ofrefractive errors indogs ofdifferent ages. Atotal of99clinically healthy, mixed-breed mesocephalic dogs were included inthe study and divided into three different age groups according tothe current human/pet analogy chart: 40adults (23males, 17females, 1-8years old, 3-70kg), 21seniors (14males, 7females, 6-11years old, 7-42kg), and 38geriatrics (22males,16females, 8-13years old, 5-45kg). All the dogs underwent anophthalmic examination, including Schirmer tear test, tonometry, biomicroscopy, and ophthalmoscopy. Neither eye drops nor pharmacological sedatives were administered before the autorefractometry. The refractive states were assessed bilaterally using ahand-held Retinomax3 (Righton) autorefractor. The results underwent statistical analysis using Statistica v12 software (ANOVA and t-test). AP-value <0.05 was considered assignificant. Emmetropia, defined asarefractive state >-0.5D and < +0.5D, was found in36% ofthe adult, 43% ofthe senior, and 38% ofthe geriatric patients. Anisometropia was found in1% ofthe adult, 9.5% ofthe senior and 5.5% ofthe geriatric dogs when the refractive power ofthe two eyes differed ≥1.0 myopia ≤-0.5D and hyperopia ≥+0.5D were found in23% and 41% ofthe adult eye globes aswell as24% and 33% inthesenior dogs and 15% and 47% inthe geriatric dogs, respectively. The maximal values ofthemyopia intheadult and geriatric dogs were -2.5D and -2.75D, respectively. The maximal values ofthehyperopia intheadult and geriatric dogs were 1.75D and 2.5D, respectively. Nostatistically significant correlation was found between the groups. Ametropia isacommon refractive state for dogs ofdifferent ages. Themost frequent refractive state inametropic mixed-bed dogs inall age groups ishyperopia.

Evaluation of haematological and serum biochemical profile of geriatric dogs undergoing a multimodal anaesthesia protocol

The study was conducted on six geriatric dogs belonging to different breeds presented for various surgical procedures at the Veterinary hospitals of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, at Mannuthy and Kokkalai. Before undergoing anaesthesia, all dogs underwent complete clinical examination and pre-anaesthetic evaluation. All the animals were administered a multimodal anaesthetic protocol with inj. dexmedetomidine and inj. buprenorphine as preanaesthetics. A combination of injection diazepam and propofol was given for induction which was followed by inj. ketamine and inj. lignocaine for analgesia. Maintenance of anaesthesia was carried out by sevoflurane along with ketamine-lignocaine CRI for providing analgesia. Studies on haematology and serum biochemistry were carried out prior to premedication, during maintenance and following anaesthesia recovery. Organ functions were well preserved with the current multimodal anaesthetic technique in geriatric dogs.

Characteristics of canine oral tumors: Insights into prevalence, types, and lesion distribution

Objective: The escalating prevalence of canine oral tumors has emerged as a considerable health concern. This study examined the prevalence, types, and distributions of lesions linked to canine oral tumors. Material and Methods: The medical records of 526 dogs diagnosed with oral tumors were analyzed to determine the prevalence, types, and distributions. Tumor stages were classified into four categories using the tumor node metastasis system. Results: Among the 526 dogs, there were 118 cases of benign tumors and 408 cases of malignant tumors. Acanthomatous ameloblastoma was the most common benign tumor (43.22%), while melanoma was the most common malignant tumor (51.23%). The gingiva was the most common site for both benign and malignant lesions, accounting for 89.83% and 63.73% of cases, respectively. Melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma were primarily located in the gin¬giva, whereas osteosarcoma was commonly found in the mandible. Most tumors were classified as stage III (ranging from 46.84% to 74.58%). Of the reported cases, 56.08% were males and 43.92% were females, and the most common breed was mixed at 30.41%, followed by Poodle at 14.25% and Shih Tzu at 11.40%. Moreover, patients with malignant oral tumors (11.6 ± 3.1 years) were significantly older than those with benign tumors (8.9 ± 3.4 years, p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: Gingiva was the primary site for oral tumors, and mainly classified as stage III. These findings emphasize the increasing occurrence of oral tumors in senior and geriatric dogs and provide insights into the prevalent types and distribution.

Geriatrik Köpeklerde Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon: Güncel Bakış

Geriatrik ve artritik köpeklerin durumlarına özel rehabilitasyona ihtiyaçları vardır. Yaşlanan köpeklerde ilerleyici hareket kaybıyla bağlantılı olarak fonksiyonel durum kötüleşir. Yaşlanma, çok çeşitli dokularda değişikliklere neden olur. Ayrıca yaşlanan köpeklerde kronik hastalıkların görülme sıklığı ve şiddeti de artmaktadır. Öngörülen yaşam süresinin %75’ine ulaşan hayvanlar geriatrik olarak tanımlanır. Yaşlanma süreci cins, genetik, beslenme, çevre ve diğer faktörlerden etkilenir. Veteriner hekimlikte tıbbi ve cerrahi ilerlemeler nedeniyle köpeklerin yaşam süresi uzamıştır. Bunun bir sonucu olarak, evcil hayvanların sahipleri yaşlılığa bağlı bir dizi sorunla karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Pek çok evcil hayvan ergenlik çağında aktif olsa da, çoğu köpek 6 yaşından itibaren yaşlanma belirtileri göstermeye başlar. Bu durumdaki geriatrik köpekler kapsamlı bir değerlendirmeye ve rehabilitasyona ihtiyaç duyar. Geriatrik ve artritik köpekler, durumlarındaki değişiklikleri tespit edebilmek ve en doğru bakım planını tasarlayabilmek için mutlaka düzenli olarak değerlendirilmelidir. Geriatrik köpeklerde sıklıkla ağrı ve hareket kısıtlılığı görülür, yaşam kalitesi azalır. Ağrı yönetimi kılavuzlarının, multimodal ilaçların, fiziksel rehabilitasyon modalitelerinin ve çevresel düzenlemelerin kullanılması yaşlı köpeğin kaliteli bir yaşam sürmesini sağlar. Yaşlanan köpekler için rehabilitasyon hedefleri, sağlığı desteklemeyi, yaşa bağlı sağlık sorunlarının ilerlemesini yavaşlatmayı ve köpeğin yaşam kalitesini arttırmayı ve -mümkünse- yaşam süresini uzatmayı içerir. Bu çalışmada yaşlanmanın etkileri, yaşlanan köpekte yaygın görülen kas-iskelet sistemi değişiklikleri, yaşam kalitesi, ağrı yönetimi ve artritik köpeğin rehabilitasyon süreci üzerinde durulmaktadır.

The effect of age and processing on the in vitro fermentation of fibrous feedstuffs by labrador retriever dogs.

Dietary fibre substances in dog foods are composed of cell wall polysaccharides, non-cellulose polysaccharides, and structural non-polysaccharides. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dog age and heat-steam pressure (extruding process) on the in vitro fermentation of fibrous feedstuffs (sugar beet pulp, tomato pomace, wheat bran, corn bran, and rice bran) to be included in dog foods. The fibrous feedstuffs were incubated with a fermentation medium mixture and faeces inoculum, which were collected from two 6month old (puppy), two 2year old (adult), and two 8year old (geriatric) dogs. The in vitro cumulative gas production (at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48h), true-organic matter disappearance (T-OMd) (at 6, 12, 24, and 48h), and molarities of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids; AA, PA, and BA) in fermentation fluid (at 24h) of fibrous feedstuffs were determined. The extruding process increased the in vitro cumulative gas production of rice bran (at 12, 18, 24, and 48h) and wheat bran (at 6, 12, 24, and 36h) (P < 0.05). In addition, in vitro cumulative gas production values of tomato pomace (at 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48h) were reduced by the extruding process (P < 0.05). The extruding process increased the in vitro T-OMd values of sugar beet pulp (at 6, 12, and 24h), wheat and rice bran (at 6 and 12h), and the molarities of AA, BA, and total SCFA of the in vitro fermentation fluid of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran (P < 0.05). The in vitro cumulative gas production values of tomato pomace from faecal inoculums of the puppy and adult dogs were higher than that of the geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The in vitro T-OMd of sugar beet pulp (at 48h) and extruded corn bran (at 6h) with faecal inoculums of adult dog was higher than those of inoculum from puppy faeces (P < 0.05). The molarity of AA of tomato pomace with adult dog's faecal inoculum was higher than those from puppy and geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The molarities of AA, BA, and total SCFA with corn bran from faeces inoculums of the puppy and adult dog was higher than that of the geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The molarities of AA and total SCFA of the in vitro fermentation fluid of extruded rice bran with faecal inoculums from the geriatric dogs was higher than those with faecal inoculums from the puppy and adult dogs (P < 0.05). As a result, the extruding process positively affected the in vitro fermentation values of sugar beet pulp, wheat bran, and rice bran. Furthermore, the organic acid molarities of the in vitro fermentation fluid of extruded rice bran from the geriatric dog was higher than those from the puppy and adult dogs. Sugar beet pulp, tomato pomace, wheat bran, and corn bran can be used as a source of fibre in food for puppy, adult, and geriatric large dogs.