Golden Retriever Dogs Research Articles

The power of empathy

Recently, my family brought home a new dog. Her name is Maggie. Our family has fostered Labrador and Golden Retriever dogs for adoption for many years, so having a new pup in the house wasn’t all that unusual. But in this case, we were adopting Maggie right into our family. Maggie had some requisite medical needs and vaccines that needed to be taken care of, so within a week of her arrival home, we were at the veterinarian.

A Case Study on Demodicosis in Golden Retriever

A six-year-old Golden Retriever dog with a history of alopecia, itching, scratching and erythema all over the body was presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nepal Polytechnic Institute, Chitwan, Nepal. Dog weighed 44.6 kg was golden brown in colour. On clinical examination mucous membrane, temperature, Heart rate was normal. The eczematous lesions were erythematous and alopecia was seen in the area surrounding the lesions. The case was suspected of parasitic skin infection, and skin scrapping was taken from different affected area until there was a capillary bleeding with the help of scalpel blade after moistening the skin with glycerin. The scraping was treated with 10% KOH until it was submerged after that the solution was gently heated and the supernatant was discarded, and remnants were transferred to slide. A cover slip was placed, and it was examined first under the low power then high power for detail study. Demodex was observed under microscopic examination. The case was diagnosed as patchy demodex infestation with secondary bacterial infection. The lesions were cleaned by medicated ketachonazole shampoo and systemic administration of fixotic advance and Amoxicillin clavunate 375 mg antibiotic was given for secondary bacterial infection. After 2 weeks skin scrapping test was again performed and found negative. There were no red rashes and lesions were slowly healing.

Therapeutic efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma in four golden retrievers with acute otitis externa.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a new therapeutic tool used to treat various skin diseases in humans and animals. To evaluate the effect of CAP in the treatment of canine acute otitis externa (AOE). Four client-owned golden retriever dogs with bilateral AOE. After cleaning with a commercial ear cleanser, right ears (STANDARD group) were treated with an antibiotic/antifungal/corticosteroid combination and left ears (CAP group) were treated with CAP every three days for a total of four treatments. Cytological score and otitis index score (OTIS)3 were recorded for each ear on Day (D)0, D10 and D15. At D10 and D15, owners and investigators recorded an overall assessment. In both groups, OTIS3 and cytological score decreased over the study period. The overall assessment scale ranged from moderate to excellent in both groups. Cold atmospheric plasma treatment showed equal therapeutic effect compared with a commercial topical anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ear treatment.

A case report of canine kidney dysplasia

The renal dysplasia consists of an abnormal development of the renal parenchyma and stroma, which gives it a whitish appearance and irregular surface, whitish color and firm consistency to the touch. Microscopically, the renal tubules have an adenomatous appearance, with the presence of immature or fetal glomeruli and tubules, primitive mesenchymal tissue with a myxomatous appearance and interstitial fibrosis. The renal dysplasia is considered a congenital and hereditary disease, mainly described in breeds such as Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzu, Miniature Schnauzer, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and Standard Poodle. Dogs affected by the disease present polydipsia, polyuria, anorexia, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss. With disease progresses, secondary renal hyperparathyroidism and fibrous osteodystrophy may develop. In this case report, we describe a six-month-old Golden Retriever dog with a history of polydipsia, polyuria and growth retardation. A complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy were requested, which were essential for establishing the diagnosis of renal dysplasia.

Periaortic paraganglioma and pericardial effusion in a Golden Retriever dog: Case report

The case of a 10-year-old Golden Retriever dog treated at the ASMEVET veterinary hospital in the city of Tunja, Colombia is presented. The owner reported that the patient had an intermittent cough for 2 months. The physical examination revealed the patient to be hyperactive, body condition 4/5, and faint heart sounds. Echocardiography, chest x-ray, and electrocardiogram were performed, revealing pericardial effusion, increased size of the cardiac silhouette, and deviation of the S-T segment. Initially, treatment was attempted with antibiotics, diuretics and anti-inflammatory agents, without a favourable response. Two months later, it was necessary to perform emergency pericardiocentesis due to cardiac tamponade, and partial subphrenic pericardiectomy. Histopathological analysis revealed a paraganglioma. The patient survived 673 days after surgical treatment.

Successful surgical management of intestinal foreign body in a golden retriever dog

Successful surgical management of intestinal foreign body in a golden retriever dog

First Report on Ovariohysterectomy for the Treatment of Pyometra in a Golden Retriever Dog in Mongolia

First Report on Ovariohysterectomy for the Treatment of Pyometra in a Golden Retriever Dog in Mongolia

The multiple infections of a golden retriever dog with dermatophytosis and it’s attributed pre-disposing risk factor's

The multiple infections of a golden retriever dog with dermatophytosis and it’s attributed pre-disposing risk factor's

Sebaceous Adenoma Case in a Golden Retriever Dog

Background: Sebaceous adenoma is a benign tumour originating from the skin's sebaceous glands. These tumours can arise in older and middle-aged dogs, typically on various body parts, head, and extremities. The tumours can manifest as either lumps or ulcers. Ulcers may develop when the animal scratches the tumour mass. Purpose: Increase the insight and ability of veterinary practitioners in diagnosing and providing information regarding the treatment of sebaceous adenomas. Case: A nine-year-old Golden retriever dog was brought to the Bali Veterinary Clinic with a complaint of a lateral wound on the face skin of the right eye. Anamnesis revealed that the initial wound was a lump. Clinical examination showed a yellowish ulcer with a 2 cm diameter. Case Management: A hematology examination indicated mild anemia in the dog, while blood biochemistry revealed no abnormalities. Cytology confirmed that the ulcer was a sebaceous adenoma. The owner declined surgery for their pet, so treatment involved applying Bioplacenton® gel to the ulcer area to prevent further infection and accelerate wound healing. Conclusion: In this case, the ulcer wound can be concluded as a sebaceous adenoma. This tumour is benign and harmless, but it is advisable to remove the tumour mass if it impairs the animal's activity and prevents potential secondary infection.

A variant in the 5′UTR of ERBB4 is associated with lifespan in Golden Retrievers

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in long-lived human populations have led to identification of variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease, the latter being the most common cause of mortality in people worldwide. In contrast, naturally occurring cancer represents the leading cause of death in pet dogs, and specific breeds like the Golden Retriever (GR) carry up to a 65% cancer-related death rate. We hypothesized that GWAS of long-lived GRs might lead to the identification of genetic variants capable of modifying longevity within this cancer-predisposed breed. A GWAS was performed comparing GR dogs ≥ 14 years to dogs dying prior to age 12 which revealed a significant association to ERBB4, the only member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family capable of serving as both a tumor suppressor gene and an oncogene. No coding variants were identified, however, distinct haplotypes in the 5′UTR were associated with reduced lifespan in two separate populations of GR dogs. When all GR dogs were analyzed together (n = 304), the presence of haplotype 3 was associated with shorter survival (11.8 years vs. 12.8 years, p = 0.024). GRs homozygous for haplotype 3 had the shortest survival, and GRs homozygous for haplotype 1 had the longest survival (11.6 years vs. 13.5 years, p = 0.0008). Sub-analyses revealed that the difference in lifespan for GRs carrying at least 1 copy of haplotype 3 was specific to female dogs (p = 0.009), whereas survival remained significantly different in both male and female GRs homozygous for haplotype 1 or haplotype 3 (p = 0.026 and p = 0.009, respectively). Taken together, these findings implicate a potential role for ERBB4 in GR longevity and provide evidence that within-breed canine lifespan studies could serve as a mechanism to identify favorable or disease-modifying variants important to the axis of aging and cancer.

SILICA CALCULI REMOVAL IN A 11 YEARS OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Urolithiasis is a common disesase affecting the urianary tract, including the bladder. This disease characterized by the presence of stones in the urinary tract. Urolithiasis is caused by accumulation of mineral crystals, namely phosphate, calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, carbonate, and silica. The aim of this study was to remove urolith from vesica urinaria of a Golden retriever using cystotomy method. An eleven-year-old Golden retriever dog with a body weight 22,5 kg with complaints of stranguria, oligouria, hematuria and decrease food intake. The result of physical examination found that the dog was in pain when palpation of the abdomen and at the time of urination the urine was hematuria. The supporting examination is carried out in the form of x-ray examination. The results of x-ray examination showed radiopaque mass in the bladder which was suspected to be urolith. The dog was diagnosed with urolithiasis with prognosis of fausta. The procedure is performed is a cystotomy to take urolith in the bladder. Postoperative therapy is fluid therapy by NaCl 0,9%, Penstrep-400® antibiotic injection therapy (IM) 10 mg/kg BW and dexametahosone anti-inflammatory injection therapy (SC) 4 mg/kg BW. Therapy was continued with the administration of the oral antibiotic amoxicillin 20 mg/kg BW, metronidazole antibiotic 25 mg/kg BW, and dexamethasone 0,5 mg/kg BW as an anti-inflammatory. The dog experienced healing marked by increase fgood appetite, smooth urination without hematuria and no pain at the time of urination after surgery and was given therapy for eight days marked by smooth urination without hematuria and no pain at the time of urination. The dog was sent home on the sixth day. Based on the results of the physical examination and x-ray investigation, the dog was diagnosed with urolithiasis with a fausta prognosis. To prevent of occurrence of urolithiasis, the composition of the food must be right so that the nutrition in dog’s body can be balanced.

Effects of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 addition on nutrient digestibility, faecal characteristics, blood chemistry and faecal Lactobacilli spp., Enterococci spp., and Escherichia coli in healthy dogs

The benefits of probiotics for animal health are widely recognised. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis C-3102 on diet digestibility, faecal characteristics, intestinal shedding of microbiota, and hematological characteristics in healthy dogs. Adult Golden Retriever dogs (n = 18) were divided into three groups: the control group (no B. subtilis), the BS1 group (1 × 109 CFU/g of B. subtilis), and the BS2 group (2 × 109 CFU/g of B. subtilis). Dogs were fed for a 30-day administration period, and total faeces were collected in the last five days. On the first and last days of the study, blood samples were taken to determine hematological characteristics. In addition, the dry matter content, faecal consistency score, faecal output, pH, ammonia level, and quantity of short- and branched-chain fatty acids (SCFAs and BCFAs) in faecal samples were also evaluated. Results revealed that the dry matter, fibre, organic matter, and protein digestibility coefficients were higher in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Lower pH and higher acetate, propionate, and isobutyrate levels were detected in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Lower ammonia levels and firmer stools were observed in BS2 (p < 0.001). The numbers of faecal enterococci and lactobacilli were higher in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, B. subtilis increased the concentrations of WBCs, RBCs, and granulocytes in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Data in the present study suggest that dietary supplementation with B. subtilis improved faecal quality, enhanced nutrient digestibility, and contributed to the dogs’ gut health by reducing gut ammonia, increasing SCFAs, and improving the number of Lactobacillus and Enterococci. HIGHLIGHTS Probiotics are one of the most commonly used feed additives in dog food. Bacillus subtilis boosts the immunity and overall gastrointestinal health of companion animals. B. subtilis dietary supplementation improved dogs’ gut health, immunity, and digestibility of food. B. subtilis increased the concentration of WBCs, RBCs, and granulocytes. B. subtilis reduced gut ammonia and increased SCFAs and the number of lactobacilli and enterococci in faeces.

Cranial cruciate ligament avulsion due to osteochondrosis dissecans of the stifle joint in a golden retriever dog

AbstractAn 8‐month‐old, entire, male, 32‐kg golden retriever dog was presented with a grade 4/5 right hindlimb lameness. No history of trauma or injury was noted and the clinical symptoms had appeared suddenly. A computed tomography examination of the hindlimbs was performed, and changes in the right stifle joint included moderate joint effusion, synovial thickening, a detached fragment from the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle and concurrent changes of the condylar bone. The cortical bone of that area appeared damaged and had lost its smooth margins A cranial cruciate ligament avulsion was later confirmed by arthroscopy. Osteochondrosis dissecans was confirmed histopathologically, based on chondral necrosis and a clear fissure evident in the fragment. Osteochondrosis dissecans is associated with cartilage and bone changes in growing animals. There are known anatomical predilection sites for development of osteochondrosis, one of which is the lateral condyle of the femur. This is the first reported case where the dislodged bone fragment is also the point of origin for the cranial crucial ligament.

Canine Model of Human Frailty: Adaptation of a Frailty Phenotype in Older Dogs.

Frailty is a clinical presentation resulting from age-related cumulative declines in several physiological systems. The aim of this study was to adapt the concept of frailty to the domestic dog, as a model for frailty research, by characterizing a 5-criterion frailty phenotype using objective measurement, and to investigate its independent association with death. A prospective cohort including 80 Labrador and Golden Retriever dogs aged 9 years or older was conducted between March 2015 and July 2020. An adapted frailty phenotype was defined according to the presence of 5 criteria (weakness, slowness, poor endurance, low physical activity, and shrinking) evaluated at baseline from physical performance tests and items from questionnaire and physical examination. Survival analysis was used to investigate the association between frailty status and time to all-cause death over 5 years of follow-up. Frailty status was significantly associated with all-cause death, with median survival times of 10.5 months, 35.4 months, and 42.5 months, respectively for dogs with 3 or more criteria (frail dogs), dogs with 1 or 2 criteria (prefrail dogs), and nonfrail dogs. Independently of age, sex, breed, sterilization, and sex-sterilization interaction, frail dogs died significantly faster than nonfrail dogs at baseline (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.86; 95% confidence interval = 2.45-14.0; p < .01). This significant association persisted after controlling for other potential confounders. Frailty, assessed by a 5-criterion phenotype, was predictive of all-cause death, in geriatric Labrador and Golden Retriever dogs. The concept of frailty seems adaptable to the dog.

Birth weight distribution in Golden and Labrador retriever dogs: A similar morphotype with a different trend. Preliminary data.

Birth weight (bW) is considered an indicator of neonatal maturity and a predictor of neonatal mortality. According to its importance, many efforts have been made so far to identify physiological body weight ranges at birth. Due to the high heterogeneity among breeds, optimal bW is difficult to define in dogs. The aim of this study was to carefully analyze the shape and pattern of the bW distribution in dogs. Furthermore, the role of breed on bW determination was specifically investigated in relation to maternal (age, weight, height, diet, season, litter size) and neonatal (sex, malformations, assistance at birth) aspects. For these purposes two canine breeds with very similar phenotypic characteristics, Golden and Labrador retrievers, were selected. An accurate statistical model to explore bW distribution and compare it between Goldens and Labradors was developed. At birth most of the Golden and Labrador pups (estimated 95th percentile) weighed up to 630 g and 500 g, respectively. The estimated 5th percentile of bW distributions was 295 g in Golden and 290 g in Labrador pups. These lowest values could be indicative cut-offs of underweight pups. The probability of neonatal mortality within 1 week of life decreased with increasing bW (P = 0.031) and was higher in Golden than Labrador pups even though this difference was not significant. In conclusion, our results suggest that genetics have a relevant influence on the determination of birth weight which is confirmed to be closely associated with neonatal mortality.

Clinicopathological evaluation of vaginal leiomyoma and ovarian luteoma in a bitch

A 7-years-old female Golden Retriever dog was presented to the clinic with a multilobular mass protruding from the vulva. On clinical examination, the mass was observed on the circumference of the vaginal canal. The owner reported not noticing a pro-estrous bleeding for a year. On vaginal cytology, parabasal cells, intermediate cells, neutrophil infiltration and clumps of bacteria were determined. Mild anemia, severe leukocytosis and high MPV value were detected. As a treatment, vaginal mass was totally extirpated by partial vaginectomy and subsequently ovariohysterectomy were performed to avoid the re-occurrence of the vaginal tumor. Both vaginal mass and ovariohysterectomy materials were histopatologically examined. Benign tumors were diagnosed which were vaginal leiomyoma and bilateral ovarian luteoma. It was concluded that histopathological analysis of every surgically removed tissue should be performed in order not to miss a tumorous condition even if it does not show any symptoms.

Erythrophagocytic multiple myeloma in a dog.

A 5-y-old spayed female Golden Retriever dog was referred because of severe normocytic normochromic nonregenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia. Serum analysis revealed hyperproteinemia and monoclonal or oligoclonal gammopathy. Fine-needle aspiration of the spleen revealed a highly erythrophagocytic population of neoplastic round cells, morphologically suggestive of plasma cells. After euthanasia, histologic assessment of the spleen and liver revealed an erythrophagocytic round cell tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor population was positive for MUM1p and negative for CD3, CD20, and Iba-1, confirming the plasma cell origin of the tumor. Erythrophagocytic multiple myeloma is a very rare neoplastic condition in dogs.

Characterization of neurological disease progression in a canine model of CLN5 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Golden Retriever dogs with a frameshift variant in CLN5 (c.934_935delAG) suffer from a progressive neurodegenerative disorder analogous to the CLN5 form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL). Five littermate puppies homozygous for the deletion allele were identified prior to the onset of disease signs. Studies were performed to characterize the onset and progression of the disease in these dogs. Neurological signs that included restlessness, unwillingness to cooperate with the handlers, and proprioceptive deficits first became apparent at approximately 12 months of age. The neurological signs progressed over time and by 21 to 23 months of age included general proprioceptive ataxia, menace response deficits, aggressive behaviors, cerebellar ataxia, intention tremors, decreased visual tracking, seizures, cognitive decline, and impaired prehension. Due to the severity of these signs, the dogs were euthanized between 21 and 23 months of age. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed pronounced progressive global brain atrophy with a more than sevenfold increase in the volume of the ventricular system between 9.5 and 22.5 months of age. Accompanying this atrophy were pronounced accumulations of autofluorescent inclusions throughout the brain and spinal cord. Ultrastructurally, the contents of these inclusions were found to consist primarily of membrane‐like aggregates. Inclusions with similar fluorescence properties were present in cardiac muscle. Similar to other forms of NCL, the affected dogs had low plasma carnitine concentrations, suggesting impaired carnitine biosynthesis. These data on disease progression will be useful in future studies using the canine model for therapeutic intervention studies.

Pituitary Carcinoma in a Bitch: Clinical, Tomographic, Histopathological and Immunohistochemistry Findings

Background: Primary pituitary carcinoma is rarely reported in dogs and only few reports describe its malignancy. In veterinary literature, primary pituitary carcinomas correspond up to 2.4% to 3.4% of intracranial neoplasms found in dogs and information regarding its biological behavior is quite limited. In humans, primary pituitary carcinomas represent less than 1.0% of all tumors found in the pituitary gland. The proposed classification for pituitary carcinoma in humans and dogs determines that the tumor must have its origin in adenohypophyseal region and disseminated metastasis by cerebrospinal fluid or systemically to other organs must be observed. In dogs, a few reports have described primary pituitary carcinoma. The goal of this report was to describe clinical, tomographic, histopathological and immunohistochemistry features of a dog with primary pituitary carcinoma with adjacent invasion. Case: A 7-year-old female spayed Golden Retriever dog was assessed by general practice due progressive weight loss, muscular atrophy, lethargy, blindness, head pressing, and hyporexia for 21 days. Computed tomography (CT) showed a cerebral parenchyma with expansive extra-axial base formation, originating from sella turcica topography, measuring about 2.0 centimeter dorsally, displacing the third ventricle, suggesting the diagnosis of pituitary neoplasia. The hormones thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total thyroxine (T4) as well as stimulation ACTH test were unremarkable. After 7 days, neurological clinical signs progressed and unfortunately the patient died ten days later after hospitalization. A necropsy exam revealed pituitary gland with increased dimensions (2.5 x 2.0 cm). Histopathological findings revealed tumor proliferation in pituitary gland. The neoplasm showed invasion to the nervous parenchyma and metastatic foci between the brain lobes. Immunohistochemistry was positive for keratin and neuron-specific enolase and negative for epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, estrogen receptor, CD34, chromogranin, somatostatin, and ACTH. The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings supported the diagnosis of primary pituitary carcinoma. Discussion: There is lack information regarding pituitary carcinoma prevalence in dogs, and little is known about its pathological and clinical features. The patient showed a shorter survival time (30 days after the onset of clinical signs) for a non-hormonally functional tumor that presented with acute onset of neurological signs due to local effect of an expanding mass, also described in others pituitary carcinoma reports. It was observed a metastatic focus of pituitary neoplasia between cerebral hemispheres, leading us to conclude to be a pituitary carcinoma. Adjacent infiltration was noticed by the presence of neoplasm invasion to the synoptic nervous parenchyma and metastatic foci between the brain lobes as well as the presence of a non-delimited nodular area of neoplastic implantation between the cerebral hemispheres, and optic nerve compromised by neoplasm cells. The data reported here showed that a negative ACTH receptor in neoplasm with 10% Ki-67 proliferation index with no history of clinical signs of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). Pituitary adenocarcinomas are thought to be more often non-secretors. CT findings reveled a pituitary mass of 2.5 cm in vertical height suggesting a pituitary macrotumor although there is lack of description for pituitary carcinomas in veterinary literature. The animal had a fast deterioration of his clinical condition and quickly came to death, suggesting poor biological behavior of the tumor. Keywords: adrenocorticotropic hormone, case report, dog, pituitary tumors.

Metastatic Canine Phaeochromocytoma with Unusual Manifestation

We report the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of a phaeochromocytoma (PCC) in a 9-year-old male neutered Golden Retriever dog. The dog presented with acute onset of deteriorating cervical pain but was otherwise normal on general physical and neurological examinations. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed a focal, extramedullary, infiltrative, poorly demarcated, heterogeneous mass with moderate contrast enhancement at the left cranial articular process of C2, associated with osteolysis and pathological fractures of C2, and marked soft tissue trauma. Due to the severe lesions and grave prognosis, the dog was euthanized. Post-mortem examination revealed severe enlargement of the right adrenal gland due to a neoplasm of the adrenal medulla. C2 was lytic and there was a white, well-demarcated, firm neoplastic mass in the surrounding musculature. Neoplasms were also present in, and adjacent to, the prostate gland and in pulmonary lymph nodes. Histologically, the neoplasms were composed of dense sheets and nests of small, round to polyhedral cells with frequent palisading along fine connective tissue septa, karyomegaly, multinucleated cells and frequent mitotic figures. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells expressed chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Gross, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings support the diagnosis of PCC, originating from the right adrenal gland, with multiple metastases in the cervical spine, prostate gland and pulmonary lymph nodes. This case highlights the difficulty of intra-vitam diagnosis of PCC as its manifestation can be highly variable. PCC should be considered as a rare but possible differential diagnosis for painful vertebral masses in elderly dogs.