Veterinary Study Research Articles

Detection of canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c) in Palestine.

The objective of the present study was to report, for the first time, the presence of canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c) in domesticated dogs with acute gastroenteritis and to characterize the antigenic variants circulating in Palestine. A veterinary clinical-based epidemiological study was carried out between December 2022 and April 2023. Fifty fecal samples were collected from dogs with gastroenteritis and screened for CPV-2 infection by polymerase chain reaction. The distribution of positive cases according to various epidemiological factors was studied. Partial sequencing of the viral protein 2 (VP2) gene was performed for the analysis of CPV-2 variants. Most of the investigated samples (60%; n = 50) during the study period were found positive for CPV-2 infection. There was no difference in the distribution of positive cases of CPV-2 infection based on age group, gender, location, and vaccination status. The analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences from amplified products, as well as phylogenetic analysis, revealed the presence of CPV-2c clustered with Asian CPV-2c variants. In summary, this study represents the initial genetic analysis of CPV-2 present in Palestinian dogs with gastroenteritis and provides evidence that confirms the existence of the CPV-2c variants. To determine the prevailing CPV-2 variant associated with the infection, it is crucial to conduct further sequence analysis using large populations of both domestic and wild canines.

A scoping review on the use of reflection and reflective portfolio learning in veterinary education.

In veterinary education, reflection and reflective portfolio learning aim to enhance professional development. Although reflection and reflective portfolio learning are widely used in teaching and healthcare, their demonstrable impact on veterinary education is unclear. Although the benefits are uncertain, reflection may provide potential for self-development and help to prepare students for clinical practice. The aim of this work was to review research into reflective practice and reflective portfolio learning, to find evidence for its use in teaching, to confirm how it is best implemented to optimise professional development and to identify gaps for future research. This scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines adhering to review methodology. Ten databases were searched and screened for reflection and portfolio learning as a primary source of data. Of 29,933 texts identified by title and/or abstract, 51 final works were screened in full. Of these, 16 papers that gathered evidence on reflection were included. The results confirmed a growing evidence base for reflection in the veterinary field. In total, six works demonstrated a positive impact on professional development. Written reflective assignments were the most common methods of implementation, with 11 papers referencing their use. Other methods included group discussion and facilitated reflection. This review identified numerous gaps for research, including validating the methods of implementation, exploring the efficacy of methods other than written reflection, examining how reflection is used at different stages of the veterinary career and study of different models of reflection to identify which are most useful.

Combination therapy of itraconazole and an acylhydrazone derivative (D13) for the treatment of sporotrichosis in cats.

This paper reports the first veterinary clinical study of an acylhydrazone anti-fungal (D13) combined with itraconazole against a dimorphic fungal infection, sporotrichosis, which is highly endemic in South America in animals and humans. Overall, the results show that the combination treatment was efficacious in ~50% of the infected animals. In addition, D13 was well tolerated during the course of the study. Thus, these results warrant the continuation of the research and development of this new class of anti-fungals.

Stress factors in veterinary medicine-a cross-sectional study among veterinary students and practicing vets in Austria.

Although the issue of high mental health burden among veterinarians is well-documented in previous studies, little is known about the specific occupational stress factors associated with mental health issues. Therefore, the aims of this study were twofold: (1) to assess occupational stress factors within the veterinary profession, with a particular emphasis on comparing the expectations of veterinary students with the experiences of practicing veterinarians and (2) to link the experienced stress with mental health indicators in veterinarians. All registered veterinarians and veterinary-medicine students in Austria were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey. The data collection took place during the winter of 2022/2023 and included standardized questionnaires on mental well-being (WHO-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), stress (PSS-4), and insomnia (ISI-2). Additionally, participants were asked about various estimated (students) or experienced (vets) occupational stress factors, which were to be rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "very strongly". An open question invited respondents to identify in free text further experienced/anticipated sources of work-related stressors in veterinary practice. A total of 430 students and 440 veterinarians participated in the study. The results of a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicate that the burden of bureaucracy is perceived as less stressful by students than experienced by veterinarians, all other areas are perceived as more stressful by students than by veterinarians. In veterinarians, bureaucracy is experienced as the most burdensome, followed by animal suffering, and communication with animal owners. Further analysis of possible associations between the extent of perceived stressors and indicators of mental health shows that while bureaucracy is the most burdensome, it has the smallest correlation with mental health indicators. On the other hand, financial concerns, which are not ranked among the main stressors, have the strongest correlation with impaired mental health. The results suggest that financial security for veterinarians is crucial to safeguard their mental health. The training of veterinary medicine students and practicing veterinarians in the areas of administration, time management, handling animal suffering, and communication with animal owners might be beneficial in reducing their job-related stressors.

Evaluating the readability of recruitment materials in veterinary clinical research.

Owner comprehension is vital to recruitment and study success, but limited information exists regarding the readability of public-facing veterinary clinical trial descriptions. The current study sought to evaluate the readability of public-facing online veterinary clinical trial descriptions from academic institutions and private referral practices. None. This prospective study assessed readability in a convenience sample of veterinary clinical trial study descriptions using 3 common methods: the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (F-K), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and online Automatic Readability Checker (ARC). Results were compared across specialties and between academic and private institutions. Grade level and readability consensus scores (RCSs) were obtained for 61 online clinical trial descriptions at universities (n = 49) and private practices (n = 12). Average grade-level RCS for study descriptions was 14.13 (range, 9-21). Using Microsoft Word, the FRES score was higher in descriptions from universities compared to private practices (P = .03), and F-K scores were lower in university compared to private practice descriptions (P = .03). FRES (P = .07), F-K (P = .12), and readability consensus (P = .17) scores obtained from ARC were not different between institution types. Forty-eight studies (79%) had RCSs over 12, equivalent to reading material at college or graduate school levels. Similar to other areas in veterinary communication, the evaluated veterinary clinical trial descriptions used for advertising and recruitment far exceeded the recommended 6th-grade reading level for medical information. Readability assessments are straightforward to conduct, and ensuring health literacy should be a customary best practice in veterinary medicine and clinical research.

Randomised Controlled Trial on Prophylaxis of Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia Syndrome in Swine using Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex.

Mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA) syndrome occurs in the first days post-partum and causes piglet losses mainly due to malnutrition. One possibility for prophylaxis of MMA is via homeopathy. In this veterinary study, the effectiveness of a prophylactic administration of homeopathic remedies for the prevention of the occurrence of MMA in swine was evaluated. In a randomised and blinded study, 60 sows were examined. Sows were randomly distributed in two groups: the experimental group (CL/LL) received a prophylactic administration of the complex homeopathic remedies Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex, and the placebo group was administered a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution in the same injection scheme as the experimental group. Clinical signs of MMA, behavioural changes, as well as production parameters, were recorded beginning with the day of farrowing until 5 days post-partum. The treatment group showed no significant effect on the occurrence of MMA in sows (CL/LL: 56.67% MMA positive sows; NaCl: 53.53% MMA positive sows). Treatment group had also no significant effect on health parameters (vaginal discharge, raised rectal temperature, shortage of milk) or behavioural parameters (impaired feeding behaviour and impaired general condition). For the production parameter average weight gain, statistically significant effects in the treatment group were detected. Prophylaxis with the homeopathic remedies Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex showed neither an improvement in MMA prevention nor an improvement in health parameters or behavioural traits in the present herd of sows.

Morphological and radiological mapping of dental cusps in relation to spatial constraints on tooth shape of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

A significant number of researches in veterinary study have been focused on dental structure; however, there are few on the orientation and identification of their cusps. Therefore, the present article aimed to spotlight the arrangement pattern of dental cusps in the camel as a folivorous and graminivorous animal. This study was conducted on eight heads of adult, healthy camels of both sexes, collected from slaughter houses. To determine the exact orientation of cusps of molar teeth, additional radiological and CT scans were performed on the mandible as a landmark that should facilitate the reading of the cusps map. It was evident that the cusps are arranged in crescentic appearance, selenodontal form, with two cusps on each side, paracone and hypocone on the lingual surface and protocone and metacone on the vestibular aspect. Thus, camels cannot wear bite like equines, which would interfere with their constant chewing method. The camels’ dental cusps provide some of the finest examples of convergent evolution, which offer insights both into correlates between form and function, and into the ability of euthomorphic cusps in intrapability and stabilization of food items and their comminution between formidable cusps and occlusal spillway in between. Further studies should be done on the brachydont teeth and tropospheric cusps to fill the functional anatomy gap of teeth, in addition to diversity of cusps form. This study is considered a basic comparative anatomical study for normal healthy dentition and forensic practice, in addition to its importance in detection of more local aspects of dental problems in camels.

Ultrasound and Microbubbles Mediated Bleomycin Delivery in Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-An In Vivo Veterinary Study.

To investigate the feasibility and tolerability of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB)-enhanced chemotherapy delivery for head and neck cancer, we performed a veterinary trial in feline companion animals with oral squamous cell carcinomas. Six cats were treated with a combination of bleomycin and USMB therapy three times, using the Pulse Wave Doppler mode on a clinical ultrasound system and EMA/FDA approved microbubbles. They were evaluated for adverse events, quality of life, tumour response and survival. Furthermore, tumour perfusion was monitored before and after USMB therapy using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). USMB treatments were feasible and well tolerated. Among 5 cats treated with optimized US settings, 3 had stable disease at first, but showed disease progression 5 or 11 weeks after first treatment. One cat had progressive disease one week after the first treatment session, maintaining a stable disease thereafter. Eventually, all cats except one showed progressive disease, but each survived longer than the median overall survival time of 44 days reported in literature. CEUS performed immediately before and after USMB therapy suggested an increase in tumour perfusion based on an increase in median area under the curve (AUC) in 6 out of 12 evaluated treatment sessions. In this small hypothesis-generating study, USMB plus chemotherapy was feasible and well-tolerated in a feline companion animal model and showed potential for enhancing tumour perfusion in order to increase drug delivery. This could be a forward step toward clinical translation of USMB therapy to human patients with a clinical need for locally enhanced treatment.

Gadolinium Neutron Capture Therapy for Cats and Dogs with Spontaneous Tumors Using Gd-DTPA

We conducted a clinical veterinary study on neutron capture therapy (NCT) at a neutron-producing accelerator with seven incurable pets with spontaneous tumors and gadolinium as a neutron capture agent (gadolinium neutron capture therapy, or GdNCT). Gadolinium-containing dimeglumine gadopentetate, or Gd-DTPA (Magnevist®, 0.6 mL/kg b.w.), was used. We observed mild and reversible toxicity related to the treatment. However, no significant tumor regression in response to the treatment was observed. In most cases, there was continued tumor growth. Overall clinical improvement after treatment was only temporary. The use of Gd-DTPA for NCT had no significant effects on the life expectancy and quality of life of animals with spontaneous tumors. Further experiments using more advanced gadolinium compounds are needed to improve the effect of GdNCT so that it can become an alternative to boron neutron capture therapy. Such studies are also necessary for further NCT implementation in clinical practice as well as in veterinary medicine.

The functions of veterinary epidemiology in public health

This paper aims to describe the core functions of veterinary epidemiology in public health to understand the ultimate objective of preventing, mitigating, or eliminating zoonotic diseases in susceptible populations. However, the ideas came from a variety of sources. The field of veterinary medicine has significantly contributed to many aspects of public health, including human and environmental wellness, animal welfare, comparative and basic medical study, and the mitigation of zoonotic illness. Veterinary epidemiology, one of the disciplines that make up veterinary public health, is particularly concerned with disease surveillance, response, and prevention. In the veterinary study, epidemiological methods examine diseases' dynamics, prevalence, and causes in populations of interest. The ability to better comprehend hazards and how to prevent widespread sickness is now possible for veterinary epidemiologists. Veterinarians can help advance public health studies and policies by employing various methodological approaches and collaborating with networks of expert epidemiologists in the field.

Impacts of Schmallenberg virus infection in early lambing sheep flocks following the second wave of virus circulation in South West England in 2012/2013: a mixed-methods descriptive study

Impacts of Schmallenberg virus infection in early lambing sheep flocks following the second wave of virus circulation in South West England in 2012/2013: a mixed-methods descriptive study

EVALUATING INSTRUMENTS FOR ASSESSING HEALTHSPAN: A MULTI-CENTER CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THE COMPANION DOG

Abstract The companion dog is an emerging model in translational geroscience and offers novel opportunities to investigate aging biology and potential gerotherapeutics. However, there is a scarcity of validated tools and clinical outcome measures to characterize and understand the impact of aging in this translational species. Here we report on a multi-center, cross sectional veterinary clinical study, where we evaluated a clinical questionnaire (Canine Frailty Index; CFI; Banzato et al., 2019) to assess frailty and an owner assessment tool (VetMetrica HRQL) to evaluate HRQL in 451 adult companion dogs. Results support evidence of validity for the tools by confirming expectations that frailty and HRQL deteriorate with age. CFI scores were significantly higher (higher frailty) and HRQL scores significantly lower (worse HRQL) in old dogs (≥ 7 years of age) compared to young dogs (≥ 2 and < 6 years of age). Body size (small < 25lbs or large > 50lbs) was not associated with CFI or total HRQL score. However, older, larger dogs showed faster age-related decline in HRQL scores specific to owner-reported activity and comfort. Findings suggest that the clinician-assessed CFI and owner-reported VetMetrica HRQL may be useful tools to evaluate two determinants of healthspan in dogs: the accumulation of frailty and the progressive decline in quality of life. Establishing validated tools that operationalize the assessment of canine healthspan is critical for the linking pathophysiological mechanisms to aging phenotypes in the companion dog and for accelerating the development of gerotherapeutics that benefit both human and veterinary medicine.

Parasite cenoces of the wild pig (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) on the Trans-Baikal Territory

A comprehensive veterinary study of the wild pig population on the territory of the Trans-Baikal Territory for helminthiasis and microbial transmission was carried out. The helminth fauna of wild pigs was studied and the circulation of bacterial pathogens in the population of these animals was established. The object of the research were materials obtained in the field studies on the Trans-Baikal Territory districts. The study of endoparasite infestation was conducted in 37 wild pigs aged 6 months to 3 years during 2019-2021. Infestation of wild pigs with eight different types of helminths was registered on the Trans-Baikal Territory. The maximum extent of infestation (32.4%) was recorded in Setaria labiato-papillosa. Wild pigs are infected with both imaginal helminths Setaria labiato-papillosa, Metastrongylus elongatus, Ascaris suum, Trichocephalus suis, Oesophagostomum dentatum, as well as with helminth larvae Cysticercus tenuicollis and Cysticercus cellulosae. The study of the morphology of sexually mature pathogens indicates parasitization of helminths of the genus Setaria labiato-papillosa in pigs. Out of 37 wild pigs studied, the association infestation of setariosis + ascaridosis was recorded in 12 animals, three pigs were simultaneously parasitized by ascaridosis + trichocephalus, and two animals had the association of setariosis + metastrongylosis.Organoleptic examination of carcasses of pigs affected by associative infestation showed a 2-fold or more reduction in the thickness of the backbone and side fat in comparison with helminth-free animals. In pigs infected with ascaridosis and metastrongylosis, microbial cultures of S. typhimurium and E. rhusiopathiae were isolated from paraenchymatous organs. Parasite ecosystems with different types of helminths and helminths + highly pathogenic bacteria have been recorded in the body of wild pigs.

¿PUEDEN LAS MEDIDAS OSTEOMÉTRICAS PREDECIR EL PESO VIVO Y CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LA CANAL EN CONEJOS NUEVA ZELANDA BLANCA EN CRECIMIENTO?

<p><strong>Background</strong>: The identification of the relationship between the particular traits of the body development of the rabbit could help the understanding of the biological growth and the application in different areas of livestock and veterinary study. <strong>Objective</strong>. To evaluate the relationship between osteometry of the limbs, live weight (LW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and anatomical cuts; and generate equations to predict PV, PCC and anatomical cuts in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits at different ages. <strong>Methodology</strong>. A total of 113 rabbits of seven different ages (9, 11, 14, 17, 20, 24 and 28 weeks) were used. The data obtained were LW, carcass characteristics: PCC and anatomical cuts (front, middle and back); and osteometry: length and diameter of the humerus (LH and DH), radio-ulna (LR-C and DR-C), femur (LF and DF) and tibia-fibula (LT-P and DT-P). The information was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) and linear and multiple regression models. The accuracy of the models was evaluated using the coefficients of determination (r2) and the square root of the mean square error (RCCME). <strong>Results</strong>. The correlations expressed between LW, carcass characteristics and bone lengths were higher (r= 0.90 – 0.95; p= < 0.0001) compared to diameters (r= 0.38 – 0.72; p= < 0.0001). The regression equations for PV had a RCCME that varied from 186.86 to 197.70 g using LR-C and LF. While for the PCC it presented RCCME from 130.4 to 138.58 g with LH, LR-C and DH. Regarding the anatomical cuts, the progressive order of rear, middle and front using LF and LH was RCCME= 21.66 to 25.67. The LF and LH explained 92 and 91% of the variation of the PV and PCC, although it decreased slightly in the anatomical cuts from 85 to 92%. <strong>Implications</strong>. The osteometry of the extremities reflects security in the application of equations to calculate general and particular data of body mass in the rabbit, this contribution of knowledge can be extrapolated for animal production and forensic veterinary studies. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. The close associations obtained between limb lengths (exception LT-P) with PV, PCC and anatomical cuts gave equations with high capacity to estimate these body changes of growing NZB rabbits.</p>

Veterinary and sanitary examination of deer and horse meat obtained with the traditional slaughter method in Yakutia.

One of the pressing issues in the Far North region is the problem of traditional slaughter of herding horses at horse farms and domestic reindeer in coral in sub-zero temperatures. To preserve meat of high sanitary quality, we have developed methodological guidelines "Rules for killing deer in corals and horses at horse farms, in the traditional way in relation to the territory of Yakutia." Yakutia has vast areas that are most often used only as agricultural land or pastures for horses, and in the tundra part as pastures for deer. At the same time, the transport and communication scheme in these territories is completely absent. Which, of course, makes it impossible or resource-costly to create a slaughter shop in the tundra or at a remote conebase. The natural-climatic and regional features of horse breeding and reindeer husbandry in the Far North create certain difficulties in organizing slaughter shops for herd horses at horse farms and domestic reindeer in corals. The technology of slaughtering animals at slaughtering sites includes: stunning, slaughter and exsanguination of livestock, skin shooting, separation of the head, lower parts of the limbs, removal of internal organs, separation (sawing) of carcasses into half-ears or quarters, cleaning and weighing. Traditional slaughter of deer in corals and horses in conebases in Yakutia is carried out with the onset of cold weather, when a stable snow cover is formed and the ambient temperature reaches -18?S- 20?S. The purpose of our scientific research was to prove the safety of meat and slaughter products obtained by the traditional method in slaughter sites in the open air. To do this, we set the tasks of conducting a complete veterinary and sanitary study of meat obtained in the traditional way, including environmental indicators.

Suicide prevention in veterinary workplaces study launched.

Suicide prevention in veterinary workplaces study launched.

Assessment of age, gender, and anxiety on ECG waveform morphology in a large population of domestic dogs.

Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of death in the western world and this incidence increases in the elderly population. With aging, there are physiologic changes to the cardiac structure secondary to adipose tissue deposition, calcification of valve leaflets and changes in the structure of the heart including atrial remodeling. Such changes can make the myocardium more susceptible to stress leading to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the aging population. Studies in healthy humans have shown that these structural and molecular changes in the heart are manifested as changes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). Using animal models, similar ECG changes have been found in guinea pigs, rabbits, and mice. No veterinary study has specifically evaluated if comparable aging changes occur in canine species. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 12,026 ECGs from apparently healthy dogs were obtained and evaluated. Age was observed to have both linear and non-linear associations with multiple ECG variables, including P wave amplitude and duration, R amplitude and QRS duration. This study confirmed that, like humans, there may be ECG changes secondary to normal physiological cardiac aging. Further studies are warranted to confirm and elaborate on these findings as canines may be a useful model for cardiac aging in humans.

Computer optimization of conductive gels for electrochemotherapy

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) requires covering the entire tumor and safe margins with a suitable pulsed electric field (PEF). The PEF distribution depends on the biological and electrical parameters. The biological tissue may have diffractive geometry with non-linear conductivity behavior due to electroporation. That characteristic may provoke ECT-insufficient electric field regions, also known as blind spots. The conductive gels can fill holes and bumps, being a tool to homogenize the electric field. We executed an in vitro vegetal tissue experiment to validate a numerical model under different gels conditions. We used a study case in silico experiment to investigate gel influence on PEF distribution and electrical current. We propose a case-oriented methodology to optimize the gel during the ECT pre-treatment. Results show that the optimized gel completely treats a region of interest while avoiding unnecessary current increase and damage to healthy tissue by over treatment. The optimized gel conductivity may be lower than the previously reported (0.5 to 1 S/m) and may be in the range of the commercially available gels. For a veterinary mastocytoma exophytic nodule ECT case study, using needles electrode, the 0.2 S/m gel is the optimum gel.

Efficacy of Chondroprotective Food Supplements Based on Collagen Hydrolysate and Compounds Isolated from Marine Organisms.

Osteoarthritis belongs to the most common joint diseases in humans and animals and shows increased incidence in older patients. The bioactivities of collagen hydrolysates, sulfated glucosamine and a special fatty acid enriched dog-food were tested in a dog patient study of 52 dogs as potential therapeutic treatment options in early osteoarthritis. Biophysical, biochemical, cell biological and molecular modeling methods support that these well-defined substances may act as effective nutraceuticals. Importantly, the applied collagen hydrolysates as well as sulfated glucosamine residues from marine organisms were strongly supported by both an animal model and molecular modeling of intermolecular interactions. Molecular modeling of predicted interaction dynamics was evaluated for the receptor proteins MMP-3 and ADAMTS-5. These proteins play a prominent role in the maintenance of cartilage health as well as innate and adapted immunity. Nutraceutical data were generated in a veterinary clinical study focusing on mobility and agility. Specifically, key clinical parameter (MMP-3 and TIMP-1) were obtained from blood probes of German shepherd dogs with early osteoarthritis symptoms fed with collagen hydrolysates. Collagen hydrolysate, a chondroprotective food supplement was examined by high resolution NMR experiments. Molecular modeling simulations were used to further characterize the interaction potency of collagen fragments and glucosamines with protein receptor structures. Potential beneficial effects of collagen hydrolysates, sulfated glycans (i.e., sulfated glucosamine from crabs and mussels) and lipids, especially, eicosapentaenoic acid (extracted from fish oil) on biochemical and physiological processes are discussed here in the context of human and veterinary medicine.

Prospective Evaluation of Local Sustained Release of Celecoxib in Dogs with Low Back Pain.

Back pain affects millions globally and in 40% of the cases is attributed to intervertebral disc degeneration. Oral analgesics are associated with adverse systemic side-effects and insufficient pain relief. Local drug delivery mitigates systemic effects and accomplishes higher local dosing. Clinical efficacy of intradiscally injected celecoxib (CXB)-loaded polyesteramide microspheres (PEAMs) was studied in a randomized prospective double-blinded placebo controlled veterinary study. Client-owned dog patients suffering from back pain were treated with CXB-loaded (n = 20) or unloaded PEAMs (“placebo”) (n = 10) and evaluated by clinical examination, gait analysis, owners’ questionnaires, and MRI at 6 and 12 weeks follow-up. At 6 and 12 weeks, CXB-treated dogs experienced significantly less pain interference with their daily life activities compared to placebo. The risk ratio for treatment success was 1.90 (95% C.I. 1.24–2.91, p = 0.023) at week 6 and 1.95 (95% C.I. 1.10–3.45, p = 0.036) at week 12. The beneficial effects of CXB-PEAMs were more pronounced for the subpopulation of male dogs and those with no Modic changes in MRI at inclusion in the study; disc protrusion did not affect the outcome. It remains to be determined whether intradiscal injection of CXB-PEAMs, in addition to analgesic properties, has the ability to halt the degenerative process in the long term or restore the disc.