• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2023

Sarcopenia and myosteatosis can increase the risk of adverse effects in dogs and humans. However, such imaging study results for evaluating sarcopenia and myosteatosis in small dogs have not yet been available. The objective of this study was to assess age-related changes according to the breed in epaxial muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration using CT to evaluate sarcopenia and age-related myosteatosis in small breed dogs. In 144 dogs (92 Maltese dogs, 27 Poodle dogs, and 25 Shih Tzu dogs), Hounsfield Unit (HU) values and CSA of left epaxial muscle were measured at the thirteenth thoracic vertebral level on non-contrast transverse CT images. Differences in HU values and CSA according to age and breed were analyzed. The geriatric group (≥12 years) had significantly lower HU values of epaxial muscle than mature adult group (2 to 6 years) of all breeds. The geriatric group had significantly lower CSA of epaxial muscle than mature adult and senior groups (7 to 11 years) of Maltese dogs. HU values of epaxial muscle were not significantly different among all age groups of all breeds. Maltese dogs had significantly lower CSA of epaxial muscle than Poodle and Shih Tzu dogs in all age groups. Results of this study showed that as age increased in small breed dogs, muscle mass and density decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1456-1471
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• 2018

This article discusses the nutritional requirements, reviews senior or geriatric dog nutritional evaluation, and then addresses some common nutrition-related problems in older dogs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Physiologic change associated with aging, essential nutrients and their diseases in senior or geriatric dog subjects. According to a 2002 market research, 30% to 40% of dogs raisedin the United States are 7 years of age. In Europe the number of dogs considered to be "senior or geriatric" (>7 years of age) increased by approximately 50% between 1983 and 1995. A 2012 e-mail survey of 50,347 respondents revealed that 33.2% of dogs were 6 to 10 years of age and 14.7% were older than 11 years in the United States. The average life expectancy of dogs raised in the home is affected by health care, aging and nutrition.And, the aging process is influenced by breed size, genetics, nutrition, environment, and other factors. Although many pets remain active and youthful well into their teens, most dogs start to slow down and may show signs of aging beginning as early as 5 or 6 years of age. Improvements in the control of various diseases and in the nutrition of dogs have resulted in a gradual increase in the average lifespan of companion dogs. Nutritional goals for aging dogs include supporting health and vitality, preventing the onset or slowing the progression of age-related health disorders, and enhancing the dog's quality of life and, if possible, life expectancy. Aging brings with its physiologicchanges. Some changes are obvious, such as whitening of hair, a general decline in body and coat condition, and failing senses including sight and hearing. Other changes are less obvious, however, and these include alterations in the physiology of the digestive tract, immune system, kidneys, and other organs. Nutritional requirements can change with age. In addition, many diseases common in older dogs may be nutrient-sensitive, meaning that diet can play an important role in the management of the condition.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.408-413
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• 2023

The incidence of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a prominent geriatric disease, is increasing because of the extended lifespan of companion animals. Various complementary therapies have been proposed for the management of CCDS. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of the Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Fifteen dogs with CDS were included, and four to five drops of Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ, composed of herbal extracts, were applied around the dorsal neck of all dogs twice daily for 1-3 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the CCDS scale, and serum β-amyloid oligomer concentrations were measured before and after administration of the extract. The CCDS scale score significantly decreased after administration in dogs with CDS (p = 0.0313), compared to pre-administration levels. Although the serum β-amyloid oligomer concentration decreased after administration, the change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A notable decrease was observed between pre- and post-administration in dogs with β-amyloid levels >300 pg/mL (p = 0.0313). The laboratory results showed no remarkable adverse effects of the extract. This study suggests that Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ extract could be an adjunctive treatment for dogs with CDS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.161-161
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• 2008

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a clinical technique that therapeutically removes toxic solutes from body fluids and normalizes endogenous solutes whose aberrant concentrations disrupt normal physiology. This study retrospectively evaluated clinical outcomes and complications of PD in 20 dogs with renal failure. Blood works (total count of red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), the serum biochemical, and electrolyte values related to renal insufficiency) and complications associated with peritoneal dialysis, and clinical outcomes were recorded before and after PD. Additionally, creatinine reduction ratio (CRR) and urea nitrogen reduction ratio (URR) were calculated for evaluating the efficacy of PD. PD resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in 19 dogs, while a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in creatinine concentration in 17 dogs. The complications of PD were hypoalbuminemia (12/20, 60%), anemia (10/20, 50%), subcutaneous dialysate leakage (9/20, 45%), bacterial peritonitis (6/20, 30%), dialysate retention (5/20, 25%) and limb edema (4/20, 20%). This study demonstrated that PD was effective in reducing the magnitude of azotemia in dogs with renal failure especially in acute phase, although the complication rate was high but manageable.