Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine in dogs following administration of a high-concentration formulation of buprenorphine. Study design: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. Animals: A total of six healthy male intact Beagle dogs, 9–13 months of age and weighing 10.3 ± 1.4 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Methods: Dogs were randomized to be administered buprenorphine (0.12 mg kg−1; Simbadol, 1.8 mg mL−1) via the intravenous (lateral saphenous) or subcutaneous (dorsal interscapular) route followed by the alternative route of administration after a 14 day interval. Blood was sampled before administration and at set times up to 72 hours after injection. Plasma buprenorphine concentration was measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: A 3-compartment model with zero or biphasic rapid and slow first order input in (intravenous or subcutaneous data, respectively) and first-order elimination from the central compartment best fitted the data. The rapid first order input accounted for 63% of the dosage absorption. Typical values (% interindividual variability) for the three compartment volumes were 900 (33), 2425 (not estimated) and 6360 (28) mL kg−1. The metabolic and two distribution clearances were 25.7 (21), 107.5 (74) and 5.7 (61) mL minute−1 kg−1. The absorption half-life for the fast absorption phase was 8.9 minutes with a 0.7 (103) minute delay. The absorption half-life for the slow absorption phase was 347 minutes with a 226 (42) minutes delay. Median (range) bioavailability calculated from noncompartmental analysis was 143 (80–239) %. Calculated terminal half-life was 963 minutes. Conclusions and clinical relevance: The high-concentration formulation of buprenorphine administered subcutaneously had a large volume of distribution and a rapid absorption phase followed by slower, delayed absorption. The high estimate of bioavailability should be interpreted with caution as values above 100% are most commonly related to experimental issues. / Master of Science / Opioids are ever-increasingly difficult to obtain for veterinary usage, although there is an FDA-approved and veterinary-specific formulation of buprenorphine (Simbadol) commercially available. Although only approved in cats, it has been used off-label in dogs due to its availability, despite minimal empirical evidence for its usage. Design: Six male beagle dogs were utilized in a randomized crossover study to evaluate the plasma concentrations of buprenorphine after intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Methodology: All dogs were anesthetized for central venous catheter placement. Following administration of the dosage (intravenous or subcutaneous), whole blood was sampled at set time points from one minute to three days. Blood was centrifuged and plasma removed for analysis of buprenorphine concentration, allowing pharmacokinetic modeling and creation of time-concentration curves. Results: Side effects were mild and associated with sedation. Appetite was transiently decreased in multiple dogs. A biphasic absorption model was determined from the subcutaneous data, with a rapid first phase accounting for the majority of absorption and a slower second phase occurring several hours later. Conclusions: The high-concentration formulation of buprenorphine administered subcutaneously resulted in a long terminal half-life and high estimate of bioavailability, although the latter should be interpreted cautiously. Relevance: The present study showed that the high-concentration formulation of buprenorphine is absorbed from subcutaneous administration in dogs with mild side effects. Further study is warranted on this formulation in dogs.

The protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. lamblia, G. intestinalis) can cause diarrhea in humans, cats, dogs and other animals. Giardia duodenalis consists of eight assemblages (A-H) that are morphologically identical but genetically distinct. Assemblages C-H are generally species-specific, while A and B infect people and animals and are considered potentially zoonotic. Most canine and feline isolates belong to their respective species-specific assemblages, but isolates of assemblages A and B (predominantly found in humans) have also been recovered from dogs and cats. Diagnosis of infection has historically been by morphologic techniques (observing trophozoites on direct fecal smears or cysts on centrifugal zinc sulfate fecal flotations), and it is currently recommended to use morphologic techniques in conjunction with a sensitive and specific antigen test. Diagnosis is important for management of clinical giardiasis in cats and dogs and also to identify the assemblage present to determine its zoonotic potential. In my dissertation research I evaluated diagnostic techniques in use for companion animals, including centrifugal zinc sulfate fecal flotation, antigen tests optimized for use in dogs and cats, direct immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). I showed that when compared to the reference IFA the veterinary optimized antigen tests performed similarly and had no statistically significant differences in sensitivity or specificity when combined with a centrifugal zinc sulfate fecal flotation test. Sensitivity and specificity by comparison to IFA was ≥ 82% and ≥ 90%, respectively, for all diagnostic tests evaluated in dogs and cats. When analyzed via Bayesian analysis sensitivity and specificity for all diagnostic tests was ≥83% and ≥95%, respectively. The Bayesian analysis also showed that using the direct immunofluorescent assay (IFA) as the reference test was supported. I also evaluated PCR as a molecular diagnostic technique to detect Giardia infections in dogs with soft stool or diarrhea (mimicking clinical signs of infection). I utilized both conventional and real time PCR assays and compared the results to the recommended method of diagnosis, the zinc sulfate fecal flotation combined with an immunoassay test. I found that agreement between PCR and microscopy combined with an immunoassay was poor to fair and varied depending on the molecular parameters and size of the DNA target underscoring the complexity of test evaluation and molecular diagnostics for Giardia. I also evaluated cats from a varied population (owned, shelter, feral) in Virginia to determine to what extent (if any) they were infected with potentially zoonotic assemblages of Giardia. The species-specific assemblage F was detected in 57% of the samples and assemblage A, which is considered potentially zoonotic, was recovered from 32% of the sampleI. In 11% both assemblages F and A were detected. We showed for the first time that cats in Virginia are infected with potentially zoonotic assemblages of Giardia. / PHD

This study compared lameness and post-operative recovery in animals undergoing arthroscopy or arthrotomy of the cubital joint. It was a prospective, randomized, experimental study in which fourteen mature, healthy dogs were evaluated. Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment groups with seven undergoing arthrotomy and seven undergoing arthroscopy of the left cubital joint. Dogs were evaluated using kinetic gait assessment, subjective evaluation scores, and cubital joint range of motion (ROM). Evaluations were performed prior to surgery and on days 2, 4, 7, 15, 22, and 29 after surgery. Preoperative radiographs of both cubital joints and postoperative radiographs of the operated limb were evaluated. Significant differences in peak vertical force and vertical impulse force were not observed between surgery groups (p=0.88 and 0.49, respectively). Joint ROM was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.09 for flexion and 0.91 for extension). For all dogs, joint ROM and radiographic evaluations remained within normal range throughout the study period. Additionally, significant differences in subjective lameness scores, weight bearing and pain were not observed between groups (p³ 0.19 for all variables). Therefore, post-operative morbidity may not be an important factor when making a decision to perform either arthroscopy or arthrotomy for exploration of the medial aspect of the canine cubital joint. / Master of Science

The current study investigated concept formation in domestic dogs, specifically that of a toy concept. The dog's differential responding (retrieval vs. non-retrieval) to two sets of stimuli suggested a toy concept. Differential responding occurred from the very first trial, indicating that the concept had been formed in the natural environment, not during the experiment. It was hypothesized that a common response may be responsible for the emergence of the class in the natural environment. The results demonstrated that it was possible to expand the class by adding previously non-retrieved objects to the toy class through a common response. It was also shown that the toy concept passed the more stringent criterion (transfer of function test) required validating it as a concept.

This thesis studies the performance of search dogs trained to locate the live scent (live only dogs) and compares their performance to that of search dogs trained to locate either live or cadaver scent depending on the verbal cue given by the handler (cross-trained dogs).

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Call number: LD2668 .T4 1948 M67 / Master of Science

LD2668 .T4 1954 E9 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1958 M37

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1960 W57