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To identify serum biomarkers differentiating dogs with and without osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsFollowing institutional ethical approval, 24 dogs (27.2-48.5 kg, 3.6-13.6 years) previously diagnosed with OA affecting different joints with varying severity were included in the study. Sixteen dogs (16.2-36 kg, 2.0-6.7 years) without detectable orthopaedic pathology were included as clinically healthy controls. Other disorders were ruled out by thorough clinical examinations and standard hematological and biochemical analyses. Serum was stored at -80 o C until analysis of five biomarkers using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays: hyaloronic acid (HA), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), procollagen type IIA (PIIANP), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and collagen type-2 cleavage (C2C). Medians and confidence intervals were calculated and differences between groups were tested for significance using Mann Whitney tests (p<0.05). ResultsHigher concentrations of C2C and MMP-13 were observed in dogs with OA (median, [95% CIs] C2C: 23.7 ng/ml [18.2; 45.2 ng/ml], MMP-13: 0.70 ng/ml [0.51;1.09 ng/ml]) compared to clinically healthy dogs (C2C: 12.3 ng/ml [10.1; 35.3 ng/ml], MMP 13: 0.34 ng/ml [0.27; 0.88 ng/ml]), whereas lower concentrations of PIIANP were observed in dogs with OA (11.6 ng/ml [10.7; 18.02 ng/ml] compared to clinically healthy dogs (15.8 ng/ml [11.7; 31.7 ng/ml]). Observed differences were not significant. Statement (conclusions)None of the 5 biomarkers measured in the present study could differentiate heterogeneous groups of dogs with and without OA. Further studies are recommended to investigate possible diagnostic potentials of C2C, MMP-13 or PIIANP in subgroups of dogs with OA.

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An 8‐year‐old female intact Yorkshire terrier was presented with a 1‐year recurrent urinary tract infection. Abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, positive contrast retrograde urethrography and cystoscopy were performed, revealing a tubular structure continuous with the ventral wall of the bladder connected with the urethra by an ostium ventral to the internal urethral orifice. Excision of the tubular structure was performed. Histopathological results were consistent with urinary bladder tissue. One year after surgery no clinical signs were reported. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of urinary bladder duplication in the coronal plane with a single urethra in a dog.