Results suggested that multiple successive days of endurance exercise resulted in mild aberrations in serum chemistry variables in conditioned sled dogs. Changes likely reflected the metabolic stresses of prolonged endurance exercise as well as dietary composition. Hypoglobulinemia in resting, conditioned sled dogs may reflect the immunosuppressive or catabolic effects of intense endurance training.

In vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic measurement of the citrate concentration in semen or expressed prostatic secretions outperforms prostate specific antigen testing for detecting prostate cancer.

Hyperventilation-induced bronchoconstriction (HIB) is a component of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) believed to result from the penetration of unconditioned air into the lung periphery. We used a canine model of EIA to examine the effect of hyperventilation on airway surface fluid (ASF) volume and osmolality, and to determine if the observed kinetics support the hypothesis that hyperventilation-induced changes in ASF osmolality initiate bronchoconstriction. Exposure of sublobar airways to dry air at baseline insufflation resulted in stable measurements of ASF volume, ASF osmolality, and peripheral airway resistance (Rp). Baseline insufflation of warm humidified air increased ASF volume, but did not alter ASF osmolality. Hyperventilation challenge with warm humidified air (WAC) increased Rp and ASF volume, but decreased ASF osmolality. Dry air challenge (DAC) increased Rp, ASF volume, and ASF osmolality. ASF osmolality during DAC was markedly higher when compared with posthyperventilation values. Post-DAC changes in (Delta) ASF volume and osmolality were poorly correlated with the development of HIB. In contrast to Delta ASF after DAC, Delta ASF osmolality during DAC was strongly correlated with HIB, and tended to be inversely related to Delta ASF volume. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that changes in airway osmolality during hyperventilation initiate peripheral airway constriction.

Clinical outcomes appear to be similar with the laser and incisional techniques. Regarding surgical time and ease, laser resection of the soft palate appears advantageous. Tracheostomy is not warranted in dogs that have uncomplicated surgeries and recoveries.

Background: Omeprazole and famotidine both reduce severity of exercise-induced gastritis, but administering famotidine is easier than administering omeprazole during racing competition.Hypothesis: Famotidine is more efficacious than no treatment in reducing severity of exercise-induced gastritis; and highdose famotidine is more efficacious than omeprazole in reducing severity of exercise-induced gastritis.Animals: Experiment 1: Randomized placebo-controlled study, 36 sled dogs (3-8 years); Experiment 2: Randomized positive-control study, 52 sled dogs (2-8 years).Methods: Experiment 1: Equal numbers of dogs randomly assigned to famotidine (20 mg q24h) or no treatment groups. Gastroscopy was performed 24 hours after the dogs ran 330 miles. Mucosal appearance was blindly scored by previously described scoring system. Experiment 2: Equal numbers of dogs randomly assigned to omeprazole (20 mg q24h) or high-dose famotidine (40 mg q12h) groups. Gastroscopy was performed 48 hours before and 24 hours after the dogs ran 300 miles. Mucosal appearance was blindly scored by previously described scoring system.Results: Famotidine reduced the prevalence of clinically relevant, exercise-induced gastric lesions compared with no treatment (7/16 versus 11/16, P 5 .031). Compared with high-dose famotidine, omeprazole significantly decreased the severity (0.4 versus 1.2, P 5 .0002) and prevalence (2/23 versus 7/21, P 5 .049) of gastric lesions.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Although famotidine provides some benefit in the prevention of exercise-induced gastric lesions, omeprazole is superior to famotidine in preventing gastritis in dogs running 300 miles. Routine administration of omeprazole is recommended to prevent stress-associated gastric disease in exercising and racing Alaskan sled dogs.