Background: Bleeding disorders in patients with normal coagulation test results are frequently reported in Greyhounds. The purpose of this study was to compare Greyhounds to non-Greyhounds by thromboelastography (TEG).Hypothesis: TEG parameters in Greyhounds are different from those in non-Greyhounds. Animals: Forty-three healthy dogs (28 Greyhounds and 15 non-Greyhounds) based on the results of physical examination, CBC, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and platelet count.Materials and Methods: Recalcified citrated native TEGs were performed in both groups; data were compared using Student's, Mann-Whitney, and Pearson's statistical tests.Results: In Greyhounds, mean AE SD were as follows: R-time 4.3 AE 1.7 minutes, K-time 3.8 AE 1.4 minutes, angle (a) 50.0 AE 8.01, maximum amplitude (MA) 47.6 AE 5.6 mm, clot strength (G) 4,647 AE 1,097 dyn/cm

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a polypeptide found specifically in cardiac muscle tissue that has been used as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of cardiomyopathy. Increases in cTnI are associated with myocardial pathologic processes. However, high serum cTnI concentrations have been observed in normal Greyhounds.Hypothesis: We hypothesized that Greyhounds have cTnI concentrations higher than non-Greyhound dogs, and that a separate reference range should be established for Greyhounds.Animals: Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from a group of 20 healthy Greyhound blood donors. Methods: Analysis of serum cTnI was performed with an immunoassay system with a detection level of 0.01 ng/mL, as described previously. The Greyhound values were compared with 2 groups of Boxers with and without arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and to a group of non-Boxer control dogs from a previous study.Results: The mean cTnI concentration in Greyhounds was significantly higher (P o .0001) than that in non-Greyhound control dogs, although not significantly different from normal Boxers (P 5 .50), or Boxers with ARVC (P 5 .58). Greyhound serum cTnI concentrations were in the range found in Boxers with ARVC. The proposed reference range for cTnI in Greyhounds is 0.05-0.16 ng/mL.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Greyhounds have a reference range for serum cTnI concentrations that differs from that of other previously published reference ranges for dogs of other breeds. Until a broader database and more precise reference range can be established, caution should be exercised in interpreting serum cTnI concentrations in Greyhounds with suspected cardiac disease.

Background: Collection of 50 mL of blood (standard unit) in cats is a common procedure. There are several studies on the health status of donors, but to our knowledge there are no reports on the effects of blood collection on the feline donor.Hypothesis: Collection of a standard unit of blood from cats does not significantly change arterial blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), PCV, and heart rate (HR) in healthy blood donor cats.Animals: Twenty-six healthy blood donor cats (6 spayed females and 20 castrated males). Methods: An oscillometric method was used to measure MAP, SAP, DAP, and to quantify HR before and after blood collection; PCV was obtained before and immediately after blood collection.Results: Despite a significant decrease (P , .05) in all variables (ie, BP, PCV, HR) after blood collection, no adverse events were observed.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The collection of a unit of blood for transfusion from healthy donor cats weighing more than 5 kg appears to be safe, but this procedure leads to a decrease in arterial BP, PCV, and HR.

We evaluated the prevalence of selected vector-borne diseases in 131 dogs in an animal shelter in central Spain using point-of-care assays (SNAP 4DX and SNAP Leishmania; IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME). The SNAP 4DX detects Dirofilaria immitis (Di) antigen and antibodies against Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), and Anaplasma phagocytophylum (Aph); the SNAP Leishmania kit detects antibodies against Leishmania infantum (Li). Dogs were classified as healthy or sick based on physical examination, complete blood counts, and serum chemistry profiles. The prevalence of positive test results was as follows: Ec, 5.3% (n = 7); Aph, 19.0% (n = 25); Bb, 0%; Di, 0%; and Li, 5.3% (n = 7). Four dogs (3%) were coexposed to Ec and Aph, and three dogs (2.3%) were coexposed to Aph and Li. There was no statistically significant correlation between positive serology and clinical status (sick vs. healthy) or hematologic/biochemical abnormalities. The prevalence of Aph was the highest and is in agreement with a recent report in a dog shelter in northwestern Spain. These point-of-care assays may be more valuable as epidemiologic than as clinical tools.

The collection of a unit of blood for transfusion from healthy donor cats weighing more than 5 kg appears to be safe, but this procedure leads to a decrease in arterial BP, PCV, and HR.