Clinical pathology ofGreyhounds and other sighthounds

Abstract

Owing to the development of Greyhounds as racing sighthounds, these dogs have acquired unique physiologic adaptations that distinguish them from other breeds. Reference intervals for many analytes in retired racing Greyhounds (RRGs) differ from those of other breeds; most of the hematologic differences have also been described in other sighthounds. In this review, we provide a survey of the literature on clinical pathology of Greyhounds and other sighthounds and results of laboratory testing, including analysis of CBCs, biochemical profiles, coagulation tests, and blood gases, in RRGs at The Ohio State University. Major clinicopathologic differences in this breed include higher RBC mass, creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, activities of hepatic enzymes, and concentration of cardiac troponin, as well as lower WBC, neutrophil, and platelet counts, thromboelastographic values, and concentrations of serum haptoglobin, total globulins, and T4.

Serum protein electrophoresis in Galgos

“…Ilkiw et al (1989) suggested that hypoglobulinemia could be the result of plasma volume expansion associated with training; however, this theory does not explain why hypoglobulinemia is also present in sighthounds without training (Pape et al 1984). Nowadays, an adaptive mechanism to decrease serum viscosity in these breeds with higher haematocrit and blood viscosity is considered the most likely cause of low globulin concentrations in sighthounds (Bodey and Rampling 1998;Fayos et al 2005;Zaldívar-López et al 2011a). Nevertheless, the globulin fractions involved in the lower total globulin concentration do not seem to be the same in each sighthound breed; while in Greyhounds the lower total globulin concentration seems to be related to lower α-and β-globulin fractions (Fayos et al 2005); in Galgos in our study, the lower total globulin concentration was related with lower α2-and γ-globulins.…”

“…Healthy Greyhounds have low total serum globulin concentrations due to low α-and β-globulin fractions (Fayos et al 2005). It was previously hypothesised that, because of the apparent shared ancestry (Parker et al 2007), laboratorial differences in Greyhounds might be extrapolated to other sighthound breeds (Zaldívar-López et al 2011a). However, recent studies suggest that the extrapolation of the Greyhound clinicopathological features to other sighthound breeds could lead to misdiagnoses (Uhrikova et al 2013;Sheerer et al 2013).…”

“…The underlying mechanism for the lower globulin concentration in sighthounds has not been determined. Different theories for justify hypoglobulinemia have been suggested, such as the climate, physiological conditions (e.g., pregnancy, lactation or hormone levels) or environmental conditions (stress, diet or exercise); however, globulin levels remained low in the different studies regardless of these factors (Heneghan 1977;Fayos et al 2005;Zaldívar-López et al 2011a). Ilkiw et al (1989) suggested that hypoglobulinemia could be the result of plasma volume expansion associated with training; however, this theory does not explain why hypoglobulinemia is also present in sighthounds without training (Pape et al 1984).…”

“…Previously, it was hypothesised that specific laboratorial differences in Greyhounds might be extrapolated to other sighthound breeds (Zaldívar-López et al 2011a). However, recent studies suggest that each sighthound breed presents its own specific laboratory features, and the extrapolation of Greyhound clinicopathological information to other sighthounds could lead to misdiagnoses (Uhrikova et al 2013;Sheerer et al 2013;Mesa-Sanchez et al 2014).…”

Evaluation of frequency and intensity of asymptomatic anisocytosis in the Japanese dog breeds Shiba, Akita, and Hokkaido

“…Changes in the haematology for different dog breeds have been documented. Separate referential values were established for Greyhounds, which have higher haematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV) and haemoglobin (HGB) concentration and a lower total platelet count (PLT) and total white blood cell (WBC) count compared to other breeds (Porter and Canaday 1971;Sullivan et al 1994;Guyton and Hall 2006;Campora et al 2011;Zaldivar-Lopez et al 2011). Physiological macrocytosis was diagnosed in miniature breeds and standard poodles (Schalm 1976).…”