2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

No significant difference was found in the serum cholesterol concentrations between diagnosis categories. No significant difference was found between the serum cholesterol concentrations of survivors and nonsurvivors. Hypocholesterolemia did not appear to be associated with survival in this study. In a previous study, Enterococcus faecium strain SF-68 (Forti-Flora Ã’ , Purina) was fed to puppies from weaning to 1 year of age and differences in some immune responses were detected when compared to a control group. In that study, the first data collection point was after 10 weeks of supplementation and so it is unknown if any potentially beneficial effects may occur earlier. In addition, whether the probiotic induces changes in immune responses of adult dogs is unknown and since the first study was performed, there have been advances in techniques for evaluating the immune system of dogs. The objective of the current study was evaluate select immune responses of adult dogs before and after supplementation with E. faecium strain SF-68.