2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Eating decreased the time of hospitalization following intestinal surgery in dogs. Early enteral feeding should be encouraged. Metoclopramide was associated with prolonged hospitalization. Its use suggested real or anticipated POI in this study. The use of prokinetics in POI is contested in human medicine: they do not consistently decrease hospitalization, though they may improve feeding tolerance. Resection and anastomosis is expected to lengthen hospitalization. The period from birth through weaning represents a critical period in puppy development. Body composition during this preweaning period has not been well-studied because sedation was previously required for analysis. Quantitative Magnetic Resonance (QMR) is a noninvasive technology that does not require anesthesia and has been validated as a method to assess body fat, lean, and total body water (TBW) in companion animals. The objective of this study was to determine if QMR can be used to measure body composition in puppies during the preweaning period. Healthy newborn puppies (Labrador retrievers and beagles; n = 16/breed) were selected for this study. Body weights were collected and QMR scans were performed on awake and unrestrained puppies within 24 hours of birth, and then at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Differences in weight, percent lean, body fat, TBW, and lean mass hydration were assessed. Body weight was higher for Labrador retrievers at all timepoints (P < 0.05). Body fat percentage was significantly higher in beagle puppies at birth, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age (P < 0.05). Although lean mass percentage was similar between breeds at birth, Labrador retrievers had significantly higher proportion at Weeks 2 and 4 (P < 0.05). No breed differences were observed in TBW percentage at any time period, but beagles had significantly higher lean mass hydration at birth (P < 0.05). These results indicate QMR can be used to detect differences in body composition during the critical preweaning period. Further research evaluating differences in body composition among dog breeds during growth is required. A retrospective study was performed to describe the underlying diseases, clinicopathologic abnormalities and prognosis associated with hypocholesterolemia in a population of cats presenting to a tertiary referral hospital between 2004 and 2016. Case inclusion criteria were: hypocholesterolemia, physical exam, CBC, serum biochemistry and urinalysis. When available, serum total T4, retroviral tests, imaging reports and necropsy reports were reviewed. For analysis, cats were categorized according to their disease by body system or etiology: neoplastic, infectious, sterile inflammatory, hepatobiliary, cardiac, gastrointestinal, malnutrition, toxin, neurologic and unknown.