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Chronic bronchitis (CB) is a long-term inflammatory condition that affects the pulmonary or respiratory system. This condition is irreversible and is slowly progressive. This condition may also be known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The bones of fetal puppies and kittens become mineralized (calcified) at around day 45 of their pregnancy. Radiographs taken of pregnant pets after day 45 of gestation will usually reveal whether or not the animal is pregnant because the radiographs will generally clearly reveal the skeletons of the fetuses.
Before this 45 day stage of the gestation, pregnancy diagnosis using radiography is generally inaccurate. The vet may get a subjective impression of an enlarged uterus, but this does not necessarily indicate that the animal is pregnant (other disease conditions besides pregnancy can produce enlargement of the uterus).
The advantages of abdominal radiography as a way of diagnosing cat pregnancy:
The FDA announced earlier today that ilunocitinib tablets (Zenrelia; Elanco) has received its approval. The latest drug from Elanco will be used to control pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis as well as controlling atopic dermatitis in canines at least a year of age.
This ilunocitinib tablet is an immunosuppressant that is given to patients orally once a day, with or without food. The drug contains a nonselective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor and is the second JAK inhibitor the FDA has approved for this indication.1
“Today is a historic day for Elanco with our first of several expected entries into the fast-growing global canine dermatology market, bringing veterinarians and pet owners a highly effective new solution that got more dogs back to normal levels of itch in a head-to-head study with the current JAK inhibitor on the market2*,” Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health, said in a news release.2
“We are excited to offer veterinarians and pet owners a solution that can relieve the burdens of itch, while also becoming just the second animal health company to offer veterinarians a comprehensive portfolio, including parasiticides, vaccines, pain and other therapeutics, and now, dermatology,” he added.
Elanco conducted a head-to-head noninferiority study as a way to compare the safety of oclacitinib tablets (for canine itch relief) and ilunocitinib tablets for submission in the European Union. The study was randomized and double blind with 338 client-owned canine patients that had atopic dermatitis. The study was conducted over 25 study sites within 4 countries. The findings displayed that a single dose of ilunocitinib tablets daily is at least as effective as the market incumbent JAK inhibitor at the primary end point on Day 28.
The safety of ilunocitinib tablets was demonstrated in multiple clinical and toxicity safety studies. According to Elanco, the drug’s required margin on the safety study was conducted in health dogs given placebos, 1, 2, 3, or 5 times the label dose daily for 6 months. All the dogs completed the study with no serious adverse effects.
The FDA shared in their release that ilunocitinib tablets are safe and effective when used in according to the label, but the product labeling has a boxed warning stating that dogs should not be vaccinated at least 28 days before and after treatment with the drug. This warning is because of fatal vaccine-induced disease and inadequate immune response to vaccines.
“Zenrelia has been demonstrated to be safe and highly effective in a number of studies,” Mara Tugel, DVM, dermatology medical strategic lead at Elanco, said in the release.1 “We recognize that veterinarians need clinically relevant data to guide treatment choices, and plan to pursue additional studies to evaluate vaccine response in Zenrelia-treated dogs. We will continue to work to improve the label over time.”
Ilunocitinib tablets are only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian and will be available in scored tablets in 4 strengths: 4.8 mg, 6.4 mg, 8.5 mg, and 15 mg. Each tablet strength is available in 10 and 30 count blister packages and 90 count bottles.1 Veterinarians can now order ilunocitinib tablets and learn more at Zenreliaforvets.com.
On Friday, September 20, 2024, Elanco will hold a conference call at 8:00 AM EST to discuss this approval with the investment community and any other interested parties. The conference call will also have a live webcast that can be accessed through the link posted on Elanco’s website and a replay will be available on the site shortly after the completion of the call.
Products derived from cannabis are being marketed and sold to animal owners as remedies for everything from anxiety to allergies to atopic dermatitis. These products come in many formulations, such as tinctures or oils, treats and chews, pellets for large animals, capsules, and sometimes as food toppers or infused in foods such as peanut butter.
Limited research on the use of cannabis-derived products (CDPs) to treat various conditions in animals has been published, leaving data gaps.
On January 15, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a request for information (RFI) soliciting comments from practicing veterinarians related to the use of CDPs in animals. The focus of the RFI is on cannabidiol products and other products derived from hemp. The docket number is FDA-2024-N-5976.
The FDA regulates products containing cannabis or CDPs marketed as food or drugs. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, the nation’s first drug derived from cannabis, for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy in humans. Since then, the agency has approved three synthetic cannabis-related drug products: Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone) for humans.
The FDA is trying to better understand veterinarians’ experience related to the use of CDPs in their patients, such as:
The Federal Register notice sharing the RFI includes specific questions for veterinarians, among them are the following:
The FDA will fully consider all comments, including comments submitted anonymously. The comment period ends April 16.
Canine whipworm infection occurs after a dog has eaten an egg left in the soil or other contaminated environments. Although some infected canines may not show signs, diarrhea or soft stool with blood or mucus, as well as lethargy, weight loss, and dehydration, may be seen in other infected dogs.1
Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM, the Krull-Ewing professor of parasitology at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, identified parasites that commonly infect canines and expressed a need for comprehensive control strategies to address them, during an educational session at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, hosted by the North American Veterinary Community, in Orlando, Florida. The session included discussion on the prevalence, diagnosing, and concerns related to canine whipworm.2
“They can survive freezing. They can survive in the dirt for years, though they last 6-7 years or longer, still remain effective,” said Little.
In 2024, 0.4% of more than 13.7 million dogs—or 1 in [250]—tested positive for whipworm in the United States. A Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) map shows incidence of infection is higher in the US southeast with Kentucky and West Virginia having the highest prevalence.2,3
According to Little, older literature has shown that whipworm larvae require warmer temperatures and high humidity environmental conditions to develop. “It sort of explains, a little bit, some of the whipworm patterns that we've seen over the years.”
Citing a study she coauthored in 2020, Little said 300 dog parks across the US were used to collect fecal samples that were tested for whipworm. Like the CAPC map, prevalence was shown to be higher in dog parks in the southeastern US with 2% to 3% of tested canines reported positive for infection.4
“Whipworms are tricky to diagnose compared to hookworms and roundworms. They're way easier to diagnose than tape worms," said Little.
Little said that whipworms in dogs can cause blood loss, fluid loss, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Because they’re internal, they are seen by humans as eggs and in wood form.
“[Whipworm] eggs are one of the veterinary students’ favorite eggs to identify, because they're so clear and standard and readily recognized. We can find them in practice, but we also overlook a lot of them, and it depends on how you're doing fecal flotation and what solution is being used that influences sensitivity of detection,” said Little.
Passive fecal flotation is “very insensitive,” Little said. She recommends active centrifugal fecal flotation, ideally with a higher-gravity solution, such as a sugar solution.
“Now we have antigen tests as well, and that's why we're learning more that lower prevalence in the western US is real. The lower prevalence in pet dogs is real because they're also coming up antigen negative,” said Little.
PCR testing is also available for canine whipworms. However, Little said, the sensitivity of these tests compared to other diagnostic methods is unknown.
Whipworms are hardy, and persist in the environment once contamination has occurred.1,2 “[Once] you get whipworms in your backyard, you got whipworms, and so that's the reason we focus so hard on trying to make sure dogs don't have whipworms, because of that persistent contamination,” Little said.
Whipworm eggs must be in an environment for 9-12 days after an infected dog passes them to become larvae and infective to another dog. After being consumed by a dog, whipworm larvae can take up to 90 days to mature to egg-producing adulthood.1
Lifestyle plays a role in a dog’s risk of whipworm infection. “Did they go to the dog park? Were they a shelter dog, a rescue dog, a street dog, rehomed, she asked. “With whipworms, we're moving toward the recommendation on risk assessment, where we look at age. Younger dogs are more likely to be infected with parasites, in general.”
Canine whipworm can cause gastrointestinal damage, according to Little, but infection is preventable and treatable, and there is little resistance to drug therapies.2 Monthly parasite preventives are recommended as well as immediate removal of canine feces to prevent environmental contamination. Pet owners should also use caution when visiting dog parks and other locations where canines frequent.1
Additionally, this parasite is not considered zoonotic. “There's not as much concern about having constant, recurrent infection,” said Little.
However, vigilance is key to preventing canine whipworm infection and recurrence. “Once they're in the backyard, you can get rid of them. You just have to keep up the antigenic pressure. It's going to be a lot of work,” she said.
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