The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical use of nitrofurantoin in client-owned dogs with lower urinary tract infections. The primary aim was to describe the patient population, dosage, treatment duration, outcome and side effects. Materials and MethOds: Medical records in an institution were retrospectively reviewed from July 2013 to January 2019. results: Nitrofurantoin was prescribed in this clinical population of 14 client-owned dogs for lower urinary tract infections. Recurrent urinary tract infection was the clinical diagnosis in all dogs. Each dog's urinary tract infection was associated with a nitrofurantoin-susceptible, multidrug-resistant uropathogen. The median dosage and duration of nitrofurantoin treatment was 4.3 mg/kg by mouth every 8 hours for 14 days. Twelve of the 14 dogs had successful outcomes including bacteriologic cure (n = 9), clinical cure (2) and resolution of target bacteria (1). Treatment failures (n = 2) were associated with uropathogens developing progressive nitrofurantoin resistance. clinical significance: In some dogs with recurrent lower urinary tract infections, nitrofurantoin may be an effective antibiotic for treatment of nitrofurantoin-susceptible uropathogens. Treatment failures were associated with progressive uropathogen resistance. Urine bacterial culture and quantitative susceptibility testing are essential to initiating and monitoring treatment due to the multidrug-resistant isolates and, in some cases, persistent bacteriuria in the face of treatment.

Objectives Oxidative stress contributes to chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in humans and rodent models; F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) are established biomarkers of oxidative stress. Our primary aim was to evaluate plasma F2-IsoPs in cats with International Renal Interest Society stage 1 and 2 CKD, compared with healthy cats, and to determine whether plasma and urinary F2-IsoPs are equivalent biomarkers. The secondary aim was to assess whether consumption of a renal diet enriched in omega-3 fatty acids led to improvements in plasma and urinary F2-IsoPs. Methods Plasma and urinary F2-IsoPs were measured in 24 cats with stage 1 or 2 CKD, and 12 unaffected controls aged ⩾6 years. Twelve CKD cats were re-evaluated after feeding a commercial renal diet for at least 4 weeks. Results Median plasma F2-IsoPs were significantly higher in stage 1 CKD (96.2 pg/ml), early stage 2 CKD (83.2 pg/ml) and late stage 2 CKD (80.8 pg/ml) compared with healthy cats (22.8 pg/ml; P = 0.03−0.002). Median urinary F2-IsoPs were significantly higher in cats with stage 1 CKD (231.2 pg/mg) compared with healthy cats (152.5 pg/mg) or cats with late stage 2 CKD (124.8 pg/mg; P = 0.01). Plasma F2-IsoPs remained increased, while urinary F2-IsoPs fell with transition from stage 1 to stage 2 CKD. Feeding a commercial renal diet led to significant decreases in plasma F2-IsoPs in the small group of cats with stage 1 CKD (25−75% decrease) compared with cats with stage 2 CKD (20% decrease to 53% increase; P = 0.01). Conclusions and relevance Oxidative stress is prominent in cats with stage 1 CKD. Plasma and urinary F2-IsoPs are not interchangeable biomarkers in cats with stage 2 CKD. Placebo-controlled studies are indicated to evaluate dietary or pharmacologic doses of omega-3 fatty acids on redox stress and progression of renal dysfunction in cats with stage 1 CKD.

CASE DESCRIPTION 3 dogs with chronic sinonasal signs (sneezing, nasal discharge, or epistaxis [or a combination of signs]) were examined. CLINICAL FINDINGS For all 3 dogs, CT revealed variable degrees of nasal turbinate destruction and frontal sinus involvement with cribriform plate lysis. Fungal plaques were detected during rhinoscopy or sinusoscopy. Results of fungal culture (2 dogs) or cytologic examination of a plaque specimen (1 dog) supported a diagnosis of sinonasal aspergillosis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME All dogs underwent surgical rhinotomy or sinusotomy (or both) for fungal plaque debridement followed by oral treatment with voriconazole and periodic physical examinations, clinicopathologic analyses, and assessments of serum drug concentrations for a period ≥ 22 weeks. All dogs had considerable to complete reduction of their clinical signs and tolerated voriconazole treatment with minimal adverse effects. Adverse effects included development of reversible neurotoxicosis (associated with high serum voriconazole concentration) and mildly high serum liver enzyme activities. The dosage of voriconazole administered to achieve therapeutic serum concentrations (2.5 to 3.3 mg/kg [1.1 to 1.5 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h) was substantially lower than dosages suggested by previously published studies in dogs. The 3 dogs remained clinically normal or had mild clinical signs after voriconazole discontinuation for follow-up times of 6 to 15 months. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings in these 3 dogs indicated that surgical fungal plaque debridement followed by oral treatment with voriconazole may be an effective treatment option for dogs with sinonasal aspergillosis and cribriform plate lysis. Further evaluation of this treatment regimen with repeated CT examinations and longer follow-up times is warranted.