Canine mast cell tumours (MCTs) are variable in their biological behaviour and treatment decisions depend heavily on the histopathological grade. Biomarkers such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin to globulin ratio are used to predict the biological behaviour of human neoplasms, but have not been widely studied in dogs. A retrospective analysis identified 62 cases of gross MCT (14 high-grade, 48 low-grade tumours). Median NLR was significantly different between high- and low-grade MCT and tumours at different locations. A multivariable model identified increasing NLR (OR 2.0) and age (OR 1.7) to be associated with an increased risk of high-grade MCT. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified an NLR threshold value of 5.67 (sensitivity 85.7 per cent; specificity 54.2 per cent) for predicting a high-grade MCT. An NLR threshold of 5.67 could be useful alongside existing tools (appearance, location, etc.) to help to predict the grade of MCT. With further validation, this biomarker could be used to guide clinical decisions before obtaining a histopathological diagnosis.

It is recommended that trilostane therapy of canine hyperadrenocorticism is monitored using an ACTH stimulation test, however this has never been validated. Three cortisol concentrations (pre-trilostane, 3-hour posttrilostane and 1-hour post-ACTH stimulation) were compared to a clinical score obtained from an owner questionnaire. There were 110 sets of 3 cortisol measurements and questionnaires obtained from 67 trilostane treated dogs. Questionnaire results were used to classify each dog as well or unwell. Well dogs were then categorised as having excellent, moderate or poor hyperadrenocorticism control, using thresholds produced by 14 independent veterinarians. Correlation co-efficients were used to compare the three cortisol concentrations to the owner score and the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the three cortisol concentrations between categories of control. Cortisol cut-off values between significantly different categories were determined using ROC curves. Pre-trilostane and 3-hour post-trilostane cortisol were better correlated to the owner score and had cut-offs to differentiate between categories of control that had superior sensitivity and specificity results, than the post-ACTH cortisol. Iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism was not detected in any unwell dog. This study shows that the pre-trilostane and 3-hour post-trilostane cortisol are potentially better monitoring methods than the ACTH stimulation test.

Electronic medical records from first opinion equine veterinary practice may represent a unique 2 resource for epidemiologic research. The appropriateness of this resource for risk factor analyses 3 was explored as part of an investigation into clinical and pharmacologic risk factors for laminitis. 4Amalgamated medical records from seven UK practices were subjected to text mining to identify 5 laminitis episodes, systemic or intra-synovial corticosteroid prescription, diseases known to affect 6 laminitis risk and clinical signs or syndromes likely to lead to corticosteroid use. Cox proportional 7 hazard models and Prentice, Williams, Peterson models for repeated events were used to estimate 8 associations with time to first, or subsequent laminitis episodes, respectively. Over seventy percent 9 of horses that were diagnosed with laminitis suffered at least one recurrence. Risk factors for first 10 and subsequent laminitis episodes were found to vary. Corticosteroid use (prednisolone only) was 11 only significantly associated with subsequent, and not initial laminitis episodes. Electronic medical 12 record use for such analyses is plausible and offers important advantages over more traditional data 13 sources. It does, however, pose challenges and limitations that must be taken into account, and 14 requires a conceptual change to disease diagnosis which should be considered carefully.

Empirical use of reserved antimicrobials was common in this population, and further advice and guidance should be issued to first-opinion veterinarians to safeguard antimicrobial efficacy.