Dataset for mediation analysis of pet ownership type and perceived stress

Purdue University Research Repository · 2026-05-11

<p>The study has been approved by Purdue University IRB (IRB-2020-760 & IRB-2024-1012). The dataset consists of 8 cohorts of dog and cat owners across different COVID pandemic phases. We performed a DAG-guided causal path analysis to estimate the effects of pet ownership type (dog vs. cat) on perceived stress. The analysis decomposed the total effect into direct and indirect components. Direct, indirect, joint indirect, and total effects were estimated using g-computation. The study outcome and mediators were re-scaled using the z-score method to ensure direct comparability of results across them. Statistical inference was based on 5,000 bootstrap replicates to derive 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Missing data were handled using Multiple Imputation by Chained Equation (MICE), with 20 imputations and 20 iterations per imputation. Analyses were repeated on imputed datasets and pooled using Rubin's rules. Sensitivity analyses were performed by comparing complete-case and imputed results for all key estimates. All analyses were performed in RStudio (Version 2025.09.0; Posit Team, 2025). Corresponding r code is provided as a supplemental file.</p> <p>By integrating a DAG-guided mediation analysis with a comparative evaluation of dog and cat ownership, this study provides a foundation for future research and evidence-based interventions aimed at optimizing the mental health benefits of companion animals. Our findings indicate that dog and cat ownership differ only slightly in their overall effects on perceived stress; however, mediation analyses reveal distinct species-specific mechanisms, with human-animal interaction and emotional closeness emerging as the most influential mediators for dog and cat ownership, respectively. These results underscore that the psychological impact of pet ownership is shaped by both social and emotional  pathways, consistent with social support and attachment theories. Despite these advances, a substantial portion of the association between pet ownership type and perceived stress remains unexplained by the mediators examined, highlighting the need for further research into additional pathways. Overall, this study deepens our understanding of how companion animals influence perceived stress and reinforces the importance of developing interventions and policies that account for species-specific differences and support caregiving demands to maximize the stress-buffering benefits of pet ownership.</p> <p>Additional notes:</p> <p>1. The dataset (PetStress.xlsx) is used for the manuscript intended for publication and includes only the variables analyzed.</p> <p>2. The supplemental r code serves as a record of the analysis and is not intended to be re-run.</p> <p>3. The dag.txt file can be used in DAGitty.net to reproduce the study DAG.</p>

Real-world data on behavioral practices for dogs in primary care veterinary hospitals in the United States (2010–2020)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2025-03-19

Objective: To quantify the behavior problems and prescription of psychoactive medications in dogs seen at primary care veterinary hospitals. Methods: Medical records of canine patients in a nationwide network of primary care veterinary hospitals in the US obtained between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Information retrieved included prescription of clomipramine, fluoxetine, or trazodone; patient signalment; and common behavior problem labels (aggression, separation anxiety, and fear or anxiety unrelated to separation anxiety). Associations between behavior problem labels and drug prescriptions were assessed with Pearson χ2 tests. Results: A total of 32,468,046 canine medical records were retrieved. The overall prescription percentage was 0.03% for clomipramine, 0.02% for fluoxetine, and 1.33% for trazodone during the study period. Prescription of trazodone started in 2013, with a sharp increase after 2015. The frequency of behavior problem labels increased 10-fold from 1.0% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2020, with an overall frequency of 5%. Among dogs with behavior problem labels, 0.15% were prescribed clomipramine, 0.14% were prescribed fluoxetine, and 8.4% were prescribed trazodone. Notably, about 70% of dogs receiving psychoactive drugs had no associated behavior problem labels used in the study. Conclusions: Frequencies of behavior problem labels and prescriptions in primary care settings were both low, with notable variations among psychoactive drugs. Furthermore, about 70% of cases prescribed psychoactive medications lacked target behavior problem labels. Clinical Relevance: These findings highlight a critical need to bridge the knowledge gap between identifying behavior problems and effectively addressing them in behavioral practice within primary care veterinary settings.

Median blood lactate values are elevated in dogs presenting with acute seizure activity: 2014–2024

American Journal of Veterinary Research · 2025-06-20

Objective: To establish the expected presenting blood lactate values in dogs with acute seizure activity. The secondary goal was to compare lactate values between dogs presenting for a single seizure (SSG) or cluster seizures (CSG) or in status epilepticus (SEG). Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the electronic medical record at a university small animal hospital was queried for dogs with acute seizures (within 24 hours of presentation) with a blood lactate measurement within 2 hours of presentation between January 1, 2014, and October 31, 2024. Data related to seizure type, lactate values, patient vital parameters, and other blood parameters (if available) were extracted. Dogs with incomplete medical records were excluded. Results: 88 dogs were included in 95 presentation events. The median age was 6 years, 5 months; 52 events involved female dogs, and 43 events involved male dogs. Twenty-two dogs made up the SSG, 51 dogs made up the CSG, and 22 dogs made up the SEG. The majority (72.6%) of dogs had a high lactate value on presentation (median values: SSG, 2.7 mmol/L; CSG, 3.1 mmol/L; and SEG, 4.65 mmol/L). Status epilepticus dogs had a statistically significantly elevated body temperature (median, 39.4 °C) compared to the SSG (38.8 °C); there were no statistically significant differences in blood glucose, lactate, or blood pH between groups. Conclusions: Median lactate values were elevated in all groups at presentation, but there was no statistical difference between groups. The median temperature was elevated in the SEG. Clinical Relevance: This study provides expected lactate values in dogs with acute seizure activity.

COMPARISION AND VALIDATION OF TWO HISTOLOGICAL GRADING SCHEMES FOR CANINE OSTEOARTHRITIS-RELATED SYNOVIAL LESIONS

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage · 2025-04-01

Terms used for hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to avian exposures: A scoping review

Journal of Allergy and Hypersensitivity Diseases · 2025-01-01

• The review included 1,101 articles (1960–2021) on terms describing “BFL…”. • 114 unique terms were identified, with occupation-based terms most frequent. • Terminology variation may impact diagnosis and epidemiological estimates. • Standardisation can enhance research quality and clinical decision-making. • Consistent terms support systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and trials. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to exposure to avian antigens is referred to in the literature as bird fancier’s lung and numerous other names (hereafter “BFL…”). This scoping review aims to identify terms used for “BFL…” in the peer-reviewed literature between 1960 and 2021. We included peer-reviewed articles referring to “BFL…” in humans and published between 1960 and 2021 in English. We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, and extracted terms used for “BFL…” along with the year of publication. We categorised the names into occupation-, pathology-, aetiology-, aetio-pathological-, and occupation- and pathology-based terms. We then calculated the total number of terms used, the individual and category-specific frequencies of use for each term, as well as the overall and decade-specific average number of articles to be read in order to encounter a new term. From 3194 initially screened articles, we found 114 terms used for “BFL…” in 1101 articles included for final review. The most frequently used terms were pigeon breeder's disease, bird fancier's lung, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pigeon breeder's lung and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (in that order), accounting for 65.2 % of terms found. Similarly, occupation-based terms accounted for 67.1 % of terms identified. On average, a new term for “BFL…” was encountered for every 9–10 articles included in the review. The term to b e used for “BFL…” should be standardised in the peer-reviewed literature. We suggest “bird fancier lung” be used as the term for hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to exposure to avian antigens. Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable.

Development of an assessment tool for behavioral and cognitive changes in aging cats

Journal of Veterinary Behavior · 2025-11-13

Administration of high-dose intravenous vitamin C in healthy dogs transiently leads to a false increase in portable blood glucose monitor and interstitial glucose monitor readings

American Journal of Veterinary Research · 2025-06-16

Objective: To investigate the effects of high-dose IV vitamin C (HDIVC) on handheld portable blood glucose monitor (PBGM) and interstitial glucose monitor (IGM) readings in dogs. Methods: 6 client-owned Border Collies with normal physical examinations and baseline bloodwork were enrolled in this prospective experimental study from November through December 2024. Glucose was measured via an IGM, PBGM, and laboratory blood glucose analyzer (LG) at time (T)-0, T1, T2, T3, T6, T12, T18, and T24 hours after HDIVC (200 mg/kg; ascorbic acid 500 mg/mL diluted 1:10 with sterile water, given over 30 minutes, IV). Results: The median PBGM (T1, 189 mg/dL; T2, 138 mg/dL) and IGM (T1, high; T2, 321 mg/dL) readings were significantly higher than LG (T1, 76.5 mg/dL; T2, 93.5 mg/dL) at T1 and T2. The median IGM (183 mg/dL) readings were significantly higher than LG (99 mg/dL) at T3. There was no significant difference between modalities at T0 nor from T6 on. On consensus error grid analysis, all PBGM readings at T1 and 1 of 6 readings at T2 were clinically unacceptable. All IGM readings at T1 and T2 and 2 of 6 readings at T3 were clinically unacceptable. Conclusions: A 200-mg/kg, IV, bolus of vitamin C in healthy dogs causes clinically significant elevations in PBGM and IGM glucose readings that normalize within 3 and 6 hours, respectively. Clinical Relevance: Avoid the use of PBGM and IGM until 3 and 6 hours, respectively, after HDIVC in healthy dogs.

Phenylpropanolamine (Proin) increases intraocular pressure and alters tear production in dogs

American Journal of Veterinary Research · 2025-12-10

Objective: To determine the effect of phenylpropanolamine (PPA; Proin) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and Schirmer tear test-I (STT-I) values in dogs. Methods: Following baseline ophthalmic examinations, including IOP and STT-I measurements, 6 healthy, purpose-bred intact female Beagles aged 7.5 to 10 months were orally administered PPA at 2 mg/kg twice daily over a 4-week period. Intraocular pressure was measured twice weekly at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm. Schirmer tear test-I was measured once weekly. A complete ophthalmic examination was conducted every 2 weeks. Intraocular pressure measurement continued once weekly for a 2-month period following discontinuation of PPA. Descriptive data are presented as mean ± SE of the mean. Results: Compared with pretreatment IOPs (20.8 ± 0.5 mm Hg), values showed a statistically significant increase (23.0 ± 0.3 mm Hg and 21.9 ± 0.3 mm Hg during and after administration, respectively), whereas STT-I values in the right eye showed a statistically significant decrease during PPA administration. Although none of these changes were clinically relevant, dogs with high baseline IOPs exhibited greater fluctuation with elevated IOPs following PPA administration. Conclusions: PPA administration induced an increase in IOP and exacerbated IOP fluctuation in dogs with high baseline IOP. Phenylpropanolamine should be prescribed with caution in patients with elevated baseline IOP or those predisposed to glaucoma. Clinical Relevance: These findings highlight the importance of monitoring IOP in dogs receiving PPA, particularly those with ocular hypertension or a predisposition to glaucoma, to ensure safe clinical use.

Evaluation of point‐of‐care capillary and venous blood glucose concentrations in hospitalized neonatal foals

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care · 2024-11-01

OBJECTIVE: To compare glucose measurements from capillary and venous blood samples using a point-of-care (POC) glucometer with a standard laboratory (colorimetric, glucose oxidase) assay (LABGLU) in a population of hospitalized, neonatal foals. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, experimental study, conducted between March 2019 and June 2020. SETTING: Four university teaching hospitals and 1 private referral hospital. ANIMALS: Fifty-four hospitalized neonatal (≤30 days of age) foals. INTERVENTIONS: Simultaneous capillary (muzzle, POCMUZ) and venous (jugular, POCJUG) blood samples were obtained to determine POC glucose concentrations. Venous samples were also analyzed by LABGLU. Each foal was sampled at the time of enrollment or admission to the hospital and at 1 subsequent point during hospitalization. Indirect mean arterial pressure and hematocrit were concurrently recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias (95% limits of agreement) of -28.0 (-88.6 to 32.6) mg/dL for comparison of POCJUG with LABGLU, -8.2 (-94.3 to 78.0) mg/dL for POCMUZ and LABGLU, and 18.8 (-44.4 to 82.0) mg/dL for POCMUZ and POCJUG. A total of 63.5% of the POCJUG and 45.2% of the POCMUZ samples exceeded the reference value by ±15 mg/dL (for LABGLU samples <75 mg/dL) or ±15% (for LABGLU samples ≥75mg/dL). Concordance correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval [CI]) indicated a fair agreement between POCJUG and LABGLU (0.75, 95% CI: 0.66-0.82) and between POCMUZ and LABGLU (0.71, 95% CI: 0.58-0.80). Fifty percent (14/28) of hypoglycemic foals on the reference method were incorrectly classified as euglycemic by POCJUG, and 5 of 28 were incorrectly classified by POCMUZ. CONCLUSIONS: In the sampled population, the chosen POC glucometer lacked agreement with the standard laboratory measurement. Limits of agreement were wide for both POCJUG and POCMUZ. Inaccuracies in POC results could impact decision-making in the clinical management of glycemic control in hospitalized neonatal foals and, importantly, increase the risk of hypoglycemic events being underdiagnosed in critical patients.

Radiotherapy for Canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma: Survival Outcomes and Side Effects of a Palliative Treatment Protocol of 20 Gy in Five Consecutive Fractions

Veterinary Sciences · 2024-05-15 · 5 citations

This research aims to evaluate the outcomes of a radiotherapy protocol, consisting of five fractions of 4 Gy each, resulting in a total dose of 20 Gy for apocrine gland anal sac tumors and local lymph nodes in canines. This protocol was assessed as a palliative treatment for macroscopic tumors alone, or in combination with additional therapies under different scenarios. Medical records from fifty canine patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into different treatment groups: radiotherapy alone (n = 22, 44%), radiotherapy with chemotherapy or targeted therapy with toceranib (n = 18, 36%), surgery with radiotherapy (n = 5, 10%), and surgery with radiotherapy and chemotherapy or targeted therapy with toceranib (n = 5, 10%). Patients who received radiotherapy alone had a median survival time of 384 days (95% CI 198-569) and 628 days (95% CI 579-676) for RT + additional therapies. The median time to progression for patients with radiotherapy alone was 337 days (95% CI 282-391 days), and 402 days (95% CI 286-517 days) for radiotherapy plus additional treatments. Acute side effects were mild, with the majority having diarrhea (61%), and only one patient developed grade III late effects VRTOG v2 classification; however, this happened 22 months after the first radiotherapy protocol after re-irradiation. The results demonstrate that radiotherapy alone under this protocol provided a comparable median time to progression vs. radiotherapy plus additional treatments while maintaining acceptable side effects. The combination of this protocol with other treatment modalities offers attractive results for local disease control and survival while maintaining acceptable toxicities. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting the role of radiotherapy in managing apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs.