Cyclosporin exhibits potent immunomodulating properties as it blocks transcription of cytokine genes in activated T lymphocytes. Cyclosporin also inhibits immune allergic reactions occurring after activation of mast cells, Langerhans cells, eosinophils and keratinocytes. In randomized controlled trials, cyclosporin is as effective as glucocorticoids for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis at the inducing dosage of 5 mg/kg. The drug has also proven beneficial for the treatment of perianal fistulas in dogs. Other potential applications include use in dogs with immune-mediated dermatological diseases. While the pharmacokinetic properties of cyclosporin are very similar in dogs and man, its margin of safety is much wider in dogs. Therefore, routine monitoring of cyclosporin blood level appears to be unnecessary. Adverse reactions consist mainly of transient emesis and diarrhea during the first days of treatment. Other adverse reactions, such as gingival hyperplasia, verruciform lesions and hypertrichosis, appear to be dose-dependent, and occur rarely at therapeutic doses. An increased susceptibility to infections is not usually seen in dogs receiving this drug.

Reference: Guagu, Steffan , Olivry . Vet Dermatol 15: 61-74, 2004.

Hair growth and replacement have been studied extensively in humans, sheep and laboratory rodents, but not in dogs and other mammals. The present study was undertaken to: determine the time required for hair to re-grow in dogs after clipping for a surgical procedure; define whether seasonal influences affected the time required for re-growth and; determine if season might influence the telogen: anagen ratio. Eleven Labrador retrievers were recruited during spring, 10 in summer, 6 in autumn and 10 in winter; hairs re-grew to their preclipped length in 14.6, 14.5, 13.6 and 15.4 weeks, respectively. These values were not significantly different, suggesting that season has no effect on the rate of hair re-growth in Labrador retrievers housed indoors (p, 0.12). The mean values for the telogen: anagen ratio in each season were: 5.2 (spring), 6.1 (summer), 9.5 (autumn), and 5.3 (winter). The difference in these values also was not significant (p, 0.89). The percentage of hairs in telogen was over 80% in all 4 seasons.

Reference: Diaz, Torres, Dunstan, et al. Vet Dermatol 15: 25-30, 2004.

This retrospective study determined the incidence of adverse events in ferrets vaccinated with a modified-live avian cell culture canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine licensed for use in ferrets, and an inactivated rabies virus (RV) vaccine licensed for use in ferrets, or both. Medical records were reviewed of 143 ferrets to identify those that had an adverse event after vaccination; adverse events developed within 25 min after vaccination in 13 ferrets. One ferret displayed an adverse event after receiving CDV and RV vaccines simultaneously, and had a second adverse event the following year after receiving RV vaccine alone. Therefore, a total of 14 adverse events were identified. All were an anaphylactic reaction characterized by generalized hyperemia, hypersalivation, and vomiting. Ten of 14 anaphylactic reactions occurred after ferrets received both vaccines, 3 occurred after ferrets received the CDV vaccine alone, and 1 occurred after the RVvaccine alone. Incidences of adverse events after administration of both vaccines, the CDV vaccine alone, and RV vaccine alone were 5.6, 5.9, and 5.6%, respectively. Ferrets that had an anaphylactic reaction were significantly older at the time of vaccination than were ferrets that did not. Results suggest there may be a high incidence of anaphylactic reactions after vaccination of domestic ferrets. Ferrets should be observed for at least 25 min after vaccination, and veterinarians who vaccinate ferrets should be prepared to treat anaphylactic reactions.

Reference: Greenacre . J Am Vet Med Assoc 223: 663-5, 2003.