Exercise Restriction and Laminitis

Hello, Summarians!

Why do we use the term “conventional wisdom”? Are we implying that it is the same as the standard of care, or is it what we have settled into doing because that is how it has always been done?

Questions like these get to the heart of who we are at VetSummary. We want to highlight new approaches that may contradict our current work.

As always, we ned to look closely at the validity of the study and its conclusions.

Happy reading and send me your thoughts

Why do we give dogs treats?

The study examined the relationship between treat consumption and several factors related to both dog owners and their pets. It found that treat consumption was significantly associated with the owner’s education level and the duration of dog ownership. Moreover, the practice of giving treats was closely linked to the breed of the dog and its body condition score. Despite the high prevalence of treat use, nearly half of the owners were unaware of the potential connection between treat consumption and health issues such as obesity. The research revealed that dog-specific biscuits, meat strip treats, and bone treats were the most commonly used, while human-specific items like chocolate, candy, sweets, and chips were rarely given. Approximately 70% of participants reported paying attention to treat labels, primarily driven by an interest in the ingredients. However, a notable barrier to label reading was a lack of language proficiency among some owners. Conducted across seven cities in Iran with a sample of 659 dog owners, the study used questionnaires and statistical analyses to explore these associations, ultimately underscoring the importance of enhancing owner education regarding both the nutritional benefits and potential health risks associated with dog treats. 

Leila Tabrizian, Mahdi Pourmahdi Borujeni, Reza Avizeh, Mohammad Reza Zalaki Ghorbanipour, Majid Zakerian, Ali Karamian, Reza Azargoun, Perceptions, behaviours, and practices of dog owners for giving treats: A cross sectional investigation, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 78, 2025, Pages 1-11, ISSN 1558-7878 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2025.01.007. 

Bottom line — Education is the key.

Laminitis and restricted ambulation.

The study examines how altered weight-bearing patterns, such as those seen after fractures, can lead to supporting‐limb laminitis (SLL) in horses. It explains that an increase in load on the contralateral limb may impair blood flow in the affected hoof, leading to lamellar ischemia. Experimental evidence indicates that even modest, prolonged increases in load (lasting 48 to 92 hours) can cause early laminitis-like changes, including elongation of the lamellae, basal cell proliferation, and basement membrane detachment. A notable finding is the early, focused death of parabasal keratinocytes in the primary epidermal lamellae, likely driven by ischemia, which appears before any clinical lameness develops. Moreover, similar, though less severe, changes were observed in limbs that experienced restricted ambulation without an increased weight load, suggesting that normal cyclic loading through ambulation is essential for maintaining proper lamellar perfusion and cellular homeostasis. While the experimental model has limitations—such as the absence of overt pain or systemic inflammation and a small sample size—the results imply that both increased load and reduced movement contribute to lamellar damage. These insights highlight the potential need for prevention strategies that not only reduce excessive load but also encourage normal ambulation to protect hoof health. 

Engiles, J. B., Stefanovski, D., & van Eps, A. (2025). Lamellar cell death and proliferation are associated with restricted ambulation and preferential weight bearing in a model relevant to supporting-limb laminitis. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.09.0268 

Bottom line — Encourage movement to protect hoof health.

Lasers and Yeast

The study discusses how Malassezia yeasts, which normally reside on the skin of humans and animals, can under certain conditions become pathogenic, causing issues such as dermatitis in dogs. In particular, Malassezia pachydermatis, though usually a harmless commensal organism, is capable of triggering severe itching and secondary infections, especially in dogs with allergies. Traditional treatments using topical and systemic antifungal therapies often take weeks to become effective and may lead to side effects or drug resistance, a growing concern as in vitro studies have already indicated emerging resistance patterns. As an alternative, low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) has been proposed because of its potential antimicrobial and tissue healing effects. LLLT is thought to work by stimulating mitochondrial activity, which leads to the production of reactive oxygen species that can damage fungal cells, while also promoting collagen production and overall tissue repair. In the in vitro investigation described, blue light in the 440-to-460 nm range produced a time-dependent reduction in the growth of M. pachydermatis, with significant decreases in colony-forming units observed after four minutes of exposure, although a complete fungicidal effect was not achieved. These preliminary findings suggest that LLLT may offer a promising new approach for managing Malassezia dermatitis, but further in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm its safety, efficacy, and optimal treatment protocols. 

Gil, N., Santoro, D., & Marsella, R. (2025). In vitro use of a low-level laser therapy device inhibits growth of Malassezia pachydermatis. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.11.0355 

Bottom line — Shows promise.

Just putting things in perspective …