New Anal Sac Treatment?

Hello, Summarians!

More interesting information from the Dog Aging Project. I love how they are teasing out new studies from this information.

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Disc disease in Dogs

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common and debilitating condition in dogs, particularly in chondrodystrophic breeds. It encompasses various types, including Hansen type I (disc extrusion), type II (disc protrusion), and acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE). Risk factors for IVDD are multifactorial, involving genetic predispositions, demographic traits, and lifestyle influences. Dachshunds have the highest prevalence of IVDD, followed by French Bulldogs, Beagles, and other breeds associated with the FGF4 retrogene, which increases susceptibility to intervertebral disc calcification and herniation. 

This study, using data from the Dog Aging Project, investigated IVDD prevalence and associated risk factors across a broad population of companion dogs in the United States. Results indicated that purebred dogs, male dogs, spayed females, and overweight dogs had higher odds of IVDD, while increased physical activity, stair usage, and intact status reduced the odds. French Bulldogs showed a higher lifetime prevalence of IVDD than Dachshunds after adjusting for age, sex, and sterilization status. Additionally, older dogs and toy- or small-sized breeds were more susceptible to IVDD, while large and giant breeds had lower prevalence rates. 

Diet played a significant role, with dogs on home-prepared diets having higher odds of IVDD compared to those on commercial diets, emphasizing the importance of nutritionally balanced feeding. Stair usage, contrary to traditional caution for at-risk breeds, was associated with a decreased IVDD risk, potentially due to improved spinal musculature and mechanics. 

Despite its strengths, the study faced limitations, including reliance on owner-reported diagnoses, lack of differentiation among IVDD subtypes, and potential biases in sample selection and data reporting. Additionally, causality between lifestyle factors and IVDD could not be established due to the cross-sectional design. 

In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the demographic and lifestyle factors influencing IVDD risk. Findings support the importance of maintaining healthy body weight, promoting physical activity, and considering diet and breeding practices to mitigate IVDD risk. Further longitudinal and genetic studies are needed to refine preventive strategies and improve outcomes for at-risk breeds. 

Wee, C., & Nin, D. Z. (2025). Demographic and lifestyle characteristics impact lifetime prevalence of owner-reported intervertebral disc disease: 43,517 companion dogs in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.08.0553 

Bottom line — Commercial diets and stair usage positively correlate to prevention.

New Supplement for Anal Sac Issues

Anal sac disease, a common issue in dogs, often arises due to the impaired natural emptying of anal sacs, which are lined with apocrine and sebaceous glands. Reduced muscular contraction around the sacs, resulting from domestication and selective breeding, predisposes dogs to impaction, characterized by scooting, perianal licking or biting, tenesmus, and tail chasing. Medical treatments for anal sac disease, including manual expression and dietary adjustments, have shown limited long-term efficacy. 

This study evaluated the efficacy of ProGlan, a complementary feed containing Bacillus velezensis C-3102, dietary fibers, and antioxidants, designed to improve gut health and promote natural anal sac emptying. The probiotic enhances gut bacterial diversity, reduces ammonia, and increases short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), improving stool quality and consistency. Dietary fibers, including those from pumpkin seeds and apple pectin, support stool bulking and faecal transit, promoting natural sac emptying. Antioxidants and plant-based bioactive compounds further support gut and immune health. 

Results demonstrated that ProGlan effectively reduced the recurrence of anal sac impaction over four months, attributed to improved digestion, faecal quality, and gastrointestinal function. However, the study faced limitations, including the lack of direct faecal quality assessment, microbiome analysis, and a small sample size. Variability in veterinary skill and the long-term nature of recurrence also suggest the need for extended studies. 

In conclusion, ProGlan is a safe and effective management option for reducing anal sac impaction risk, offering a palatable and holistic approach to prevention and care. Further research is recommended to validate long-term efficacy and explore its microbiological and broader health impacts. 

Salichs M, Beasley S, Homedes J. Efficacy of an oral chew containing fibre and Bacillus velezensis C-3102 in the management of anal sac impaction in dogs. Vet Dermatol. 2025; 36: 74–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13304 

Bottom line — Early results support this but more research is needed.

Next Gen for Bacterial Susceptibility

Canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF), commonly associated with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, presents challenges in treatment due to antimicrobial resistance. While traditional bacterial culture remains the diagnostic gold standard for identifying pathogens and determining antimicrobial susceptibility, it has limitations such as delayed turnaround time, potential loss of organism viability during transit, and difficulty isolating certain organisms. Advances in molecular microbiology, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), offer promising alternatives. NGS allows for simultaneous sequencing of multiple DNA molecules without requiring prior knowledge of the target, potentially offering faster results, lower detection limits, and more comprehensive pathogen identification compared to culture. However, it also introduces challenges, such as distinguishing clinically relevant organisms from commensals or contaminants and correlating resistance genes with phenotypic resistance. 

This study aimed to compare genotypic (NGS) and phenotypic (culture) methods for identifying bacteria and determining antimicrobial susceptibility in canine SBF samples. The findings revealed that NGS did not demonstrate a faster turnaround time compared to culture, likely due to the processing of culture samples within the same facility. Both methodologies reliably detected Staphylococcus spp., with 100% detection from the culture lab and comparable results from NGS. However, NGS identified a broader range of organisms, which could include irrelevant or contaminant species, raising concerns about the clinical significance of such findings. 

Discrepancies between the laboratories were particularly notable in species identification and antimicrobial resistance reporting. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was consistently reported as the most relevant species, but NGS labs detected more coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., which are less clinically significant and may express resistance genes. These findings suggest that NGS may overreport resistance, potentially leading to inappropriate antimicrobial choices. Moreover, there was poor agreement among the laboratories regarding methicillin resistance, with variations attributed to differing methodologies for resistance determination. Phenotypic culture utilized both oxacillin resistance and mecA gene detection, while NGS relied on genetic markers, leading to inconsistencies. 

The study also highlighted significant errors in antimicrobial susceptibility reporting, including major and very major errors, where NGS and culture disagreed on resistance phenotypes. These discrepancies could result in inappropriate treatment decisions. Limitations of the study included a small sample size, the use of only two NGS labs, and a single culture lab for comparison. While NGS offers potential advantages, this study concludes that it is not yet a suitable replacement for traditional culture in diagnosing and guiding treatment for canine SBF due to concerns about antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostic accuracy, and clinical relevance. Further research with larger sample sizes and additional methodologies is recommended. 

Smart K, Pieper JB, Viall AK, Noxon JO, Berger DJ. Comparison of commercial next-generation sequencing assays to conventional culture methods for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of samples obtained from clinical cases of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis. Vet Dermatol. 2025; 36: 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13299

Bottom line — Not quite there.

Just putting things in perspective …