Arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a common complication of feline cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hypocalcemia and survival in cats with ATE. Twenty-eight client-owned cats presented with ATE were included in a prospective cohort study. Upon admission, physical examination, hematology, biochemistry and serum electrolytes (potassium, sodium, chloride and ionized calcium) were performed. Electrolyte measurements were repeated at 12, 24 and 48 hours after admission or when signs of reperfusion injury were suspected. Statistical analysis showed that ionized hypocalcemia was common in cats with ATE and was associated with reperfusion injury and death.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern, with antibiotic use as a key driver. Despite efforts to reduce AMU, Belgium's usage remains above the European average, especially in livestock, while critically important antibiotics are more common in companion animals. This study explored the determinants of antimicrobial prescription behaviour among Belgian veterinarians through qualitative research methods. Identified themes included diagnosis, treatment options, veterinarian-characteristics, client-characteristics, initiatives promoting responsible AMU and veterinarian-client communication. Veterinarians acknowledged a shift toward prevention and alternatives to antibiotics but cited financial, time, and communication challenges. Legislative changes and targeted education were emphasized as crucial for promoting responsible AMU.

We beschrijven de case van een verworven Gerbode defect bij een 3-jaar-oude Boxer in associatie met aortaklependocarditis. Dergelijke hartaandoening is uiterst zeldzaam, niet alleen bij honden en katten maar ook in de humane literatuur. De verschillende types van Gerbode defecten worden besproken alsook wordt er een overzicht van de reeds gepubliceerde cases bij honden en katten weergegeven.

Management for canine idiopathic epilepsy remains challenging, as one third is resistant to antiseizure medication. Better understanding of pathways involved, like the gut-brain-axis, is primordial to improve its management. Therefore, the faecal metabolome and microbiome of healthy dogs (n = 39) vs. dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (n = 49) were analysed, while receiving the same diet for minimal 20 days before sample collection. In summary, the faeces of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy showed metabolic and microbiome alterations linked with a pro-inflammatory environment, like an increase in histamine. This supports a role for the gut-brain axis in idiopathic epilepsy.

In this proof-of-concept study, the added value of DECT collagen mapping in the diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament disease in the dog was evaluated, in comparison to the current diagnostic tools. DECT appears to be a feasible diagnostic tool in the detection of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease. DECT could be used for both lesions of the superficial as inner fibrous bundles, in agreement with MRI, while on contrast CT and arthroscopy only the superficial bundles could be evaluated. Further examination in a larger cohort and live animals is warranted.

In the first phase of this research we will identify cell associated and soluble protein biomarkers in lymph node fine needle aspirates and blood of canine B-cell lymphoma patients using flow cytometry and mass spectrometry. In the second phase we will develop a nanobody therapeutic against a newly identified target and validate this in vitro in a 3D model.

Early diagnosis of preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains challenging in primary veterinary medicine due to the need for echocardiography and 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. A vectorcardiographic mid-systolic depolarization time (RELFmS) was investigated in a preliminary pilot study. We hypothesize that RELFmS is a sensitive parameter for detection of preclinical DCM in Doberman Pinschers. RELFmS > 33.5 ms had a sensitivity of 94.4% and specificity of 78.9% for the detection of preclinical DCM (AUC 0.922, SD 0.028). In conclusion, RELFmS is a sensitive parameter to detect preclinical DCM.

Horses undergoing cross-country competition are at risk of developing exertional heat illness (EHI). Several risk factors have been assessed under standardised exercise test conditions that can contribute to EHI, but minimal work has been done in field studies. The equestrian competition is also a unique combination of both human & equine athlete, but little work has been done to assess the human impact on equine EHI risk. We aim to assess the effects of pre-event acclimatisation, increasing thermal load during the event, horse signalment, and rider signalment & decision making on the risk of prolonging equine athlete recovery rate after cross-country competition.

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) offers an improved soft tissue characterisation by obtaining two attenuation coefficients of each voxel at two different photon energies. Despite its great benefits in human medicine and the growing availability of compatible refurbished CT scanners in veterinary medicine, there is still limited research on the application of DECT in equine diagnostic imaging. In this proof-of-concept study, the added value of DECT virtual-non-calcium and collagen mapping is described in two equine feet. DECT allowed the evaluation of bone oedema-like and soft tissue lesions, in agreement with findings on magnetic resonance imaging. Further examination in a larger cohort and live animals is warrented.

Horses are susceptible to cardiac arrhythmias, which may carry a risk for horse and rider. Whilst the anatomy and electrophysiology of the conductive system in the ventricular walls and interventricular septum has been investigated elaborately, the underlying fine anatomy enabling, favoring, diverting or blocking the atrial depolarization pulses still remain enigmatic. In collaboration with the clinic of Large Animal Internal Medicine (Prof. G. Van Loon), we aim to resolve the fine anatomy involved in impulse guidance and distribution over the atria and the anatomical predisposition in the disturbance of the mechanism.

Preliminary results of ongoing research by our group demonstrated that the two-pore domain TASK-1 potassium channel is present in horses. Moreover, the equine and human TASK-1 channel are very similar. The first aim of this study is to demonstrate that ketodoxapram can prolong the AF cycle length and convert acute experimentally induced AF in the horse. The second aim of this study is to use ketodoxapram to treat horses with chronic experimentally induced AF. We hypothesize that ketodoxapram administration will result in a prolonged effective refractory period and AF cycle length, and will convert the horses to sinus rhythm.

Chronisch progressief lymfoedeem (CPL) is een veelvoorkomende aandoening bij koudbloedrassen met overvloedig beenbehang, zoals het Belgisch trekpaard. CPL wordt gekenmerkt door progressieve vorming van huidplooien, nodules, wonden en hyperkeratose aan de onderbenen, gecompliceerd door secundaire infecties. Aangezien de precieze oorzaak van CPL nog steeds onbekend is en de pathogenese grotendeels hypothetisch blijft, willen we met dit onderzoek meer inzicht verkrijgen in het ontstaan en verloop van deze aandoening, die meer dan 86% van de Belgische trekpaardenpopulatie treft. Deze inzichten zullen uiteindelijk bijdragen aan de ontwikkeling van nieuwe behandelingsstrategieën, waardoor de gezondheid en het voortbestaan van dit waardevolle ras blijven gewaarborgd.

Cardiac arrhythmias are common in horses and can lead to poor performance, collapse or sudden death. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that treats the underlying cause of the arrhythmia and therefore drastically reduces recurrence risk.The aim of this project is to develop a horse-adapted ablation technique. The first objective is to evaluate normal and abnormal electrical activation to identify the origin of arrhythmia. The second objective is to investigate the effect of ablation settings on equine ablation lesions in vitro and in vivo. The ultimate goal is to apply a standardized approach for ablation in horses.

My PhD work looks further then the than the existing paradigm with respect for the metabolic machinery of animals and humen.The knowledge to obtain this PhD will be ground breaking food/ feed and training management, optimization of performance capacity and welfare, and mitigation of metabolic disease.

In primary tumor resection, achieving clear margins is crucial for patient outcome and prognosis. To improve margin assessment, two applications are explored utilizing a fluorescent anti-EGFR Nanobody: (1) contact immunofluorescence (CIF) in fresh tissue samples, and (2) fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in dogs with spontaneous carcinomas.