Alex M Lynch, Alex Lillis, Adalynn Mulvey-Rose, David C Provost, Suzie Schoolfield, David C Dorman
{"title":"Lipid Emulsion as a Treatment for Non-Local Anesthetic Poisoning in Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survival and Neurological Outcomes.","authors":"Alex M Lynch, Alex Lillis, Adalynn Mulvey-Rose, David C Provost, Suzie Schoolfield, David C Dorman","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101059","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A prior scoping review indicates that veterinarians use intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) to treat poisoned animals, especially animals exposed to suspect neurotoxicants. The benefit of ILE in these cases remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and post hoc meta-analysis examining the use of ILE therapy in experimental animal models of neurotoxicosis and survival. We evaluated the relative risk of mortality using a random effects model. Neurological outcomes, including neuropathology, neurological signs, behavior, and anesthetic recovery, were assessed qualitatively. Of 3937 references screened, 38 met criteria for inclusion. In the global meta-analysis considering all toxicants and animal species, ILE treatment was associated with a lower risk of death (RR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.93; <i>p</i> = 0.007). Possible publication bias was detected (Egger's test, <i>p</i> = 0.005), and between-study heterogeneity was high (I<sup>2</sup> = 74.5%). In a subgroup analysis excluding swine studies, ILE treatment was associated with reduced mortality (RR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.82; <i>p</i> = 0.005); however, possible publication bias and high heterogeneity were present. A qualitative evaluation of neurological outcomes revealed heterogeneous results, incomplete reporting of studies resulting in risk of bias concerns in multiple domains, and small sample sizes. Exploratory meta-analysis of ILE demonstrated a reduction in mortality. Results were characterized by high heterogeneity, possible publication bias, methodological limitations, and very low certainty of evidence. Larger, adequately powered controlled clinical studies in naturally poisoned veterinary patients are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709335/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149274121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Canine and Feline Melanoma: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis.","authors":"Haein Jeong, Minyeong Shin, Yujin Kim, Minseo Ko, Dong-In Jung, Kyu-Woan Cho, Hyeona Bae","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101053","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Melanocytic tumors are clinically important in veterinary oncology because their biological behavior, diagnosis, and prognosis vary substantially by species and anatomical site. Canine oral melanoma is characterized by aggressive local invasion and early metastatic spread, whereas melanocytic tumors at other canine sites and in cats show distinct clinicopathologic features that require different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This narrative review was based on a structured literature search of PubMed, with searches organized around epidemiology and biological behavior, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. A total of 1887 records were identified after removal of duplicates, and 111 publications were ultimately included following title, abstract, and full-text screening. This review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnosis, clinical staging, treatment, and prognosis of canine and feline melanocytic neoplasms. Diagnostic approaches include cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry for amelanotic tumors, advanced imaging, sentinel lymph node mapping, and emerging molecular methods. Therapeutic options include surgery, radiation therapy, electrochemotherapy, chemotherapy, therapeutic vaccination, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted therapies. Prognostic factors include tumor location and stage, histologic grade, mitotic count, nuclear atypia, pigmentation, tissue invasion, and molecular biomarkers. Surgical excision remains the cornerstone of treatment for localized disease, but effective systemic therapies for advanced melanoma remain limited. Ongoing molecular characterization, genomic profiling, and comparative oncology research may improve prognostic stratification and support more precise therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic Erosive Dermatopathy (CED) Associated with Ectoparasite Infestation in Nile Tilapia Post-Larvae (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> Linnaeus, 1758).","authors":"Pornpawit Tanpichai, Onanong Charoenwai, Sayamon Srisuwatanasagul, Patharapol Piamsomboon","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101052","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic erosive dermatopathy (CED) associated with ectoparasites was investigated in Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>). Between 2023 and 2024, craniofacial lesions occurred at a prevalence of <1% across culture stages. Histopathology showed epidermal goblet cell proliferation and disappearance of the muscular layer, with no active pathogens or inflammation. Clinical history indicated heavy ectoparasite infestations during the 0.1 g fry stage, supported by parasite remnants found in deep skin scrapes of CED lesions. A clinical trial assessed this link using 3000 post-larvae (0.01 g each), divided into a control group (untreated) and a treatment group (tank water disinfected with 75% chlorine powder to 15 ppm for 24 h before stocking). Sampling 30 fish weekly for three weeks revealed CED incidence rates of 30% (9/30), 40% (12/30), and 27% (8/30) in controls, whereas the treatment group developed no lesions. The odds of developing CED were 25.7-, 40.0-, and 21.8-fold higher in controls at weeks 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These findings suggest early-stage ectoparasite infestations contribute to CED development. Implementing strict sanitary measures from post-larval stages is essential to minimize prevalence.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frine Eleonora Scaglione, Matteo Cuccato, Erica Longato, Paola Pregel, Daniele Zucca, Stefano Nannarelli, Alessandra De Lucia, Andrea Capobianco Dondona, Marco Pilia, Elisabetta Manuali, Marco Gobbi, Enrico Bollo, Simonetta Appino
{"title":"Correction: Scaglione et al. Pathology of Free-Living Loggerhead Turtle (<i>Caretta caretta</i>) Embryos on the Island of Linosa (Italy). <i>Vet. Sci.</i> 2025, <i>12</i>, 328.","authors":"Frine Eleonora Scaglione, Matteo Cuccato, Erica Longato, Paola Pregel, Daniele Zucca, Stefano Nannarelli, Alessandra De Lucia, Andrea Capobianco Dondona, Marco Pilia, Elisabetta Manuali, Marco Gobbi, Enrico Bollo, Simonetta Appino","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101055","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The authorship list of the published article has been corrected to include Dr [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13687676/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149239764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junfeng Lv, Qiaoya Zhao, Yanhan Liu, Min Kang, Bai Wei, Yufeng Li, Huaiying Xu
{"title":"Emergence of <i>Acholeplasma laidlawii</i> Infection in Ducks: Isolation and Colonization Potential.","authors":"Junfeng Lv, Qiaoya Zhao, Yanhan Liu, Min Kang, Bai Wei, Yufeng Li, Huaiying Xu","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101056","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Acholeplasma laidlawii</i> is a <i>Mycoplasma</i> species widely distributed in the environment. It is often regarded as an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing respiratory infections in animals and humans. To date, only a few studies have reported <i>A. laidlawii</i> infection in poultry. In the present study, an <i>A. laidlawii</i> strain was isolated from the lungs and trachea of diseased ducks presenting with air sac lesions. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolate was susceptible to tylvalosin, tylosin, and valnemulin, with relatively low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The pathogenicity of the isolate was evaluated using specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ducks via subcutaneous inoculation. No clinical signs were observed during the experimental period. Oral and cloacal swabs, as well as tissue samples, were tested by PCR. The results showed that the pathogen was detectable in swabs from 5 to 21 days post-inoculation (dpi), and all lung and tracheal samples from infected ducks tested positive. Histopathological examination of the lungs and trachea revealed pathological changes in both tissues. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that <i>A. laidlawii</i> was capable of colonizing ducks and inducing mild histopathological changes, suggesting that this pathogen might pose an epidemiological risk in duck farming. Furthermore, these results indicate that <i>A. laidlawii</i> could colonize ducks, underscoring the need for continued surveillance to monitor for emerging pathogens in ducks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ekaterina S Kladchenko, Daria S Lavrichenko, Viktoria A Uppe, Elizaveta A Bogacheva, Ekaterina A Vodiasova, Elina S Chelebieva
{"title":"Gene Expression as a Molecular Component of the Physiological Response to Mechanical Shell Damage in the Pacific Oyster <i>Magallana gigas</i>.","authors":"Ekaterina S Kladchenko, Daria S Lavrichenko, Viktoria A Uppe, Elizaveta A Bogacheva, Ekaterina A Vodiasova, Elina S Chelebieva","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101051","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shell damage is common in bivalves and initiates repair processes that may affect the physiological state of the organism. We examined temporal changes in the expression of genes related to energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and innate immunity in the mantle and gills of the Pacific oyster <i>Magallana gigas</i> during 14 days following experimental shell damage. In the mantle, <i>PDK1</i> expression increased on day 1, while on day 7 both <i>PDK1</i> and <i>IDH</i> expression decreased. The latter period was also characterized by decreased expression of the antioxidant defense-related genes <i>Mn-SOD</i> and <i>GPx</i> and the immune-related gene <i>TNF-2</i>. In the gills, fewer changes were observed: <i>IDH</i> and <i>IL-17-3</i> expression decreased on day 1, whereas <i>Toll-1</i> expression decreased on day 14. No significant differences were detected for the remaining analyzed genes. Thus, significant gene expression differences between shell-damaged and control oysters were detected at different sampling times and showed distinct patterns in the mantle and gills. The mantle showed an early change in the expression of an energy metabolism-related gene, followed by concurrent changes in the expression of genes associated with energy metabolism, antioxidant defense, and immune regulation on day 7. By day 14, no significant differences in the expression of the analyzed mantle genes were detected between shell-damaged and control oysters. The more limited and temporally distinct changes observed in the gills indicate that the gene expression response to shell damage differed between the mantle and gills.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149274056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xinyi Li, Zhenghao Ye, Nijing Lei, Shaohua Pu, Huashan Yi, Xianping Ma
{"title":"Advances in Bluetongue Virus Antigenicity and Vaccine Strategies: Progress and Perspectives.","authors":"Xinyi Li, Zhenghao Ye, Nijing Lei, Shaohua Pu, Huashan Yi, Xianping Ma","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101049","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants caused by the Bluetongue virus (BTV). The development of safe and broad-spectrum vaccines represents the most effective approach for disease control. This review comprehensively elaborates recent advances in BTV research, including etiological characteristics, antigenic epitopes and immunity, inactivated vaccines (IVs), live attenuated vaccines (LAVs), virus-like particle vaccines (VLPs), viral vectored vaccines, subunit vaccines, disabled infectious single cycle (DISC) vaccines, and disabled infectious single animal (DISA) vaccines, providing valuable references for further investigations on BTV antigenic epitopes and vaccine development. Despite this progress, several critical limitations remain. Many next-generation vaccines improve safety and DIVA compatibility at the cost of reduced immunogenicity, and most novel platforms are evaluated mainly in mouse models with few field trials in natural target species. Moreover, owing to the serotype-specific nature of BTV, most vaccines still fail to provide broad-spectrum immunity. Future efforts should therefore prioritize target-species validation, conserved T-cell antigens such as NS1/NS2, and multivalent or chimeric vaccine design.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709910/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muhammet Enis Yonar, Mücahit Eroğlu, Ünal İspir, Sibel Silici, Seda Özcan, Feyza Karahüseyinoğlu, Tuba Çakmak Duran, Cemal Orhan, Serpil Mişe Yonar
{"title":"Beyond Seizure Suppression: Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid Improve Anxiety-like and Cognitive Behaviors in PTZ-Challenged Zebrafish.","authors":"Muhammet Enis Yonar, Mücahit Eroğlu, Ünal İspir, Sibel Silici, Seda Özcan, Feyza Karahüseyinoğlu, Tuba Çakmak Duran, Cemal Orhan, Serpil Mişe Yonar","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101050","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epilepsy is associated with recurrent seizures and behavioral and cognitive disturbances, highlighting the importance of assessing behavioral outcomes alongside seizure severity. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has shown neuroprotective activity, whereas evidence for the neurobehavioral effects of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) remains limited. This study investigated their individual and combined dietary effects on seizure-like behavior and behavioral test performance in adult zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) challenged with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Fish received experimental diets for 8 weeks before exposure to 15 mM PTZ. A dietary valproic acid group was included as a comparator. Outcomes included behavioral seizure scores, the area under the seizure score-time curve (AUC), and performance in the novel tank diving and Y-maze tests. Compared with PTZ alone, CAPE, 10-HDA, and their combination reduced seizure scores and AUC values and increased upper-zone and novel-arm exploration (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The combined group spent more time in the novel arm than either single-compound group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), although its advantages varied across endpoints and pharmacological synergy was not established. Overall, dietary CAPE and 10-HDA were associated with lower behavioral seizure scores and improved test performance following acute PTZ challenge. Further studies are needed to distinguish these responses from independent effects on baseline behavior and the influence of seizure severity and motor function.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruoxu Wang, Yiming Xie, Renwu Zhou, Jie Zhang, Hongrui Guo, Ya Wang, Junliang Deng, Huidan Deng
{"title":"Effects of Resveratrol, Quercetin and Esculin on Inflammatory Injury and Apoptosis of IPEC-J2 Cells Induced by Soybean 7S Globulin.","authors":"Ruoxu Wang, Yiming Xie, Renwu Zhou, Jie Zhang, Hongrui Guo, Ya Wang, Junliang Deng, Huidan Deng","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101048","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soybean is the primary protein source for weaned piglets; however, soybean 7S globulin can induce allergic enteritis and diarrhea and may cause death. Antibiotic feed additives have been used to control these symptoms, but their use increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting an urgent need for alternatives. Polyphenol-rich phytochemicals such as resveratrol, quercetin, and esculin exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities; however, whether they protect against soybean 7S globulin-induced intestinal epithelial injury, and through which mechanisms, remains unclear. This study investigated how soybean 7S globulin injures porcine jejunal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells and evaluated the protective effects of these three compounds against inflammatory injury and apoptosis. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay; inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indicators were measured by ELISA and microplate assays; apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry; and gene and protein expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Soybean 7S globulin (5 mg/mL) reduced IPEC-J2 cell viability, impaired antioxidant defenses, and induced inflammatory injury and apoptosis via the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. All three compounds alleviated these effects; notably, 0.625 mg/L resveratrol, 2.5 mg/L quercetin, and 20 mg/L esculin exerted the strongest protection by attenuating oxidative stress, regulating apoptosis-related gene expression, and mitigating apoptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709556/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149273807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"L-Carnitine Supplementation in Overweight Dogs: An Uncontrolled Pilot Study on Nutrient Digestibility, Metabolic Health, and Body Condition.","authors":"Oguzhan Kahraman, Zekeriya Safa Inanc, Tugba Melike Parlak, Metin Celik, Samed Damar, Burak Dik","doi":"10.3390/vetsci13101046","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vetsci13101046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>L-carnitine supports mitochondrial fatty acid transport and has been proposed for weight management, but its short-term effects in overweight dogs are unclear. This pilot study aimed to generate preliminary, hypothesis-generating data on these effects, including possible dose-response patterns, to inform the design of a future randomized, placebo-controlled trial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-one Golden Retriever dogs (8-10 years) were assigned to three groups of seven: a control diet group (BCS < 7) receiving no supplementation, receiving no supplementation, and two overweight groups (BCS ≥ 7) receiving 1 g/day or 2 g/day oral L-carnitine for 30 days. Digestibility, faecal dry matter and consistency, BCS, body weight, appetite (4-day monadic feeding test), and serum biochemical, endocrinological and oxidative-status parameters were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BCS, as assessed by a blinded investigator, decreased from baseline at both doses (<i>p</i> < 0.05), more markedly at 2 g/day; however, body weight remained unchanged throughout the study period. Food intake during the post-supplementation appetite test was lower at 2 g/day than in the healthy reference group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), though no pre-supplementation baseline appetite measurement was available for comparison. Serum cholesterol decreased and total antioxidant status (TAS) increased at both doses by day 30 (<i>p</i> < 0.05); however, HDL also decreased at both doses and triglycerides increased at 2 g/day, indicating that lipid profile changes were not uniformly favourable. Insulin decreased at both doses, and visfatin decreased significantly at 2 g/day (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes in digestibility were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this uncontrolled pilot study, short-term L-carnitine supplementation was associated with dose-related within-group changes in selected metabolic indicators in overweight dogs, without measurable weight loss within 30 days. Notably, the absence of uniformly favourable lipid profile changes and the lack of an untreated overweight control group limit interpretation. These findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and support the rationale for a future placebo-controlled trial, rather than establishing a definitive treatment effect, before L-carnitine can be recommended as an adjunct to longer-term canine obesity-management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23694,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Sciences","volume":"13 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13709912/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149274169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}