Janice O’Brien, DVM, MPH, DACVMP, discusses her research in dog nutrition, in this interview with dvm360. 

The Role of Food Frequency Questionnaires in Veterinary Research and beyond

At the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, 

, a United States Army veteran and current PhD student at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. In the 

, O’Brien discusses the study “Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Use in Dog Nutrition Research” that she and her research team conducted.

In this video, O’Brien, talks about the value of validating tools like FFQs for veterinary research and clinical practice. Additionally, she shares details about another ongoing study focused on assessing owners’ accuracy in reporting grain-free diets, which could also have important implications for understanding health outcomes in dogs.

Below is the transcript of the interview:

I think it's very important, just in general, to validate whatever tools you're using to do research—that's just good science. But it's good to know because the Dog Aging Project wants to do these very long-term studies of different, not just diet exposures, I mean, they're doing it for lots of different things, but on the diet side, we want to know well, ‘How good is our survey at capturing this data? So, what sort of research questions can we ask?’

So, for example, it probably is perfectly fine to do longitudinal studies using the primary diet component, whatever questions those might entail. You know, maybe total calories consumed that [are] coming from a primary diet—all of those are probably going to be pretty accurate in terms of the outcomes that you measure versus doing something with, for example, dairy. If you wanted to do groups of dogs that reportedly consumed dairy versus didn't, that's probably going to be less accurate because we found that that was extremely not accurate on the survey versus the real world.

Using the food frequency questionnaire data is going to be a huge follow up. So, using the data that was collected with it to do those sorts of studies to say, ‘Okay, well, we know that dogs that might be consuming one type of diet versus another, and what are the differences in their health outcomes?’ Those are, those are huge studies that we're excited about doing.

Are there any other projects you’re currently working on?

We're doing, like a reporting accuracy of grain free diets. And so that one's also really exciting to me, just the ‘How accurate are owners at reporting whether their dog is on a grain free diet or not?’ and how that impacts whatever findings you're trying to look at, whether that's cardiac outcomes or skin outcomes, whatever that might be.

This transcript was lightly edited for improved clarity

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Janice O’Brien, DVM, MPH, DACVMP, discusses her research in dog nutrition in this interview with dvm360 at the 2025 ACVIM Forum. 

The role of food frequency questionnaires in veterinary research and beyond

Researchers recently discovered a genetic mutation in a Bengal kitten that mirrors a rare human condition called developmental and epileptic encephalopathy type 50 (DEE50). This severe neurometabolic disorder results from mutations in the 

 gene, which plays a key role in making pyrimidine nucleotides, essential components of DNA, RNA, and other molecules the body needs to function. When the 

 gene fails, the body cannot produce enough of these nucleotides, which leads to seizures, anemia, and developmental delays. In humans, clinicians treat DEE50 with uridine, a supplement that bypasses the defective metabolic pathway.

The 4-month-old Bengal kitten began having seizures at 13 weeks. These episodes included body stiffness, facial twitching, and drooling. The kitten also showed abnormal behavior and episodes of reduced consciousness. Veterinarians performed blood tests, MRI scans, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, but they found no clear cause. The kitten responded only partially and temporarily to antiepileptic drugs, which suggested an underlying genetic or metabolic problem. With no effective treatments available and the kitten’s quality of life declining, the owners chose humane euthanasia.

After euthanasia, the veterinary team investigated further. They reviewed all test results, which showed mild changes in blood cells but no major abnormalities. Suspecting a genetic disorder, they sequenced the kitten’s genome. The sequencing revealed a rare mutation in the 

 gene (XP_011279586.1:p.Ser2015Asn). This mutation affects a region of the CAD protein critical to its structure and function.

To test whether the mutation disrupted CAD activity, the researchers used a human 

-knockout (KO) cell line. This cell line cannot grow without uridine unless researchers restore CAD function. When they introduced wild-type human 

 into the cells, the cells grew in uridine-free media. However, cells with the Ser2015Asn mutation failed to grow, proving that the variant destroyed CAD function.

Next, the team screened 110 Bengal cats to see how common the mutation was in the breed. They found 4 healthy cats with only 1 copy of the mutation, showing that the variant exists at low frequency. They found no cats with 2 copies of the mutation, which supports a recessive inheritance pattern. These findings prompted the researchers to recommend genetic screening in Bengal cats to help breeders avoid producing affected kittens.

Although the kitten never received uridine therapy, the findings from human studies and the KO cell experiment suggest that the supplement might have helped. In human patients, uridine has reversed seizures and improved developmental outcomes by using an alternative, CAD-independent pathway to create uridine monophosphate (UMP). This salvage pathway bypasses the defective step in pyrimidine synthesis.

This case marks the first documented instance of 

 deficiency in a cat. The Bengal kitten displayed key features of DEE50, including early-onset seizures, abnormal behavior, and resistance to standard antiepileptic medications. Although the kitten was euthanized before the disease could fully progress, the clinical signs already matched the human condition. This discovery gives scientists a spontaneous large animal model to study DEE50 and explore new treatment options, especially valuable given the limitations of existing rodent models.

By identifying this mutation in cats, the researchers expanded the known impact of 

 mutations beyond humans. Their work highlights the importance of cross-species genetic research and reinforces the value of animal models in rare disease studies. This Bengal kitten’s case not only opens new paths for veterinary treatment but also provides a powerful tool for understanding and treating DEE50 in humans.

 is a 2026 PharmD candidate studying veterinary pharmacy at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Kaczmarska A, Christen M, del Caño-Ochoa F, et al. Epileptic encephalopathy in a young Bengal cat caused by 

 2025;15:13506. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-98414-0

Articles

An investigation highlights the importance of cross-species genetic research and the value of animal models in rare disease studies.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy type 50 is found in a Bengal kitten

FDA officials have approved a generic drug for the treatment of canine and feline skin infections. Cefovecin Sodium for Injection is sponsored by Qilu Animal Health Products Co in Shandong, China.

Cefovecin Sodium for Injection is an antimicrobial drug used to treat infections, abscesses, and wounds caused by certain bacterial strains. It is only available with a prescription from a licensed veterinarian and is supplied as a multiuse vial equal to 80 mg/mL when reconstituted with 10 mL of sterile water for injection.

The generic drug contains cefovecin sodium, the same active ingredient in Convenia (Zoetis Inc), which was approved by the FDA in 2008. Cefovecin Sodium for Injection does not contain inactive ingredients that may significantly affect the bioavailability of cefovecin sodium, according to the FDA.

Investigational drug aims to treat equine skin cancer

According to Zoetis, Convenia is indicated for skin infections in dogs caused by susceptible strains of 

 (group G). These infections include secondary superficial pyoderma, abscesses, and wounds.

In cats, Convenia is indicated for the treatment of skin infections caused by susceptible strains of 

These feline infections include wounds and abscesses.

FDA approves first generic cefovecin sodium injection treating skin infections in dogs and cats. FDA. June 24, 2025. Accessed June 24, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-approves-first-generic-cefovecin-sodium-injection-treating-skin-infections-dogs-and-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Convenia (cefovecin sodium). Zoetis. 2023. Accessed June 24, 2025. 

https://www.zoetisus.com/products/petcare/convenia/

Cefovecin Sodium for Injection is sponsored by Qilu Animal Health Products Co.

New generic drug for skin infections is approved by the FDA

During this video with dvm360's chief veterinary officer Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, 

Video interview with dvm360

During this interview with Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer, dvm360, Caroline Monk, DVM, DACVO, shares the importance of general practitioners performing basic eye tests before referring their cases to the specialist. Throughout the interview, the pair discusses all things ophthalmology from Schirmer tear test, fluorescein staining, simple ulcer treatments, and to why you should consult with an ophthalmologist when your brachycephalic canine patients have constantly wet eyes. Monk also explains to Christman that it is important to educate clients on the importance of hard plastic cones instead of the inflatable collars for patients postoperative eye protection.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity 

What are some things that we should be doing if we are definitely going to be referring our cases over to you? What are some pointers that you can give to those tuning in?

You know, I think it's never wrong to take a hand at trying to prescribe some eye drops, especially in like an emergent case like glaucoma or a corneal ulcer. Sometimes primary vets are nervous for prescribing something that we might say actually isn't needed. But typically, like with the price point of ophthalmics, it's not wrong to go ahead and write a prescription...then in there to get them started on something that might ...decline rapidly without intervention in the few days it takes to get in with us.

:  RIght? And let's talk about, in the [dermatology] world, we always talk about the dermatologic database, yeah. And in the eye world, walk me through about the basic...essentials that we should be doing [when] doing an eye exam.

The 3 basic tests that we love to have performed on every patient are a Schirmer tear test, tonometry and fluorescein staining. So those are kind of like the mainstays for our like, bare minimum database that we want to get on every eye. And we love to have that information ahead of time. We probably will repeat it when the pet comes back in, and that's no offense to whoever did the initial test. Things can change, and we like to just have our own numbers in house, but I do recommend, ideally, even if you're an experienced practitioner, you kind of know what's going on. It's really nice to get those numbers, because you can always uncover, you know, a new surprise with regards to what's going on with the patient. And it really is, each one has a very important role in determining next steps for us.

Want to learn more from the team at Blue Pearl Malvern? Check out dvm360's most recent installment of 

with Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology) and the rest of the oncology team, plus earn 1.0 CE credit!

Let's talk about ophthalmology

When Aliva Jones from Butler, Missouri, first saw Cardi, a young quarter horse, she did not expect the journey that they would embark on. A few weeks after Jones brought Cardi home, she began to notice that something was off with her horse during routine wound care.

“Cardi was stiff and couldn’t really walk, she had a prolapsed eyelid, and her face just didn’t look right,” Jones explained.

 “I was almost 100% sure it was tetanus. I had given her the first dose of the vaccine, but she wasn’t yet due for the second, so she wasn’t fully protected.”

Jones brought Cardi 3 hours away to the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center (VHC), where the team confirmed she had tetanus. Lynn Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVI (LAIM), noticed the severity of her condition and a team of equine experts began treatment to help save Cardi. Martin noted that she presented with classic neurologic signs of the disease, moved with a rigid and uneasy gait, a sardonic grin, and a protruding third eye. If a horse presents like this, they normally do not survive, according to Martin.

Cardi was brought to University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center where she was diagnosed with tetanus (Image courtesy of Alivia Jones)

Cardi was treated with standard supportive care to start, including wound management, intramuscular antitoxin injections, antimicrobials, tranquilizers, and supportive measures such as housing Cardi in a dark quiet stall. However, Martin began to realize that this was not enough, plus a nationwide shortage of the antitoxin made things more complicated for Cardi’s team.

The VHC team was able to secure multiple doses of the antitoxin and quickly began treatment, but by this point the toxin had reached Cardi’s central nervous system. However, in severe cases of tetanus, the intramuscular administration of the antitoxin is not very effective, which led Martin to propose a more aggressive approach: intrathecal injection. After the first dose, Cardi collapsed.

“For a second, I thought we lost her,” Martin said. “But we gave her fluids and kept monitoring everything. And then … she got back up.”

In order to keep Cardi moving in the right direction, Marin proposed a novel approach to improve the treatment, placing an indwelling intrathecal catheter to deliver the antitoxin in a safer, slower, and smaller repeated doses. In collaboration with John Dodam, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVAA, the team at VHC performed the delicate procedure. This innovative procedure was the key to Cardi’s lifesaving treatment because administering the antitoxin in smaller more controlled doses can help avoid severe reactions that are noted with the initial large injection, allowing treatment to go on without complications.

Over 6 treatments her stiffness eased, the tension left her face, and she began to walk, eat, and trot again. She was able to eventually return home to continue her recovery journey.

“It was incredible,” Martin explained. “In all my years, I’ve never seen a horse come back from Tetanus like this. Cardi beat the odds because everyone — faculty, interns, students, residents and the anesthesia team — came together for a total team effort.”

“As far as I know, this is the first time this procedure has ever been done,” Martin said. “It’s rare to encounter something entirely new in practice, and moments like this remind me why I became a veterinarian,” Martin concluded.

Childress N. Breakthrough care at Mizzou’s Veterinary Health Center gives horse a second chance at life. Show Me Mizzou. June 23, 2025. Accessed June 24, 2025. https://showme.missouri.edu/2025/breakthrough-care-at-mizzous-veterinary-health-center-gives-horse-a-second-chance-at-life/

The first-of-its-kind procedure saved the life of Cardi, a young horse that was diagnosed with tetanus.

Breakthrough treatment saves horse at Mizzou 

Hip luxation occurs when the femoral head moves from its position in the acetabulum to a resting position that is either craniodorsal or caudoventral.

To prevent this from occurring, the ligament of the head of the femur, the dorsal acetabular rim, and the joint capsule act as major stabilizers of the hip.

 Two of these stabilizers must be disrupted in order for the hip to luxate. Hip luxation is common in canines, accounting for up to 90% of all joint luxations, most being craniodorsal (78%).

Upon presentation, typically, dogs will be non–weight bearing in the affected limb with adduction of the femur and external rotation of the stifle, swelling over the coxofemoral joint, and shortening of the affected limb. Gentle palpation may reveal crepitus in the affected hip. The orthopedic exam should specifically include thumb and triangle tests.

The thumb test requires the thumb to be placed in the ischiatic notch while externally rotating the femur. If the thumb is not displaced, the joint is likely luxated.

 The triangle test begins with pointing at the craniodorsal aspect of the iliac wing, the tuber ischii, and the greater trochanter. This should resemble a triangle with the tip pointing distally. If the greater trochanter of the femur is above the line connecting the iliac wing and the tuber ischii, the hip is luxated.  Positive tests indicate that further examination of the joint is necessary. Following physical exam, sedation should be administered and pelvic radiographs obtained.

Orthogonal radiographs of the pelvis are useful to confirm luxation and assess direction of luxation, conformation of the joint (hip dysplasia), or presence of fracture of the acetabulum, fracture of the capital femoral physis, fracture of the head or neck of the femur, or avascular necrosis of the femoral head (Legg-Calv.-Perthes disease).

Treatment options may vary depending on the patient’s history and radiographic findings. It is important to determine whether luxation is acute or chronic.

When treating craniodorsal hip luxation, open and closed reduction are considered. Closed reduction and Ehmer sling placement should be attempted in acute cases that do not have complicating factors, while surgical therapies may be indicated if hip dysplasia, fractures, or chronic luxation is present.

Closed reduction should be attempted in patients that present without fractures and good hip conformation. Closed reduction and Ehmer sling placement should take place as soon as possible, ideally within the first 4 to 5 days of luxation, to decrease the likelihood of reluxation and complications.

This requires an epidural block and heavy sedation but preferably general anesthesia, as the procedure can be painful and muscle contraction may result in an inability to reduce the luxation.

To reduce a luxated hip, the dog should be placed in lateral recumbency with the affected limb facing up. A towel is placed around the dog’s inguinal region, while an assistant stands on the dorsal side of the dog and pulls the towel toward them while the clinician provides distal traction and external rotation of the femur. Then, internal rotation will place the femoral head back in the acetabulum when combined with abduction.

 After closed reduction, the joint should be carefully moved through range of motion while maintaining medially directed pressure on the greater trochanter to remove clots, ligament, and joint capsule from the joint space. The joint should be assessed for crepitus during the range of motion test, which should not be present after successful reduction. Once the joint is reduced, stability must be assessed, and an Ehmer sling should be placed to help keep the joint reduced by increasing coverage of the femoral head by abduction, internal rotation, and hip flexion Radiographs following sling placement should be obtained to ensure appropriate seating of the femoral head. The Ehmer sling should be in place for 10 to 14 days with strict cage rest to allow healing of periarticular soft tissues and joint capsule.

 However, Ehmer slings have a high risk of bandage sores and are generally not well tolerated. Up to 50% of cases will require surgical intervention because of reluxation.

Open reduction is indicated in cases of reluxation, in cases where the joint remains unstable after reduction, or if closed reduction cannot be achieved.

 Additionally, open reduction is indicated with avulsion fracture of the femoral head or if the patient presented with concurrent injuries requiring immediate return to mobility. The specific procedure performed is chosen based on the patient’s age, surgeon’s preference, severity of joint capsule damage, and assessment of the joint conformation. Open stabilization techniques include capsulorrhaphy, prosthetic capsule, transposition of the greater trochanter, transarticular pinning, fascia lata loop stabilization, extra-articular iliofemoral suture, pelvic osteotomy (only in dogs typically less than 1 year of age, with recurrent luxation and a mild degree of hip dysplasia), or toggle pin stabilization.

When capsulorrhaphy is performed, it is reported to have a success rate of 83% to 90%.

 However, in many cases, the capsule is severely torn and crushed, preventing a strong capsulorrhaphy. Other techniques are thus preferred or added to achieve stabilization, particularly in larger patients. The prosthetic capsule technique consists of screws inserted in the dorsal acetabular rim at 2 different points, with suture connecting the screws to a tunnel in the femoral neck. This technique has a success rate of 65% to 100%.

 Iliofemoral suture stabilization requires a tunnel to be drilled in the ilium, just cranial to the acetabulum, and 1 tunnel in the femur at the base of the greater trochanter. The suture is then passed lateral to medial through the ilium, and cranial to caudal through the femur, then caudally to cranial beneath the insertion of the gluteal muscles on the greater trochanter. One study reported a variation to the technique with an anchor screw placed in the ilium.

 In young animals, a technique such as the iliofemoral suture may be advantageous because it is an extra-articular, absorbable suture and therefore can decrease the risk of degenerative joint disease and infection caused by intra-articular implants.

 An absorbable suture is used that decreases in tensile strength over time, allowing the surrounding soft tissues to compensate.

Lastly, toggle pin stabilization involves a hole drilled from lateral to medial in the acetabulum and another tunnel drilled through the center of the femoral neck to exit just below the third trochanter. Anchors are then seated on the medial aspect of the acetabulum and the caudal aspect of the femur and connected with suture to hold the joint in place. This technique has a reluxation rate of 10% to 14.8%.

 The results of a cadaveric study showed recently that arthroscopic-assisted toggle pin placement is possible.

 Toggle pin stabilization is the only known technique that enables early weight bearing of the affected limb postoperatively and, therefore, is a good option when the patient has concurrent injuries.

In instances of poor hip conformation or nonreconstructable fractures, salvage procedures are typically indicated. Depending on the owner and the patient, total hip arthroplasty or a femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO) may be performed. Total hip arthroplasty results in reconstruction of the joint with a relatively low complication rate of 6%, but reluxation is still possible.

 FHO results in the absence of a true joint, and stability relies on compensation of the surrounding tissues. Although this means there is no risk of reluxation, FHO should not be performed in cases where the coxofemoral joint may be restored.

 Small breed dogs tend to do well with FHO, but recovery and outcome may be less favorable in large breeds or heavy dogs.

Techniques such as DeVita pin placement, external fixator, and transarticular pinning are less commonly used because of high complication rates.

 Other techniques have been described (fascia lata loop stabilization, greater trochanter transposition, transposition of sacro-tuberous ligament, etc) but for which there is generally less hindsight and tend tobe outdated.

The prognosis after hip luxation is variable, depending on the type of reduction, the delay between the trauma and reduction, the procedure performed, and the severity of the trauma. A varying degree of degenerative joint disease can be expected. The most common complication across studies after treatment was reluxation. That is why it is important to carry out a thorough assessment, taking into account all the relevant information (history, age, obesity, concurrent injuries, hip dysplasia, etc) in order to choose the most appropriate technique for each patient. The decision chart (

) is a useful tool for the management of coxofemoral luxation.

Harper T. Coxofemoral luxation: tips for closed reductions. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine. April 13, 2021. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2021/04/13/coxofemoral-luxation-tips-for-closed-reductions/

Wardlaw JL, McLaughlin R. Hip luxation. In: Johnston SA, Tobias KM, eds. 

Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal. 2nd ed.

DeCamp CE, Johnston SA, Déjardin LM, Schaefer SL. The hip joint. In DeCamp CE, Johnston SA, Déjardin LM, Schaefer SL, eds. 

Brinker, Piermattei and Flo’s Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair. 5th ed

Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult. 2nd ed.

Basher AWP, Walter MC, Newton CD. Coxofemoral luxation in the dog and cat. 

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Bone DL, Walker M, Cantwell HD. Traumatic coxofemoral luxations in dogs: results of repair. 

. 1984;13(4):263-270. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.1984.tb00807.x

Braden TD, Johnson ME. Technique and indications of a prosthetic capsule for repair of recurrent and chronic coxofemoral luxations. 

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Johnson ME, Braden TD. A retrospective study of prosthetic capsule technique for the treatment of problem cases of dislocated hips. 

. 1987;16(5):346-351. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.1987.tb00965.x

Redolfi G, Grand JG. Complications and long-term outcomes after prosthetic capsule replacement in 15 dogs with traumatic hip luxation. 

. 2023;59(2):59-68. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7244

Rocha AG, Costa RC, Morato GO, et al. Iliofemoral technique modification using an anchor screw as treatment of canine traumatic hip luxation—case report. 

. 2020;72(6): 2252-2258. doi:10.1590/1678-4162-12037

Martini FM, Simonazzi, B, Del Bue M. Extra-articular absorbable suture stabilization of coxofemoral luxation in dogs. 

. 2001;30(5):468-475. doi:10.1053/jvet.2001.25875

Mathews ME, Barnhart MD. Risk factors for reluxation after toggle rod stabilization for treatment of coxofemoral luxation in 128 dogs. 

. 2021;50(1):142-149. doi:10.1111/vsu.13498

Trostel CT, Fox DB. Coxofemoral joint luxation in dogs treated with toggle rod stabilization: a multi-institutional retrospective review with client survey. 

. 2020;56(2):83-91. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6937

Rivenburg RE, Murphy SM, Jones CT, Martin KW. Arthroscopicassisted toggle rod stabilization in canine coxofemoral luxation: a cadaveric study. 

. 2022;35(5):298-304. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748880

Allaith S, Tucker LJ, Innes JF, et al. Outcomes and complications reported from a multiuser canine hip replacement registry over a 10-year period. 

. 2023;52(2):196-208. doi:10.1111/vsu.13885

Harper TAM. Femoral head and neck excision. V

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. October 1, 2011. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/hip-luxation-proceedings

The authors guide clinicians through the care of dogs with the condition.