Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of heart muscle that results in a decreased ability of the heart to pump blood. The prognosis for DCM is often poor, with a less than 50% survival rate one year after clinical signs develop, unless a reversible underlying cause is identified. There is no available cure for Dilated Cardiomyopathy, current techniques focus on extending survival time as long as possible. However the focus of this clinical trial is to evaluate a potential curative treatment for cardiomyopathy in the Doberman Pinscher.

Osteosarcoma is a common cancer diagnosed in dogs, particularly in large breed dogs. While several chemotherapy protocols have been shown to provide modest management of the onset of metastasis (spread of cancer), we are continuously looking for additional treatments that may extend survival time. Carboplatin is a widely accepted chemotherapy agent used in treatment of osteosarcoma. The results of this study will allow us to determine if dogs can successfully tolerate carboplatin and a new drug called Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor) in a combination protocol.

Diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis in dogs is challenging due to the fact that the symptoms are not specific for this disease. Coccidioidomycosis can be diagnosed via a biopsy however the most common method is testing for antibodies to the fungus. These tests are often sent to third party labs delaying confirmation of the disease. This study looks to evaluate a potential point of care rapid test which would be able to provide a positive or negative result indicating the presence or absence of antibodies, respectively, within 30-60 minutes. The diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis can be difficult because clinical signs overlap with many other respiratory tract disorders and dogs can have positive Valley Fever antibody titers without active clinical infection. Acute phase proteins are useful biomarkers for many other disorders and our hope is to determine whether they can facilitate making a diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in dogs. For additional details or questions please contact Dr. Jaffey (jjaffe@midwestern.edu).

Canine chronic bronchitis and eosinophilic lung disease are inflammatory diseases characterized by cough for > 2 months without another identifiable cause. Dogs with chronic bronchitis have persistent airway neutrophilic inflammation. The foundation of long-term therapy is corticosteroids. Oral prednisone is commonly used but has a litany of possible adverse effects. Inhaled steroids is an alternative to avoid the adverse effects of prednisone but the only available option is fluticasone. This medication is expensive and has variable efficacy. Inhaled budesonide is a medication used in humans to treat a similar airway disorder and is a fraction of the cost. This study aims to investigate the benefit of inhaled budesonide on respiratory tract symptoms in dogs with inflammatory airway disorders.

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs with few treatment options available. Traditional injectable chemotherapeutic drugs have been used to extend quality of life, achieve clinical remissions, and slow cancer progression, but are not feasible options for many families. Additional safe, low cost therapies are needed for canine patients. Multi-agent chemotherapy plus prednisone (an oral steroid pill) is the standard treatment. However, this is not a viable option for many families with affected dogs. Cyclophosphamide is also given by mouth, inexpensive, and part of the standard of care chemotherapy protocol for dogs with lymphoma, but it's effectiveness as a single agent has not been well-studied or reported. We want to learn about what happens when prednisone, an antibiotic, and cyclophosphamide are used together. Our goal is to develop a well-tolerated, effective, oral chemotherapy protocol as an alternative for families that want to avoid injectable chemotherapy.

The sinus node is the major pacemaker of the heart. In dogs, disease of the sinus node can result in slow heart rates that requires pacemaker implantation. The goal of this study is to characterize the electrical properties of the sinus node in dogs with slow heart rates that require pacemakers.