Small Animal Surgery

Welcome to the Small Animal Surgery Studies Page!

If you would like more information about a study, or think you would like to enroll your pet, contact the person listed under the study. You may also Contact Us at the CIC.

Non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Current Status:  Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator: Vicki Wilke, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Contact:
Dr. Vicki Wilke: 612-625-4966
Study Monitor Alexa Hart: e-mail hart0318@umn.edu 

ELIGIBILITY

• Dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture will be considered as study participants.
• Study participants must be willing to have a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) performed on the affected knee

• Study participants must meet the following inclusion criteria:
  • Body weight > 15 kg (33 pounds)
  • Body condition score > 6/9
  • Essentially normal baseline CBC, biochemistry profile, urinalysis
  • No prior surgery for CCLR in dog’s medical history
  • No use of steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 5 days

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY

• Two randomly assigned groups: Non-surgical treatment group (weight loss plan, physical therapy, NSAIDS) and Surgical group (same plus TPLO surgery)
• Progress followed with a client questionnaire, clinical assessment by an orthopedic surgeon, DEXA scan to measure body fat and muscle mass, gait analysis and radiographs of affected knee at four time points:  the initial visit, at 6 weeks, at 12 weeks and at 6 months.
• Client is responsible for initial exam, baseline labwork, initial radiographs and all costs associated with surgery if assigned to surgery group
• Study pays for recheck exams and radiographs, DEXA scans and gait analysis, Rehab program of initial plus 6 sessions, 3-month supply of Deramaxx, individually tailored nutrition plan and 3-month supply of weight management diet, CBC, chemistry and UA at week 12
• $100 payments at 12-week recheck and 6-month recheck

If you have a potential candidate for the study or have any further questions, please contact Dr. Wilke, Alexa Hart or Dr. Wucherer (see above).

 
Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (rhBMP-2) implanted in dogs with diaphyseal fractures

Current Status:  Enrollment closed.
Principal Investigator: Michael Conzemius, DVM, PhD, DACVS. 
Contact: Alexa Hart, phone: 612-624-5695, pager: 612-613-6979, email: hart0318@umn.edu

Fort Dodge Animal Health is developing Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (rhBMP-2) for the enhancement of fracture healing during the treatment and management of long bone diaphyseal fractures in dogs. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the product’s safety and effectiveness under clinical field conditions.

Enrolled cases are currently being seen for recheck visits. 

 
The genetics of injury to the cranial cruciate ligament in Newfoundlands and related breeds of dog

Current Status:  Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator:  Vicki Wilke, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Contact:  Alexa Hart, phone: 612-624-5695, email: hart0318@umn.edu

We are studying an orthopedic condition, cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR), that causes hind limb lameness in nearly 20% of dogs.  The study hypothesis is that mutations may exist in genes predisposing some dogs to CCLR.  Newfoundland dogs and related breeds are the focus of this study because they are at high risk for CCL injury, and previous study has shown that this is a hereditary condition.

New breeds added: Bernese Mountain Dogs, Swiss Mountain dogs, Great Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Rottweilers and Labrador Retrievers.

We are collecting blood samples for DNA from these breeds which are affected and unaffected with CCLR.  We are looking for dogs under 2 years old with CCLR, and over 8 years old without CCLR.  These samples will be searched for genetic markers that may serve as disease predictors.  These markers will then allow identification of carriers of CCLR, and potentially the reduction or elimination of CCLR from the dog population.

For more information or to enroll your pet, contact Alexa Hart (see above).

 
The study of the genetics of osteochondrosis dessicans in the Great Dane

Current Status:  Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator: Vicki Wilke, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Contact:  Alexa Hart, phone: 612-624-5695, email: hart0318@umn.edu

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental orthopedic disease that results in areas of cartilage that do not properly develop into bone. The abnormally thickened cartilage is prone to damage which can result in lameness, swelling of the joints, and osteoarthritis if fractured (a flap is formed, known as osteochondrosis dessicans, OCD). The Great Dane is considered a high risk breed for the development of OC.

We now need to collect DNA samples and, when available, pedigrees from affected Great Danes. Our hypothesis is that osteochondrosis in the Great Dane is a heritable condition and predisposition to OC is associated with individual gene defect(s). Owners are requested to provide a copy of the dog’s pedigree.

For more information or to enroll your pet, contact Alexa Hart (see above).

 
Canine Thyroid Carcinoma

Current Status:  Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator:  Vicki Wilke, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Contact:  Alexa Hart, phone: 612-624-5695, email: hart0318@umn.edu

Follicular thyroid carcinomas (a type of thyroid cancer) can be locally invasive and can spread to other locations in the body. There are currently no methods that are reliable to predict the outcome and prognosis for these tumors in dogs or people.  We aim to identify other factors, such as gene expression, that may more accurately predict prognosis in both species.  The study will evaluate normal thyroid tissue and two types of thyroid cancer, invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma and non-invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma, using genetic analysis to determine differences in gene expression between the types. 

Blood and tissue samples will be collected for genetic analysis from dogs undergoing treatment for thyroid carcinoma.

For more information or to enroll your pet, contact Alexa Hart (see above).

For more information about the Surgical Research Laboratory, please see our website:  http://www.cvm.umn.edu/vcs/surgery/srl/home.html