Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using a modified activity score to track acute pancreatitis in dogs
By Wachirodom, Veerada et al.·Published in Animals·2026·Endocrinology and Gastroenterology Unit, Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan Rd., Lat Yao, Jatujak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Clinical Utility of Adapted Modified Canine Activity Index (aMCAI) in Canine Acute Pancreatitis: A Prospective Observational Study
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 42 dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (a serious condition affecting the pancreas) were monitored using a new scoring system called the Adapted Modified Canine Activity Index (aMCAI) to assess their condition over time. The study found that dogs who did not survive had higher scores on this index compared to those who did, especially on the fifth day of monitoring. The aMCAI proved to be a useful tool for predicting which dogs were likely to recover, with a specific score indicating a very high chance of survival. This scoring system can help veterinarians track the progress of dogs with acute pancreatitis and make informed treatment decisions.
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Abstract
Assessing disease severity and prognosis in canine acute pancreatitis (AP) remains a major clinical challenge. This study evaluated the clinical utility of the Adapted Modified Canine Activity Index (aMCAI), a clinical scoring system refined from the original MCAI. A prospective observational study was conducted on 42 dogs diagnosed with AP, with aMCAI scores assessed on Days 1, 3, and 5. A linear mixed model (LMM) was used to analyze score progression over time and differences between survivors and non-survivors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the prognostic accuracy for 30 day survival. The LMM analysis revealed that non-survivors had significantly higher aMCAI scores than survivors (p = 0.035), and overall scores decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed poor discrimination on Days 1 and 3. However, on Day 5 the aMCAI demonstrated good prognostic performance (AUC = 0.813, p < 0.001). A cutoff value of ≥2.5 on Day 5 yielded 100% sensitivity, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.00 and a 100% negative predictive value, providing clinically relevant prognostic information. These findings suggest that the aMCAI is a practical tool for monitoring disease progression and may support the identification of dogs with a high likelihood of survival.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091292