C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by liver. The plasma concentration of CRP peaks around 48 hours following stimulation. A rapid decrease in CRP levels is observed when the stimuli end. Considering these characteristics of CRP, it is used to evaluate acute inflammatory responses in the clinics. In addition, as it reflects the degree of surgical trauma, measuring the CRP concentration is an effective method of evaluating tissue damage depending upon the surgical method. As CRP is also an acute-phase protein in dogs, the purpose of the present study was to compare the factors related to acute inflammatory responses between dogs underwent general and orthopedic surgery. A total of 135 dogs who underwent ovariohysterectomy (OHE), OHE in diagnosed with pyometra or stifle joint surgery were included in this study. All of groups showed increased CRP levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts on post-operative day (POD) 1-2. The CRP level in the stifle joint surgery group on POD 1-2 was significantly higher than that of the general surgery and it was increased about 16-fold compared to the pre-operative value. No significant difference in WBC counts was observed among the groups. Although a slight increase in the WBC count was observed on POD 1-2 in OHE in healthy dogs and joint surgery groups, it was near the reference range during follow-up. In pyometra, WBC counts was observed high level in measurement period. The degree of surgical trauma is not expected to be significant between non-corrective osteotomy and corrective osteotomy, as elevated WBC counts on period of measurement was in reference range. Although a higher level of post-operative serum CRP concentrations was observed in the stifle joint surgery group than other two groups. It rapidly decreased to a level similar to the pre-operative value if there were no post-operative complications. Therefore, measuring CRP levels at POD 3-4 can be more effective in evaluating acute inflammatory responses than WBC counts.

Key words : C-reactive protein, White blood cell, Inflammation, Stifle jont surgery, Dogs.