Ultrasonographic features of intestinal intussusception in 10 dogs

Records of dogs that had abdominal ultrasonography and surgical or pathological diagnosis of intestinal intussusception between February 1992 and June 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. Ultrasound images were reviewed with respect to appearance of the intussusception, suspected location, evidence of predisposing cause and concurrent lesions. Ten intussusceptions were found, affecting a variety of breeds. The mean (range) age of affected dogs was 2·5 (0·3 to seven) years (four females and six males) and the reported duration of clinical signs, 48 (one to 150) days. Intussusceptions were jejunojejunal (five dogs), ileocolic (three), caecocolic (one) and colocolic (one). A concentric ring sign was identified ultrasonographically in each dog and anatomical location predicted correctly in five instances. Additional ultrasonographic findings associated with intussusceptions included intestinal neoplasm in two dogs, enlarged abdominal lymph nodes in two, multiple mesenteric cysts in one and intestinal foreign body in a further dog. Thus, ultrasonography enables accurate diagnosis of intestinal intussusception and is a useful method for searching for concurrent or predisposing lesions.     

Partial cystectomy for urinary bladder neoplasia: surgical technique and outcome in 11 dogs

Partial cystectomy was performed in 11 dogs with bladder neoplasia (10 with transitional cell carcinoma and one with rhabdomyosarcoma). Between 40 and 70 per cent of the bladder was excised during the partial cystectomies. In eight dogs, all the grossly visible tumour was excised but on histopathological examination of the excised tissue, neoplastic tissue was found to extend to the surgical margins in four of these dogs. A ureteral stoma was excised with the tumour in four dogs necessitating ureteral reimplantation; one dog had both ureteral stomas excised and bilateral ureteral reimplantation. The bladder incision dehisced in two dogs, necessitating a second surgery. Six dogs were polla-kiuric after surgery. Pollakiuria resolved within two months in four dogs and persisted in two dogs. None was incontinent. Local tumour recurrence was suspected in nine dogs based on imaging studies and confirmed in five dogs during post mortem examination. Five dogs were euthanased two to seven months after surgery. Six dogs survived at least one year, two of these dogs remain alive at 17 and 27 months after surgery. It is concluded that partial cystectomy may provide local control of bladder neoplasia.     

Concurrent immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia in 21 dogs

The medical records of 21 dogs with concurrent immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (imha) and severe thrombocytopenia (defined as an automated platelet count of less than 50x10(9)/l, confirmed by the examination of a blood smear) were reviewed. Their mean (sd) age was 5.8 (2.5) years. When compared with the 24,759 dogs in the hospital population for the same period Airedale terriers and dobermanns appeared to be over-represented with odds ratios of 22.5 (95 per cent confidence interval [ci] 5.2 to 97.9) and 7.6 (95 per cent ci 1.8 to 32.7) respectively. The median duration of the dogs' clinical signs was seven days, with a range from one to 17 days. Eleven of the dogs had a history of a tendency to bleed, and 15 had evidence of bleeding when examined. Twenty of the 21 dogs had been treated with glucocorticoids, nine with vincristine, and seven with azathioprine. Their median stay in hospital was four days, with a range from one to 17 days. The median period for which they survived after admission to hospital was five days, with a range from one to 558 days, and 16 of the 21 dogs had died or been euthanased within 30 days of their admission.     

Clinical, radiological and pathological features of 12 Irish setters with canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency

The clinical, radiological and pathological findings in 12 dogs with canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) from six litters are described. All the dogs were younger than 15 weeks at admission, all had been febrile and 11 had been treated with antibiotics. Seven had been treated for omphalophlebitis. At admission, all had gingivitis, lymph node enlargement and profound neutrophilia. Ten dogs were radiographed and showed various skeletal lesions compatible with metaphyseal osteopathy, craniomandibular osteopathy and osteomyelitis. Four dogs had clinical signs of respiratory distress and seven exhibited a mild interstitial pneumonia at necropsy. Six dogs had skin wounds, with strikingly few neutrophils seen on stained sections. All dogs were euthanased before six months of age due to severe and incurable infections. The clinical signs, radiological features and haematology were strongly suggestive of CLAD. The diagnosis was confirmed by granulocyte function tests and flow cytometry, which revealed impaired adhesion, impaired C3b-mediated phagocytosis and absence of adhesion proteins CD11b/CD18.     

Retained surgical swabs in 13 dogs

To report the signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings and outcome in dogs and cats with retained swabs, medical records of dogs and cats that were referred to four referral centres were reviewed. Cases in which a retained surgical swab was identified during surgery at the referral hospital were selected for further study. The signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings and outcome in these cases were reviewed. Thirteen dogs with retained surgical swabs were included in the study. Bodyweight ranged from 9 to 45 kg. The initial surgery was a 'non-routine' abdominal procedure in seven dogs, ovariohysterectomy in five dogs and perineal hernia repair in one dog. Time from initial surgery to presentation at the referral centre ranged from four days to seven years. Treatment involved major surgery in eight of the 13 dogs. Outcome was excellent in 12 of 13 cases, one dog was euthanased.     

Retrospective study of 25 young weimaraners with low serum immunoglobulin concentrations and inflammatory disease

Twenty-five weimaraners with recurrent infections or inflammatory disease were investigated; their median age was four months (range two to 36 months), and 11 of them were male and 14 female. Twenty of them showed signs of lethargy, anorexia or pyrexia, 13 had been vomiting or had diarrhoea, 12 had shown signs of pain in the joints or bones and been lame, five had had reactions at the site of an injection, five had generalised lymphadenopathy, three had urinary tract infections and two had recurrent or severe pyoderma. They all had a lower concentration of one or more classes of serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) than the standard control ranges, and their mean concentration of IgG was significantly lower (P<0.005) than the mean concentration of IgG in 15 clinically normal weimaraners. Of 10 cases for which a complete vaccination history was available, nine had developed clinical signs within five days of being vaccinated. Follow-up data were available from 21 of the 25 dogs for a median period of 24.5 months. One dog died during a symptomatic episode, three were euthanased, six were alive at follow-up but had continued to show clinical signs and 11 had made a full recovery.     

Computed tomography diagnosis of eight dogs with brain infarction

Objective Medical records of eight dogs presenting with acute onset of neurological signs and a diagnosis of brain infarction as determined by computed tomography (CT) imaging were reviewed. Design Retrospective single-centre case review Results Ischaemic infarction in the territory of the rostral cerebellar artery was identified in three spaniel-breed dogs. All cerebellar infarcts were non-haemorrhagic. Telencephalic infarcts were identified in five dogs, in the territories of the middle cerebral artery (2/5) and rostral cerebral artery (3/5). One of these dogs had an ischaemic infarction, but all other infarctions appeared haemorrhagic. All dogs were geriatric (≥8 years old), with concurrent medical conditions identified in six dogs. One dog was euthanased after diagnosis because of the severity of its neurological signs and one dog was euthanased as a result of associated renal disease 2 months after diagnosis. Six dogs were alive at least 1 year after diagnosis. Conclusions CT is useful in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident in dogs, which can present as a spectrum of images with early changes in attenuation and subtle mass effects detected after infarction. CT is particularly sensitive for detecting haemorrhagic infarction, but under-represent ischaemic and lacunar infarctions when compared with MRI.     

Medical management of congenital portosystemic shunts in 27 dogs—a retrospective study

Case records of 27 dogs with medically managed congenital portosystemic shunts were reviewed. Fourteen were followed up by telephone questionnaires to the owners. Age, breed, sex, clinical signs and blood results were similar to previous studies. Weight and quality of life were stable or improved on treatment in all cases. Total serum protein concentration and alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities fell significantly during treatment. Fourteen dogs were euthanased, four were lost to follow-up and nine remained alive. Mean survival time for the dogs euthanased was 9.9 months. Mean follow-up period for the dogs still alive was 56.9 months and all had survived more than 36 months from diagnosis. Surviving dogs with intrahepatic shunts had a significantly shorter follow-up period than dogs with extrahepatic shunts. Two prognostic indicators were identified, age at initial signs and blood urea concentration on presentation, both correlating with survival time. It was demonstrated that a significant proportion of dogs with portosystemic shunts managed medically have a good prognosis.     

Insulin-secreting tumours of the canine pancreas: Clinical and pathological features of 11 cases

This paper describes the clinical and pathological features of 11 dogs with insulin-secreting tumours of the pancreas. All the dogs showed episodic weakness or collapse. The diagnosis was made on fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations, the insulimglucose ratio, and the results of an intravenous glucose tolerance test. Ten of the dogs had exploratory laparotomy, and partial pancreatectomy was performed in nine of the cases. One case was euthanased at surgery because of widespread metastases. The tumours were graded histologically and the results compared with the time to recurrence of clinical signs and postoperative survival time. Postoperative survival time for dogs which died or were euthanased as a direct result of tumour recurrence, and time to recurrence of clinical signs were calculated from actuarial survival curves. The median time to recurrence of clinical signs after surgery was 12 months (range from four to 16 months; mean time to recurrence of clinical signs 12 months). Two cases died of unrelated disease, without recurrence of hypoglycaemic signs. The median postoperative survival time was 14 months (range 10 to 33 months; mean survival time 15 months). There is a suggestion that tumours with a high mitotic count carried a worse prognosis.     

Medial Patellar Luxation in 16 Large Dogs A Retrospective Study

Unilateral medial patellar luxation was diagnosed in 10, and bilateral medial patellar luxation in six, large and giant-breed dogs (22 stifles). Lameness occurred in five dogs after trauma or surgery, and 11 dogs had no known predisposing history. The mean age at presentation was 25 months, and the mean time from initial onset of clinical signs to diagnosis was 13 weeks. All traumatic or iatrogenic luxations (five dogs) were unilateral. Luxations presumed to be congenital were unilateral in five dogs and bilateral in six. The grades of medial patellar luxation were I (1 stifle), II (11 stifles), III (9 stifles), and IV (1 stifle). Preoperative function was good (1 dog), fair (9 dogs), and poor (6 dogs). Surgical correction was performed in dogs with grades II, III, and IV luxations (21 stifles). Complications included one wound dehiscence and trochlear wedge migration, one pin loosening, and one persistent lameness caused by lymphoplasmacytic synovitis. Long-term follow-up was available in 13 dogs (18 stifles). Function was judged by owners to be excellent in seven dogs, good in five dogs, and poor in one dog. Surgical treatment of grades II and III luxations yielded good (8 stifles) and excellent (9 stifles) results, while one grade IV luxation had a poor long-term outcome.     

Long-term outcome of 56 dogs with nasal tumours treated with four doses of radiation at intervals of seven days

A retrospective study was undertaken on 56 dogs treated for nasal tumours by megavoltage radiotherapy with a hypofractionated schedule consisting of four doses of 9 Gy given at intervals of seven days. The dogs were followed until they died or were euthanased. The clinical signs had improved in 53 of the 56 dogs by the end of the treatment schedule. Mild acute radiation side effects were observed in the majority of the dogs but late radiation side effects were rare. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a median survival time after the final dose of radiation of 212 days. The one- and two-year survival rates were 45 per cent and 15 per cent. Fifty of the dogs were euthanased because the initial clinical signs recurred.     

Mycoplasma canis and urogenital disease in dogs in Norway

Mycoplasmas identified as Mycoplasma canis were isolated from nine dogs with clinical signs of urogenital disease in Norway over a period of 20 months. Some of the dogs had been treated unsuccessfully with antibiotics, and three were euthanased as a result of severe persistent disease. Seven of the dogs had a urinary tract infection, one had chronic purulent epididymitis and one had chronic prostatitis. Overt haematuria was frequently observed among the dogs with cystitis. M canis was isolated in pure culture from seven of the dogs and in mixed culture from the other two. In three cases the mycoplasma was cultivated only from urinary sediment, and it was typically obtained in smaller numbers than would be considered indicative of a urinary tract infection. In contrast with most mycoplasmas, the M canis isolated from all the dogs grew on ordinary blood agar plates used for routine bacteriological cultivation. Specific mycoplasma media were not used and the presence of other Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma species cannot be excluded.     

X-linked spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia tarda in the Danish-Swedish farm hound

In two litters from the same parents, three out of four males had an abnormally short leg and body length. Affected dogs showed signs of pain when moving, which could be eliminated by analgesia. On radiography, these animals had widened, radiolucent, irregularly bordered intervertebral disc spaces. When examined at seven months of age, the epiphyses appeared widened and irregular in shape and outline. General bone opacity in the vertebral column was lower in the affected male dogs than in the normal littermate. The affected dogs developed spondylosis and arthrosis of the larger limb joints. All affected dogs were euthanased on humane grounds, the eldest at the age of two years nine months. Based on the clinical and radiographic evidence, the condition seen in the male dogs described here resembles X-linked spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia tarda caused by a collagenopathy due to malformation of COL2A1 as seen in human beings.     

Lymphoma (malignant lymphoma, lymphosarcoma) in the dog

This report describes seven cases of canine lymphoma involving three German shepherd dogs, two boxers and two mongrels with a male to female ratio of 1–3 to 1. Their mean age and body weight was four years (range 1–5 to 8) and 31 kg (range 21 to 40), respectively. Six of the animals were euthanased at their owner's request and one died. Excessive lymph node enlargement, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, blood lymphocytosis and proteinuria were the most striking clinical and clinicopathological findings. All the cases except one presented systemic signs and three developed secondary leukaemia because of bone marrow involvement. The anatomical types were classified according to the World Health Organization's criteria as thymic (one dog) and generalised (six dogs) and the clinical stage as IV (four dogs) and V (three dogs). Extranodal lymphomas involving the kidneys, meninges and the alimentary tract were seen in two cases. Histologically, the lymphomas were classified as lymphoblastic in four dogs, and in the remaining animals as lymphoblastic with plasmacytoid differentiation, lymphocytic with plasmacytoid differentiation, and poorly differentiated (stem cell) with one type appearing in each dog.     

Myokymia and neuromyotonia in 37 Jack Russell terriers

The clinical and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and outcome of vermicular muscle contractions (myokymia) and generalized muscle stiffness (neuromyotonia) in 37 Jack Russell terriers were evaluated retrospectively. Thirty dogs were affected by both disorders, whereas seven were presented with myokymia and never developed neuromyotonia. Clinical signs started at the mean age of 8 months. Except for signs of myokymia and neuromyotonia, clinical and neurological examination was normal in all dogs. Thirty dogs demonstrated typical signs of hereditary ataxia.Changes in serum chemistry included increased creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations. Electromyographic abnormalities, especially in muscles showing macroscopically visible myokymia, consisted of semirhythmic bursts of doublet, triplet, or multiplet discharges of a single motor unit. The amplitudes varied between 80 μV and 1 mV and occurred with an interburst frequency between 10 and 40 Hz and an intraburst frequency between 150 and 280 Hz.Most dogs were treated with a sodium channel blocker with variable results. Seven dogs died (most likely because of hyperthermia) or were euthanased during a neuromyotonic attack; 15 dogs were euthanased due to worsening of clinical signs, or lack of or no long-lasting effect of medication, and three were euthanased for unknown or unrelated reasons. Nine dogs were lost to follow-up and three were still alive 5–10.5 years after the start of clinical signs. In conclusion, young Jack Russell terriers with myokymia and neuromyotonia should undergo a complete blood and electrophysiological examination. Long-term prognosis is not favourable.     

Chronic valvular disease in the cavalier King Charles spaniel in Sweden.

The prevalence of chronic valvular disease was studied in 494 cavalier King Charles spaniels with a mean (+/- sd) age of 3.0 +/- 2.7 years. Cardiac murmurs were detected in 65 (13.2 per cent) of the dogs. Among 61 cavalier King Charles spaniels with a mean age of 6.4 +/- 2.8 years, cardiac murmurs were detected in 32 (52 per cent). In both groups of dogs the prevalence of cardiac murmurs was low among dogs younger than three years (1.9 per cent) but increased with age (P < 0.001). The estimated ages at which 50 per cent of the dogs had developed murmurs were 7.5 and 6.2 years, respectively. When 39 of the 61 dogs were re-examined three years later, cardiac murmurs were detected in 28 (72 per cent), and the intensities of the murmurs had generally increased (P < 0.05). Nine (28 per cent) of the dogs which had previously had murmurs had been euthanased for signs of congestive heart failure whereas none of the dogs which had been free of murmurs had died from congestive heart failure. Animal insurance statistics from 1982 to 1990 (1983 excluded) for dogs less than 10 years old showed that claims for veterinary care or death or euthanasia were five times more common in the cavalier King Charles spaniel than in dachshunds (P < 0.001) and eight times more common than the mean for all other insured breeds (P < 0.001).     

Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of orbital neoplasia in dogs: a retrospective study of 44 cases

Forty-four dogs with confirmed orbital neoplasia were studied. Eighteen tumour types were represented and 95 per cent of the neoplasms were classified as malignant. The tumour types most commonly diagnosed were osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and nasal adenocarcinoma. Thirty-six per cent of the dogs had at least one clinical sign that was compatible with a diagnosis of orbital abscessation or cellulitis. Fifty-six per cent of the dogs, where follow-up information was available, were euthanased or had died within six months of diagnosis, while 19 per cent of the total were still alive after one year post-diagnosis. Cytological examination was diagnostic for orbital neoplasia in 49 per cent of the fine needle aspirates of the retrobulbar space. In contrast, 56 per cent of the non-surgical biopsies were diagnostic for orbital neoplasia. Of those dogs that had died or been euthanased within six months of diagnosis, only 22 per cent had undergone some form of therapy for orbital neoplasia. In comparison, 86 per cent of dogs surviving longer than six months post-diagnosis had undergone such therapy.     

Elevated canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a negative outcome

O bjectives : To investigate whether elevated canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (CPLI) concentrations in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a worse clinical outcome.
M ethods : Serum CPLI assays were performed on serum stored from cases diagnosed with IBD. Thirty-two dogs with CPLI results within the reference range were designated as the control group and 15 dogs had CPLI above the reference range. Clinical signs, age, serum lipase and amylase activities, serum albumin and cobalamin concentrations, abdominal ultrasound examination, histopathology on small intestinal biopsies, management of IBD and outcome were compared between the two groups.
R esults : No significant differences were found in clinical activity score (P=0·54), number of antibiotic-responsive disease cases (P=0·480), number of steroid-responsive disease cases (P=0·491), serum amylase activity (P=0·058), serum cobalamin concentration (P=0·61), serum albumin concentration (P=0·052), abdominal ultrasound score (P=0·23) and histopathology scores for IBD (P=0·74) between the two groups. Dogs with increased CPLI concentration were significantly older and had a higher serum lipase activity than dogs with a CPLI concentration within the normal reference range (P=0·001, P=0·001, respectively). Moreover, dogs with increased CPLI concentration responded poorly to steroid treatment (P=0·01) and were significantly more likely to be euthanased at follow-up (P=0·02).
C linical S ignificance : CPLI should be measured in cases of canine IBD as elevated CPLI was associated with a worse outcome.     

Survey with follow-up of 67 dogs with testicular sertoli cell tumours

Sixty-seven cases of canine sertoli cell tumour are reviewed. The mean age at diagnosis was 9.5 years (sd +/- 2.1, range 3 to 17). The most commonly affected breeds were boxer, cairn terrier, labrador retriever, border collie, German shepherd and rough collie. The left side was affected in 28 dogs (42 per cent), the right in 35 (52.5 per cent) and both sides in four (6 per cent). Twenty testicles were abdominal (left, seven; right, 13), seven were inguinal (left, four; right, three) and 44 were scrotal (left, 21; right, 23). Hormonal signs were evident in 38 (57 per cent) animals (feminisation with alopecia in 21, symmetrical alopecia alone in 17). Other types of testicular tumours were found in 12 dogs (18 per cent) of this series. Of 42 dogs which were castrated and discharged, 38 were available for follow-up study and survived for between one week and five years. Two of the 15 dogs which were subject to post mortem examination had metastases. Two others which died after failure of remission, or a recurrence of the hormonal changes probably also had metastases. Two of the 25 dogs which were presented initially for other reasons, but had sertoli cell tumours, were found to have metastases post mortem. The boxer, cairn terrier, border collie, Shetland collie and pekingese had a higher risk of sertoli cell tumour than other breeds.     

Hyperadrenocorticism in six cats

The case records of six cats with hyperadrenocorticism presented to the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, over an 11-year period were reviewed. Signalment and clinical signs were similar to previous reports but, in contrast to other reports, only three cats had diabetes mellitus on presentation. Abdominal radiographs revealed an adrenal mass in one case, obesity in all cases but no hepatomegaly. The adrenal glands were identified ultrasonographically in three out of six cases. Clinicopathological findings were non-specific. The diabetic cats had a significantly lower serum potassium concentration than the non-diabetic cats (P<0·05). Results of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests were supportive of a diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism in the five cats in which they were performed. Five cats had pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) and one had an adrenal tumour. Differentiation between the two forms of hyperadrenocorticism was possible preoperatively in five out of six cats. Adrenal histopathology confirmed hyperplasia in four cats and adenocarcinoma in one cat. Three cats with PDH underwent bilateral adrenalectomy and two of these cats had low, flat ACTH stimulation tests postoperatively and survived for significant periods. The cat with an adrenal tumour underwent partial unilateral adrenalectomy, maintained a positive ACTH stimulation test postoperatively and was euthanased one week after surgery.