Bile pleuritis in a dog

Perforation of the liver and diaphragm of a dog by a bullet caused leakage of bile into the thorax. Successful surgical treatment is described.     

Bile peritonitis associated with gastric dilation-volvulus in a dog

This report describes a case of septic peritonitis and gall bladder rupture in German shepherd dog that developed 7 d after surgical treatment for gastric dilation-volvulus. Histological examination confirmed gall bladder necrosis, secondary to an acute ischemic event. Postoperative acute necrotizing cholecystitis has not been a previously reported complication in dogs.     

Immunocytological confirmation of bone marrow metastases in a dog with cholangiocarcinoma

The case history of a four-year-old, male Bernese mountain dog is presented. Carcinoma cells were detected in the liver by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Bone marrow aspirated from the iliac crest and the left femur showed a distinct infiltration by carcinoma cells. Immunocytological examination of the liver and bone marrow metastases showed a negative staining result for large spectrum cytokeratin (CK) KL1, a strong positive result for CK7 and a focal weak positive result for CK20. The dog was euthanased due to the grave prognosis. Histopathological examination revealed metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. The authors conclude that cytological and immunocytological examination of bone marrow aspirates should be used more frequently for the detection of distant metastases of carcinomas in small animal medicine.     

Bile acid concentrations in the diagnosis of hepatobiliary disease in the dog

The clinical usefulness of measuring serum bile acid concentrations as a diagnostic test for hepatobiliary disease, was examined in 150 dogs that were suspected of having hepatic disease. Serum values of total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), and albumin were also measured. Fasting serum bile acid (FSBA) values were determined, using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for total conjugated bile acids or a direct enzymatic spectrophotometric method. A definitive diagnosis was established by histologic examination of the liver. On the basis of histologic findings, dogs were assigned to groups (1 to 8, respectively) including: extrahepatic bile duct obstruction, cirrhosis, portal systemic vascular anastomosis (PSVA), hepatic necrosis, intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, neoplasia, and secondary disease. Dogs in group 8 had no morphologic evidence of hepatobiliary disease or had mild hepatic lesions. Test efficacies of FSBA, TB, ALP, ALT, and albumin were expressed using 4 indices: sensitivity, specificity, and positive-predictive and negative-predictive values. The diagnostic efficacy of FSBA was examined alone and in combinations with the other tests. There was wide overlapping of FSBA values among dogs in groups 1 to 7, and there was wide overlapping of ALT and ALP values among dogs in all groups. The specificity of FSBA for the diagnosis of liver disease exceeded 90% at values greater than or equal to 30 mumol/L and reached 100% at greater than or equal to 50 mumol/L. Individual liver tests with the best sensitivity for each group were:FSBA and ALP for extrahepatic bile duct obstruction; FSBA for cirrhosis and PSVA; ALT for hepatic necrosis; and ALP for intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, and neoplasia. Combinations of tests with the best sensitivity for each group were: FSBA + ALP for extrahepatic bile duct obstruction; FSBA + ALT for cirrhosis and PSVA; FSBA + ALT and TB + ALT for hepatic necrosis; and FSBA + ALP for intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, and neoplasia. Individual tests had the best sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bile acid clearance in sheep with hereditary hyperbilirubinemia

The disappearance of IV injected [24-14C]cholic acid from plasma was studied in normal and mutant Corriedale and Southdown sheep exhibiting hereditary defects in hepatic organic anion transport. Hepatic cholic acid clearance was determined from the integral of the 40-minute disappearance curves fit to the sums of two exponential functions. Cholic acid clearance among Corriedale sheep was significantly less (P less than 0.05) for mutant sheep (8.44 +/- 0.86 SEM ml/minute/kg of body weight) than for normal sheep (12.7 +/- 0.58 ml/minute/kg). Cholic acid clearance in the Southdown mutant (1.97 +/- 0.59 ml/minute/kg) was less than 15% of normal clearance rate (13.3 +/- 2.2 ml/minute/kg). Clearance of [14C]taurocholic acid (curves fit to three exponential function) in the Southdown mutant (10.8 +/- 0.4 ml/minute/kg) was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than cholic acid clearance, yet was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from normal taurocholate clearance (17.8 +/- 2.5 ml/minute/kg). Hepatic regurgitation of conjugated bile acid was not detected after [14C]cholic acid injection. Both the mutant Corriedale and Southdown sheep, which exhibited inherited defects in hepatic bilirubin transport similar to Dubin-Johnson syndrome and Gilbert's disease in man, exhibited defects in hepatic bile acid clearance.     

Biopharmaceutical profile of tramadol in the dog

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Bile acid metabolism in the pig

To study bile acid metabolism in the pig, indwelling catheters were surgically placed in the hepatic portal vein and the anterior vena cava of 12-17 kg crossbred pigs. The pigs were fed ad libitum for one hr at 0800 and 1600 hrs daily. Two weeks after the surgery, 50 microCi of 24[14C] chenodeoxycholic acid were infused into the hepatic portal vein. The radioactivity in plasma from the two veins was monitored hourly for six hrs following each of six consecutive meals over a 3-day period. Fecal and urine radioactivity were determined for 14 days. It was found that the peak levels of radioactivity in the plasma of both veins were reached within two hrs post-feeding. The biological half-life of chenodeoxycholic acid was determined to be 6.4 days.     

Thromboelastographic profile for a dog with hypocoagulable and hyperfibrinolytic phase of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

The objective of this study is to report the use of thromboelastography as a diagnostic tool for the hyperfibrinolytic phase of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy in a dog with metastatic haemangiosarcoma. We established a cytological (i.e. fine needle aspirate) and histopathological (i.e. excisional surgical biopsy) diagnosis of haemangiosarcoma in a 10-year-old male castrated Bichon Frise with multiple dark purple dermoepidermal nodules on the ventral abdomen and medial stifle areas, multiple small pulmonary nodules and a solitary liver mass. The dog was treated with chemotherapy (AC protocol). Forty-nine days after completion of four treatment cycles, the dog was presented for recheck. Complete blood count revealed anaemia and mild thrombocytopenia. Chemistry profile showed no significant abnormalities. Analysis of haemostasis consisted of prolonged clotting times (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time), mild hypofibrinogenaemia and increased D-dimers. A presumptive diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was made. A re-calcified thromboelastography was simultaneously done to confirm the coagulopathy. Thromboelastographic tracings correlated with the plasma-based test results showing hypocoagulability (prolonged clotting times and prolonged thromboelastography clot kinetics; weaker clot with decreased fibrinogen levels, platelet count and lower thromboelastography tracing amplitude) and hyperfibrinolysis (increased D-dimers and increased D-dimers and increased thromboelastography lysis parameters). Based on these results, the dog was considered to be in the hyperfibrinolytic phase of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Results of the conventional haemostasis tests supported those obtained on thromboelastography. Humane euthanasia was performed because of poor prognosis and progressive disease, making further follow-up unavailable. As demonstrated in this case report, thromboelastography was found to be a helpful diagnostic tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of the hyperfibrinolytic phases of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.     

Cyclopiazonic acid mycotoxicosis in the dog

The subacute toxic effects of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA; given orally) were characterized in the dog (CPA was purified from cultures of Aspergillus flavus). Four groups of dogs were given CPA in gelatin capsules for 90 days at the following dosage levels: 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg of body weight; a 5th group was used as controls. All dogs administered the 0.5 and 1.0 mg of CPA/kg dosages and 1 dog given the 0.25 mg of CPA/kg dosage died or were humanely killed before the scheduled termination of the study. Clinical signs of intoxication appeared 2 to 44 days after dosing was started and consisted of anorexia and, in 1 to 2 days, vomiting, diarrhea, pyrexia, dehydration, weight loss, and CNS depression. Grossly, the entire alimentary tract had diffuse hyperemia with focal areas of hemorrhage and ulceration. Other lesions were renal infarcts, necrotizing epididymitis, and ulcerative dermatitis. Microscopic lesions included ulceration, necrosis, vasculitis, lymphoid necrosis, karyomegaly in several organs, and decreased mitotic activity in intestinal crypt epithelium. Ulcerative and necrotic lesions were usually associated with vascular lesions. Clinical pathologic changes were leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, and increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity.     

Zoledronic acid for the treatment of appendicular osteosarcoma in a dog

A 10-year-old male intact Corso dog was referred for lameness and for a large neoplasm affecting the right foreleg. Physical examination of the patient revealed a 5 × 5 × 3 cm mass in the distal right foreleg. Histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of appendicular osteosarcoma. The staging process found no evidence of metastasis. Because of the large size of the patient, the owners elected to treat their dog with antiresorptive therapy. The patient was treated with an infusion of zoledronic acid every 28 days. The tumour remained stable for 16 months and the lameness of the dog greatly improved. At that time, the patient returned for evaluation of a large rapidly growing prescapular mass. Biopsy confirmed lymph node metastasis and the dog was euthanased. Zoledronic acid showed remarkable palliation in our patient and possibly anti-tumour action and warrants further investigation.     

Mucinous cholangiocarcinoma in a cat

Mucinous cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, castrated male, domestic shorthaired cat with marked peritoneal effusion. Cytological confirmation of malignancy by fluid analysis and fine-needle, ultrasound-guided aspiration of the liver was followed by histological examination of tissue samples obtained at surgery and necropsy. No observed response followed chemotherapy with doxorubicin and carboplatin. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry helped to further characterize this unusual tumor.     

Hypercalcaemia in a dog with primary hypothyroidism

A 7-year-old female beagle was evaluated for symptomatic hypercalcaemia and primary hypothyroidism. Clinical findings were typical for hypothyroidism. Plasma parathyroid hormone was low and obvious causes for the hypercalcaemia were ruled out by means of abdominal ultrasonography, ultrasonography of the parathyroid glands, survey thoracic radiographs, and fine needle aspirate cytology of the spleen, liver, and peripheral lymph nodes. Treatment with thyroxine resulted in resolution of the hypercalcaemia after approximately 9 weeks of therapy. This is the 1st report of primary adult-onset hypothyroidism associated with symptomatic hypercalcaemia in a dog.     

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with vasopressin in a dog

That endogenous vasopressin levels in successfully resuscitated human patients were significantly higher than in patients who died pointed to the possible benefit of administering vasopressin during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Several CPR studies in pigs showed that vasopressin improved blood flow to vital organs, cerebral oxygen delivery, resuscitability and neurological outcome when compared with epinephrine. In a small clinical study, vasopressin significantly improved short-term survival when compared with epinephrine indicating its potential as an alternative pressor to epinephrine during CPR in human beings. As there was little clinical data available at that time, its recommended use was limited to adult human beings with shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation. In this report, we present the case of a dog in which the successful management of intraoperative asystolic cardiac arrest involved vasopressin. Unexpected cardiac arrest occurred during anaesthesia for the surgical removal of multiple mammary adenocarcinomata in a 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier. Despite an ASA physical status assignation of III, the dog was successfully resuscitated with external chest compressions, intermittent positive pressure ventilation and vasopressin (2 doses of 0.8 IU kg(-1)) and was discharged 3 days later without signs of neurological injury. We believe vasopressin contributed to restoring spontaneous circulation. It may prove increasingly useful in perioperative resuscitation in dogs.