Prostatic abscess rupture in three dogs

Three dogs developed prostatic abscesses that subsequently ruptured. For various reasons, the dogs had been treated with glucocorticoids before abscess rupture. Immediately after the diagnosis was made, each dog was taken to surgery. Each dog developed septic shock. Two dogs died during surgery and one recovered. A glucose-insulin-potassium solution was used to treat septic shock in the dog that recovered. Few cases of ruptured prostatic abscesses have been reported. The purpose in the present study was to review the clinical signs, pathologic changes, and management of ruptured prostatic abscesses in 3 dogs.     

Intrapericardial neoplasia in 14 dogs

Fourteen cases of intrapericardial neoplasia seen over a three year period are reviewed. The clinical details and the electrocardiographic, radiographic and laboratory findings are summarised. The usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of intrapericardial mass lesions is emphasised. The prognosis was generally very poor, even in cases in which surgery was performed.     

Orbital neoplasia in 23 dogs

Medical records of 23 dogs with histologically documented orbital neoplasia and admitted to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine between 1975 and 1984 were reviewed. Almost all (91%) of the tumors were classified as malignant; 74% of the tumors arose as primary neoplasms within the orbit. Eleven tumor types of connective tissue, bone, epithelial, and hemolymphatic origin were represented. The typically afflicted dog was purebred, female, and middle-aged. Review of this series confirmed the clinical impression that orbital neoplasms in dogs are aggressive malignancies with poor long-term prognosis.     

Keratomycosis in five dogs

Five cases of canine keratomycosis were diagnosed and treated at a private Veterinary Ophthalmology Practice in Melbourne, Australia. Clinical presentations varied between dogs. Predisposing factors were identified in 4 of 5 cases. Diagnostic modalities utilized were corneal cytology and fungal culture. Corneal cytology confirmed the presence of fungal organisms in all five cases. Aspergillus, Scedosporium, and Candida were cultured from three cases, respectively. Specific antifungal treatment included 1% voriconazole solution or 1% itraconazole ointment. Keratectomy and conjunctival grafting surgery was performed in two patients. Resolution of infection and preservation of vision were achieved in 4 of 5 patients.     

Prostatic cavitary lesions containing urine in dogs

Objectives : The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the proportion of urine‐containing prostatic cavitary lesions (“urinary cysts”) in dogs and to describe their clinical management. Methods : The study included dogs with clinically relevant prostatic‐retention cyst/abscess (n=87) treated initially by percutaneous ultrasound‐guided drainage of the prostatic cavity. Based on a prostatic fluid:serum creatinine ratio, the study population was divided into two groups: group 1 (n=16) with and group 2 (n=71) without evidence of urine within the lesion. Medical records of both the groups were reviewed. Results : Cavitary lesions containing urine were observed in 16 of the 87 dogs (18·4%; group 1). In 10 (62·5%) of the group 1 dogs, abdominal surgery was recommended, because of recurrent filling during follow‐up. In group 2, abdominal surgery was recommended in only 11 of 71 cases (15·5%). Clinical Significance : In dogs, 18·4% (95% confidence interval, 10·9 to 28·1%) of the prostatic cavitary lesions contain urine. Measurement of creatinine within the prostatic cavity fluid is a helpful tool in diagnosing a presurgical intra‐prostatic urethral fistulation, and these dogs tend to require a more aggressive surgical therapy than percutaneous drainage alone.     

Synovial chondrometaplasia in five dogs

Synovial chondrometaplasia was diagnosed in 5 dogs. Four dogs improved dramatically after surgical removal of subsynovial nodules, but the fifth improved only slightly. This potentially treatable condition is recognized in human beings, and has been described in dogs in the German scientific literature. Synovial chondrometaplasia should be suspected if numerous joint mice are visualized radiographically, without an obvious inciting cause. It also should be suspected when periarticular osteophytes are found radiographically in unusual locations.     

Immune-mediated vasculitis in five dogs

Vasculitis was diagnosed in 5 dogs. Clinical signs varied, but all 5 dogs had signs of systemic illness. Inflammation and fibrinoid necrosis of small blood vessels were consistent findings. The skin and mucous membranes were the main tissues involved in 3 dogs; polyarthropathy and myopathy were diagnosed in 1 dog and myopathy in 1 dog. Good response to corticosteroid therapy was achieved in 3 dogs; in 2 dogs, immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide was necessary and the dogs responded well.     

Primary renal neoplasia of dogs

BACKGROUND: Primary renal tumors are diagnosed uncommonly in dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Signs and survival will differ among different categories of primary renal tumors. ANIMALS: Data were collected from the medical records of 82 dogs with primary renal tumors diagnosed by examination of tissue obtained by ultrasound-guided biopsy, needle aspiration, surgery, or at postmortem examination. METHODS: This was a multi-institutional, retrospective study. RESULTS: Forty-nine dogs had carcinomas, 28 had sarcomas, and 5 had nephroblastomas. The dogs were geriatric (mean 8.1 years; range: 1-17) with a weight of 24.9 kg (range: 4.5-80). Tumors occurred with equal frequency in each kidney with 4% occurring bilaterally. Initial signs included one or more of hematuria, inappetance, lethargy. weight loss, or a palpable abdominal mass. Pain was reported more frequently in dogs with sarcomas (5/28). The most common hematologic abnormalities were neutrophilia (22/63), anemia (21/64), and thrombocytopenia (6/68). Polycythemia was present in 3 dogs and resolved with treatment. Hematuria (28/49), pyuria (26/49), proteinuria (24/50), and isosthenuria (20/56) were the most frequently observed abnormalities on urinalysis. Pulmonary metastases were noted on thoracic radiographs in 16% of dogs at diagnosis. Seventy-seven percent of dogs had metastatic disease at the time of death. Median survival for dogs with carcinomas was 16 months (range 0-59 months), for dogs with sarcomas 9 months (range 0-70 months), and for dogs with nephroblastomas 6 months (range 0-6 months). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Primary renal tumors in dogs are generally highly malignant with surgery being the only treatment that improves survival.     

Bilateral ear canal neoplasia in three dogs

Bilateral ear canal infections are common in dogs. Ear canal neoplasia is usually associated with unilateral problems, and is uncommon in dogs. To the best of the author's knowledge, bilateral aural neoplasia has not been reported in dogs, and only four case reports were found in the human literature. This report presents three dogs that had bilateral tumours in their ear canals. They were presented with bilateral otitis externa. All three dogs exhibited tissue proliferation of both ear canals that did not respond to glucocorticoids. Treatment consisted of total ear canal ablation, and tissues were submitted for histopathological evaluation. Case # 1 (a 10-year-old, male cocker spaniel) was diagnosed as ceruminious gland carcinoma. Cases # 2 and 3 were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. Case # 1 was diagnosed 4 years earlier as having keratinization disorder, which was causing its chronic ear problems. Case # 2 (a 5-year-old, female French bulldog) was diagnosed 4 years earlier as having atopic dermatitis, which did not respond to hyposensitization, and only partially responded to glucocorticoids therapy. Case # 3 (a 9-year-old, male German shepherd) was diagnosed by the referring veterinarian as having unilateral ear canal proliferation 2 months prior to presentation. However, otoscopic examination showed bilateral proliferation that obstructed both canals. In summary, bilateral ear canal neoplasia should be considered in cases of nonresponsive, proliferative aural pathology.     

Necrotizing meningoencephalitis in five Chihuahua dogs

An acute to chronic idiopathic necrotizing meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in 5 Chihuahua dogs aged between 1.5 and 10 years. Presenting neurologic signs included seizures, blindness, mentation changes, and postural deficits occurring from 5 days to 5.5 months prior to presentation. Cerebrospinal fluid analyses from 2 of 3 dogs sampled were consistent with an inflammatory disease. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of 2 dogs demonstrated multifocal loss or collapse of cortical gray/white matter demarcation hypointense on T1-weighted images, with T2-weighted hyperintensity and slight postcontrast enhancement. Multifocal asymmetrical areas of necrosis or collapse in both gray and white matter of the cerebral hemispheres was seen grossly in 4 brains. Microscopically in all dogs, there was a severe, asymmetrical, intensely cellular, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis usually with cystic necrosis in subcortical white matter. There were no lesions in the mesencephalon or metencephalon except in 1 dog. Immunophenotyping defined populations of CD3, CD11d, CD18, CD20, CD45, CD45 RA, and CD79a immunoreactive inflammatory cells varying in density and location but common to acute and chronic lesions. In fresh frozen lesions, both CD1b,c and CD11c immunoreactive dendritic antigen-presenting cells were also identified. Immunoreactivity for canine distemper viral (CDV) antigen was negative in all dogs. The clinical signs, distribution pattern, and histologic type of lesions bear close similarities to necrotizing meningoencephalitis as described in series of both Pug and Maltese breed dogs and less commonly in other breeds.     

Atrial septal defect in five dogs

The clinical, electrocardiographic, radiographic, and two-dimensional, M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic findings of five cases of canine ostium secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) are described. The atrial septal anomaly was associated with other congenital cardiac abnormalities in two dogs: ventricular septal defect in one case and tricuspid dysplasia in the other. ASD was found in addition to dilated cardiomyopathy and suspected atrial thrombosis in one geriatric dog, but was the only cardiac abnormality detected in the remaining two dogs. Colour Doppler imaging facilitated the diagnosis of ASD in all subjects. The long-term prognosis for dogs with isolated and small-sized ASD is usually good, but can be compromised by the presence of concurrent congenital or acquired cardiac diseases.     

Immune-mediated neutropenia suspected in five dogs

Five cases of suspected immune-mediated neutropenia in dogs are described. Clinical signs varied depending on whether the animals had a systemic infection or concurrent immune-mediated disease. Patients were diagnosed by excluding other causes of neutropenia, supportive bone marrow aspirate findings, an initial favourable response to corticosteroid administration in four of the cases, and concurrent immune-mediated disease. Four of the dogs were receiving medications at the time of diagnosis, and immune-mediated neutropenia secondary to drug therapy cannot be excluded. This study shows that appropriate immunosuppressive treatment can lead to a favourable outcome, however, care is required to avoid adverse effects associated with corticosteroid use. It is also imperative that medications are not withdrawn abruptly as a second remission may not always be achievable.     

Cerebral vascular hamartomas in five dogs

Vascular hamartomas are considered developmental lesions rather than true neoplasms. Reports of such anomalies in the canine brain are scarce, and their classification is confusing. This case series of vascular hamartomas from the brains of five dogs was characterized using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, in addition to gross and microscopic findings. All five hamartomas were located in the telencephalon, three in the pyriform lobe, without any predilection for the left or right side. Each hamartoma consisted of a proliferation of thin-walled vessels which varied in caliber. These vessels were elastin-negative, with varying amounts of collagen and no muscular component. In four of the five hamartomas, lining cells were actin- and factor VIII-positive. All five hamartomas contained glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)-positive parenchyma at moderate to high frequency, and four contained neurofilament-positive axons between component vessels. This report shows that vascular hamartomas in the canine brain are structural malformations for which immunohistochemistry is useful for accurate classification.     

Prostatic adenocarcinoma with and without metastasis to bone in dogs

The signalment, clinical signs, and histologic tumor pattern were compared retrospectively in 12 dogs having primary prostatic adenocarcinoma with (5 cases) and without metastasis (7 cases) to bone. Weight loss and lumbar pain were observed more frequently in dogs having prostatic adenocarcinoma with metastasis to bone. A distinctive histologic pattern was not associated with prostatic adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to bone. The alveolar papillary pattern was the predominant histologic type observed in both groups. Metastasis to extrapelvic bony sites included the scapulas, ribs, and digits. The results of this study indicate that skeletal metastasis was not uncommon in dogs having prostatic adenocarcinoma.