Diagnostic imaging of the canine and feline ear.

Radiographic evaluation of the tympanic bulla is limited. Improper obliquity or angulation of the skull for radiographs or malpositioning of the tongue can result in an inadequate study [4]. Additionally, because of the complex anatomy of the canine and feline skull, with superimposition of multiple osseous structures, radiography can result in false-negative examinations or understimation of the disease present [2]. When compared with surgical findings of 19 clinical cases of presumptive middle ear disease, false-negative radiographic findings were found in 25% of the surgically confirmed cases of otitis media [4]. Therefore, radiographs are not considered to be a highly sensitive mode of diagnosing otitis media. Radiographs may be helpful in determining lysis associated with neoplasia; however, the extent of involvement is still underestimated. In a study comparing CT and radiographic evaluation of otitis media, CT was determined to be more sensitive but less specific than radiography [11]. CT is the preferred modality for the evaluation of the tympanic bulla at our institution. This opinion may be biased by the fact that most cases are presented for recurrent or chronic otitis. Although radiography is more accessible, the availability of CT in local referral settings is increasing as opposed to being limited to university settings. After the cost (i.e., anesthesia, radiographs) and amount of time necessary to make optimum radiographic studies are taken into account, a CT study may actually be faster and more informative. Given our preference for the CT examination, the cost of the examination has been adjusted to make it more appealing to the owner and clinician. For example, a bulla CT study is only 1.3 times the cost of a radiographic bulla study. In conclusion, imaging of the ear canal can provide important information about ear disease, including unilateral or bilateral ear disease, the degree of middle or inner ear involvement, peripheral versus central vestibular disease, an infectious or inflammatory versus neoplastic process, the chronicity of the disease process, involvement of adjacent structures, and postsurgical complications.     

Hypophysectomy as a treatment for canine and feline Cushing's disease.

The microsurgical technique of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy performed with the dogs and cats positioned in sternal recumbency enables the treatment of Cushing's disease, independent of skull type, in a safe and effective manner. In dogs, the short-term survival rate after hypophysectomy is comparable to that after treatment with o,p'-DDD, whereas the recurrence rate in this period is lower. When the surgeon has gone through a learning curve, the results of the 1- to 3-year follow-up interval may be better than those after adrenocorticolysis with o,p'-DDD. CT enables assessment of localization and size of the pituitary before surgery. In general, dogs with Cushing's disease and normal-sized pituitaries or moderately enlarged pituitaries (up to 12 mm in diameter) are suitable candidates for transsphenoidal surgery. In dogs with larger pituitary tumors and tumor extension rostrally or caudally over the dorsum sellae, transsphenoidal debulking surgery may be only a palliative treatment. The main complications are postoperative hypernatremia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, diabetes insipidus, and secondary hypothyroidism. In cats, special attention should be paid to closure of the soft palate. The neurosurgeon must be familiar with these complications so as to recognize them as early as possible and to treat them immediately and effectively. It is concluded that microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in dogs and cats with Cushing's disease is an effective method of treatment.     

Immune-mediated canine and feline keratitis.

Although the normal cornea is devoid of vasculature and lymphatics, there are still several immune-mediated corneal conditions that can occur in dogs and cats. An overview of corneal immunology is presented. Diseases of dogs, including chronic superficial keratitis, superficial punctate keratitis, and canine adenovirus endotheliitis, as well as feline diseases, including eosinophilic keratitis and herpesvirus-related conditions, are discussed.     

The canine and feline skin microbiome in health and disease

The skin harbours a diverse and abundant, yet inadequately investigated, microbial population. The population is believed to play an important role in both the pathophysiology and the prevention of disease, through a variety of poorly explored mechanisms. Early studies of the skin microbiota in dogs and cats reported a minimally diverse microbial composition of low overall abundance, most probably as a reflection of the limitations of testing methodology. Despite these limitations, it was clear that the bacterial population of the skin plays an important role in disease and in changes in response to both infectious and noninfectious diseases. Recent advances in technology are challenging some previous assumptions about the canine and feline skin microbiota and, with preliminary application of next‐generation sequenced‐based methods, it is apparent that the diversity and complexity of the canine skin microbiome has been greatly underestimated. A better understanding of this complex microbial population is critical for elucidation of the pathophysiology of various dermatological (and perhaps systemic) diseases and to develop novel ways to manipulate this microbial population to prevent or treat disease.     

Current research in canine and feline pheromones.

Pheromonotherapy seems to be a new therapeutic approach allowing practitioners to tackle the treatment of behavioral disorders in a natural, specific, and safe way. Although the efficacy of pheromones has been assessed in some specific behavioral problems, it seems that their range of action could cover the wide field of reduction of stress. Therefore, the use of pheromones should not be reduced to treatment of behavioral disorders (potentially associated with psychotropes or a behavioral modification program) but should be included in a strategy of improving the welfare of pets in veterinary structures (during examination and hospitalization) and in breeding networks (separation from the mother and transport). Moreover, further studies may allow the veterinary practitioner to use pheromone analogues in the field of diagnostics to determine the behavioral status of a pet (e.g., anxious or not, dominant or not). Pheromonotherapy is at its beginning, and the use of pheromones in various fields of medicine is heartening.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the normal canine thyroid gland.

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of the normal canine thyroid gland were retrospectively compiled from images acquired in 44 dogs presented for a variety of diseases unrelated to the thyroid gland. The appearance of the thyroid gland on different sequences, including pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, two-dimensional gradient echo, three-dimensional T2*-weighted gradient echo and proton density weighted images, were described in different image planes. The characteristic shape, location, and intensity of thyroid lobes compared with surrounding structures made them easily detectable in all dogs. The most common location of the thyroid lobes was dorsolateral to the trachea with the maximal cross-sectional area of the lobes located ventral to C2/3 or C3 in more than 85% of the dogs. The majority of the lobes were ovoid on transverse images. An isthmus was seen in one large dog and parathyroid glands could not be seen. The mean maximal thyroid lobe diameter on transverse images was 8.1 mm, being twice the mean diameter of the common carotid artery. Considering the excellent conspicuity and characteristic appearance of the canine thyroid gland, MR imaging can be beneficial in the diagnosis of diffuse thyroid diseases, in differentiating thyroid vs. nonthyroid neck masses and in staging and treatment planning of thyroid tumors in this species.     

Dietary effects on canine and feline behavior.

The effects of dietary deficiency, including both malnutrition and deficiency of specific vitamins, on behavior is discussed with special emphasis on the growing kitten and puppy. The effect of caloric restriction on behavior is reviewed so that owners can be advised what to expect when their dog is placed on a reducing diet. The evidence for influence of dietary protein and tryptophan on canine aggression is presented. The effect of special diets on canine cognitive dysfunction is reviewed.     

Update on canine and feline fungal diseases.

Systemic fungal diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs and cats. Blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidiomycosis, and cryptococcosis represent the four most common systemic fungal diseases. Young adult, large breed dogs generally are predisposed; cats usually do not have predictable predispositions. Intact cell-mediated immunity is essential to initial resistance to infection and response to treatment in animals. Several body systems can be affected. Diagnosis can be confirmed on the basis of clinical signs and demonstration of the causative organism. Serology is helpful with coccidiomycosis and cryptococcosis. Treatment is complicated by limited availability of fungicidal antimicrobials and the necessity of long-term treatment with expensive drugs.     

Basics in canine and feline rhinoscopy

Patients suffering from upper respiratory disease such as chronic nasal congestion, sneezing, nasal discharge, and epistaxis invite complete evaluation of their paired nasal cavities. Thorough assessment of these cavities employs sundry diagnostic procedures that enable the investigating clinician to characterize the internal structures of the nasal cavities. After the conscious patient undergoes a complete physical examination, a gross assessment of its external nasal structures is established and areas of physical asymmetry are noted. A working anatomic knowledge of these asymmetric foci helps to guide the next diagnostic steps. The patient is then placed under general anesthesia, during which, in list order, imaging studies, rhinoscopy, and nasal biopsy or foreign body retrieval, are performed.     

Addressing canine and feline aggression in the veterinary clinic.

Handling aggressive dogs and cats in the veterinary clinic can be frustrating, time consuming, and injurious for both employee and animal. This article discusses the etiology of the aggressive dog and cat patient and how best to approach these cases. A variety of handling techniques, safety products, and drug therapy are reviewed.     

Frequency of canine and feline tumors in a defined population.

The Tulsa Registry of Canine and Feline Neoplasms was the second animal tumor registry in the United States concerned with a defined population in a delimited geographic area. Only tumors histologically confirmed by registry pathologists were included in frequency statistics based on the annual dog and cat population presented to veterinarians. During the first registry year, about 1% of the 63,504 dogs and 0.5% of the 11,909 cats had one or more primary tumors. While the incidence rate for malignant tumors in dogs was similar to that in cats, the incidence of benign tumors of dogs was over 10 times that of cats. The most common tumors were sebaceous adenoma in dogs and lymphosarcoma in cats. Mammary cancer was the most common malignant tumor in dogs. Mammary tumors of female dogs were significantly more frequent in Pointers, Poodles and Boston Terriers, in that order, than in other breeds. A greater incidence of mammary tumors among intact compared to spayed female dogs was seen for virtually every age group except in the Pointer breed.