Clinical and pathological findings of severe subvalvular aortic stenosis and mitral dysplasia in a rottweiler puppy

Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) and mitral dysplasia were diagnosed in an asymptomatic eight-week-old rottweiler. Clinical and pathological findings were compatible with a fixed and dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. Gross and microscopic pathological findings were consistent with the most severe form of SAS, described previously in Newfoundland dogs over six months of age. These observations demonstrate that very young asymptomatic puppies may suffer a severe complex form of SAS.     

Congenital mitral stenosis,subvalvular aortic stenosis,and congestive heart failure in a duck

A 2.6-year-old duck was evaluated for respiratory difficulty. On the basis of physical, radiographic and echocardiographic findings, a diagnosis of congestive heart failure secondary to congenital mitral stenosis and subvalvular aortic stenosis was made. The duck did not respond well to medical therapy and was euthanized. The diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy.     

Familial subvalvular aortic stenosis in golden retrievers: inheritance and echocardiographic findings

Objectives : To describe the echocardiographic findings and pedigree analysis of golden retrievers with subvalvular aortic stenosis. Methods : Seventy‐three golden retrievers were evaluated by auscultation and echocardiography. A subcostal continuous‐wave Doppler aortic velocity ê2·5 m/s and presence of a left basilar systolic ejection murmur were required for diagnosis of subvalvular aortic stenosis. Three echocardiographic characteristics were recorded: evidence of aortic insufficiency, subvalvular ridge or left ventricular hypertrophy. A disease status score was calculated by totalling the number of echocardiographic ‐characteristics per subject. Results : Thirty‐two of 73 dogs were affected and their aortic velocities were as follows: range 2·5 to 6·8 m/s, median 3·4 m/s and standard deviation 1·2 m/s. Echocardiographic characteristics of 32 affected dogs were distributed as follows: left ventricular hypertrophy 12 of 32, aortic insufficiency 20 of 32 and subvalvular ridge 20 of 32. Disease status score ranged from 0 to 3 with a median of 2. There was a statistically significant correlation between aortic velocity and disease status score (r=0·644, P<0·0001). Subvalvular aortic stenosis was observed in multiple generations of several families and appears familial. Clinical Significance : Subvalvular aortic stenosis in the golden retriever is familial. Severity of stenosis correlates well with cumulative presence of echocardiographic characteristics (left ventricular hypertrophy, subvalvular ridge and aortic insufficiency).     

Surgical correction of subvalvular aortic stenosis using cardiopulmonary bypass in a dog

A three-month-old male Golden Retriever had symptoms including exercise intolerance, dyspnea and syncope and was diagnosed with subvalvular aortic stenosis. Cardiac catheterization revealed a left ventricular-aortic systolic pressure gradient of 90 mm Hg. Surgical correction of the condition was achieved using cardiopulmonary bypass. The subvalvular fibrous lesion was resected through an aortotomy. The stenosis was dilated from 8.5 mm to 12.0 mm in diameter. Postoperatively the dog was asymptomatic. Seven months after surgery, the pressure gradient decreased to 44 mm Hg. However, after another three months, the dog died suddenly without any premonitory signs. Postmortem examination revealed that pathologic changes caused by increased left ventricular pressure overload were not severe.     

Dermoid sinus in a golden retriever

A case of dermoid sinus is reported in a golden retriever. The skin lesion was characterised by a fistulous tract in the dorsal cervical region. Surgical dissection revealed a cyst connected by a fibrous cord to the seventh cervical vertebra.     

Oronasal blastomycosis in a golden retriever

Blastomycosis is one of the most common systemic fungal infections in dogs in North America Pulmonary manifestations are most common; localized disease is rare. A case of localized oronasal blastomycosis mimicking oral neoplasia is described. Long-term therapy with itraconazole resulted in clinical cure.     

Genetic management of Dutch golden retriever dogs with a simulation tool

Excessive inbreeding rates and small effective population sizes are an important problem in many populations of dogs. Proper genetic management of these populations can decrease the problem, and several measures are available. However, the effectiveness of these measures is not clear beforehand. Therefore, a simulation model was developed to test measures that aim to decrease the rate of inbreeding. The simulation program was used to evaluate inbreeding restriction measures in the Dutch golden retriever dog population. This population consisted of approximately 600 dams and 150 sires that produce 300 litters each year. The five most popular sires sire approximately 25% of the litters in a year. Simulations show that the small number of popular sires and their high contribution to the next generation are the main determinants of the inbreeding rates. Restricting breeding to animals with a low average relatedness to all other animals in the population was the most effective measure and decreased the rate of inbreeding per generation from 0.41 to 0.12%. Minimizing co‐ancestry of parents was not effective in the long run, but decreased variation in inbreeding rates. Restricting the number of litters per sire generally decreased the generation interval because sires were replaced more quickly, once they met their restriction. In some instances, this lead to an increase in inbreeding rates because the next generations were more related. The simulation tool proved to be a powerful and educational tool for deciding which breeding restrictions to apply, and can be effective in different breeds and species as well.     

Cerebral ganglioneuroblastoma in a golden retriever dog

An 8-month-old Golden Retriever dog was euthanatized because of a large cerebral mass extending from the right frontal lobe to the thalamus that was composed of both mature and immature neuronal cells. The better differentiated cells had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with prominent Nissl substance and were generally positive for neurofilament and variably positive for synaptophysin. The generally smaller and less-differentiated cells were infrequently positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and were negative for any neuronal and glial markers. No apparent glial differentiation of the immature tumor cells was detected. Based on morphologic and immunohistochemical features, the diagnosis of cerebral ganglioneuroblastoma was made. This neoplasm is very rare in all species, especially in the central nervous system, and has never been reported previously in this site in a dog.     

Multifocal osteoma cutis in a golden retriever

A 10-year-old, spayed female, obese golden retriever, presented for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, was successfully managed with the administration of vincristine and prednisone. However, 6 mo after discontinuing corticosteroid therapy because of suspected iatrogenic hyperglucocorticoidism, the patient was presented with multiple, firm, bilaterally symmetric, dermal masses composed histologically of differentiated cortical bone.     

Renal nephroblastoma in a 3-month-old golden retriever

Nephrectomy was performed in a 3-month-old intact female golden retriever dog for a renal nephroblastoma. The dog has remained disease-free for 19 months with nephrectomy alone. The adoption of human Wilms’ tumor grading criteria may be useful in determining clinical stage, adjuvant treatment options, and prognosis in this rare disease.     

Surgical management of a double-chambered right ventricle and chylothorax in a Labrador retriever

A 22-month-old, male Labrador retriever was presented with anorexia, dyspnoea, and fainting. The dog was diagnosed with a double-chambered right ventricle and tricuspid valve dysplasia using echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation. A marked bilateral pleural effusion was also present and chemical analysis of the fluid confirmed the diagnosis of chylothorax. Using echocardiography, a pressure gradient of 87.1 mmHg was found between the proximal and distal chambers of the double-chambered right ventricle. Initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass allowed the anomalous muscle bundle that divided the right ventricle into two chambers to be resected via a right ventriculotomy. The fainting completely resolved postoperatively, and this treatment seemed quite effective in the reduction of pressure overload ascribable to ejection disturbance. Because the tricuspid dysplasia was not corrected in the first operation, the postoperative chyle effusion was reduced but did not cease. A combination of thoracic duct ligation and passive pleuroperitoneal shunting was effective in the resolution of the chyle effusion.     

Uterine carcinoma in a 10-month-old golden retriever

A 10-month-old golden retriever was presented for investigation of reduced appetite, occasional vomiting and general dullness. Abdominal radiography demonstrated a large mid-abdominal soft tissue mass. Exploratory laparotomy identified a uterine mass, which was removed surgically. Histopathology confirmed uterine adenocarcinoma. Adjunctive chemotherapy with epirubicin was performed. The dog remained clinically normal without evidence of metastatic disease 24 months after surgery. Canine uterine adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare tumour and, as far as the authors are aware, this is the youngest reported case to date.     

Peripheral hypomyelinization in two golden retriever littermates

Peripheral hypomyelinization was found in 2 Golden Retriever littermates that had pelvic limb ataxia, depressed postural reactions, and depressed segmental reflexes. Diagnostic findings included infrequent denervation potentials, reduced or absent evoked potentials, and markedly diminished motor nerve conduction velocities. Light and electron microscopy of peripheral nerves revealed fewer than normal myelinated axons, myelinated sheaths inappropriately thin for the caliber of the fiber, poor myelin compaction, greater than normal numbers of Schwann cell nuclei, many Schwann cells with voluminous cytoplasm, and greater than normal amount of perineural collagen. Findings were compatible with a peripheral hypomyelinization process; a defect in Schwann cell function was suspected.     

Idiopathic Horner's syndrome in the golden retriever

A prospective study was made of cases of idiopathic Horner's syndrome in dogs referred to the author. Over a six-year period the condition was recorded in 62 golden retrievers. Examination suggested that the lesions affected the preganglionic neuron.