Efficacy of Enrofloxacin in the Treatment of Canine Bacterial Pyoderma

Abstract— Bacterial pyoderma was diagnosed in 30 dogs which were subsequently treated with enrofloxacin administered orally at 2.5 mg.kg^-1 of body weight every 12 h, for 2 to 14 weeks. Dogs were re-examined at the conclusion of antibiotic treatment and 28 (93.3 per cent) were found to have an excellent response. Relapses were seen in 25 per cent of these dogs after follow up periods of 1 to 4 months. Minor side effects were seen in only 1 dog. On the basis of this study, enrofloxacin is an excellent antibiotic for the treatment of canine bacterial pyoderma but must be administered well beyond the manufacturer's maximum recommendation for duration of therapy. Résumé— Une pyodermite bactérienne a été diagnostiquée chez 30 chiens qui furent traités avec de l'enrofloxacine administrée par voie orale à la dose de 2.5 mg/Kg toutes les 12 heures, pour une durée allant de 2.5 à 14 semaines. Les chiens furent réexaminés à la fin de l'antibiothérapie et 28 d'entre eux (93.3%) présentaient une excellente réponse au traitement. Des rechutes furent observées chez 25% des chiens lors de suivis portant sur des périodes de 1 à 4 mois. Des effets secondaires mineurs furent observés chez l'un des chiens. Cette étude montre que l'enrofloxacine est un excellent antibiotique pour le traitement des pyodermites canines mais, qu'il doit être administré pendant des délais beaucoup plus longs que ceux qui sont indiqués par le fabricant. Zusammenfassung— 30 Hunde mit bakteríellen Pyodermien wurden zweieinhalb bis vierzehn Wochen lang oral mit Enrofloxacin behandelt (2 täglich 2.5 mg/kg KGW). Nach Abschluß der Behandlung wurden die Tiere erneut untersucht. Bei 28 Patienten (93.3%) wurden hervorragende Ergebnisse erzielt. Bei 25% kam as nach 1 bis 4 Monaten zu Rezidiven. Geringe Nebenwirkungen wurden nur in einem Fall beobachtet. Die vorliegende Untersuchung zeigt, daß Enrofloxacin ein hervorragendes Antibiotikum für die Behandlung von Pyodermien ist, aber wesentlich länger als vom Hersteller angegeben verabreicht werden muß. Resumen Treinta perros, a los cuales se había diagnosticado una epiderma bacteriana, fueron tratado con Enrofloxacina via oral a una dosis de 2,5 mg/kg de peso corporal cada 12 horas durante un período de tiempo que oscíló entre las 2,5 semanas y las 14 semanas. Los perros se examinaron clínicamente de nuevo cuando acabó el tratamiento antibiótico y se observó en 28 (93,3%) una respuesta excelente. En un 25% de estos perros se observaron recidivas en un período comprendido entre uno y cuatro meses. Efectos colaterales de poca importancia se observaron úicamente en un animal. Según estos resultados puede concluirse que la Enrofloxacina es un antibiótico excelente para el tratamiento de las piodermas bacterianas del perro, aunque debe administrarse durante un período de tiempo superior al que recomiendan los productores.     

Efficacy of Vinblastine for Treatment of Canine Mast Cell Tumors

Background: The optimal dosage and clinical efficacy of vinblastine (VBL) for treatment of mast cell tumors (MCTs) in dogs has not been established. Hypothesis: Single‐agent VBL has antitumor activity against MCTs in dogs. Animals: Fifty‐one dogs with nonresectable grade II or III cutaneous MCTs. Methods: Prospective, open clinical trial. Dogs were systematically allocated (by hospital record number) to receive IV treatment with VBL at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m² (weekly for 4 treatments then biweekly for 4 treatments; VBL 2.0) or treatment with VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m² (biweekly for 5 treatments; VBL 3.5). The primary outcome measure was reduction in tumor size. Results: Twenty‐five dogs were allocated to the VBL 2.0 group and 26 were allocated to the VBL 3.5 group. In the VBL 2.0 group, 3 (12%) had a partial response (PR) for a median of 77 days (range, 48–229 days). Overall response rate in the VBL 3.5 group was 27%. One dog (4%) had a complete response for 63 days and 6 dogs (23%) had a PR for a median of 28 days (range, 28–78 days). Toxicoses were uncommon in the VBL 2.0 group. Twelve (46%) dogs in the VBL 3.5 group had <500 neutrophils/μL 7 days after treatment; 2 dogs with neutropenia developed concurrent fevers. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: VBL, when used as a single‐agent, has activity against MCTs in dogs although the response rate is lower than those reported for VBL‐containing combination protocols. Further, findings suggest VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m² should be considered for use in future phase II/III trials.     

Interventional Closure of a Patent Ductus Arteriosus Using an Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder in an Alpaca Cria

A 6‐month old female alpaca cria presented to The Ohio State University for evaluation of a cardiac murmur. Echocardiography revealed a left‐to‐right shunting patent ductus arteriosus, a restrictive left‐to‐right shunting perimembranous ventricular septal defect, and secondary moderate left atrial and ventricular dilation. Aortic root angiography demonstrated a type IIA patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Interventional closure of the PDA was successfully performed, without complication, using an Amplatz canine duct occluder. This case report describes the materials and methods used for interventional closure of a PDA in an alpaca cria.     

Ultrasound-Guided Cytology of Spleen and Liver: A Prognostic Tool in Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumor

Background: In the clinical staging of cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCT), the diagnosis of metastasis is controversial based on cytological examination of lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and blood.
Objectives: To define the prognostic role of ultrasound-guided cytology of spleen and liver in cMCT. The results of cytological evaluation were compared in relation with survival time.
Animals: Fifty-two client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of cMCT.
Methods: Selection of cases was based on cytological evaluation of liver and spleen to detect infiltration at distant sites. The Kaplan Meier method was used to compare survival in dogs with and without infiltration of spleen and liver (log-rank test P < .05).
Results: Ten dogs with cMCT had mast cell infiltration of spleen, liver, or both and 4 of these dogs had involvement of the regional lymph nodes. The majority of dogs had 2 or more ultrasonographically abnormal findings simultaneously in spleen and liver. Nine dogs had grade II cMCT, and 1 had grade III cMCT. Dogs with positive evidence of mast cell infiltration to spleen, liver, or both had shorter survival times (34 versus 733 days) compared with dogs negative for mast cell infiltration at distant sites.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Dogs with evidence of mast cell infiltration at distant sites have a shorter survival times than dogs without evidence of infiltration at distant sites. This study suggests that cytology of spleen and liver is indicated either for ultrasonographically normal or for ultrasonographically abnormal spleen and liver in dogs with cMCT.     

A minimally invasive approach to spleen histopathology in dogs: A new method for follow-up studies of spleen changes in the course of Leishmania infantum infection

Severe forms of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL) are associated with disruption of the spleen structure. However, the study of spleen histology requires splenectomy or necropsy. In this work, we present a minimally invasive cell-block technique for studying spleen tissue histology in dogs with ZVL. We examined 13 dogs with and seven dogs without Leishmania infantum infection. The dogs with Leishmania infection had a lower frequency of lymphoid follicles (2/13, Fisher’s test, P < 0.02) and a higher density of plasma cells (score 3, Fisher’s test, P < 0.02) than uninfected dogs (5/7 exhibiting lymphoid follicles and a plasma cell score of 1). The dogs with Leishmania infection also presented with granulomas (8/13) and infected macrophages (5/13). These differences in the histological presentations of spleen tissue from infected and uninfected dogs corresponded to changes observed in conventional histology. Hence, the cell-block technique described here may be used in the follow-up care and study of dogs with ZVL and other diseases in both clinical practice and research.     

Effects of Arytenoid Abduction and Modified Castellated Laryngofissure on the Rima Glottidis in Canine Cadavers

The percentages of change in cross-sectional area and dorsoventral height of the rima glottidis were measured after seven types of laryngoplasty in 30 postmortem canine specimens. The mean increases in area after each procedure were, in decreasing order, bilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 350% +/- 42%, bilateral placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 318% +/- 40%, bilateral cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures 255% +/- 51%, modified castellated laryngofissure 244% +/- 30%, unilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 161% +/- 25%, unilateral placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 151% +/- 24% and unilateral cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture 108% +/- 25%. Bilateral cricoarytenoid disarticulation with interarytenoid sesamoid band transection before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures resulted in a significantly greater increase in rima glottidis area than modified castellated laryngofissure and all unilateral arytenoid abduction techniques. Modified castellated laryngofissure resulted in a significantly greater increase than unilateral placement of an arytenoid abduction suture and cricothyroid disarticulation before placement of an arytenoid abduction suture. Bilateral disarticulation of the cricothyroid joint before placement of arytenoid abduction sutures resulted in significant collapse of the dorsoventral height of the rima glottidis.