Bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis in a nine-year-old female German shepherd dog

A nine-year-old female German shepherd dog was presented in severe renal failure. Clinical and ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of adrenal neoplasia, bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis but no evidence of urolithiasis or bladder neoplasia. In the absence of anuria, therapy for the renal failure was attempted but the azotaemia did not improve. Remarkably, bilateral hydroureter appeared to have been induced by a past routine surgical procedure--ovariohysterectomy.     

Functional metastatic parathyroid adenocarcinoma in a dog

A 12-year-old dachshund dog was presented for persistent hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism despite bilateral parathyroidectomy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head, neck, and cranial mediastinum identified an increased number of cranial mediastinal lymph nodes with heterogeneous signal intensity. Hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism resolved after surgery to remove multiple cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, one of which contained presumed metastatic parathyroid tissue.     

Psychomotor epilepsy associated with metastatic thymoma in a dog

A seven-year-old female German shepherd dog was presented with a history of anorexia, weight loss and fever of three months' duration. On general examination she showed a marked behavioural change represented by episodic excitement and 'fly snapping. A general blood screening showed neutrophilia with left shift and hyperalbuminaemia. Survey radiographs were taken and a mass was identified in the cranial mediastinum. Cytological examination of fine needle aspiration smears of the mass yielded a presumptive diagnosis of lymphoma. The dog was euthanased and necropsy findings concluded that the primary tumour was a thymoma; metastases were found in the choroid plexus, leptomeninges, cerebral cortex and hippocampus.     

Hypercalcaemia associated with a retroperitoneal apocrine gland adenocarcinoma in a dog

A seven-year-old, entire female golden retriever was presented with a history of polyuria/polydipsia and progressive dysuria. Clinical examination, radiography and ultrasonography demonstrated urinary retention due to a large soft tissue mass in the retroperitoneal space. Laboratory findings revealed paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mass suggested an epithelial tumour, resembling an apocrine gland carcinoma of the anal sac. Following euthanasia and necropsy, the histopathological diagnosis of the retroperitoneal mass was apocrine gland adenocarcinoma. Despite ante- and postmortem examination, no perineal or anal sac tumour was found. The retroperitoneal tumour in this case could be a very large lymph node metastasis from an occult primary apocrine carcinoma of the anal sacs, or it could represent the first case of an ectopic apocrine gland carcinoma of the retroperitoneal space in a dog.     

Diabetes insipidus associated with metastatic pancreatic carcinoma in a dog

Diabetes insipidus was diagnosed in a dog with metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. Histologic examination of the pituitary gland revealed extensive invasion of the pars intermedia and neurohypophysis by metastatic tumor cells.     

Secondary polycythaemia associated with high plasma erythropoietin concentrations in a dog with a necrotising pyelonephritis

An 11-year-old mixed breed dog was presented with anorexia, apathy and intermittent macrohaematuria, absolute polycythaemia (packed cell volume, 80 per cent; red blood cell, 12.2 x 10(6)/microl) and elevated erythropoietin concentrations. A renal mass was detected by ultrasonography and, following total nephrectomy, diagnosed as necrotising pyelonephritis. After surgery, the haematological parameters and erythropoietin values returned to normal, suggesting that the pyelonephritis was the cause of the polycythaemia. While secondary polycythaemia because of a non-neoplastic condition of the kidneys occasionally occurs in human beings, it has only extremely rarely been reported in dogs. This is the first case report of a unilateral pyelonephritis causing secondary polycythaemia in a dog.     

Cryptococcal pyelonephritis in a dog

A 5-year-old castrated male Golden Retriever was evaluated for polyuria, polydipsia, and progressive regurgitation thought to be a result of bacterial pyelonephritis and megaesophagus. Bacteriologic culture of urine failed to yield clinically relevant growth, and results of a urine sediment examination were normal. With time, intention tremors and progressive neurologic dysfunction were also observed. At necropsy, a diagnosis of cryptococcal disease was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. Findings in the dog of this report were indicative of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with polyuria and polydipsia caused by cryptococcal pyelonephritis. Neurologic manifestations of systemic cryptococcus infection included megaesophagus, esophageal hypomotility, and regurgitation attributed to localization of cryptococcal organisms in the brain stem in the region of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of polyuria secondary to cryptococcal pyelonephritis.     

Management of pleural effusion secondary to metastatic adenocarcinoma in a dog

A 4-year-old spayed Collie-type dog was evaluated for pleural effusion secondary to metastatic adenocarcinoma with no identifiable primary tumor. For 48 weeks, chemotherapy and thoracentesis palliated clinical signs associated with pleural effusion. At week 49, 5 mCi of chronic phosphate P32 (32P) suspension was injected into the right pleural space. Pleural effusion was not detected for 14 weeks after 32P administration (week 63). In week 64, 32P suspension was readministered by injecting 7.5 mCi into the right hemithorax and 2.5 mCi into the left. Pleural effusion was again detected 3 weeks later (week 67), and the dog was treated with additional chemotherapy. Death, at week 72, was caused by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.     

Bilateral trigeminal nerve paralysis and Horner's syndrome associated with myelomonocytic neoplasia in a dog

A 5-year-old male Doberman Pinscher had nasal stenosis, dropped mandible, bilateral atrophy of masseter and temporalis muscles, and Horner's syndrome caused by aleukemic myelomonocytic leukemia. Neoplastic cellular neurotropism, diffuse turbinate and nodular peribronchial infiltrate, and a hepatic portal infiltrative pattern similar to that of lymphoma were microscopic features of interest.     

Recovery from severe hydroureter and hydronephrosis after ureteral anastomosis in a dog

Progressive hydroureter and hydronephrosis were diagnosed in a dog after anastomosis of a crushed ureter. Nephrectomy was averted when partial resolution was noticed one month after the ureteral repair. The appearance of the kidney and ureter was nearly normal several months later. Conservative management should be considered in cases of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction.     

Hypocalcemia following surgical treatment of metastatic anal sac adenocarcinoma in a dog

A 9 yr old neutered male mixed-breed dog was presented for an anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma with regional nodal metastases. At presentation, ionized calcium was 1.91 mmol/L (NOVA Stat reference range, 1.1-1.3 mmol/L). Surgical excision of the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes was performed. Following surgery, symptomatic hypocalcemia was noted. Repeated ionized calcium measurements confirmed hypocalcemia, and hypercalcemia of malignancy panels suggested parathyroid gland suppression as the cause. The calcium normalized with parenteral calcium administration, but calcium later became elevated with tumor recurrence and an increase in the parathormone-related peptide. Disrupted calcium homeostasis is a potential complication following the treatment of long-standing humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.     

Hydronephrosis, hydroureter and hydrometra associated with ectopic ureter in a bitch

A case of ectopic ureter opening into the uterus of a five-month-old black Labrador Retriever bitch is described. The possible embryological implications of the case are discussed.     

Bilateral renal dysplasia,hydronephrosis, and hydroureter in a septic neonatal foal

A Canadian warmblood foal treated for septic polyarthritis was diagnosed with bilateral congenital renal dysplasia, hydronephrosis, and hydroureter at 2 weeks of age based on abdominal ultrasound and postmortem examination. Intermittent abdominal pain throughout the course of treatment was attributed to hydronephrosis and hydroureter.