Diagnosis and surgical management of a fractured atlas in a cat

A 6-month-old male-castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented shortly after being bitten on the neck by a large breed dog. On presentation the cat was non-ambulatory tetraparetic with preserved deep pain perception. Plain radiographs of the neck did not show any abnormalities. Computed tomography was performed and showed a right-sided depressed fracture of the dorsal lamina of the atlas. A partial dorsal laminectomy was performed to alleviate the spinal cord compression. The cat made a full recovery within 12 weeks of surgery.     

Hypoglycemia and irreversible neurologic complications in a cat with insulinoma

A 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and seizures. On physical examination, the cat appeared disoriented and had an inconsistent menace response. An insulinoma was diagnosed on the basis of normal serum insulin activity in conjunction with profound hypoglycemia and histologic examination (with immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A and insulin) of a pancreatic mass that was removed surgically. Blood glucose concentration was within reference limits after surgery. However, neurologic abnormalities persisted, and the cat was euthanatized. Chronic hypoglycemia, associated with insulinomas, can cause irreversible neuronal changes in cats; therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemic conditions are of critical importance.     

Lymphangiosarcoma associated with hyonatraernia and hyperkalaemia in a dog

Lymphangiosarcoma was diagnosed in a 13-year-old castrated male terrier cross dog. Clinical and laboratory evaluation revealed concurrent hypovolaemia, hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia. Plasma cortisol and aldosterone concentrations excluded hypoadrenocorticism as the cause of these changes. The laboratory abnormalities may be associated with isotonic fluid loss and a transient defect in renal potassium excretion.     

Canine and feline nasal and paranasal sinus tumors.

Tumors involving the nasal cavity and nearby sinuses are relatively rare in the dog and cat. Although the most common cause of unilateral epistaxis, facial deformity, and epiphora in the aged dog and cat is a malignant nasal or paranasal tumor, differentials must be considered. In each case, a definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of the signalment, history, physical examination findings, radiographs, and histologic evidence of malignant neoplasia. Although many treatment options exist, radiation therapy, with or without surgery, has been considered to be most effective.     

Post‐anesthesia deafness in dogs and cats following dental and ear cleaning procedures

Objective The present study was performed to document hearing loss in dogs and cats following procedures performed under anesthesia. Most cases of reported hearing loss were subsequent to dental and ear cleaning procedures. Study design Prospective and retrospective case survey. Animals Subjects were dogs and cats with deafness, personally communicated to one author, cases discussed on a veterinary information web site, and cases communicated through a survey of general practice and dental specialist veterinarians. Methods Reported deafness cases were characterized by species (dog, cat), breed, gender, age, and dog breed size. Results Sixty‐two cases of hearing loss following anesthesia were reported between the years 2002 and 2009. Five additional cases were reported by survey respondents. Forty‐three cases occurred following dental procedures. Sixteen cases occurred following ear cleaning. No relationship was observed between deafness and dog or cat breed, gender, anesthetic drug used, or dog size. Geriatric animals appeared more susceptible to post‐anesthetic, post‐procedural hearing loss. Conclusions Deafness may occur in dogs and cats following anesthesia for dental and ear cleaning procedures, but the prevalence is low. The hearing loss appears to be permanent. Clinical relevance Deafness can be a consequence following anesthesia for dental or ear cleaning procedures. Older animals may have greater susceptibility.     

Pathogenesis of single right coronary artery and pulmonic stenosis in English Bulldogs

English Bulldogs are the most common breed to have pulmonic stenosis. Previous studies showed that this congenital heart abnormality in Bulldogs frequently is caused by a circumpulmonary left coronary artery originating from a single right coronary artery. Fetal anasarca also occurs often in Bulldogs and might represent congestive heart failure, but the cause is unknown. To determine if fetal anasarca is associated with a coronary anomaly and pulmonic stenosis, major coronary arteries were studied in 6 bulldog puppies with fetal anasarca. Five of the puppies had normal coronary arteries, and this led to the conclusion that fetal anasarca usually is not associated with major coronary abnormalities or pulmonic stenosis. The 6th puppy had single right coronary artery with circumpulmonary left coronary artery and moderate subvalvular pulmonic stenosis. Serial section histology suggests that the underlying cause of this syndrome is malformation of the left aortic sinus (of Valsalva) and inversion of the proximal segment of the left main coronary artery.     

OCCIPITAL DYSPLASIA AND ASSOCIATED CRANIAL SPINAL CORD ABNORMALITIES IN TWO DOGS

Occipital dysplasia was found in association with cervical spinal cord abnormalities in two dogs. One dog presented for tetraparesis and cervical hyperesthesia, the other for historical cervical hyperesthesia and mild paraparesis. In dog 1, a midline cervical spinal cord defect consistent with a communicating syrinx was found. In the other dog, a presumptive syringo/hydromyelia of the cervical spinal cord was found on magnetic resonance imaging. While occipital dysplasia alone is not thought to cause any clinical abnormalities, the dogs of this report suggest that intramedullary central nervous system abnormalities may be present concurrently with occipital dysplasia and should be considered as a possible cause of the clinical signs. The relationship between occipital dysplasia and syringo/hydromyelia in these dogs remains unclear, however, similar associated abnormalities are occasionally found in humans with Chiari malformation.     

Nonneoplastic disorders of the brain.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are helpful in the diagnosis of many nonneoplastic brain disorders in the dog and cat. The ability of CT and MRI to depict normal and abnormal anatomy facilitates the identification of developmental anomalies, including hydrocephalus, Chiari malformations, arachnoid cysts, and cerebellar hypoplasia. These imaging modalities also allow the detection of hemorrhage and infarction and are therefore useful in the evaluation of spontaneous cerebrovascular disorders and head trauma. Finally, many inflammatory diseases, such as encephalitis, brain abscess, and parasite migration, cause abnormalities detectable by CT and MRI. Although more research on the imaging features of specific nonneoplastic brain disorders is needed, current information indicates that CT and MRI are useful in the management of these disorders.     

Urinary incontinence secondary to idiopathic detrusor instability: cystometrographic diagnosis and pharmacologic management in two dogs and a cat

Idiopathic detrusor instability was diagnosed as the cause of urinary incontinence in 2 dogs and a cat. The diagnosis was based on abnormal cystometrographic findings and by exclusion of other causes of detrusor hyperactivity. Anticholinergic or combined anticholinergic, antispasmodic, and local anesthetic treatment resolved the clinical signs in all 3 animals. Increased threshold volumes after treatment were documented by cystometrography in one dog and in the cat.     

Chylous ascites in three dogs.

Chylous ascites was diagnosed in 3 dogs. Mesenteric lymphangiography was performed in 2 dogs and helped delineate abnormalities of the lymphatic system. The cause of chylous ascites in each dog appeared to be different. In 1 dog, a ruptured mesenteric lymphatic was identified at surgery. Evidence of abdominal lymphatic obstruction was found in another dog. Chylous ascites in the third dog appeared to be a complication of mesenteric lymphangiography for chylothorax.     

Progress in development of immunocontraceptive vaccines for permanent non-surgical sterilization of cats and dogs

Each year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized worldwide. There are insufficient resources to control shelter animals in developed countries, as well as feral cat and wild dog population levels, with current surgical sterilization techniques. Thus, population control of these animals will likely depend on the development of new non-surgical methods for cat and dog sterilization. One promising area of research is the development of contraceptive vaccines, or immunocontraceptives. In this article, previous approaches aimed at developing contraceptive vaccines will be reviewed, with a focus on those most related to sterilization of cats and dogs. There are a number of steps in reproduction that have been, or could be, targeted by the immune system, and the advantages and obstacles for inducing immunity to each of these will be discussed. Our current understanding of how these vaccines cause sterility, and our current ability to dissect these mechanisms in cats and dogs, also will be discussed.     

Inflammatory myopathies.

Inflammatory myopathies are the result of infiltration of inflammatory cells into striated muscle, with or without an association with an underlying cause. Two broad classifications are IIMs and secondary inflammatory myopathies associated with other diseases. Standard diagnostic criteria for inflammatory myopathy include the presence of weakness or loss of specific muscle group function, an increase in CK, EMG changes associated with muscle membrane instability, and histologic evidence of inflammation. Not all these criteria, however, must be present. Fresh-frozen biopsy from two proximal muscles is recommended for biopsy confirmation. IIM can either focally affect head or neck muscles or be more diffuse. MMM is an immune-mediated disease characterized by a humoral antibody produced against the unique type IIM and type I variant mvofibers of masticatory muscles of dogs, which causes inflammation and loss of function of the muscles of mastication. Idiopathic polymyositis can affect focal muscle groups (extraocular, laryngeal) or present as multifocal or diffuse involvement of skeletal muscle in the cat and dog. Familial canine DM is an inflammatory disease of the striated muscle, skin, and vasculature in young Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties), and, rarely, Collie-crossbred dogs. Immunosuppressive therapy is the key to successful treatment. Protozoal parasitic myopathies are the most common cause of clinically relevant secondary inflammatory myopathies. The degree of systemic involvement is often the limiting factor to successful treatment. Early recognition of the clinical signs for proper diagnostic testing and institution of appropriate therapy can result in a rewarding outcome in treating inflammatory myopathies in the cat and dog.     

Heart failure due to atrial standstill in a cat

A 7.5-year-old male Persian cat with a history of asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was examined for severe lethargy and dyspnoea. Physical examination revealed bradycardia (60 beats/ minute), and ECG investigation revealed persistent atrial standstill that was most likely caused by atrial fibrosis. Persistent atrial standstill is a very rare cardiac condition in cats and is characterized by a complete lack of mechanical, electrical, and possibly endocrine function of the atria. Several pathophysiological mechanisms can cause atrial standstill and include hyperkalaemia, intoxication, and atrialfibrosis. On the basis of the clinical findings, atrial fibrosis was the most likely cause of atrial standstill in this cat. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, but pacemaker implantation can be considered if there are structural abnormalities. The prognosis is guarded in such cases. In this particular case, the cat was euthanized at the owner's request.     

Endocrine, metabolic, internal, and neoplastic causes of pruritus in the dog and cat

Many of the etiologies of pruritus presented herein have been discussed with a view to promoting an awareness of less common causes of pruritus in the dog and cat. For those differential diagnoses that have as yet not been described in our companion animals, the purpose is to stimulate us to look. Of particular interest are the diseases that may cause pruritus without obvious cutaneous pathology. In these instances, the challenge is to make the association. To this end, Table 1 lists those differential diagnoses that would be considered in human beings who have generalized pruritus unassociated with significant cutaneous pathology. Those diseases described to date in the dog and cat have been identified.     

Comparative macroanatomical study of the neurocranium in some carnivora

This study was carried out to investigate the specific anatomical features of the neurocranium of the skull of the dog, cat, badger, marten and otter. Twenty-five animals (five from each species) were used without sexual distinction. The neurocranium consists of os occipitale, os sphenoidale, os pterygoideum, os ethmoidale, vomer, os temporale, os parietale and os frontale. The processus paracondylaris is projected ventrally in the cat, dog, marten and badger, and caudally in the otter. Two foramina were found laterally on each side of the protuberantia occipitalis externa in the otter, and one foramen was found near the protuberantia occipitalis externa in the badger. Foramen was not seen in other species. Paired ossa parietalia joined each other at the midline, forming the sutura sagittalis in the badger, dog, otter and cat while it was separated by the linea temporalis in the marten. The os frontale was small in otters, narrow and long in martens, and quite wide in cats and dogs. The bulla tympanica was rounded in the marten, dog, cat and badger, dorsoventral compressed in otter, and it was very large in all species examined. These observations represented interspecies differences in the neurocranium of marten, otter, badger, cat and dog.     

Is this a genetic disease?

This paper begins with a brief summary of knowledge concerning the frequency and types of genetic diseases in small domestic animals, particularly the dog. The major question considered is, ‘How does one recognise that a given disease has an important genetic component in its cause?’ Six lines of evidence leading to that conclusion are discussed and exemplified by a variety of known and suspected genetic diseases in the dog and cat.     

Corneal dystrophy in the dog and cat

Two types of epithelial dystrophy have been described in dogs, one each in the Boxer and Shetland Sheepdog breeds, both of which can be associated with corneal erosions. Medical therapy is recommended when erosions or tear film abnormalities are present. Stromal dystrophies documented in dogs appear to be a primary lipid deposition in various layers of the stroma, depending on the breed. Stromal dystrophies seldom lead to loss of vision, but vision loss has been observed in middle aged Airedale Terriers and aged Siberian Huskies. Treatment is usually unnecessary. The dog demonstrates two types of endothelial dystrophy, one of which (posterior polymorphous dystrophy in the American Cocker Spaniel) does not lead to corneal edema. Endothelial dystrophy observed in the Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, and other breeds is associated with progressive corneal edema, which can lead to bullous keratopathy and corneal erosions. Stromal and endothelial dystrophies, both of which are associated with rapid progression of corneal edema, occur rarely in the cat. Treatment of dystrophies with progressive corneal edema is symptomatic and palliative.     

一例哈利犬牙结石的诊治分析

牙结石是成年犬门诊较为常见的一种口腔疾病,它是由牙菌斑和牙垢钙化后沉积在牙齿表面引起。牙结石是龋齿、牙周炎、溃疡性口炎、牙龈炎和齿髓炎等多种口腔疾病的主要诱因。本文通过对一例哈利犬的牙结石病例的诊治分析及经验总结,以期为宠物门诊常见疾病之牙结石的临床诊断、治疗和预防提供参考。     

Percutaneous drainage and alcoholization of hepatic abscesses in five dogs and a cat

Hepatic abscesses are rare and difficult to diagnose in dogs and cats. Ultrasonographic examination is essential to thoroughly examine hepatic abnormalities, and it may also help in the localization of hepatic abscesses. In this retrospective study, five dogs and one cat with focal hepatic lesions compatible with a hepatic abscess were treated with percutaneous ultrasound-assisted drainage and alcoholization using 95% ethanol. The procedure was performed rapidly under injectable anesthesia and provided excellent results in all animals. No complications or relapses were noted for 120 days following the procedure. The technique of percutaneous ultrasound-assisted drainage and alcoholization of hepatic abscesses in the dog and cat is also described.     

Nutrition of the cat

The requirement of the cat in respect to protein, energy, vitamins and minerals are presented. The special requirements of this carnivore appear to be due to the loss or charge of certain metabolic processes which are normally present in species such as the dog.