Intermittent gastric dilatation after gastropexy in a dog.

Gastroperitoneal adhesions, which developed after tube gastrostomy in a 3-year-old dog, caused an inverted L configuration of the pyloric antrum and duodenum, resulting in periodic episodes of gastric dilatation. The dog had undergone tube gastrostomy for treatment of gastric dilatation/volvulus, but gastropexy adhesions broke down 27 months later, necessitating a second pexy procedure. Adhesions then developed, constricting gastric outflow and trapping gas in the stomach and proximal duodenum. When the ventral row of adhesions was surgically dissected, the angle between the pyloric antrum and the duodenum was straightened, facilitating flow of digesta. Gastropexy rarely causes the degree of adhesion formation and the complications reported in this dog.     

Concurrent central diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism in a German shepherd dog

This report describes a German shepherd dog that was presented with proportionate dwarfism and coat changes typical of hypopituitarism but that was also profoundly polydipsic and polyuric. Investigations established a diagnosis of concurrent central diabetes insipidus. Treatment with desmopressin was successful in managing the polyuria and polydipsia.     

Aortic thromboembolism as a complication of gastric dilatation/volvulus in a dog

An unusual complication of gastric dilatation/volvulus developed in a 10-year-old spayed Great Dane. An aortic thromboembolus lodged in the iliac artery bifurcation 4 days after admission and tube gastropexy to correct the condition. The dog was euthanatized after 48 hours of supportive care failed to elicit any improvement. Thrombus formation appeared to originate in the left ventricle; however, a primary cause could not be determined.     

Torsion and volvulus of the transverse and descending colon in a German shepherd dog

A German shepherd dog was presented two months after surgery for correction of acute gastric dilatation volvulus. The dog had been diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Radiographs revealed marked gaseous distension of one loop of intestine with a generalised increase in intestinal gas content. A 360 degrees anticlockwise rotation of the descending and transverse colon, around the longitudinal axis of the mesocolon, was diagnosed at exploratory coeliotomy. The transverse and descending colon appeared uniformly necrotic and an end-to-end colo-colic resection and anastomosis was performed. The dog initially made satisfactory postoperative progress but was euthanased on the third postoperative day after it developed an intestinal intussusception.     

Duplex gall bladder associated with choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, gall bladder rupture and septic peritonitis in a cat

A 10-year-old cat was presented with a history of inappetence, pyrexia and weight loss. Clinical investigations showed anaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, septic peritonitis and a double gall bladder with choleliths in an extrahepatic duct. Initial medical stabilisation was performed. At laparotomy, a duplex gall bladder with two separate cystic ducts was identified. The left gall bladder was thickened and had ruptured at the apex. Multiple choleliths were identified in the left cystic duct. The right gall bladder and cystic duct were grossly normal. The ruptured gall bladder was repaired, the gallstones were removed via a choledochotomy of the left cystic duct and a choledochoduodenostomy was created from the dilated left cystic duct. The cat remained depressed and anorexic, and it was euthanased 72 hours postoperatively at the owners' request. This is the first ante-mortem investigation of extrahepatic biliary disease associated with gall bladder duplication in the cat.     

Expression of transforming growth factor-beta isoforms in the skin, kidney, pancreas and bladder in a German shepherd dog affected by renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis

The present study was performed to assess the expression of isoforms 1, 2 and 3 of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in skin nodular dermatofibrosis lesions, kidney, bladder and pancreas from a 10-year-old female German shepherd dog (GSD) affected by renal cystadenocarcinoma and nodular dermatofibrosis (RCND) compared with normal GSDs (n = 2). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from the dog affected by RCND, diagnosed by renal ultrasonography and histopathological examination were analysed by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies to TGF-beta1, 2 and 3, and evaluated semiquantitatively using an immunoreactivity score. Similar expression of TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 was observed in all tissue specimens in both the RCND-affected animal and normal dogs. In contrast, TGF-beta1 immunoreactivity was increased in the derma of the RCND canine. Comparable TGF-beta1 serum levels were found between the diseased and normal animals. The increased local cutaneous production of TGF-beta1 in the RCND dog, compared with the normal animals, suggests that this cytokine may play an important role in the induction of nodular dermatofibrosis associated with renal cystadenocarcinoma.     

Hemorrhagic bile pleuritis and peritonitis secondary to traumatic common bile duct rupture,diaphragmatic tear,and rupture of the spleen in a dog

Objective– To describe the diagnosis and successful treatment of bile pleuritis and peritonitis secondary to traumatic rupture of the common bile duct and a diaphragmatic tear in a young dog. Case Summary– A 1‐year‐old German Shepherd dog was referred for evaluation of vomiting and icterus 4 days after being hit by a car. Thoracic radiographs, thoracic and abdominal ultrasonographic examinations, thoraco‐ and abdominocentesis, and positive contrast celiogram indicated hemorrhagic pleuritis and peritonitis, left dorsal diaphragmatic tear, and rupture and infarct of the spleen. Surgical exploration of the abdomen confirmed these findings in addition to a circumferential tear of the common bile duct, leading to a diagnosis of hemorrhagic bile pleuritis and peritonitis. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture of the abdominal fluid yielded no growth. Surgical correction of the traumatic injuries was achieved via common bile duct anastomosis, cholecystojejunostomy, repair of the diaphragm, and splenectomy. The dog developed postoperative signs consistent with aspiration pneumonia but was successfully treated and discharged from the hospital. Clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities resolved and the dog was alive and healthy 8 months after discharge. New or Unique Information Provided– Bile pleuritis is rare in dogs and cats and is usually associated with penetrating, not blunt, abdominal trauma. Multiple organ injury in cases of traumatic bile duct rupture is uncommon; in this dog, rupture of the common bile duct was accompanied by rupture of the diaphragm and spleen.     

Pharmacokinetics of grapiprant,a selective EP4 prostaglandin PGE2 receptor antagonist,after 2 mg/kg oral and i.v. administrations in cats

Drugs that provide effective analgesia in cats are limited. The aim of the study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of grapiprant after 2 mg/kg administration via p.o. and i.v. routes in cats. Six healthy adult cats were used according to an open, single‐dose, two‐treatment, two‐period, randomized cross‐over design. Cats were assigned to two treatment groups and administered with 2 mg/kg of grapiprant (pure powder) through p.o. and i.v. administration. Blood samples were collected at preassigned times and analysed by a validated HPLC method. After both administrations, grapiprant concentrations were detectable in plasma for up to 24 hr in five of six animals. The critical parameters including clearance (173.2 ml hr^?1 kg^?1, range 120–326 ml hr^?1 kg^?1) and volume of distribution (918 ml/kg, range 611–1608 ml/kg) were calculated from the i.v. group. The mean oral F% was low (39.6% range 31.5%–45.2%). If the assumption that the minimal effective concentration in dogs (164 ng/ml) applies in cats too, grapiprant orally administered at 2 mg/kg might be effective for 10 hr. Further studies are necessary to establish the minimal effective concentration in this animal species.     

The fermentation diagnosis and histologic studies in blood and the liver of surviving rats after 1 and 2 administrations of a median toxic dose of parathion methyl. 1. Results of studies on the activities of the plasma enzymes AlAT, AsAT, AP, and gamma-GT

Clearly pronounced changes in plasma enzyme activities were observed 24 hours after one and two applications of parathion methyl (PM). The most strongly pronounced rise was in activity of aspartate-amino transferase and was recorded from both sexes. PM application caused sizeable changes in male rats. Comparison between reactions after one and two applications revealed more intensive changes in males after the 1st application. Somewhat larger differences were recordable in some cases between the 1st and 2nd applications. Closer agreement between reaction intensities after the 1st and 2nd PM applications was recordable from female rats. In either sex in response to one single and repeated application parameters returned to normal within nearly one and the same period of time. No secured relationships between activities prior to and after application of PM could be derived from the assays of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT). Both increase and decrease of determined enzyme activities were actually recorded. Activities were highly variable in the control groups. Extreme rises were recordable in some cases from both control and experimental groups. No conclusions so far can be drawn as to "normal values" in rat plasma, possible sex-related differences, and behaviour of enzyme activity in response to one single or repetitive applications. Hence, within common investigations of acute toxicity of alkylphosphates, gamma-GT was found to be not suitable for detection of damage to the liver or other organs.