LAPAROTOMY IN EQUINE COLIC—A REPORT OF THIRTEEN CLINICAL CASES

A report of 13 unselected clinical cases of colic in horses which were submitted to laparotomy is presented, together with one case of experimental end-to-side anastomosis of the ileum into the caecum. Cases are divided into acute or peracute with diverse aetiology, and subacute or chronic where all the lesions involved the small intestine. The technique of anaesthesia and surgical procedures is described and emphasis is placed on the necessity of adequate fluid therapy in such cases.     

SYSTOLIC AORTIC VALVE FLUTTER IN 6 DOGS

Systolic aortic valve flutter was identified by M-mode echocardiography in 6 large-breed dogs without evidence of structural cardiac disease. It ranged in amplitude, timing, and frequency. Systolic aortic valve flutter is considered an incidental and normal finding in some dogs, similar to the situation in humans.     

SPINAL MAST CELL TUMORS IN DOGS: IMAGING FEATURES AND CLINICAL OUTCOME OF FOUR CASES

Published information regarding canine vertebral column mast cell tumors (MCTs) is limited. The objectives of this study were to report clinical and advanced imaging findings for a group of dogs with confirmed spinal MCT. Inclusion criteria for this retrospective case series were dogs with spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans and a histological diagnosis of spinal MCT. Clinical, imaging, treatment, and outcome data were recorded. Four dogs met inclusion criteria. One dog had primary spinal MCT and three dogs had metastatic spinal MCT. All four dogs presented for paraspinal hyperesthesia and subacute progressive or acute myelopathy. All CT and MRI lesions were extradural. Two cases exhibited distinct masses in the epidural space. In one case, an epidural tumor invaded from the paravertebral musculature. One case exhibited polyostotic lesions indistinguishable from multiple myeloma by MRI. One dog with a primary epidural low‐grade MCT remains clinically normal 4 years postoperatively, following adjunctive lomustine. An epidural high‐grade MCT, metastatic from a cutaneous tumor, recurred within 2 months of surgery despite adjunctive vinblastine. Two high‐grade cases with concurrent visceral involvement were euthanized immediately after imaging. In dogs, MCT should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a progressive painful myelopathy and CT or MRI evidence of an extradural spinal lesion (epidural, paravertebral, or polyostotic). While more often associated with cutaneous or disseminated disease, MCT may also occur as a primary tumor of the epidural space in dogs.     

CYSTOGRAPHY: EFFECT OF TECHNIQUE ON DIAGNOSIS OF CYSTITIS IN DOGS

Double-constrast and positive-contrast cystograms were performed in 12 dogs. After cystography, E. coli cystitis was induced in nine of the 12 dogs. The remaining three dogs were used as controls. Double contrast and positive-contrast cystograms were repeated threee, seven and 14 days later. During cystography, bladders were distended to mild, moderate, and complete degrees of distention. Mucosal irregularity decreased with increasing bladder distention and was more likely to be seen on double-contrast than on the positive-contrast cystogram. When seen on both types of studies, mucosal irregularity was more obvious on double-contrast than it was on the positive-contrast custogram. Bladder wall thickness decreased with increasing distention; in some dogs with mild cystitis, abnormal wall thickness was masked by complete bladder distention. Bladder wall thickness could be measured more often on double-contrast than on the positive contrast cystograms. Wall thickness measurments made on both types of studies were similar. It was concluded that lesions of mild to moderate cystitis may be missed when the bladder is completely distended, and that the double-contrast cystogram is more sensetive for evaluating mucosal margivation and bladder wall thickness than is the positive-contrast cystogram     

A REPORT OF TWO CASES AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The clinical, radiographic, gross, and histopathological characteristics of two cases of teratocarcinomas occurring unilaterally in the ovaries of a 9-year-old and a 2-year-old dog with diffuse metastasis are described. Tissues of all three primordial germ layers, with a histological resemblance to different organ systems, were observed in the primary as well as in the metastatic lesions. Differentiation varied from matured elements to unrecognizable anaplastic cells. These are the first reported cases of teratocarcinoma in the dog.     

EFFECT OF METHYLCELLULOSE ON UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL QUALITY IN DOGS

This study was performed to evaluate and optimize a small bowel contrast technique using barium and methylcellulose in dogs. Ten healthy dogs underwent both a conventional upper gastrointestinal study that used only barium and a modified study that used barium and methylcellulose. The control group received 10 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Experimental groups were divided into three subgroups given 15 mL/kg of different viscosities (low, moderate, and high viscosity) of 0.5% methylcellulose after 4 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Compared with the control group, dogs receiving methylcellulose had higher-quality upper gastrointestinal studies. Moderate viscosity of methylcellulose was superior to the other methylcellulose groups. In conclusion, the use of methylcellulose is a simple and effective method for improving the image quality in an upper GI examination.