Cutaneous histiocytosis in dogs

Multifocal cutaneous histiocytic lesions were recognized in 9 dogs. Clinically, the dogs had multiple erythematous plaques or nodules in the skin (1 to 5 cm diameter). Histologically, the lesions were comprised of dermal or pannicular infiltrates of large histiocytic cells, with varying numbers of other inflammatory cells intermixed. By electron microscopy, the cells resembled those of canine cutaneous histiocytoma. The lesions seemed to wax and wane and appeared in new sites, regardless of treatment. The dogs ranged in age from 2 to 13 years; 7 dogs were under 6 years of age. Both sexes and various breeds were represented. An infectious agent could not be identified.     

Spinal fracture and luxation in dogs and cats: a retrospective evaluation of 95 cases.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review cases of spinal fractures or luxations (SFL) treated with various modalities in order to describe fracture location, neurological status, treatment, outcome and complications in a patient population at a single centre. The medical records of dogs and cats that had been diagnosed with a SFL between C1 and L7 between January 1995 and June 2005 were reviewed in order to collect pertinent data. Ninety-five cases were included in this study. The severity of spinal cord injury was graded on a scale from 0 to 5. Vehicular trauma was the most common cause of SFL. Spinal fractures were localized between C1-C5 in 10 cases, C6-T2 in one case, T3-L3 in 54 cases, L4-L7 in 36 cases. Thirty patients that were euthanatized without treatment had a median neurological score of 5. Twenty-eight patients, all of which had motor function, were treated conservatively and there was not any change in their median neurological grade at the time of discharge. Thirty-seven patients had surgery, 27 of which were non ambulatory. Thirty-five of 37 were stabilized using pins and/or screws and PMMA or various other techniques. The median neurological grade of surgically treated patients improved by one point between the time of initial diagnosis and discharge. Implant removal was performed in five cases. The patients that were treated with pins and/or screws and PMMA were significantly more improved than conservatively managed patients at the time of discharge, although the surgically treated patients were hospitalized significantly longer than the conservatively managed patients. Our results suggest that dogs that retain pain sensation prior to surgery have a good prognosis for functional recovery. In this study, the dogs that were treated conservatively retained purposeful movement and had a good prognosis for recovery.     

Primary hypoparathyroidism in dogs: a retrospective study of 17 cases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinico-pathological findings, response to treatment and prevalence of complications in dogs with primary hypoparathyroidism. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 17 dogs presenting to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinical Centre and Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital over a 15 year period (1990 to 2004). Case records were evaluated for signalment, body weight, diet type, historical and clinical findings, serum total calcium, phosphate, albumin and parathyroid hormone concentrations, urinary fractional excretion ratios of calcium and phosphate, electrocardiogram (ECG) results, treatments administered, outcome and period of follow-up. RESULTS: The most common breeds identified were St Bernard (three dogs), Chihuahua (two dogs), German Shepherd (two dogs) and Jack Russell Terrier (two dogs). Three dogs were cross bred. Seizures, muscle tremors and fasciculations, stiff gait, tetany, muscle cramping, behavioural change and hyperventilation were the most common clinical signs. Vomiting, inappetence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hyperthermia, facial pruritus, ataxia, weakness, cataracts, and circling also occurred with less frequency. The mean duration of observed clinical signs preceding diagnosis was 33 days (median 13 days, range 1 to 173 days). All dogs had marked hypocalcaemia with normal or mildly increased serum albumin concentrations. Mean phosphate concentrations were significantly higher in inappetent dogs (P = 0.049). Mean serum calcium concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with cataracts compared to those without (P = 0.046). There were no other significant relationships between serum calcium or phosphate concentrations and the clinical presentation or outcome. No significant correlations were identified between the presence of a particular clinical sign and the duration of clinical signs. ECGs were obtained in four dogs and all exhibited QT interval prolongation due to a ST-segment prolongation. Sixteen of 17 dogs were treated successfully for hypocalcaemia and discharged from hospital. Acute management included parenteral calcium gluconate (10 dogs) and intravenous anticonvulsants (five dogs). Chronic therapy included oral vitamin D analogues and calcium supplementation. Treatment complications occurred in two dogs and included acute renal failure (one dog) and iatrogenic tissue necrosis following subcutaneous calcium administration (one dog). The mean follow-up period was 14.5 months (median 13 months, range 0 to 39 months). Twelve dogs were alive at the last follow up and two dogs were euthanased for unrelated reasons. The type of vitamin D analogue used was not associated with outcome. CONCLUSION: Primary hypoparathyroidism was an uncommon diagnosis in dogs. Saint Bernards, cross bred dogs, German Shepherd dogs and Terrier breeds were most commonly affected. Neurological signs were the most common presenting clinical signs, although alimentary signs may have been more common than previously reported. Dogs with primary hypoparathyroidism appeared to have a good prognosis following initiation of calcium supplementation and vitamin D therapy. Complications of treatment were uncommon and could be minimised with regular monitoring.     

Idiopathic detrusor-urethral dyssynergia in dogs: a retrospective analysis of 22 cases

Results of a retrospective study of 22 dogs with signs of dysuria and/or stranguria in which a diagnosis of idiopathic detrusorurethral dyssynergia was made are presented. The diagnosis was based on the exclusion of detectable pathological conditions which could also cause urine outflow obstruction. The affected cases were 22 middle-aged male dogs (mean age 4·9 years) of large and giant breeds (mean bodyweight 36·7 kg). Nine dogs had had periodic clinical signs for longer than one year, one for seven months and eight for two to five weeks, while in four dogs signs had begun four to five days before referral. All dogs received the α-sympatholytic agent prazosin as an initial treatment and in 11 it remained the only therapy. There was a good effect in seven and a moderate response in the other four dogs. In one dog, prazosin was ineffective and was replaced by diazepam, which markedly reduced the signs. Three other dogs required frequent catheterisation and antibiotics were administered. These dogs responded favourably. Another three dogs with evidence of impaired bladder contractility were also treated with the parasympathomimetic agent carbachol. One did not improve and was euthanased. Four dogs developed bladder paralysis and severe infectious cystitis. Only one of these could be managed satisfactorily by long-term administration of prazosin, carbachol and antibiotics, and the others had to be euthanased.     

Localised sarcoptic mange in dogs: a retrospective study of 10 cases

The authors report 10 cases of localised sarcoptic mange in dogs. In each case, lesions were localised to one precise area of the skin. Pruritus was present in nine cases and absent in one. Affected areas were the feet (one case), the face and/or the pinnae (six cases), the abdominal skin (one case), the flank (one case) and the lumbar area (one case). The types of lesions were erythema, papules, lichenification, scales, crusts and alopecia. Parasites were found in all cases except one, in which anti-immunoglobulin G Sarcoptes serology was positive. The acaricidal treatments given were lindane, ivermectin or selamectin and were all successful.     

Neutropenia in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 261 cases

Case records of 232 dogs and 29 cats with neutropenia were reviewed to examine the spectrum of underlying etiologies causing the neutropenia. Six etiological categories included nonbacterial infectious disease; increased demand due to marked inflammation, bacterial sepsis, or endotoxemia; drug-associated neutropenia; primary bone-marrow disease; immune-mediated neutropenia; and diseases of unclear etiology. The largest single category associated with the development of neutropenia was nonbacterial infectious disease (e.g., feline leukemia virus [FeLV], feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV], histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and parvovirus), with parvovirus infection accounting for 47.1% of all cases. The least common (0.38%) cause was naturally occurring immune-mediated neutropenia.     

Salivary gland necrosis in dogs: a retrospective study of 19 cases

Salivary gland necrosis has been described in dogs and is characterised by enlarged, hard, painful salivary glands, retching and vomition or regurgitation. The cause has yet to be determined. A retrospective study of 19 dogs with the same clinical signs was undertaken for breed, age, gender, history and presenting signs, diagnostic evaluations and findings, treatment and outcome. An underlying association was identified in 16 of the 19 dogs. This included Spirocerca lupi infestation (seven dogs), megaoesophagus (three dogs) and oesophagitis, oesophageal diverticulum, giardiasis and suspected autoimmune sialadenitis. Almost all associated lesions involved the oesophagus. Where the associated disease was successfully treated, the salivary glands returned to normal and all clinical signs resolved. It is hypothesised that an afferent vagal reflex may be involved, and that the mechanism of disease is similar to the neural pathogenesis suggested for hypertrophic osteopathy; in this instance, the efferent targets are the salivary glands rather than the limbs.     

Sublingual reactive histiocytosis in a dog

Lingual lesions are relatively uncommon in dogs and are mostly represented by neoplasms and glossitis secondary to trauma or infections. Reactive histiocytosis is an uncommon, poorly understood, reactive disorder characterized by proliferation of activated, interstitial, dendritic, antigen-presenting cells associated with lymphocytes and neutrophils with a specific angiocentric orientation and occasional angioinvasion and angiodestruction. Clinically, the disease has a waxing and waning behavior with possible response to treatment and regression, or progression to multiple lesions and internal organ involvement. This case report describes an unusual sublingual presentation of reactive histiocytosis in a Miniature Pinscher dog. The diagnosis was obtained by clinical and histopathological exclusion of other causes, detection of the characteristic microscopic growth pattern, and by immunocytochemistry. Histiocytic cells were vimentin, CD18, CD11c, and CD1c positive consistent with a dendritic cell origin. Anti-BCG stain (Bacillus Calmette and Guerin) was negative for etiological agents. The dog was treated with oral administration of tetracycline and niacinamide during an 8-month period. There was no indication of recurrence of the sublingual mass 2-years following treatment.     

Dilated cardiomyopathy of Doberman pinschers: retrospective histomorphologic evaluation of heart from 32 cases.

Dilated cardiomyopathy of Doberman Pinschers (DCDP) is a progressive disease often presenting with a history of episodic weakness and syncope, or with clinical signs of predominantly left-sided congestive heart failure. A systematic dissection and histomorphologic evaluation of the heart from 32 Doberman Pinschers with a clinical diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy revealed a highly specific location for the characteristic myocardial lesions. The lesions of DCDP were found only in the left ventricular free wall, and in 30 cases, the lesions were characterized by myofiber degeneration and atrophy, and replacement of myocardium by dense bundles of collagen and clusters of adipocytes. In the two remaining hearts, myofiber atrophy and degeneration were accompanied by collagen deposition, but not adipocytes. In stained longitudinal (base to apex) tissue sections of the left ventricle, the lesions of DCDP were usually apparent to the unaided eye; appearing as a central linear pale zone, aligned in the long axis of the ventricular free wall. The lesions did not contain inflammatory cell infiltrates and often involved > 50% of ventricular wall.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of renal parenchymal diseases in dogs: 32 cases (1981-1986)

The medical records of 32 dogs with microscopically proven renal parenchymal disease were evaluated to characterize the associated ultrasonographic patterns and to assess the contribution of ultrasonography to the diagnosis and management in each case. Ultrasonography provided additional information on internal renal architecture in 18 dogs with radiographic evidence of structural abnormality. Ultrasonography determined the renal origin of 2 abdominal masses, defined the extent and distribution of neoplastic disease in 6 dogs, and identified kidneys not seen on survey radiographs or excretory urograms in 5 dogs because of decreased abdominal contrast or poor function. The ultrasonographic patterns were most specific for focal and multifocal or diffuse neoplasia. Ultrasonographic findings were least specific for diffuse parenchymal disease without architectural disruption such as glomerulo/interstitial nephritis, renal tubular necrosis, and nephrocalcinosis. In these cases, biopsy was recommended. Six interpretive errors were made. Four of these errors were related to the overestimation of renal pelvic and diverticular size because of confusion with medullary papilla. Two errors occurred in the diagnosis of renal lymphosarcoma, one of which was interpreted to be pyelonephritis. The other was an interpretive dilemma because of absence of hypoechoic multifocal nodules. Renal tubular necrosis was confirmed in this case.     

Outcomes of dogs presented for cataract evaluation: a retrospective study

Two hundred and forty-four dogs were evaluated for cataracts at the University of Tennessee from January 2001 to December 2002. Fifty-four canine breeds were affected. Odds ratios for cataracts were significantly higher for six purebred dogs (including the cocker spaniel, miniature schnauzer, toy poodle, Boston terrier, miniature poodle, and bichon frise) compared with mixed-breed dogs. One hundred fifty-nine dogs did not have cataract surgery. The most common reason for dogs not having surgery was retinal degeneration (n=66).     

Diagnosis of pharyngeal disorders in dogs: a retrospective study of 67 cases

OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency distribution of pharyngeal disorders and to compare clinical signs in diseases of the different pharyngeal areas. To review the investigation methods. METHODS: Medical records of 67 dogs presenting with abnormalities of the pharyngeal area were retrospectively reviewed and classified according to the anatomic area involved, i.e. the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal areas. Clinical signs, endoscopic findings and results of additional sampling were reviewed. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal disorders were most frequently encountered (49 per cent), with choanal masses being the most frequent diagnosis (24 of 33), followed by laryngopharyngeal disorders (37.5 per cent) and oropharyngeal disorders (10.5 per cent). A rare condition, stenosis of the intrapharyngeal opening, was classified separately (3 per cent). An overall good correlation between matched cytology and histopathology samples was found. In all categories of diseases, clinical signs related to both the upper respiratory and digestive tracts were reported. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pharyngeal disorders are more frequently localised in the nasopharyngeal area and include essentially choanal masses. The use of a flexible endoscope for retrograde rhinoscopy is essential for adequate investigation of the proximal nasopharyngeal area. Clinical signs do not allow differentiation of the pharyngeal disorder within the different pharyngeal areas.     

Medial canthoplasty for epiphora in dogs: a retrospective study of 23 cases

The medical records of 23 dogs that underwent medial canthoplasty for treatment of epiphora were reviewed. The most prevalent breed encountered was the shih tzu. Other affected breeds included the Pekingese, Maltese, toy poodle, and pug. All dogs had epiphora associated with medial canthal trichiasis and/or entropion. Other ocular abnormalities included conjunctivitis, keratitis, pigmentary keratitis, corneal ulceration, globe prolapse, and nasal fold trichiasis. After medial canthoplasty, the epiphora resolved in all dogs.     

Feline mammary carcinoma: a retrospective evaluation of 17 cases

Seventeen biopsies of feline mammary carcinoma submitted to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing were reviewed. All 17 cases were female cats. Data on age, reproductive status (sexually intact vs. neutered), therapy, outcome of the cases and histological features were consistent with data on feline mammary carcinoma previously reported. Four of these 17 cats had a history of receiving exogenous progestin prior to tumor development. The possible role of progestins as initiators or promoters of feline mammary carcinoma was discussed. The use of feline mammary carcinoma as a model for carcinoma of the breast in women was reviewed.     

Steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis in dogs: Long-term study of 32 cases

Steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis in 32 cases was studied. Two forms were recognised: The typical form showing cervical rigidity and pain, fever and pleocytosis with polymorphonuclear cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and the atypical form, a more protracted type characterised by additional neurological deficits and lack of typical CSF changes. Both groups responded to steroid application. Several ancillary laboratory procedures were applied in an attempt to improve the diagnosis. Electroencephalography was found to be helpful in detecting an inflammatory process. Measuring IgA levels in the serum and CSF was also another useful technique for detecting atypical cases. Long-term treatment with prednisolone was undertaken in 20 dogs. The treatment was monitored by rigorous control examinations of the blood and CSF at regular intervals. Twelve dogs were considered cured after this treatment. Thirteen dogs were euthanased; five of these in the acute stage of the disease and eight because of progressive neurological disease. In all these cases histopathological examination was performed. The data are compared to reports in the literature on meningitis and arteritis in dogs and the pathogenesis of the disease is briefly discussed.