Acute necrotising pulmonary vasculitis and pulmonary hypertension in a juvenile dog

A five-month-old female Jack Russell terrier was presented for investigation of acute lethargy, anorexia, coughing, respiratory distress and weakness. Examination findings included cyanosis, a grade 3 of 6 systolic heart murmur and prolonged capillary refill time. Radiography and echocardiography revealed severe pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale and right-sided heart failure. Indirect measurement of the systolic pulmonary artery pressure estimated pressures over 100 mmHg. Despite treatment the patient died. Post-mortem examination did not identify a congenital cardiovascular anomaly. Histopathology confirmed acute necrotising pulmonary arteritis and immunohistochemistry failed to identify any immune complex or complement deposition.     

Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension due to Angiostrongylosus vasorum in a dog

A dog was presented with a history of dyspnea, coughing, and ascites. Angiostrongylosis and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were found, as well as a marked discordance between the electrical and mechanical events of the heart. Pulmonary arterial hypertension related to Angiostrongylus vasorum has rarely been reported.     

犬白内障的临床分类及病理特性

眼是动物体的一个光学器官。眼球的结构很复杂，晶状体是调节眼球视觉焦距的屈光体，其功能或形态可发生各种异常，形成不同类型的晶状体病，临床上将影响视力或未明显影响视力的晶状体混浊称为白内障。所有的白内障绝不仅仅是晶状体本身的病变，而是伴有眼部表现的全身性疾病。如果晶状体囊膜或晶状体组织本身失去透明性，则呈现部分或全部混浊。     

A case of long-term sildenafil therapy in a young dog with pulmonary hypertension

A 7-month-old male Papillon was presented to us with mild dyspnea, cyanosis and a diastolic murmur detected by cardiac auscultation. Echocardiography revealed severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH), and administration of 1 mg/kg of oral sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, twice daily was initiated. Exercise capacity, cyanosis, dyspnea and cardiac murmur were improved after therapy for 4 weeks. PCV was remarkably high (74%) after therapy for 3 years, however, increasing the dose of sildenafil decreased this value (60%). Follow-up after therapy for 4 years revealed that treatment with oral sildenafil only continued to provide the dog with an excellent quality of life, without any side effects.     

犬前列腺疾病的临床病理鉴别

一、前列腺生理 前列腺是二裂片器官,左右对称环绕在膀胱颈和尿道起始部的球形结构,位于骨盆联合,其尾部朝向膀胱,正中沟将腺体分成两叶,输出管较多.年轻成年犬的前列腺在骨盆腔中,向前移位进入腹腔.犬前列腺位置随膀胱容积的大小而变.     

Essential hypertension in a dog

Severe hypertension was diagnosed in a dog that initially was referred for evaluation of visual deficits and retinal hemorrhage and eventually was donated for medical treatment of hypertension. Initial blood pressure measured by direct methods was markedly high (systolic, 275 mm of Hg; diastolic, 170 mm of Hg). Measures of renal function were within normal limits, with the exception of hypotonic urine. A test protocol was designed to exclude possible secondary causes of hypertension; negative results of such tests allowed the diagnosis of essential hypertension. The consistency of the hypertension and its response to medical control were studied for 5 years. Blood pressure while the dog was untreated during those years was 240 +/- 24 mm of Hg (systolic) and 146 +/- 14 mm of Hg (diastolic). Plasma renin activity was within normal limits, and the response of the renin-angiotensin system to varied salt intake was normal. The most effective medications used to lower blood pressure were propranolol and captopril, both of which were more effective than salt restriction alone. Five years after the diagnosis of hypertension, the dog was euthanatized because of chronic renal failure secondary to pyelonephritis. Hypertension was less severe as the condition progressed into chronic renal failure. Complete necropsy did not reveal an obvious cause of the hypertension, and histopathologic changes were limited to the cardiovascular system, eyes, and kidneys.     

Reversible pulmonary hypertension presenting simultaneously with an atrial septal defect and angiostrongylosis in a dog

A one-year-old female neutered beagle was presented with marked abdominal effusion. Echocardiography showed marked dilatation of the right cardiac chambers, an atrial septal defect and severe tricuspid insufficiency. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP), evaluated by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, was very high (80 mmHg), with a right to left interatrial shunt. The radiographic images were compatible with widespread pneumonitis. Numerous larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum were visible on direct faecal examination. The animal was given fenbendazole for 15 days, combined with diuretics, an antibiotic and a vasodilator. Two weeks later, the dog showed a marked improvement. The treatment, except the anthelmintic, was continued for seven weeks and then stopped. At that stage, Doppler echocardiography revealed that the sPAP had returned to normal (20 mmHg) and the interatrial shunt had reversed (left to right). Eighteen months later, clinical and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were normal.     

Primary pulmonary osteosarcoma in a dog

An 11-year-old mixed breed dog was referred because of coughing and painful swelling of the distal extremities which had not resolved with antibiotic treatment. A consolidated left cranial lung lobe and hypertrophic osteopathy were identified by radiographs. A unique feature of this report is the marked, rapid reduction in pain and lameness associated with hypertrophic osteopathy after treatment with corticosteroids. Histological examination of an 8 cm diameter, spherical mass found in the excised cranial lung lobe revealed osteosarcoma. No evidence of local or distant metastases was present. The dog survived one year after diagnosis.     

Idiopathic primary chylopericardium in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was evaluated because of pericardial effusion. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog had a history of decreased appetite and exercise intolerance of 3 days' duration. Thoracic radiography performed by the referring veterinarian revealed a large cardiac silhouette. Heart sounds were muffled. Echocardiographic findings were indicative of severe pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade; no pleural effusion was identified. Pericardiocentesis yielded a considerable amount of chylous fluid. A diagnosis of chylopericardium in the absence of pleural effusion was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Conservative management was not effective, and subtotal pericardectomy and thoracic duct ligation were recommended. Surgery was postponed by the owners for 25 days, at which time the dog had both chylopericardium and chylothorax. The dog underwent subtotal pericardectomy and thoracic duct ligation; to delineate the thoracic duct, intraoperative lymphangiography was performed by injection of a radiopaque contrast agent directly into a mesenteric lymph node and subsequent injection of methylene blue solution into another mesenteric lymph node. Surgical treatment resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs and pleural effusion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the development of chylopericardium prior to development of chylothorax in a dog. Treatment with thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and clinical signs.     

Multiple myeloma and primary erythrocytosis in a dog

A 13-year-old spayed female mixed breed dog was referred for impaired ambulation, limb tremors, back pain, hypergammaglobulinemia on cellulose acetate electrophoresis, and mild proteinuria. Conventional radiology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested multifocal neoplastic bone lesions. At the referral examination, lameness and bright red mucous membranes were observed. Severe erythrocytosis, a monoclonal peak in the β-2 globulin detected by capillary zone electrophoresis, severe proteinuria, bone marrow infiltration of plasma cells, and low serum erythropoietin concentrations were reported. The final diagnosis was multiple myeloma associated with severe primary erythrocytosis. This presentation in a dog is interesting because the combination of both disorders is rare in humans and has not been reported in dogs.Key clinical message:Although rare, multiple myeloma and primary erythrocytosis can occur together in dogs.     

Chylothorax in a dog with pulmonary lymphangiosarcoma

Lymphangiosarcoma of the pulmonary pleura was found to be the cause of persistent chylothorax in an eight-year-old, intact male golden retriever. After a two-month course of medical management, a lymphangiogram and thoracic duct ligation were performed with the objective of decreasing further effusion. At surgery, gross lung pathology was biopsied and yielded a histopathological diagnosis of pulmonary pleural lymphangiosarcoma. A relatively rare tumor, lymphangiosarcoma of the pulmonary pleura has not previously been documented as a source of chylothorax in the dog.     

Aspergillus niger pulmonary infection in a dog

A 6-month-old male golden retriever was presented with fever, bloody-watery diarrhea and mild cough. Parvovirus and Isospora canis infection was confirmed and successfully treated. Two weeks later, the dog had severe cough and mucopurulent nasal discharge. Aspergillus niger was cultured from endotracheal washings on blood agar at 37 degrees C. Treatment with itraconazole for about 10 weeks resolved the clinical signs.