Clinical and imaging findings,treatments, and outcomes in 27 dogs with imaging diagnosed trigeminal nerve sheath tumors: A multi‐center study

The clinical behavior of canine trigeminal nerve sheath tumors and benefits of previously reported treatments are incompletely defined. Aims of this retrospective, multicenter, observational study were to describe clinical signs, tumor localization characteristics, treatments, and clinical outcomes in a group of dogs with this neoplasm. Databases at four hospitals were reviewed for dogs with a trigeminal nerve sheath tumor diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, and presentation between 2004 and 2014. A single observer recorded medical record findings and two observers recorded MRI characteristics by consensus. A total of 27 dogs met inclusion criteria (15 treated with stereotactic radiation therapy and 12 unirradiated). Two unirradiated dogs were excluded from outcome analyses. The most common presenting signs were masticatory muscle atrophy (26 dogs), neurologic signs referable to intracranial disease (13), and ocular disease (12). Based on MRI findings, all dogs had disease extending centrally at the level of the brainstem. The most commonly affected trigeminal nerve branches were the mandibular (26 dogs), maxillary (22), and ophthalmic (10). Of 15 dogs treated with stereotactic radiation therapy, one had improved muscle atrophy, and six had poor ocular health after treatment. Neurologic signs improved in 4/5 dogs with intracranial signs. Overall median survival time for the 10 unirradiated dogs with available follow‐up was 12 days and 441 days for the 15 stereotactic radiation therapy dogs. Mean survival times between these groups were not significantly different (mean 95% CI for unirradiated dogs was 44–424 days and mean 95% CI for stereotactic radiation therapy dogs was 260–518 days).     

Effects of supplementing different levels of sun-dried groundnut foliage on intake,apparent digestibility and nitrogen metabolism in cattle offered a basal diet of a mixture of rice straw and para grass

Eight male Cambodian yellow cattle, initial body weight (BW) 136 ± 11.9 (±SD) kg; age 20 ± 2.5 (±SD) months, were randomly allocated to treatments in a double 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of different levels of crude protein (CP) from sun-dried groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) foliage (DGF) on feed intake, apparent digestibility and nitrogen metabolism. All animals were fed a basal diet of rice straw ad libitum and para grass (Brachiaria mutica) at 1% of BW. The DGF was offered as a supplement at 0, 1, 2 and 3 g CP/kg BW, denoted DGF0, DGF1, DGF2 and DGF3, respectively. The results showed that the intake of DGF contributed 0, 25, 34 and 42% of total dry matter (DM) intake. Rice straw intake decreased when DGF intake increased. Total intake of DM, organic matter (OM), digestible OM, ash, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre increased with increased level of DGF inclusion but did not differ for the two highest DGF levels. Total DM intake as proportion of BW increased from 2.3% in DGF0 to 2.8% in DGF3. Crude protein digestibility and nitrogen retention improved as DGF intake increased. Daily weight gain of DGF1 cattle was higher than DGF0 but was not further improved at the higher levels of DGF inclusion. Microbial protein synthesis and efficiency of microbial protein production in DGF1 did not differ from DGF0 but both measures were higher in DGF2 and DGF3. The responses were diminished at higher DGF inclusion so it is suggested that DGF supplementation at 1 g CP/kg BW may be the optimal level.

     

Progression of a solitary, malignant cutaneous plasma-cell tumour to multiple myeloma in a cat

An 11‐year‐old male domestic shorthair cat was examined because of a soft‐tissue mass on the left tarsus previously diagnosed as a malignant extramedullary plasmacytoma. Findings of further diagnostic tests carried out to evaluate the patient for multiple myeloma were negative. Five months later, the cat developed clinical evidence of multiple myeloma based on positive Bence Jones proteinuria, monoclonal gammopathy and circulating atypical plasma cells. This case represents an unusual presentation for this disease and documents progression of an extramedullary plasmacytoma to multiple myeloma in the cat.