Comparison of absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures for intradermal skin closure in cats

Paired skin incisions were made in 6 cats and closed intradermally with the copolymer of glycolide, ɛ-caprolacton, and trimethylene-carbonate, or polypropylene suture. The macroscopic and histologic appearance of the incisions was compared. Polypropylene suture compared favorably to glycolide, ɛ-caprolacton, and trimethylene-carbonate suture for closure of skin incisions in cats.     

Anesthesia and perioperative management of a pneumonectomized dog

Although left- or right-sided pneumonectomy is tolerated by normal dogs, complications impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems are not uncommon. Pneumonectomy in dogs results in secondary changes in the remaining lung, which include: decreased compliance and vital capacity; and increased pulmonary vascular resistance potentially leading to right ventricular hypertrophy. Such alterations make the anesthetic management of an animal with one lung particularly challenging. This report describes a dog with a history of left pneumonectomy due to Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia 3 yr before presentation. The dog presented with a vaginal wall prolapse, and surgical resection of the protruding vaginal wall, ovariectomy, and prophylactic gastropexy were performed. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol and was maintained with isoflurane using intermittent positive pressure ventilation and a constant rate infusion of fentanyl. Epidural anesthesia was also used. Recovery and postoperative management were uncomplicated. Intensive hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring and appropriate response and treatment of any detected abnormalities, taking into consideration the pathophysiologic alterations occurring in a pneumonectomized animal, are required for successful perianesthetic management.     

ASSESSMENT OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN CANINE MAMMARY GLAND TUMORS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC INDIRECT LYMPHOGRAPHY

In the staging process of the breast cancer, demonstrating metastasis of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has an important prognostic value, in both humans and animals. The aim of this prospective case‐control study was to determine the diagnostic value of computed tomographic indirect lymphography (CT‐LG) for detecting SLN metastasis in dogs with mammary cancer. Thirty‐three female dogs with tumors in the abdominal and inguinal mammary glands were prospectively selected and subjected to CT‐LG, 1 and 5 min after injection of 1 ml of contrast agent (iopamidol) in the subareolar tissue of the neoplastic and the contralateral normal mammary glands. The pattern of postcontrast opacification, degree of postcontrast enhancement, and size and shape were assessed in 65 SLNs in total and were correlated with histopathological findings. The absence of opacification or heterogeneous opacification 1 min after contrast medium injection showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (93%, 100%, and 98.4%, respectively). In images taken 1 min after injection, an absolute density value lower than 444 Hounsfield units (HU) in the center of the SLN also provided significant sensitivity and specificity (93.8% and 75%, respectively). The size and shape of the SLN (maximum and minimum diameter, maximum/minimum diameter ratio, maximum diameter/height of fifth thoracic vertebral body ratio) showed the lowest sensitivity and specificity. Results of this study support the hypothesis that CT‐LG could help in the assessment of SLN metastasis in cases of mammary gland tumors in dogs.     

Primary intranasal transmissible venereal tumour in the dog: a retrospective study of six spontaneous cases

The medical records of six dogs with primary intranasal transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) were reviewed. Epistaxis (4/6), serosangineous nasal discharge (2/6), oronasal fistulae (2/6), facial swelling (1/6) and submandibular lymphadenopathy (3/6) due to reactive hyperplasia (2/3) and metastasis (1/3) were the most common complaints and clinical findings. Diagnosis was made by rhinoscopy and confirmed by cytology and histopathology in five dogs and by cytology only in one dog. The microscopic appearance of the tumours with both diagnostic techniques was typical of TVT. Four cases were treated effectively with four to five weekly cycles of vincristine monotherapy that resulted in complete resolution of TVT masses in approximately 1 month. One case was resistant to this kind of treatment and another one was lost to follow-up.     

Liver biochemical and histopathological findings in dogs with experimentally induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Routine liver biochemical parameters were evaluated in 8 dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) induced by surgical ligation of the pancreatic duct and the pancreatic branch of the pancreaticoduodenal artery and confirmed with the trypsin-like immunoreactivity test. Eight additional dogs were used as healthy controls. Data collection began at the 4th week postoperatively and continued weekly to the 21st week. In the dogs with EPI, the serum activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were consistently elevated. The serum total and conjugated bilirubin concentrations remained within normal limits throughout the experimental period. Histopathological study revealed hepatic lipidosis in the dogs with EPI. Therefore, since this condition seems to be an additional consequence of EPI in dogs, laboratory evaluation of dogs with EPI must include assessment of liver function, to determine if additional or different therapeutic measures are indicated.     

The lymph drainage of the neoplastic mammary glands in the bitch: a lymphographic study

The purpose of this investigation was to study the lymph drainage of the neoplastic mammary glands in the bitch using indirect lymphography. The main conclusions drawn from the study of 41 natural cases were as follows: the first or cranial thoracic and second or caudal thoracic neoplastic mammary glands usually drain into the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes and rarely into the ipsilateral axillary and sternal lymph nodes, simultaneously. The third or cranial abdominal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains into the ipsilateral axillary and superficial inguinal lymph nodes simultaneously, but sometimes only cranially into the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Rarely, it drains only caudally into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal and medial iliac lymph nodes, simultaneously. The fourth or caudal abdominal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains only caudally into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymph nodes. Rarely, it drains into the ipsilateral axillary and superficial inguinal lymph nodes simultaneously. The fifth or inguinal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymph nodes but rarely, does it also drain into the ipsilateral popliteal lymph node and into a lymphatic plexus at the medial aspect of the ipsilateral thigh. Lymphatic connections between the neoplastic and adjacent normal mammary glands were demonstrated in only one case. The lymph drainage pattern of the neoplastic mammary glands is slightly different to that described in normal glands using the same radiographic method.     

Hip dysplasia in the cat: a report of three cases

Hip dysplasia was diagnosed in three cats. Two were presented with a history of hindlimb lameness and the other had a history of constipation. All were confined for two weeks and showed considerable clinical improvement. At follow-up examination the cats were free of clinical signs despite the deterioration in the radiological appearance of their hips. Luxation or subluxation of the hips, insufficient development of the craniolateral acetabular edges, loss of the arched shape of the cranial subchondral acetabular bones, shallow acetabula and secondary degenerative changes on the femoral heads and necks were the main radiological findings in the affected cats.