Evaluation of prognostic factors in the surgical treatment of adrenal gland tumors in dogs: 41 cases (1999-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To identify preoperative predictors of survival and assess intraoperative and postoperative complications and survival rates for dogs undergoing adrenalectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 41 dogs that underwent adrenalectomy. PROCEDURES: Records were reviewed to collect data regarding preoperative variables. Intraoperative and postoperative variables were also recorded. Variables were evaluated for association with survival duration via log-rank analysis for categoric variables and by use of Cox proportional hazards. Median survival times were calculated by use of Kaplan-Meier life table analysis. RESULTS: 9 (22.0%) dogs did not survive to discharge. Intraoperative mortality rate was 4.8%. Overall Kaplan-Meier median survival time was 690 days. Variables significantly associated with shorter survival times included preoperative weakness or lethargy, thrombocytopenia, increased BUN concentration, increased partial thromboplastin time (PTT), increased aspartate transaminase (AST) activity, hypokalemia, intraoperative hemorrhage, and concurrent nephrectomy. Postoperative variables significantly associated with shorter survival times included pancreatitis and renal failure. In multivariate analysis, preoperative hypokalemia, preoperative increased BUN concentration, and concurrent nephrectomy were significantly associated with a shorter survival time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A high mortality rate was associated with adrenalectomy in dogs; however, those that survived until discharge from a hospital had long survival times. Preoperative factors associated with a shorter survival time were weakness or lethargy, thrombocytopenia, increased BUN concentration, increased PTT, increased AST activity, and hypokalemia. Studies are needed to evaluate how treatment for these factors may affect or change outcome after adrenalectomy. Dogs with adrenal masses that require concurrent nephrectomy and cause intraoperative hemorrhage have a guarded prognosis.     

DIASTOLIC MITRAL REGURGITATION DETECTED BY PULSED WAVE DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND COLOR FLOW DOPPLER MAPPING IN FIVE DOGS AND TWO CATS WITH SECOND- AND THIRD-DEGREE ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK

M-mode echocardiography, color flow Doppler mapping, and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography were used to characterize diastolic mitral regurgitation in five dogs and two cats with second- and third-degree atrioventricular block. Incomplete closure and partial reopening of the mitral valve following nonconducted P-waves were demonstrated by m-mode echocardiography. Low velocity reflux of blood into the left atrium after nonconducted P-waves was imaged by color-flow Doppler mapping and spectral Doppler echocardiography. Late diastolic mitral regurgitation was not observed in clinically normal control dogs or cats, but a low velocity, mid-diastolic flow reversal was detected in the dogs. This probably represented normal physiologic intravalvular flow. Diastolic mitral regurgitation is a common echocardiographic finding, in dogs and cats with, second- and third-degree atrioventricular block.     

Growth,viscosity and beta‐glucanase activity of intestinal fluid in broiler chickens fed on barley‐based diets with or without exogenous beta‐glucanase

1. Three groups of birds were fed for up to 35 days on diets containing 500 g barley (cv. Condor) /kg diet, with or without exogenous β‐glucanase, either a commercial preparation or a recombinant endoglucanase.

2. Birds which received diets containing the exogenous enzymes grew faster for the first 3 weeks but after that there was no apparent difference in rate of growth.

3. β‐Glucanase activities in the crop and small intestine of birds given exogenous enzymes were generally higher than those of birds given only the basal diet.

4. Viscosity of intestinal fluid in birds given only the basal diet decreased with age but there was no corresponding increase in β‐glucanase activity. This discounts bacterial β‐glucanase as a contributory factor in the adaptation to β‐glucanase apparent in older birds.     

Isolation of fungal flora from the hair coats of shelter cats in the Pacific coastal USA

Two-hundred shelter cats from the Pacific western coastal USA were sampled in four different geographical regions to determine the fungal organisms most commonly found on the hair coat and the prevalence of these organisms. Data on the cats' health, age, hair coat length, gender, and geographical location were collected and analysed. The overall prevalence of dermatophytosis was 5.5% (11 of 200 cats), with Microsporum canis isolated in 90.9% (10 of 11) of the samples from positive cats. This was a lower isolation rate or prevalence of dermatophytes than previous studies conducted on shelter cats in other regions of the USA. Ten of 11 of the cats were lesion free (either subclinical infection or mechanical carriage). Cats in the Los Angeles, California area ( P  = 0.001) and neutered male cats ( P  = 0.047) had a higher prevalence of a positive dermatophyte culture. The numbers and types of saprophytes isolated from cats in this study were found to be consistent with previous feline reports in the USA and with an equine study previously conducted in this area.     

Compressive cervical myelopathy in young Texel and Beltex sheep

BACKGROUND: This investigation was prompted by the referral of increasing numbers of young Texel and Beltex rams with ataxia and weakness, or wobbler syndrome. HYPOTHESIS: The study aims were to describe the clinical and pathologic findings in affected sheep. ANIMALS: The animals evaluated in this study included 7 Texel sheep (6 male and 1 female) and 3 Beltex sheep (2 male and 1 female) referred from pedigree flocks. Typically, the sheep were 15-18 months of age at referral. METHODS: Diagnostic investigations included radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) myelography followed by gross postmortem and histopathologic examinations. RESULTS: Clinical findings typical of cervical spinal cord compression were present in all sheep but varied in severity. Myelography confirmed dorsal spinal cord compression in the region of C6-C7. No bony abnormalities were identified as described in cases of canine and equine wobbler syndrome. Postmortem examinations revealed discrete, smooth, nodular to polypoid projections of adipose tissue apparently prolapsing through the dorsolateral intervertebral space at C6-C7 and causing localized spinal cord compression. Histopathology of the nodules confirmed that they were composed of well-differentiated adipocytes typical of fatty tissue. Spinal cord lesions were similar in all sheep with marked Wallerian degeneration at the site of compression and mild Wallerian degeneration present cranial and caudal to the lesion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The findings of this study suggest a novel cervical myelopathy in these sheep breeds caused by the presence of fatty nodules encroaching into the dorsal vertebral canal at C6-C7. Additional investigations are required to establish the etiology and possible hereditary risk factors for this unique clinicopathologic syndrome.     

QUANTITATIVE HEPATIC SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE DOG

Quantitative hepatic scintigraphy is a noninvasive test for measurement of relative arterial and portal blood flow to the liver. This technique has been used to evaluate human patients with known or suspected liver tumors or diffuse hepatocellular disease. A computer program to assess the hepatic perfusion index (HPI) in the normal dog is described. Factors affecting study quality and accuracy include injection technique, cardiac function, patient position, respiration, gross patient motion, and user intervention during data processing. HPI for a group of 12 normal dogs was 0.9±0.4 (X±SD). Quantitative scintigraphy could be used to evaluate dogs with primary or secondary liver tumors, portacaval shunts, or chronic liver disease     

Impact of walking surface on the range of motion of equine distal limb joints for rehabilitation purposes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three footing surfaces on the flexion/extension, and range of motion (ROM) of the carpus, tarsus and fetlocks in the horse. The percentage of stride spent in the stance phase of sound horses at the walk was also measured. Nine sound horses were walked on hard ground (HD), soft ground (SF) and a land treadmill (LT), and five complete gait cycles were recorded by a digital video camera. Retro-reflective markers were placed on the skin at four anatomical locations on the left fore and hind limbs, and data were analyzed using two-dimensional (2D) motion-analysis software. Maximal flexion/extension angles and range of motion were calculated for each joint, and the percentage of the stride spent in stance phase was determined for each stride.Maximal flexion of the tarsus and hind fetlock was greater on LT and SF compared to HD, while maximal flexion of the carpus was greater on LT compared to HD and SF. Maximal extension of the carpus was greater on HD compared to SF and LT, maximal extension of the tarsus was greater on HD and SF compared to LT, and maximal extension of the forelimb and hind limb fetlocks was greater on LT compared to HD and SF. The greatest overall ROM of the carpus and fetlocks was achieved on LT, while the greatest overall ROM of the tarsus was achieved on SF. The stance percentage of the stride for the hind limb was significantly different between all surfaces. In conclusion, walking surface influences flexion/extension of the carpus, tarsus and fetlocks in healthy horses, which should be considered when walking equine rehabilitation cases.