Aplasia of the gallbladder in a dog

A young, female Maltese dog was presented with intermittent vomiting of bile. Biochemical evidence of persistent mild hepatopathy had been present for 11 months. Exploratory celiotomy was performed. Absence of the gallbladder with malformation of the quadrate lobe of the liver was identified. There was histological evidence of bile duct proliferation and portal fibrosis.     

Systemic absorption of amitriptyline and buspirone after oral and transdermal administration to healthy cats

A prospective study was performed to determine the relative availability of buspirone and amitriptyline after oral and transdermal routes of administration in 6 adult cats. For topical administration, drugs were compounded in a transdermal organogel containing pluronic and lecithin (PLO). Using a crossover design, each cat received a single dose of amitriptyline (5 mg) and buspirone (2.5 mg) by the transdermal and oral route of administration with at least a 2-week washout interval between drug treatments. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours after drug administration for determination of plasma drug concentrations. Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive amitriptyline and buspirone were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. Systemic absorption of amitriptyline and buspirone administered by the transdermal route was poor compared with the oral route of administration. Until supporting pharmacokinetic data are available, veterinarians and cat owners should not rely on the transdermal route of administration for treating cats with amitriptyline or buspirone.     

Angiotrophic intravascular lymphosarcoma presenting as bi-cavity effusion in a dog

A 9-year-old German Shepherd cross was presented with a history of dyspnoea, decreased activity, episodic collapse and abdominal distention. Cytological examination of thoracic and abdominal fluid demonstrated neoplastic cells, either round or mesenchymal in nature. The dog was found to have a mass in the heart-base region. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed to identify the exact nature of the mass histologically, and to determine if it was the source of neoplastic cells seen in the effusions. Histological diagnosis of the mass was mesothelioma. Postoperatively the dog developed thrombocytopenia, probably immune-mediated, which was treated with prednisone therapy. The dog developed signs of respiratory distress shortly before discharge and, due to its deteriorating condition, was euthanased. A necropsy was performed and tissues were collected for histological examination. The histological diagnosis was angiotropic intravascular lymphosarcoma. Diagnosis of mesothelioma was not confirmed.     

Multi-centre assessment of mycotic rhinosinusitis in dogs: a retrospective study of initial treatment success (1998 to 2008)

Objectives : To retrospectively review the first treatment response of dogs with mycotic rhinosinusitis to commonly utilised treatment techniques. Methods : Medical records of dogs treated for mycotic rhinosinusitis were obtained retrospectively via a manual review of the clinical databases of six veterinary referral centres for the period of January 1998 to June 2008, and first treatment outcome was evaluated. Historical and clinicopathological findings were also reviewed to evaluate their impact on treatment success or failure. Results : There was no significant difference in first treatment outcome between treatment groups (P=0·21). When all topical treatments were considered together (n=85), 39 dogs (45·8%) had a successful first treatment. Initial treatment success was associated with a younger age (56·3 versus 75·8 months; P=0·02) and was 2·7 times more likely in dogs with unilateral disease, although this was not significant (P=0·07). Adjunctive therapy with systemic antifungal agents was associated with treatment failure (PÄ0·01). Fifty-nine dogs (69·4%) responded successfully following multiple treatments. Clinical Significance : Treatment of mycotic rhinosinusitis remains challenging, and multiple treatments are frequently required for adequate treatment. Reasons for first treatment failure are likely multifactorial in origin, making it difficult to predict those dogs that are likely to have a superior prognosis, regardless of the treatment type used.     

Lafora's disease in an epileptic Basset hound

A 6-year-old Basset hound developed a progressive central nervous system disease culminating in epileptic seizures. Histologically, Lafora bodies were found in neurones of the middle and deeper cerebral cortex and midbrain, in Purkinje cells and their processes, and in glial cells of the molecular layer of the cerebellum. Many were also observed free in the neuropil. The ultrastructural and histochemical characteristics of the bodies were similar to those described in previous human and canine cases of Lafora's disease.     

Long term use of hydraulic artificial urethral sphincters in nine dogs from New Zealand with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence

AIMS: To report on the long-term outcomes of hydraulic artificial urethral sphincter (HAUS) placement for the correction of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) in New Zealand dogs.

METHODS: Retrospective data were obtained from cases of dogs which had a HAUS placed after failed medical and/or surgical management of USMI between August 2012 and November 2016. Owner assessment of urinary incontinence was evaluated by an online survey in May 2017 using a visual analogue scale (0 being normal, 100 being severely affected) for the frequency, volume and severity of any straining to urinate, immediately prior to the placement of the HAUS and at the time of the survey. The number of days between surgery and the completion of survey were recorded.

RESULTS: Seven females and two male dogs, which were all desexed except for one female, were eligible for inclusion in the study. The period of follow-up following HAUS placement ranged from 206–1,685 days. Following HAUS placement, frequency and volume of urinary incontinence decreased for six dogs and were practically unchanged for three dogs. The median frequency score decreased from 70 to 13 and the volume score decreased from 73 to 12. There was no consistent change in the perceived degree of straining to urinate. Complications occurred in three dogs; one required repositioning of a dislodged injection port, one required management for haematuria and a hypoplastic bladder, and one required surgical removal of fibrous tissue around the HAUS cuff.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVENCE: HAUS placement was an effective method for the treatment of persistent USMI in most dogs and provided good clinical results based on owner assessment. The technique was associated with few complications and allowed successful long-term control of urinary incontinence without the need for medical management.     

Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic Test to the Diagnosis of Canine Brucellosis Caused by Brucella canis

This study evaluated the performance of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the diagnosis of canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis, comparing its results with that of the rapid slide agglutination test with and without the use of 2‐mercaptoethanol and the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). The microbiological culture, PCR and clinical examination were used as reference. According to the results obtained in clinical examination, blood culture, culture of semen and vaginal swab and PCR in blood, semen and vaginal swab, a total of 102 dogs were divided into three groups: B. canis‐infected dogs (Group 1), B. canis‐non‐infected dogs (Group 2) and dogs with suspected brucellosis (Group 3). The diagnostic sensitivity of RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT, AGID and ICT in Group 1 was, respectively, 75%, 37.5%, 27.8% and 89.58%. The diagnostic specificity of RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT, AGID and ICT in Group 2 was, respectively, 91%, 100%, 100%, and 100%. In dogs with suspected brucellosis, 9.67% were RSAT positive, none was positive by 2ME‐RSAT, 3.22% were AGID positive and 6.45% were ICT positive. The main drawback concerning canine brucellosis diagnosis is the lack of a highly sensitive serological assay to be used as a screening test to the rapid identification of infected animals. The ICT showed a high diagnostic specificity and a diagnostic sensitivity value greater than that observed in the RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT and AGID. However, 10.41% of infected dogs had negative results by ICT. These dogs were positive by microbiological culture and/or PCR, indicating active infection and consequently a higher potential of spreading Brucella. Although rapid and simple to perform, the ICT lacked sensitivity to be used as a screening test.     

Multiple crusted cutaneous plaques in a cat

A 12-year-old castrated male, domestic shorthaired cat was presented with multiple skin lesions. The cat lived mainly indoors and was regularly vaccinated against feline herpes-, calici- and parvo-viruses. It had also been vaccinated against feline leukaemia virus 18 months previously and the owner claimed that the skin lesions had developed after that vaccination.