Clinical characteristics and outcome of dogs with presumed primary renal lymphoma.

Objectives: To characterise the presentation, clinicopathologic data and outcome of 29 dogs with presumed primary renal lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of dogs with suspected primary renal lymphoma from 11 institutions.

Results: All dogs were substage b, and lethargy and gastrointestinal signs were common presenting complaints, as were azotaemia (n=25; 86%) and erythrocytosis (n=15; 51%) on biochemical testing.

Clinical comparison of two techniques of brachial plexus block for forelimb surgery in dogs.

The objective of this study was to compare two different local anaesthesia techniques for intraoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing surgical procedures distal to the mid humeral diaphysis. Thirty-two dogs were divided into two groups: the US group received an ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block at the level of the first rib and the N group received a neurostimulation-guided paravertebral brachial plexus block. Ropivacaine 0.

Feline gastric pneumatosis.

Case Summary: A 9-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 2 day history of anorexia and vomiting. A minimum database, including a complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile and urinalysis were unremarkable apart from a toxic neutrophilic left shift and borderline proteinuria. Abdominal ultrasound revealed intramural gas entrapment with thinning of the gastric wall, a hypoechoic pancreas, peritoneal fluid and a small volume of peritoneal gas along with a hyperechoic mesentery.

Comparison of computed tomographic and pathologic findings in 17 dogs with primary adrenal neoplasia.

The CT appearance of canine adrenal masses has been reported, but associations between imaging features and pathologic features of these lesions have not been investigated in detail. The purpose of this study was to test associations between different types of adrenal neoplasia and their CT and pathologic features. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed and inclusion criteria were histologic diagnosis of primary adrenal neoplasia, contrast-enhanced CT examination of the abdomen and surgical resection of the mass or necropsy examination.

Novel approach to temporal lobectomy for removal of a cavernous hemangioma in a dog.

Objective: To report temporal lobe surgery for a cavernous hemangioma in a dog and outcome.

Study Design: Clinical report.

Animals: Dog (n = 1).

Ultrasonographic anatomy of the sacrococcygeal region and ultrasound-guided epidural injection at the sacrococcygeal space in dogs.

Sacrococcygeal epidural anaesthesia allows selective desensitisation of the sacral plexus. Ultrasound is used for guidance in human anaesthesia to facilitate sacrococcygeal epidural injections. The aims of this study were to describe the sonographic appearance of the sacrococcygeal region in dogs and a technique for performing epidural injection at this location under ultrasound guidance.

Feline double pigtail ureteric stents for management of ureteric obstruction: short- and long-term follow-up of 26 cats.

The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of cats with ureteric obstruction managed with double pigtail ureteric stents and to document the incidence of lower urinary tract signs at long-term follow-up. Data were obtained retrospectively from the medical records (2009-2012) of 26 cats that underwent ureteric stent placement. Owners were contacted for follow-up, and a quality of life questionnaire completed.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in four dogs with central nervous system neosporosis.

Neosporosis is a polysystemic disease that can affect dogs of any age and can cause inflammation of the central nervous system. Antemortem diagnosis can be challenging, as clinical and conventional laboratory test findings are often nonspecific. A previous report described cerebellar lesions in brain MRI studies of seven dogs and proposed that these may be characteristic for central nervous system Neosporosis.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of canine renal lymphoma.

There is little published information on the ultrasonographic appearance of canine renal lymphoma. The purpose of this retrospective study was to provide additional information regarding the ultrasonographic characteristics of canine renal lymphoma, suggest ultrasonographic description criteria, and evaluate the role of fine-needle aspirate cytology in the diagnosis of this disease. The ultrasonographic features of confirmed renal lymphoma were reviewed in ten dogs.

Oesophageal angioleiomyosarcoma in a cat.

A female spayed domestic longhair cat aged 3 years and 9 months was referred for investigation of regurgitation and weight loss of 2 months' duration. Thoracic radiographs revealed a soft tissue mass within the cranial mediastinum causing focal oesophageal dilation. Computed tomography confirmed a contrast-enhancing mass located cranial to the heart base, possibly originating from the oesophagus.

Comparison of computed tomography pulmonary angiography and point-of-care tests for pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosis in dogs.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of CT pulmonary angiography for identification of naturally occurring pulmonary thromboembolism in dogs using predefined diagnostic criteria and to assess the ability of echocardiography, cardiac troponins, D-dimers and kaolin-activated thromboelastography to predict the presence of pulmonary thromboembolism in dogs.

Methods: Twelve dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and evidence of respiratory distress were prospectively evaluated. Dogs were sedated immediately before CT pulmonary angiography using intravenous butorphanol.

The association of middle ear effusion with trigeminal nerve mass lesions in dogs.

The trigeminal nerve is involved in the opening of the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube by operating the tensor veli palatini muscle. The hypothesis was investigated that middle ear effusion occurs in a more severe disease phenotype of canine trigeminal nerve mass lesions compared with dogs without middle ear effusion. Three observers reviewed canine MRIs with an MRI-diagnosis of trigeminal nerve mass lesion from three institutions.

Unusual rib metastasis in two cats with pulmonary carcinoma.

Two cats had chronic respiratory signs associated with pulmonary carcinoma. In each case, computed tomography demonstrated similar pulmonary masses, pleural fluid and osteolytic expansile rib lesions as a result of local costal spread. This is the first report of feline primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma with local spread to the ribs, causing osteolysis.

Use of needle enhancing software to improve injection technique amongst inexperienced anaesthetists performing ultrasound-guided peripheral nerves blocks in dogs.

Objective: To determine if the use of needle enhancing software facilitate injection technique in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks.

Study Design: Prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Animals: Eight hind limbs from canine cadavers.

Imaging diagnosis-malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor presenting as an intra-axial brain mass in a young dog.

A 3-year-old Labrador retriever was presented with acute onset seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an intra-axial mass affecting the right temporal lobe of the brain. Surgical resection and histopathological findings were most consistent with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

Surgical treatment of an intracranial epidermoid cyst in a dog.

Objective: To report challenges and complications associated with surgical intracranial epidermoid cyst removal from the fourth ventricle of a dog.

Study Design: Clinical report.

Animal: Labrador retriever (7 years old) with focal seizures.

Imaging diagnosis--spinal cord hemangioma in two dogs.

Intramedullary masses are a dilemma due to the limited access for a nonsurgical biopsy, thus, accurate imaging characterization is crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of two confirmed canine thoracic intramedullary hemangiomas are described. A capillary hemangioma was of mixed intensity but predominantly T2-hyperintense and mildly T1-hyperintense to spinal cord with strong contrast enhancement.

Distribution of syringomyelia along the entire spinal cord in clinically affected Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) is an important disease complex in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) but data about the anatomical distribution of SM along the spinal cord are lacking in veterinary medicine. The objective of this study was to define the anatomic distribution of SM in CKCS clinically affected by CM/SM. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and the entire spinal cord of 49 dogs was performed and different morphological parameters compared.

Comparisons between cats with normal and increased fPLI concentrations in cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare age, serum albumin and cobalamin concentrations, serum alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, feline inflammatory bowel disease clinical disease activity index, pancreatic ultrasound findings, intestinal histopathology scores, outcome, treatment and clinical response between cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease with normal or increased serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations.

Methods: Medical records for 23 cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and with serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations available were reviewed. Three groups were compared; cats with serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations 2·0 to 6·8 µg/l (group A), 6·9 to 11·9 µg/l (group B) and ≥12·0 µg/l (group C).

Transformation of a thymic branchial cyst to a carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis in a dog.

A 9-year-old, female neutered Dalmatian was evaluated for acute onset of dyspnoea. Thoracocentesis on presentation yielded 1300 ml sanguineous fluid, while thoracic radiology and ultrasonography showed a mixed-echoic cavitary cranial mediastinal mass, sternal lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion. Surgical exploration of the thorax revealed a multi-lobulated red/brown cranial mediastinal mass and multiple similarly coloured ovoid nodules within several lung lobes.

Signs of left heart volume overload in severely anaemic cats.

Anaemia induces haemodynamic compensatory mechanisms resulting in volume overload and increased left heart dimensions in humans and dogs. The aims of this retrospective study were to investigate the effects of anaemia on echocardiographic left heart dimensions, vertebral heart size (VHS) and radiographic evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) in cats. Fifteen cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were classified as mildly anaemic (haematocrit (Hct)>18-24%) or severely anaemic (Hct≤18%).

Uterine rupture and septic peritonitis following dystocia and assisted delivery in a Great Dane bitch.

A Great Dane bitch was treated for presumed primary uterine inertia with repeated doses of oxytocin and manually assisted whelping. She was diagnosed with uterine rupture and septic peritonitis the following day. The uterine rupture is hypothesized to have occurred as a result of the management strategy used to treat dystocia.

Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia in a dog with benign renal angiomyxoma.

An 11-year-old, male, neutered crossbred Collie dog was presented for a history of polydipsia and polyuria. Diagnostic investigations revealed total and ionized hypercalcemia and an increased concentration of parathyroid hormone-related peptide. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a right-sided, cystic-appearing renal mass.

Incomplete ossification of the atlas in dogs with cervical signs.

Osseous defects affecting the atlas were identified in computed tomography and magnetic resonance images of five dogs with cervical signs including pain, ataxia, tetraparesis, or tetraplegia. Osseous defects corresponded to normal positions of sutures between the halves of the neural arch and the intercentrum, and were compatible with incomplete ossification. Alignment between the portions of the atlas appeared relatively normal in four dogs.

Clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging findings and outcome in 77 cats with vestibular disease: a retrospective study.

Medical records of 77 cats that had clinical signs of vestibular disease and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head were reviewed retrospectively. The aetiological, clinical and MRI characteristics were described and evaluated for a relationship with patient outcome. Forty cats (52%) had signs of central vestibular dysfunction (CVD), which was part of a multifocal disease in 17 cats (43%).