Evaluation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 Tesla for differentiation between intracranial neoplastic and noninfectious inflammatory lesions in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained by diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) at 3.0 T for differentiating intracranial neoplastic lesions from noninfectious inflammatory lesions (NIILs) in dogs.

Animals: 54 dogs that met inclusion criteria (ie, had a histologically confirmed intracranial lesion and DWI of the brain performed) with 5 lesion types: meningioma [n = 18], glioma [14], metastatic hemangiosarcoma [3], other metastatic neoplasms [5], and NIIL [14]).

Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of cytologic examination of renal fine-needle aspirates from dogs and the use of ultrasonographic features to inform cytologic diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To describe cytologic characteristics of renal fine-needle aspirate (FNA) samples from dogs, evaluate proportions of cytologic specimens deemed adequate for interpretation (diagnostic yield), assess diagnostic utility of cytologic examination for neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases, and characterize ultrasonographic features of evaluated kidneys to determine whether the imaging characteristics could be used to inform cytologic interpretations. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. SAMPLE 102 cytologic specimens and 97 ultrasonographic studies from 100 dogs.

Evaluation of canine hepatic masses by use of triphasic computed tomography and B-mode, color flow, power, and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography and correlation with histopathologic classification.

OBJECTIVE To determine clinical relevance for quantitative and qualitative features of canine hepatic masses evaluated by use of triphasic CT and B-mode, color flow, power, and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography and to compare diagnostic accuracy of these modalities for predicting mass type on the basis of histopathologic classification. ANIMALS 44 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs with histopathologic confirmation (needle core, punch, or excisional biopsy) of a hepatic mass were enrolled.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of neurologically normal dogs.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE To acquire MRI diffusion data (apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] and fractional anisotropy [FA] values, including separate measures for gray and white matter) at 3.0 T for multiple locations of the brain of neurologically normal dogs.

Animals: 13 neurologically normal dogs recruited from a group of patients undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

Multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the canine brain at 3.0 T.

Objective: To describe findings of 3.0-T multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in dogs with inflammatory and neoplastic intracranial disease and to determine the applicability of (1)H-MRS for differentiating between inflammatory and neoplastic lesions and between meningiomas and gliomas.

Animals: 33 dogs with intracranial disease (19 neoplastic [10 meningioma, 7 glioma, and 2 other] and 14 inflammatory).

Outcome of 45 dogs with laryngeal paralysis treated by unilateral arytenoid lateralization or bilateral ventriculocordectomy.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess risk factors and complications affecting postoperative outcome of dogs with laryngeal paralysis treated by either unilateral arytenoid lateralization (UAL) or bilateral ventriculocordectomy (VCC). Medical records of all dogs having either UAL or VCC between 2000 and 2011 were analyzed. Twenty-five dogs had VCC and 20 dogs had UAL.

Relative metabolite concentrations and ratios determined by use of 3-T region-specific proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain of healthy Beagles.

Objective: To determine relative concentrations of selected major brain tissue metabolites and their ratios and lobar variations by use of 3-T proton (hydrogen 1 [(1)H]) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the brain of healthy dogs.

Animals: 10 healthy Beagles.

Procedures: 3-T (1)H MRS at echo times of 144 and 35 milliseconds was performed on 5 transverse slices and 1 sagittal slice of representative brain lobe regions.

Ultrasound criteria and guided fine-needle aspiration diagnostic yields in small animal peritoneal, mesenteric and omental disease.

Peritoneal, mesenteric, and omental diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in humans and animals, although information in the veterinary literature is limited. The purposes of this retrospective study were to determine whether objectively applied ultrasound interpretive criteria are statistically useful in differentiating among cytologically defined normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic peritoneal conditions in dogs and cats. A second goal was to determine the cytologically interpretable yield on ultrasound-guided, fine-needle sampling of peritoneal, mesenteric, or omental structures.

Comparison of three staining methods to identify eosinophils in formalin-fixed canine skin.

Background: Studies comparing the ability of staining methods to detect eosinophils in formalin-fixed canine skin are lacking.

Hypothesis/objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of eosinophil peroxidase monoclonal antibody (EPXmAb), Luna and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to detect eosinophils in fixed canine skin by assessing the following parameters: (i) specificity of eosinophil staining; (ii) extracellular eosinophil granule staining; (iii) tissue background staining; (iv) contrast between eosinophil and surrounding tissue staining; and (v) differences in the number of eosinophils detected by each stain.

Methods: Three serial sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of predominantly eosinophilic skin diseases (n = 8), noneosinophilic skin diseases (n = 7) and normal canine skin (n = 1) were stained with the three stains.

Parenchymal signal intensity in 3-T body MRI of dogs with hematopoietic neoplasia.

We performed a preliminary study involving 10 dogs to assess the applicability of body MRI for staging of canine diffuse hematopoietic neoplasia. T1-weighted (before and after intravenous gadolinium), T2-weighted, in-phase, out-of-phase, and short tau inversion recovery pulse sequences were used. By using digital region of interest (ROI) and visual comparison techniques, relative parenchymal organ (medial iliac lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney cortex, and kidney medulla) signal intensity was quantified as less than, equal to, or greater than that of skeletal muscle in 2 clinically normal young adult dogs and 10 dogs affected with either B-cell lymphoma (n = 7) or myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 3).

Optimizing a protocol for (1) H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the canine brain at 3T.

Intracranial diseases are common in dogs and improved noninvasive diagnostic tests are needed. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy is a technique used in conjunction with conventional MR imaging to characterize focal and diffuse pathology, especially in the brain. As with conventional MR imaging, there are numerous technical factors that must be considered to optimize image quality.

Clinical, ultrasonographic, and laboratory findings associated with gallbladder disease and rupture in dogs: 45 cases (1997-2007).

Objective: To identify clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic characteristics associated with gallbladder disease and rupture in dogs.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 45 client-owned dogs.

Utility of diagnostic tests for and medical treatment of pulmonary blastomycosis in dogs: 125 cases (1989-2006).

Objective: To compare results of the most common diagnostic tests for pulmonary blastomycosis in dogs, identify factors associated with outcome, and determine response to various antifungal treatment protocols.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 125 dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis.

Radiographic findings in dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis: 125 cases (1989-2006).

Objective: To identify radiographic patterns in dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis and radiographic factors associated with outcome.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 125 dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis.

Statistical relevance of ultrasonographic criteria in the assessment of diffuse liver disease in dogs and cats.

Objective: To determine whether objectively applied ultrasonographic interpretive criteria are statistically useful in differentiating among 7 defined categories of diffuse liver disease in dogs and cats.

Sample Population: Ultrasonographic images of 229 dogs and 104 cats.

Procedures: Liver parenchymal or related sonographic criteria established by the authors were retrospectively and independently applied by 3 radiologists who were not aware of patient status or patient laboratory data.

Evaluation of total and ionized calcium status in dogs with blastomycosis: 38 cases (1997-2006).

Objective: To determine blood ionized calcium (iCa) and serum total calcium (tCa) concentrations in dogs with blastomycosis and to evaluate whether serum tCa concentration, albumin-adjusted serum calcium concentration (AdjCa-Alb), and total protein-adjusted serum calcium concentration (AdjCa-TP) accurately predict iCa status.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 38 client-owned dogs with a cytologic diagnosis of blastomycosis.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation in cats.

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of cats with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), including associated diseases and hemostatic abnormalities, and to identify risk factors for death and treatments that potentially altered outcome. Medical records for cats with DIC from 1990-2004 were evaluated retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were the presence of an underlying disorder associated with DIC and either postmortem examination findings of intravascular fibrin deposition or thrombosis, or both of 2 or more organs or coagulation profiles that meet 3 of 5 criteria: prolonged prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), presence of fibrin degradation products (FDP), low plasma fibrinogen (FIB) concentration, and thrombocytopenia (<160,000 platelets/microL).

The effects of clomipramine hydrochloride in cats with psychogenic alopecia: a prospective study.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of clomipramine hydrochloride in cats with psychogenic alopecia. Twenty-five cats were randomly assigned to receive clomipramine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg orally q 24 hours) or placebo for 56 days.

Efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of equine sarcoids: a pilot study.

Imiquimod is an immune response modifier with potent antiviral and antitumour activity. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of an imiquimod 5% cream (Aldaratrade mark: 3M, Saint Paul, MN, USA) as a topical treatment for equine sarcoids. Fifteen horses with a total of 19 tumours were enrolled, including mixed (7), fibroblastic (5), flat (3), verrucous (2), and nodular (2) types.

The impact of body site, topical melatonin and brushing on hair regrowth after clipping normal Siberian Husky dogs.

The aims of this study were to determine the impact of body site, vigorous brushing and topical melatonin treatment on hair regrowth after clipping normal dogs. Siberian Husky dogs were randomly assigned to three groups of eight dogs each. All dogs had the lumbosacral region and both lateral thighs clipped.

Relationship between selected echocardiographic variables before and after radioiodine treatment in 91 hyperthyroid cats.

Ninety-one spontaneously hyperthyroid cats were studied by two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography with in a week before and 2-3 months following oral radioiodine administration. A statistical search was made for a correlation between any of the linear echocardiographic variables (pre- or posttreatment) and the serum total thyroxine concentrations (pre- or posttreatment). No clinically useful relationships were found.

Evaluation of the abdomen using ultrasound following a ventral midline celiotomy.

Over the last 20 years, ultrasound has become a useful diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study was to use ultrasonographic examinations to determine if intra-abdominal contents could be visualized. Nineteen dogs, ranging from 8 months to 18 years of age were included.

Frequency of urinary tract infection among dogs with pruritic disorders receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment.

Objective: To determine frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) among dogs with pruritic disorders that were or were not receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment.

Design: Observational study.

Animals: 127 dogs receiving glucocorticoids for > 6 months and 94 dogs not receiving glucocorticoids.

Absolute and relative cell counts for synovial fluid from clinically normal shoulder and stifle joints in cats.

Objective: To determine absolute and relative cell counts for synovial fluid from grossly, radiographically, and histologically normal shoulder and stifle joints in healthy cats.

Design: Clinical study.

Animals: 52 cats scheduled to be euthanatized for unrelated reasons.

The effect of body region on the canine hair cycle as defined by unit area trichogram.

The impact of anatomic location on trichogram analysis of the hair cycle phases was evaluated in 15 clinically normal dogs. The purposes of this study were to determine if the number of hairs in anagen and telogen vary among anatomic sites within a dog and to see whether there is an optimal region to sample hairs for canine trichogram evaluation of the hair cycle phases. In each dog eight sites were sampled.