Novel Rickettsia Species Infecting Dogs, United States.

In 2018 and 2019, spotted fever was suspected in 3 dogs in 3 US states. The dogs had fever and hematological abnormalities; blood samples were Rickettsia seroreactive. Identical Rickettsia DNA sequences were amplified from the samples.

Bilateral patellar fractures and increased cortical bone thickness associated with long-term oral alendronate treatment in a cat.

Case Summary: A 14-year-old cat presented with bilateral patellar fractures and radiographically thickened tibial cortices. This cat had been treated with alendronate for 8 years prior to presentation. To remove the subjectivity of the radiographic evaluation, tibial radiographs from 35 apparently healthy geriatric cats were used for comparison.

A Quick Reference on Hypercalcemia.

In dogs, neoplasia is the most common cause of hypercalcemia, followed by primary hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and hypoadrenocorticism. In cats, idiopathic hypercalcemia is the most common cause, followed by chronic kidney disease and then neoplasia. Prognosis and treatment ultimately depend on the cause of the hypercalcemia.

A Quick Reference on Hypocalcemia.

Primary hypoparathyroidism should be considered in dogs with vague signs, including tremors, facial rubbing, and seizures. Ionized hypocalcemia should be considered in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy, especially lymphangiectasia caused by hypovitaminosis D. Ionized hypocalcemia typically occurs only in advanced chronic kidney disease.

Update on Feline Ionized Hypercalcemia.

Hypercalcemia in cats is recognized with increased frequency, especially idiopathic hypercalcemia, which is the most common cause. Idiopathic hypercalcemia seems to be unique to the cat, not occurring in the dog as a specific syndrome. There are many causes of hypercalcemia, and diagnosis relies on evaluation of clinical signs, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, and evaluation of calcium metabolic hormones.

Calcitriol, calcidiol, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23 interactions in chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To review the inter-relationships between calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), parent and activated vitamin D metabolites (vitamin D, 25(OH)-vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2 -vitamin D, 24,25(OH)2 -vitamin D), and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) during chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs and cats.

Data Sources: Human and veterinary literature.

Human Data Synthesis: Beneficial effects of calcitriol treatment during CKD have traditionally been attributed to regulation of PTH but new perspectives emphasize direct renoprotective actions independent of PTH and calcium.

Effects of gemcitabine and gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin on five canine transitional cell carcinoma cell lines.

Objective: To evaluate in vitro effects of gemcitabine alone and in combination with carboplatin on canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines.

Sample: In vitro cultures of 5 canine TCC cell lines.

Procedures: Cells were treated with gemcitabine, carboplatin, or a combination of both at various concentrations.

Endoscopic diagnosis of a pylorogastric intussusception with spontaneous resolution.

A 7 mo old intact female golden retriever was evaluated for acute vomiting. Abdominal radiographs revealed a possible gastric foreign body. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an edematous, tubular antral mass, which on further evaluation was determined to be a pylorogastric intussusception based on radiographic, endoscopic, and surgical findings.

Metabolic complications of endocrine surgery in companion animals.

Metabolic complications of endocrine surgery occur commonly and precautions should be taken to avoid potentially life-threatening situations and to lessen expense associated with a more extended hospital stay. Common complications of endocrine surgery as well as prevention strategies will be reviewed for pancreatic, parathyroid, and adrenal surgery.

Mucinous gastric carcinoma with abdominal carcinomatosis and hypergastrinemia in a dog.

A 12-year-old, spayed female Australian cattle dog was evaluated for a 5-month history of progressive vomiting. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasound revealed significant gastric wall thickening and a peripancreatic mass, and serum gastrin concentration was increased (127 pg/mL, reference range 10 to 40 pg/mL). Surgical exploration of the abdomen revealed a thickened, firm, and irregular gastric fundus, pylorus, and antrum; nodules were present throughout the spleen and mesentery adjacent to the left limb of the pancreas.