Many treatment options are now available for pets with age-related cognitive dysfunction, including drugs, nutritional supplements, and diets. This article describes the theory, evidence of efficacy, and potential neuroprotective effects of products used to treat cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction is a diagnosis of exclusion, because many painful conditions and health problems may present with similar signs. Practitioners must, therefore, actively question owners of senior pets in order to diagnose cognitive dysfunction and to assess the pet’s general health and well-being.

Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism is an extremely rare condition in cats. Twelve cats with a medical history of progressive skin lesions and long-term treatment with corticosteroids were retrospectively studied. Noncutaneous signs in the cats were variable and included anorexia, lethargy, polydipsia, polyuria, and atrophy of the thigh muscles. Laboratory abnormalities included leukocytosis, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, and hyperglycemia. Transient diabetes mellitus was a secondary complication in four cats, and transient hypothyroidism was suspected in four cats. The mean time for regression of signs was 4.9 months after corticosteroid withdrawal.

The prevalence of cats shedding Giardia cysts (13.6%) in the present study was found to be higher than previously reported (1% to 11%) and may reflect a higher sensitivity for the diagnostic test used. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, coccidial oocysts, and a clinical history of chronic (>2 weeks) gastrointestinal signs were significantly associated with the presence of Giardia spp. cysts in the feces. There were no associations between the presence of Giardia spp. cysts and type of housing, acute gastrointestinal signs, vomiting, gender, source of cat (i.e., animal shelter versus private breeder), or gastrointestinal parasites other than Cryptosporidium spp. and intestinal coccidial agents.

Forty-five dogs with incompletely excised grade II mast cell tumors were treated with radiation using a cobalt 60 teletherapy unit (15 fractions of 3.2 Gy for a total of 48 Gy). Twenty-four of the dogs underwent prophylactic regional lymph node irradiation. Three (6.7%) dogs had tumor recurrence, two (4.4%) dogs developed metastasis, and 14 (31%) dogs developed a second cutaneous mast cell tumor. No difference in overall survival rate was observed between the dogs receiving and not receiving prophylactic irradiation of the regional lymph node.

The medical records of 23 dogs that underwent medial canthoplasty for treatment of epiphora were reviewed. The most prevalent breed encountered was the shih tzu. Other affected breeds included the Pekingese, Maltese, toy poodle, and pug. All dogs had epiphora associated with medial canthal trichiasis and/or entropion. Other ocular abnormalities included conjunctivitis, keratitis, pigmentary keratitis, corneal ulceration, globe prolapse, and nasal fold trichiasis. After medial canthoplasty, the epiphora resolved in all dogs.

Differences exist in the ventrodorsal (VD) and dorsoventral (DV) radiographic views of the canine thorax. One view may be preferred over another because of how it portrays different areas of interest or different disease conditions. The VD view is indicated for evaluation of the cranial and caudal mediastinum, the caudal vena cava, and the accessory lung lobe, and in cases of pleural effusion. Indications for the DV view include assessment of a consistent cardiac silhouette, evaluation of the pulmonary lobar vessels, and evaluation of the structures of the dorsal thorax, such as hilar lymph nodes, the caudal dorsal lungs, trachea, mainstem bronchi, and left atrium.

The records of 14 consecutive cases of esophageal foreign body obstruction in dogs that had undergone transthoracic esophagotomy for foreign body retrieval were reviewed. Clinical results were considered successful in 13 of 14 dogs. One dog was euthanized at surgery because of the severity of associated thoracic lesions. Clinical signs resolved in the remaining 13 dogs. Two dogs had postoperative complications. One dog developed a pyothorax, and one dog developed a subcutaneous seroma. The overall recovery rate was 93%.

A 4-year-old, late-term pregnant Himalayan queen was diagnosed with biventricular congestive heart failure characterized by pleural effusion and pulmonary edema. A cesarean section was performed, resulting in the birth of four live kittens, with one surviving to discharge. Congestive heart failure resolved rapidly following surgery. The queen remained asymptomatic for 9 years postoperatively. Volume expansion secondary to pregnancy was thought to result in cardiovascular volume overload and subsequent congestive heart failure.

A 5-month-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of urinary incontinence since birth. Excretory urography revealed dilated double ectopic ureters draining a hydronephrotic right kidney. Urine culture yielded a pure culture of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The cat was treated initially with bactericidal antibiotics, followed by right-sided nephroureterectomy. The surgery and antibiotic therapy led to complete resolution of urinary incontinence and urinary tract infection. Ureteral duplication is an unusual congenital anomaly that has not been previously reported in the cat.

An 11-year-old, castrated male Pomeranian was presented for intractable cough and dyspnea secondary to severe tracheal collapse. An endoluminal nitinol tracheal stent was placed with good results. Five months following placement of the prosthesis, clinical signs acutely recurred and failure of the implant was noted. A second stent was superimposed over the fractured stent and resulted in resolution of all clinical signs. The dog died several months later from progression of the tracheal collapse to the carina and mainstem bronchi.

A 10-year-old, female Newfoundland-cross dog was presented for evaluation of chronic intermittent unilateral epistaxis, nasal stertor, and sneezing. Nasal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3 × 5-cm mass in the left nasal cavity. Histopathological evaluation of nasal biopsies determined that the mass was a malignant melanoma. The mass was surgically resected and treated with bilateral opposed photon-beam radiation. This is the first report to describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of an intranasal malignant melanoma in a dog.

Mechanical ventilation has long been used to maintain ventilation in humans when the lungs are rendered incapable of oxygenation or when respiration is affected by central nervous system depression, but it has only recently been applied to similar cases in dogs and cats. Although manual ventilation is still the more common form of ventilation in dogs and cats, mechanical intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) is a much more efficient and reliable means of maintaining the highest quality of respiratory assistance. With proper training, technicians can use IPPV to support compromised animals until they are capable of maintaining normal oxygen concentrations.