ABSTRACT

All companion animal practices will be presented with oncology cases on a regular basis, making diagnosis and treatment of cancer an essential part of comprehensive primary care. Because each oncology case is medically unique, these guidelines recommend a patient-specific approach consisting of the following components: diagnosis, staging, therapeutic intervention, provisions for patient and personnel safety in handling chemotherapy agents, referral to an oncology specialty practice when appropriate, and a strong emphasis on client support. Determination of tumor type by histologic examination of a biopsy sample should be the basis for all subsequent steps in oncology case management. Diagnostic staging determines the extent of local disease and presence or absence of regional or distant metastasis. The choice of therapeutic modalities is based on tumor type, histologic grade, and stage, and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and adjunctive therapies, such as nutritional support and pain management. These guidelines discuss the strict safety precautions that should be observed in handling chemotherapy agents, which are now commonly used in veterinary oncology. Because cancer is often a disease of older pets, the time of life when the pet–owner relationship is usually strongest, a satisfying outcome for all parties involved is highly dependent on good communication between the entire healthcare team and the client, particularly when death or euthanasia of the patient is being considered. These guidelines include comprehensive tables of common canine and feline cancers as a resource for case management and a sample case history.

ABSTRACT

Oral exposure to the secretions of Rhinella marina (formerly Bufo marinus) can carry a high fatality rate without early and appropriate treatment. In dogs, the clinical syndrome, which is evident almost immediately, manifests in profuse ptyalism along with gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurologic signs. Severe cardiac arrhythmias develop less frequently. This review will cover the history, toxicology, and clinical syndrome of Rhinella marina intoxication, and will discuss the recommended therapies for stabilization.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study reported here is to determine the long-term effect of full thickness suture placement in the urinary bladder following cystotomy as it relates to urinary bladder mucosal changes identified ultrasonographically at the suture placement site. A retrospective search for dogs that had undergone a cystotomy from 6 to 24 mo prior to the study was performed, yielding 31 dogs included in the study. All dogs had the cystotomy closed using full thickness sutures. These dogs underwent an ultrasound of the urinary bladder to evaluate the mucosa at the incision site. Four (12.9%) of the 31 dogs had mucosal lesions consistent with a polypoid mass or masses. None of these four dogs had lesions solely at the previous cystotomy site. This study confirmed our hypothesis of no long-term evidence of mucosal lesions at the previous cystotomy site closed with full thickness sutures. Based on the results, the use of full thickness suture placement for the closure of the urinary bladder following cystotomy does not result in bladder mucosal changes. Other causes of mucosal changes, such as polypoid mass or masses, should be considered if identified on follow-up ultrasound evaluations following cystotomy procedures regardless of closure technique.

ABSTRACT

Medical records of 396 dogs undergoing splenectomy for treatment of a splenic mass or nodular disease were reviewed retrospectively. Overall distribution of histopathologic diagnosis and clinicopathologic features were evaluated for 325 dogs that met inclusion criteria. Dogs were dichotomized into two groups based on weight, with the statistically derived cutoff identified as 27.8 kg. Malignancy was diagnosed in 58% of dogs, with no difference between small (55%) and large (61%) dogs (P = .291). Overall, 32% of splenic masses were hemangiosarcoma (HSA), which comprised 25 and 39% of all masses in small and large dogs, respectively. The diagnosis of HSA, non-HSA malignancy, or benign splenic disease was significantly different between the groups (P = .019). Of malignant diagnoses, HSA comprised 46 and 65% of small and large dog splenic neoplasms, respectively (P = .009). In both groups, dogs with HSA were significantly more likely to have preoperative anemia, hemoabdomen, thrombocytopenia, and a blood transfusion, as compared to dogs with non-HSA malignancy or benign lesions. Overall, dogs had similar odds of having a malignant splenic lesion regardless of weight, but dogs ≤27.8 kg were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with HSA.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome for dogs with surgically treated large versus small intestinal volvulus between October 2009 and February 2014. A total of 15 dogs met the inclusion criteria and underwent an abdominal exploratory. Nine dogs were diagnosed with large intestinal volvulus during the study period, and all nine had surgical correction for large intestinal volvulus. All dogs were discharged from the hospital. Of the seven dogs available for phone follow-up (74 to 955 days postoperatively), all seven were alive and doing well. Six dogs were diagnosed with small intestinal volvulus during the study period. One of the six survived to hospital discharge. Three of the six were euthanized at the time of surgery due to an extensive amount of necrotic bowel. Of the three who were not, one died postoperatively the same day, one died 3 days later, and one dog survived for greater than 730 days. Results concluded that the outcome in dogs with surgically corrected large intestinal volvulus is excellent, compared with a poor outcome in dogs with small intestinal volvulus. The overall survival to discharge for large intestinal volvulus was 100%, versus 16% for small intestinal volvulus.

ABSTRACT

Fragmentation of the medial coronoid process (FCP) is an uncommon cause of thoracic limb lameness in toy and small breed dogs. Arthroscopic findings and treatment remains poorly described. The objective of this study was to describe the arthroscopic findings and short-term outcome following arthroscopic treatment in toy and small breed dogs with FCP. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Arthroscopic findings were available from 13 elbows (12 dogs). Outcome data ≥4 wk postoperatively were available for nine elbows. Owner satisfaction scores were available for 10 elbows. Common preoperative findings included lameness, elbow pain, and imaging abnormalities consistent with FCP. Displaced FCP was the most common FCP lesion identified. Cartilage lesions at the medial coronoid process were identified in 92.3% of elbows (n = 12), with a median Outerbridge score of 4 (range 1–5). Concurrent cartilage lesions of the medial humeral condyle were identified in 76.9% of elbows (n = 10). Seven of nine elbows had full or acceptable function postoperatively. Median owner outcome satisfaction was 91% (range 10–100). FCP should be considered a cause of thoracic limb lameness in toy and small breed dogs. Arthroscopy can be safely and effectively used to diagnose and treat FCP in these breeds.

ABSTRACT

The literature about tibial tuberosity advancement surgery in dogs and humans informed the development of a version of the operation using a wedge-shaped implant of titanium foam. Computer-assisted drawing and stereolithography was used to create instruments and implants that were evaluated by cadaver surgery. A trial, involving 26 client-owned dogs with lameness due to cranial cruciate ligament failure, was started. Follow-up was done by clinical and radiographic examination after 4 wk and clinical examination again 6–11 mo after surgery.

The titanium foam implant maintained tibial tuberosity advancement easily and effectively. The same major complication occurred in 2 of the first 6 cases before, a slightly modified technique was used to treat 20 dogs without complication. At mid-term follow-up (6–11 mo), 20/26 dogs (77%) had returned to full function, two dogs (7.7%) had acceptable function, two dogs (7.7%) could not be evaluated due to recent contra lateral modified Maquet procedure surgery, and two (7.7%) dogs had died for reasons unrelated to the study. This is the first clinical report of the use of titanium foam in veterinary orthopaedics. Modified Maquet procedure appears to be an effective treatment for lameness due to failure of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs.

ABSTRACT

A 14 yr old castrated domestic shorthair cat presented for a fluid-filled structure in the ventral cervical region that had been present for 1 yr and had not resolved after repeated aspiration and drainage. Cervical computed tomography showed an approximately 10 cm, fluid-filled, multilobulated mass located on the ventrolateral right side of the cervical region extending into the thoracic inlet. Cytologic examination of the fluid revealed cystic fluid with evidence of chronic hemorrhage. The mass was surgically removed, and histopathologic examination revealed a thyroglossal duct carcinoma. Thyroid and parathyroid gland origin were ruled out by negative immunohistochemical staining for thyroglobulin, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and synaptophysin. No adjunctive treatment was performed and no recurrence was noted at 14 mo. Thyroglossal duct carcinoma has not been previously reported in a cat. There are two previous reports of squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct in dogs. In humans, with complete removal and no evidence of metastasis, carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct has a good prognosis for recovery.

ABSTRACT

A miniature dachshund male with severe azotemia of unknown cause was referred. Serum biochemistry revealed severe azotemia and hypercalcemia, but serum intact parathormone and parathormone-related protein were normal. Although the owner reported that the dog had never ingested any drugs or supplements, it was revealed that the owner's son used antipsoriatic ointment, maxacalcitol, which contained an active vitamin D₃ analogue, daily and the dog often ate the son's dander and licked his skin, especially after he applied the maxacalcitol ointment. After the dog was insulated from the maxacalcitol ointment and the son as much as possible, the hypercalcemia and azotemia improved gradually and had mostly resolved at 3 mo. The dog has been generally free of clinical signs without any treatment for over 2 yr.

ABSTRACT

Use of normothermic venous inflow occlusion enabled removal of an intracardiac tumor in a 4 yr old, 27 kg, spayed female Airedale terrier with a history of appendicular osteosarcoma and recent exertional syncope. Inflow venous occlusion via a median sternotomy thoracotomy without hypothermia was used to access the mineralized mass within the right ventricular outflow tract. Duration of circulatory arrest was 70 s for this beating heart surgery. A circumscribed intracardiac chondrosarcoma tumor was marginally resected in this dog, successfully alleviating exertional syncope and restoring a normal echogenic appearance of the right heart. Asymptomatic intracardiac chondrosarcoma recurrence and pulmonary metastasis was detected at 309 days and cardiopulmonary arrest occurred 372 days following intracardiac surgery. Use of inflow occlusion is a viable technique for select intracardiac tumors in dogs with preoperative planning.

ABSTRACT

Bromethalin is a central nervous system toxin currently incorporated into several different rodenticides. In 2008, the EPA requested that manufacturers phase out second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. In response, manufacturers began to increase production of bromethalin-based rodenticides. It is likely that pet exposure to bromethalin will increase in the future. Bromethalin has no known antidote and tends to deposit in fat. Intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) are being used with increasing frequency in both human and veterinary medicine to treat numerous acute systemic toxicities. A 4 yr old spayed female Pit bull terrier was presented following witnessed ingestion of bromethalin rodenticide by the owners. Decontamination was unsuccessful and ILE was started. Serum was frozen at −80°C before and 1 hr after completion of ILE. In rats, the half-life of desmethylbromethalin, the toxic metabolite, has been reported at 5.6 days and 6 days, and it is likely to be similar in dogs. The only intervention between the pre-lipid serum sample and the post-lipid serum sample was the administration of ILE, and the serum desmethylbromethalin levels were reduced by 75% (from 4 ppb to 1 ppb) during this time. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing treatment of bromethalin ingestion with ILE.