The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a hydrocolloid dressing on second intention wound healing in cats. Two full-thickness skin wounds, measuring 2 × 2 cm, were created on both sides of the dorsal midline of 10 cats; bilaterally, one randomly selected wound was bandaged with a hydrocolloid dressing and the second one (control) with a semiocclusive pad. Subjective clinical evaluation of granulation tissue formation, of the quantity and nature of wound exudate, and planimetry were performed on the right-side wounds, and histological examination on the left. No significant differences in subjective clinical evaluation or in planimetry were observed between the hydrocolloid-treated wounds and controls. Most wounds had serous or absence of exudate (41.25% and 25%, respectively), whereas purulent exudate was observed in 7.5% of wounds. Edema was significantly increased in the hydrocolloid-treated wounds compared with controls on day 7 but no significant differences in the other histological variables were observed.
Periodontal disease in dogs is highly prevalent but can only be accurately diagnosed by performing an anesthetized oral examination with periodontal probing and dental radiography. In this study, 114 dogs had a visual awake examination of the oral cavity and were administered an oral-fluid thiol-detection test prior to undergoing a a full-mouth anesthetized oral examination and digital dental radiographs. The results show the visual awake examination underestimated the presence and severity of active periodontal disease. The thiol-detection test was superior to the visual awake examination at detecting the presence and severity of active periodontal disease and was an indicator of progression toward alveolar bone loss. The thiol-detection test detected active periodontal disease at early stages of development, before any visual cues were present, indicating the need for intervention to prevent periodontal bone loss. Early detection is important because without intervention, dogs with gingivitis (active periodontal disease) progress to irreversible periodontal bone loss (stage 2+). As suggested in the current AAHA guidelines, a thiol-detection test administered in conjunction with the visual awake examination during routine wellness examinations facilitates veterinarian-client communication and mitigates under-diagnosis of periodontal disease and underutilization of dental services. The thiol-detection test can be used to monitor the periodontal health status of the conscious patient during follow-up examinations based on disease severity.
Cardiac arrhythmias often are transient and might not be detected using conventional electrocardiographic (ECG) techniques. The adhesive patch monitor (APM) is a single-lead, lightweight, up to 14-day continuous ambulatory ECG monitor. This study aimed to prospectively assess its usability in four boxer dogs considered either to be healthy or to have arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Optimal recording was obtained by placing the APM on the left side of the animal’s thorax, at the fifth intercostal space, slightly dorsal to the costochondral junction, and oriented either vertically or parallel to the long axis of the heart. In three dogs, the APM remained attached for 14 days. One dog removed the APM after 59 hr. Skin irritation was documented in all dogs and resolved spontaneously after removal of the APM. The analyzable time was >93% of the total wear time and recordings provided an unambiguous rhythm diagnosis at rest. Walking, running, or playing caused intermittent motion artifact that could impair ECG interpretation. APM results were comparable to those obtained with 24-hr Holter monitoring. Extended continuous ECG monitoring with the APM is feasible in boxer dogs and provides interpretable recordings.
Thirty-seven dogs with histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant tumors treated with single-agent mitoxantrone at 5 mg/m2 were evaluated in a retrospective study assessing the correlation between body weight and neutropenia associated with a single dose of mitoxantrone in dogs. Overall, eight dogs (21%) experienced grade 3 neutropenia and five dogs (14%) experienced grade 4 neutropenia on day 7 following mitoxantrone chemotherapy. Dogs ≤10 kg body weight were significantly more likely to develop grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (5.8 relative risk; 95% confidence interval, 2.6–12.9; P < .0001) than dogs >10 kg. Dogs ≤15 kg body weight were significantly more likely to develop grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (8.1 relative risk; 95% confidence interval, 2.1–31.3; P < .0001) than dogs >15 kg. Of the 13 patients who developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 6 (46%) were hospitalized for clinical signs related to neutropenia. Based on the severity of neutropenia and the resulting hospitalization seen in dogs ≤10 kg, a dose reduction could be considered for the initial dose of mitoxantrone, and clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of neutropenia in patients 10.1 to ≤15 kg.
A retrospective study was performed to evaluate response rate, time to progression, and toxicity of a bleomycin and cytosine arabinoside (Bleo/Cytarabine) combination protocol for dogs with relapsed lymphoma (LSA). Dogs diagnosed with LSA and previously treated with chemotherapy were included in the study. A total of 20 dogs met the inclusion criteria, and 19 were evaluable for response. Bleomycin was administered subcutaneously on days 1 and 8 and cytosine arabinoside was administered subcutaneously on days 1–5 of a 21-day cycle. The median number of chemotherapy drugs given prior to the administration of Bleo/Cytarabine was 8.5. A total of 23 cycles of Bleo/Cytarabine were administered. The overall response rate was 36.8% (7 of 19 dogs had a partial response). The median time to progression was 15 days. Three dogs developed grade 3 thrombocytopenia and one dog had a grade 4 neutropenia. Bleo/Cytarabine had minor activity when used as a rescue therapy for pretreated LSA patients.
Babesiosis is a hemoprotozoal tick-borne disease that is commonly associated with thrombocytopenia and anemia; however, renal involvement has been documented in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to document azotemia and proteinuria in dogs infected with Babesia sp. and to describe the response to antiprotozoal therapy. The electronic database of the North Carolina State University Vector Borne Disease Laboratory was searched to identify dogs who were diagnosed with babesiosis and to determine if they had proteinuria and/or azotemia. Dogs were excluded if they had coinfections or comorbidities known to cause glomerular injury. Of 35 dogs identified during the initial search, 5 were included; however, only 4 of these dogs had both pre- and posttreatment data. All five dogs were American pit bull terriers or American pit bull terrier-mixed breed dogs, were infected with Babesia gibsoni, and had hypoalbuminemia and proteinuria. Three dogs had azotemia. Responses to antiprotozoal treatment included normalization of (three) or increase in (one) serum albumin, resolution (one) or improvement (one) of azotemia, and reduction in proteinuria (two). Laboratory findings consistent with glomerular disease can be found in Babesia gibsoni-infected dogs, and treatment can lead to improvement of the azotemia and proteinuria.
Inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRP), which are more commonly recognized in miniature dachshunds, are thought to represent an immune-mediated disease. This retrospective case series describes six miniature dachshunds with refractory ICRP, who were treated with chlorambucil (CLB) combined with firocoxib or prednisolone. Improvement in clinical manifestations was seen in five of the six dogs by the end of the study period; four were treated with CLB/firocoxib and one with CLB/prednisolone. One dog had nonregenerative anemia after 23 mo of treatment with CLB, but whether there was a causative relationship was unclear. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment in the remaining five dogs. CLB in combination with firocoxib or prednisolone appears to be an effective alternative treatment for ICRP in dogs. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and long-term complications of CLB treatment for ICRP in dogs.
A 4 yr old border collie presenting for mydriasis and decreased mentation and a 7 yr old Boston terrier presenting for obtundation, head tilt, and paraparesis were both evaluated using MRI. Findings in both included mass lesions of the thalamus and brainstem that were hypo- to isointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images with regions of hypointensity, and robust contrast enhancement and displacement of adjacent structures. Postmortem histopathology findings, tumor location, and a mixed pattern of epithelial cell differentiation were consistent with germ cell tumor in both cases. Germ cell tumor of the suprasellar region is an infrequently reported neoplasm of dogs and imaging findings in this species have not been well described in the prior literature.
Three juvenile male Irish wolfhound littermates presented with marked polyuria and polydipsia. The four female siblings were apparently unaffected. Diagnostic testing revealed glucosuria with normoglycemia, generalized aminoaciduria, hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis consistent with Fanconi syndrome. Renal ultrasonographic and histologic findings are presented. Cases were managed with a supplementation regimen based on a treatment protocol for Fanconi syndrome in basenjis. These dogs did not have angular limb deformities as documented previously in juvenile canine siblings with Fanconi syndrome. Fanconi syndrome has not been previously described in Irish wolfhound siblings.