Perineal hernia refers to the failure of the muscular pelvic diaphragm to support the rectal wall, resulting in herniation of pelvic and, occasionally, abdominal viscera into the subcutaneous perineal region. The proposed causes of pelvic diaphragm weakness include tenesmus associated with chronic prostatic disease or constipation, myopathy, rectal abnormalities, and gonadal hormonal imbalances. The most common presentation of perineal hernia in dogs is a unilateral or bilateral nonpainful swelling of the perineum. Clinical signs do occur, but not always. Clinical signs may include constipation, obstipation, dyschezia, tenesmus, rectal prolapse, stranguria, or anuria. The definitive diagnosis of perineal hernia is based on clinical signs and findings of weak pelvic diaphragm musculature during a digital rectal examination. In dogs, perineal hernias are mostly treated by surgical intervention. Appositional herniorrhaphy is sometimes difficult to perform as the levator ani and coccygeus muscles are atrophied and unsuitable for use. Internal obturator muscle transposition is the most commonly used technique. Additional techniques include superficial gluteal and semitendinosus muscle transposition, in addition to the use of synthetic implants and biomaterials. Pexy techniques may be used to prevent rectal prolapse and bladder and prostate gland displacement. Postoperative care involves analgesics, antibiotics, a low-residue diet, and stool softeners.
This prospective clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a population of cats and dogs with a variety of naturally occurring diseases. Seventy-eight dogs and twelve cats with various naturally occurring disease conditions, who had the potential to benefit from HBOT, were enrolled in the study. These patients were treated with HBOT in a monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber at 2 air pressure absolute for a treatment length of either 45 min or 60 min. There were 230 hyperbaric oxygen treatments performed during the study period. No major adverse effects were observed. There were 76 minor adverse effects recorded, which were not considered to be of clinical significance. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was well tolerated and there were no major adverse effects recorded during treatment.
The triazole antifungal itraconazole may be cost prohibitive in brand name form; therefore, compounded and generic products are often used as alternatives. Itraconazole blood concentrations have not been studied in clinical patients receiving these formulations. Itraconazole bioassay was performed on serum/plasma from 95 dogs and 20 cats receiving itraconazole (compounded from bulk powder, generic pelletized, or brand name) for systemic mycosis treatment. Mean itraconazole concentration was lower in the compounded group (n = 42) as compared with the generic (n = 40) or brand name (n = 33) groups (0.5 µg/mL versus 8.3 µg/mL and 6.5 µg/mL, respectively; P < .001). No statistical difference was observed between itraconazole concentrations in the generic and brand name groups. Forty animals (95.2%) in the compounded group had subtherapeutic (<1.0 µg/mL) values. All cats in this group (n = 10) had undetectable itraconazole concentrations. Some animals in the generic and brand name groups had subtherapeutic values (12.5 and 12.1%, respectively) or potentially toxic values (>10 µg/mL; 37.5 and 24%, respectively). Compounded itraconazole should be avoided, but generic itraconazole appears to serve as a reasonable alternative to brand name itraconazole. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be beneficial in all cases.
A prospective, pivotal, multicenter field study to evaluate the dose regimen, effectiveness, and safety of levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP for the treatment of hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism-associated clinical signs in dogs was conducted. Ninety-two dogs diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism met the entrance criteria and were enrolled into the study. Levothyroxine sodium was administered to each dog on a daily basis either as the whole dose q 24 hr or as half the dose q 12 hr. Dosing started at 0.1 mg/10 lb (0.022 mg/kg) and continued for approximately 6 mo to Day 182. During this time, the thyroid status of each dog was evaluated at monthly intervals. For the determination of effectiveness, dogs classified as euthyroid at Day 182, based on their thyroid hormone values, were considered treatment successes. Results of the statistical analysis showed that there was no difference between the two dosing regimens (P = .11) and that when the data from both groups were pooled, the overall success rate was 75.64% (95% confidence interval = 66.34%). By Day 182, improvement and/or resolution of hypothyroidism-associated clinical signs was observed in all categories. No abnormal trends in the reported adverse events were observed.
Interest in feline osteoarthritis has grown recently; this might be due to increased prevalence or increased awareness. This study records the presence of appendicular osteoarthritis in a subset of the United Kingdom cat population in the 1970s and estimates its prevalence. One hundred cats euthanized in 1972–1973 had a series of skeletal radiographic images taken post mortem. Each joint was put into a set with or without osteoarthritis according to the presence or absence of a specified set of radiographic features. Limited historical data were analyzed. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in these cats was 74%. There is no evidence that feline osteoarthritis is a “novel” disease. The prevalence was similar to recent prospective radiological surveys. Recent interest in the condition may have derived from more attention being paid to feline medicine and welfare.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to report the outcomes of 19 dogs and 1 cat undergoing reverse saphenous conduit flap between 1999 and 2016. Reverse saphenous conduit flap was used to treat traumatic wounds and wounds resulting from tumor excision in the hind limb; the majority of cases had medial shearing injuries. All animals had complete flap survival. In five animals (20%), minor donor site dehiscence occurred, which did not require surgery. Other postoperative complications included signs of severe venous congestion in one dog. Reverse saphenous conduit flap is a useful technique to repair skin defects of the distal hind limb.
A 6 mo old 13.5 kg (29.7 lb) male intact American Staffordshire terrier was evaluated for a history of supernumerary pelvic limbs, with malodorous discharge from a supernumerary penis. Imaging (radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and computed tomography with excretory urogram) showed a supernumerary pelvis with associated pelvic limbs, no osseous continuity with the primary spinal column, a colonic diverticulum extending to the supernumerary pelvis, an enlarged left kidney with a ureter connecting to a single bladder, right renal aplasia, a single descended testicle in the primary scrotum, an intra-abdominal cryptorchid testicle, and two unidentifiable soft tissue masses. At surgery, a single ileum was present with a primary and accessory cecum and colon and the accessory colon entering the supernumerary pelvis. The accessory cecum and colon, right kidney, two unknown soft tissue masses, and the single descended testicle were removed. The right kidney had a ureter that anastomosed with the accessory colon at its entry into the supernumerary pelvis. The supernumerary pelvis and hind limbs were not removed. Five months after surgery, the dog was reported to be doing well clinically. Caudal duplication is extremely rare in veterinary medicine. The appearance of supernumerary external structures may indicate internal connections as well.
A 4 mo old German shepherd dog was presented following an acute onset lameness and swelling of the thoracic limb. Clinical signs, surgical findings, and culture results were consistent with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Initial management consisted of extensive surgical debridement, wound lavage, and bandaging. Surgical closure was achieved with an axillary fold flap and distant direct single-pedicle thoracoabdominal flap. Three mo later, following deterioration of the lameness that was associated with carpal valgus, carpal subluxation, and tendinopathy of the distal radial insertion of the biceps brachii tendon, a closing wedge pancarpal arthrodesis and tenotomy of the biceps brachii tendon was performed. We hypothesize that extensive soft tissue trauma and subsequent fibrosis and tendon contracture following soft tissue reconstruction contributed to the complications seen. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of carpal valgus deformity and biceps brachii tendinopathy following a distant direct skin flap and axillary skin fold flap.
Alopecia in dogs occurs secondary to a variety of underlying inflammatory and noninflammatory conditions. Hair cycle arrest (alopecia X) is a noninflammatory alopecia that is frustrating to diagnose and treat due to lack of understanding of disease pathogenesis. A variety of therapies for hair cycle arrest have been described with inconsistent efficacy in different dog breeds and sexes; no definitive treatment is available. This report describes the use of a deslorelin acetate implant in two sexually intact adult male keeshonden, both diagnosed with hair cycle arrest. The dogs had progressive alopecia of the trunk that spared the head and distal limbs present for at least 2 yr. Diagnosis of hair cycle arrest was made based on clinical features, dermatohistopathology, and lack of systemic abnormalities. Treatment with a single subcutaneous 4.7 mg deslorelin acetate implant resulted in profuse hair regrowth within 3.5 mo that endured for at least 14 mo. Deslorelin implantation is a management option that is safe, affordable, and appears effective for sexually intact male keeshonden with hair cycle arrest.