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Brachycephalic feline noses: CT and anatomical study of the relationship between head conformation and the nasolacrimal drainage system.

J Feline Med Surg. 2009 Nov;11(11):891-900

Authors: Schlueter C, Budras KD, Ludewig E, Mayrhofer E, Koenig HE, Walter A, Oechtering GU

AIMS: A study was designed to evaluate the influence of head conformation on the course of the nasolacrimal drainage system (NDS) in 31 brachycephalic and 15 mesocephalic cats using computed tomography (CT), CT-dacryocystography and anatomical methods. FINDINGS: The higher the degree of brachycephalia, the more the facial bones and upper canine teeth are displaced dorsally (ie, the more pronounced the dorsorotation). Dorsorotation leads to abnormal dislocation of the ventral nasal concha and to almost horizontally rotated upper canine teeth, and thus a steeply oriented NDS. In severe brachycephalia the NDS is forced to pass below the canine tooth (adopt a V-shaped course) and the drainage function seems to be inefficient. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: The rotation of the upper canine teeth appears to provide a basis for classification of brachycephalia in cats. The authors recommend that breeders avoid breeding from individuals affected by this condition and to give preference to cats with longer facial bones.

PMID: 19857852 [PubMed - in process]

Prevalence of clinical abnormalities in cats found to have nonneoplastic middle ear disease at necropsy: 59 cases (1991-2007).

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Oct 1;235(7):841-3

Authors: Schlicksup MD, Van Winkle TJ, Holt DE

Objective-To determine the prevalence of nonneoplastic middle ear disease among cats undergoing necropsy and the prevalence of clinical abnormalities in cats in which nonneoplastic middle ear disease was identified. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-59 cats that underwent necropsy between January 1991 and August 2007. Procedures-Medical records were searched to identify cats in which nonneoplastic middle ear disease was identified at necropsy. For cats included in the study, data that were recorded included signalment, initial complaint, whether the cat had any clinical signs of middle or external ear disease, whether the cat had upper respiratory tract disease, necropsy diagnosis, gross appearance of the bullae, and reason for euthanasia. Signs of middle ear disease that were considered included unilateral peripheral vestibular disease without motor deficits, Horner syndrome, and facial nerve paralysis. Results-Of the 3,442 cats that underwent necropsy during the study period, 59 (1.7%) had nonneoplastic middle ear disease. Six of the 59 (10%) cats, including 1 cat that was affected bilaterally, had clinical signs of middle ear disease. Of these, 5 had signs of unilateral peripheral vestibular disease, and 1 had Horner syndrome. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that most cats with nonneoplastic middle ear disease did not have associated clinical signs. Findings may be of clinical relevance for cats in which middle ear disease is identified as an incidental finding during computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging for unrelated diseases.

PMID: 19793014 [PubMed - in process]

What is your diagnosis?

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Oct 1;235(7):823-4

Authors: Lowrie M, Carrera I, Trevail T, Wessmann A

PMID: 19793009 [PubMed - in process]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dogs with Neurologic Impairment Due to Acute Thoracic and Lumbar Intervertebral Disk Herniation.

J Vet Intern Med. 2009 Sep 22;

Authors: Levine JM, Fosgate GT, Chen AV, Rushing R, Nghiem PP, Platt SR, Bagley RS, Kent M, Hicks DG, Young BD, Schatzberg SJ

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a correlate to physical examination in various myelopathies and a predictor of functional outcome. Objectives: To describe associations among MRI features, neurological dysfunction before MRI, and functional outcome in dogs with disk herniation. Animals: One hundred and fifty-nine dogs with acute thoracolumbar disk herniation. Methods: Retrospective case series. Signalment, initial neurological function as assessed by a modified Frankel score (MFS), and ambulatory outcome at hospital discharge and >3 months (long-term) follow-up were recorded from medical records and telephone interview of owners. Associations were estimated between these parameters and MRI signal and morphometric data. Results: Dogs with intramedullary T2W hyperintensity had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 2, range 0-4) and lower ambulatory proportion at long-term follow-up (0.76) than those dogs lacking hyperintensity (median MFS 3, range 0-5; ambulatory proportion, 0.93) (P=.001 and .013, respectively). Each unit of T2W length ratio was associated with a 1.9 times lower odds of long-term ambulation when adjusted for pre-MRI MFS (95% confidence interval 1.0-3.52, P=.05). Dogs with a compressive length ratio >1.31 (which was the median ratio within this population) had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 3, range 0-5) compared with those with ratios </=1.31 (median MFS 3, range 0-4; P=.006). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: MRI features were associated with initial injury severity in dogs with thoracolumbar disk herniation. Based on results of this study, the T2W length ratio and presence of T2W intramedullary hyperintensity appear to be predictive of long-term ambulatory status.

PMID: 19780928 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Megaesophagus secondary to an esophageal leiomyoma and concurrent esophagitis.]

Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2009 Oct;151(10):497-501

Authors: Kook P, Wiederkehr D, Makara M, Reusch C

A 13-year-old male intact Golden Retriever was presented for chronic regurgitation and vomitus. The only clinical abnormality was halitosis, a neurological examination was normal. Thoracic radiography revealed a moderately distended, air-filled esophagus and a presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic megaesophagus was made. No other disorder causing abnormal esophageal motor function could be identified. As supportive and anticholinergic therapy failed to improve the dogs condition and ongoing regurgitation worsened, owners opted for euthanasia. Postmortem examination revealed a small (1.5 cm diameter) mass in the terminal esophagus. Microscopically a leio-myoma with mild multifocal mixed-cell esophagitis was diagnosed. This report illustrates how a potentially curable disease such as leiomyoma can clinically mimic acquired idiopathic megaesophagus and emphasizes that additional diagnostic procedures (contrast study, esophagoscopy) can be indicated in individual cases.

PMID: 19780011 [PubMed - in process]

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A retrospective study of the MRI findings in 18 dogs with stifle injuries.

J Small Anim Pract. 2009 Sep;50(9):448-55

Authors: Barrett E, Barr F, Owen M, Bradley K

Objectives: To make an objective assessment of the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal damage and cranial cruciate ligament disease in the canine stifle by comparing magnetic resonance imaging findings with surgical findings. Methods: Magnetic resonance images of 18 stifles from 18 dogs which had undergone magnetic resonance imaging for the investigation of stifle disease were reviewed. For every stifle, the menisci and cranial cruciate ligaments were assessed according to predetermined criteria. The magnetic resonance imaging findings were compared with the reported surgical findings and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated using the surgical findings as the gold standard. Kappa analysis was used as an objective measure of agreement between surgical and magnetic resonance imaging findings. For 11 stifles, meniscal evaluation by three different observers was used to measure interobserver agreement using Kappa analysis. Results: Magnetic resonance imaging was demonstrated to be an accurate technique in the detection of meniscal injury (k=0.86), with excellent interobserver agreement (k=0.89 to 1.0). Disruption of cranial cruciate ligament continuity and an increase in ligament intensity were found to be useful criteria in the diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Clinical Significance: Magnetic resonance imaging offers a non-invasive alternative to exploratory surgery in the evaluation of cranial cruciate ligament and meniscal disease.

PMID: 19769665 [PubMed - in process]

What is your diagnosis? Cervical pain and paresis of left thoracic limb in a chondrodystrophic dog.

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2009;22(4):294, 336

Authors: Degórska B, Sterna J, Sapierzynski R, Siedlicki M

PMID: 19718847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Haemangiosarcoma in the uterine remnant of a spayed female dog.

J Small Anim Pract. 2009 Sep;50(9):488-91

Authors: Wenzlow N, Tivers MS, Selmic LE, Scurrell EJ, Baines SJ, Smith KC

A 11-year-old, female, spayed greyhound was presented with a haemorrhagic discharge from the vulva. Clinical examination, vaginoscopy and a computed tomography scan showed an irregular egg-sized mass in the region of the cervix and uterine stump. An endoscopic grab biopsy (incisional) suggested a malignant mesenchymal tumour. Following this, surgical excision of the cranial vagina, cervix and the uterine remnant was performed. The final diagnosis of haemangiosarcoma was based on histological examination of the larger excisional biopsy specimen and was confirmed by positive immunolabelling of the neoplastic endothelial cells for the von Willebrand factor.

PMID: 19769670 [PubMed - in process]

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Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion associated with congenital hydrocephalus in a dog.

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2009 Sep-Oct;45(5):249-52

Authors: Shiel RE, Pinilla M, Mooney CT

A 13-month-old, male bichon frise was examined for the investigation of intermittent seizures, ataxia, abnormal behavior, polyuria, and polydipsia. At presentation, clinical and neurological examinations were unremarkable with the exception of mild truncal ataxia and a domed skull. Severe hyponatremia and hypoosmolality were identified, and following diagnostic testing a diagnosis of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) was made. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed changes consistent with severe hydrocephalus. Water restriction resulted in increased serum osmolality and a reduction in severity of clinical signs. The current case report documents SIADH associated with hydrocephalus in a dog. Structural brain disease should be excluded before a diagnosis of idiopathic SIADH is made.

PMID: 19723849 [PubMed - in process]

Prostatic Perfusion in the Dog Using Contrast-Enhanced Doppler Ultrasound.

Reprod Domest Anim. 2009 Jul;44(s2Canine and Feline Reproduction VI: Reproductive biology and medicine of domestic and exotic carnivores):334-335

Authors: Russo M, Vignoli M, Catone G, Rossi F, Attanasi G, England GC

Contents Ultrasonography has become the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of the prostate gland in the dog. Unfortunately, despite providing excellent images, it may be difficult to differentiate the common canine prostatic diseases with ultrasound because many have a similar ultrasonographic appearance. Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to monitor and characterise the normal perfusion pattern and perfusion dynamics of the canine prostate gland when using a micro bubble contrast agent. In all contrast studies, the prostatic artery, entered the prostate gland on the dorso-lateral surface then tunnelled into the prostatic capsule and branched into many small parenchymal arteries which were directed medially towards the urethra to supply the body of the prostate gland. The flow of the contrast medium into the prostatic parenchyma was visible after 15 s. During the wash-in phase, there was an homogenous enhancement of the prostatic parenchyma. During the wash-out phase, an homogenous decrease of the echogenicity was visible in all cases.

PMID: 19754598 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Computed tomography-assisted management of a mandibular dentigerous cyst in a dog with a nasal carcinoma.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Sep 15;235(6):710-4

Authors: Soukup JW, Lawrence JA, Pinkerton ME, Schwarz T

Case Description-A 6-year-old neutered male Boston Terrier was examined to determine the cause of sneezing, bilateral nasal discharge, nasal congestion, lethargy, and coughing of 2 months’ duration. Clinical Findings-An undifferentiated nasal carcinoma was diagnosed. During computed tomography (CT) evaluation of response to tomotherapy radiation treatment, a mandibular dentigerous cyst, associated with an unerupted left mandibular first premolar, was monitored for expansion. Treatment and Outcome-The dog had a profound response to radiation treatment, and the nasal carcinoma totally resolved. It was determined on the basis of CT that the rate of expansion of the dentigerous cyst was placing the dog at risk for mandibular fracture and loss of vitality to the surrounding teeth. The unerupted left mandibular first premolar and associated dentigerous cyst were surgically removed and submitted for histologic evaluation. Clinical Relevance-Images obtained during sequential CT evaluations performed after radiation treatment of nasal carcinoma should be examined for evidence of the primary neoplasm as well as to detect unrelated lesions of the orofacial region that can compromise the quality of life. Findings of CT evaluations can be used to determine when and how to initiate treatment for dentigerous cysts in regard to the patient’s response to radiation treatment.

PMID: 19751168 [PubMed - in process]

What is your diagnosis?

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Sep 15;235(6):665-6

Authors: Stieve-Caldwell EL, Morandi F, Souza M, Adams WH

PMID: 19751160 [PubMed - in process]

MRI of secondary cervical syringomyelia in four cats.

J Vet Med Sci. 2009 Aug;71(8):1069-73

Authors: Okada M, Kitagawa M, Ito D, Itou T, Kanayama K, Sakai T

This report describes the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose cervical syringomyelia in 4 cats. MRI revealed enlargement of the lateral ventricle in all the cats. Of the 4 cases, MRI revealed herniation of the cerebellum in 3 cats, an isolated fourth ventricle in 1 cat, severe hydrocephalus in 2 cats and brain masses in 1 cat. In this report, the cervical syringomyelia in these cats may have been due to formation of a secondary syrinx (enlargement of the central canal) as a result of blockage of flow in the outlet of the fourth ventricle caused by FIP encephalomyelitis or secondary cerebellar tonsillar herniation caused by increased intracranial pressure due to intracranial masses or may have been due to caudal compression of the cerebellum caused by increased intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus.

PMID: 19721360 [PubMed - in process]

What is your diagnosis?

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 Sep 1;235(5):507-8

Authors: Phelps HA, Sepulveda G, Langs LL

PMID: 19719437 [PubMed - in process]

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Situs inversus totalis in a dog with a chronic diaphragmatic hernia.

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2009 Sep-Oct;45(5):245-8

Authors: Witsberger TH, Dismukes DI, Kelmer EY

Situs inversus totalis is a rare, congenital condition that is characterized by the development of the thoracic and abdominal viscera in a mirror image to their normal orientation. This case report describes the condition in a 4-year-old, spayed female Doberman pinscher that was evaluated for dyspnea following sedation. Radiography confirmed a diaphragmatic hernia. Situs inversus was discovered during surgical correction. The diaphragmatic rent was repaired, and the dog was clinically normal at recheck 13 months after surgery.

PMID: 19723848 [PubMed - in process]