JAVMA 2006

Xylitol can cause liver failure in dogs.

Traditional treatments for travel-induced excitement in dogs may be time-consuming, expensive, or associated with adverse effects. Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species.

Results suggest that certain body dimensions may be associated with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion or protrusion in Dachshunds and, in affected dogs, with severity of neurologic dysfunction.

Results suggested that AgNORs and possibly Ki-67 should be routinely evaluated with histologic grading for STSs in dogs.

Results of multivariate analysis indicated that increased AgNOR score was the only prognostic factor for decreased survival time.

Data suggest that Intraoperative Mesonteric Portovenography can be used to assess changes in Intrahepatic portal vessel blood flow and help predict outcome following attenuation of single CPSSs in dogs.

The more opacification of the intrahepatic portal vein, the better the outcome.

Dog was treated with 3 separate dilations. Prednisone was used after first treatment and triamcinolone injections were used after the 2nd and 3rd dilation to reduce fibrous tissue formation. Findings suggest that balloon dilatation may be an effective treatment for nasopharyngeal stenosis in dogs.

Results were significantly different from those routinely reported in the veterinary literature. Neutrophilic pleocytosis, especially with TNCCs > 50 cells/μL, was not typical in CSF samples from dogs with intracranial meningiomas. Neutrophilic pleocytosis may not be detected in CSF samples from dogs with meningiomas located within the middle or rostral portion of the cranial fossae.

Results suggest that cats with EHBTO secondary to neoplasia have a poorer prognosis than cats with EHBTO secondary to chronic inflammatory disease. However, the overall prognosis for cats with EHBTO undergoing cholecystoenterostomy must be considered guarded to poor, and the incidence of perioperative complications is high.

Choledochal tube stenting is an effective method of decompression of the extrahepatic portion of the biliary tract in dogs and provides a less complex alternative to traditional cholecystoenterostomy techniques in select cases

Findings suggest that circumcaval ureter should be considered in the differential diagnosis for hydronephrosis and hydroureter in dogs. Partial obstruction of the middle segment of the ureter on ultrasonograms or contrast radiographs should increase the index of suspicion for this condition.

In contrast to previous reports, diagnosis was achieved antemortem in most of the cats (all by cytologic identification of the organism).

Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and outcome were similar to previous descriptions of this rare disease in cats.

The renal diet evaluated in this study was superior to an adult maintenance diet in minimizing uremic episodes and renal- related deaths in cats with spontaneous stage 2 or 3

Results suggest that clinical spirocercosis occurs more often in young- adult, large-breed dogs. Nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and high alkaline phosphatase activity may be useful clinicopathologic indicators of this disease.

A diagnosis of IE should be suspected in dogs with fever, systolic or diastolic murmur, and locomotor problems. Dogs with thrombocytopenia, high serum creatinine concentra- tion, thromboembolism, or renal complications may have a shorter survival time.

EB specimens were useful for diagnosis of gastric lymphosarcoma but were not adequate for differentiating between IBD and lymphosarcoma in the small intestine.

Because the most common sites of alimentary tract lymphosarcoma in cats are the jejunum and ileum, FTB specimens of those sites should be obtained via laparotomy or laparoscopy for accurate diagnosis.

Laparoscopy may be a minimally invasive alternative to endoscopy and laparotomy for obtaining diagnostic biopsy specimens.

Results of CT evaluation of TBLN status were in agreement with histopathologic findings and more accurate than use of thoracic radiography for evaluating TBLNs in dogs with primary lung tumors. Computed tomography imaging should be considered as part of the staging process to more accurately assess the TBLNs in dogs with primary lung tumors.

Randomization was reported as the method of allocating study animals to groups in most publications, indicating that the potential power of randomization in controlling selection bias is appreciated by clinical investigators seeking to determine the efficacy of an intervention. However, in most reports, little corroborating information was included to support the claim. The absence of this information makes it difficult for practitioners to critically review the impact of bias on study results and make informed decisions regarding patients.

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of corneal ulcerations associated with naturally occurring CHV-1 infection and may represent local ocular recrudescence of latent CHV-1 infection. The viruses isolated were identified as CHV-1, and the morphology, antigenicity, and genotype were similar to those for CHV-1 isolates obtained from a puppy that died from systemic CHV-1 infection.

Data indicate that veterinarians in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States should consider C felis infection in cats that become ill with fever, icterus, and pancytopenia or bicytopenia, especially in the spring and summer months.

Results indiated that detection of B burgdorferi DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues is feasible, but that intact B burgdorferi DNA is rarely found in tissues from naturally infected dogs, even tissues from dogs with presumptive Lyme borreliosis.

Findings support the contention that Lyme nephritis may be a sterile, immune complex disease.

Results confirmed that FHV-1 DNA can be detected in the skin of cats with herpetic dermatitis and suggest that the virus may play a causative role in the disease. In addi- tion, the PCR assay may be useful in confirming a diagnosis of herpetic dermatitis.

Results suggested that the proportion of rectal E coli isolates obtained from dogs housed for ≥ 3 days in a veterinary teaching hospital ICU that were resistant to antimicrobial agents increased as the duration of hospitalization in the ICU increased.

ICU hospitalization time should be as short as possible to prevent development of antimicrobial resistance among rectal E coli isolates.

Initial exploratory celiotomy with intestinal and colonic biopsy failed to reveal the Vascular Ectasia lesions responsible for the melena, hematochezia, and anemia.

Endoscopic evaluation was necessary for detection of the colonic VE lesions.

Surgical resection of the cecum and colon and feeding of a highly digestible diet may result in a favorable outcome in affected dogs.

Results suggest that there was moderate agreement between results of cytologic examination of fine-needle aspirates from dogs and cats with gastrointestinal tract neoplasia and the definitive histologic diagnosis.

The agreement between results of cytologic examination of impression smears and the histologic diagnosis appeared to be higher.

Results suggest that most dogs and cats reported by their owners to have a health problem were not being fed a therapeutic diet. In addition, the rate of dietary sup- plement use was lower than that reported for people.

The prevalence and degree of Doppler Echocardiography-derived evidence of pulmonary hypertension were related to the severity of MVD.

Changes associated with DEE- PAH may be detected in early stages of the disease, but only in dogs with severe mitral valve regurgitation.

Distilled water, methylcellulose gel, and the suspending and flavoring vehicle compound can be used successfully for extemporaneous preparation of meloxicam and carprofen for administration to small exotic animals. Simple syrups should be avoided. Refrigeration is recommended

Important differences exist between reference intervals for serum biochemical values of neonatal and adult cats. Age- appropriate reference intervals should be used for accurate assessment of serum biochemical test results in cats.

Data suggest that transdermal administration of fentanyl significantly reduces isoflurane requirements in normothermic dogs. The isoflurane MAC-sparing effects of transdermal fentanyl are not apparent in hypothermic dogs.

Caloric restriction combined with intensive physical therapy improved mobility and facilitated weight loss in overweight dogs. The combination of dietetic and physical therapy may help to improve the health status more efficiently than dietetic treatment alone.

Results indicated that responses to different diets varied among individual dogs. Because responses to the feeding regimens were unpredictable, it is suggested that feeding regimens be individually formulated for dogs with EPI.

Results suggest that prevalences of nematode infections among pet cats in the United States may be lower than previously suspected on the basis of prevalences reported among cats in humane shelters and those reported in more geographically focused studies.

Excision with a 2-cm lateral margin and a deep margin of 1 fascial plane may result in satisfactory excision of grades I and II MCTs in dogs, with recurrence rates similar to those reported previously. Use of these margins may minimize complications associated with larger local tumor resection.

It is possible that the transient decreases in serum protein and albumin concentrations in dogs that received carprofen were caused by altered mucosal permeability of the gastrointestinal tract because no indications of renal or hepatic toxicity were observed.

Carprofen appeared to be well tolerated by dogs after 2 months of administration.

Bacterial contamination is common in commercially available raw meat diets, suggesting that there is a risk of foodborne illness in dogs fed these diets as well possible risk for humans associated with the dogs or their environments.

Although survival times achieved with CO2 laser ablation and treatment with mitox- antrone and piroxicam were similar to survival times associated with chemotherapy alone, resolution of clinical signs was better with the combined treatment.

The ICU- acquired MDR E coli UTI likely originated from the dog’s intestinal flora during hospitalization. Dogs that have been referred from a community practice may have MDR E coli UTIs at the time of admission.

Vegetarian diets are fed to cats primarily for ethical considerations. Results of this study should aid practitioners in communicating with and providing advice to such clients.

An immune-mediated pathogenesis should be considered for dogs with idiopathic neutropenia in which the cause is not known.

Severe neutropenia and young age were significantly associated with idiopathic neutropenia in dogs.

Prognosis appeared to be excellent with prednisone treatment.

Differentiating cats with myelodysplastic syndromes from cats with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia was difficult because severe anemia and autoagglutination may be concurrent findings in both conditions.

Differentiating between myelodysplastic syndrome with excessive numbers of blast cells and myelodysplastic syndrome with refractory cytopenias was useful in predicting clinical outcome

The prognosis of dogs with untreated nasal carcinomas is poor. Treatment strategies to improve outcome should be pursued. Epistaxis appears to be a negative prognostic indicator.

Results indicated that young male Pugs may be predisposed to developing spontaneous LLT. The prognosis for survival and resolution of clinical signs in Pugs with LLT appeared to be excellent. Factors contributing to the development of LLT in Pugs are not known.

Transurethral placement of metallic stents was a safe and effective palliative treatment option for dogs with malignant urethral obstructions.

Combining PC with routine tests improved recognition of PSS, hepatic failure, and severe hepatobiliary disease and signified a grave prognosis when coupled with hyperbilirubinemia and low antithrombin activity in hepatic failure.

Protein C activity can help prioritize tests used to distinguish PSVA from MVD and sensitively reflects improved hepatic-portal perfusion after PSVA ligation.

Results suggested that multiple cutaneous MCTs in dogs are associated with a low rate of metastasis and a good prognosis for long-term survival with adequate excision of all MCTs.

The overall rate of metastasis was 15%.

Factors that negatively influenced survival time in the univariate analysis included incomplete excision, local recurrence, size > 3 cm, clinical signs at the time of diagnosis, and use of adjuvant treatment.

Presence of clinical signs at the time of diagnosis was the only negative prognostic factor for disease-free interval detected in the multivariate analysis.

Results indicated that dogs and cats that were active or that lived near a site of commercial environmental disturbance had a significantly increased risk of developing C gattii infection. Veterinarians should communicate these risks to owners in context because cryptococcosis was an uncommon disease in this population

Results indicated that strontium 90 β irradiation resulted in long-term tumor control and should be considered an effective alternative to surgical resection in management of CMCTs in cats.

Adequacy of passive transfer in kittens initially correlated with serum activity of ALP, but quantification of serum IgG concentration was necessary after 2 days of age.

Median survival time was 76 days, with a range of 0 to 1,583 days.

No significant differences in survival times on the basis of age, sex, breed, or primary site were observed.

Dogs treated palliatively with radiation therapy and chemotherapy had a significantly longer survival time (130 days) than dogs in all other treatment groups.

Dogs treated with surgery alone had a significantly shorter survival time (3 days) than dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy (78 days).

Dogs with bone metastases had a longer survival time than dogs with soft tissue metastases.

S enterica infections and environmental contamination were common at this facility. A portion of the Salmonella strains detected on the premises was likely introduced via raw meat that was the primary dietary constituent. Some strains appeared to be widely disseminated in the population. Feeding meat that had not been cooked properly, particularly meat classified as unfit for human consumption, likely contributed to the infections in these dogs.

Microalbuminuria was associated with underlying disease.

The sensitivity and specificity of the semiquantitative microalbuminuria test for detection of systemic disease were superior to those of other tests.

Microalbuminuria testing in conjunction with other screening procedures may increase diagnosis of subclinical disease, but a prospective study in which the predictive values of screening tests are evaluated, with and without microalbuminuria determination, is needed.

Administration of fentanyl resulted in greater isoflurane sparing effect than did lidocaine. However, it appeared that the low heart rate induced by fentanyl may partially offset the improvement in mean arterial pressure that would be expected with reduced isoflurane requirements.

Streptococci were the most common cause of IE and were more likely to infect the mitral valve and be associated with polyarthritis.

Dogs with IE secondary to Bartonella spp infection were often afebrile, more likely to develop congestive heart failure, rarely had mitral valve involvement, and had shorter survival times

Most dogs and cats that underwent extensive resection of the small intestine had a good outcome. The amount of intestine resected was not associated with outcome. These data may be useful in providing prognostic information in cases of extensive small intestinal resection.

Thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries can result in upper motor neuron fecal incontinence in ambulatory dogs. Epidural spinal hematomas may develop secondary to intervertebral disk herniations and cause spinal cord compression resulting in neurologic deficits.

Neoplasia comprised 54% of lingual lesions. Malignant tumors accounted for 64% of lingual neoplasms and included melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, and fibrosarcoma.

Large-breed dogs were more likely to have lingual neoplasia, small-breed dogs were more likely to have glossitis.

The authors are not aware of reports of pulmonary infection with E corrodens in animals. Infection with the organism is rare, but it is possible that infections are underreported given that the organism is difficult to culture and biopsy may be necessary to obtain enough tissue to yield a diagnosis.

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the development of chylopericardium prior to development of chylothorax in a dog. Treatment with thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and clinical signs.

Results suggest that in healthy dogs and dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, administration of cosyntropin at a dose of 5 μg/kg, IV or IM, resulted in equivalent adrenal gland stimulation.

Characterization of antimicrobial use is an important step in defining and evaluating the prudent use of antimicrobials. Whereas the true effect of antimicrobial use guidelines is unclear, these results suggest that the guidelines may have had an effect on antimicrobial prescription patterns in this small animal veterinary teaching hospital. Analysis of objective data regarding antimicrobial use and changes in antimicrobial use patterns over time is important in veterinary practices.

Restricted feeding delayed or prevented development of radiographic signs of hip joint osteoarthritis in this cohort of Labrador Retrievers. Lifetime maintenance of 25% diet restriction delayed onset and reduced severity of hip joint osteoarthritis, thus favorably affecting both duration and quality of life. In addition, the data indicated that development of hip joint osteoarthritis was not bimodal in these dogs but occurred as a continuum throughout life.

Results suggest that development of nonspecific clinical signs of vomiting, lethargy, and anorexia in conjunction with high serum hepatic enzyme activities and mature neutrophilia in a medium-sized or large-breed dog should increase the index of suspicion for liver lobe torsion.

Abdominal ultrasonography with Doppler assessment may be useful in establishing the diagnosis.

The long-term outcome for dogs that survive the hospitalization period is excellent.

Long-term prognosis was guarded after biliary surgery in dogs. However, dogs that survived the early postoperative period had good long-term prognosis.

Dogs with pancreatitis had poor prognosis.

Overall, the prognosis was worse for dogs that underwent a biliary diversion.

The use of self-expanding metallic stents for alleviation of colonic obstruction secondary to adenocarcinoma in cats appears to be effective. This technique provides a simple, quick, nonsurgical option for palliation in cats with advanced metastatic or systemic disease in which surgical resection may not be possible or warranted.

Results suggest that UAL will improve quality of life in most dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis. However, the complication rate is high, with postoperative pneumonia being the most important major complication. Minor complications were common but did not adversely affect owner-assigned quality-of-life scores in most dogs.

When community-source cats, cats allowed outdoors, or cats exposed to fleas are to be used as blood donors, they should be regularly assessed for infection with M haemofelis, ‘Candidatus M haemominutum,’ and Bartonella spp, and flea-control treatment should be regularly provided.

Results suggest that protection against FeLV challenge obtained following SC administration of a single dose of an FeLV-k vaccine followed, 21 days later, by transdermal administration of a single dose of an rCP-FeLV vaccine was similar to that obtained following SC administration of 2 doses of the FeLV-k vaccine 21 days apart.

Renal transplantation appears to be a viable option for cats in renal failure secondary to calcium oxalate urolithiasis. In addition to reported complications in renal transplant recipients, formation of calculi within the allograft may also occur.

Results confirm that frontal sinus involvement is common in dogs with nasal aspergillosis and suggest that frontal sinus trephination and sinuscopy may aid in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in dogs, particularly dogs with rhinoscopic evidence of destructive rhinitis and computed tomographic evidence of sinus involvement that lack detectable fungal plaques in the nasal cavity.

Lower urinary tract signs in indoor-housed cats may be more closely associated with cat-related factors than with demographic or environmental factors.

This case highlights the fact that as PDA coil occlusion devices become more widely used in dogs, practitioners must be prepared to treat implant infections aggressively, with both medical and surgical interventions if necessary.

Results suggest that certain characteristics, such as age, sex, health status, and lifestyle, are associated with risk of FeLV and FIV seropositivity among cats in North America. However, cats in all categories were found to be at risk for infection, and current guidelines to test all cats at the time of acquisition and again during illness should be followed.

Results suggest that Scottish Terriers have higher serum ALP activities than do dogs of other breeds. Although Scottish Terriers also have a higher prevalence of diseases associated with high serum ALP activity, this alone did not explain the higher mean serum ALP activity in the breed.

Pacemaker implantation should be strongly considered in all dogs with high-grade second- or third-degree AVB regardless of whether clinical signs are evident.

If medical treatment is warranted, vagolytic medications may be the best choice.

Results suggested that 131I therapy may result in prolonged survival times in dogs with nonresectable thyroid tumors, regardless of serum thyroxine concentration prior to treatment.

Dogs undergoing 131I therapy should be monitored for signs of bone marrow suppression.

Ureteroliths can move retrograde within the ureter and even back into the renal pelvis. Retrograde movement of ureteroliths may make surgical planning more difficult.

When cats with preexisting renal disease were excluded, median survival time for cats treated with methimazole alone (2.0 years) was significantly shorter than median survival time for cats treated with 131I alone (4.0 years) or methimazole followed by 131I (5.3 years).

Results suggest that age, preexisting renal disease, and treatment type were associated with survival time in cats undergoing medical treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Although ingestion of granulated chlorine is rare in veterinary patients, the resulting dis- ease processes are common and can be treated successfully.

Omentalization is a viable treatment option for pancreatic abscess in dogs. Furthermore, shorter hospitalization and better survival outcomes may make omentalization preferred over open peritoneal drainage.

Results suggest that psychogenic alopecia is overdiagnosed in cats. Thorough diagnostic testing should be done before ascribing a behavioral cause to hair loss in cats.

Results suggested that CT is better than radiography for identifying the underlying causes of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in dogs can be excellent because of improved donor-recipient selection by use of molecular dog leukocyte antigen typing, compared with early attempts, and better prevention of graft versus host disease, better supportive care, and substitution of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for bone marrow.

In addition to fluoroscopic control, transthoracic echocardiography appears to aid the appropriate positioning of a transarterial coil for treatment of PDA in dogs.

Although transesophageal echocardiography would likely provide better images of the ductus, transthoracic echocardiography is a much cheaper, less specialized, and more widely available alternative.

Results suggest that neoplasia and congenital or acquired hepatobiliary disease are common in dogs with VH and provide support for the suggestion that VH, high alkaline phosphatase activity, and illness-invoked physiologic stress may be associated.

Histologic confirmation of VH should initiate a diagnostic search for a primary disease if glucocorticoid treatment and hyperadrenocorticism are ruled out.

Findings suggest that following dorsal rhinotomy and nasal polypectomy surgery, the dog developed herniation of the left olfactory bulb, intraventricular pneumocephalus, and septic meningoencephalitis because of a cribriform plate defect.

Care must be taken to prevent rotation of bone grafts used in cribriform defect repair.