Plasma nitric oxide in dogs with pulmonary hypertension secondary or not to left-sided heart disease

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator responsible for vasodilation in pulmonary hypertension (PH) in humans. Based on human literature, it is suggested that in dogs there is also NO production decrease in lung tissue in the presence of PH with hypoxia. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the indirect plasmatic NO concentration in dogs with PH secondary or not to the left-side heart disease (LHD) and also with low, intermediate and high probability of PH to characterize the NO involvement on PH in dogs. Blood samples were collected from 35 dogs with probability of PH to NO measurement. NO concentration was estimated by the nitrite/nitrate concentration, and it was significantly different (p=0.002) in dogs with PH secondary to LHD (median=14 µM, range 11.19-16.59) and not secondary to LHD (median=25.88µM, range 15.08-36.71). However, this was not significant for the probability of low, intermediate, and high PH, although there was a tendency for NO concentration to be higher in dogs with high PH. The results of this study demonstrate that there is release of NO in dogs with PH, as well as that its dosage could differentiate dogs with PH secondary to LHD from dogs with non-secondary PH

Papillary Adenocarcinoma of the descending colon in a dog: case report

ABSTRACT The aim of this report was to describe the clinical findings and therapeutic management of a case of papillary adenocarcinoma of the descending colon in a Beagle. The patient presented soft stools, haematochezia, tenesmus, and dyschezia. Clinical examination revealed alterations on the ultrasonographic features of the descending colon suggestive of colitis and neoplasia. Following local mass resection, histopathology analysis revealed mild lymphoplasmocytic enteritis and papillary adenocarcinoma of the colon. Enterectomy for tumoral resection and biopsy of locoregional lymph nodes were carried out. Subsequent to the surgical procedure, it was possible to confirm the previous diagnosis and the tumor was classified as intestinal intraluminal papillary adenocarcinoma, with incomplete surgical margins. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed using carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, and piroxicam, leading to remission of clinical signs and absence of any clinical or imaging alterations compatible with the patient’s previous clinical condition

Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

IntroductionAtrial fibrillation secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) frequently affects large-breed dogs. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation in dogs of different breeds with an echocardiographic diagnosis of DCM. MethodsIn this multicenter retrospective study, we searched the electronic databases of five cardiology referral centers for dogs with an echocardiographic diagnosis of DCM. A comparison of clinical and echocardiographic variables was performed between dogs developing atrial fibrillation and those not developing atrial fibrillation and the ability to distinguish between these two groups of dogs was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis estimated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of developing atrial fibrillation. ResultsWe included 89 client-owned dogs with occult and overt echocardiographic DCM. Of these, 39 dogs (43.8%) had atrial fibrillation, 29 dogs (32.6%) maintained a sinus rhythm, and 21 dogs (23.6%) showed other cardiac arrhythmias. Left atrial diameter had high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.816, 95% CI = 0.719-0.890) to predict the development of atrial fibrillation at the cut-off of >4.66 cm. After multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, only increased left atrial diameter (OR = 3.58, 95% CI = 1.87-6.87; p < 0.001) and presence of right atrial enlargement (OR = 4.02, 95% CI = 1.35-11.97; p = 0.013) were significant predictors of atrial fibrillation development. DiscussionAtrial fibrillation is a common complication of DCM in the dog and is significantly associated with increased absolute left atrial diameter and right atrial enlargement