Gender, Weight, and Age Effects on Prevalence of Caudal Aberrant Nasal Turbinates in Clinically Healthy English Bulldogs : A Computed Tomographic Study and Classification

English Bulldogs have been reported to demonstrate abnormal growth and development of the nasal turbinates, which contribute to an increase in airway resistance and hence clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome. The purpose of this prospective, cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and severity of caudal aberrant turbinate protrusion via CT studies of English Bulldogs with, according to the owners, none or minimal clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome. An additional objective was to propose a classification scheme for describing the degree of caudal aberrant turbinate protrusion in English Bulldogs and to apply this scheme in assessing the effect of gender, weight, and age on prevalence and severity of turbinate protrusion. The nasal cavities of 40 clinically healthy English Bulldogs were examined. The prevalence of caudal aberrant turbinates in this group was 100%. Using our proposed classification scheme, Grade 1 (minimal) was detected in 7 of 40 (17.5%), Grade 2 (mild) in 28 of 40 (70%), and Grade 3 (moderate) in 5 of 40 (12.5%) English Bulldogs. No significant effect of gender, weight, and age on degree of protrusion was found. In conclusion, this study identified minimal to moderate protrusion of caudal aberrant turbinates toward the nasopharynx in all the sampled English Bulldogs, despite the absence of clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome

Concurrent pituitary and adrenocortical lesions on computed tomography imaging in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous hypercortisolism or Cushing's syndrome in dogs is either pituitary or adrenal dependent, but concurrent pituitary and adrenal hypercortisolism also has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine how often concurrent pituitary and adrenal lesions are present in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism. ANIMALS: Two hundred one client-owned dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism. METHODS: Retrospective study. Pre- and post-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans of the pituitary and adrenal glands were performed in dogs with confirmed hypercortisolism. RESULTS: In dogs with dexamethasone-suppressible hypercortisolism (122/201), 78 dogs (64%) had an enlarged pituitary gland (median pituitary height/brain area [P/B], 0.43 × 10-2 mm-1 ; range, 0.32-1.21 × 10-2 mm-1 ). Two of these 78 dogs had concurrent adrenal lesions. In the remaining dogs (44/122; 36%), the pituitary gland was not enlarged. In the dexamethasone-resistant group (79/201), the pituitary gland was enlarged in 47 dogs (59%; median P/B, 0.57 × 10-2 ; range, 0.32-1.50 × 10-2 mm-1 ). Eight of these 47 dogs (17%) had concurrent adrenal lesions. In the remaining 32 dexamethasone-resistant dogs (41%), the pituitary gland was not enlarged. Among them, 27 dogs had adrenal lesions and suppressed ACTH concentrations consistent with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism and 5 dogs were diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Concurrent pituitary and adrenal lesions were present in 5% of all dogs with hypercortisolism and in 10% of the dexamethasone-resistant dogs. Diagnostic imaging of both pituitary and adrenal glands should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of every dog with spontaneous hypercortisolism to obtain information needed for estimation of prognosis and choosing the optimal treatment

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC, RADIOGRAPHIC, AND ENDOSCOPIC TRACHEAL DIMENSIONS IN ENGLISH BULLDOGS WITH GRADE 1 CLINICAL SIGNS OF BRACHYCEPHALIC AIRWAY SYNDROME

Tracheal hypoplasia is commonly seen in English Bulldogs affected with brachycephalic airway syndrome. Previously published diagnostic criteria for tracheal hypoplasia in this breed have been a radiographic tracheal diameter:tracheal inlet ratio (TD:TI) < 0.12 or a tracheal diameter:third rib diameter ratio (TD:3R) < 2.0. Computed tomography has become increasingly used for airway evaluation, however published information is lacking regarding CT tracheal dimensions in English Bulldogs. Objectives of this prospective cross-sectional study were to describe radiographic and CT tracheal dimensions in a sample of clinically normal English Bulldogs and compare these values with tracheoscopy scores. Computed tomography (n = 40), radiography (n = 38), and tracheoscopy (n = 40) studies were performed during a single general anesthesia session for each included dog. Tracheal measurements were recorded at three locations: cervical, thoracic inlet, and thorax. Tracheal diameters were narrowest at the thoracic inlet with all techniques. Computed tomographic measurements averaged 19% greater than radiographic measurements. All included dogs had radiographic tracheal measurements greater than the previously published criteria for tracheal hypoplasia. Mean CT TD:TI was 0.26 (± 0.03, 0.20-0.33), and mean CT TT:3R was 2.27 (± 0.24, 1.71-2.74). Radiographic TD:TI and CT TD:TI were significantly correlated (P = 0.00); however radiographic TT:3R and CT TT:3R were not significantly correlated (P = 0.25). Tracheoscopy identified hypoplastic changes in all dogs and tracheoscopy scores were not correlated with CT or radiography diameter measurements. In conclusion, findings indicated that some CT and radiographic tracheal diameter measurements were comparable in English Bulldogs however diameters for both imaging techniques were not comparable with tracheoscopy scores

Concurrent pituitary and adrenocortical lesions on computed tomography imaging in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous hypercortisolism or Cushing's syndrome in dogs is either pituitary or adrenal dependent, but concurrent pituitary and adrenal hypercortisolism also has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine how often concurrent pituitary and adrenal lesions are present in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism. ANIMALS: Two hundred one client-owned dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism. METHODS: Retrospective study. Pre- and post-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans of the pituitary and adrenal glands were performed in dogs with confirmed hypercortisolism. RESULTS: In dogs with dexamethasone-suppressible hypercortisolism (122/201), 78 dogs (64%) had an enlarged pituitary gland (median pituitary height/brain area [P/B], 0.43 × 10-2 mm-1 ; range, 0.32-1.21 × 10-2 mm-1 ). Two of these 78 dogs had concurrent adrenal lesions. In the remaining dogs (44/122; 36%), the pituitary gland was not enlarged. In the dexamethasone-resistant group (79/201), the pituitary gland was enlarged in 47 dogs (59%; median P/B, 0.57 × 10-2 ; range, 0.32-1.50 × 10-2 mm-1 ). Eight of these 47 dogs (17%) had concurrent adrenal lesions. In the remaining 32 dexamethasone-resistant dogs (41%), the pituitary gland was not enlarged. Among them, 27 dogs had adrenal lesions and suppressed ACTH concentrations consistent with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism and 5 dogs were diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Concurrent pituitary and adrenal lesions were present in 5% of all dogs with hypercortisolism and in 10% of the dexamethasone-resistant dogs. Diagnostic imaging of both pituitary and adrenal glands should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of every dog with spontaneous hypercortisolism to obtain information needed for estimation of prognosis and choosing the optimal treatment

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease as a cause of severe pulmonary hypertension in a dog

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in humans and can be classified in idiopathic, heritable, drug and radiation-induced, and associated with connective tissue disease or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Recently, biallelic mutations of the EIF2AK4 gene have been discovered as a cause for an autosomal recessive form of PVOD in humans. In dogs, PAH is poorly characterized and is generally considered to be idiopathic or secondary to (for example) congenital left-to right cardiovascular shunts or heartworm disease. However, recently, the pathologic features resembling human PVOD were retrospectively described in post-mortem lung samples of dogs presenting with respiratory distress and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PH), which suggests that PVOD contributes to an unknown percentage of cases with unexplained PH. In dogs, information on the clinical presentation of PVOD is scarce and the cause and pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old, intact male German Shepherd dog (GSD) was presented with a 2-day history of acute-onset dyspnea and generalized weakness. Physical examination, laboratory analysis, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, a computed tomography scan and an ante mortem lung biopsy demonstrated severe arterial hypoxemia and severe PH but were not diagnostic for a known disease syndrome. Based on the poor reaction to therapy with oxygen, sildenafil, pimobendan and dexamethasone the dog was euthanized. Histopathology of the lungs showed venous and arterial remodelling, segmental congestion of alveolar capillaries and foci of vascular changes similar to human pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, indicating that the dog suffered from PVOD. Whole genome sequencing analysis was performed on the case and a healthy GSD. Validation was performed by Sanger sequencing of five additional GSD's unknown for any form of respiratory stress and aged ≥ 10 years. No causal variants were found in the genes that are known to be involved in human PVOD and PAH. CONCLUSIONS: This case report confirms that PVOD should be a diagnostic consideration in dogs presenting with dyspnea and unexplained PH. In the present case, no casual genetic mutations known to be involved in humans with PVOD and PAH were found

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease as a cause of severe pulmonary hypertension in a dog

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in humans and can be classified in idiopathic, heritable, drug and radiation-induced, and associated with connective tissue disease or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Recently, biallelic mutations of the EIF2AK4 gene have been discovered as a cause for an autosomal recessive form of PVOD in humans. In dogs, PAH is poorly characterized and is generally considered to be idiopathic or secondary to (for example) congenital left-to right cardiovascular shunts or heartworm disease. However, recently, the pathologic features resembling human PVOD were retrospectively described in post-mortem lung samples of dogs presenting with respiratory distress and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PH), which suggests that PVOD contributes to an unknown percentage of cases with unexplained PH. In dogs, information on the clinical presentation of PVOD is scarce and the cause and pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old, intact male German Shepherd dog (GSD) was presented with a 2-day history of acute-onset dyspnea and generalized weakness. Physical examination, laboratory analysis, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, a computed tomography scan and an ante mortem lung biopsy demonstrated severe arterial hypoxemia and severe PH but were not diagnostic for a known disease syndrome. Based on the poor reaction to therapy with oxygen, sildenafil, pimobendan and dexamethasone the dog was euthanized. Histopathology of the lungs showed venous and arterial remodelling, segmental congestion of alveolar capillaries and foci of vascular changes similar to human pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, indicating that the dog suffered from PVOD. Whole genome sequencing analysis was performed on the case and a healthy GSD. Validation was performed by Sanger sequencing of five additional GSD's unknown for any form of respiratory stress and aged ≥ 10 years. No causal variants were found in the genes that are known to be involved in human PVOD and PAH. CONCLUSIONS: This case report confirms that PVOD should be a diagnostic consideration in dogs presenting with dyspnea and unexplained PH. In the present case, no casual genetic mutations known to be involved in humans with PVOD and PAH were found

Comparison of Computed Tomography Findings and Surgical Outcome Between French Bulldogs and Non-Brachycephalic Dogs with Cervical Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective case study was to compare incidence, signalment, history, computed tomography (CT) findings and surgical outcomes between French Bulldogs (FB) and non-brachycephalic dogs (NB) surgically treated for cervical intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on breed, age, sex, weight, CT and surgical findings. All dogs underwent CT evaluation of the cervical spine and ventral slot decompression. Surgical outcome and owner satisfaction were evaluated using an owner questionnaire. For statistical analysis a linear regression model was used. Results: Fifty-five dogs were reviewed for this study, 29 FB (23 males and 6 females) and 26 NB (11 males and 15 females). Males were overrepresented in the FB group in this study. FB were significantly younger at presentation than NB (P Conclusion: Breed-specific differences in cervical IVDH presentation characteristics are present between FB and NB. FB have a high relative incidence of cervical IVDH disease and appear to have cervical IVDH at younger ages than NB and a higher male predisposition. They tended to have more cranially located IVDH but clinical presentation and recovery after surgery did not differ between the groups