Ultrasound-guided removal of soft tissue foreign bodies in companion animals: A case series

Foreign bodies (FBs) retained in the subcutaneous tissues are a common reason for medical consultation. In small animals, FBs usually consist of vegetal materials, especially grass awns. Failure to remove the FBs is likely to give rise to acute or late complications. The surgical removal of the FBs can be invasive, costly and technically challenging. Ultrasound has become a mainstay in the detection of FBs and it can be used to guide the extraction of the FBs with a minimally invasive technique. This study describes the detection and extraction of soft-tissue FBs in small animals. One hundred-sixty-two patients, presenting at two veterinary clinics with suspected FBs retained in the soft tissues of various body districts, were considered. Once an ultrasound diagnosis was established, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FB was performed. A high-frequency linear transducer, a skin disinfection, sedation or anaesthesia was used when needed and a scalpel and some Hartmann forceps were also used. One hundred-eighty-two FBs were successfully removed in all the patients. In six cases, the FB was identified during a second ultrasonographic examination, after recurrence of the fistula. No complications were reported after the procedure. The extraction of the FB was performed in an echographic suite in 138 cases and in a surgery room with surgical intervention in 24 cases. In the latter situation, the surgical minimally invasive dissection of tissues under ultrasound guidance was performed before the removal of the FB. In conclusion, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FBs retained in the superficial soft tissue can be considered a good alternative to surgery. However, failure to remove a FB does not preclude the removal by traditional surgery

Emphysematous pyelitis and cystitis associated with vesicoureteral reflux in a diabetic dog

A 12-year-old female dog with a 3-month history of poor response to diabetes treatment had an acute worsening of symptoms, including weakness and blindness. The dog had elevated blood glucose, alkaline phosphatase and urea concentration, hyposthenuria, glycosuria, hematuria, and pyuria. Escherichia coli was isolated from the urine. Radiographs and ultrasound examination showed that the dog had unilateral emphysematous pyelitis and concurrent cystitis associated with vesicoureteral reflux

Case report: head trauma in a tawny owl (Strix Aluco)

Head trauma is a common cause of emergent raptor presentations, as well as respiratory disease, toxin exposure, emaciation and other injuries such as fractures, wounds, electrocution, gunshot wounds. Emergency treatment should be aimed at stabilizing the patient and providing a low-stress environment to help facilitate rapid recovery and rehabilitation. Supportive care including thermal, oxygen support, fluid administration and nutritional support are particularly indicated. Diagnostic tests should be delayed until possible based on the patient status. Diagnostic tests that may be of value in determining the severity of lesions as well as the prognosis include ophthalmic examination, radiographs, auditory evoked potentials, electroencephalograms, Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This case report concerns a mature tawny owl (Strix aluco), that was presented to a Wild Fauna Rehabilitation Center because of head trauma. At the clinical examination the animal appeared in good nutritional status, but it was unable to fly and showed a strong dulling of the sensorium. The left auricle appeared affected by a large hematoma that extended into the acoustic meatus. Moreover the oral mucosa was pale-rosy and the palatine fissure presented small blood clots. The animal was given first emergency care, including oxygen supplementation and fluid therapy (subcutaneous injection of normal saline solution and 5% glucose solution at a ratio of 1:1). An antibiotic was also administrated (cephalexin 100 mg/kg) and after about 12 hours the animal was fed by esophageal tube (Oxbow Carnivore Care®). The animal was so stabilized and the next day more specific diagnostic tests were performed to assess the severity of the trauma and thus establish a prognosis. In particular ophthalmic examination, CT and Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) were carried out. Ophthalmic examination revealed a mydriatic left eye without the pupillary reflex, furthermore edema, hemorrhage and retinal detachment were found. The right eye appeared normal. Inhalational anesthesia (isoflurane 1.5%) was then induced through the mask and an endotracheal tube was positioned. A CT scan of the head and one of the entire body were performed, which highlighted the presence of right cerebral edema. The BAER test highlighted a lesion outside the brainstem, more severe on the left side, with alteration of the BAER tracks. All the tests performed thus confirmed the presence of absolutely serious lesions, that could not be corrected and that would surely prevented the animal’s survival in the wild. Because of the severity of the damage, the tawny owl died during anesthesia. For wild animals the execution of these specific examinations is very useful, since in these cases it is important to consider the severity of the trauma in relation to the recovery possibility of the patient and its consequent ability to survive once released into the wild. A correct prognosis is also crucial to assess the possibility of maintaining the animal as a permanent resident and educational tool in a specific center or to perform the euthanasia, based on welfare, nonreleasability, or poor prognosis