Microbiota of healthy dogs demonstrate a significant decrease in richness and changes in specific bacterial groups in response to supplementation with resistant starch, but not psyllium or methylcellulose, in a randomized cross-over trial.

Even though dietary fibres are often used as prebiotic supplements in dogs, the effect of individual types of fibres on canine microbiota composition is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess changes in faecal microbiota richness, diversity and taxonomic abundance with three different fibre supplements in dogs. These were psyllium husk, resistant starch from banana flour and methylcellulose. They were administered to 17 healthy dogs in a cross-over trial after transition to the same complete feed. Faecal scores and clinical activity indices were recorded, and faecal samples were collected before and at the end of supplementation, as well as 2 weeks after each supplement (washout). Illumina NovaSeq paired-end 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on all samples. After quality control and chimera removal, alpha diversity indices were calculated with QIIME. Differences in specific taxa between groups were identified using Metastats. Methylcellulose significantly increased faecal scores but had no effect on microbiota. Psyllium resulted in minor changes in the abundance of specific taxa, but with questionable biological significance. Resistant starch reduced microbiota richness and resulted in the most abundant changes in taxa, mostly a reduction in short-chain fatty acid-producing genera of the phylum Bacillota, with an increase in genera within the Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota and Saccharibacteria. In conclusion, while psyllium and methylcellulose led to few changes in the microbiota composition, the taxonomic changes seen with resistant starch may indicate a less favourable composition. Based on this, the type of resistant starch used here cannot be recommended as a prebiotic in dogs. </p

Feline meningioma with extensive nasal involvement

Case summary A 9-year-old male neutered domestic longhair cat was presented with a 3 week history of lethargy and pain of unknown origin. A large extra-axial mass was demonstrated on MRI of the head, with cribriform plate destruction, extensive nasal invasion and intracranial expansion, producing a severe mass effect. The mass was isointense on T1-weighted imaging, predominantly hypointense with some hyperintense areas on T2-weighted imaging and fluid attenuation inversion recovery, markedly contrast enhancing, and caused transtentorial and cerebellar herniation. Histopathological evaluation confirmed a transitional (mixed) meningioma. Relevance and novel information To our knowledge this is the first report of a meningioma with extensive nasal involvement in a cat. Based on this case, meningioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for tumours involving the nasal cavity and frontal lobe with cribriform plate destruction

Four dimensional CT excretory Urography as an Accurate Technique for Diagnosis of Canine Ureteral Ectopia

Computed tomographic (CT) excretory urography is commonly used to investigate canine ureteral ectopia (UE). Modern technology allows time-resolved CT imaging (four-dimensional CT excretory urography [4D-CTEU]) over a distance exceeding the detector collimation. Objectives of this prospective, observational, diagnostic accuracy study were to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT excretory urography (CTEU) and 4D-CTEU for UE in dogs with lower urinary tract signs, assess the influence of pelvis positioning, and to determine the significance of the ureterovesical junction (UVJ) angle for UE diagnosis. Thirty-six dogs, with a total of 42 normotopic ureters, 27 intramural ectopic ureters, and three extramural ectopic ureters, underwent CTEU and 4D-CTEU with randomized pelvis positioning. Randomized CTEU and 4D-CTEU studies were scored by two observers for ureteral papilla location and murality on a grading scheme. Interobserver agreement, sensitivity, and specificity for ureter topia status and diagnosis were calculated. Computed tomographic excretory urography showed moderate interobserver agreement for the left ureter and perfect for the right ureter, whereas 4D-CTEU showed bilateral nearly perfect agreement between both observers. When comparing CTEU versus confirmed diagnosis, there was a sensitivity and specificity of 73% and 90.2%, respectively, whereas 4D-CTEU showed a sensitivity and specificity of 97% and 94.6%, respectively. An obtuse UVJ angle is significantly more commonly observed in ectopic intramural than normotopic ureters and is significantly associated with increased diagnostic confidence of UE. The use of a wedge to angle the pelvis did not increase the diagnostic confidence in determining ureteral opening position. Four-dimensional CT excretory urography is an accurate and reliable diagnostic technique to investigate UE as cause of urinary incontinence in dogs that is slightly superior to CTEU

Use of contrast enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of idiopathic renal hematuria in a dog

Background: Idiopathic renal hematuria (IRH) generally occurs in healthy large-breed dogs that are <2 years old. It is characterized by recurrent bleeding from the kidneys of unidentified cause. The final diagnosis is reached through exclusion of primary urinary system and systemic causes of hematuria along with the direct visualization by cystoscopy of hematic urine jets at the ureteral orifice. Case Description: A 8-year-old female neutered Whippet was presented for investigation of a 4-week history of chronic intermittent macroscopic hematuria. Physical examination, systolic blood pressure, extensive laboratory work-up (including coagulation profile and platelet count), urine culture, thoracic & abdominal radiographs, pneumocystogram and double-contrast cystography were all unremarkable. B-mode ultrasound showed no abnormalities apart from moderate amount of suspended echogenic amorphous material visible within the urinary bladder lumen. In the contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) study a large amount of echogenic ill-defined material was noted projecting into the urinary bladder lumen from the right ureterovesical junction in fundamental mode. This material was more conspicuous and markedly contrast enhancing in the harmonic mode. Ultrasound contrast medium has the unique property to strictly remain within the vessels without interstitial trapping or elimination by the kidneys. Indeed, the presence of the micro-bubbles into the urinary tract lumen in CEUS study was interpreted as a direct sign of active urinary tract bleeding. A diagnosis of IRH was reached through CEUS and B-mode ultrasound along with an extensive laboratory work-up and periodic follow-up of the patient. No therapy was administered and at 1-year follow-up, the patient was alive with no current episodes of macroscopic hematuria reported. Conclusion: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of CEUS for characterization of IRH. CEUS could represent a safe, non-invasive, affordable novel alternative technique to cystoscopy or cystotomy for the real-time diagnosis of IRH