Cutaan mastocytoom bij een jack russell terriër behandeld met neoadjuvante corticosteroïden gevolgd door een radicale chirurgische excisie

A 14-year-old neutered female Jack Russell terrier was presented with a history over the past several years of a freely movable subcutaneous mass on the right lateral thigh, that was considered to be a lipoma. Shortly before presentation, a mastectomy had been performed. On histopathological examination of the inguinal lymph node excised during the procedure, numerous mast cells were identified. Fine-needle aspirates of the mass on the thigh were collected, and cytology confirmed that it was not a lipoma but a mastocytoma. After staging the tumor, it was treated with neoadjuvant prednisolon, followed by the surgical removal of the mass with radical margins. The defect was closed with a transposition flap. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry indicated a grade-II mastocytoma without negative prognostic factors. The dog recovered well after surgery and 347 days after treatment, there were no signs of recurrence

Ureterobstructie bij een ragdoll ten gevolge van calciumoxalaat-urolithiasis

This case report describes a ureteral obstruction in a neutered female Ragdoll cat due to calciumoxalate urolithiasis. The patient was presented with polyuria/polydipsia. Abdominal palpation revealed unilateral renomegaly. Radiography in combination with ultrasonography led to the diagnosis of multiple nefro- and ureteroliths. One calculus caused an obstruction of the distal aspect of the left ureter. Infusion therapy was initiated to decrease the azotemia, to improve the diuresis and to stimulate the passage of the uroliths through the ureters. However, the therapy was not successful, and the obstructing urolith was surgically removed using cystotomy. Quantitative urolith analysis revealed a calciumoxalate composition, and an appropriate diet was initiated. During the following period of approximately one year, the patient had persistent polyuria/polydipsia without azotemia. New non-obstructing calculi in the left ureter were visualized by ultrasonography. Since the patient did not show any clinical signs, the owner decided not to reevaluate the abdomen by medical imaging

Intraluminale stents voor de behandeling van tracheacollaps bij de hond

Tracheal collapse is a progressive degenerative disease that can be symptomatically treated with medication and/or by surgical intervention This article reports 5 cases with serious dyspnea, exercise intolerance, syncope or cyanosis caused by tracheal collapse All clogs showed a poor quality of life despite medical treatment Enlargement of the tracheal lumen was achieved by the placement of an intraluminal prosthesis to support the collapsing trachea Observed complications after the placement of an intraluminal stent were attributed to inappropriately sized stents (development of granulation tissue, shortening with undersized diameter and recurrence when the trachea is only partly supported). Complications caused by intraluminal stems can be life threatening One patient died of tracheal obstruction by granulation tissue. The life quality of the other 4 patients improved considerably. 2 patients improved (mean follow-up 3 5 months) and 2 patients became asymptomatic (mean follow-up 9 months)

In-vitro growth characteristics of commercial probiotic strains and their potential for inhibition of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens

The effect of catheter material on intravenous catheterisation complications in horses are unknown. This study evaluated the presence of bacterial colonisation on Teflon® and polyurethane short term intravenous catheters in healthy adult horses undergoing elective surgery. Horses on admission for elective surgery were randomly allocated according to catheter type. Sixteen horses received Teflon® catheters and 19 received polyurethane. Aseptic catheter placement and removal was standardised, however systemic antibiotic treatment was case dependant and at the clinician’s discretion. To simulate routine clinical practice, face masks were not worn during placement nor were the catheters bandaged. Catheters were maintained for 74 hours and assessed for clinical evidence of catheter site reaction, phlebitis or thrombosis twice daily. Bacteria were cultured from 69% of Teflon® and 89% of polyurethane catheters. Multiple isolates were found in 31% of Teflon® and 42% of polyurethane catheters The Fisher exact test showed no difference between the proportion of catheters with colonisation (P=0.28) or multiple isolates (P=0.76). The microbes cultured were predominantly gram positive, similar to other equine and human studies. Multiple-drug resistance was seen regularly, regardless of antibiotic treatment. Despite this, no clinical evidence of phlebitis or thrombosis occurred in any horse. It was concluded, that was no clear association between bacterial colonisation of Teflon® or polyurethane catheters (0.9<RR<1.87). The unexpected large proportion of bacterial isolates in the absence of clinical signs was also evaluated and suggests that the equine immune system plays a role in the development of septic phlebitis or thrombosis

Regional distribution of technetium-99m-ECD in the canine brain: influence of injection-acquisition interval

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Regional distribution of technetium-99m-ECD in the canine brain: optimal injection-acquisition interval in adult beagles

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Routine health screening: findings in apparently healthy middle-aged and old cats

Study rationale: Veterinary practitioners often perform geriatric health screening in cats. Unfortunately, scientific information regarding clinical and laboratory abnormalities and normal blood pressure values in elderly cats is scarce. This prospective study evaluated routine health screening tests in apparently healthy middle-aged and old cats. Protocol: One hundred cats of 6 years and older underwent blood pressure measurement, physical examination, blood and urine analysis, indirect fundoscopy and bilateral Schirmer tear tests. Findings: Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 133.6 +/- 21.5 mmHg. Increased SBP (> 160 mmHg) was observed in eight cats, submandibular lymphadenopathy in 32, gingivitis in 72, heart murmur in 11, thyroid goitre in 20, increased creatinine in 29, hyperglycaemia in 25, increased total thyroxine in three, feline immunodeficiency virus positivity in 14, crystalluria in 41, borderline proteinuria in 25 and overt proteinuria in two. Mean tear production was very similar for both eyes and none of the cats had ocular lesions secondary to hypertension. Clinical significance: Old cats (> 10 years) had significantly higher SBP, heart rate, murmur frequency, thrombocyte count, urine protein:creatinine ratio and serum urea and bilirubin concentrations, and significantly lower body condition score, haematocrit, albumin and total calcium concentrations than middle-aged cats (6-10 years). The common occurrence of physical examination and laboratory abnormalities in apparently healthy old cats underlines the need for regular health checks and the development of age-dependent laboratory reference intervals