Acquired Diaphragmatic Eventration in a Dog

Background: Diaphragmatic eventration is characterized by weakness of the diaphragmatic muscle, which leads to cranial dislocation of the affected diaphragm and, ultimately, in dyspnea. This condition is rare in humans and even rarer in animals, and may be congenital or acquired. The acquired form is less commom and may be induced by trauma or inflammation and neoplastic invasion of the phrenic nerve. Here, we report a case of acquired diaphragmatic eventration in a dog, with the aim of increasing the knowledge of this condition in animals and helping others to recognize and treat future cases.Case: A 12-year-old male dachshund presented with severe dyspnea, exercise intolerance and episodes of coughing. Based on a physical examination and imaging, the main suspicion was a diaphragmatic hernia, and surgery was performed. When the surgeon entered the thoracic cavity, an extremely thin - yet, intact - right hemidiaphragm was observed. The left side of the diaphragm was normal. A polypropylene mesh was sutured to the affected diaphragm in an attempt to strengthen the hemidiaphragmatic muscles and prevent further insinuations of viscera into the thoracic cavity. The dog developed bronchopneumonia, postoperatively, and was hospitalized and treated with antibiotics, analgesics and support medication. However, the dog died five days after surgery. A postmortem examination revealed that the right side of the diaphragm was markedly thin and flaccid. Diaphragm samples were collected for histopathological examination. For comparison, a sample of normal diaphragm was collected from a same age, matched dachshund that died due to an unrelated condition. This tissue was called “diaphragm control”, and it was collected in order to compare the histologic features of a normal diaphragm muscle with the affected one. Histopathology revealed a marked reduction of muscle fibers. In the affected sample, replacement of these fibers by fibrous connective tissue and a marked infiltration of fat were seen among the remaining muscle fibers.  Multifocal areas of necrosis were also observed affecting some muscles fibers. Microscopic comparisons of both diaphragm samples (affected vs. control) revealed a drastic difference in the amount of muscle fibers and fat, corroborating the intense diaphragmatic atrophy observed in the diaphragm from the affected dog. Based on clinical presentation, the gross lesions observed during surgery and later during the post mortem examination, and histopathological findings, a definitive diagnosis of acquired diaphragmatic eventration was established.Discussion: Diaphragmatic eventration is rarely reported in small animal clinics and thus may be confused with other conditions. It must be mainly differentiated from diaphragmatic hernia and should be considered as a differential diagnosis when an animal, regardless of age, presents with dyspnea, apathy and coughing episodes.  On suspecting diaphragmatic eventration, surgical intervention should be carried out as soon as possible. The recommended treatment is plication of the affected hemidiaphragm. However, in the present case, a polypropylene mesh was sutured to the affected area to support the atrophic muscles. It is thought that, trauma injured the dog’s phrenic nerve, affecting right hemidiaphragmatic innervation, and generating progressive atrophy of diaphragmatic muscle fibers. Subsequently, the dog developed diaphragmatic eventration due to diaphragmatic fragility. Diaphragmatic eventration is a very rare disorder in small animals and can be difficult to diagnose based solely on physical and radiographic examinations

AGENESIA UNILATERAL DE CORNO UTERINO EM CADELA: CONSIDERAÇÕES REPRODUTIVAS, CIRÚRGICAS E HISTOPATOLOLÓGICAS

A agenesia unilateral de corno uterino é alteração incomum em cadelas e, embora algumas vezes relatada, as informações ainda são superficiais. É relatado o caso de uma fêmea canina primípara, sem raça definida, encaminhada para ovário-histerectomia eletiva. Durante a realização do procedimento verificou-se a ausência do corno uterino esquerdo. Por meio de avaliação anatomohistopatológica confirmou-se agenesia de corno uterino unilateral. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar observações acerca dos aspectos reprodutivos de uma cadela portadora desta afecção, postuladas por autores, assim como a conduta cirúrgica e a avaliação histopatológica do caso em questão

Metamizol and Scopolamine for Conventional or Two-Port Laparoscopic-Assisted Ovariohysterectomy in Dogs

Background: Ovariohysterectomy (OVH) is one of the most appliedtechniques in Veterinary Medicine. Although some analgesic protocols are used after this procedure in order to control post operatory pain, there is a lack of knowledge of the efficacy after conventional and two port laparoscopic-assisted techniques in dog female. Although the combined formulation of metamizol and scopolamine is used, there is no knowledge about the efficacy and collateral effects in a 6 h regimen after OVH. The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of metamizol and scopolamine to analgesia after two techniques of OVH in dog female.Materials, Methods & Results: Fifteen adults and healthy dog female were submitted to OVH, being eight to the conventional procedure and seven to video assisted technic with two ports. The patients received a combination of metamizol and scopolamine, 6-6 h during 48 h and were evaluated before surgery, 60 min after extubation and on 1 h interval during the first 8 h, and at 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after surgery. For this, the University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) and the short-form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) were applied by three evaluators blinded to surgical technic. Glucoses measurement was realized at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Analgesic rescue was not necessary for any animal. Punctuation of UMPS in GC decreases at 8 h and at 5 h, and to GV at 12 and 24 h. Difference between groups happened at 3 h with larger average to GV; at 48 h the punctuation in GC was lager. Considering CMPS-SF to CG, higher average was observed at 1 h and decreased at 2, 3, 8 and 18. At GV highest average points was verified at 1, 2 and 3 h and decreased at 5, 8 and 18 h. Correlation was strong and positive between each two evaluators. Animals of both groups had increased average glucose concentrations from baseline to after surgery and the values reduced to baseline after 24 h; difference between groups were observed at 1 h after surgery, with bigger average to GC. Three animals from the GC had postoperative emesis and one patient vomited after 3 h; other at 6 h and another at 36 and 48 h and owners related no vomiting or changes following hospital discharge. The time to first spontaneous food intake was earlier to GV and time to first defecation was no different between groups. Discussion: For the evaluation it was used the UMPS and CMPS-SF since it is know that pain assessment is better performed when multidimensional or composite scales are used. Considering the UMPS, 27 points is considered the most painful condition. In our study it was observed bigger average to GC at 1 h (4,5) and to GV at 2 and 3 h (5,0). According to CMPS-SF, higher punctuation to GC (7.0) was observed than GV (6,0) in a maximum of 24 points. Considering both scales, it could be suggested that the combination of metamizol and scopolamine promote good analgesic effect. The glucoses measurements and the first spontaneous food intake suggested that laparoscopic approaches results in less stress than the traditional procedures, as observed in other studies. Three animals of GC had postoperative emesis, and it signal can be associated to abdominal pain, as well nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal distention, probably because it is accepted that video surgery promotes less pain and stress than open procedures. The protocol was efficient to control pain after elective conventional and laparoscopic assisted OHV technique in dog female.

Laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernioplasty in a dog

A hérnia diafragmática é caracterizada pela passagem das vísceras abdominais para a cavidade torácica, podendo ser de origem congênita ou adquirida, que exige o tratamento cirúrgico. Quando houver ausência de tecido ou em casos de herniação com evolução crônica, recomenda-se a utilização de implantes biológicos ou sintéticos. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a técnica de herniorrafia diafragmática laparoscópica com o uso de pericárdio bovino conservado em um canino, a partir do acesso laparoscópico com três portais. Devido ao grande defeito diafragmático, optou-se pela sua redução com o auxílio de implante de pericárdio bovino conservado em formaldeído a 4%, este fixado a musculatura diafragmática com sutura intracorpórea, utilizando para isso duas camadas de sutura ambas com náilon 0, a primeira contínua simples seguida de pontos isolados simples, em toda extensão da membrana conservada. Apesar do animal vir a óbito nas primeiras 24 horas do pós-operatório, a técnica adotada se mostrou viável.A diaphragmatic hernia is characterized by the passage of the abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity, which may be congenital or acquired. Its treatment is achieved by surgical correction. When there is no tissue or in cases of herniation with a chronic disease, the use biological or synthetic implants is recommended. The objective of this study was to report a technique of laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair using bovine pericardium preserved in a canine, using three portal accesses. Due to the large diaphragmatic defect, reduction with the aid of a network of preserved bovine pericardium in formaldehyde 4% was chosen. The mesh was sutured to the transversus abdominus muscle in two layers. The first layer was sutured using simple continuous pattern, and the second one using simple interrupted sutures. The patient collapsed and died 24hours postoperatively. However, the purposed technique was feasible.

Dermatological evaluation in dogs with atopic dermatitis treated with full-spectrum high cannabidiol oil: a pre study part 1

IntroductionDermatological consultations represent a great part of the small animal medical clinic routine. Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common skin disease that affects a significant amount of dogs, making it a relevant consideration in clinical practice. The role of the endocannabinoid system on skin homeostasis has been described and its deregulation contributes to dermatopathies. Its function in specialized skin cells reveals an expressive therapeutic potential. Due to the difficulties and the growing scientific evidence of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis on animals, this work aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis-derived oil in the treatment of CAD.MethodsFourteen canines diagnosed with CAD were divided into two groups: T: full spectrum high cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis oil, 2,5 mg/kg; and C: control group (treated with olive oil alone). The effectiveness was evaluated based on the degree of pruritus, dermatological evaluation (CADESI-4) and histopathological evaluation of the skin including mast cell count.ResultsDespite the theoretical basis, there were no significant results obtained between the compared treatments.DiscussionThus, it can be concluded that although full spectrum high cannabinoids therapy presents a promising approach to immunological diseases, further research is required in order to establish the actual effective cannabinoid ratio within the myriad possible combinations and for multi-target therapy of CAD

Profile of 5213 owners and perceptions about feline care and veterinary medical care

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to know the profile of Brazilian cat owners and their perceptions of responsible ownership and the veterinary care environment. The application of a semi-structured online questionnaire investigating the owner’s socioeconomic level and perception of knowledge concerning health care and history of medical-veterinary care of their cats using the snowball method. A total of 5,213 participants were included, of which: 93% were women, 52% were single and lived in urban areas (96%). Fifty nine per cent of the owners answered that their cat is taken to the veterinary care service only when it shows a clinical sign and 65% of them feel anxious when they need to take their cats to the vet. Only 1% of the owner did not consider the cat as a family member. Concerning the veterinary care scenario, 40% of the owners answered that at least once, that their cat(s) had been handled inappropriately by veterinary service professionals, and they believed that low affinity with the species and excessive restraint were the main causes for this misconduct. Around 40% of the owners had already changed their veterinarian because of this inappropriate interaction/handling. Conclusion and relevancethe data presented point to the importance of implementing and improving friendly and gentle care practices with cats and their owners