Primary portal vein hypoplasia with portal hypertension in a young dog

A 5-month old Caucasian dog was presented with a 20-day history of abdominal distention along with inappetance, depression and vomiting of 24-hour duration. Physical examination findings included depression, ascites, mild inspiratory dyspnea and dehydration. Clinicopathological evaluation revealed hyperammonemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia and hyponatremia. Microhepatia and free abdominal fluid was detected with abdominal ultrasonography. During exploratory laparotomy, multiple acquired portosystemic collateral vessels were found, indicative of portal hypertension, along with a small liver of normal color and texture. Liver histopathology included features consistent with liver hypoperfusion. These findings supported the diagnosis of primary portal vein hypoplasia with portal hypertension. The animal recovered uneventfully postoperatively and was discharged with diuretics, hepatoprotectants and a low-protein diet and remains healthy two years after diagnosis. This case underscores that a favorable prognosis may be anticipated in cases of primary portal vein hypoplasia with portal hypertension, thus, justifying the long-term conservative management instead of considering euthanasia

Reference values and repeatability of buccal mucosal bleeding time in healthy sedated cats

Bleeding time is a screening test for the evaluation of primary haemostasis. As there is currently limited information on the reference interval (RI) and repeatability of the test in the cat compared with the dog, the purpose of the study was to establish the RI of buccal mucosa bleeding time (BMBT) in healthy cats and to investigate the intra-observer repeatability of the test. Fifty-six cats were prospectively enrolled in the study. The animals were deemed to be healthy based on history, physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and negative serological testing for feline leukaemia and immunodeficiency viruses. All cats were sedated with ketamine, dexmedetomidine and morphine, and the BMBT was sequentially measured in the left and right exposed buccal mucosa following a standardised incision made by a commercially available, disposable, bleeding time device. The mean BMBT was 58.6 s and the RIs ranged from 34 to 105 s (Bootstrap estimation). The intra-observer repeatability was up to 87 s (Bland-Altman plot). The results of this study imply that the combination of ketamine, dexmedetomidine and morphine is a safe and useful sedative protocol allowing for the reliable measurement of BMBT in the cat. The RI of feline BMBT may range from 34 to 105 s and the BMBT may differ by up to 87 s for any two consecutive readings for an individual cat