Journal of Small Animal Practice最新文献

A female entire dog with a history of travel from Eastern Europe, coprophagia, and absent prophylactic treatment against parasites, developed excessive haemorrhage during elective ovariohysterectomy, resulting in abandonment of the procedure. Physical examination and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. Routine blood analysis was unremarkable and there was no support for angiostrongylosis or the presence of common travel-associated infectious agents. Viscoelastic testing demonstrated hyperfibrinolysis and Baermann's faecal analysis documented Strongyloides stercoralis infection. They were treated with ivermectin, with a resolution of hyperfibrinolysis. This is the first description of transient hyperfibrinolysis associated with strongyloidiasis in the dog, although hyperfibrinolysis has been described in association with other helminth infections in the dog and in other host species. Strongyloidiasis should be considered as an uncommon cause of acquired clinical hyperfibrinolysis, particularly in dogs where common differentials have been excluded.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of uropathogens in dogs and cats with signs of urinary tract infection and to characterise their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Materials and methods: Urine samples from canine and feline patients with clinical signs of urinary tract infection were collected between September 2015 and December 2019 in Santiago, Chile. Bacterial identification and bacterial susceptibility profile was performed through biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility tests.

Results: Four hundred sixty-six samples from dogs (37.7%) and 152 from cats (26.1%) showed bacterial growth. Positive samples were mainly from females (dogs: 52.8%; cats: 48.0%), with the highest infection rates in senior dogs (57.7%) and adult cats (45.4%). A single organism caused the infection in 78.2% of the cases, whereas the remaining 21.8% corresponded to a mixed infection. The most prevalent isolated pathogen in dogs and cats was Escherichia coli (42.6% and 49.7%, respectively). Staphylococcus spp. (15.6% and 14.6%), Enterococcus spp. (8.6% and 15.2%) and Proteus spp. (9.7% and 6.4%) were also commonly isolated. A total of 52.4% of Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, 44.3% to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 40.0% to cephradine and 25.3% to ciprofloxacin. Regarding the other three uropathogens commonly isolated in this study, all of them showed a percentage of resistance to the antimicrobials analysed. In addition, 24.6% of multidrug resistance was detected in the E. coli isolates. Penicillin, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones showed the lowest susceptibility levels.

Clinical significance: The observed high rates of resistance to commonly prescribed antimicrobials raise concerns for public health.

Objectives: To evaluate evidence of Malassezia overgrowth following successful topical antibacterial monotherapy of refractory canine bacterial otitis using semi-quantitative cultures.

Materials and methods: Twenty-nine dogs with bacterial otitis were treated topically with either fluoro-quinolone [0.5% enrofloxacin (18 dogs, 19 treatment events, 25 ears) or 0.1% marbofloxacin (1 ear), with 0.1% dexamethasone] ("FQ") SID, or 143 mg/mL piperacillin/18 mg/mL tazobactam ("PT") BID (11 dogs, 14 treatment events, 19 ears) for 8 to 36 days (mean 20 days). At visits 1 (V1) and 2 (V2), ear swab tips were washed in PBS + Triton X-100 and serial dilutions spread-plated onto blood, MacConkey (37°C, 48 hours) and modified Dixon's agar (32°C, 14 days) to generate semiquantitative counts. Microbes were identified by phenotype and MALDI-TOF.

Results: Prior to treatment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated alone or in combination with other bacteria in 14 FQ-treated ears and 18 PT-treated ears; the next most frequent bacteria were Streptococcus canis (8 FQ, 2 PT) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (8 FQ, 1 PT). The proportions of dogs' ears (excluding cross-over treatments and contra-lateral affected ears) from which bacteria were isolated were significantly reduced by treatment with both FQ (V1, 13/15; V2, 5/15) and PT (V1, 14/14; V2, 2/14). The proportions of dogs' ears from which yeasts (Malassezia pachydermatis, Candida spp.) were isolated were significantly increased by treatment in dogs treated with PT (V1, 1/14; V2, 14/14) but not FQ (V1, 3/15; V2, 6/15).

Clinical significance: Otitis cases that receive potent antibacterial monotherapy must be monitored for yeast overgrowth.

Objectives: To evaluate haemodynamic parameters and ultrasonographic measurements of the caudal vena-cava-to-aorta ratio at the splenorenal view in canine cardiac tamponade before and 30 minutes after pericardiocentesis.

Materials and methods: Dogs presenting with cardiac tamponade at two veterinary hospitals were included. Triage examination, noninvasive systolic arterial blood pressure, shock index, venous lactatemia and POCUS results were recorded at admission and 30 minutes after pericardiocentesis.

Results: This prospective observational study included 22 dogs, and all had an increased caudal vena-cava-to-aorta ratio. After pericardiocentesis, there were significant changes in vital signs, including a decrease in the median heart rate by 42.1%, a decrease in the median respiratory rate by 40.1%, and an increase in the median rectal temperature from 37.8°C (range: 35.6 to 39.2) to 38.1°C ( 36.1 to 38.7). In regards of hemodynamic parameters, the median systolic arterial pressure increased significantly by 23.2%, the shock index decreased significantly by 52.8%, the median lactate level decreased significantly from 6.1 mmol/L (1.4 to 14.7) to 3.6 mmol/L (1.1 to 13.6), and the median caudal vena-cava-to-aorta ratio decreased significantly by 37.5%, from 1.76 (1.35 to 2.13) to 1.12 (0.91 to 1.51).

Clinical significance: This study demonstrated an increased caudal vena-cava-to-aorta ratio in dogs with cardiac tamponade and a rapid haemodynamic improvement in dogs with cardiac tamponade within 30 minutes  of the pericardiocentesis, resulting in excellent short-term prognosis.

This capsule review is a discussion of myofascial pain syndrome in small animals. The history of myofascial pain syndrome is discussed as well as facts and theories behind the aetiology and treatment of this syndrome. Diagnostic techniques are both discussed and illustrated. Accepted treatments including dry needling, photobiomodulation, manual therapy and thermal therapy are outlined.

Objectives: This study aims to report on the clinical magnetic resonance imaging, histological features, treatment options and outcomes of spinal ependymomas in dogs.

Materials and methods: Retrospective evaluation of medical records from dogs histologically confirmed spinal ependymomas with clinical presentations, magnetic resonance imaging findings, histological aspects, treatment options and outcomes.

Results: Eight dogs presented with acute to subacute onset of para- or tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging findings included intramedullary oval-shaped space-occupying lesions that appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted images isointense on T1-weighted images and exhibited marked homogeneous or ring contrast enhancement. A peculiar feature, previously described only in human ependymomas, was observed in three patients - a T2-weighted hypointense rim, termed hemosiderin cap sign. Haematomyelia with necrotic foci was observed in one dog. Surgery, when performed, enabling a definitive intra-vitam diagnosis. Histological examination revealed that rosettes and pseudo-rosettes as disposition of neoplastic cells were the most common features reported. Furthermore, cerebrospinal fluid metastases were identified in one case.

Clinical significance: Clinical and histopathological findings in our case series were consistent with those previously reported in the literature. Magnetic resonance imaging features were fairly typical and highly suggestive of spinal ependymomas. The hemosiderin cap sign may aid in the presumptive intra-vitam diagnosis of these rare spinal tumours. Additionally, we described cerebrospinal fluid spread of neoplastic cells and subsequent multifocal or metastasis presentations. Surgery offered a dual benefit by facilitating intra-vitam diagnosis and, in some cases, extending survival time.

Objectives: To determine the difference in complication rate, gastrointestinal grade and requirement for ongoing medical and/or surgical management following hiatal hernia repair in dogs with and without gastropexy.

Materials and methods: Clinical records were reviewed retrospectively for dogs that had undergone surgical hiatal hernia repair at two veterinary referral centres between April 2012 and March 2022. Pre-operative grading of gastrointestinal signs and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome was performed. All dogs had an oesophagopexy and phrenoplasty. Referring primary veterinary practices and clients were contacted to obtain follow-up information. Fisher's exact tests and Mann Whitney tests were used to assess pre- and intra-operative similarities between groups. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to determine the changes in gastrointestinal grade at short- (<6 months) and long-term (>6 months) follow-up.

Results: Forty-one dogs which underwent oesophagopexy and phrenoplasty were included. Fifteen dogs had no gastropexy performed and 26 dogs had left-sided gastropexy performed. Dogs that underwent gastropexy (n=8, 29%, 95% CI: 13 to 51%) were significantly more likely to require further surgery related to the initial surgery or persistence of gastrointestinal signs compared to dogs that had no gastropexy (n=0, 0%, 95% CI: 0 to 18%) . This difference was not significant when dogs which had further surgery to address brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome were excluded. Gastrointestinal grade significantly improved for both groups at both short- and long-term follow-up. There was no significant difference in overall complication rate, gastrointestinal grade or requirement for further medical treatment between groups.

Clinical significance: A left-sided gastropexy is not required for successful surgical repair of hiatal hernia in dogs provided oesophagopexy and phrenoplasty are performed.

Objectives: Recently, tissue motion annular displacement by speckle tracking has been shown to be a reliable method for evaluating deformation of the left atrium in healthy dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tissue motion annular displacement is a feasible alternative method for studying left atrial function.

Materials and methods: One hundred healthy dogs were included. Left atrial function was assessed by tissue motion annular displacement, which was correlated to the left atrial strain and biplane area-length method-derived volumes. Left atrial reservoir function was evaluated by left atrial global tissue motion annular displacement, global left atrial strain and left atrial emptying fraction, while left atrial systolic tissue motion annular displacement and left atrial ejection fraction were used to assess left atrial systolic function.

Results: A statistically significant association between body weight and the dependent variables others than age was found. Indexed global and systolic tissue motion annular displacement decreased as body weight increased. Global iTMAD_AIIometric (mm/∛kg) showed a moderate, positive correlation with left atrial emptying fraction and with global left atrial strain. Systolic iTMAD_AIIometric (mm/∛kg) showed a moderate correlation with left atrial ejection fraction. Coefficients of variation for the intraobserver and interobserver analyses were 8.3% and 20.3% for global and 10.5% and 18.9% for systolic tissue motion annular displacement, respectively.

Clinical significance: Tissue motion annular displacement is a feasible and simple method for the evaluation of left atrial function. Our study documented the effects of body weight on left atrial tissue motion annular displacement, indicating that tissue motion annular displacement must be indexed to body weight. No influence of age or heart rate was observed on tissue motion annular displacement.