This case report describes 2 dogs, an Appenzeller Mountain dog and an Irish Wolfhound, with angioleiomyoma within the nasal cavity. Endoscopic surgical resection resulted in cure in both dogs. Macroscopically and on diagnostic imaging, tumor masses may appear malignant because of local turbinate destruction. This highlights the importance of histological examination before any recommendations are made to owners because tumors of the nasal cavity may be benign and surgery curative.
Over the past 2 decades, the increasing availability of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as the growing professional expertise have significantly improved the diagnostics of middle and inner ear diseases in dogs and cats. In answering some of the diagnostic questions, CT and MRT demonstrate equivalent performance. For most questions, however, there are differences in the diagnostic performance due to the physical imaging properties of the 2 modalities.CT is more sensitive in demonstrating involvement of the bulla wall and is more effective for detecting abnormal content within the tympanic bulla. In addition, with CT it is often easier to guide tissue samplings. On the other hand, structural changes of the soft tissues of the skull, head, meninges, brain, and nerves are not or only insufficiently detectable on CT images. MRI is clearly superior here. Therefore, MRI is essential for the characterization of materials inside the bulla cavity and for demonstrating the extent of any central spread of otitis media (OM).In this image essay, CT and MRI features of OM and resulting secondary lesions described in the literature are analyzed and summarized. Own image examples are used for illustration. Information on the etiology, pathogenesis, pathomorphology, and clinical signs important for understanding these changes are presented in concise descriptions.
A 2-year-old Norwegian Forest cat was presented for evaluation of bilateral purulent nasal discharge and stertorous breathing. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed an intranasal mass of the left nasal cavity extending behind the tube openings and completely obstructing the nasopharynx. Rhinoscopy confirmed a pinkish, shiny mass. CT scan showed both compartments of the right middle ear filled with abnormal soft tissue attenuating material. There was no change in the bony outline of the middle ear. In the endoscopic examination, after endoscopically assisted tympanocentesis, this material in the accessible dorsolateral compartment proved to be classic polypous tissue in addition to highly viscous glue-like secretions. A secondary otitis media due to a drainage disorder was suspected.Using an endoscopic-interventional approach through the nostril, the nasopharyngeal mass was removed for histopathological examination, in order to restore the nasal airway, and to allow tube drainage. In contrast to cats with classical malignant nasal cavity masses, the cat showed several attachment points of the mass and multiple undulating elevations bilaterally in the nasopharyngeal mucosa.Cytological and histopathological examination identified the mass as a fungal granuloma in the context of a cryptococcus infection only rarely observed in Germany. Molecular genetic analysis confirmed an infection with Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii.A single intranasal and nasopharyngeal endoscopic debridement resulted in a significant improvement of the clinical signs and a complete healing of the right middle ear (including the tympanic membrane) within 14 days, but not in a complete cure of the disease. The cat was therefore treated with oral itraconazole solution for several weeks.The case report shows that nasal cryptococcosis can also affect cats in Germany. Rhinoscopy reveals a nasopharyngeal mass with multiple attachment points, which is unusual for a neoplasia. In addition to the recommended removal of the mass, oral administration of systemic antimycotics is strongly advised.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the signalement, clinical features, and echocardiographic findings of cats diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as well as short- and medium-term outcome after successful ligation of the PDA.
Material and methods: Over a 10-year period 17 cats were diagnosed with PDA by transthoracic echocardiography. Thirteen cats were surgically treated by thoracotomy and ligation of the PDA.
Results: In all cats, a heart murmur was detected. In 88.2% of the cases, this presented as grade 4 out of 6 murmur (15/17 cats). A continuous murmur was more common (10/17 cats; 58.9%) than a systolic murmur (7/17 cats; 41.1%). Echocardiography showed that left ventricular internal diameter end diastole (LVIDd) and left ventricular internal diameter end systole (LVIDs) were significantly above reference values in the majority of cats. Mean diameter of the PDA measured at the widest point of the vessel was 3.4 mm (± 1.08 mm) and mean maximum flow velocity amounted to 5,06 m/sec (2,6m/sec-6,4m/sec). Surgery was successfully performed in all cats treated by surgical ligation and all of these patients were discharged after postoperative inpatient therapy. One cat experienced perioperative bleeding from the PDA, which was stopped efficaciously. This cat exhibited a residual shunt directly postoperatively; this could no longer be visualized in a re-check echocardiography 3 months later. Six cats were followed over a longer period of time.
Conclusions: The surgical prognosis in this case study is very good with a postoperative survival rate of 100%.
Clinical relevance: Surgical treatment of PDA is curative in animals not displaying advanced cardiac lesions. The auscultation of a heart murmur can provide initial findings indicative of PDA. Therefore, cardiac auscultation is warranted at every first presentation of a kitten. It must however be taken into consideration that not every cat with PDA necessarily has a continuous murmur but may display a systolic heart murmur. Therefore, it is important give utmost attention to the patients' clinical signs.
For detection of infectious diseases, several point-of-care (POC) tests are on the market in addition to methods performed in commercial laboratories. These POC tests are based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or other immunochromatographic technologies and present results within few minutes in veterinary practice. This article gives an overview of the utility of numerous POC tests of different manufacturers for detection of parvovirus antigen in feces, Dirofilaria (D.) immitis antigen in blood as well as antibodies against Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi, Anaplasma (A.) spp., Ehrlichia (E.) spp., Leptospira (L.) spp. and Leishmania (L.) infantum in blood (single or in different combinations). Sensitivity and specificity of these tests are important for their usefulness in veterinary practice. Furthermore, presence of antibodies or detection of antigen has to correlate with the presence of clinical signs. POC tests for detection of canine parvovirus antigen have a very high specificity, the sensitivity of all evaluated POC tests, however, is very low. POC tests for detection of D. immitis antigen have a very high sensitivity and specificity. As they detect antigen from the uterus of female adult parasites, test results are negative when only very few female or only male adults are present. POC tests for detection of antibodies against B. burgdorferi only indicate contact with Borrelia spp. and do not prove clinical Lyme disease, as the infection only extremely rarely causes clinical signs. POC tests for detection of antibodies against A. phagocytophilum are also not suitable for diagnosis of clinical anaplasmosis. Infections with A. phagocytophilum only lead to clinical disease in very rare cases and in these, clinical signs occur before the development of antibodies. POC tests for detection of antibodies against E. canis have a very high sensitivity as well as specificity. POC tests for detection of antibodies against L. infantum and Leptospira species (spp.) show a very high specificity and a high sensitivity. However, Leptospira spp. antibody-positive results may occur following vaccination, as the POC tests cannot distinguish between field and vaccination strains.
Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical signs, confirmed or suspected toxicants, treatments and outcomes of poisoning cases in dogs presented over a 5-year period to the emergency service of a small animal referral center.
Material and methods: Medical records of 634 dogs were evaluated for a history of confirmed or presumed poisoning, suspected toxicant, clinical signs, treatment, and patient outcome. The probability of poisoning was graded based on the patient history, clinical findings, toxicologic examination and - in some cases - investigation of gastrointestinal contents.
Results: Most dogs were hospitalized (77%) due to poisoning with mostly unknown toxicants (33%), food residues (18%), rodenticides (10%), tremorgenic mycotoxins (8%), medications (7%) and various plants (7%), followed by recreational drugs (5%), chemicals (4%), molluscicides (3%), antiparasitics (2%), feces (2%), nuts (2%), or toxins of animal origin (1%). Patients were presented predominantly showing neurologic signs (56%), reduced general condition (39%), and cardiovascular or hydration status abnormalities (26%). The survival rate was 97%. Most dogs were clinically unremarkable at the time of hospital discharge (70%). An additional 18% of the survivors had no apparent complications by the time of discharge. Toxicant-related complications (20.5%) included hemorrhage (4%), hepatic (4%), renal (4%), respiratory (3%), gastrointestinal (3%), cardiovascular (3%), and/or central nervous system (3%) complications, or clinically relevant hypoglycemia (0.3%).
Conclusion and clinical relevance: In the present study, poisoning in dogs was mostly associated with the ingestion of food residues, but the causative toxicant remained unidentified in many cases. Neurological signs were the major clinical presentation. The survival rate (97%) in this study was higher compared to those reported by other investigators.
A captive 15-year-old male common raven (Corvus corax) was presented for post-mortem examination. It had been previously presented to a local veterinarian due to a 3-4 weeks long history of abnormal respiratory sounds. Upon admission, the bird demonstrated severe dyspnea and a massive amount of mucous in the oropharynx. After symptomatic treatment, dyspnea deteriorated dramatically, and euthanasia was elicited because of poor prognosis. The necropsy revealed a 2.65 x 2.15 x 2.18 cm expansile and poorly delineated cauliflower-shaped mass around the glottis and extending inside the tracheal lumen. Additionally, a dilated salivary gland in the adjacent tissue and multifocal reddish-fleshy areas in the lung parenchyma were detected. Histopathological examination identified the mass as moderately differentiated, tubular adenocarcinoma with invasive growth and moderate to marked cellular atypia and numerous mitoses. The presumptive origin of the neoplasia was one of the salivary glands. Multiple metastases were identified in the lung both macroscopically and histologically. Bacterial culture and molecular testing for West Nile and Usutu viruses were negative. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of metastatic laryngeal and oropharyngeal adenocarcinoma in a common raven.
A 3-month-old and a 4-year-old cat were presented in the clinic due to regurgitation. The kitten had displayed the symptoms since it had been fed solid foods and was smaller than the litter mates. The 4-year-old cat showed sudden-onset symptoms for 5 days prior to presentation and had a good general condition. Positive contrast thoracic radiographs of both cats in lateral recumbency showed an esophageal dilatation cranial to the heart base and raised a suspicion of foreign material with soft tissue density in this area. In the 4-year-old cat, findings of ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs were compatible with a dextroposition of the aorta and a slightly marked focal left curve of the trachea. The echocardiographic examination of the kitten pictured a right sided aorta, hence a vascular ring anomaly with a dextroposition from the aorta was suspected. Aberrant blood flow as it is seen in a persistent ductus arteriosus was not apparent in the echocardiography. As a result of the sudden development of the clinical signs in the older cat without displaying any former history of regurgitation, an esophagoscopy was performed to exclude an intraluminal esophageal cause for the stricture as well as to extract the foreign material. In this cat, computed tomography imaging also displayed an aberrant left subclavian artery. Both cats recovered well after surgical correction.The diagnosis of a ring anomaly in the kitten via echocardiography is a rare situation. As is the diagnosis of a high-grade esophageal stricture due to a vascular ring anomaly at the age of 4 without a former history of regurgitation.Recovery was excellent in the younger cat. There were no signs of regurgitation 6 months after surgery. The adult cat was in good general condition without clinical symptoms according to the owners when presented for stitch removal. Unfortunately, the adult cat was lost to follow up.
In 2023, 2 novel pharmaceutical agents for small animals were released on the German market: the structural but non-functional analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid pregabalin with an anxiolytic active component and the dopamine agonist ropinirole in form of eye drops to induce vomiting. Two established active veterinary pharmaceutical ingredients became available for additional species: The phosphorus compound butafosfan was additionally approved for horses, dogs and cats and the mineral sodium chloride as an isotonic sodium chloride solution was also approved for rabbits and guinea pigs. In addition, for small animals, there were new releases of an agent (dexamethasone) in a novel pharmaceutical formulation, one drug with a new route of administration (hydrocortisone aceponate), one drug with a new content of the active ingredient (firocoxib) as well as one veterinary drug with a new combination of active ingredients in a novel pharmaceutical formulation (gentamicin+mometasone+posaconazole). Furthermore, one combination of active ingredients (diprophylline+heptaminol) is available on the market for small animals again.
Objective: In this retrospective study, patient records of dogs suffering from poisoning with coumarin derivatives were evaluated to characterize the clinical appearance more precisely.
Material und methods: Retrospective data analysis included 52 dogs with hemostaseologically proven anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning which were treated as inpatients at the Clinic for Small Animals between September 2011 and October 2018.
Results: In only 2 dogs (4%) the intake of poison could be observed with certainty. The most common clinical signs observed were reduced general behavior (79%), pallor of the mucosa (79%), anorexia (60%), and dyspnea/tachypnea (60%). In contrast, macroscopically visible internal and external bleedings occurred less frequently. Initially, all cases showed a highly altered prothrombin time and most patients a considerably prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Anemia was present in 75% of patients. All dogs included in the study received initially an intravenous treatment with 10 mg/kg vitamin K1. Pretreatment with 1 mg/kg prednisolone was given for prophylaxis of possible incompatibility reactions. No patient showed signs of anaphylactic reaction. Transfusions of whole blood or concentrated red cells were given to only 10 of the 52 animals; only one received 2 transfusions of erythrocytes. 94% of the animals could be discharged home for outpatient therapy after a median length of hospitalization of 3 days (1-9 days) with physiological or almost physiological coagulation test results.
Conclusion: Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning is often associated with non-specific symptoms and good prognosis if treated adequately.
Clinical relevance: Coagulation diagnostics is always indicated in cases with unclear disorders. In life-threatening emergencies, immediate intravenous infusion of high-dose vitamin K1 is a very effective treatment and results in a rapid increase in coagulation factor activity.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：