Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

A 6-year-old, female neutered, Siamese cat was presented to the referral centre due to a mass causing obstruction of the left nostril that was previously diagnosed histologically as a nasal hamartoma. The mass was causing significant respiratory compromise to the cat resulting in open-mouth breathing at rest. A computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a 48% mediolateral narrowing of the left nostril compared with the right nostril in a mediolateral direction. Surgical excision of the mass re-established the left lateral alar groove and increased the nostril luminal width by 45% when compared with preoperative measurements. Two years after surgery, there was no recurrence of the mass and the cat had sustained significant improvement to their respiratory function and quality of life.

Naturally occurring hypercortisolism in dogs is commonly investigated in primary care practice. However, there is a poor understanding of the preference and interpretation of diagnostic tests by Australian veterinarians. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic processes used by Australian primary care veterinarians via an anonymous online survey consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The survey was completed by 399 respondents. When hypercortisolism was suspected, 392 performed adrenal function testing, while seven used treatment trials. With consistent clinical signs but no clinicopathological abnormalities, 354 performed screening tests, and 312 in dogs with consistent clinicopathological abnormalities but no clinical signs. For veterinarians who performed function testing, 296 used the same screening tests regardless of the magnitude of pre-test suspicion; 266 used either an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test or low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) alone. Even in the absence of financial constraints, 158 of 399 respondents almost never attempted differentiation between ACTH-dependent and ACTH-independent disease. For those attempting differentiation, 178 used abdominal ultrasound and 102 used LDDST. Approximately half of all respondents indicated that specialist referral was not offered to any of the preceding 10 cases suspected of hypercortisolism. Hypercortisolism is frequently diagnosed in dogs without consistent clinical signs or without performing routine clinical pathology tests, raising concerns for overdiagnosis. A large proportion of respondents rarely attempted to differentiate between causes of hypercortisolism, possibly affecting long-term management and prognosis. Referral to a specialist is rare, suggesting the condition is predominantly managed in primary care practice.

Introduction: Stromal sarcomas are rare canine primary splenic tumors. Previous studies assessing outcomes in dogs with these tumors are limited by small sample sizes, with few dogs receiving adjuvant therapy, leaving the role of chemotherapy in these tumors unproven.

Methods: The aim of this multi-institutional, retrospective study was to compare outcomes for a larger number of dogs diagnosed with splenic stromal sarcomas, with a particular focus on the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy. Dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of splenic stromal sarcomas were enrolled. Outcomes were compared between dogs that received chemotherapy following splenectomy and those that did not. Furthermore, dogs were categorized based on the type of chemotherapy: a doxorubicin-based protocol versus a low-dose metronomic protocol, and outcomes were compared. Secondary aims were to reassess two previously identified prognostic factors: mitotic count (MC) and the presence of metastasis.

Results: A total of 115 dogs were included in the study. The median survival time using all dogs was 8.4 months. Of 115 dogs, 60 received adjuvant therapy post-splenectomy, of which 37 received a doxorubicin-based protocol. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve survival times in dogs with splenic stromal sarcoma. However, MC and the presence of metastasis at diagnosis were prognostic factors for death due to splenic sarcoma. For cases where the MC was ≥9 per 10 hpf, the hazard ratio was 2.27 (95% CI 1.16-4.45). For cases where there was evidence of metastasis at diagnosis, the hazard ratio was 2.19 (95% CI 1.05-4.58). Of 112 dogs staged at diagnosis, 16 had confirmed metastases. An additional 28 dogs developed metastases on repeat staging tests during the study.

Conclusions: The use of adjuvant chemotherapy did not result in improved outcomes. MC and the presence of metastasis at diagnosis were prognostic factors for death due to splenic sarcoma.

Meningoencephalitis is an important cause of neurological signs in dogs and may arise from infectious or noninfectious causes. In this retrospective study, dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA), meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO), and eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis (EM), living on the east coast of Australia, were evaluated. Data accessed included signalment, clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) results. C-reactive protein concentration, complete blood count, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, serological tests, medications, duration of treatment, time to relapse and patient outcomes. Of 89 dogs in total, 45 were classified as SRMA, 24 as MUO and 20 as EM. Cervical pain occurred in all dogs with EM and SRMA, and in 50% of dogs with MUO. Dogs with SRMA were less likely to develop paresis than those with EM and less likely to be ataxic than dogs with MUO. Serum CRP concentrations were significantly higher in SRMA compared with MUO and EM (P < 0.01). Twelve dogs, all with eosinophilic pleocytosis, were diagnosed with CNS infections: angiostrongyliasis (n = 11) and cryptococcus (n = 1). A wide variety of treatment protocols were used, underpinned by immunosuppressive medications, with the duration of treatment not significantly different between groups. The most favourable outcomes for dogs with meningoencephalitides in this study were those with EM, which not only had the shortest treatment durations but also had the longest survival times.

In early 2025, a social media influencer sparked widespread outrage after posting a video online in which she picked up a young bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) from the side of a road, separating it from another wombat, presumed to be its mother. This act ignited public and professional discussions regarding the welfare of wildlife, the responsibility of content creators and the need for stricter guidelines on human-wildlife interactions within and outside digital media. An ethical analysis of the incident was undertaken through the lens of four moral principles: nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy and justice. The analysis validated the concerns raised by the public regarding potential harms to the young animal, maternal distress and the risks associated with viewers of the video imitating the experience with other wild animals. Although the video footage caused much upset, it provided an opportunity to critically evaluate depictions of wildlife, including handling, and their potential impact on animal welfare. It underscores an acknowledgement that other, less sensationalised, depictions of wildlife could be created in circumstances that compromise animals and could have unintended adverse impacts beyond the posting of a single photo or video. Animal professionals must consider carefully the impact of their digital presence on audiences and ensure featured wild animals are not handled unnecessarily or used as props. Suggested guidelines for online imagery and other content have been developed for a university-based wildlife teaching hospital and other clinical settings in light of this analysis. Other organisations are encouraged to consider doing the same.

The eastern paralysis tick of Australia, Ixodes holocyclus, is by far the most important ectoparasite of dogs and cats in eastern Australia. In spite of the development of tick-antisera and the availability of highly effective tick-preventative medications, thousands of dogs and cats present to veterinary clinics and hospitals with signs of tick paralysis each year; about 10% of these dogs and 8% of these cats may die from tick paralysis or are euthanized due to severe signs of tick envenomation. One of the mainstays of optimising patient outcome of dogs and cats with signs of tick paralysis is the prompt removal of the tick. In the present paper, we studied 10,913 attachment-sites of I. holocyclus arising from 10,311 veterinary consultations of dogs and cats in eastern Australia. This is, to our knowledge, the largest study of attachment-site preference of I. holocyclus on dogs and cats. We found that whereas I. holocyclus is most often found on the head of dogs, on cats, these ticks are most often found on their necks. In addition, we report attachment-site preferences of adult and immature (larval and nymphal) I. holocyclus. We also highlight some unusual and inconspicuous attachment-sites of I. holocyclus, which may be informative to veterinarians and pet owners alike.

Background: Gastric neoplasia is uncommon in dogs accounting for ⟨1% of all neoplasms. Mesenchymal tumours arise from the muscularis layer of the gastric wall and represent 10-30% of canine gastric neoplasms. Gastric sarcomas arising from the muscularis layer of the stomach have not previously been reported.

Case report: A 7-year-old, female spayed labrador was referred for investigation of chronic vomiting and regenerative anaemia. Abdominal imaging revealed a large solitary pedunculated mass (65 × 62 × 56 mm) within the pylorus and proximal duodenum. A Billroth I procedure was performed to resect the mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with chronic hypertrophic pyloric gastropathy with atypical spindle cell proliferation confined to the mucosa. A Billroth II procedure was performed 5.5 months later due to local recurrence. A new omental nodule (12 × 13 mm) was identified 10 weeks later, which was surgically resected and confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic sarcoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin was commenced. Repeat staging identified metastases to the pancreas and local tumour recurrence. The dog was euthanised due to clinical deterioration and biliary obstruction 20 months after the onset of clinical signs (14.5 months post Billroth I).

Conclusion: This is the first report of a gastric mucosal sarcoma in a dog. Distinct from primary gastrointestinal sarcoma, which arises within the muscularis, the mass was confined within the gastric mucosal layer. The pedunculated nature of this mass made it amenable to surgical resection, but ultimately local recurrence was identified along with metastases. Pancreatic metastases have not previously been reported in gastrointestinal sarcomas.

This critically appraised topic (CAT) explored the association between body weight and survival in dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV). A systematic literature search identified six peer-reviewed studies published between 1978 and 2024 that met predefined inclusion criteria. Four of the six studies demonstrated a significant association between lower body weight and increased mortality. While some studies undertook multivariable analysis to account for confounders, limitations including inconsistencies in study design, retrospective data collection, and limited control for variables such as age, breed, and body condition score (BCS) reduce the overall strength of the conclusions. Overall, there is moderate evidence to suggest that lower body weight may be a negative prognostic factor in CPV survival. Further prospective research with standardised methodology is essential to validate these findings and disentangle the impact of confounders such as age, breed, and BCS.