Canadian Veterinary Journal-revue Veterinaire Canadienne最新文献

A 15-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with gastrointestinal signs, polyuria, polydipsia, and weakness. Abdominal bruit ("whooshing" sound from turbulent blood flow) and hypertension (systolic blood pressure: 200 mmHg) were present. A left adrenal gland mass was detected with abdominal ultrasonography; a subsequent CT examination identified a mass and a thrombus in the ipsilateral renal vein. Adrenalectomy and venotomy were completed but nephrectomy was not necessary. Histological diagnosis was an adrenocortical carcinoma. There were no clinical signs at a follow-up examination 30 mo after surgery. Key clinical message: This report describes successful surgical management of feline adrenocortical carcinoma with renal vein invasion without kidney damage. This case suggests that, after correct diagnosis and in well-selected cases, surgery to remove adrenal tumors and thrombi in cats, despite renal vein invasion, can be done with excellent short- and long-term outcomes.

A 10-year-old spayed female shih tzu dog was brought to the hospital because of recurring syncope that occurred simultaneously with a cough. Physical examination did not reveal an abnormal heart rhythm or abnormal heart sounds. Electrocardiography revealed sinus arrest of 4.7 s with intermittent escape beats during coughing. Additional examinations, including thoracic radiography, clinical pathology, and echocardiography, revealed no abnormalities of concern. Forty-eight-hour Holter monitoring captured 1 syncopal episode following severe coughing, during which the longest sinus arrest lasted 16 s with intermittent escape beats. This observation confirmed our strong suspicion that coughing was the cause of varying degrees of sinus arrest in this dog. Theophylline, codeine, and short-term prednisolone were prescribed to treat the dog's cough. The daily episodes of syncope ceased and coughing decreased. Subsequent 48-hour Holter monitoring revealed no abnormal pauses, and the owner did not report syncope. Theophylline and codeine were continued for 5 mo, during which time no syncope occurred. To our knowledge, this case provides the first clear evidence of a correlation between cough-induced sinus arrest and syncope in a veterinary patient, as confirmed by Holter monitoring and electrocardiography. Key clinical message: Cough-induced severe bradycardia and syncope were identified in a shih tzu dog. After the antitussive medication was adjusted, the signs resolved.

An increase in products containing phytocannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol, is often observed in human and veterinary markets following the legalization of hemp (cannabis) for industrial purposes. In veterinary medicine, derivatives of Cannabis sativa are used for managing pain (osteoarticular, oncological, and neuropathic), epilepsy, and behavioral disorders, as well as oncological, immune-mediated, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. In addition, there is growing interest in incorporating C. sativa into livestock feed. To elucidate the mechanisms of action of phytocannabinoids, a thorough understanding of the endocannabinoid system and its role in maintaining homeostasis is essential. Short-term use of phytocannabinoid products appears generally safe, but further research is required to understand the routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics across various species. Although literature on phytocannabinoids in veterinary patients is limited, the available data suggest significant therapeutic potential.

Objective: To describe cytologic findings from mandibular and superficial cervical lymph nodes in dogs with thyroid carcinoma and to determine prognostic factors associated with lymph node metastasis.

Animals: A total of 71 client-owned dogs with confirmed thyroid carcinoma that had cytologic results from at least 1 mandibular or superficial cervical lymph node between 2010 and 2020.

Procedure: Medical records from 2 referral veterinary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Cytology of lymph nodes was reviewed for presence of metastasis by diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Thyroid tumor diameter and volume, tumor fixation, bilateral location, vascular invasion, and stage were recorded to determine effects on nodal metastasis.

Results: A total of 154 lymph nodes (104 mandibular and 50 superficial cervical lymph nodes) from 71 dogs were cytologically evaluated, and 1/154 (0.6%) and 2/154 (1.3%) lymph nodes were noted to be definitively metastatic or probably metastatic, respectively. Given the infrequent rate of nodal metastasis (1.9% or less), statistical analysis of potential prognostic variables was not completed.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: Routine lymph node cytology of mandibular and superficial cervical lymph nodes appeared to be of low yield when assessing for metastasis of canine thyroid carcinomas. The medial retropharyngeal and deep cervical lymph nodes should continue to be evaluated as they appeared to have higher metastatic rates, based on historic reports. Additional studies are needed to determine prognostic factors associated with lymph node metastasis and effects on patient survival.

Objective: To determine if a short, hands-on, point-of-care course improves confidence of veterinary practitioners (VPs) in performing basic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) applications and diagnosing specific POCUS pathologies.

Procedure: A 2-day POCUS course was offered, including 6 h of lectures and 4 h of hands-on training. A self-assessment survey, using a 4-point Likert scale, was administered before and after the course, to study VPs' confidence in attaining ultrasound skills and diagnosing pathologies.

Results: One hundred and thirteen participants answered the surveys: 65 (57.5%) completed pre- and post-practical surveys. Difference in confidence levels was assessed on paired pre-and post-practical surveys. Self-confidence increased significantly for each of the questions and for each field [pleural and lung POCUS (PLUS), abdominal POCUS, cardiac POCUS, and ultrasound-guided IV access] (P < 0.0001). Self-confidence was significantly higher for abdominal POCUS than for PLUS, cardiac POCUS and IV access before (P < 0.0001), but not following, completion of the course (P = 0.81).

Conclusion: A short, 2-day course significantly increased the confidence level of VPs in the realization and interpretation of PLUS, abdominal POCUS, and cardiac POCUS questions, and vascular access procedures. Following completion of the course, there was no significant difference in confidence levels among POCUS fields. This suggests the course allowed practitioners to obtain equal confidence across all POCUS applications.