Renal pelvic rupture, intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage associated with obstructive ureterolithiasis in a cat.

A neutered female cat presented with a 9-day history of hyporexia and depression. The referring veterinarian had identified moderate non-regenerative anaemia, haematuria and suspected unilateral obstructive ureterolithiasis. Subsequent ultrasonography revealed moderate distension of the left renal pelvis with echogenic material, ureteral distension and ureterolithiasis. A partial ureteral obstruction was suspected. After 4 days of medical management, there was further distension of the renal pelvis with well-delineated echogenic material and an accumulation of perinephric fluid. A left nephroureterectomy was performed. Renal pelvic rupture with intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage was confirmed by histopathology. Eighteen months following surgery, the cat remained clinically well with normal renal values.

Characterisation and outcome of idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis in 64 English springer spaniel dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the history, clinicopathological abnormalities, diagnostic imaging findings, lymph node cytological/histological appearance, treatment and outcome of English springer spaniels diagnosed with idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective UK-based multicentre study, 64 dogs were recruited from 10 referral centres, 32 first-opinion practices and three histopathology/cytology laboratories, between 2010 and 2016. RESULTS: The median age at presentation was 6 years (range: 0.17 to 11.75). Neutered females were frequently affected. Pyrexia (83.8%), peripheral lymphadenomegaly (78.4%), dermatological lesions (72.9%), lethargy (67.6%), hyporexia (54%), diarrhoea (29.7%), coughing (24.3%), epistaxis, sneezing or nasal discharge (21.6%), ocular signs (21.6%) and vomiting (16.2%) were reported in dogs for which the history and physical examination records were available. Popliteal (45.3%), superficial cervical (35.9%) and submandibular (37.5%) lymphadenomegaly were frequently reported. Haematology and serum biochemistry revealed non-specific changes. When undertaken, testing for infectious diseases was negative in all cases. Lymph node cytology, histopathology or both demonstrated mixed inflammatory (27%), pyogranulomatous (24%), neutrophilic (20%) or granulomatous (11%) lymphadenitis. Treatment details were available for 38 dogs, with 34 receiving prednisolone for a median duration of 15 weeks (range: 1 to 28 weeks). A good to excellent clinical response was reported in all but one case. Ten dogs relapsed after discontinuing prednisolone. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and pyrexia in English springer spaniels. The characteristics of the disease, absence of identifiable infectious aetiology and response to glucocorticoid therapy suggest an immune-mediated aetiology.

Canine sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis in 49 dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To report clinical and laboratory features, treatment responses and outcome in dogs diagnosed with sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis in the United Kingdom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis from 2009 to 2016 at six specialist referral centres were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The study included 49 dogs. Springer spaniels appeared to be over-represented (16 of 49 dogs). Young dogs (median age: 3 years and 9 months) and females (31 of 49) were frequently affected. Clinical presentation was variable, with pyrexia (39 of 49), lethargy (35 of 49) and anorexia (21 of 49) the most commonly reported clinical signs. Lymph node cytology or histopathology demonstrated neutrophilic, pyogranulomatous, granulomatous or necrotising lymphadenitis without a detectable underlying cause in all cases. Because a sterile immune-mediated aetiology was suspected, all dogs received prednisolone, which was followed by rapid resolution of clinical signs and lymphadenopathy in most cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis should be considered in dogs with pyrexia of unknown origin with inflammatory lymphadenopathy if no underlying cause can be found and often responds well to immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy.

Use of a biodegradable self-expanding stent in the management of a benign oesophageal stricture in a cat.

An 11-year-old domestic shorthair cat presented with a six-week history of regurgitation following a dental procedure. Endoscopy identified a single oesophageal stricture in the cervical oesophagus. Stricture reformation occurred following endoscopic balloon catheter dilation on two occasions. Following a third balloon dilation a biodegradable polydioxanone self-expanding stent was placed across the stricture site. Following the implantation the cat was able to eat soft canned food orally without regurgitation. Fluoroscopic examination performed four months after placement indicated that the stent was no longer present and the cervical oesophagus was able to pass boluses of canned food with no signs of obstruction.

Leiomyosarcoma of the pericardium, with epicardial metastases and peripheral eosinophilia in a dog.

A dog with a history of dyspnoea, anorexia and ascites showed on examination signs of right-sided heart failure, pleural effusion and peripheral eosinophilia. Diagnostic imaging suggested the presence of a mediastinal mass, and histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of a biopsy sample led to a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. On post-mortem examination, an extensive mass was found, which encircled the heart and obliterated the pericardial sac, with probable metastatic spread to the epicardium. Eosinophilic infiltration of the neoplastic mass, lamina propria of the stomach and duodenum, interstitium of the kidney, and submucosa of the bladder was consistent with a possible paraneoplastic eosinophilia.

Retrospective study of fever in dogs: laboratory testing, diagnoses and influence of prior treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the demographic information of dogs referred for investigation of fever, to determine the usefulness of various diagnostic investigations and to assess the effect of treatment before referral on the presence of fever at referral, the duration of the investigation and the ability to reach a final diagnosis. METHODS: The clinical records of 66 dogs, in which fever was part of the clinical signs documented by the referring veterinary surgeon, were reviewed. The effects of treatment 24 hours before referral on temperature at initial consultation and on time to diagnosis were evaluated. The effect of body temperature at initial consultation on cost and on time to diagnosis was also determined. The effect of insurance on costs incurred was assessed. The utility of different diagnostic investigations was recorded, and cases were classified according to the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Only 34.8 per cent of dogs were diagnosed with immune-mediated disease, with most frequent diagnoses being steroid-responsive meningitis and polyarthritis. Treatment 24 hours before referral significantly increased the time to diagnosis (P = 0.004) and affected the presence of fever at referral (P = 0.006). Insurance status did not significantly affect cost incurred by the owner. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study documents a high incidence of immune-mediated disease in dogs referred for investigation of fever. It also documents a higher incidence of inflammatory central nervous system disease in febrile dogs than that reported previously. Of the diagnostic modalities employed in the majority of cases, radiography, cytology and bacteriological and fungal cultures (fluids/tissues) were the most useful. It is suggested that treatment is withdrawn or withheld before commencing diagnostic investigation of fever.

Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy secondary to selective cobalamin deficiency in a juvenile Border collie.

An eight-month-old Border collie was presented with anorexia, cachexia, failure to thrive and stupor. Laboratory tests demonstrated a mild anaemia, neutropenia, proteinuria and hyperammonaemia. Serum bile acid concentrations were normal, but an ammonia tolerance test (ATT) was abnormal. The dog responded to symptomatic therapy for hepatoencephalopathy. When a low serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) concentration and methylmalonic aciduria were noted, the dog was given a supplement of parenteral cobalamin. Two weeks later, a repeat ATT was normal. Cobalamin supplementation was continued every two weeks, and all clinical signs, except for proteinuria, resolved despite withdrawing all therapy for hepatoencephalopathy. A presumptive diagnosis of hereditary selective cobalamin malabsorption was made, based on the young age, Border collie breed, low serum cobalamin concentration and methylmalonic aciduria. Although hereditary selective cobalamin malabsorption in Border collies, giant schnauzers, Australian shepherd dogs and beagles has previously been reported in North America, to the authors' knowledge this is the first report of the condition in the UK and the first to document an abnormal ATT in a cobalamin-deficient dog.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in two cats.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease characterised by infiltration of the myocardium by adipose and fibrous tissue. The disease is an important cause of sudden death in humans, but has rarely been described in animals. This report describes ARVC in two cats with right-sided congestive heart failure. One cat had also experienced previous episodes of syncope. Standard six-lead and 24-hour (Holter) electrocardiogram recording revealed complete atrioventricular block and multiform ventricular ectopics in both cats, with the addition of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular bigeminy and R-on-T phenomenon in one of them. On echocardiography, the right ventricle and atrium were massively dilated and hypokinetic. The survival times of the cats were three days and 16 days following diagnosis. Histopathology in one case revealed fibro-fatty infiltration of the myocardium, predominantly affecting the right ventricular free wall.

Effect of intestinal inflammation on fecal elastase concentration in dogs.

BACKGROUND: A commercially available ELISA kit for fecal elastase measurement can be used in the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs. However, other causes of diarrhea also may affect fecal elastase concentration. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether intestinal inflammation alters fecal elastase concentration in dogs. METHODS: Fecal elastase concentration was measured with an ELISA kit in the following groups of dogs: group 1 (n=16), control dogs, without gastrointestinal disease; group 2 (n=14), dogs with diarrhea and no histopathologic evidence of intestinal inflammation; and group 3 (n=12), dogs with diarrhea and histopathologic evidence of intestinal inflammation. Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) was determined in dogs with diarrhea to rule out EPI. RESULTS: All dogs in groups 2 and 3 had serum TLI concentrations >5 microg/L, ruling out EPI. No statistically significant difference was found in fecal elastase concentration among the 3 groups of dogs (P=.969). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that intestinal inflammation does not affect fecal elastase concentration, such that test results may be used to exclude a diagnosis of EPI even in animals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Fluorescein isothiocyanate staining intensity as a probe of hyperthermia-induced changes in chromatin conformation.

In a previous report we presented evidence for large increases in fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescent intensity caused by hyperthermia which were not associated with synthesis of heat-shock proteins. We have now refined and considerably extended the measurements of increases in FITC fluorescent intensity caused by hyperthermia within the range 41.0 degrees C to 50.0 degrees C, and associated these with the extent of cell death caused by the hyperthermia. It appears that cell death ensues when the FITC fluorescent intensity has not returned to its baseline value within the time of one cell cycle. If thermotolerance is induced, there is a concomitant reduction in the increase in FITC staining intensity and the extent of cell death. When hyperthermia is followed by acid extraction, an additional increase in FITC staining intensity (above that due to hyperthermia alone) is observed, indicating separate sites of action on basic nuclear proteins. Hyperthermia and acid extraction have related effects on the relationship between FITC and propidium iodide staining. Hyperthermia-induced increases in FITC staining intensity are almost completely reversed by 6.7 mM formaldehyde with a marginal effect on the control FITC staining at this formaldehyde concentration. We suggest that hyperthermia causes extensive dissociation of basic protein-protein binding within nuclear chromatin, and that this may be a contributory cause of hyperthermia-induced cell death.