The use of ultrasonographic adrenal dimensions and the adrenal dimension-to-aorta ratio in the diagnosis of benign and malignant adrenal diseases in dogs.

Background and Aim: Ultrasound (US) is a useful tool for detecting adrenal abnormalities. However, a definite reference range differentiating normal and diseased adrenal glands in dogs of varying body sizes is still lacking. The organ dimension-to-aorta (Ao) ratio of the dogs is correlated with their body weight (BW). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the adrenal dimensions, including adrenal pole thickness and adrenal length, as well as the adrenal dimension-to-Ao ratio, to differentiate between dogs with normal, benign lesions such as pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) and malignant invasive adrenal tumors. Materials and Methods: The medical records and US images of 39 dogs that were either normal (normal) (n = 15) or affected by PDH (n = 15) or malignant invasive adrenal tumors (tumor) (n = 9) were retrieved in this study. All the dogs had a transabdominal US on the sagittal plane. The adrenal dimensions and luminal Ao diameter at the peak of the systolic phase were recorded. The average adrenal dimensions, including the adrenal dimension-to-Ao ratio, were compared among the groups. Results: Most of the dogs in each group were small-breed dogs with comparable ages, BW, and Ao values. Both adrenal dimensions and the adrenal dimension-to-Ao ratio were significantly lower in the normal group than in the PDH and tumor groups. To differentiate the PDH group from the tumor group, adrenal dimensions of pole thickness and length were more appropriate than the adrenal dimension-to-Ao ratio. Conclusion: Adrenal dimensions and the adrenal dimension-to-Ao ratio can be used to diagnose adrenal diseases. However, in small-breed dogs, adrenal dimensions are suitable for differentiating PDH from tumor groups. Further research is required with a larger sample size and a wider range of canine body sizes.

Case report: Thromboembolic heartworm induced lower limb necrosis in a dog.

A 9-year-old spayed female boxer suffered from lameness in both hindlimbs with a perforated paw wound. Additionally, a linear, worm-like creature was penetrating out from the wound. On examination, the dog was emaciated and infected with heartworms, detected through a fresh blood smear, echocardiography, and transabdominal ultrasonography. Adult heartworms were detected at the right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), and pulmonary artery (PA), including the distal abdominal aorta, external iliac, and femoral arteries. During the surgery, adults heartworms were removed from both the heart (n = 8) and the femoral arteries (n = 5). Unfortunately, not all heartworms could be removed from these locations due to the extent of the heartworm infection. The opened, ischemic wounds in the distal limbs progressively expanded and the dog subsequently died, possibly due to caval syndrome complications and septicemia. The necropsy showed no evidence of an atrial septal defect, and a total of 25 adult heartworms were collected from the perforated paw, heart, pulmonary, and femoral arteries. All worms collected during the necropsy process were molecularly confirmed to be Dirofilaria immitis.

Use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography to detect kidney infarction in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Kidney infarction is a renovascular disease diagnosed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in humans. OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency of kidney infarction and to determine the detection of kidney infarction with CECT in dogs. ANIMALS: Eight hundred and twenty-six abdominal CECT studies of 826 dogs. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study. Dogs with abdominal CT scans including CECT were retrospectively retrieved. Kidney infarction was classified into 3 grades based on the extent of infarction relative to total kidney area. The location and number of kidney infarctions in each kidney were expressed as number and percentage. The ability of visualization of kidney infarction in each multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) image plane was evaluated by agreement of 2 observers. RESULTS: The frequency of kidney infarction in dogs was 3.15% (26/826 dogs; 95% CI = 2.05-4.61). Most kidney infarctions were classified as grade 1, or the lesions were less than 25% of the kidney (47/56, 83.93%) and most were detected at the caudal pole of the kidney (31/56, 55.35%) on the sagittal plane. On MPR image planes, the sagittal plane had the highest proportion (34/56, 60.71%) of excellent visual category to detect kidney infarction. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The CECT, especially the sagittal plane, is a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of kidney infarction in dogs.