Successful surgical correction of caudal duplication syndrome in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of caudal duplication successfully operated with long-term follow-up. ANIMAL: A 12-week-old female Chihuahua mix. CLINICAL PRESENTATION, PROGRESSION, AND PROCEDURES: The dog of this report presented for evaluation of duplicate external organs, including 2 anuses, 2 vulvas, and 2 tails. The dog was clinically normal except for signs of cystitis. Contrast CT identified complete urogenital and anorectal duplication, characterized by duplication of the cecum, descending colon/rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, and ovaries, with left-sided rectovestibular fistula. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Exploratory laparotomy was performed to remove the left cecum and colon, the left ureter was transected and implanted into the right urinary bladder, the left bladder and urethra were removed, and bilateral ovariohysterectomy removed 4 ovaries and 2 uteruses. Following abdominal closure, the left anus and vulva with remaining portions of distal rectum and urethra, respectively, were removed en bloc with both tails. Long-term follow-up at 5 years showed the dog to be clinically normal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Caudal duplication is extremely rare in veterinary medicine, and this report details successful surgical correction with good long-term follow-up.

Presurgical antiseptic efficacy of chlorhexidine diacetate and providone-iodine in the canine preputial cavity.

Antiseptic flushing of the canine prepuce and its exclusion from the surgical field are recommended before abdominal surgery to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. The authors cultured the preputial cavity of 60 dogs prior to and following flushing with 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate, 1% povidone-iodine, or 0.9% saline control. Bacterial growth was evaluated using a semiquantitative method, and bacterial organisms were subsequently identified. There were no significant differences between povidone-iodine and the saline control in any of the variables assessed. Chlorhexidine resulted in a significant decrease in the proportion of positive postflush cultures compared with povidone-iodine. Although not significant, the difference in adverse reactions between povidone-iodine (25%) and chlorhexidine diacetate (5%) suggests clinical relevance. Based on the results of this study, a 2 min flush with 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate is recommended for presurgical preparation of the preputial cavity.

A novel method of core aspirate cytology compared to fine-needle aspiration for diagnosing canine osteosarcoma.

There is little information in veterinary literature regarding the diagnostic accuracy of aspirate cytology for the diagnosis of canine osteosarcoma (OSA). The authors compared the diagnostic accuracy of a novel method of cytologic collection, termed core aspirate cytology (CA), with fine needle aspiration (FNA) and histopathology in 27 dogs with lytic and/or proliferative bone lesions. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining was performed to confirm the diagnosis of OSA cytologically. OSA was accurately diagnosed in 85% and 95% of FNA and CA, respectively. ALP staining was 100% sensitive for the diagnosis of OSA. CA using a bone marrow biopsy needle allowed for penetration of cortical bone and aspirate cytology with a larger bore needle than FNA; however, there was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between techniques. Aspirate cytology with ALP staining was a safe, accurate, and minimally invasive diagnostic test for the evaluation of suspected OSA lesions in dogs.

Primary clitoral adenocarcinoma with secondary hypercalcemia of malignancy in a dog.

This report describes a primary clitoral adenocarcinoma in a dog with secondary hypercalcemia of malignancy. A 10-year-old, spayed female basset hound was evaluated for a mass protruding from the vulva. The mass was excised, and a histological diagnosis of clitoral adenocarcinoma was made. No evidence of metastasis on thoracic radiographs or abdominal ultrasound was seen. Preoperative hypercalcemia resolved following excision of the mass. Cellular features were similar to an apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry exhibited features noted with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma. No further treatment was elected by the owner. Internal iliac lymph-node metastasis was identified 4 weeks postoperatively, and hypercalcemia recurred 8 weeks postoperatively. The dog was euthanized 22 weeks postoperatively for signs related to hypercalcemia, including polyuria/polydipsia, lethargy, and weakness. A necropsy was performed and confirmed the presence of internal iliac lymph-node metastasis. The colon, rectum, and anal sacs were grossly and histologically normal. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of clitoral neoplasia in the dog.