Long-term remission and survival in dogs with high-grade, B cell lymphoma treated with chemotherapy with or without sequential low-dose rate half-body irradiation.

BACKGROUND: Standard of care for dogs with high-grade lymphoma, multiagent chemotherapy, achieves good initial responses but long-term remissions are infrequent; previous studies using half-body irradiation suggest improved long-term outcomes. HYPOTHESIS: The addition of low-dose rate half-body irradiation would improve outcomes in dogs with B-cell lymphoma. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with stage III or higher, substage a, B-cell lymphoma that achieved complete remission after 4 doses of multiagent chemotherapy. METHODS: A case-controlled design comparing 2-year remission and survival rates between dogs treated with CHOP-based chemotherapy and those treated with chemotherapy and sequential low-dose rate half-body irradiation. RESULTS: Thirty-eight dogs were enrolled with 18 included in final analysis, 9 prospectively-enrolled dogs and 9 case-matched historical controls. The irradiation cohort's 2-year disease-free rate was 56% whereas median duration exceeded the 730-day study period compared with 0% and 261 days in the chemotherapy only group. Remission duration significantly differed between cohorts (P < .01), hazard ratio 0.218 (95% CI: 0.06-0.77). The irradiation cohort's 2-year survival rate was 78% with median overall survival duration exceeding the 730 day study period compared with 11% and 286 days in the chemotherapy only group. Overall survival time significantly differed between cohorts (P < .02), hazard ratio 0.173 (95% CI: 0.03-0.839). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The improved long-term outcome achieved by dogs administered sequential low-dose rate half-body irradiation in this study is similar to previous observational studies. Where long-term remission is sought in dogs with B-cell lymphoma low-dose rate half-body irradiation could be considered in addition to standard chemotherapy.

Persistent reticulocytosis in a case of poodle macrocytosis.

A healthy 14-year-old, male neutered, Miniature Poodle was found to have a persistent erythrocyte macrocytosis and reticulocytosis with a normal and stable HCT. The hematologic features of macrocytosis, increased Howell-Jolly bodies, and metarubricytosis, in the absence of anemia or other cytopenias, combined with the cytologic evidence of bone marrow erythroid dysplasia, including megaloblastosis, binuclearity, increased mitotic activity, and nuclear fragmentation, are consistent with previous reports of congenital dyserythropoiesis termed poodle macrocytosis. We speculate that the additional presence of persistent reticulocytosis in the absence of an identifiable stimulus for accelerated erythropoiesis may represent a phenotypic variation of this inherited condition, and the morphologic abnormalities of the dyserythropoiesis are described.

Safety and Tolerability of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Cats and Dogs.

This prospective clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a population of cats and dogs with a variety of naturally occurring diseases. Seventy-eight dogs and twelve cats with various naturally occurring disease conditions, who had the potential to benefit from HBOT, were enrolled in the study. These patients were treated with HBOT in a monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber at 2 air pressure absolute for a treatment length of either 45 min or 60 min. There were 230 hyperbaric oxygen treatments performed during the study period. No major adverse effects were observed. There were 76 minor adverse effects recorded, which were not considered to be of clinical significance. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was well tolerated and there were no major adverse effects recorded during treatment.

Ovarian carcinomatosis in a dog managed with surgery and intraperitoneal, systemic, and intrapleural chemotherapy utilizing indwelling pleural access ports.

A 3-year-old Weimaraner dog was presented with bilateral papillary ovarian carcinoma and abdominal carcinomatosis. Treatment included ovariectomy, intraperitoneal cisplatin, and systemic carboplatin. Pleural carcinomatosis 473 days following surgery was treated with intrapleural cisplatin through indwelling pleural access ports. Euthanasia occurred 1154 days following surgery due to malignant pleural effusion without peritoneal effusion.

Carcinomatose ovarienne chez une chienne gérée par chirurgie et chimiothérapie intrapleurale, systémique et intrapéritonéale en utilisant des ports d'accès à demeure. Une chienne Weimaraner âgée de 3 ans a été présentée avec un carcinome papillaire bilatéral et une carcinomatose abdominale. Le traitement a inclus l'ovariectomie, de la cisplatine intrapéritonéale et de la carboplatine systémique. Une carcinomatose pleurale 473 jours après la chirurgie a été traitée avec de la cisplatine intrapleurale par des ports d'accès pleuraux à demeure. L'euthanasie a été réalisée 1154 jours après la chirurgie en raison d'une effusion pleurale maligne sans épanchement péritonéal.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

The diagnosis and management of a case of leishmaniosis in a dog imported to Australia.

This case study discusses in detail for the first time the diagnosis and management of a case of leishmaniosis in a dog imported to Australia. The dog presented with epistaxis and a non-regenerative anaemia five years after being imported from Europe. Protozoa were identified within macrophages in bone marrow and splenic cytology. A Leishmania indirect fluorescent antibody test was performed and was positive while an Ehrlichia canis antibody test was negative. Polymerase chain reaction of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of skin, lymph node, spleen and bone marrow were all positive for Leishmania infantum. The dog was treated with amphotericin B with a strong clinical response. The importance of thorough diagnostics in non-endemic areas, particularly Australia, is discussed. Treatment with amphotericin B is discussed. Vigilance, disease reporting and response frameworks are recommended for non-endemic areas.

Incidence of sterile hemorrhagic cystitis in dogs receiving cyclophosphamide orally for three days without concurrent furosemide as part of a chemotherapeutic treatment for lymphoma: 57 cases (2007-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of sterile hemorrhagic cystitis (SHC) and other adverse effects in dogs following oral administration of the single-day, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of cyclophosphamide divided over 3 days as part of a multiagent chemotherapy protocol for treatment of lymphoma without concurrent administration of furosemide. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 57 dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs with lymphoma that underwent the described cyclophosphamide treatment. Information was obtained regarding signalment, lymphoma stage, concurrent diseases, cyclophosphamide doses administered, adverse effects (including SHC), remission rates, and outcomes. The incidence of SHC was compared with that of literature-derived historical control groups that received the MTD of cyclophosphamide as a single, 1-day dose with or without furosemide treatment. RESULTS: None of the 57 dogs developed SHC during the study period. Forty-seven of 57 (82%) dogs had complete remission of lymphoma. Other adverse effects were uncommon and self-limiting; no dogs had myelosuppression, and only 5 had mild gastrointestinal effects. Incidence of SHC was significantly lower than that reported for historical control dogs that received cyclophosphamide as a single dose without furosemide (24/219) and was not significantly different from that for historical control dogs that received cyclophosphamide as a single dose with furosemide (2/139). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: No dogs in this study had SHC following oral administration of the single-day MTD of cyclophosphamide divided over a 3-day period without furosemide administration. Further research is needed to confirm whether this method of cyclophosphamide administration is equivalent or superior to the current single-dose administration method.