Cholelithiasis in the Dog: Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Outcome.

Canine cholelithiasis is considered to be an uncommon condition and is frequently cited as being an incidental finding. However, there is a paucity of contemporary literature to support these assertions. The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to report the prevalence, clinical presentation, and long-term follow-up of cholelithiasis in dogs. The electronic database at the Small Animal Hospital, University of Glasgow was searched to identify dogs that were diagnosed with cholelithiasis on ultrasound between 2010 and 2018. Sixty-eight dogs were identified, giving an overall prevalence of cholelithiasis in our hospital of 0.97% (confidence interval 0.76-1.22%). Medical records of 61 dogs were available for review. Cholelithiasis was classified as an incidental finding in 53 (86.9%) dogs, with 8 (13.1%) dogs being classified as symptomatic, having complications of cholelithiasis that included biliary duct obstruction, biliary peritonitis, emphysematous cholecystitis, and acute cholecystitis. Follow-up was available for 39 dogs, with only 3 dogs (7.7%) developing complications attributed to cholelithiasis, including biliary duct obstruction and acute cholecystitis, within the subsequent 2 yr. Cholelithiasis is an uncommon but frequently incidental finding in dogs. Within the follow-up period, few of the dogs with incidental cholelithiasis went on to be become symptomatic.

Retrospective evaluation of thoracic computed tomography findings in dogs naturally infected by Angiostrongylus vasorum.

Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) is an important emerging disease of canidae. Cardiorespiratory signs are common in affected dogs, therefore thoracic imaging is critical for diagnosing and monitoring disease. Descriptions of thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings in dogs naturally infected with A. vasorum are currently lacking. Aims of this multicenter, retrospective study were to describe thoracic CT findings in a group of dogs with confirmed disease, determine whether any changes were consistent among dogs, and propose standardized terms for describing thoracic CT findings. Nine UK-based referral centers' clinical and imaging databases were searched for dogs that had a confirmed diagnosis of A. vasorum, and had undergone thoracic CT examination. Eighteen dogs, from seven of the centers, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The lung lobes were divided into the following three zones and the CT changes described in each: pleural (zone 1), subpleural (zone 2), and peribronchovascular (zone 3). The predominent abnormality was increased lung attenuation due to poorly defined ground-glass opacity or consolidation. There were regions of mosaic attenuation due to peripheral bronchiectasis. Nine/18 (50%) dogs showed hyperattenuating nodules of varying sizes with ill-defined margins. The distribution always affected zones 1 and 2 with varied involvement of zone 3; this resulted in clear delineation between zones 2 and 3. Tracheobronchial lymphadenomegaly was frequently noted. Findings were nonspecific and there was considerable overlap with other pulmonary conditions. However, authors recommend that A. vasorum be considered a likely differential diagnosis for dogs with a predominantly peripheral distribution of lung changes.