Outcomes of esophageal and gastric bone foreign bodies in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Bone foreign bodies are commonly encountered in small animal practice. Esophageal bone foreign bodies (E-bFBs) warrant removal, whereas gastric bone foreign bodies might not. OBJECTIVES: Describe management and outcomes for dogs with esophageal or gastric bone foreign bodies. ANIMALS: One hundred twenty-nine dogs with esophageal (n = 45) or gastric (n = 84) bone foreign bodies. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records. RESULTS: Dogs with E-bFBs were younger than dogs with gastric bone foreign bodies (median age esophageal, 4 years [IQR 2-8]; median age gastric, 6 years [IQR 3-10]; P = .03), and had a higher bone cross-sectional area relative to body weight (median esophageal, 98.21 mm2 /kg [IQR 48.25-142.6]; median gastric, 28.6 mm2 /kg [IQR 17.25-64.28]; P < .001). Forty-two of 45 esophageal foreign bodies were resolved non-surgically and 3 by esophagotomy. Esophageal erosions were more likely with distal entrapment (OR 12.88, [95% CI 31.95-129.29], P = .01) and longer duration (OR 18.82 [95% CI 2.22-273.97], P = .01). Sixty-two of 84 bone gastric foreign bodies were left in situ. Endoscopic removal was successful in 20 of 22 (91%; 95% CI 70-99) attempts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: While all E-bFBs were dislodged either by advancement into the stomach, endoscopic removal, or esophagotomy, the majority of gastric bone foreign bodies were left in situ for dissolution, with no reported complications. Gastric advancement of E-bFBs should be considered when oral removal is not feasible, and dissolution can be considered even with large bones.

Three-dimensional bladder ultrasound for estimation of urine volume in dogs compared with traditional 2-dimensional ultrasound methods.

BACKGROUND: Although point-of-care volumetric assessments of the urinary bladder are not routinely performed in dogs, urine volume quantification can provide important clinical information including noninvasive urine output estimation. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: Use of 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound for determination of urinary bladder volume (UBV) in dogs will be accurate for different bladder volumes and will decrease the need for operator skill in measuring UBV compared to 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound evaluation. ANIMALS: Ten laboratory-bred Beagle dogs. METHODS: Prospective, experimental study. Urinary bladders were infused with a calculated amount of sterile saline to represent small, medium, and large volumes. Each UBV was estimated and calculated by a board-certified veterinary radiologist using 3 different 2D ultrasound formulas followed by use of a 3D ultrasound device by a novice. Measured UBVs were compared to the instilled UBV for both 2D and 3D ultrasound methods. Time from start to end of examination was recorded for both ultrasound methods in a subset of dogs. RESULTS: The 3D ultrasound device underestimated UBV with a mean difference of -9.8 mL compared with 2D ultrasound that overestimated UBV with a difference of +4.2 to 20.3 mL dependent on the 2D formula used. The 3D ultrasound method took less time to measure UBV (mean of 80 seconds per measurement) compared to the 2D method (165 seconds per measurement; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The tested 3D ultrasound device was found to be an accurate and rapid point-of-care tool for measuring UBV in dogs, providing a noninvasive method to estimate bladder volume in real time.

Pasteurella canis infective endocarditis in a dog.

Infective endocarditis, an infrequent clinical syndrome in dogs, is typically associated with nondescript clinical signs such as fever, malaise and loss of appetite. Although an uncommonly reported infection in dogs, Pasteurella canis is an emerging pathogen with increasing relevance in the human microbiology literature. The goal of this study is to detail the clinical presentation and microbiological findings associated with a novel causative agent of infective endocarditis in the dog. Diagnostic evaluation as well as conventional, automated and molecular microbiological methods are highlighted. The recent literature regarding P. canis and infective endocarditis in companion animals and humans is reviewed. Although an unusual etiologic agent of infective endocarditis, awareness of P. canis as a diagnostic possibility is crucial to accurate microbial surveillance.

Characteristics of Dogs with Biofilm-Forming Escherichia Coli Urinary Tract Infections.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in companion animals. Increasing awareness of biofilm-forming bacteria raises concern regarding the appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of UTIs associated with these organisms. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To (1) describe the population of dogs with UTIs associated with biofilm-forming Escherichia coli and (2) determine whether or not clinical differences exist between dogs with biofilm-forming E. coli UTIs and dogs with nonbiofilm-forming E. coli UTIs. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in the population characteristics, but that biofilm-formation would be more prevalent in dogs with chronic, complicated, and asymptomatic UTIs. ANIMALS: Seventy-six client-owned dogs with E. coli UTIs, divided into 2 groups based on the biofilm-forming capability of stored bacterial isolates as assessed by the crystal violet assay. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Medical records of the affected dogs were reviewed and their population and infection characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Most (52.6%) E. coli isolates were capable of forming biofilms. Biofilm-forming E. coli had a lower likelihood (P < .001) of multidrug resistance than did nonbiofilm-forming E. coli. No statistically significant differences were identified between the population or infection characteristics of the 2 groups of dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Escherichia coli isolated from canine urinary tracts are frequently capable of forming biofilms. Because no reliable clinical features allowed exclusion of biofilm formation, the potential for biofilm formation should be considered whenever E. coli UTI is diagnosed. The association of antibiotic resistance and biofilm potential may affect treatment of UTIs, but additional investigation is warranted.