Caudal mediastinal thyroglossal duct cyst in a cat.

An eight-year-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of dyspnoea secondary to pleural effusion. Ultrasound examination identified a large anechoic cyst-like structure in the caudal thorax. A median sternotomy was performed, and the cystic mass was removed. Microscopically, the excised tissue was identified as a multilocular thyroglossal duct cyst with ectopic thyroid tissue. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a mediastinal thyroglossal duct cyst in a cat. Despite the rarity of this lesion, it should be considered when a cystic thoracic structure is identified on thoracic ultrasound. Surgical excision of the cyst resulted in complete resolution of the pleural effusion and clinical signs.

Computed tomography as an aid in the diagnosis of chronic nasal disease in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the use of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of chronic nasal disease in dogs. METHODS: A retrospective study of 85 dogs with chronic nasal discharge due to primary nasal disease, which had undergone nasal CT and biopsy, was carried out. Medical records were reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, CT findings, endoscopic findings and histopathology. The results obtained via CT were correlated with nasal histopathology and gross anatomical observations were recorded at the time of rhinoscopy. RESULTS: Neoplasia was diagnosed in 37 dogs for which CT typically revealed a soft tissue density associated with extensive turbinate destruction. Inflammatory rhinitis was diagnosed in 40 dogs. CT disclosed either normal turbinate structures or mild to moderate turbinate destruction, with or without the presence of soft tissue densities (mucopus) within the nasal passages. Fungal rhinitis was diagnosed in seven dogs for which CT disclosed extensive turbinate destruction with hyperlucency of the nasal passages. One dog had normal CT and histopathology findings. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CT greatly enhanced the ability to diagnose chronic nasal disease in dogs, providing detailed Information regarding the extent of the disease, accurate discrimination of neoplastic versus non-neoplastic diseases, and identification of areas of the nose to examine rhinoscopically and suspicious regions to target for biopsy.

The effect of combined therapy with captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet on serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function in normal dogs and dogs with congestive heart failure.

Captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet were administered to 6 normal dogs and 10 dogs with congestive heart failure. Serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function were monitored in both groups. In the normal dogs, no clinically meaningful changes in serum electrolyte, urea nitrogen, or creatinine concentrations developed during therapy with a sodium-restricted diet and 4 weeks each of furosemide alone, captopril alone, or furosemide plus captopril. Three of 6 normal dogs on furosemide and a sodium-restricted diet had at least one serum potassium concentration above the reference range during the 4 weeks of observation. One normal dog on captopril, furosemide, and a sodium-restricted diet developed azotemia, and 2 dogs had serum potassium concentrations above the reference range during the 4 weeks of observation. Ten dogs with congestive heart failure were treated with captopril, furosemide, a sodium-restricted diet, and digoxin. Etiopathogenesis of the heart failure included valvular insufficiency (n = 6), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 3), and dilated cardiomyopathy and dirofilariasis (n = 1). Serum electrolyte concentrations and renal function were monitored for 5 consecutive weeks in 7 of the 10 dogs and for 17 weeks or longer in 6. Two dogs were euthanized after 4 weeks because of acute decompensation of heart failure, and one dog developed severe azotemia and uremia. Six of 10 dogs with congestive heart failure had at least one serum potassium concentration above the reference range sometime during the 5 weeks of observation, although the changes in the mean serum potassium concentrations were not statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bronchoalveolar lavage in the evaluation of pulmonary disease in the dog and cat. State of the art.

Bronchoalveolar lavage is a diagnostic procedure used to obtain specimens representative of disease processes involving the deep lung. Saline is instilled into an airway in sufficient volumes to bathe the alveoli dependent on that airway. The saline is retrieved by suction along with cellular and acellular material lining the epithelial surfaces of the lung. Cytologic and microbiologic evaluation of the fluid can be used to characterize pulmonary diseases in the dog and cat.

Hypocellular marrow and extramedullary hematopoiesis in a dog: hematologic recovery after splenectomy.

Nonregenerative anemia, poikilocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly were found in a 6-year-old dog. Marrow aspiration did not yield marrow particles, and microscopic examination of a marrow-core biopsy indicated hypocellular marrow. Marked extramedullary hematopoiesis was found in liver and spleen biopsy specimens. After splenectomy, the clinical and hematologic abnormalities resolved. The dog subsequently developed hemolytic anemia caused by Haemobartonella canis, which was resolved with oral tetracycline treatment. The dog remained healthy without recurrence of cytopenias or hypocellular marrow for 2 years after splenectomy. The clinical, hematologic, and microscopic findings in this dog were compatible with hypersplenism.

Clinical and hematologic findings in canine ehrlichiosis.

The clinical and hematologic findings for 56 dogs with ehrlichiosis were studied retrospectively. All dogs had a high serum antibody titer to Ehrlichia canis. The frequency of bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia in these dogs was lower than previously described for dogs so affected. A bleeding disorder caused by a suspected qualitative platelet defect was found in some dogs that did not have thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocytic hyperplasia and high numbers of plasma cells were observed frequently on marrow aspirate smears. The clinical and laboratory findings of dogs were variable and were considered nonspecific for ehrlichiosis.