Bufo marinus intoxication in dogs: 94 cases (1997-1998).

OBJECTIVE: To determine history, clinical and electrocardiographic abnormalities, treatment, and outcome of dogs exposed to toxins produced by the Bufo marinus toad. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 94 dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records of dogs examined between July 1997 and July 1998 for which a diagnosis of toad intoxication had been made on the basis of history and physical examination findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Most (66) dogs were treated during the spring and summer. For 54 dogs, exposure to toads had been witnessed. For the remaining 40, toad intoxication was diagnosed on the basis of history and clinical signs. The most common clinical signs were neurologic abnormalities, hyperemic mucous membranes, ptyalism, recumbency or collapse, tachypnea, and vomiting. The oral cavity was lavaged with tap water in all dogs. Fifty-two dogs were hospitalized for treatment. Body weight of dogs hospitalized > 2 hours was significantly less than that of dogs treated as outpatients. The most common electrocardiographic findings were sinus arrhythmia, sinus tachycardia, and normal sinus rhythm. Eighty-nine dogs recovered fully, 4 died, and 1 was euthanatized. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In areas in which B marinus toads are endemic, toad intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis for dogs with an acute onset of neurologic abnormalities, hyperemic mucous membranes, and ptyalism, especially during the spring and summer months. The prognosis is good for dogs with toad intoxication that receive appropriate treatment.

Prognostic factors in dogs with osteosarcomas of the flat or irregular bones.

The medical records of 45 dogs with histopathologically confirmed osteosarcomas arising from flat or irregular bones were reviewed. Thirty-five percent of the dogs eventually developed metastases. Telangectatic tumors and tumors arising from the rib and scapula had the highest prevalence of metastases. Survival times were short, with an overall median survival time of 120 days. Anatomic site, body weight, and completeness of surgical excision were found to be prognostic factors. Dogs with mandibular osteosarcomas in this study had shorter survival times than those times recently reported. 21 Local recurrence was the most common cause of death or euthanasia in this population of dogs.

Comparative effects of 7% NaCl in 6% dextran 70 and 0.9% NaCl on oxygen transport in endotoxemic dogs.

We compared the effects of 7% NaCl in 6% dextran 70 (HSD) and 0.9% NaCl (IS) resuscitation of endotoxic dogs on hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory parameters and the oxygen consumption-delivery relationship. Escherichia coli endotoxin (3 mg.kg-1, intravenously) was infused over 5 min into 13 paralyzed, chloralose-anesthetized, splenectomized dogs. Six additional dogs received a sham endotoxin infusion (saline) and served as controls. After 30 min, the endotoxic animals were resuscitated to 150% of their baseline cardiac output (CO) and maintained at this CO for 30 min using 7% NaCl in 6% dextran 70 (HSD at 1 ml.kg-1.min-1; n = 7) or 0.9% NaCl (IS at 4 ml.kg-1.min-1; n = 6). Oxygen consumption (VO2), measured by indirect calorimetry, hemodynamic parameters, and oxygen delivery (DO2), improved in similar temporal patterns in both groups during resuscitation and VO2 reached steady-state values. Oxygen delivery, VO2, mean arterial pressure, and cardiac output did not significantly differ between groups at the end of resuscitation, but VO2 increased significantly from baseline values only in the HSD group. The total volume of HSD administered averaged 10.0 +/- 0.2 ml.kg-1 which was significantly less than the volume of IS, which averaged 67.2 +/- 9.3 ml.kg-1. Incremental hemorrhages (2-5 ml.kg-1) were then performed in all dogs to determine the oxygen consumption-delivery relationship and the critical level of oxygen delivery (DO2Crit). The average DO2Crit values of the HSD, IS, and control groups were 9.42, 9.15, and 6.82 ml.min-1.kg-1, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)