[Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium infection in 2 domestic cats]
Two domestic cats (Abyssinian and Carthusian) presented with chronic respiratory signs including cough, respiratory sounds, and polypnea. One of the cats also showed intermittent fever. Thoracic radiographs demonstrated severe changes with predominantly micronodular interstitial lung patterns, some with mineralized areas. Bronchoalveolar lavage detected high-grade pyogranulomatous airway inflammation. A cytological examination for acid-fast bacteria and a PCR for Mycobacteria species of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were negative in both cats. A culture for Mycobacteria of the BALF detected subspecies in both cats. While the clinical signs, but not the radiographic findings, could be controlled in one cat with prolonged double antibiotic therapy, the other cat developed septic peritonitis shortly after diagnosis and was euthanized. In unexplained chronic respiratory disease in cats, mycobacterial infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis. The breed of the first patient is consistent with the known predisposition for Abyssinians.
[Flushing the canine prepuce before mating, useful or not?]
Various facultative pathogenic bacteria have been detected in the dog's prepuce. To prevent the transmission of these bacteria, some breeders flush the prepuce of their stud dogs before mating. The purpose of this study is to find out whether preputial flushing is medically useful before mating.
Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP) compared to Exoprosthesis in veterinary medicine - a literature review
This literature review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis (ITAP) and stump socket prosthesis in amputated animals. The goal is to compare the advantages and disadvantages of ITAP with exoprosthesis use, given the importance of limb-sparing procedures in contemporary veterinary medicine.
[Assessment of the nutritional condition in Mediterranean tortoises (Testudo spp.) - an overview]
Assessing the nutritional status is a crucial component of the general examination for all patients. However, in tortoises, this may be challenging due to their unique anatomy and limitations of the shell. Despite their popularity, there is currently no established standard for assessing their nutritional status and body condition. Depending on the equipment of the veterinary practice, different examination methods are available. As each method has advantages and disadvantages and no clear references exist, an assessment of the nutritional status of tortoises should always consist of several factors. Therefore, detailed knowledge of tortoise physiology is essential when selecting the appropriate method. This article presents an overview of the currently best-known methods and their possible applications in veterinary practice, considering the physiological characteristics of tortoises.
[Congenital porto-phrenico-pulmonary shunt in a cat]
An 8-month-old castrated male Birman showing hematuria, stranguria, and intermittend head tremor was presented for further diagnostic work-up on suspicion of hepato-encephalopathic syndrome. Computed tomography examination revealed a shunt vessel emanating from the vena gastrica sinistra which connected to both the vena phrenica sinistra and a pulmonary vessel from the left caudal lung lobe draining into the left atrium. This represents the first case report describing the radiologic appearance, surgical ligation as well as the post-operative outcome of a cat with such a shunt form.
[A malignant pilomatrixoma in the tonsillar area of a dog]
This case report discusses a 12-year-old West Highland White Terrier presented to the veterinary clinic with reverse sneezing and oral dysphagia. The endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract revealed a mass in the area of the right tonsil. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a malignant pilomatrixoma. The dog underwent surgical cytoreduction, followed by radiation therapy. After the treatment, the dog was free of clinical signs for 154 days and in good general condition. Due to recurrence of signs and the suspicion of clinically overt metastases in the mandibular lymph nodes, the dog was euthanized 261 days after the diagnosis. This is the first report of a malignant pilomatrixoma in the tonsillar area that has been treated with cytoreductive surgery and radiation therapy.
[Hemophilia A in a male cat with intermittent lameness]
A 3-month-old domestic shorthair tomcat born on a farm was unsuccessfully treated with meloxicam for alternating lameness, fever and inappetence. On presentation, there was lameness (grade 2/4) of the right forelimb with mild swelling of the soft tissue. Rectal temperature was 39.9°C, a moderate anemia developed. Inadequate bleeding occurred during arthrocentesis performed on suspicion of polyarthritis. Coagulation tests revealed an isolated prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Activity of factor VIII was 5% (reference range: 70-125%), of factor IX 55% (80-130%), and of factor XII 73% (50-140%).In a genetic study, exons and adjacent intron sequences of the feline F8-gene were sequenced and compared with the reference (ENSFCAT000078256.1). While no non-synonymous variants were found in coding sequences, intron 19 revealed the variant c.6073+2 T>C. This variant likely results in splice site alteration, atypical splicing, and thus an altered mRNA for FVIII.The patient was treated symptomatically (metamizole, buprenorphine, tranexamic acid) and clinical signs improved. Chemical castration with a GnRH implant was performed at 8 and 18 months of age, whereby minor bleeding at the implantation site occurred after the second implantation. After 3.5 years, the cat lives nearly without clinical signs of bleeding.aPTT prolongation with normal PT indicated a factor deficiency. Determination of factor activity led to the diagnosis of hemophilia A. Genetic testing detected a splice variant in the F8-gene.
[Nephrectomy in a rabbit with renal adenocarcinoma]
The following case report describes the clinical approach concerning diagnostic procedures and treatment of a renal adenocarcinoma in a 2-year-old rabbit presented due to hyporexia and polydipsia. The clinical examination disclosed an abdominal mass. Further imaging revealed a unilateral enlargement of the left kidney presumed to be of neoplastic origin. After staging via blood testing, abdominal ultrasound and radiographic imaging of the thorax and abdomen revealed no signs of metastasis, nephrectomy was performed. Patho-histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a renal adenocarcinoma. Despite its guarded prognosis the patient recovered completely and was free of metastases or other health limitations 12 months after the surgery.
Template based segmental mandibulectomy with nerve preservation and patient-specific PEEK plate reconstruction in a dog
A 7-year-old French Bulldog presented with an acanthomatous ameloblastoma affecting approximately 30% of the right mandibular body. We utilized a patient-specific 3D-printed surgical template to perform lateral fenestration of the mandible and elevation of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), facilitating nerve preservation during subsequent segmental mandibulectomy. The resulting critical-sized bone defect was anatomically stabilized using a patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) bridging plate. The recovery process was uneventful, with maintained occlusion and orofacial sensitivity.Similar to cases in humans with ameloblastoma, preserving orofacial sensitivity through the preservation of the inferior alveolar nerve seems feasible in dogs. Consequently, potential negative consequences of permanent regional denervation, which are unavoidable in traditional mandibulectomy, can be avoided. Bridging the ostectomy with a PEEK plate, offering advantages such as radiolucency, absence of imaging artifacts, and a modulus of elasticity similar to bone, proved to be functional in this canine patient, with no signs of complications observed up to the latest follow-up at 6 months.
[Arthroscopic removal of the fragmented medial coronoid process in dogs - Evaluation of treatment results with special reference to postoperative computed tomography and residual particles]
The aim of this study was to assess the treatment success of dogs with medial coronoid disease (here: Fragmented Coronoid Process [FCP]) following arthroscopically performed subtotal coronoidectomy by the use of subjective and objective gait analysis and the evaluation of osteoarthritis progression in addition to their correlation with the findings from postoperative computed tomography. In particular, the clinical relevance of residual particles remaining postoperatively was to be evaluated.
[Canine sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet-like syndrome): A description of 3 cases]
Three dogs were presented with a sudden onset of erythematous skin lesions, fever, and various extracutaneous signs, assigned to canine sterile neutrophilic dermatosis by clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic examination. This disease is very rare and comparable to Sweet syndrome in humans. According to the 4 forms of SS, the 1st and 3rd cases in this case report could be classified as classic/idiopathic SS. In this context, the respiratory signs may be a prodromal stage of SS preceding the skin lesions or possibly an infection of the respiratory tract was the trigger for SS. The 2nd case, on the other hand, shows a clear and the 3rd case a possible connection to pathergy as a consequence of a previous surgical treatment (case 2 a tibial plateau levelling osteotomy [TPLO] 20 days previously, case 3 a hemilaminectomy 90 days previously). This way, both may be assigned to the 4th form of SS. In all 3 cases, an adverse drug reaction as a trigger cannot be ruled out with certainty, as medication was used before the diagnosis was made in each case. Besides the most common extracutaneous signs such as fever and neutrophilia, immune-hemolytic anemia occurred in 2 of the patients. As therapeutic options, in addition to the established immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisolone, ciclosporin and azathioprine, oclacitinib is also included in the treatment regimen. In addition, administration of an antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel), which may be interpreted as a lesson learnt from the first of the presented cases, that died of pulmonary thromboembolism. In case 2, all drugs were tapered and eventually stopped over a period of 2.5 years and the patient has been without recurrence for 4 years. Case 3 is recurrence-free under therapy.
[Mycotoxin intoxication in 54 dogs after ingestion of walnuts]
The aim of this retrospective study was to decribe the intoxication with tremorgenic mycotoxins subsequent to the ingestion of walnuts in a large population of dogs and the evaluation of the development of the clinical signs under the initiated treatment.
[Impact of hypothyroidism on bitch fertility and neonatal mortality and morbidity - a review of the literature]
There are a few studies and case reports that postulate a connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in bitches and an increased neonatal mortality and morbidity in puppies. Other studies, however, cannot demonstrate a connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in bitches. In this work, the relevant literature is to be checked for its evidence. The connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders in the bitch, puppy mortality and neonatal morbidity to hypothyroidism will be analyzed based on a literature review. For this purpose, the available German and international "English-language" literature from 1986 to January 2023 was analyzed. It turns out that only a small amount of literature contains high levels of scientific evidence, as it mostly consists of case reports and expert opinions. In some case reports a connection between estrous abnormalities, galactorrhoea and infertility and the presence of hypothyroidism could be seen, but in experimental studies and according to the opinion of other authors the connection between hypothyroidism and reproductive disorders does not exist. A negative influence of hypothyroidism on the birth process could not be clearly proven. In an experimental study, although the duration and intensity of uterine contractions were longer and weaker in animals with hypothyroidism, the interval between pup births was not affected. Only in the area of neonatal mortality and morbidity a connection with the hypothyroidism of the dam could be demonstrated. The puppies of affected bitches showed a lower birth weight and were weaker than puppies of euthyroid bitches. The importance of hypothyroidism for fertility in the bitch has not yet been documented in the literature, but this endocrinopathy seems to have an influence on neonatal vitality.
[First detection of the SLC2A9:p.C188F gene defect in a German Hunting Terrier with ammonium urate urolithiasis]
A 1,5-year-old intact male German Hunting Terrier was initially presented 2018 with hematuria. An abdominal ultrasound revealed multiple hyperechogenic structures in the urinary bladder. A urinalysis indicated severe crystalluria (ammonium urate or xanthine). Following cystotomy and urinary calculus analysis, ammonium urate urolithiasis was diagnosed in 2019. The patient was tested homozygous at the variant, which results in severe hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria. This case report presents the first incidence of the gene variant being detected in a German Hunting Terrier. Veterinary practitioners are encouraged to consider the possibility of this gene defect presenting in breeds beyond the Dalmatian.
[Lameness and swelling of the metatarsus in a Saluki - Could it be an arteriovenous fistula?]
A 12-year-old Saluki was presented with acute lameness and plantar swelling of the right metatarsus following an episode of free running. Radiographs showed soft tissue swelling only, the involved bone and joint structures were unremarkable. The lesion recurred several months later. Ultrasonographic imaging of the lesion revealed a well-vascularized cavernous structure. Subsequent surgical removal and histopathological examination of the structure raised the initial suspicion of an arteriovenous fistula, which was then confirmed histologically following a second surgical removal of another recurrence. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the potential complexity of what initially appears to be a simple lameness. At the same time, attention is focused on the possibility that arteriovenous fistulas may tend to recur.
[Abdominal aortic malformation in 2 dogs]
Aneurysms of the abdominal aorta are only sporadically documented in the veterinary literature. This publication describes 2 canine cases in which abdominal aortic malformation was detected by sonography and confirmed by computed tomography. In one case a histological diagnosis of an aortic aneurysm was possible.One dog showed posterior weakness, in the second dog the aortic aneurysm had been noticed sonographically during a routine examination.In the patient with the proven aortic aneurysm, it may be presumed that a hemodynamically relevant component in consequence to the altered flow profile and occurring turbulence exists. In accordance with human medical standards, regular monitoring of these patients, both clinically and by ultrasound, would therefore appear to be useful in order to be able to detect the occurrence or progression of secondary hemodynamic changes and possible thrombus formation at an early stage. In contrast, the second case presented here has not shown any clinical signs with regard to the abdominal vascular malformation up to the present time.
[Thymoma in a young adult cat]
Thymomas and mediastinal lymphomas are the most common mediastinal neoplasms in cats. While mediastinal lymphoma occurs primarily in younger cats (approximately 2 to 4 years of age), thymomas are diagnosed almost exclusively in older cats. However, the following case shows that this is not necessarily always the case.A 3-year- and 11-month-old neutered male European Shorthair was presented with a preliminary report of exercise intolerance and restricted respiration. Both symptoms occurred primarily at high ambient temperatures. Radiographically, a mediastinal mass filled a significant part of the thoracic cavity. A computed tomographic examination and ultrasound-guided TruCut biopsy were performed. Histologic examination suggested a thymoma. A sternal thoracotomy and resection of the circumferential proliferation was conducted. Subsequent histopathologic examination confirmed the suspected diagnosis of a mediastinal thymoma. The cat recovered well postoperatively, and a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination was unremarkable after 8 months.
Imaging findings in otitis media and resulting secondary lesions in dogs and cats - an image essay
Over the past 2 decades, the increasing availability of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as the growing professional expertise have significantly improved the diagnostics of middle and inner ear diseases in dogs and cats. In answering some of the diagnostic questions, CT and MRT demonstrate equivalent performance. For most questions, however, there are differences in the diagnostic performance due to the physical imaging properties of the 2 modalities.CT is more sensitive in demonstrating involvement of the bulla wall and is more effective for detecting abnormal content within the tympanic bulla. In addition, with CT it is often easier to guide tissue samplings. On the other hand, structural changes of the soft tissues of the skull, head, meninges, brain, and nerves are not or only insufficiently detectable on CT images. MRI is clearly superior here. Therefore, MRI is essential for the characterization of materials inside the bulla cavity and for demonstrating the extent of any central spread of otitis media (OM).In this image essay, CT and MRI features of OM and resulting secondary lesions described in the literature are analyzed and summarized. Own image examples are used for illustration. Information on the etiology, pathogenesis, pathomorphology, and clinical signs important for understanding these changes are presented in concise descriptions.
[Unilateral othematoma as the only symptom in a dog with multiple myeloma]
An acute, unilateral othematoma was diagnosed in a 9-year-old mixed-breed dog. There was no clinical or anamnestic evidence for the cause of the othematoma. During diagnostic work-up, marked hyperglobulinemia and marked thrombocytopenia were detected. This was a consequence of a multiple myeloma. This is the first case report of a dog with othematoma secondary to coagulopathy associated with multiple myeloma.
[Differential diagnosis to malignant neoplasia: Nasopharyngeal mass in a cat with nasal cryptococcosis in Germany]
A 2-year-old Norwegian Forest cat was presented for evaluation of bilateral purulent nasal discharge and stertorous breathing. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed an intranasal mass of the left nasal cavity extending behind the tube openings and completely obstructing the nasopharynx. Rhinoscopy confirmed a pinkish, shiny mass. CT scan showed both compartments of the right middle ear filled with abnormal soft tissue attenuating material. There was no change in the bony outline of the middle ear. In the endoscopic examination, after endoscopically assisted tympanocentesis, this material in the accessible dorsolateral compartment proved to be classic polypous tissue in addition to highly viscous glue-like secretions. A secondary otitis media due to a drainage disorder was suspected.Using an endoscopic-interventional approach through the nostril, the nasopharyngeal mass was removed for histopathological examination, in order to restore the nasal airway, and to allow tube drainage. In contrast to cats with classical malignant nasal cavity masses, the cat showed several attachment points of the mass and multiple undulating elevations bilaterally in the nasopharyngeal mucosa.Cytological and histopathological examination identified the mass as a fungal granuloma in the context of a cryptococcus infection only rarely observed in Germany. Molecular genetic analysis confirmed an infection with var. .A single intranasal and nasopharyngeal endoscopic debridement resulted in a significant improvement of the clinical signs and a complete healing of the right middle ear (including the tympanic membrane) within 14 days, but not in a complete cure of the disease. The cat was therefore treated with oral itraconazole solution for several weeks.The case report shows that nasal cryptococcosis can also affect cats in Germany. Rhinoscopy reveals a nasopharyngeal mass with multiple attachment points, which is unusual for a neoplasia. In addition to the recommended removal of the mass, oral administration of systemic antimycotics is strongly advised.