Topics in Companion Animal Medicine

Chronic elevation in the systolic blood pressure (SBP) adversely affects the lifespan in the dog by causing injury to the eye, heart, kidney and brain. Understanding the association between SBP and target organ damage (TOD) helps in risk categorization and treatment planning. Therefore, a prospective study was undertaken to find the association between SBP and renal resistive index (RI) in naturally occurring cases of canine systemic hypertension. Based on the ACVIM guidelines 2018, dogs (n=135) were categorized into four risk groups of SBP, viz...

Platelets contain a multitude of growth factors and play a crucial role in physiological processes such as thrombogenesis, tissue repair, and angiogenesis. As a result, platelet-derived products have significant potential for efficient utilization in the realm of regenerative medicine due to their therapeutic and biological attributes. Numerous studies have already substantiated the therapeutic viability of platelets in various canine ailments. The existing literature indicates a substantial surge in the clinical application of canine platelets, positioning platelet-derived products as a viable alternative to conventional therapeutic agents...

Conical coupling locking plates (CCP) have become an interesting alternative in veterinary orthopedics and traumatology. Available data in this regard, however, must be interpreted with caution, and several studies are still required to reach definitive conclusions on the clinical use of these implants. In this context, this review aims to discuss CCP applications and mechanical aspects in small animals and summarize in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo study results.

Dioctophyme renale (D. renale) is a nematode that parasitizes the kidney of mammals. Treatment is often surgical, with removal of the affected organ. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and surgical aspects, the interval between diagnosis and treatment, the occurrence of pre- and intraoperative complications, and the postoperative survival time of dogs parasitized by D. renale undergoing therapeutic nephrectomy. Records of fifty-two dogs treated in a single hospital service were analyzed...

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of zoonotic enteroparasites in the feces of dogs from public shelters, squares, parks, and public roads in the city of Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil, and to evaluate the perception of dog guardians regarding zoonoses and their risk to public health. Fecal samples were collected, coproparasitological examinations were performed to detect zoonotic enteroparasites, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp...

Paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) is a combination of signs unrelated to the physical presence of a tumor and/or its metastases. Its presence may result in poorer clinical outcomes and prognosis. Gastrointestinal ulceration is a well-known PNS in animals with cutaneous MCT. This retrospective study analyzed the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) PNS at the time of diagnosis. Using medical records, we attempted to correlate the occurrence of these GI signs with clinical and histologic criteria, as well as to evaluate their influence on the disease-free interval (DFI) and survival (ST) over a six-year follow-up period (2013-2020)...

A 7-month-old female spayed domestic short hair cat was presented for evaluation of inadequate clinical response to medical management for hepatic encephalopathy (HE). An abdominal computed tomography (CT) was to be performed but the cat developed 2 grand mal seizures shortly after presentation. Minimal handling and no drugs had been administered before the seizures. A single dose of diazepam (0.3 mg/kg, IV) was administered after each seizure. Another seizure occurred 24 h after hospitalization and diazepam (0...

Dogs with canine parvovirus enteritis (CPVE) that develop systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) frequently have a poor prognosis. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic potential of thrombocyte indices, acute phase proteins, electrolytes, and acid-base markers in CPVE puppies with SIRS (CPVE-SIRS+) at admission. A case-controlled, prospective, and observational study was performed on 36 CPVE puppies. Mean concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, thrombocyte count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), sodium (Na+ ), potassium (K+ ), chloride (Cl- ) and ionized calcium (iCa) were measured and strong ion difference 3 (SID3 ), ATOT-albumin and ATOT-total protein were determined in CPVE-SIRS+ survivors and nonsurvivors...

A 3-month-old female French Bulldog presented with hematuria, severe pollakiuria, and urinary incontinence lasting for 1.5 months. Broad-spectrum empirical antibiotic therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were initiated by the referring veterinarian. Due to a lack of improvement, the dog was referred. At referral examination, urinary clinical signs persisted (hematuria, severe pollakiuria) and a firm bladder was noted. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed severe, diffuse bladder wall thickening with a significant reduction in the bladder lumen...

A green iguana (Iguana iguana) was presented for severe pruritus, dysecdysis, reduced appetite, lethargy, and the presence of dark red spots on the entire body. A pruritic dermatitis was present on the owner's arms as well. Parasitological examination (light microscopy) performed on the affected iguana, via skin scraping and acetate tape test, revealed numerous Hirstiella spp. mites. Resolution of clinical signs occurred three weeks after daily water bath and three weekly applications of a 0.25% fipronil solution (sprayed on a glove and then rubbed on the skin of the lizard) along with application of diluted fipronil (1:5 in water)...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the repeated administration of tramadol subcutaneously on postoperative analgesia, liver, kidneys, and oxidative status in the postoperative period of cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Thirty-seven cats were randomly assigned to 5 groups, according to the postoperative analgesic treatment: NaCl 0.9%, GC; tramadol at 2 mg/kg, T2B (q12h) and T2T (q8h); or 4 mg/kg, T4B (q12h) and T4T (q8h). Oxidative status was assessed at baseline, 12 hours and 24 hours after the final administration of tramadol by the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and lipoperoxidation (MDA)...

Endoscopic-assisted transcervical inseminations (TCIs) have become increasingly popular. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate data from the transcervical inseminations performed at our facility. We evaluated data from January 2018 through December 2021. This included 137 cases with fresh, 67 cases chilled, and 63 cases using frozen-thawed semen. All bitches underwent breeding management to determine the ideal breeding period. All semen samples were evaluated for total number of sperm, total motility, and progressive motility...

UNLABELLED: Cat reproduction is important for research and commercial cat breeding operations, as well as the control of feral cat populations. This review describes studies examining reproductive performance in laboratory cats, privately-owned breeding cats, and feral cats, including sexual maturity, the estrous cycle (timing, behavior, and hormonal changes), seasonal effects, gestation length, parturition (litter size, litter weight, and parity effects), mortality, and stillbirth. Because the studies highlighted in this review vary in the location where they were conducted and the region's management practices, these factors should be considered depending on the goal of the reader when interpreting these data...

Flyball is a fast-paced, high-energy canine sport which has received negative press regarding the potential for injury, and possible welfare implications for canine competitors. Whilst frequency of injury within the sport has been investigated, evidence gaps remain regarding cause. The aim of this study was therefore to identify risk factors for injury within the sport, with a view to improving competitor safety. An online questionnaire was used to obtain data on dogs that had competed in flyball in the last five years but remained injury free, and a second questionnaire obtained data on dogs that had also competed within the last five years but sustained an injury...

Tumor angiogenesis is an important process in tumor growth, and different molecules are involved in its regulation including VEGF-A, BMP2, and CD31, which can be considered possible prognostic markers. The aim of this study was to verify whether the VEGF-A and BMP2 immunostaining area, and microvascular density (MVD) might be associated with the degree of malignancy in malignant mammary neoplasms of dogs. For this purpose, samples of mammary malignancies from female dogs embedded in wax were used and separated into four main histomorphological types: tubulopapillary carcinomas, solid, complex, and carcinosarcoma, which were separated based on high and low degrees of malignancy...

Stress in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) may influence veterinarians' ability to assess their health and can lead to complications such as gastrointestinal hypomotility and poor anesthetic outcomes. Gabapentin has been used as an anxiolytic in various species, but little information is available on its use in rabbits. To assess the effect of gabapentin on stress in rabbits, five female and three male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 8 to 12 months, weighing 3-4.5 kg, were administered a single dose (25 mg/kg) of oral compounded gabapentin...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Misonix bone scalpel (MBS) for craniotomies in dogs and describe clinical findings and surgical experience in three dogs with large multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) of the skull. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaver evaluation and retrospective case series. ANIMALS: One canine cadaver; three client-owned dogs. METHODS: Craniotomies of different sizes and at different locations were performed with MBS...

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Trichofolliculomas are the most common non-malignant cutaneous tumors in guinea pigs. While the treatment of choice is surgical excision, complications may occur with general anesthesia and post-operative healing and discomfort after large tissue resection. We describe a case of a trichofolliculoma treated with a conscious, minimally invasive surgical procedure utilizing injectable lidocaine as local anesthetic, with no complications and excellent cosmetic results.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma injection on the survival of experimentally developed subdermal plexus skin flaps in cats. Two flaps, 2 cm wide and 6 cm long were created bilaterally in the dorsal midline in 8 cats. Each flap was randomized to 1 of 2 groups: platelet-rich plasma injection and control. After flap development, the flaps were immediately placed back on the recipient bed. Then 1.8 mL of platelet-rich plasma was equally injected into 6 different parts of the treatment flap...