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Objective: To present the clinical signs and treatment methods for atypical tumor‐like meibomitis in two dogs. Animals Studied: A 4‐year‐old castrated‐male Coton de Tulear (Case 1) and a 6‐year‐old spayed‐female Maltese dog (Case 2). Procedure: Full ophthalmic examination revealed a well‐circumscribed, firm, and raised solitary mass on the upper eyelid of the left (Case 1) and right eye (Case 2). Case 1 showed a recurrent mass with a diameter of 2–3 mm, which was excised by the referring veterinarian. The possibility of meibomian gland involvement was suggested histopathologically. Case 2 had a history of blepharitis treated with systemic corticosteroids 4 years ago. Results: Topical and systemic antibiotics and anti‐inflammatory drugs were administered to reduce inflammation and prevent secondary infections. In Case 1, the mass appeared static at the beginning of medication; however, after stopping antibiotics while tapering steroids, the mass increased in size and was associated with suppurative discharge. In Case 2, the mass continued to grow despite treatment, showing a similar infection pattern. Cytological examination revealed neutrophilic inflammation with cocci infection, and bacterial culture confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in both cases. When steroid administration was stopped and antibiotic administration was initiated according to the results of the antibiotic susceptibility test, the mass rapidly decreased in size and completely disappeared. There was no recurrence on follow‐up. Conclusions: A unilateral antibiotic‐responsive tumor‐like solitary mass on the upper eyelid resolved without surgical treatment. Medical treatment must be considered when treating atypical eyelid masses, and the use of appropriate antibiotics through antibiotic susceptibility testing is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Kidney disease is prevalent among veterinary species, including zoo animals; however, investigations into this condition in striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are scarce. Diagnostic tools for kidney diseases in this species also remain limited., Objective: This study aimed to assess the utility of symmetric dimethylarginine as a biomarker for kidney disease in captive striped skunks in Korea., Methods: This retrospective study analysed 11 striped skunks housed at the Everland Zoo between 2017 and 2021. Blood samples were collected during health checks. Kidney function was assessed through blood analysis and diagnostic ultrasound, with necropsies conducted on deceased animals. Symmetric dimethylarginine levels were measured in 27 plasma samples collected from 11 skunks., Results: Over the study period, seven skunks were diagnosed with kidney disease. Analysis of 27 blood samples revealed a concurrent increase in SDMA levels with concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine. In 3 of the 7 skunks with kidney disease, symmetric dimethylarginine exceeded 14 µg/dL prior to the elevation of blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine above the upper reference limit., Conclusions and Relevance: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating symmetric dimethylarginine in captive striped skunks in Korea. Our findings suggest that symmetric dimethylarginine may serve as an early and consistent biomarker for renal dysfunction in striped skunks. Further studies with larger clinical sample size from striped skunks are needed to validate the clinical utility of blood symmetric dimethylarginine concentration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.)

A 12-year-old, spayed female, Maltese dog with a round and firm mass on the dorsal part of the left rear paw and a cervical mass was brought to the clinic. The paw mass was contiguous to the adjacent tendon; it was composed of neoplastic mesenchymal cells and had scattered foci of calcification with chondroid differentiation microscopically. The neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and S100, but negative for desmin and smooth muscle actin. Microscopic features and immunohistochemistry results were consistent with calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF). The cervical mass was composed of polygonal cells forming acini with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis and diagnosed as thyroid follicular carcinoma. No recurrence or metastasis occurred during follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of canine CAF with features identical to its human counterparts. Key clinical message: This report describes the rare case of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma on the paw in a dog. This is apparently the first case in the veterinary literature with identical clinical and pathological features to the human counterpart., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)