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American Cocker Spaniels (ACSs) develop aural ceruminous gland hyperplasia and ectasia more often than dogs of other breeds. Data on the cause and development of these breed characteristic histopathological changes are lacking. We performed video-otoscopic examinations and dermatological work-up on 28 ACSs, obtained aural biopsies from each dog and assessed the statistical associations between the presence of ceruminous gland hyperplasia and ectasia and disease history, clinical or microbiological findings and underlying cause of otitis externa (OE). Histological lesions of ceruminous gland hyperplasia and ectasia were observed in aural biopsies from 6/13 clinically healthy ears and 13/15 ears with OE from 19/28 examined dogs. Nine of 28 dogs had histologically normal ceruminous glands (odds ratio [OR] 6.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-36.6). Bacterial growth in microbiological culture of aural exudate (OR 14.1, 95% CI 2.1-95.3) was associated with ceruminous glandular changes, whereas previous history of OE, cutaneous findings or underlying allergies were not. Pedigree analysis and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) were performed on 18 affected and eight unaffected dogs based on histopathological diagnosis. While the GWAS indicated a tentative, but not statistically significant, association of ceruminous gland hyperplasia and ectasia with chromosome 31, a larger cohort is needed to confirm this preliminary result. Based on our results, ceruminous gland hyperplasia and ectasia may also precede clinical signs of OE in ACSs and a genetic aetiological component is likely Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to verify our preliminary results., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Progressive disease is common following anal sacculectomy for apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA); additional therapy may prolong survival. Adherence to medical recommendations influences therapeutic success in humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the adherence to follow-up recommendations in dogs with AGASACA. Medical records of patients that underwent anal sacculectomy for AGASACA, with or without iliosacral lymphadenectomy, between July 2015 and July 2018, were reviewed at eight referral institutions to assess post-operative recommendations and owner adherence to recommendations. One hundred and seventy-four dogs were included, of which 162 underwent unilateral anal sacculectomy, 12 underwent bilateral anal sacculectomy and 39 underwent concurrent iliosacral lymphadenectomy. Seventy-six owners (44%) received recommendations for staging at the time of discharge, histopathology results or at the first follow-up visit. One hundred and forty owners (80%) received recommendations for treatment following the initial surgery. Fifty of seventy-six (66%) owners pursued at least one staging recommendation and 69 of 140 (49%) owners pursued some kind of adjuvant treatment recommendation. Overall, 16 of 76 (21%) were adherent to staging recommendations with 20 adherent for the first year following surgery (26%). Forty-seven of 140 (34%) were adherent to treatment recommendations with 54 (39%) adherent for the first year. Owners that were adherent to restaging recommendations at 1 year following surgery were significantly more likely to pursue treatment for progressive disease (P = .014). Further work is required to assess owner motivation and evaluate strategies to improve adherence, given the potential impact on patient treatment., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)