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Chronically sustained systemic hypertension in dogs can damage the kidneys, eye, brain, heart, and vessels. In human medicine, systemic hypertension has been implicated as the most common risk factor for aorta dilation, which can progress to an aneurysm. Abdominal ultrasound has been commonly used to monitor the size of the abdominal aorta in people with systemic hypertension. In this retrospective cross-sectional abdominal ultrasound study, evaluation of the size of the abdominal aorta relative to the caudal vena cava was performed in 18 control dogs and 128 dogs with confirmed systemic hypertension. Preexisting conditions contributing to systemic hypertension in these dogs were renal disease, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, adrenal tumors, and previous administration of phenylpropanolamine or palladia. The abdominal aorta and caudal vena cava were assessed from longitudinal images cranial to the trifurcation with measurements made from outer border to outer border of the walls, being careful not to compress the caudal vena cava that would alter its size. Our hypothesis was the ratio of the diameter of the abdominal aorta to caudal vena cava would be higher in dogs with systemic hypertension compared to dogs with normal blood pressure. The mean abdominal aorta-caudal vena cava ratio was 1.028 in control dogs with a normal blood pressure and 1.515 in dogs with systemic hypertension. In dogs with confirmed systemic hypertension, the abdominal aorta was dilated compared to the caudal vena cava in the caudal abdomen. An increase in the abdominal aorta-caudal vena cava ratio in a dog should raise suspicion for the presence of systemic hypertension and prompt evaluation of blood pressure.

A fast-growing Mycobacterium species was cultured from draining, purulent lesions on the caudal abdomen of a 12-year-old male domestic long-haired cat. Whole-genome sequencing identified the organism as Mycobacterium porcinum.

A 1.98 kg, 9-year-old pet rabbit was presented after an 11-month period of intermittent haematuria and recent weight loss. A soft tissue mass was palpable in the caudal abdomen; ultrasonography and an exploratory laparotomy were performed to investigate. Following successful removal of the mass, microscopic examination identified the mass as a prostatic adenocarcinoma. The patient was euthanased due to its poor prognosis and poor return to normal gastrointestinal function postoperatively.

A 21-year-old female California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) was presented to the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, with a space-occupying mass in the caudal abdomen. Following clinical, radiological and sonographical evaluation the mass was removed surgically. Histopathology and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of a granular cell tumour, but immunohistochemical labelling for a range of markers was negative. This lesion is rare in mammals and birds, but has not been reported previously in a reptile.

Objective To describe a ventral midline preputial approach to the caudal abdominal cavity of male dogs. Study Design Retrospective clinical study. Sample Population Client-owned dogs (n=12). Method Medical records of dogs which underwent a ventral midline preputial approach to the caudal abdominal cavity were reviewed. The procedure, outcome, and complication were recorded. Results Dogs underwent the preputial approach to the caudal abdominal cavity for various conditions. All dogs had an uneventful postoperative recovery and no major complications were recorded until suture removal at 10–14 days postoperative. Two dogs had minor complications treated conservatively which resolved. Conclusion The use of ventral midline preputial approach is an option for access to the caudal abdomen. The approach preserves the protractor preputii muscles, obviates ligation of the branches of the caudal superficial epigastric vessels and eliminates the need for extensive subcutaneous dissection.

Arterioportal fistulae are rare congenital anomalies of the hepatic vasculature. Diagnosis is conventionally made by selective angiography or ultrasonography. This report describes use of a dual-phase computed tomographic (CT) angiographic technique to diagnose arterioportal fistulae in four dogs. Advantages of this method include a noninvasive peripheral injection of contrast medium, ability to diagnose multiple acquired extrahepatic shunts, and observation of hemodynamic changes such as hepatofugal blood flow and reduced circulation to the caudal abdomen. The hepatic vasculature including arteries, veins, and portal veins can be completely evaluated. Dual-phase CT angiography is a safe and minimally invasive method of diagnosing arterioportal fistulae in dogs.

From December 1995 to July 1999, eight mammary gland tumors were diagnosed in eight adult captive female African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). The tumors presented as single or multiple subcutaneous masses along the cranial or caudal abdomen that varied in size for each hedgehog. Histologically, seven of eight (88%) mammary gland tumors were malignant. Tumors were classified as solid (4 cases), tubular (2 cases), and papillary (2 cases). Seven tumors had infiltrated into the surrounding stroma and three tumors had histologic evidence of neoplastic vascular invasion. Three hedgehogs had concurrent neoplasms. These are believed to be the first reported cases of mammary gland tumors in African hedgehogs.

The purpose of this study was to produce a comprehensive anatomic atlas of CT anatomy of the dog for use by veterinary radiologists, clinicians, and surgeons. Whole-body CT images of two mature beagle dogs were made with the dogs supported in sternal recumbency and using a slice thickness of 13 mm. At the end of the CT session, each dog was euthanized, and while carefully maintaining the same position, the body was frozen. The body was then sectioned at 13-mm intervals, with the cuts matched as closely as possible to the CT slices. The frozen sections were cleaned, photographed, and radiographed using xeroradiography. Each CT image was studied and compared with its corresponding xeroradiograph and anatomic section to assist in the accurate identification of specific structures. Clinically relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled in the three corresponding photographs (CT image, xeroradiograph, and anatomic section). In previous papers, the head and neck, and the thorax and cranial abdomen of the mesaticephalic (beagle) dog were presented. In this paper, the caudal part of the abdomen and pelvis of the bitch and male dog are presented.

A 15-month-old bitch was presented for investigation of a two-month history of dysuria. Clinical signs had developed within one day of routine ovariohysterectomy. A rounded mass was palpable in the caudal abdomen which was shown radiographically to displace and compress the urinary bladder. On ultrasonography, the mass was composed primarily of pockets of hypoechoic fluid divided by hyperechoic septae; blood was obtained on fine-needle aspiration. The mass was surgically removed and the dog regained normal urinary function within a few days. Histopathological examination showed the mass to be an encapsulated haematoma, which is likely to have developed as a result of the ovariohysterectomy.

In this study, two unusual presentations of canine prostatitis are described; in the first case a 10-years-old neutered Boxer dog was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Extremadura with a complaint of anorexia, apathy and preputial discharge. In the second case, a local veterinarian referred an 8-years-old male Labrador to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Extremadura. The dog had a history of pain in the caudal abdomen and preputial oedema. The final diagnosis in both cases was acute prostatitis. It is concluded that although canine prostatitis is a common disease, sometimes can have presentations that may differ from those classically described in the literature.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents illustrations that are likely to be of practical importance to those working with laboratory mice. The illustrations include the body regions, a simple demonstration of the skeleton, the muscles, and a dissection of the body cavities with description of major organs. The terminology used in the chapter is based on the international veterinary anatomical nomenclature published by Schaller, Constantinescu, Habel, Sack, Simoens, Vos (1992). In the chapter, in the figure captions, XY denotes male and XX denotes female. The figure caption lists the regions of the body such as the face, skull, neck, chest, back, pelvis, cranial abdomen, middle abdomen, caudal abdomen, forelimbs, and hindlimbs.

A five-year-old, male crossbreed rabbit was referred for acute caudal abdominal swelling. On physical examination, the rabbit was slightly depressed and showed an enlarged subcutaneous cyst in the caudal abdomen and an adjacent small, ulcerated solid mass. A drainage tube was placed in the cystic area, and surgical resection of the solid mass was performed. The histopathological diagnosis of the mass was apocrine adenocarcinoma. To the authors' knowledge, this report describes the first case of spontaneous apocrine adenocarcinoma of possible sweat gland origin in a male rabbit.

Uterine torsion secondary to sacculation of the uterine horns was diagnosed in two non-gravid bitches which were presented with anorexia, polydipsia and an acutely swollen abdomen. On the basis of the radiological and ultrasonographic findings, which indicated the presence of an enlarged spherical or tubular structure filled with hypoechoic material in the caudal abdomen, a tentative diagnosis of pyometra was made. Exploratory laparotomy revealed unilateral uterine horn torsion along the longitudinal axis, with bilateral fluid-filled sacculations. Ovariohysterectomy was performed in both cases. Pathological examination of the uteri demonstrated haematometra in one dog and pyometra in the other.

A spherical mass on the medial aspect of the thigh and caudal abdomen of a 15-year-old female Perodicticus potto was surgically removed and shown to be a myeloliposarcoma. Mineralogical examination of these tissues showed them to be amorphous to X-rays. Thirty-two elements were determined by chemical analysis of the tumor.

This manuscript demonstrates that gray-scale ultrasonography can be useful for the diagnosis of many canine abdominal disorders. It is safe, noninvasive, and requires minimal patient preparation. Size, shape, and location of abdominal organs can be determined readily. The unique physical properties of ultrasound allow detection and characterization of mass lesions and parenchymal pathology associated with abdominal organs. Ultrasonography can complement existing imaging modalities by adding information not obtainable by other methods. The effective use of ultrasound requires knowledge of its advantages, limitations, and how it complements other diagnostic procedures. The medical histories of four dogs were reported in order to illustrate proper application of ultrasound to clinical problems. Basic findings concerning ultrasound utilization for investigation of the liver, kidney, and caudal abdomen were discussed.

Few naturally occurring tumors have been reported in primates. A spherical mass was noticed on the medial aspect of the thigh and caudal abdomen of a 15-year old female Perodicticus potto . The mass was surgically removed and the recovery was uneventful. Histological examination provided the diagnosis of myeloliposarcoma. Thirty-two elements were detected by chemical analysis. These are Na, K, Rb, Cs, Li, Cu, Ag, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Zn, Cd, Hg, B, Al, Ga, Si, Sn, Ti, P, Bi, V, S, Se, Mo, F, Cl, Br, Fe, Co and Ni. It has been proposed by some that tumor tissue tends to be chemically similar to embryonic tissue. Bromine is unexpectedly high in the potto tumor, in other tumor analyses reported in the literature, as well as in the only available embryonic tissue from the female potto, a placenta. Data are presented that lend credence to the speculation that Br may have a hitherto unexpected function in reproduction.

Radiographic, historical, clinical signs, and surgical and histopathologic findings of six dogs with diagnosed cystic uterus masculinus are given. The condition was seen in aged dogs between 4 and 15 years (mean of 8.8 years). There was no breed predisposition, although the larger breeds were involved in this study. The predominant clinical signs were constipation, dysuria and anuria. Lateral survey recumbent abdominal radiographs coupled with negative-or positive-contrast cystography were useful in delineating the bladder and the urethra, thus revealing the smooth-contoured, asymmetrical fluid-filled viscus in the caudal abdomen. The bi-horned cysts were connected to the dorsal urethra through a short blind-ending pedicle. The nonseptic, aspermic, cystic fluid averaged 146.7 ml (range of 100–200 ml). The predominant epithelial lining cells seen were simple columnar to pseudostratified columnar.

Recordings of neuronal activity in the pudendal, genitofemoral, and pelvic nerves indicate that the sensory fields of these three nerves are the perineum, the caudal abdomen, and the vagino-cervical area and rectum, respectively. The sensory field of the pudendal nerve was significantly larger in estrogen-treated ovariectomized female rats than in uninjected controls. This effect of estrogen was not mediated by pudendal efferents.