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OBJECTIVE To report the presence of urolithiasis in dogs long-term after gradual attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (cEHPSS). ANIMALS 25 client-owned dogs that underwent gradual attenuation of a cEHPSS, of which 19 had a closed cEHPSS and 6 developed multiple acquired portosystemic shunts (MAPSS) following surgery. PROCEDURES A retrospective study with prospective follow-up was performed. Dogs that underwent cEHPSS surgery and had their postoperative cEHPSS status determined by transsplenic portal scintigraphy or CT angiography 3 months postoperatively were prospectively contacted and invited for a long-term follow-up visit (a minimum of 6 months postoperatively). Retrospective data were collected, and during the prospective follow-up visit a thorough history, blood tests and urinalysis, and ultrasonography of the urinary tract were performed to assess the presence of urinary signs and urolithiasis. RESULTS Of 25 included dogs, 1 of 19 (5%) dogs with closed cEHPSS and 4 of 6 (67%) dogs with MAPSS had urolithiasis at long-term follow-up. Three (50%) dogs with MAPSS developed new uroliths. Long-term, dogs with closed cEHPSS that initially presented with and without urolithiasis had significantly less urolithiasis compared to dogs with MAPSS (P = .013 and P = .010, respectively). In the 4 dogs with closed cEHPSS that initially presented with nephrolithiasis, nephroliths became smaller or were no longer visible at the long-term follow-up visit. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs that developed MAPSS following cEHPSS surgery are at greater risk of urolithiasis compared to those with closed cEHPSS. Furthermore, ammonium urate uroliths might dissolve if portosystemic shunting ceases to exist.

The primate scapula has been studied widely since its shape has been shown to correlate with how the forelimb is used in daily activities. In this study, we expand on the existing literature and use an image-based methodology that was originally developed for orthopaedic practice to quantify and compare the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the scapula across humans and great apes. We expect that this image-based approach will allow us to identify differences between great apes and humans that can be related to differences in mobility and loading regime of the shoulder. We hypothesize that gorillas and chimpanzees will have a similar scapular morphology, geared towards stability and weight-bearing in knuckle-walking, whilst the scapular morphology of orangutans is expected to be more similar to that of humans given their high glenohumeral mobility associated with their suspensory lifestyle. We made 3D reconstructions of computed tomography scans of 69 scapulae from four hominid genera (Pongo, Gorilla, Pan and Homo). On these 3D bone meshes, the inferior glenoid plane was determined, and subsequently, a set of bony landmarks on the scapular body, coracoid, and acromion were defined. These landmarks allowed us to measure a set of functionally relevant angles which represent acromial overhang, subacromial space and coracoacromial space. The angles that were measured are: the delto-fulcral triangle (DFT), comprising the alpha, beta, and delta angle, the acromion-glenoid angle (AGA), the coracoid-glenoid centre-posterior acromial angle (CGA), the anterior tilt (TA CGA) and the posterior tilt of the CGA (PT CGA). Three observers placed the landmarks on the 3D bone meshes, allowing us to calculate the inter-observer error. The main differences in the DFT were found between humans and the great apes, with small differences between the great apes. The DFT of humans was significantly lower compared to that of the great apes, with the smallest alpha (32.7 degrees), smallest delta (45.7 degrees) and highest beta angle (101.6 degrees) of all genera. The DFT of chimpanzees was significantly higher compared to that of humans (p < 0.01), with a larger alpha (37.6 degrees) and delta angle (54.5 degrees) and smaller beta angle (87.9 degrees). The mean AGA of humans (59.1 degrees) was significantly smaller (p < 0.001) than that of gorillas (68.8 degrees). The mean CGA of humans (110.1 degrees) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in orangutans (92.9 degrees). Humans and gorillas showed mainly a posterior tilt of their coracoacromial complex whilst chimpanzees showed mainly an anterior tilt. The coracoacromial complex of the orangutans was not tilted anteriorly or posteriorly. With our image-based method, we were able to identify morphological features of the scapula that differed significantly between hominid genera. However, we did not find an overall dichotomy in scapular morphology geared towards high stability (Pan/Gorilla) or high mobility (Homo/Pongo). Further research is needed to investigate the functional implications of these differences in scapular morphology.

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a novel ultrasound imaging technique, used in human medicine to differentiate metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) based on higher tissue stiffness. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate whether canine metastatic LNs were stiffer compared to non-metastatic LNs. SWE of sentinel or regional LNs in dogs with head and neck cancer was performed. Ten elastograms of each LN were acquired. In each elastogram, mean, median, and maximum shear wave velocities (SWVs) were calculated in the most elastic region, the stiffest region, and the entire LN. The means of those SWVs for each region of each LN were subsequently calculated. Furthermore, a stepwise subsampling was performed to assess the effect of the number of acquired elastograms on the consistency of the classification of a LN as metastatic or not. Twenty-four LNs in 15 dogs with head and neck cancer were included, of which 10 LNs were metastatic. Metastatic medial retropharyngeal and mandibular LNs were successfully distinguished from non-metastatic LNs based on higher mean and median SWVs in the stiffest region and higher maximum SWVs in entire LNs. Furthermore, maximum SWVs in the stiffest region of mandibular LNs were higher in metastatic LNs compared to non-metastatic LNs. Downstream analyses demonstrated that at least eight elastograms were necessary to perform reliable analyses. This pilot trial demonstrated that SWE has potential to discriminate metastatic from non-metastatic LNs; however, LN status should be based on at least eight elastograms in future clinical trials.

Doorgaans worden bacteriële urineweginfecties bij kleine huisdieren beduidend langer behandeld met antibiotica dan bij mensen en het vermoeden bestaat dat urineweginfecties bij honden en katten volgens de oorspronkelijke internationale richtlijnen uit 2011 te lang worden behandeld. Naast kosten voor de eigenaar en mogelijke bijwerkingen voor het dier brengt dit het risico op de ontwikkeling van antibioticumresisentie bij dier en mens met zich mee. In 2019 zijn er nieuwe richtlijnen van de “International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases” verschenen over de diagnose en behandeling van bacteriële urineweginfecties bij honden en katten. Het doel van dit artikel is om een overzicht te geven van de aangewezen behandeling (i. e. keuze van het antibioticum en duur van de therapie) bij de verschillende types bacteriële urine-weginfectie bij kleine huisdieren. Ook worden praktische tips meegegeven voor het definitief vaststellen van een urineweginfectie. Zo wordt in de eerste plaats zekerheid verkregen over de aanwezigheid van een bacteriële infectie als oorzaak van de aanwezige klachten en kan vervolgens ook een weloverwogen keuze worden gemaakt qua antibioticum, gebaseerd op het type urineweginfectie en het antibiogram. Ook de rol van niet-steroïdale ontstekingsremmers in de behandeling van lagere-urinewegklachten, in afwachting van het resultaat van een urinecultuur, wordt besproken. Tot slot is het belangrijk te beseffen dat niet elke positieve urinecultuur noodzakelijkerwijs een antibioticumtherapie inhoudt.

The sesamoid bone in the tendon of the m. abductor digiti primi longus is considered present in most dog breeds and is described to be radiologically detectable at the level of the carpus from the age of 4 months. However, an extensive investigation of this sesamoid bone has not been conducted before. The aim of this study was therefore to determine its prevalence in different dog breeds, to describe its histological development, and to determine the age at which it becomes radiologically visible. The prevalence of the sesamoid bone was assessed on radiographic images of the carpus or by dissection of the carpal region in 743 adult dogs of 115 breeds. Its development was studied by dissection and histological analysis in 45 puppies and its timing of radiological appearance was evaluated in 209 puppies. At least one sesamoid bone was present in all adult dogs, except for 14 dogs of six breeds of predominantly the small breed category. The lowest prevalence rate of 38.46% was exhibited in the French bulldog. The histological development could be divided into five stages. The first radiographic appearance corresponded to the coalescence of smaller ossification centers into one big nucleus (stage 4). The mean time of radiographic appearance was 108.4 days. This study provides extensive data on the prevalence and timing of the radiographic appearance of a sesamoid at the carpus of the dog. The data on radiographic appearance may be helpful in the age estimation of puppies.

Background Dogs with portosystemic shunts have an altered blood amino acid profile, with an abnormal branched-chained amino acid (BCAA)-to-aromatic amino acid (AAA) ratio being the most common abnormality. Different liver diseases have distinctive amino acid profiles. Objectives Determine the changes in plasma amino acid profiles in dogs with extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS) from diagnosis to complete closure. Animals Ten client-owned dogs with EHPSS closed after surgical attenuation. Methods Prospective cohort study. Medical treatment was instituted in dogs diagnosed with EHPSS. At least 4 weeks later, gradual surgical attenuation was performed. Three months postoperatively, EHPSS closure was confirmed by transsplenic portal scintigraphy. Clinical signs were scored and blood was taken before institution of medical treatment, at time of surgery, and 3 months postoperatively. At the end of the study, the plasma amino acid profiles were analyzed in batch. Results The median BCAA-to-AAA ratio was extremely low (0.6) at time of diagnosis and remained low (0.5) at time of surgery, despite the fact that median neurological score significantly improved from 22 to 2 after starting medical treatment (P = .04). Three months after surgical attenuation, a significantly higher BCAA-to-AAA ratio (1.5) was observed (P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Medical treatment does not improve the BCAA-to-AAA ratio in dogs with EHPSS, despite substantial clinical improvement. Although the ratio significantly increased after EHPSS closure, it was still indicative of moderate to severe hepatic dysfunction in all dogs.

A six-year-old, male, castrated European shorthair cat was presented due to a lifelong history of sneezing, nasal discharge, open-mouth breathing, stertor and vestibular problems. Clinical examination showed absence of airflow through the nostrils. Computed tomography of the head revealed an infiltrative soft tissue attenuating mass in the left nasal cavity, nasopharynx and the left frontal sinus. All of these locations could be successfully accessed through ventral rhinotomy and the mass was completely removed. Histological examination identified it as an inflammatory polyp. All respiratory and neurological symptoms disappeared, and two-and-a-half years after surgery, the cat was still without complaints.

Een zes jaar oude, vrouwelijke, gesteriliseerde Europese korthaar werd aangeboden voor chronisch vermageren, en partiele anorexie en lethargie die reeds twee dagen aanwezig waren. Op abdominale echografie was er een focale verdikking van de wand van het duodenum met verlies van het normale patroon van de lagen. De gemeenschappelijke galafvoergang was focaal gedilateerd en bevatte echogene gal. De papilla duodenalis was mild tot matig gedilateerd. Op basis van het echografisch onderzoek was de meest waarschijnlijke diagnose een peripapillaire duodenale neoplasie, of minder waarschijnlijk, een inflammatoir of infectieus proces, met secundaire extrahepatische galgangobstructie. Tijdens autopsie werden een duodenaal peripapillair adenocarcinoom met metastasen in de lever en regionale lymfeknopen, en een obstructie van de extrahepatische galgangen gediagnosticeerd.

Tumor-targeting contrast agents may facilitate resection of solid neoplasms during fluorescence-guided surgery. Preliminary safety and imaging efficacy of the near-infrared fluorescent probe DA364 were evaluated during surgical resection of spontaneous solid tumors in 24 dogs. Intra-operative imaging was performed in situ and on excised specimens to evaluate fluorescence intensities of tumor and adjacent tissues. After standard-of-care tumor resection, the wound bed was imaged again, and additional tissue was excised if residual fluorescence was detected. DA364 was well tolerated after intravenous administration. The median tumor-to-background ratio in situ for mammary tumors, mast cell tumors and sarcomas was 1.8 (range 1.2–3.9), 2.2 (range 1.0–5.6), and 4.2 (range 2.0–4.3), respectively. Qualitative intra-operative tumor identification was feasible in half of the cases. Remaining fluorescence was detected in four wound beds that contained residual disease, and in11 tumor-free wound beds, confirmed by histopathology. Overall, DA364 did not raise safety concerns and showed accumulation in different types of spontaneous tumors, showing potential to pinpoint residual disease. Larger clinical trials are necessary to select accurate dosing and imaging protocols for specific indications to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the agent.

Objectives The first objective was to assess correlation between free thyroxine (fT4) measurements by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED; Antech Diagnostics) and a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (fT4CEIA; IMMULITE 2000 Veterinary Free T4 [Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products]) in hyperthyroid, otherwise healthy, cats before (T0), and 1 month (T1) and 11–23 months (T2) after radioactive iodine (131I) therapy. The second objective was to determine correlation between thyroid status based on fT4 (by both techniques) and the gold standard, thyroid scintigraphy. Methods Thyroid status, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4) and fT4 serum concentrations, were assessed in 45 client-owned hyperthyroid cats before (T0), and 1 month (T1) and 11–23 months (T2) after 131I therapy. fT4 was determined by a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CEIA) and equilibrium dialysis (ED). Quantitative thyroid scintigraphy (with sodium 99m-Tc-pertechnetate) was performed at T2. Results Spearman correlation between fT4CEIA and fT4ED was 0.81, 0.88 and 0.79 at T0, T1 and T2, respectively. fT4CEIA was consistently lower than fT4ED, with a median difference of −5.4 pmol/l ( P Conclusions and relevance Good correlation exists between both assays at T1 and T2, but a significant systematic difference is noted at both time points. This could be an indication for reconsideration of the current RI, although further studies are warranted for assessing test accuracy (in otherwise healthy cats and cats with non-thyroidal illness). At this time, routine use of fT4CEIA after 131I therapy is not advised in feline patients.

Skin and coat quality can reflect nutritional deficiencies in humans and dogs with liver diseases.Determine skin and coat quality based on a scoring protocol and skin biopsies in dogs with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS), and determine total lipid concentrations in hairs of dogs at time of surgery and 3 months after successful shunt closure.Ten client-owned dogs that underwent successful gradual attenuation of EHPSS, as defined by transsplenic portal scintigraphy, were included.A prospective cohort study was performed. All dogs underwent gradual attenuation of the EHPSS. Skin and coat scoring was performed at diagnosis, surgery, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Hair was plucked from the lumbar region for total lipid analysis and an 8 mm punch skin biopsy was taken at time of surgery and 3 months postoperatively, when the dogs underwent transsplenic portal scintigraphy to determine EHPSS closure.No significant differences were observed in skin and coat scoring over time. Total lipid concentrations of hairs increased significantly from surgery to 3 months postoperatively [30 μg/mg hair (13-56 μg/mg hair) to 47 μg/mg hair (25-63 μg/mg hair); p = 0.005]. Skin biopsies showed the presence of significantly more scales 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.018).A significant increase in total lipid concentrations in hairs suggests that successful surgical attenuation of EHPSS improves either intestinal absorption of lipids, fat metabolism in the liver, or a combination of both.Contexte - La qualité de la peau et du pelage peut refléter des carences nutritionnelles chez les humains et les chiens atteints de maladies du foie. Hypothèse/Objectifs - Déterminer la qualité de la peau et du pelage sur la base d'un protocole de notation et de biopsies cutanées chez les chiens avec un shunt portosystémique extrahépatique (EHPSS), et déterminer les concentrations totales de lipides dans les poils des chiens au moment de la chirurgie et trois mois après la fermeture réussie du shunt. Animaux - Dix chiens appartenant à des clients qui ont subi une atténuation progressive réussie de l'EHPSS, telle que définie par la scintigraphie portale trans-splénique, ont été inclus. Matériels et méthodes - Une étude de cohorte prospective a été réalisée. Tous les chiens ont subi une atténuation progressive de l'EHPSS. Une notation de la peau et du pelage a été réalisée au moment du diagnostic, de la chirurgie et un et trois mois après l'opération. Les cheveux ont été prélevés dans la région lombaire pour une analyse des lipides totaux et une biopsie cutanée à l'emporte-pièce de 8 mm a été effectuée au moment de la chirurgie et trois mois après l'opération, lorsque les chiens ont subi une scintigraphie portale trans-splénique pour déterminer la fermeture de l'EHPSS. Résultats - Aucune différence significative n'a été observée dans la notation de la peau et du pelage au fil du temps. Les concentrations totales de lipides dans les poils ont augmenté de manière significative entre la chirurgie et trois mois après l'opération [30 µg/mg de poils (13-56 µg/mg de poils) à 47 µg/mg de poils (25-63 µg/mg de poils) ; P = 0,005]. Les biopsies cutanées ont montré la présence de significativement plus d'écailles trois mois après l'opération (P = 0,018). Conclusions et pertinence clinique - Une augmentation significative des concentrations totales de lipides dans les cheveux suggère qu'une atténuation chirurgicale réussie de l'EHPSS améliore soit l'absorption intestinale des lipides, soit le métabolisme des graisses dans le foie, soit une combinaison des deux.Introducción- la calidad de la piel y el pelaje puede reflejar deficiencias nutricionales en humanos y perros con enfermedades hepáticas. Hipótesis/Objetivos- determinar la calidad de la piel y el pelaje según un protocolo de valoración y en biopsias de piel en perros con shunt portosistémico extrahepática (EHPSS) y determinar las concentraciones totales de lípidos en el pelo de los perros en el momento de la cirugía y tres meses después del tratamiento exitoso del shunt. Animales- se incluyeron diez perros de propietarios particulares que se sometieron a una atenuación gradual exitosa de EHPSS, según se identificó mediante por gammagrafía portal transesplénica. Materiales y métodos - Se realizó un estudio de cohorte prospectivo. A todos los perros se les realizó una atenuación gradual del EHPSS. La valoración de la piel y el pelaje se realizó en el momento del diagnóstico, la cirugía y uno y tres meses después de la operación. Se arrancó el pelo de la región lumbar para el análisis de lípidos totales y se tomó una biopsia de piel con sacabocados (punch) de 8 mm en el momento de la cirugía y tres meses después de la operación, cuando los perros se sometieron a una gammagrafía portal transesplénica para determinar el cierre de EHPSS. Resultados- no se observaron diferencias significativas en la valoración de la piel y el pelaje a lo largo del tiempo. Las concentraciones de lípidos totales del pelo aumentó significativamente desde la cirugía hasta los tres meses posteriores a la operación [30 µg/mg de pelo (13-56 µg/mg de pelo) a 47 µg/mg de cabello (25-63 µg/mg de pelo); P = 0,005]. Las biopsias de piel mostraron la presencia de mayor cantidad de escamas de forma significativa tres meses después de la operación (P = 0,018). Conclusiones y relevancia clínica- un aumento significativo en las concentraciones de lípidos totales en el pelo sugiere que la atenuación quirúrgica exitosa de EHPSS mejora la absorción intestinal de lípidos, el metabolismo de las grasas en el hígado o una combinación de ambos.Hintergrund - Die Haut und Fellqualität kann Ernährungsdefizite beim Menschen und bei Hunden mit Lebererkrankung reflektieren. Hypothese/Ziele - Das Ziel war eine Beurteilung der Haut- und Fellqualität basierend auf einem Bewertungsprotokoll sowie Hautbiopsien bei Hunden mit einem extrahepatischen Shunt (EHPSS) und die Bestimmung der Gesamtlipidkonzentrationen in den Haaren von Hunden zum Zeitpunkt der Operation und drei Monate nach erfolgreichem Verschluss des Shunts. Tiere - Zehn Hunde im Privatbesitz wurden einer graduellen Anpassung des EHPSS unterzogen, was durch eine Transsplenic Portal Szintigrafie definiert wurde. Materialien und Methoden - Es wurde eine prospektive Kohortenstudie durchgeführt. Alle Hunde wurden einer graduellen Anpassung der EHPSS unterzogen. Eine Haut- und Fellbeurteilung erfolgte zum Zeitpunkt der Diagnose, der Operation sowie einen und drei Monate danach. Es wurden Haare aus der Lumbalregion zur Gesamtlipidanalyse ausgezupft und eine 8mm Stanzbiopsie zum Zeitpunkt der Operation sowie drei Monate danach (Zeitpunkt der Transsplenic Portal Szintigrafie, um den Verschluss des EHPSS festzustellen) entnommen. Ergebnisse - Es wurden keine signifikanten Unterschiede bei der Bewertung der Haut und des Fellkleids im Verlauf der Zeit festgestellt. Die Gesamtlipidkonzentrationen der Haare nahmen vom Zeitpunkt der Operation bis drei Monate nach der Operation signifikant zu [30 µg/mg Haare (13-56 µg/mg Haare) bis 47 µg/mg Haare (25-63 µg/mg Haare); P = 0,005]. Die Hautbiopsien zeigten eine signifikant höhere Schuppenbildung als drei Monate nach der Operation (P =0,018). Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Bedeutung - Eine signifikante Zunahme der Gesamtlipidkonzentrationen in den Haaren ist ein Hinweis darauf, dass eine erfolgreiche chirurgische Anpassung der EHPSS entweder die intestinale Absorption der Lipide, des Fettmetabolismus in der Leber oder eine Kombination von beidem verbessert.背景 - 肝疾患を有するヒトや犬において、皮膚・被毛の質は栄養不足を反映することがある。 仮説・目的 - 本研究の目的は、肝外門脈シャント (EHPSS) を有する犬において、スコアリングプロトコルおよび皮膚生検に基づいて肌質・毛質を決定し、手術時およびシャント閉鎖成功後3ヶ月における犬の毛髪中の総脂質濃度を測定することであった。 供試動物-経脾門脈シンチグラフィーで定義されたEHPSSの漸減が成功したオーナー所有犬10頭を対象とした。 材料と方法 - 前向きコホート研究を実施した。すべての犬がEHPSSの漸減を受けた。診断時、手術時、術後1ヵ月および3ヵ月に皮膚および被毛のスコアリングを行った。総脂質解析のために腰部の毛を抜き取り、EHPSSの閉鎖を決定するために経脾門脈シンチグラフィーを受けた手術時および術後3ヶ月に8mmパンチ皮膚生検を行った。 結果-経時的な皮膚および被毛のスコアリングに有意差は認められなかった。毛の総脂質濃度は、手術から術後3ヶ月まで有意に増加した [30μg/mg毛 (13-56μg/mg毛) →47μg/mg毛 (25-63μg/mg毛) ; P = 0.005] . 皮膚生検では、術後3ヶ月目に有意に多くの鱗屑の存在が確認された (P = 0.018) 。 結論および臨床的意義 - 毛髪中の総脂質濃度の有意な増加は、EHPSSの外科的減量が成功すると、脂質の腸管吸収、肝臓での脂質代謝、またはその両方の組み合わせのいずれかを改善することを示唆している。.背景-皮肤和毛发质量可以反映肝病病人和患犬的营养缺乏。 假设/目的-根据评分方案和肝外门体静脉分流术(EHPSS)犬的皮肤活检确定皮肤和被毛质量, 并在手术时和分流成功闭合后3个月测定犬被毛中的总脂质浓度。 动物-纳入了10只成功逐渐衰减EHPSS (通过经脾门闪烁显像定义) 的私家犬。 材料和方法-进行了一项前瞻性队列研究。所有犬的EHPSS均逐渐衰减。在诊断、手术以及术后1个月和3个月时进行皮肤和被毛评分。从腰部拔去毛发进行总脂质分析, 并在手术时和术后3个月进行8 mm打孔皮肤活检, 此时犬接受经脾门静脉闪烁显像以确定EHPSS闭合。 结果-皮肤和被毛评分未观察到经时显著差异。从手术到术后3个月, 毛发的总脂质浓度显著增加[30µg/mg毛发 (13-56µg/mg毛发) 至47µg/mg毛发 (25-63µg/mg毛发) ; P = 0.005]。皮肤活检显示术后3个月存在显著更多的鳞屑(P = 0.018)。 结论和临床相关性-毛发中总脂质浓度的显著增加表明, EHPSS的成功手术衰减改善了肠道脂质吸收、肝脏脂肪代谢或两者的组合。.Contexto - A qualidade da pele e dos pelos pode refletir deficiências nutricionais em humanos e cães com hepatopatias. Hipótese/Objetivos - Determinar a qualidade da pele e pelos baseada em um protocolo de escore e biópsias cutâneas em cães com shunt portossistêmico extra-hepático (EHPSS) e determinar as concentrações lipídicas totais nos pelos de cães no momento da cirurgia e três meses após o fechamento bem-sucedido do shunt. Animais - Foram incluídos dez cães de proprietários submetidos à atenuação gradual do EHPSS bem-sucedida, confirmada por cintilografia portal transesplênica. Materiais e métodos - Realizou-se um estudo de coorte prospectivo. Todos os cães foram submetidos à atenuação gradual do EHPSS. A classificação de pele e pelos em escores foi realizada no diagnóstico, cirurgia, e com um e três meses de pós-operatório. Os pelos foram arrancados da região lombar para análise lipídica total e uma biópsia com punch de 8mm foi coletada no momento da cirurgia e com três meses de pós-operatório, quando os cães foram submetidos à cintilografia portal transesplênica para determinar o fechamento do EHPSS. Resultados - Não foram observadas diferenças significativas nos escores de pele e pelos ao longo do tempo. As concentrações de lipídicas totais aumentaram significativamente da cirurgia aos três meses de pós-operatório [30 µg/mg de pelo (13-56 µg/mg pelo) para 47 µg/mg de pelo (25-63 µg/mg de pelo); P = 0,005]. As biópsias cutâneas revelaram a presença de significativamente mais escamas com três meses de pós-operatório (P = 0,018). Conclusões e relevância clínica - O aumento significativo de concentrações lipídicas totais nos pelos sugere que a atenuação cirúrgica de EHPSS bem-sucedida melhora tanto a absorção intestinal de lipídeos quanto o metabolismo de gordura no fígado, ou uma combinação dos dois.

Age estimation in adult dogs can be performed by the radiographic measurement of the tooth pulp cavity, but the technique has hardly been described. In this study, the application of measuring pulp/tooth width ratios (P/T ratios) of the maxillary canine teeth was investigated. Pulp and tooth widths were measured at two locations on 166 maxillary canine teeth of the heads of 84 dog cadavers, using digital extraoral lateral oblique open mouth radiographs. The dogs belonged to different breeds and sexes and had a known age between 194 and 1907 days (approximately 6 months - 5 years). Both at the cemento-enamel junction (CE) and the half-height of the tooth, a comparable non-linear regression with age was demonstrated. Measuring at the CE location was less hindered by wear or superimposition. No statistically significant difference according to sex and breed size and no clinically significant difference according to skull type was found. The highest predictable capacity was found in the youngest dogs until the age of 448 days, of which 84.4% of the canine teeth had a P/T ratio above 0.39. Our results demonstrate that measuring P/T ratios of canine teeth can be used in practice to assign dogs to age categories, with the highest accuracy in young adult dogs.

Diagnosing a congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) in dogs can be challenging. The current study aims to report diagnostic performance of fasting ammonia (FA), preprandial, postprandial and paired serum bile acids (SBA) and abdominal ultrasound (aUS) in dogs suspected of having a cPSS.Medical records of dogs suspected of having a cPSS at initial presentation were retrospectively reviewed.In total, 192 dogs suspected of cPSS were included: a cPSS was confirmed in 147 dogs and excluded in 45 dogs. FA had the best combined sensitivity and specificity (77.4 and 93.3%, respectively) to diagnose cPSS. The sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100.0% for paired SBA, making paired SBA the best test to exclude cPSS in this population. Sensitivity and specificity of aUS were 80.8 and 90.0%, respectively.In dogs with clinical signs compatible with cPSS, elevated FA is suggestive of cPSS, whereas normal paired SBA makes the presence of a cPSS unlikely. Although aUS is a useful tool to diagnose cPSS, additional imaging is required to visualize cPSS in almost 20% of cases. Furthermore, the localisation of cPSS can be misdiagnosed, especially in case of extrahepatic cPSS that do not insert into the prehepatic vena cava.

Objectives Stenosis is a postoperative complication reported in 12–17% of male cats that undergo perineal urethrostomy (PU). This study compared two different revision techniques for failed perineal urethrostomies. The first objective was to evaluate the feasibility of performing a transpelvic urethrostomy (TPU) after a previous, correctly performed PU in male cats. The second objective was to determine the residual urethral length, orifice diameter, and the position of the orifice relative to the pubic brim and anus after PU, TPU and subpubic urethrostomy (SPU). Methods Twenty male cat cadavers were randomly divided into two groups: TPU and SPU. In group TPU, PU was followed by TPU; in group SPU, PU was followed by SPU. After each procedure, the urethral orifice cross-section size was estimated by inserting the largest possible urinary catheter without resistance. Residual urethral length was measured both on contrast radiographs and after anatomical dissection. Results In all cats, TPU could be performed following a technically correct PU. The TPU resulted in a 1.5-times longer residual urethral length than SPU, based on contrast radiographs ( P = 0.001) and confirmed by anatomical dissection ( P Conclusions and relevance Both TPU and SPU are possible revision surgeries following PU. As TPU preserves a significantly longer urethral length and requires less tissue dissection, the risk of urinary tract infections, urinary dermatitis and urinary incontinence might be less following TPU than SPU.

Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been applied as a noninvasive method for predicting regional lymph node (LN) metastases in human and veterinary patients. However, published studies describing standardized protocols and repeatability of this technique are currently lacking. The objective of this prospective, pilot, observer agreement study was to determine whether different shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements obtained in different regions of presumed normal canine LNs would be repeatable. Two imagers consecutively performed shear wave elastography of submandibular, superficial inguinal, and popliteal LNs in 10, clinically healthy adult dogs. Ten elastograms of each LN were acquired by each imager. In each adequate elastogram, three regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in the softest and stiffest region of the LN. Additionally, one ROI was drawn covering the entire LN. In each ROI, mean, median, and maximum SWVs were calculated. Mean values for the mean, median, and maximum SWVs varied from 2.33 to 3.10 m/s, 2.32 to 3.10 m/s, and 2.61 to 4.09 m/s, respectively. Intra- and interobserver agreements were acceptable. Superficial inguinal LNs demonstrated the highest intra- and interobserver agreement, followed by the popliteal and the submandibular LNs, respectively. Using the different measurements (mean, median, or maximum SWVs) had no significant effect on the intra- and interobserver variability, neither did the region (softest, stiffest, or entire LN). Findings indicated that all evaluated measurements and regions could be used to obtain reliable elastography data of presumed normal canine LNs. Clinical trials in dogs with cancer are necessary to compare SWVs of metastatic LNs with the reported SWVs and evaluate whether various measurements and regions can also be used in metastatic LNs.

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a promising renal marker that correlates well with the glomerular filtration rate and could allow earlier detection of impaired renal function. The main objectives of this study were to assess the long-term variability of SDMA in healthy dogs and examine the influence of an increased body fat percentage on the level of SDMA. Sixteen lean Beagles were randomly assigned to the control group or weight-change group in age- and gender-matched pairs. The energy intake of the control group (n = 8) was strictly regulated to maintain an ideal body weight for 83 weeks, while the weight-change group (n = 8) was fed to induce weight gain (week 0–47), to maintain stable excessive body weight (week 47–56) and to lose weight (week 56–83), consecutively. At 8 specified time points, the body condition score, body composition, glomerular filtration rate, serum concentration of SDMA and creatinine were analyzed. In the control group, the within-subject coefficient of variation, between-subject coefficient of variation, reference change value (type I error = 5%) and index of individuality were 0.16, 0.22, 0.43 and 0.73, respectively. The control group and weight-change group did not differ significantly in SDMA concentration. SDMA showed a significant negative association (coefficient = -0.07) with body fat percentage (p

Background: Liver function tests do not always normalize despite successful attenuation of extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS). Objectives: Assess the lidocaine/monoethylglycylxylidide (MEGX) test to determine liver perfusion after EHPSS closure. Animals: Twenty dogs with EHPSS. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed and all dogs were tested at diagnosis, 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. After collecting a baseline blood sample (T0), 1 mg/kg body weight of lidocaine was injected intravenously. Fifteen (T15) and 30 minutes (T30) later, blood was collected. Plasma concentrations of lidocaine and its metabolites MEGX and glycylxylidide (GX) were determined, using a high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method. Three months postoperatively, transsplenic portal scintigraphy was performed to determine EHPSS closure. Results: At T15, median MEGX concentrations were higher in dogs with closed EHPSS compared to diagnosis (33.73 ng/mL [21.11-66.44 ng/mL] vs 13.74 ng/mL [7.25-21.93 ng/ mL]; P < .001), but were not different (12.28 ng/mL [10.62-23.17 ng/mL] vs 13.74 ng/mL [7.25-21.93 ng/mL]) in dogs with persistent shunting. Sensitivity to determine shunt closure for MEGX at T15 was 96.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.4-99.8) and specificity 82.8% (95% CI: 63.5-93.5). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The lidocaine/MEGX test is a promising, rapid, and noninvasive blood test that seems helpful to differentiate dogs with closed EHPSS and dogs with persistent shunting after gradual attenuation.

Objectives The aim of this study was to document survival, complications and risk factors for the development of complications and mortality prior to discharge after placement of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device in cats. Methods The medical records of cats with SUB placement between January 2016 and August 2019 were retrospectively analysed. The development of complications (overall, intraoperative, perioperative, short- and long-term complications) and risk factors for mortality prior to discharge were statistically assessed with univariate binary logistic regression. All variables with a P value ⩽0.10 in the univariate analysis were assessed in a multivariate model. Variables were significant if P Results Twenty-four cats were included; 12 (50.0%) received a unilateral SUB, 11 (45.8%) a bilateral nephrostomy tube with single cystostomy catheter and the remaining cat (4.2%) two unilateral SUBs. Nearly 80% of the cats developed complications, ranging from mild to fatal, including (partial) SUB obstruction (33.3% of complications), lower urinary tract infection (20.8%), pyelonephritis (20.8%) and sterile cystitis (12.5%). Five cats (20.8%) died prior to discharge. Six cats (25.0%) underwent revision surgery. The overall median survival time (MST) was 274 days (range 1–311 days). Complications were most common in the long-term period (14/16 cats), followed by the short-term (9/18 cats), perioperative (10/23 cats) and intraoperative (4/24 cats) periods. Older cats had an increased risk for developing perioperative complications ( P = 0.045) and were less likely to survive to discharge ( P = 0.033). An increased haematocrit at presentation was a risk factor for the occurrence of short-term complications ( P = 0.03). Conclusions and relevance Although complications similar to those previously described were observed, the complication rate was higher and the MST shorter than previously reported in cats undergoing SUB placement. Despite good short-term survival, the development of complications may necessitate regular and intensive control visits. Owners that consider SUB placement should be informed that follow-up can be strenuous and expensive.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of serum creatinine (sCr) and urea nitrogen fail to detect decreased renal function in many hyperthyroid cats because of low muscle mass and glomerular hyperfiltration of affected cats. Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (sSDMA) is an earlier and more sensitive renal biomarker than sCr. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate sSDMA as a biomarker of renal function in hyperthyroid cats before (T0) and 1 month after (T1) radioiodine (¹³¹I) treatment. ANIMALS: Forty‐seven client‐owned hyperthyroid nonazotemic cats were evaluated at T0 and T1. METHODS: A prospective study in which sCr and sSDMA concentrations were determined in 47 hyperthyroid cats at T0 and at T1. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated at T0 and T1 in 10 of these 47 cats using plasma exogenous creatinine clearance test. RESULTS: Serum SDMA was elevated (>14 μg/dL) in 6 of 47 cats at T0 and normalized after treatment in 4 of those cats. All cats remained nonazotemic after treatment. In 10 cats in which GFR was measured, correlation between GFR and sSDMA was low and not significant (τb = −0.35, P = .17 at T0 and τb = −.22, P = .41 at T1), whereas correlation between GFR and sCr was moderate and significant (τb = −0.52, P

The first objective was to assess correlation between free thyroxine (fT4) measurements by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED; Antech Diagnostics) and a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (fT4CEIA; IMMULITE 2000 Veterinary Free T4 [Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products]) in hyperthyroid, otherwise healthy, cats before (T0), and 1 month (T1) and 11-23 months (T2) after radioactive iodine (Thyroid status, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4) and fT4 serum concentrations, were assessed in 45 client-owned hyperthyroid cats before (T0), and 1 month (T1) and 11-23 months (T2) afterSpearman correlation between fT4CEIA and fT4ED was 0.81, 0.88 and 0.79 at T0, T1 and T2, respectively. fT4CEIA was consistently lower than fT4ED, with a median difference of -5.4 pmol/l (Good correlation exists between both assays at T1 and T2, but a significant systematic difference is noted at both time points. This could be an indication for reconsideration of the current RI, although further studies are warranted for assessing test accuracy (in otherwise healthy cats and cats with non-thyroidal illness). At this time, routine use of fT4CEIA after

A 10-month-old female intact Australian shepherd dog was diagnosed with an intrapelvic mass. Blood and urinanalyses were unremarkable. A contrast-enhanced CT scan was performed to define the extent of the mass. A large, expansile, heterogeneous mass, extending from the ventral aspect of the last lumbar vertebra until the second caudate vertebra and invading the vertebral canal at the lumbosacral junction with displacement of all organs in the caudal abdomen, was diagnosed. Two days after the CT scan, the dog was euthanased because of deterioration of clinical signs despite the start of multimodal analgesia. Necropsy and subsequent histology and immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of a plasmacytoma and haemorrhagic cystitis. The haemorrhagic cystitis was most likely caused by the contrast agent used for the CT scan that remained in the bladder for a prolonged time, secondary to subobstruction of the urethra.

Een zeven jaar oude, mannelijke, gecastreerde landseer werd aangeboden met chronische ademhalingsklachten, occasioneel hoesten, dysfonie en inspanningsintolerantie. Door stress veroorzaakt tijdens het transport en het klinisch onderzoek vertoonde deze hond al snel zeer ernstige dyspneu met cyanose. Op dat moment werd een rectale lichaamstemperatuur van 42,5°C gemeten. Gebaseerd op de klinische symptomen was een hitteslag veroorzaakt door larynxparalyse de meest waarschijnlijke diagnose. De hond werd met spoed onder anesthesie gebracht en intensieve verkoelende behandelingen, zoals actief koelen en vloeistoftherapie, werden uitgevoerd. Vanaf het moment dat de hond cardiovasculair stabiel was, werd een spoedbehandeling voor larynxparalyse uitgevoerd. Dankzij een tijdige interventie herstelde deze hond volledig zonder blijvende complicaties.

Pathology of the mammary gland is a common health issue in dogs and includes neoplasia, cysts, inflammation and infection. The use of the B-mode (US) and contrast-enhanced (CEUS) ultrasonography may aid in the diagnosis. Previous studies are currently lacking of the ultrasonic images of the mammary gland of healthy bitches in different stages of the estrous cycle and associated normal blood perfusion patterns. The purpose, therefore, was to describe the normal B-mode US and CEUS images of the mammary gland and inguinal lymph node, in six intact female beagles during five different stages of the estrous cycle (proestrus, estrus, early and late diestrus and anestrus). Within the same stage of the estrous cycle, the size (thickness) of the caudal mammary glands increased. During early and late diestrus, all mammary glands increased in thickness and had an increased heterogeneous B-mode ultrasonic appearance. The mammary glands had a heterogeneous, disorganized perfusion pattern when assessed using CEUS. For the cranial abdominal mammary gland, the area under the curve and the mean transit time increased between estrus and late diestrus and decreased between late diestrus and anestrus. For the inguinal mammary gland, only the time to peak was longer during the periods of anestrus compared to estrus whereas all the other contrast parameters did not change during the estrous cycle. In conclusion, hormonal influences cause major changes in the size, appearance and blood perfusion of mammary glands during the estrous cycle and should be considered when evaluating pathological changes of mammary glands.

Background: Markers of kidney dysfunction and damage have potential to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) in early stages. However, data on long-term variation of these markers in healthy dogs is lacking and is crucial for the interpretation of results. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine temporal variations of serum cystatin C (sCysC) and urinary retinol-binding protein (uRBP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), immunoglobulin G (uIgG), and C-reactive protein (uCRP) in healthy dogs. Animals: Eight clinically healthy adult Beagles were evaluated. Methods: Longitudinal observational study. Serum cystatin C was determined by particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay. Urinary retinol-binding protein, uNGAL, uIgG and uCRP were determined by ELISA and concentrations were indexed to urinary creatinine. Within- and between-dog variance components (VC) and within-dog coefficients of variation (CV) were determined from blood and urine collected at eight time points over 1.5 years. Results: Urinary C-reactive protein (uCRP) concentrations were consistently below the detection limit (5.28 ng/mL). Mean within-dog standard deviation for sCysC, uRBP/c, uNGAL/c and uIgG/c was 0.15 +/- 0.01 mg/L, 0.09 +/- 0.03 mg/g, 2.32 +/- 2.03 g/g and 12.47 +/- 10.98 mg/g, respectively. Within-dog CV for sCysC, uRBP/c, uNGAL/c and uIgG/c was 8.1%, 33.7%, 87.2% and 88.1%, respectively. Conclusions and clinical importance: Serum cystatin C, uRBP/c, uNGAL/c and uIgG/c exhibit a wide range of long-term within-dog variability. Researchers and veterinarians might need to take this into account when interpreting their results. To assess their diagnostic and predictive ability, future studies need to establish reference ranges for healthy dogs and dogs with CKD.

Although scintigraphy is an important tool for the assessment of thyroid function in cats, time variation of commonly used thyroid variables has not been investigated to this day. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a week-to-week variation of scintigraphic variables exists in healthy cats of a magnitude that is clinically relevant, as this could lead to misinterpretation of results. Fourteen adult, healthy, experimental cats were included in the study. At 3 time points, with 7-day intervals, the cats underwent a thyroid pertechnetate scan and blood samples were collected. The scintigraphic variables calculated were the thyroid to salivary gland ratio (T/S), thyroid to background ratio (T/B), percentage technetium uptake in the thyroid glands (%TcUT) and additionally percentage technetium uptake in the salivary glands (%TcUSG). Two thyroid hormones, total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were included in the analysis. All scintigraphic variables, with the exception of the %TcUT and T/Bneck ratio, were within the normal reference ranges reported in literature. No clinically relevant week-to-week variation was observed for any of the variables included in this study.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination (CEUS) is a functional imaging technique allowing noninvasive assessment of tissue perfusion. Studies in humans show that the technique holds great potential to be used in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, data in veterinary medicine are currently lacking. Objectives: To evaluate renal perfusion using CEUS in cats with CKD. Animals: Fourteen client-owned cats with CKD and 43 healthy control cats. Methods: Prospective case-controlled clinical trial using CEUS to evaluate renal perfusion in cats with CKD compared to healthy control cats. Time-intensity curves were created, and perfusion parameters were calculated using off-line software. A linear mixed model was used to examine differences between perfusion parameters of cats with CKD and healthy cats. Results: In cats with CKD, longer time to peak and shorter mean transit times were observed for the renal cortex. In contrast, a shorter time to peak and rise time were seen for the renal medulla. The findings for the renal cortex indicate decreased blood velocity and shorter total duration of enhancement, likely caused by increased vascular resistance in CKD. Increased blood velocity in the renal medulla has not been described before and may be because of a different response to regulatory factors in cortex and medulla. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination was capable of detecting perfusion changes in cats with CKD. Further research is warranted to assess the diagnostic capabilities of CEUS in early stage of the disease process.

Background Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common in elderly cats. Consequently, both diseases often occur concurrently. Furthermore, renal function is affected by thyroid status. Because changes in renal perfusion play an important role in functional renal changes in hyperthyroid cats, investigation of renal perfusion may provide novel insights. Objectives To evaluate renal perfusion in hyperthyroid cats with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Animals A total of 42 hyperthyroid cats was included and evaluated before and 1 month after radioiodine treatment. Methods Prospective intrasubject clinical trial of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using a commercial contrast agent (SonoVue) to evaluate renal perfusion. Time-intensity curves were created, and perfusion parameters were calculated by off-line software. A linear mixed model was used to examine differences between pre- and post-treatment perfusion parameters. Results An increase in several time-related perfusion parameters was observed after radioiodine treatment, indicating a decreased blood velocity upon resolution of the hyperthyroid state. Furthermore, a small post-treatment decrease in peak enhancement was present in the renal medulla, suggesting a lower medullary blood volume. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Contrast-enhanced ultrasound indicated a higher cortical and medullary blood velocity and higher medullary blood volume in hyperthyroid cats before radioactive treatment in comparison with 1-month post-treatment control.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a recent imaging technique that uses microbubble contrast agents to obtain additional information relating to tissue vascularity and tissue perfusion. In veterinary medicine, CEUS has proven its usefulness in a large variety of diseases, mainly in dogs and cats. The most common indication is differentiation between benign and malignant lesions in abdominal organs, frequently in the liver. Although only a few experimental reports in sheep are available in literature, CEUS is of particular interest in ovine diseases involving disturbances in vascularisation, e.g., vascular, inflammatory or neoplastic disorders. The article reviews the basic physics of CEUS and different contrast media. Also, some practical considerations about the procedure are mentioned. Current and future potential clinical applications in sheep are discussed. Safety matters and contraindications are also described.

Early detection of obesity-related glomerulopathy in humans is challenging as it might not be detected by routine biomarkers of kidney function. This study's aim was to use novel kidney biomarkers and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to evaluate the effect of obesity development and weight-loss on kidney function, perfusion, and injury in dogs. Sixteen healthy lean adult beagles were assigned randomly but age-matched to a control group (CG) (n = 8) fed to maintain a lean body weight (BW) for 83 weeks; or to a weight-change group (WCG) (n = 8) fed the same diet to induce obesity (week 0-47), to maintain stable obese weight (week 47-56) and to lose BW (week 56-83). At 8 time points, values of systolic blood pressure (sBP); serum creatinine (sCr); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); serum cystatin C (sCysC); urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC); and urinary biomarkers of glomerular and tubular injury were measured. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal perfusion using CEUS were assayed (except for week 68). For CEUS, intensity- and time-related parameters representing blood volume and velocity were derived from imaging data, respectively. At 12-22% weight-gain, cortical time-to-peak, representing blood velocity, was shorter in the WCG vs. the CG. After 37% weight-gain, sCysC, UPC, glomerular and tubular biomarkers of injury, urinary immunoglobulin G and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, respectively, were higher in the WCG. sBP, sCr, BUN and GFR were not significantly different. After 23% weight-loss, all alterations were attenuated. Early weight-gain in dogs induced renal perfusion changes measured with CEUS, without hyperfiltration, preceding increased urinary protein excretion with potential glomerular and tubular injury. The combined use of routine biomarkers of kidney function, CEUS and site-specific urinary biomarkers might be valuable in assessing kidney health of individuals at risk for obesity-related glomerulopathy in a non-invasive manner.