Large-volume pneumoperitoneum and septic peritonitis secondary to splenic abscess rupture in a dog.

An 11-year-old spayed female American pit bull terrier mixed breed dog was presented because of hyporexia and abdominal distension. The dog had large-volume free peritoneal gas on imaging and septic neutrophilic exudate on abdominocentesis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a ruptured splenic mass draining purulent material. A splenectomy was performed and the abdomen was lavaged. Culture samples grew an anaerobic Gram-positive rod. The dog was discharged 4 days after surgery with no residual problems noted 1 week later. To our knowledge, this is the first report of large-volume pneumoperitoneum and septic peritonitis secondary to rupture of a splenic abscess.

Pneumopéritoine de grand volume et péritonite septique secondaire à la rupture d'un abcès splénique chez un chien. Une chienne stérilisée de race pitbull terrier américain croisée âgée de 11 ans fut présentée à cause d'hyporexie et de distension abdominale. Lors de l'examen par imagerie on nota un large volume de gaz péritonéal libre et un exsudat neutrophilique septique lors de l'abdominocenthèse. Une laparotomie exploratoire révéla une masse splénique rupturée qui drainait du matériel purulent. Une splénectomie fut réalisée, et l'abdomen fut soumis à un lavage. La culture d'échantillons permis la croissance d'un bâtonnet à Gram-positif anaérobie. Le chien reçu son congé 4 jours après la chirurgie et aucun problème résiduel ne fut noté 1 semaine plus tard. À notre connaissance il s'agit du premier rapport d'un pneumopéritoine de grand volume et de péritonite septique secondaire à la rupture d'un abcès splénique chez un chien.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Evaluation of postoperative complication rates in cats undergoing perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal recumbency.

CASE SERIES SUMMARY: Medical records were reviewed for cats that underwent a perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal recumbency for the treatment of urethral obstruction. Information, including signalment, reason for presentation, number of previous obstructions, surgery time, and perioperative and postoperative complications, were collected through a review of medical records and owner follow-up. The objective was to evaluate short- and long-term complications in cats that underwent perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal recumbency for treatment of urethral obstruction. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: No major or life-threatening complications, such as urethral stricture, re-obstruction, euthanasia due to lower urinary signs or chronic urinary tract infection, were reported. Short-term complications were limited to dysuria in 2/12 (16.7%) cats. Long-term follow-up was available for nine cats. The most common long-term complication seen in this population of cats was a single recurrence of urinary tract infection in 3/9 (33.3%) cats that resolved after a short course of empirical antibiotic therapy. Performing perineal urethrostomy in dorsal recumbency is safe and may have advantages to ventral recumbency due to improved visualization, allowing for more efficient dissection and improved accuracy in tissue apposition during closure. We believe this has been a major contributor to our reported reduced major postoperative complication rate.

Articular cartilage lesions associated with complete lateral meniscal tears in the dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe articular cartilage (AC) lesions associated with complete lateral meniscal tears in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Observational series. ANIMALS: Seventeen dogs with arthroscopic evidence of a complete lateral meniscal tear and associated AC lesions. METHODS: Medical records of dogs with arthroscopic evidence of complete lateral meniscal tear and associated AC lesions between March 2006 and December 2017 were examined for arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: The cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) was intact in 11 of 17 dogs, partially ruptured but competent in 4 of 17 dogs, and completely ruptured in 2 of 17 dogs. All dogs had grossly normal caudal cruciate ligament, medial meniscus, and AC of the medial compartment. In each dog, a complete radial tear of the caudal body of the lateral meniscus was associated with degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) of the lateral compartment of the stifle. The Outerbridge score of the lateral tibial condyle and lateral femoral condyle was 5 of 5 in 15 dogs, 3 of 5 in 1 dog, and 4 of 5 in 1 dog. CONCLUSION: Dogs with complete tears of the lateral meniscus developed degenerative OA of the lateral compartment of the stifle leading to AC loss and clinical dysfunction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Complete lateral meniscal tears may occur as isolated injuries in dogs with a functional CrCL.

The Effect of Sliding Humeral Osteotomy (SHO) on Frontal Plane Thoracic Limb Alignment: An Ex Vivo Canine Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of sliding humeral osteotomy (SHO) on frontal plane thoracic limb alignment in standing and recumbent limb positions. STUDY DESIGN: Canine cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Canine thoracic limbs (n=15 limb pairs). METHODS: Limbs acquired from healthy Labrador Retrievers euthanatized for reasons unrelated to this study were mounted in a limb press and aligned in a standing position followed by axial loading at 30% body weight. Frontal plane radiography was performed in standing and recumbent positions pre- and post-SHO. In the standing position, lateralization of the foot was measured pre- and post-SHO using a textured grid secured to the limb press base plate. Twelve thoracic limb alignment values (mean ± SD and 95% CI) were determined using the center of rotation of angulation (CORA) method were compared using linear mixed models to determine if significant differences existed between limb alignment values pre- or post-SHO, controlling for dog, limb, and limb position. RESULTS: Six of 12 standing or recumbent alignment values were significantly different pre- and post-SHO. SHO resulted in decreased mechanical lateral distal humeral angle and movement of the mechanical humeral radio-ulnar angle, radio-ulnar metacarpal angle, thoracic humeral angle, and elbow mechanical axis deviation toward coaxial limb alignment. In the standing position, the foot underwent significant lateralization post-SHO. CONCLUSION: SHO resulted in significant alteration in frontal plane thoracic limb alignment. Additional studies are necessary to determine if the changes reported using our ex vivo model occur following SHO in vivo.

Phage display allows identification of zona pellucida-binding peptides with species-specific properties: novel approach for development of contraceptive vaccines for wildlife.

Multiple phage-peptide constructs, where the peptides mimic sperm epitopes that bind to zona pellucida (ZP) proteins, were generated via selection from a phage display library using a novel approach. Selections were designed to allow for identification of ZP-binding phage clones with potential species-specific properties, an important feature for wildlife oral vaccines as the goal is to control overpopulation of a target species while not affecting non-target species' reproduction. Six phage-peptide antigens were injected intramuscularly into pigs and corresponding immune responses evaluated. Administration of the antigens into pigs stimulated production of anti-peptide antibodies, which were shown to act as anti-sperm antibodies. Potentially, such anti-sperm antibodies could interfere with sperm delivery or function in the male or female genital tract, leading to contraceptive effects. Staining of semen samples collected from different mammalian species, including pig, cat, dog, bull, and mouse, with anti-sera from pigs immunized with ZP-binding phage allowed identification of phage-peptide constructs with different levels of species specificity. Based on the intensity of the immune responses and specificity of these responses in different species, two of the antigens with fusion peptide sequences GEGGYGSHD and GQQGLNGDS were recognized as the most promising candidates for development of contraceptive vaccines for wild pigs.