Climatic conditions as a risk factor in canine gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Canine acute gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition of multifactorial origin. The risk of developing GDV is influenced by a variety of factors, including breed, age, gender, temperament, diet and management. A relationship between seasonal variations and the frequency of GDV has been previously documented although no association was found with any specific climatic event. Variables in weather conditions within a defined geographic region were investigated in a retrospective study of 287 client-owned dogs diagnosed with GDV between 1992 and 1999. Monthly incidences were evaluated and differences in atmospheric temperature, humidity and pressure between days in which GDV cases were observed and days in which no case was presented were examined. Although temperature was significantly associated with the occurrence of GDV, the difference in temperatures between days with and days without GDV cases was so small that it is unlikely to be of clinical relevance. Moreover, no significant association was found between GDV occurrence and atmospheric pressure or humidity, and a seasonal variation in GDV incidence was not observed.

[Traumatic rupture of the common bile duct in a dog]. / Traumatische Ruptur des Ductus choledochus bei einem Hund.

Extrahepatic biliary tract rupture only rarely occur secondary to blunt or sharp trauma to the abdomen. Clinical symptoms result from chemical peritonitis and are unspecific. Recognition most often is delayed from several days to weeks, when patients suffer from ascites, icterus, dehydration and apathy. Surgical therapy depends of the site of laceration. In the present case, a dog with bile peritonitis was presented two weeks after being hit by a car. Explorative celiotomy revealed a rupture of the common bile duct. A cholecystojejunostomy was performed.