Ultrasonographic differentiation between portal venous and parenchymal gas may be important for the prognosis of canine and feline hepatic emphysema: 37 cases.

The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional, study was to evaluate clinical findings and outcomes for different ultrasonographic patterns of hepatic emphysema in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of hepatic emphysema and a known outcome, from January 2010 to January 2018, were enrolled. The following data were recorded from medical and ultrasonographic records: ultrasonographic patterns of hepatic emphysema (parenchymal, portal venous, biliary), clinical signs, laboratory findings, and outcomes (favorable, poor). A total of 33 dogs and four cats met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 23 cases were classified as hepatic portal venous gas, 10 as parenchymal emphysema, and four as biliary emphysema. Clinical diagnosis categories were as follows: infection/sepsis (9), gastro-intestinal disease (9), iatrogenic (9), trauma (5), and liver neoplasia (5). An increase in serum liver enzymes was significantly associated with parenchymal emphysema (P = .03). Other clinical and laboratory findings were not associated with the type of hepatic emphysema. Hepatic portal venous gas was mostly transient in patients with ultrasonographic follow-up. The overall mortality was 40.5%. A significant difference was found between mortality by portal venous gas (21.7%) and mortality by parenchymal emphysema (90%) (P = .003). In conclusion, the ultrasonographic differentiation of hepatic emphysema between hepatic portal venous gas and parenchymal emphysema may be important for the prognosis of hepatic emphysema. The presence of parenchymal emphysema may be a poor prognostic indicator, while hepatic portal venous gas may be more benign. However, ultrasound findings should be carefully evaluated in the context of clinical findings.

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS-ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF SKELETAL MUSCLE METASTASES IN A DOG WITH HEMANGIOSARCOMA.

A 13-year-old spayed female German shepherd dog was presented for acute onset of lethargy, anorexia, and disseminated erythematous skin lesions. Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasonographic findings were consistent with metastatic hemangiosarcoma. Multiple, ill-defined, irregularly shaped hypoechoic nodules were also detected within the thoracic and abdominal wall. Hemangiosarcoma metastases to the skeletal muscle were confirmed based on histopathological examination. Multivisceral involvement was also confirmed by necropsy. Metastatic neoplasia should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with ill-defined, irregular, hypoechoic, intramuscular nodules.

Emphysematous pyelitis and cystitis associated with vesicoureteral reflux in a diabetic dog.

A 12-year-old female dog with a 3-month history of poor response to diabetes treatment had an acute worsening of symptoms, including weakness and blindness. The dog had elevated blood glucose, alkaline phosphatase and urea concentration, hyposthenuria, glycosuria, hematuria, and pyuria. Escherichia coli was isolated from the urine. Radiographs and ultrasound examination showed that the dog had unilateral emphysematous pyelitis and concurrent cystitis associated with vesicoureteral reflux.

Pyélite emphysémateuse et cystite associées au reflux vésico-urétéral chez une chienne diabétique. Une chienne âgée de 12 ans avec une anamnèse de 3 mois de mauvaise réponse au traitement du diabète a présenté un aggravement aigu des symptômes, y compris de la faiblesse et de la cécité. La chienne avait une glycémie élevée, ainsi que des concentrations sériques élevées de la phosphatase alcaline et d'urée, de l'hyposthénurie, de la glycosurie, de l'hématurie et de la pyurie. Escherichia coli a été isolé de l'urine. Des radiographies et des échographies ont montré que la chienne était atteinte de pyélite emphysémateuse unilatérale et de cystite concomitante associées au reflux vésico-urétéral.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Cholecystocutaneous fistula containing multiple gallstones in a dog.

A 7-year-old dog was presented with a history of an open lesion on the right thoracic wall, discharging honey-like fluid and small stones. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic fistulography identified a cholecystocutaneous fistula; cholecystectomy was curative. Veterinarians should consider this disease in patients with long-term discharging lesions on the right thoracic or abdominal wall.

Fistule cholécystocutanée contenant des cholélithes multiples chez un chien. Un chien âgé de 7 ans a été présenté avec une anamnèse de lésion ouverte sur la paroi thoracique droite, d'où s'écoulait un liquide ressemblant à du miel et de petits calculs. Une échographie et une fistulographie tomographique ont identifié une fistule cholécystocutanée et une cholécystectomie a guéri l'affection. Les vétérinaires devraient considérer cette maladie chez les patients ayant des lésions suppurantes de longue date sur la paroi thoracique ou abdominale droite.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in a dog with emphysematous pyometra.

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous pyometra is a rare canine disease characterized by gas-forming bacteria infecting the uterus and causing an accumulation of both gas and infectious exudate in the uterine lumen. While radiological features of emphysematous pyometra have been previously described in dogs, the ultrasonographic appearance has not been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-year-old intact female Labrador Retriever was presented because of a 1 day history of vomiting, anorexia, mild polyuria/polydipsia and signs of fatigue. On physical examination the dog had a swollen vulva with a sparse amount of yellow discharge. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs showed a dilated predominantly gas-filled tubular structure located in the mid and cranial abdomen traversing from left to right and ending dorsally at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra. A small intestinal ileus was initially suspected. Following the radiographic examination, abdominal ultrasound was performed. In the left mid and caudal abdomen there were two thin-walled gas-containing tubular structures. One had the typical layered appearance of an intestinal wall and represented the descending colon. The second structure had a similar thickness but homogenously hypoechoic wall and contained gas and echogenic fluid in the lumen. By use of several positional changes of the dog aiming to alter the location of the intraluminal gas, the second structure was traced to the right ovary cranially and the uterine body caudally, confirming that the structure was the right uterine horn. A final diagnosis of emphysematous pyometra was made. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic method to differentiate between small intestinal ileus and emphysematous pyometra.

Effect of a commercially available fish-based dog food enriched with nutraceuticals on hip and elbow dysplasia in growing Labrador retrievers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in a group of growing Labrador retrievers fed a fish-based diet enriched with nutraceuticals with chondroprotective properties. The puppies ranged from 3 to 12 mo of age and were divided into 2 groups, each fed a different diet. The control diet consisted of a high quality, chicken-based dog food, while the test diet was a fish-based dog food, enriched with nutraceuticals. Hip and elbow joints were radiographed and scored at 6 and 12 mo of age. Overall, 42 dogs completed the study. At 12 mo of age, no differences were found between the groups in the prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia, although dogs fed the fish-based food enriched with nutraceuticals had a less severe grade of osteoarthritis at 12 mo. It was concluded that the fish-based diet with nutraceuticals did have beneficial effects on the development of severe osteoarthritis.

L'objectif de la présente étude était d'évaluer la prévalence de dysplasie de la hanche et du coude dans un groupe de chiens Labrador en croissance nourris avec une diète à base de poisson enrichie de neutraceutiques ayant des propriétés chondroprotectrices. L'âge des chiots variait de 3 à 12 mois et ils ont été divisés en deux groupes, chacun étant nourri avec une diète différente. La diète témoin consistait d'un aliment de haute qualité pour chien à base de poulet, alors que la diète test était un aliment pour chien à base de poisson et enrichi avec des neutraceutiques. Les articulations des hanches et des coudes ont été radiographiées à 6 et 12 mois d'âge. Un total de 42 chiens a complété l'étude. À 12 mois d'âge, aucune différence n'a été trouvée entre les groupes dans la prévalence de dysplasie de la hanche et du coude, bien que les chiens nourris avec la diète à base poisson enrichie de neutraceutiques avaient un score d'ostéoarthrite moins sévère à 12 mois. Il a été conclu que la diète à base de poisson enrichie de neutraceutiques avait des effets bénéfiques sur le développement d'ostéoarthrite sévère.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).