CT findings in a dog with subacute myopathy and later fibrotic contracture of the infraspinatus muscle.

A 5-year-old Norwegian elkhound was referred due to an acute onset of lameness and persistent shoulder pain over a period of 3 weeks. Computed tomography demonstrated an enlarged, hypoattenuating right infraspinatus muscle with peripheral contrast enhancement and a nonenhancing center, without concurrent lesions in superficial structures or bones. The right infraspinatus muscle showed progressive atrophy on consecutive CT studies. The dog developed clinical symptoms compatible with fibrotic infraspinatus contracture 2 months after the initial presentation, and was treated with infraspinatus tenotomy. Histopathological diagnoses based on intraoperative biopsy samples were fibrotic muscle atrophy and muscle hypertrophy with regeneration.

Vertebral column deformity with curved cross-stitch vertebrae in Norwegian seawater-farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Pathological changes in the vertebral column of farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway have been reported since the 1990s. Based on the characteristic radiographic findings, we here present a vertebral column deformity named "curved cross-stitch vertebrae" that mainly affects the middle aspect of the vertebral column. Sixty fish, from the west/northwest coast of mid-Norway, were sampled at slaughter and examined by radiography, computed tomography (CT), necropsy, macrophotography, and histology. The vertebral deformities were radiographically graded as mild, moderate, or marked. The main differences between these grades of changes were defined by increased curving of the peripheries of endplates, reduced intervertebral spaces, and vertical displacement of the vertebrae. The curved rims of endplates were located peripheral to a continuous and approximately circular borderline. The CT studies revealed small, multifocal, hypo-attenuating, round to crescent-shaped areas in the notochord, compatible with the presence of gas. Additionally, histology revealed that the axial parts of endplates had circular zones with perforations, through which either notochordal tissue prolapsed into the vertebrae or vascularized fibrochondroid proliferations extended from the vertebrae into the notochord. Inflammation was present in many vertebral bodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of gas in the notochord of fish.

Lack of radioprotection knowledge and compliance in Norwegian equine ambulatory practice.

There is an increasing use of mobile radiographic units in equine ambulatory practices in Norway. Horse owners or handlers often participate in the radiographic examination in a non-controlled area. The aim of this descriptive, cross-sectional, survey study was to evaluate the radiation safety and protection in use of mobile radiography, and to identify areas where special attention from the regulatory authorities as well as veterinary educators would be required. A questionnaire was distributed to all equine veterinarians assumed to have access to mobile radiographic units, as part of a formal inspection in cooperation with the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. Few practices met the regulatory requirements of notifying the authorities of their radiographic units and designation of a radiation protection officer. The minority of the practices performed periodic quality assurance of their equipment. Many of the practices performed all of their radiographic examinations off-site. The examinations were most often performed in the aisle outside the horses' stalls, and few practices established an operating zone. The horse owner or handler participated in the radiographic examination in almost all of the practices. Few practices used dosimeters for determination of the radiation exposure. The study shows that there are major deficits in regulatory compliance in ambulatory equine radiography practices in Norway. The study also suggests that less stringent regulations and supervision may translate into less stringent radioprotection practices.

Chronic kidney disease with three cases of oxalate-like nephrosis in Ragdoll cats.

Two unrelated Ragdoll cat mothers in Norway were found dead from renal disease. The histopathology was consistent with oxalate nephrosis with chronic or acute-on-chronic underlying kidney disease. Both cats had offspring and relatives with signs of urinary tract disease, including a kitten dead with urethral gravel. Eleven living Ragdoll cats, including nine relatives of the dead cats and the male father of a litter with similarly affected animals, were tested for primary hyperoxaluria (PH) type 1 and 2 by urine oxalate and liver enzyme analysis. Renal ultrasound revealed abnormalities in five living cats. One of these was azotaemic at the time of examination and developed terminal kidney disease 9 months later. A diagnosis of PH was excluded in 11 cats tested. The inheritance and aetiological background of the renal disease present in the breed remains unresolved at this point in time.

Clinical, radiographic, and pathologic abnormalities in dogs with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia: 19 cases (1991-2005).

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical, radiographic, and pathologic abnormalities in dogs with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 19 dogs with MED from 10 litters. PROCEDURES: The diagnosis was made on the basis of radiographs of the shoulder region and vertebral column. Ten dogs underwent necropsy. RESULTS: There were 11 Hygenhund, 6 Dunker, 1 Golden Retriever, and 1 English Pointer. Most dogs were examined because of lameness that developed at 5 to 8 months of age. The most common radiographic abnormality was a deficiency in ossification of the epiphyses, apophyses, and cuboidal bones of the appendicular skeleton and the epiphyses of the vertebrae; ossification of the metaphyses and the diaphyses typically were normal. Disease severity was consistent among littermates, but varied among dogs from different litters. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that MED is a rare condition in dogs characterized by a deficiency in ossification of the epiphyses of the long bones, the epiphyses of the vertebrae, the cuboidal bones, and the apophyses. Radiographic abnormalities were evident in dogs examined as young as 8 weeks of age, and most dogs had developed severe lameness by 5 to 8 months of age. The condition most likely had an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, although genetic studies of mode of inheritance could not be performed.

Uveal myxoid leiomyosarcoma in a horse.

A uveal leiomyosarcoma of a horse is reported. There are few published reports of intraocular tumors in horses. Intraocular tumors challenge animal welfare by causing uveitis, glaucoma, and loss of vision. Knowledge regarding treatment of intraocular tumors with globe preservation is sparse, and further investigations on this topic are required.

The effect of large milk meals on digestive physiology and behaviour in dairy calves.

It is commonly believed that young calves should not be fed more than about 2l of milk per meal. If calves are fed beyond this volume, it is said that the capacity of the abomasum may be exceeded and that milk could enter the rumen. This can disturb the microbial flora/fauna of the rumen and increase the risk of indigestion, diarrhoea and reduced growth. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of large milk meals on digestive physiology and behaviour in dairy calves. Six calves (19-23days of age at the beginning of the experiment) were fed 2l of warm whole milk by teat bottle three times per day, which was the recommended Norwegian feeding regime at the time. The calves were given free access to hay, concentrates and water. During three morning feeding sessions, each separated by 48h, all calves were offered larger meals. The offered amounts were calculated according to the within patient 3-level Response Surface Pathway (RSP) design. The milk given on the three test days contained a contrast medium (barium sulphate), and the animals were radiographed before, during and immediately after intake to reveal whether milk entered the rumen. Four out of the six calves drank more than 5l in one meal and the highest voluntary intake was 6.8l in one meal (13.2% of BW). Abdominal radiographs showed that the abomasum has a large ability for distension. Milk in the rumen was not observed in any of the calves, regardless of intake. The behaviour of the calves was observed for 2h after each test session. No behaviour indicating abdominal pain or discomfort was observed regardless of intake. The results indicate that when warm whole milk is administered from a teat bottle, farmers can increase the amount of milk they offer their calves beyond the traditionally recommended portion size without risk of milk entering the rumen. Hence, farmers who want to feed their calves more milk can do so by increasing meal sizes, and not necessarily by introducing an additional meal.

Cervical chondroid chordoma in a standard dachshund: a case report.

A ten-year-old male standard dachshund was presented with a history of neck pain and progressive gait disturbances. Following a neurological examination and diagnostic imaging, including CT, a neoplastic lesion involving the third and fourth cervical vertebrae was suspected. The lesion included an extradural mass on the right side of the spinal canal causing a local compression of the cervical cord. Surgery, using a modified dorsal laminectomy procedure, was performed in order to decompress the cervical spinal cord. Histopathological examination of the extradural mass indicated that the tumour was a chondroid chordoma. Following discharge, the quality of life for the dog was very good for a sustained period, but clinical signs recurred at 22 months. The dog was euthanased 25 months post-surgery. On post-mortem examination, a regrowth of neoplastic tissue was found to have infiltrated the bone and spinal cord at C3-C4. This is the first report to show that palliative surgery can offer successful long-lasting treatment of chondroid chordoma of the cervical spine in the dog.

Causes of lower urinary tract disease in Norwegian cats.

A study was made on causes of lower urinary tract disease in cats, and to investigate whether demographic data and factors related to husbandry might influence the occurrence of a particular diagnosis. The study was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study of primary cases of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) in Norway. Only cats sampled by cystocentesis were included in the present study. Of the 119 cats included, 28.6% were diagnosed with obstructive FLUTD. The majority of cats were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (55.5%). Urethral plugs were the second most common diagnosis (21.0%), whereas bacterial cystitis and urolithiasis each were diagnosed in 11.8%. Nearly one-third (28.6%) of the cats diagnosed with urolithiasis had significant bacteriuria. Thus, significant bacteriuria was diagnosed in a total of 15.1% of the cats. There were no significant differences in the urine specific gravity, pH and amount of epithelial cells in the urine sediment in the different aetiological categories of FLUTD. There was a higher amount of red blood cells in the urine sediment in cats diagnosed with urethral plugs and urolithiasis, whereas cats with bacterial cystitis and urolithiasis had a higher amount of white blood cells in their sediment. Regarding demographic data and factors related to husbandry, cats diagnosed with FLUTD were more often males and kept strictly indoors, when compared with a 'reference population'.

Early recurrence of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion after surgical decompression: a report of three cases.

Thoracolumbar disc extrusions were diagnosed in three chondrodystrophic dogs with paraparesis of up to three days duration. All cases were managed by hemilaminectomy and removal of extruded disc material. In one dog, fenestration of the herniated disc space was also performed. Initially neurological function improved or was unchanged, but from two to ten days postoperatively clinical signs of deterioration became apparent. In all the dogs, recurrence of disc extrusion at the same location as the initial extrusion was diagnosed by computer tomography and at a second surgery abundant disc material was found at the hemilaminectomy site between the dura and an implanted graft of autogenous fat.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour and hypoglycemia in a Fjord pony: case report.

BACKGROUND: Neoplasia may cause hypoglycemia in different species including the horse, but hypoglycemia has not previously been reported in the horse associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumours. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in a Fjord pony with severe recurrent hypoglycemia is presented. The mechanism causing the hypoglycemia was not established. CONCLUSION: This case indicates that a gastrointestinal stromal tumour may cause hypoglycemia also in the horse.