CT findings, management and short-term outcome of dogs with pyothorax: 101 cases (2010 - 2019).

OBJECTIVES: To describe diagnosis, CT findings, management and short-term outcome of a large population of canine pyothorax cases. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 101 canine pyothorax cases at two UK referral centres. Medical records and CT images were reviewed. Dogs were included if pre- and post-contrast CT was performed within 48 hours of presentation. RESULTS: CT abnormalities included pleural thickening (84.1%), pannus (67.3%), pneumothorax (61.4%), mediastinal effusion (28.7%), pulmonary (13.8%) and mediastinal (7.9%) abscessation, foreign body presence (7.9%), foreign body tracts (6.9%) and pneumonia (6.9%). Seventy-one percent of dogs were managed surgically, of which 90.2% survived, and 29% were managed medically, of which 72.4% survived. Overall mortality was 14.8% and 86.6% of these dogs died within 48 hours of admission. All dogs with evidence of a foreign body on CT underwent surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mortality in our population was low and most dogs that died did so within 48 hours of hospitalisation, regardless of management type.

Detrusor urethral dyssynergy in dogs: 35 cases (2007-2019).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of dogs diagnosed with detrusor urethral dyssynergy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicentre (n = 3 UK referral clinics), retrospective, observational study. Database searches were performed (2007 to 2019) to identify dogs with detrusor urethral dyssynergy. Dogs with structural abnormalities or detectable neurological disorders affecting micturition were excluded. Clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, treatment and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five dogs were included. Middle-aged, large-breed, male neutered dogs were most frequently documented. Four female dogs were included. Fifteen breeds, including Labrador retrievers (8/35; 22.9%), golden retrievers (5/35;14.3%) and cross-breeds (5/35; 14.3%) were identified. Median duration of clinical signs was 152 days (range 0 to 1095). All dogs were dysuric at presentation with 17/35 (48.6%) reported to have an altered stream of urine and 17/35 (48.6%) to be stranguric. Follow-up data were available for 34 dogs (median 136 days, range 4 to 2188). Response was classified as good (20/34; 58.8%), partial (7/34; 20.5%) or poor (7/34; 20.5%). Overall time to response was known for 21 of 34 dogs (partial n = 6, good n = 15) with a median of 11 days (range 1 to 155). Four dogs had surgical intervention (castration n = 4, cystostomy tube n = 2). Three dogs were euthanased due to partial (n = 1) or poor (n = 2) response. Medications were discontinued in 11 of 20 (55.0%) dogs with a good response to therapy, two of these relapsed. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Detrusor urethral dyssynergy is an uncommon micturition disorder in dogs, in particular females. Medical therapy with or without surgery resulted in a favourable prognosis in the majority of dogs, although many require long-term medication.

Association between cystine urolithiasis and neuter status of dogs within the UK.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to examine the association between diagnosis of cystine urolithiasis and entire versus neutered status in male dogs and whether the strength of association varies among breeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A previously reported canine urolithiasis database was used, documenting all urolith submissions to Hill's Pet Nutrition UK over a 10-year period. Uroliths were classified as cystine or non-cystine, and only male dogs with known neuter status were included in the analysis. Breeds of dog (and an additional crossbreed group), for which there was a minimum of 10 cystine urolith submissions, were analysed individually, with all other breeds combined together to form a reference group. Results were analysed using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between breed and neuter status and formation of cystine calculi. RESULTS: In multiple breeds, dogs with cystine uroliths were significantly more likely to be entire than dogs forming other types of urolith. Being an entire male, regardless of breed, was associated with an increased risk of cystine urolithiasis (odds ratio=4·5; 95% confidence interval: 3·22 to 6·37; P<0·001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Increased odds of cystine formation in entire dogs supports further investigation of castration as a method to prevent cystine urolithiasis.

Use of a Granulocyte Immunofluorescence Assay Designed for Humans for Detection of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in Dogs with Chronic Enteropathies.

BACKGROUND: Perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) previously have been shown to be serum markers in dogs with chronic enteropathies, with dogs that have food-responsive disease (FRD) having higher frequencies of seropositivity than dogs with steroid-responsive disease (SRD). The indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay used in previous publications is time-consuming to perform, with low interobserver agreement. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that a commercially available granulocyte IIF assay designed for humans could be used to detect perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in dogs. ANIMALS: Forty-four dogs with FRD, 20 dogs with SRD, 20 control dogs, and 38 soft-coated wheaten terrier (SCWT) or SCWT-cross dogs. METHODS: A granulocyte assay designed for humans was used to detect pANCA, cANCA, and antinuclear antibodies (ANA), as well as antibodies against proteinase-3 protein (PR-3) and myeloperoxidase protein (MPO) in archived serum samples. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the granulocyte assay to predict FRD in dogs was 0.61 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45, 0.75), and specificity was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.91, 1.00). A significant association was identified between positive pANCA or cANCA result and diagnosis of FRD (P < 0.0001). Agreement between the two assays to detect ANCA in the same serum samples from SCWT with protein-losing enteropathy/protein-losing nephropathy (PLE/PLN) was substantial (kappa, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.53, 1.00). Eight ANCA-positive cases were positive for MPO or PR-3 antibodies. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The granulocyte immunofluorescence assay used in our pilot study was easy and quick to perform. Agreement with the previously published method was good.