Lingual abscesses in three dogs.

Lingual abscessation is a rare condition in dogs. Very little information is available on the diagnosis and treatment of lingual abscesses in the major surgical textbooks and current veterinary literature. The common clinical signs of lingual abscesses are macroglossia, hypersalivation and a reluctance to open the mouth, but these can vary depending on the time course of the disease and the location of the abscess. This article presents three cases of tongue abscess in the dog outlining treatment and outcomes. A thorough diagnostic work up, consisting of anamnesis, clinical and haematological examinations, oral inspection under sedation and the use of diagnostic imaging techniques should be mandatory before surgical exploration of the abscess. Surgery is followed by drainage and systemic antibiotics, complemented by systemic fluid support and pain management. Conservative management of lingual abscesses can be fatal. Sharp trauma from an unknown object is suspected to be the underlying cause for the abscesses in the present cases.

Assessment of thyroid function in dogs with low plasma thyroxine concentration.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation between hypothyroidism and nonthyroidal illness in dogs poses specific problems, because plasma total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations are often low in nonthyroidal illness, and plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations are frequently not high in primary hypothyroidism. HYPOTHESIS: The serum concentrations of the common basal biochemical variables (TT4, freeT4 [fT4], and TSH) overlap between dogs with hypothyroidism and dogs with nonthyroidal illness, but, with stimulation tests and quantitative measurement of thyroidal 99mTcO4(-) uptake, differentiation will be possible. ANIMALS: In 30 dogs with low plasma TT4 concentration, the final diagnosis was based upon histopathologic examination of thyroid tissue obtained by biopsy. Fourteen dogs had primary hypothyroidism, and 13 dogs had nonthyroidal illness. Two dogs had secondary hypothyroidism, and 1 dog had metastatic thyroid cancer. METHODS: The diagnostic value was assessed for (1) plasma concentrations of TT4, fT4, and TSH; (2) TSH-stimulation test; (3) plasma TSH concentration after stimulation with TSH-releasing hormone (TRH); (4) occurrence of thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs); and (5) thyroidal 99mTcO4(-) uptake. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of TT4, fT4, TSH, and the hormone pairs TT4/TSH and fT4/TSH overlapped in the 2 groups, whereas, with TgAbs, there was 1 false-negative result. Results of the TSH- and TRH-stimulation tests did not meet earlier established diagnostic criteria, overlapped, or both. With a quantitative measurement of thyroidal 99mTcO4(-) uptake, there was no overlap between dogs with primary hypothyroidism and dogs with nonthyroidal illness. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study confirm earlier observations that, in dogs, accurate biochemical diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism poses specific problems. Previous studies, in which the TSH-stimulation test was used as the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism may have suffered from misclassification. Quantitative measurement of thyroidal 99mTcO- uptake has the highest discriminatory power with regard to the differentiation between primary hypothyroidism and nonthyroidal illness.

Thoracic bite trauma in dogs: a comparison of clinical and radiological parameters with surgical results.

OBJECTIVES: Canine bite wounds may cause severe underlying tissue trauma even with no clinically evident puncture wounds. In order to assess the ability of pre-operative diagnostic parameters to predict the extent of internal damage inflicted by a thoracic bite wound, the clinical, radiological and surgical data of 45 dogs that sustained thoracic bite trauma were recorded. METHODS: Clinical, radiographic and surgical parameters from 45 dogs of various breeds with thoracic bite trauma, were analysed (P<0.05). All dogs were treated according to a previously described protocol and had exploratory surgery including a thoracotomy. RESULTS: Mainly small-breed dogs were traumatised. Clinical and radiological data were suggestive of internal trauma but not reliable as accurate indicators for internal lesions. Only radiological evidence of lung contusion was significantly associated with the presence of surgically confirmed lung contusion (P=0.006). Dogs with postoperative wound complications had a significantly higher risk of dying than those without complications (P=0.04). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study concludes that according to protocol an optimal management of thoracic bite wounds in small dogs includes surgical exploration of the wound and the thoracic cavity in the presence of flail or pseudo-flail chest, fractured ribs, radiological evidence of lung contusion, pneumothorax or any combination of these.

Parathyroid hormone immunohistochemistry in dogs with primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism: the question of adenoma and primary hyperplasia.

In primary hyperparathyroidism, calcium homeostasis is disrupted by excessive synthesis and secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is usually caused by a solitary adenoma, or less often by nodular hyperplasia or carcinoma of the parathyroid glands. So far, the distinction between these forms of primary hyperparathyroidism has been made by histological examination. In this report clinical and histological findings, including PTH immunohistochemistry, are described in five dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism, three dogs with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure, and eight control dogs. In the dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism, nodular adenomatous hyperplasia was found in two animals and parathyroid adenoma in three. The dogs with chronic renal failure had diffuse parathyroid gland hyperplasia. The parathyroid glands of the control dogs and the inactive cells surrounding the hyperplastic nodules showed slight to moderate, localized, paranuclear PTH immunolabelling. In the primary nodular and secondary diffuse hyperplasia, all parathyroid cells had a diffuse cytoplasmic PTH labelling pattern, sometimes in combination with localized paranuclear labelling. In parathyroid adenoma, areas with either paranuclear labelling or diffuse cytoplasmic labelling were observed. As both parathyroid adenoma and primary nodular parathyroid gland hyperplasia have characteristics of intrinsic autonomy (i.e., suppression of the remaining endocrine tissue), there would seem to be no functional difference between the two abnormalities. It is argued that primary (multi)nodular hyperplasia is a multiple form of parathyroid adenoma.

Exercise-induced hyperkalemia in hypothyroid dogs.

We investigated the effect of hypothyroidism in dogs on (1) the Na+-, K+ -ATPase concentration in skeletal muscle, and (2) potassium (K+) homeostasis at rest and during exercise. Prior to and 1 year after induction of hypothyroidism by surgery and subsequent radiothyroidectomy, the Na+-, K+ -ATPase concentrations were quantified in biopsies of sternothyroid muscles of seven Beagle dogs by measuring [3H]ouabain binding capacity. In addition, plasma K+ concentrations were measured at rest and after treadmill exercise in six hypothyroid and seven euthyroid Beagle dogs. During hypothyroidism, the mean Na+ -, K+ -ATPase concentration in muscle biopsies was 41% lower than during euthyroidism. The mean resting plasma K+ value of the hypothyroid dogs was significantly (14%) higher than that of the euthyroid dogs. In the hypothyroid dogs, plasma K+ concentration increased significantly during exercise, whereas there was no rise in the euthyroid dogs. The rise in plasma K+ concentration could not be ascribed to muscle damage, as plasma creatine kinase concentrations remained within reference range. Also renal K+ retention was an unlikely explanation, as plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity rather increased than decreased during exercise. In conclusion, hypothyroid dogs tend to develop hyperkalemia during exercise, which for a large part can be explained by the severe reduction of the Na+ -, K+ -ATPase capacity in the skeletal muscle pool.

Comparison of volume-conducted far-field short-latency glossopharyngeal nerve evoked potentials recorded from the scalp with similarly obtained near-field potentials from the solitary nucleus in dogs.

In 11 dogs, potentials recorded from the scalp and from the solitary nucleus after stimulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve were compared. The far-field potentials recorded from the scalp consisted of negativity, with peak latency of 2.10 to 3.45 milliseconds (mean, 2.93 milliseconds), followed by positivity, with peak latency of 3.20 to 5.95 milliseconds (mean, 4.86 milliseconds) and duration of 4.65 to 6.95 milliseconds (mean, 5.70 milliseconds). The near-field potentials recorded from the solitary nucleus consisted of positivity, with peak latency of 2.15 to 2.70 milliseconds (mean, 2.45 milliseconds), followed by negativity, with peak latency of 4.05 to 5.05 milliseconds (mean, 4.39 milliseconds) and duration of 4.45 to 5.80 milliseconds (mean, 5.21 milliseconds). Comparison of the far-field potentials (n = 10) with the near-field potentials (n = 5) indicated that polarity of the waves was reversed and that the first peak's latency was slightly (approx 0.5 milliseconds) longer in the scalp-recorded far-field potentials. Neither the difference in latency of the second peak nor the difference in its duration, measured from the onset of the potentials to the return to the baseline of the activity, was significant. The results strongly suggest that the response in the solitary nucleus evoked by electrical stimulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve is the source of at least part of the scalp-recorded responses to stimulation of the same nerve. The scalp-recorded far-field potentials could, therefore, be characterized as volume conducted from the evoked response in the solitary nucleus.

Dysphagia-associated muscular dystrophy: a familial trait in the bouvier des Flandres.

Among a group of dysphagic dogs the bouvier des Flandres was overrepresented. The results of a clinical examination, contrast videofluorography and electromyography of the pharyngeal, laryngeal and oesophageal muscles were similar in all the bouviers, and a histological examination of tissues from 10 of them revealed muscular dystrophy as the cause of the dysphagia. A study of the affected dogs' pedigrees revealed that they were descendants of one closely related group of ancestors, and that the inbreeding levels for this ancestor group were higher than in a control population of 136 bouviers. The homozygosity due to inbreeding for this ancestor group was higher in the affected dogs than in the control dogs, but the homozygosity due to all other ancestry was equal in the two groups. The relative risk of developing dysphagia-associated muscular dystrophy was up to 16 times greater in these bouviers, depending on the level of inbreeding for the closely related ancestor group.

Evaluation of a standardised questionnaire for the detection of dysphagia in 69 dogs.

The diagnosis of dysphagia in the dog requires an evaluation of a variety of signs that can be caused not only by a 'swallowing disorder' but also by several other pathological conditions. Most owners mention coughing, vomiting, regurgitation and nasal discharge, and the clinician must decide whether these signs are related to dysphagia. In this study a standardised questionnaire for the diagnosis and localisation of dysphagia was evaluated for its accuracy by comparing the results with contrast videofluorography as the definitive standard. The purpose of the study was to optimise the selection of dogs for more expensive diagnostic procedures such as videofluorography and electromyography. In a group of 69 dogs with 'swallowing problems' the questionnaire had a sensitivity of 0.97 and a positive predictive value of 0.94 for dysphagia in general. The questionnaire was also useful for the exclusion of oral phase dysphagia, with a specificity of 0.70 and a negative predictive value of 0.97. Most dogs with pharyngeal phase dysphagia could be detected by using the questionnaire (sensitivity 0.91). The questionnaire was not of specific value for the detection or exclusion of oesophageal phase dysphagia, for which it had a sensitivity of 0.69, a specificity of 0.57 and predictive values for positive and negative tests of 0.79 and 0.44, respectively.

Dysphagia in Bouviers associated with muscular dystrophy; evaluation of 24 cases.

Twenty-four Bouviers with dysphagia were examined between October 1986 and October 1988. The type of dysphagia was characterised by the results from the clinical examination, the videofluorographic examination and the electromyographic recordings from the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal muscles. Electromyography indicated neurogenic as well as myogenic causes of dysphagia. Tissues from 10 dogs were available for histopathologic examination. In nine dogs there was a progressive muscular degeneration of the pharyngeal and/or esophageal muscles, resembling muscular dystrophy. In two of these dogs the same abnormalities were also noticed in the masseter and temporalis muscles and in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. In one dog small areas with hyalin degeneration and fragmentation of muscle fibres were found in the cricopharyngeal muscle. No abnormalities in nerve tissue were found. Muscular dystrophy is a hereditary disease. The mode of transmission in these Bouviers is not yet known.

[Pyloric stenosis in the dog: developments in its surgical treatment and retrospective study in 47 patients]. / Pylorusstenose bij de hond: ontwikkelingen in de chirurgische behandeling en retrospectief onderzoek bij 47 patiënten.

Diagnosis and treatment of pyloric stenosis in the dog are described. The most common causes in 47 dogs were hypertrophic and functional pyloric stenosis. These conditions were mostly seen in young, male dogs of brachycephalic breeds. In contrast with the literature no indications were found for a predisposition in miniature breeds. Hypertrophic stenosis was treated successfully with the Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy. Functional stenosis and hypertrophic gastritis were mainly treated with the Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty; good results were obtained in more than half of the cases.

[The treatment of salivary cysts in dogs and cats]. / De behandeling van speekselcysten bij hond en kat.

The anatomy and physiology of the salivary glands in dogs and cats are briefly discussed. A salivary mucocele is due to leakage of saliva from the salivary gland or from its duct. Trauma is usually referred to as the underlying cause. Treatment of salivary mucoceles (cervical salivary gland cyst, ranula or pharyngeal mucocele) consists in surgical resection of the affected salivary gland.

Four methods for general anaesthesia in the rabbit: a comparative study.

The efficacy and safety of pentobarbitone, ketamine/xylazine, fentanyl/fluanisone/diazepam, and halothane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia were compared in 4 groups of six New Zealand White rabbits. Heart and respiratory rates, body temperature, reflexes, blood pressure and blood gases were measured. Pentobarbitone appeared to be unsuitable for anaesthesia in rabbits, as 5 of the 6 rabbits to whom it was administered, required artificial respiration or died. The combinations of ketamine/xylazine and fentanyl-fluanisone/diazepam both produced unpredictable levels of anaesthesia together with a substantial decline in arterial blood pressure and PO2. Despite a severe drop in blood pressure (up to 37.5%), anaesthesia with halothane and nitrous oxide was found to be superior to the other anaesthetic agents.

[Dipetalonema dracunculoides (Cobbold, 1870) (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in an imported dog]. / Dipetalonema dracunculoides (Cobbold, 1870) (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) bij een geïmporteerde hond.

Dipetalonema dracunculoides was found in the abdominal and thoracic cavities of an imported dog.