Concurrent spinal epidural empyema and endocarditis in a dog.

A 9-year-old neutered male Rhodesian ridgeback cross dog was evaluated for progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis, fever, and leukocytosis. The dog was diagnosed with spinal epidural empyema (SEE) and infectious endocarditis (IE) of the mitral valve based on the findings of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), CT myelography, echocardiography, and bacterial culture. The report herein describes the clinical presentation, CT findings, clinical and surgical management of this case, together with the electrocardiography, and echocardiography findings. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of spinal epidural empyema likely to be caused by infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve in a dog.

Empyème épidural spinal concomitant à une endocardite chez un chien. Un chien mâle castré croisé Rhodesian Ridgeback âgé de 9 ans a été évalué pour une paraparésie progressive non-ambulatoire, de la fièvre et une leucocytose. Un diagnostic d'empyème épidural spinal (SEE) et d'endocardite infectieuse (IE) de la valvule mitrale a été émis basé sur les trouvailles de la tomodensitométrie (CT), d'une myélographie CT, de l'échocardiographie, et de la culture bactérienne. Le présent rapport décrit la présentation clinique, les trouvailles de CT, la gestion clinique et chirurgicale de ce cas, de même que les trouvailles par électrocardiographie et échocardiographie. À la connaissance des auteurs, ceci représente le premier cas rapporté d'empyème épidural spinal à être causé par une endocardite infectieuse de la valvule mitrale chez un chien.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Acetabular ventroversion with double pelvic osteotomy versus triple pelvic osteotomy: a cadaveric study in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which of 3 different plate angles (20°, 25°, 30°) used in double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) would result in the most similar acetabular angle (AA) achieved with a 20° triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) technique in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental anatomic study. ANIMALS: Cadaveric canine pelves (n = 8). METHODS: Transverse plane computed tomographic images of cadaveric pelves with intact sacroiliac joints, mounted in a custom jig, were made (baseline) and again after DPO (20°, 25°, 30°) and TPO (20°) and pelvic angles measured in 6 transverse planes. Pelvic angles of the 3 DPO techniques were compared with TPO using concordance correlation to determine which DPO angle resulted in an acetabular ventroversion angle closest to TPO. RESULTS: Mean ± SD AAs were 32.89 ± 2.23 (baseline), 47.39 ± 4.39 (20° DPO), 51.43 ± 5.06 (25° DPO), 54.75 ± 4.38 (30° DPO), and 50.20 ± 5.76 (20° TPO). Concordance correlations for the AA compared with 20° TPO were 0.027 (baseline), 0.721 (20° DPO), 0.902 (25° DPO), and 0.593 (30° DPO). A concordance correlation of ≥ 0.8 indicates good correlation. CONCLUSIONS: A 25° DPO is most similar in acetabular ventroversion to 20° TPO (concordance correlation, 0.902).

Comparison of canine stifle kinematic data collected with three different targeting models.

OBJECTIVE: To model the kinematics of the canine stifle in 3 dimensions using the Joint Coordinate System (JCS) and compare the JCS method with linear and segmental models. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo biomechanical study. ANIMALS: Normal adult mixed breed dogs (n=6). METHODS: Dogs had 10 retroreflective markers affixed to the skin on the right pelvic limb. Dogs were walked and trotted 5 times through the calibrated space and the procedure was repeated 5 days later. Sagittal flexion and extension angle waveforms acquired during each trial with all 3 models (JCS, Linear, and Segmental) were produced simultaneously during each gait. The JCS method provided additional internal/external and abduction/adduction angles. Comparison of sagittal flexion and extension angle waveforms was performed with generalized indicator function analysis (GIFA) and Fourier analysis. A normalization procedure was performed. RESULTS: Each model provided consistent equivalent sagittal flexion-extension data. The JCS provided consistent additional internal/external and abduction/adduction. Sagittal waveform differences were found between methods and testing days for each dog at a walk and a trot with both GIFA and Fourier analysis. After normalization, differences were less with Fourier analysis and were unaltered with GIFA. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas all methods produced similar flexion-extension waveforms, JCS provided additional valuable data. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The JCS model provided sagittal plane flexion/extension data as well as internal/external rotation and abduction/adduction data.

Bilateral ureteral ectopia with renal dysplasia and urolithiasis in a dog.

A 7-month-old, 4.3-kg, spayed female bichon frise was referred for evaluation of chronic urinary incontinence. Abdominal radiographs revealed calculi within the right kidney and ureter. An ultrasound revealed a small right kidney. An abdominal computed tomography scan with contrast revealed that the left ureter was extramurally ectopic, inserting into the proximal urethra. A right intramural ectopic ureter was identified during cystotomy. Ureteronephrectomy was performed on the right, and ureteroneocystostomy was performed on the left. A telephone conversation with the owner 4 months after surgery revealed that the dog exhibited no evidence of urine dribbling, and urinary continence was maintained well on phenyl-propanolamine (1.75 mg/kg orally q 12 hours). This is the first report of successful surgical management of bilateral ureteral ectopia with concurrent, unilateral, renal dysplasia and urolithiasis.

Arthroscopic documentation of elbow cartilage pathology in dogs with clinical lameness without changes on standard radiographic projections.

OBJECTIVE: To document cartilage damage associated with elbow lameness in dogs without radiographic signs. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Dogs (n=16). METHODS: Medical records (November 2004-January 2006) of dogs with undiagnosed forelimb lameness localized to the elbow but without radiographic signs that had lesions identified by either computed tomography (CT) or nuclear scintigraphy and confirmed by arthroscopy were included. Signalment, duration of clinical signs before admission, surgical diagnosis, and treatment were recorded. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs (10 left, 6 right elbows) were identified. Median age was 30.1 months and median duration of clinical signs before admission was 15.6 months. CT or scintigraphy were strongly suggestive of elbow pathology before confirmation by arthroscopy. Medial coronoid pathology was identified in every abnormal elbow and osteochondrosis dissecans in 2 elbows. CONCLUSIONS: Elbow pathology not associated with radiographic changes can be identified by CT and scintigraphy. Coronoid pathology is the most likely diagnosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Absence of radiographic signs in elbows with clinical signs of lameness should be evaluated with advanced imaging techniques (CT, scintigraphy) and arthroscopy to identify the cause of lameness.

Effects of firocoxib, meloxicam, and tepoxalin on prostanoid and leukotriene production by duodenal mucosa and other tissues of osteoarthritic dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vivo effects of firocoxib, meloxicam, and tepoxalin on prostaglandin (PG) and leukotriene production in duodenal mucosa and other target tissues in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis (OA). ANIMALS: 8 dogs with chronic, unilateral OA of the stifle joint. PROCEDURES: In a crossover design, each dog received placebo (no treatment), firocoxib, meloxicam, or tepoxalin for 7 days, followed by a 21-day washout period. On the first day of treatment (day 0; baseline) and days 2, 4, and 7, samples of whole blood, synovial fluid, and gastric and duodenal mucosae were collected. Prostaglandin E2 concentrations were measured in synovial fluid of the stifle joint and after ex vivo stimulation of whole blood samples. Synthesis of PGE1 and PGE2 was measured in samples of gastric and duodenal mucosae. Concentrations of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) were measured in whole blood samples. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) concentrations were measured in samples of whole blood (ex vivo stimulation) and gastric and duodenal mucosae. RESULTS: Firocoxib, meloxicam, and tepoxalin significantly suppressed whole blood concentrations of PGE2, compared with baseline and placebo concentrations, at days 2, 4, and 7. Tepoxalin significantly suppressed serum TxB2 concentrations, compared with baseline, firocoxib, meloxicam, and placebo, at all 3 time points. Production of PGE1 and PGE2 was significantly lower in duodenal versus gastric mucosa. Tepoxalin significantly decreased rates of PGE1 and PGE2 in duodenal and gastric mucosae, compared with baseline rates. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PG production was lower in the duodenum than in the stomach. Firocoxib had a COX-1-sparing effect in vivo.

Kinetic gait and subjective analysis of the effects of a tachykinin receptor antagonist in dogs with sodium urate-induced synovitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of preemptive administration of a proprietary neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) receptor antagonist to attenuate limb dysfunction associated with monosodium urate-induced synovitis in the stifle joints of dogs. ANIMALS: 16 clinically normal adult mixed-breed dogs (8 males and 8 females). PROCEDURES: A crossover study was conducted in 2 phases. Dogs were assigned to 2 groups (8 dogs/group) and orally administered an NK(1) receptor antagonist (3 mg/kg) or a control substance once daily for 4 days. Synovitis was then induced in the left stifle joint by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate. Investigators were not aware of treatment group assignments. Dogs were evaluated by use of subjective lameness scores during standing, walking, and trotting and by use of ground reaction force data 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after urate injection. After a 21-day washout period, the experiment was repeated with each dog administered the other treatment and injected with monosodium urate in the contralateral stifle joint. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between the NK(1) receptor antagonist and control treatments with regard to peak vertical force, vertical impulse area, or subjective evaluations of lameness during standing, walking, or trotting, except during walking 24 hours after monosodium urate injection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Preemptive administration of an NK(1) receptor antagonist failed to significantly improve subjective or objective outcome measures in dogs with monosodium urate-induced synovitis.