Pyrexia in juvenile dogs: a review of 140 referred cases.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the presentation, influence of previous treatment and diagnosis in juvenile dogs presenting with pyrexia to a UK referral centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of dogs aged 1 to 18 months presenting with a problem list including pyrexia (≥⃒39∙2°C) that was reproducible during referral hospitalisation were retrospectively reviewed. Signalment, history - including previous treatment, clinical examination findings and diagnosis were recorded. Diagnoses were categorised as non-infectious inflammatory, infectious, congenital, neoplastic and miscellaneous. The influence of previous treatment on the ability to reach a final diagnosis was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 140 cases was identified. Diagnosis was reached in 115 cases. Non-infectious inflammatory disease was identified in 91 cases (79%), infectious disease in 19 cases (17%), a congenital disorder in four dogs (3%) and neoplasia in one dog (1%). Breeds most commonly identified were Border collies (17/140; 12%), beagles (16/140; 11%), Labrador retrievers (11/140; 8%), springer spaniels (9/140; 6%) and cocker spaniels (8/140; 6%). Before presentation, most dogs had received antibiotics (83/140; 59%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (84/140; 60%) or steroids (9/140; 6%), either alone or in combination. Neither antibiotics nor non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs influenced the ability to reach a diagnosis. Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis comprised 55 of 91 (60%) individuals of the non-infectious inflammatory cohort. All four dogs diagnosed with congenital disorders were Border collies. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Non-infectious inflammatory disease, particularly steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, immune-mediated polyarthritis and metaphyseal osteopathy, was commonly diagnosed in this population of pyrexic juvenile dogs.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Dogs With Sepsis Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is an early indicator of acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs and its use has not been evaluated in dogs with sepsis. ANIMALS: Fifteen dogs with sepsis requiring laparotomy (study dogs) and 10 dogs undergoing surgery for intervertebral disc disease (control dogs). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether NGAL increases in dogs with sepsis undergoing emergency laparotomy and whether it is correlated with development of AKI and survival. METHODS: Longitudinal study conducted at a referral teaching hospital. Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL), urinary NGAL normalized to urinary creatinine concentration (UNCR), and serum creatinine concentration were measured at 4 time points (admission, after anesthesia, and 24 and 48 hours postsurgery). Development of AKI (increase in serum creatinine concentration of 0.3 mg/dL) and in-hospital mortality were recorded. Linear mixed-model analysis was employed to assess differences between groups over time. Mann-Whitney U-test was performed for comparison of continuous variables between groups and Chi square or Fisher's exact tests were used to assess correlation between discrete data. RESULTS: Serum NGAL and UNCR were significantly higher in study dogs across all time points (P = .007 and P < .001, respectively) compared with controls. Urinary NGAL normalized to creatinine in the study group was not significantly different between survivors (n = 12) and nonsurvivors (n = 3). Dogs that received hydroxyethyl starch had significantly higher UNCR across all time points (P = .04) than those that did not. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and UNCR are increased in dogs with sepsis requiring emergency laparotomy. Additional studies are needed to evaluate its role as a marker of AKI in this population.

Fatal aortic oesophageal fistula following oesophageal foreign body removal in a dog.

An eight-month-old male Pomeranian was presented with hypovolaemic shock 7 days after successful oesophageal foreign body removal. On presentation the dog was anaemic and no coagulation abnormalities were detected. A fluid-filled oesophagus was visible on thoracic radiography and frank blood was aspirated from the oesophagus following oro-oesophageal intubation. Fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions were administered but attempts at stabilisation were unsuccessful and the dog died. At post-mortem examination, a 2-mm aortic oesophageal fistula was identified on the ventral aspect of the aorta at the level of heart base that communicated with the overlying oesophagus. Aortic oesophageal fistula has been reported in human medicine and occurs secondary to a number of conditions including oesophageal foreign bodies. These prove fatal without rapid stabilisation and surgery.