Case report: squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a horse.

A 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding was evaluated after a 10-week history of occasional straining during urination and dark red urine production after exercise. Physical examination findings were within normal limits. After 2 weeks of clinical signs, ultrasonography had found no abnormalities in the kidneys or bladder. A freely voided urine sample revealed an elevated protein concentration (500 mg/dL; reference range: <100 mg/dL) and few red blood cells. Vitamin C supplementation was suggested to acidify the urine, as was provision of a salt block to encourage water intake.

Evaluation of the effect of dietary vegetable consumption on reducing risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of vegetable consumption and vitamin supplementation on the risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers. DESIGN: Case-control study. ANIMALS: 92 adult Scottish Terriers with TCC (cases) and 83 Scottish Terriers with other conditions (controls). PROCEDURE: Owners of dogs with TCC completed a questionnaire regarding their dogs' diet and intake of vitamin supplements in the year prior to diagnosis of TCC; owners of control dogs completed the questionnaire for a comparable time period. The risk (odds ratio [OR]) of developing TCC associated with diet and vitamin supplementation was determined by use of logistic regression. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, weight, neuter status, and coat color, there was an inverse association between consumption of vegetables at least 3 times/wk (OR, 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15 to 0.62) and risk of developing TCC. For individual vegetable types, the risk of developing TCC was inversely associated with consumption of green leafy vegetables (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.97) and yellow-orange vegetables (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.70). Consumption of cruciferous vegetables was not significantly associated with a similar reduction in risk of developing TCC (OR, 0.22; CI, 0.04 to 1.11). The power of the study to detect a 50% reduction in TCC risk associated with daily vitamin supplementation was considered low (25%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that consumption of certain vegetables may prevent or slow the development of TCC in Scottish Terriers.

Bracken as a risk factor in digestive tract tumors: state of the art.

The present knowledge of the risks of exposure to bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is presented. The history of research on bracken toxicity is reviewed, covering the animal observations and chemical analysis, and focusing on the carcinogenic effects in various animal species and on the nature and biological properties of the known carcinogens. The implications of human exposure to bracken are inferred, the possible ways of contamination are discussed, and the existing epidemiological studies are commented. Bracken contribution to digestive tract tumors is deduced, and the need of further research on the plant toxicity and detailed epidemiological investigations with the exposed population is stressed.

Urologic disorders of the geriatric dog.

Disorders of the urinary system are common in geriatric dogs. Common urinary disorders that are seen in older dogs include chronic renal failure, urinary incontinence, bladder tumors, and prostate problems. Therapy for chronic renal failure is aimed at both slowing the progression of the disease and ameliorating the signs of uremia. Therapeutic recommendations for the conservative medical management of chronic renal failure include reducing dietary protein, moderately reducing salt intake, maintaining normal serum phosphorus levels, providing free access to water, avoiding stress, supplementing water soluble vitamins, using anabolic steroids to treat the anemia of chronic renal failure, treating acidosis, and controlling hypocalcemia. Urinary incontinence can often be controlled or eliminated. The appropriate approach to management of this disorder is to identify and remove specific causes. Common causes of urinary incontinence are urethral incompetence, urinary tract infection, and polyuria and polydypsia. Bladder tumors are, fortunately, not a common tumor of dogs, but are more common in geriatric dogs than in the young. The most common bladder tumor is the transitional cell carcinoma. Therapy for this tumor is usually palliative because of its malignant nature and because it is usually located in the neck of the bladder. Its location in the bladder often makes it impossible to resect the tumor completely without removing the entire bladder and diverting the ureters. New chemotherapeutic modalities are being evaluated that may increase life expectancy after diagnosis and, therefore, improve prognosis. Prostate disease is also seen in older dogs. Types of prostate abnormalities seen in dogs include prostatic hyperplasia, cysts, abscesses, acute and chronic infection, and neoplasia. The institution of proper therapy requires an accurate diagnosis; neutering is often recommended as a part of therapy regardless of the type of prostatic disease present.