[Calcitriol induced hypercalcemia in a hunting dog with a disseminated Paecilomyces variotii infection]. / Calcitriol-bedingte Hyperkalzämie bei einem Jagdhund mit disseminierter Paecilomyces variotii-Infektion.

INTRODUCTION: A 5-year old hunting dog was presented with reduced appetite, weight loss and polyuria/polydipsia. Hematology and clinical chemistry revealed anemia, leukocytosis, increased liver enzymes, hypoalbuminemia and hypercalcemia. The cytological, pathohistological and microbiological examination identified a disseminated infection with the saprophytic mould fungus Paecilomyces variotii in the biopsies of the spleen and a lymph node. Determination of vitamin D metabolites confirmed a calcitriol induced hypercalcemia.

Carpal joint injuries in cats - an epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVE: Injuries of the carpal joint are rare in cats. The most common cause is a fall from a height, known as 'high-rise syndrome'. So far, only limited data about carpal joint injuries (CJI) in cats are available. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, aetiology, location, and type of CJI in cats. METHODS: Case records of cats diagnosed with CJI between 1998 and 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Data concerning signalment, history and type of CJI, accompanying systemic injuries and further orthopaedic injuries were collected. RESULTS: During the study period, 73 cats were diagnosed with CJI (87 injured carpal joints) and the prevalence in our hospital population was 0.26% (73 out of  28,482). Cats with CJI were more likely to be presented in the period from April-October (85%, p = 0.003) compared with the rest of the year. Carpal joint injuries were caused by a fall from a height in 72.6% of the cases. Of all carpal joints, the antebrachiocarpal joint was predominantly injured (50.6%, p = 0.001) and this was commonly caused by a fall from the fourth floor or higher (p = 0.002). The carpometacarpal joint was predominantly affected by a fall from heights up to the third floor (p = 0.004). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The data of this study confirm previous data with respect to time of occurrence and cause of injury. Of note, the height of the fall appears to influence the location of the injury within the carpus of cats.

Infiltrative laryngeal lipoma in a Yorkshire Terrier as cause of severe dyspnoea.

A 10-year-old Yorkshire Terrier with suspected laryngeal paralysis was referred for further examination and surgical treatment. The dog displayed severe dyspnoea and dysphonia. Ventrolateral to the larynx a soft-elastic mass of 2 cm diameter was palpated and confirmed by radiography. Histopathological examination of the resected mass revealed an infiltrative lipoma/lipoma. Although the dog totally recovered after surgery, the prognosis remains guarded due to the high risk of a recurrence. Tumours of the larynx in general and an infiltrative lipoma specifically should be added to the list of differential diagnosis in dogs presented with clinical signs that could be misinterpreted as laryngeal paralysis.