Degree of osteophyte formation seen on radiographs provides useful prognostic information for dogs with cruciate ligament disease.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent osteoarthritis is generally present in the stifle joints of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD), but it is not known if the degree of osteoarthritis-related changes affects the prognosis. Development of osteophytes is a key radiographic feature of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the degree of osteophyte formation seen on radiographs and CCLD-related euthanasia in dogs with CCLD. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including 226 dogs treated for CCLD at two university animal hospitals was performed. Clinical and follow-up information was retrieved, and stifle radiographs taken during the 31 days before treatment for the CCLD were graded for osteophyte formation by three veterinary radiologists. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was applied to assess the association between the degree of osteophyte formation and CCLD-related euthanasia. RESULTS: An association between the degree of osteophyte formation and CCLD-related euthanasia was found, with increased osteophyte formation associated with an increased hazard of CCLD-related euthanasia (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11, p = 0.01). LIMITATIONS: No clinical assessment of the outcome was performed. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that evaluation of stifle radiographs for osteophyte formation could provide useful prognostic information for dogs with CCLD.

High-frequency ultrasound of Peyer's patches in the small intestine of young cats.

OBJECTIVES: A previously unreported, asymmetrically positioned hypoechoic extra layer (APHEL) in the submucosa of the feline distal jejunum and ileum has been recognised using high-frequency ultrasound. The objectives of this study were to characterise the APHEL histologically, and to describe the prevalence and ultrasonographic features of the APHEL in a population of clinically healthy young cats. METHODS: In an anatomical study, two cats were autopsied and histopathology of the small intestine was performed. An APHEL was detected with ultrasound in the distal jejunum and ileum ante-mortem in the first cat and post mortem in the second cat. Samples for histopathology were obtained from these areas. In the second, prospective part of the study, to document the presence or absence of an APHEL, high-frequency (18 MHz) ultrasound was performed of the intestinal tract in 20 other cats. These cats were client-owned cats aged 6-18 months presented for neutering. The cats were included in the study based on a normal clinical examination, lack of previous or concurrent signs of disease, and having no abnormalities detected at abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: Histopathology from the distal jejunum and ileum in the two cats in the anatomical part of the study showed that the APHEL represented asymmetrically positioned normal lymphatic tissue (Peyer's patches) in the lamina propria and submucosa. In the second part of the study, an APHEL was identified in the submucosa of the distal part of the jejunum and ileum in all 20 cats. Additionally, a similar layer could also be seen further proximally in the jejunum in 10 (50%) of the cats. The thickness of the APHEL was 1.0 mm in both jejunum and ileum. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Presumed normal lymphatic tissue in the small intestinal submucosa can be seen with high-frequency ultrasound and is a common finding in young cats.

Comparison between tracheal ratio methods used by three observers at three occasions in English Bulldogs.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal hypoplasia is a congenital condition described in mainly brachycephalic breeds and is one component of the brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Two radiographic methods have been described to evaluate the dimensions of the tracheal diameter in dogs and to distinguish between hypoplastic and non-hypoplastic tracheas: the tracheal lumen diameter to thoracic inlet distance ratio (TD/TI) and the ratio between the thoracic tracheal luminal diameter and the width of the proximal third of the third rib (TT/3R). The purpose of this study was to compare these two published radiographic methods between observers, different measuring occasions and to investigate the effect on classification of dogs as having hypoplastic or non-hypoplastic tracheas using four previously published mean ratios as cut-offs (<0.11, <0.127 and <0.144 for the TD/TI and <2.0 for the TT/3R method). Three observers evaluated right and left lateral recumbent radiographs from 56 adult English Bulldogs independently on three different occasions. TD/TI and TT/3R ratios were calculated and correlated between measuring occasions. Kappa, observed, positive, and negative agreements were calculated between observers and measuring occasions. Number of hypoplastic and non-hypoplastic dogs for each method and occasion was determined using <0.11, <0.127 and <0.144 as cut-offs for TD/TI and <2.0 for TT/3R. RESULTS: Intraobserver agreement varied with kappa between 0.45-0.94 for the TD/TI and 0.20-0.86 for the TT/3R method. Interobserver kappa varied between 0.27-0.70 for the TD/TI method and between 0.05-0.57 for the TT/3R method. There was poor agreement in classifying English Bulldogs as tracheal hypoplastic or non-hypoplastic, depending on measuring method, cut-off value and observer. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic value of both the TD/TI and TT/3R methods with such poor agreement is questionable, and significantly impacts their reliability for both clinical evaluation of dogs and use in health screening programs.

Ligation of the spermatic cord in dogs with a self-locking device of a resorbable polyglycolic based co-polymer--feasibility and long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: New surgical techniques are developed to enable a quicker, easier and safer surgery with reduced risk of complications and shortened time needed for recovery. A resorbable device, a self-locking loop, was designed for surgical ligation. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of ligating the spermatic cord with the device, its biocompatibility and long-term resorption in dogs. RESULTS: The device was made of a block co-polymer (glycolide and trimethylene carbonate), manufactured by injection moulding and consisted of a flexible band running through a case with a locking mechanism. Ten devices were tested for ligation of the spermatic cords in five dogs admitted for routine neutering. The dogs were monitored by physical examination and ultrasonography of the site of ligation, area of spermatic cord and medial iliac lymph nodes regularly until no hyperechoic remnants of the device or acoustic shadowing or local tissue reactions were observed. Haemostasis of the spermatic cords was achieved with the devices. On ultrasonography the devices were seen as hyperechoic structures for 2 months after neutering causing acoustic shadowing for 1 month. The dogs were monitored for 3 - 5 months after surgery. Gradual decrease in echogenicity and final disappearance of the hyperechoic structures suggested resorption. Macroscopic and histological post mortem examinations were performed in one dog at 3 months after surgery. Post mortem examination showed a tissue reaction of a suture granuloma that was restricted in extent at site of the device. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study suggest biocompatibility and indicate that ligation of the spermatic cord is feasible with the device.