Retrospective evaluation of surgical technique, complications and long-term outcome of lateral and medial humeral condylar fractures in 80 dogs.

CASE HISTORY: Medical records from a single veterinary teaching hospital in Giessen, Germany were retrospectively reviewed for dogs presenting with medial or lateral humeral condylar fractures (HCF) between 2007 and 2019. Data regarding surgical technique and complications were collected from the medical records. These were supplemented through information obtained from telephone interviews with referral veterinarians and from an owner questionnaire completed ≥12 months after surgical repair, which also provided data regarding the outcome. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Eighty dogs with 85 HCF were identified: 13 (15.3%) HCF were medial (bilateral in two dogs) and 72 (84.7%) were lateral (bilateral in three dogs). French Bulldogs (n = 19/80; 23.8%) were most commonly affected. Patients were predominantly skeletally immature and light-weight, with a median age at the time of presentation of 3 (min 2, max 118) months and with a median body weight of 6.4 (min 1, max 46) kg. There were 38 female (47.5%) and 42 male (52.5%) dogs. Fractures developed most frequently secondary to minor trauma (67/77; 87.0%). Dogs were presented in 35/84 (41.7%) cases more than 24 hours after fracture occurrence. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Surgical treatment was performed in 80/85 (94.1%) HCF. An open reduction and internal fixation approach was chosen in all cases. A transcondylar screw (TS) combined with a supracondylar (SC) K-wire (67/80; 83.8%) was the most frequently used fixation technique. Considering all fracture fixation methods, complications (26/80; 32.5%) were classed as minor in 10 (12.5%), major in 14 (17.5%) and catastrophic in two (2.5%) of the 80 surgically treated HCF. Long-term outcome was excellent in 68.6% (24/35 HCF) and very good in 22.9% (8/35 HCF) of the cases for which follow-up information was obtained. Additionally, owner information revealed that 85.7% of dogs (30/35 HCF) were free of lameness in the long-term. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case series demonstrates that surgical repair of lateral and medial HCF with a TS and SC K-wire is a viable option to consider in skeletally immature and light-weight patients. Complications occur frequently after surgical fixation of HCF, but owners can expect a very good to excellent long-term outcome in the majority of cases.

[Canine peritoneal larval cestodosis caused by Mesocestoides spp. larval stages]. / Kanine peritoneale larvale Zestodose durch Mesocestoides spp.

In a female dog with unspecific clinical symptoms, sonography detected a hyperechoic mass in the middle abdomen and blood analysis a middle grade systemic inflammatory reaction. Laparotomy revealed a peritoneal larval cestodosis (PLC). The diagnosis of an infection with tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides spp. was confirmed by parasitological examination and molecularbiological analysis. Reduction of the intra-abdominal parasitic load as well as a high dose administration of fenbendazole over 3 months led to a successful treatment which could be documented sonographically and by decreased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). Seven months after discontinuation of fenbendazole administration, PLC recurred, pre-empted by an elevation of serum CRP values. According to the literature a life-long fenbendazole treatment was initiated. In cases of unclear chronic granulomatous inflammations in the abdominal cavity in dogs, PLC should be considered. CRP concentration and sonographic examinations are suitable to control for treatment success and a possibly occurring relapse.

[Urethral stent to treat a refractory traumatic urethra stricture in a male hunting dog]. / Urethraler Stent zur Therapie einer refraktären traumatisch induzierten Urethrastriktur bei einem Jagdhundrüden.

In a 1.5-year-old male hunting dog, a urethral defect distal to the pelvic flexure and the resulting urethral fistula were treated with a mucosal graft and a transurethral catheter. Six months postoperatively a stricture of the urethra occurred. Following balloon dilatation, urination was normal. One month after dilatation, urethral narrowing relapsed and was treated using a combination of balloon dilatation and urethral stent implantation. Ten months following stent implantation the dog continued to show normal urination, although a deformation of the proximal part of the stent was diagnosed radiographically. During the 1-year follow-up no additional complications were observed. In the future, urethral stents may replace surgical resection of the narrowed urethral region and re-anastomosis of the urethra.

[Enterocutaneous fistula formation in a dog as a result of colonic foreign body perforation]. / Enterokutane Fistelbildung infolge Perforation des Kolons durch einen hölzernen Fremdkörper bei einem Hund.

A 5-year-old female Poodle was presented with a 3-month history of recurrent abscess and fistula formation on the right abdominal wall. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations demonstrated an enterocutaneous fistula formation secondary to foreign body perforation of the colon. Additionally, the diagnosis of a pyometra was made. Twenty-four hours after surgical therapy (ventral midline coeliotomy, foreign body removal, closure of the colon perforation, abdominal lavage and drainage, revision of the fistula) the patient was euthanized due to sepsis and incipient multiorgan dysfunction.

Prostatic cavitary lesions containing urine in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the proportion of urine-containing prostatic cavitary lesions ("urinary cysts") in dogs and to describe their clinical management. METHODS: The study included dogs with clinically relevant prostatic-retention cyst/abscess (n=87) treated initially by percutaneous ultrasound-guided drainage of the prostatic cavity. Based on a prostatic fluid:serum creatinine ratio, the study population was divided into two groups: group 1 (n=16) with and group 2 (n=71) without evidence of urine within the lesion. Medical records of both the groups were reviewed. RESULTS: Cavitary lesions containing urine were observed in 16 of the 87 dogs (18·4%; group 1). In 10 (62·5%) of the group 1 dogs, abdominal surgery was recommended, because of recurrent filling during follow-up. In group 2, abdominal surgery was recommended in only 11 of 71 cases (15·5%). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In dogs, 18·4% (95% confidence interval, 10·9 to 28·1%) of the prostatic cavitary lesions contain urine. Measurement of creatinine within the prostatic cavity fluid is a helpful tool in diagnosing a presurgical intra-prostatic urethral fistulation, and these dogs tend to require a more aggressive surgical therapy than percutaneous drainage alone.

Osteosarcoma of the penile bone (os penis) in a dog.

Osteosarcoma of the penile bone was diagnosed in a 5-year-old neutered male Rottweiler with recurrent dysuria. Imaging and cytological findings raised the suspicion for an osteosarcoma and ablation of the entire penis and scrotal urethrostomy was performed. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The dog recovered well and no postoperative signs of dysuria were observed. The dog survived without adjuvant chemotherapy for 12 months when multiple tumours in the thorax and abdomen led to it being euthanased. Penile osteosarcoma is a rare disease, but must be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs presenting with dysuria. This is the second recorded case of a penile osteosarcoma in a dog, but the first with a detailed description of the diagnosis, treatment and outcome.