A case of leukaemia cutis in a dog with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Leukaemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin, characterised by haemorrhagic papules, nodules, and plaques. LC has been reported in human leukaemia patients, but it is extremely rare in dogs. A 13-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever that was previously diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was managed with chlorambucil (20 mg/m2 orally, every 2 weeks) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg orally, every other day) for 8 months; however, immunosuppression was temporarily discontinued because of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Cutaneous signs, including multifocal ecchymosis and white plaques, appeared 1 month after cessation of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed small- to intermediate-sized lymphocytes with mild atypia in a perivascular to interstitial pattern within the superficial dermis. The bands of atypical cells within the superficial dermis were strongly and extensively positive for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the biopsied skin revealed clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gamma locus gene. Given the evidence of clinical signs, peripheral immunophenotyping, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and clonal gene arrangement, LC was diagnosed. The lesions disappeared when chemotherapy was restarted but were occasionally observed when chemotherapy was stopped. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first case report of LC in a dog.

Effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma application on cutaneous wound healing in dogs.

This study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and efficacy of intralesional injection as a method of application to acute cutaneous wounds in dogs. Healthy adult beagles (n = 3) were used in this study. Autologous PRP was separated from anticoagulant treated whole blood in three dogs. Cutaneous wounds were created and then treated by intralesional injection of PRP in the experimental group, while they were treated with saline in the control group on days 0, 2 and 4. The healing process was evaluated by gross examination throughout the experimental period and histologic examination on day 7, 14 and 21. In PRP treated wounds, the mean diameter was smaller and the wound closure rate was higher than in the control. Histological study revealed that PRP treated wounds showed more granulation formation and angiogenesis on day 7, and faster epithelialization, more granulation formation and collagen deposition were observed on day 14 than in control wounds. On day 21, collagen deposition and epithelialization were enhanced in PRP treated groups. Overall, PRP application showed beneficial effects in wound healing, and intralesional injection was useful for application of PRP and could be a good therapeutic option for wound management in dogs.

Effect of feeding fermented rice punch on oestrous induction in anoestrous bitches.

INTRODUCTION: As a consequence of poor productivity caused by a long anoestrous period, considerable research effort has been given to oestrus induction in dogs to enhance the productivity of young dogs and to preserve breeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oestrus was induced in 30 anoestrous bitches more than three months after the last oestrus. Bitches orally received fermented rice punch with or without bromocriptine once daily for 21 consecutive days. The bitches were divided into two groups (n=10 per group): Group (1) fed fermented rice punch and Group (2) administered bromocriptine (100 µg/kg/day) and fed fermented rice punch. RESULTS: The concentration of dopamine in fermented rice punch was 47.2 mg/kg (parts per million). Six of 10 (60.0 per cent) and seven of 10 (70.0 per cent) bitches showed pro-oestrual bleeding in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean and median values (min-max) to oestrus induction was not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (9.7±7.3, 6.5 (3-22) and 11.3±6.6, 7.9 (5-21) days) after treatment commencement (P>0.05). The pregnancy rate was very similar between Groups 1, 2 (66.0%) and control (66.0, 57.0 and 50.0 per cent). The mean and median values (min-max) of pups per bitch are also not significantly different between Groups 1, 2 and control (7.0±1.8, 7.0 (5-9) and 7.5±2.1, 7.5 (5-10) and 7.0±0, 7.0 (7-7)). CONCLUSION: We suggest that rice punch effectively induces oestrus in bitches.