Association between preoperative gonioscopic status and postoperative glaucoma after phacoemulsification in dogs: A retrospective cohort study of 505 eyes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether preoperative gonioscopy status is associated with the development of postoperative glaucoma after phacoemulsification. PROCEDURE: Eligible dogs and eyes were selected from medical records (2007-2017), and each eye was classified as having normal or abnormal gonioscopy status. Records were examined for postoperative glaucoma, and data were collected for baseline variables including patient signalment, surgical factors, and pre, intra, and postoperative medications. RESULTS: Of 305 dogs (505 eyes) selected for review in this study, 111 dogs (163 eyes) had abnormal gonioscopy findings, and 194 dogs (342 eyes) had normal gonioscopy findings. Postoperative glaucoma occurred in 24% (39/163) of eyes with abnormal gonioscopy and in 14% (49/342) eyes with normal gonioscopy. Eyes with abnormal gonioscopy status were at higher risk of postoperative glaucoma compared to normal eyes (P = .025). There was no important confounding due to the numerous baseline variables summarised above. Regardless of gonioscopy status, the risk of glaucoma was highest during the first 2 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with abnormal gonioscopy findings are at increased risk of postoperative glaucoma compared with eyes with normal gonioscopy findings. Gonioscopy is recommended as a part of presurgical assessment in all dogs prior to phacoemulsification. Further study is needed to assess whether the incidence of postoperative glaucoma can be reduced by increased monitoring or altered treatment protocols in cases that are known to have abnormal gonioscopy findings prior to cataract surgery.

Pigment retinopathy in warmblood horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy and equine motor neuron disease.

OBJECTIVE: A pigment retinopathy has been reported in adult horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) arising from chronic α-tocopherol (α-TP) deficiency. A pigment retinopathy has not been identified in horses with neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) that affects genetically susceptible young horses with α-TP deficiency. The objective of this report is to describe, for the first time, a pigment retinopathy in a family of α-TP-deficient Warmbloods (WB) with clinically apparent NAD/EDM or EMND. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURES: Twenty-five WB horses from one farm underwent complete neurologic and ophthalmic examinations and serum α-TP concentrations were assessed. Two of the most severely ataxic horses were euthanized and postmortem examinations performed. RESULTS: Alpha-TP deficiency was widespread on this farm (22 of 25 horses). Eleven of 25 horses were clinically normal (age range 2-12 years), one had signs of EMND (6 years of age), 10 had signs of ataxia consistent with NAD/EDM (1-10 years), and two of these were postmortem confirmed concurrent NAD/EDM and EMND. A pigment retinopathy characterized by varying amounts of granular dark pigment in the tapetal retina was observed in four clinically apparent NAD/EDM horses (two postmortem confirmed concurrent NAD/EDM and EMND) and one horse with clinical signs of EMND. CONCLUSIONS: A pigment retinopathy can be present in young α-TP-deficient Warmblood horses with clinical signs of EMND as well as those with signs of NAD/EDM.

Bold fusion: transtracheal wash from a Jersey calf.

A 10-week-old, female, Jersey calf was referred to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center for evaluation of difficult breathing and inappetence of 18-hours duration. Cytologic examination of a transtracheal wash specimen revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation, with increased numbers of multinucleated cells. Differential diagnoses included established bacterial infection, viral infection, fungal infection, and foreign body reaction. Immunocytochemical staining was done on a direct smear of the transtracheal wash using a cocktail of 4 mouse monoclonal antibodies against 3 human respiratory syncytial virus proteins. Strong intracytoplasmic staining within mononuclear cells was observed and a diagnosis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection was made. Immunocytochemistry may be used as a rapid, inexpensive, adjunctive diagnostic tool for the antemortem diagnosis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus on transtracheal wash specimens.

Infarctive purpura hemorrhagica in five horses.

Five horses were examined because of signs of muscle stiffness, colic, or both. All 5 had been exposed to Streptococcus equi within 3 weeks prior to examination or had high serum titers of antibodies against the M protein of S equi. Horses had signs of unrelenting colic-like pain and focal areas of muscle swelling. Four horses were euthanatized. The fifth responded to treatment with penicillin and dexamethasone; after 3 weeks of treatment with dexamethasone, prednisolone was administered for an additional 10 weeks. Common hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities included neutrophilia with a left shift and toxic changes, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and high serum creatine kinase and aspartate transferase activities. Necropsy revealed extensive infarction of the skeletal musculature, skin, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and lungs. Histologic lesions included leukocytoclastic vasculitis in numerous tissues and acute coagulative necrosis resembling infarction. These horses appeared to have a severe form of purpura hemorrhagica resembling Henoch-Schönlein purpura in humans and characterized by infarction of skeletal muscles. Early recognition of focal muscle swelling, abdominal discomfort, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and high serum creatine kinase activity combined with antimicrobial and corticosteroid treatment may enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome.