The effect of preoperative antimicrobial administration on culture results in dogs undergoing cystotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of preoperative antimicrobial administration on culture results in dogs undergoing cystotomy as a treatment for urolithiasis. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. Animals-41 dogs undergoing cystotomy for cystic calculi removal. PROCEDURES: Urine samples were collected at time of anesthetic induction and during surgery prior to cystotomy, and a mucosal biopsy and culturette swab was collected during surgery from a control group, which received antimicrobials only after surgical culture sample collection, and from an experimental group, which received antimicrobials at the time of anesthetic induction. RESULTS: 17 of 41 patients had positive culture results at anesthetic induction. Twenty of 41 patients had positive results of cultures for the surgical sample. No dogs that had positive results before antimicrobial administration had negative results after antimicrobial administration. There were no significant changes to urinalysis results regardless of group. Calcium monohydrate uroliths were the most common stone removed (24/41), followed by magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths (11/41). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was no difference in culture results (positivity and bacterial type) when antimicrobials were given at anesthetic induction versus after surgical culture sample collection for dogs undergoing cystotomy for cystic calculi removal.

A retrospective comparison of cervical intervertebral disk disease in nonchondrodystrophic large dogs versus small dogs.

Medical records of 144 small-breed dogs (< or =15 kg) and 46 medium- to large-breed dogs (>15 kg) with surgically confirmed, Hansen type I, cervical intervertebral disk extrusions were reviewed. The most common clinical presentation was cervical hyperesthesia. The most common sites affected were the second (C(2)) to third (C(3)) cervical intervertebral disk space in small-breed dogs and the sixth (C(6)) to seventh (C(7)) cervical intervertebral disk space in the larger dogs. Following surgery, 99% of the dogs had resolution of cervical hyperesthesia and were able to ambulate unassisted. Seven (4%) dogs required a second surgery; four of these were large-breed dogs.

Suspected paraspinal abscess and spinal epidural empyema in a dog.

Epidural spinal cord compression was visualized myelographically in a dog presented for rapid development of paraparesis. A large, fluid-filled pocket in the epaxial musculature was found at surgery and appeared to communicate with the first lumbar vertebra. Unfortunately, cytopathological evaluation of the fluid was not performed. No etiological agents were isolated on aerobic culture. The dog responded well to decompressive surgery and medical therapy consisting of antibiotics, pain medication, and nursing care. In the veterinary literature, only two studies of spinal epidural empyema in the dog have been reported. Of these dogs, one had successful decompressive surgery performed. The other dogs in these two reports were euthanized. The dog presented in this report fully recovered. Spinal epidural empyema should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs presenting with a fever and a rapidly progressing myelopathy.