Treatment of chronic pleural effusion with pleuroperitoneal shunts in dogs: 14 cases (1985-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To describe complications and outcome associated with chronic nonseptic pleural effusion treated with pleuroperitoneal shunts in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 14 dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records at 4 veterinary schools were examined to identify dogs with chronic nonseptic pleural effusion that were treated by use of a pleuroperitoneal shunt between 1985 and 1999. Signalment, history, physical examination and laboratory findings, cause and type of pleural effusion, medical and surgical treatments, complications, and outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: 10 of 14 dogs had idiopathic chylothorax, and 4 had an identified disease. All but 1 dog with idiopathic chylothorax and 1 dog with chylothorax from a heart base tumor had unsuccessful thoracic duct ligation prior to pump placement. No intraoperative complications developed during shunt placement. Short-term complications developed in 7 of 13 dogs, necessitating shunt removal in 2 dogs and euthanasia in 1. Eight of 11 dogs with long-term follow-up developed complications; the overall mean survival time and the interval in which dogs remained free of clinical signs of pleural effusion were 27 months (range, 1 to 108 months) and 20 months (range, 0.5 to 108 months), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pleuroperitoneal shunts can effectively palliate clinical signs associated with intractable pleural effusion in dogs. Numerous short- and long-term complications related to the shunt should be expected. Most complications can be successfully managed, but even when shunts are functional some treatments fail because of severe abdominal distension or massive pleural fluid production that overwhelms the functional capacity of the shunt.

Duodenal perforation in a cat following the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

A one-year-old, female domestic shorthair was presented for septic peritonitis 10 days following a routine ovariohysterectomy and subsequent oral administration of carprofen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a perforated duodenum which was treated with a gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I) and open abdomen management. Etiology of the duodenal perforation was most likely due to the administration of carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved for oral use in dogs only.

Use of a Foley catheter to facilitate anal sac removal in the dog.

Chronic anal sac infection or impaction can be a frustrating problem for both the dog owner and veterinarian. Anal sacculectomy may be used to resolve clinical signs when medical management fails. Four dogs, ranging in size from 6 kg to 34 kg, were treated with closed anal sacculectomies, in which the balloon of a Foley catheter was used to facilitate surgical dissection of the sac. In all four cases, the Foley catheter successfully distended the anal sac during its removal. Clinical signs associated with the diseased anal sac were abated in the four dogs for a follow-up period of one-to-three years.

An introductory-level companion animal care course: student perception and subsequent performance.

A survey and pre- and postcourse examinations were administered to students (n = 23) enrolled in a companion animal (dog and cat) care course. The course objectives were to assess a student's knowledge base and then help him or her gain the knowledge to maintain the health, well-being, and longevity of companion animals. Four teaching modules were used in this course: 1) general lectures by the instructor; 2) special topics presented by guest professors; 3) videos shown in class; and 4) out-of-class experiential learning projects. The examination questions were developed from these modules. At the end of the academic term (quarter), students evaluated the course and each teaching module using a scale of 1 (= poor) to 5 (= very good). Seventy percent of the students enrolled in the course were female. The disciplines represented were animal health/preveterinary medicine (34.8%), animal science (21.7%), arts and science (13.0%), education (8.7%), forestry (8.6%), nursing education (4.4%), and 8.7% undecided. Only 15% had been exposed to an animal and dairy science introductory course. Students rated the course good (4.2 +/- .83 with 5 = very good) and agreed (4.4 +/- .87 with 5 = strongly agree) that the course provided a valuable learning experience. Average student score on the precourse examination (38.6% correct answers) improved dramatically on the postcourse examination (92.0% correct answers; P < .001). A positive correlation was observed between students' evaluation of the teaching modules and their total postcourse examination score (P < .05). Results indicated that the companion animal care course attracted students from disciplines other than that of animal science. Students evaluated the course as favorable, and their knowledge base of companion animal care was significantly expanded.

Liver lobe torsion and liver abscess in a dog.

A 4-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback had acute onset of vomiting, lethargy, and discolored urine. Physical examination revealed lethargy, pyrexia, weak femoral pulses, cardiac arrhythmia, distended abdomen, and signs of pain on abdominal palpation. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed a gas-containing lesion in the cranial portion of the abdomen. Preoperative care included administration of fluids, antibiotics, and antiarrhythmic medication. Exploratory laparotomy revealed hemobilia and a 360 degrees clockwise torsion of the papillary process of the caudate lobe of the liver. Clinical signs resolved completely after liver lobectomy, and the dog was alive 2 years after surgery. Torsion of a liver lobe is rare in dogs. Necrosis of the involved liver lobe can result in acute weakness, shock, and death. Hemodynamic stabilization, antibiotic treatment, and surgical intervention have been successful in treating this condition. Liver lobe torsion should be considered on the differential diagnoses list of acute abdominal pain.

Use of partial prostatectomy for treatment of prostatic abscesses and cysts in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dogs had prostatic disease, urinary incontinence, or urinary tract infection 1 year after partial prostatectomy to treat prostatic abscesses and cysts. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 20 male dogs with prostatic abscesses or cysts. Fifteen dogs had evidence of urinary tract infection. Only 8 dogs urinated normally; the remainder dribbled, had obstructions, or required medical treatment. PROCEDURE: Partial prostatectomy was performed on each dog. Sexually intact dogs (n = 12) also were castrated. RESULTS: None of the dogs had return of prostatic cystic enlargement or clinical signs of prostatic disease during the first year after surgery. Two dogs were euthanatized within 1 year after surgery, with 1 dog having prostatic enlargement and adenocarcinoma and 1 dog having unrelated lymphosarcoma. Fifteen dogs were continent. The remaining 5 dogs urinated normally but had intermittent and minor incontinence. Eleven dogs had no signs of infection 1 year after surgery, 5 had pyuria or positive urine bacteriologic culture results, 2 did not have urinalysis performed, and 2 were euthanatized. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dogs with severe prostatic abscesses or cysts and infections can be successfully treated by partial prostatectomy with an ultrasonic surgical aspirator and castration, resulting in long-term disease resolution. Although most dogs with severe prostatic disease do not urinate normally before surgery, nearly all dogs resume normal micturition after partial prostatectomy. Postoperative results of partial prostatectomy appear to be better than those of previous drainage techniques for treatment of prostatic cavitary disease.

"Autoimmune rejection" of neonatal heart transplants in experimental Chagas disease is a parasite-specific response to infected host tissue.

Infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi often results in chronic heart- and gut-associated disease known as Chagas disease. In this study we show that contrary to previous reports, neonatal hearts transplanted into mice chronically infected with T. cruzi do not exhibit signs of autoimmune-type rejection or any significant inflammatory response. In addition to an absence of inflammation, these syngeneic heart transplants survive for more than 1 year and are absolutely free of parasites as determined by in situ PCR analysis. However, if well-established transplanted hearts in chronically infected mice are directly injected with live parasites, a rapid and dramatic inflammatory response ensues that results in cessation of heart function. Likewise, transplanted hearts established in mice prior to systemic infection with T. cruzi or hearts transplanted into mice during the acute stage of T. cruzi infection become parasitized and develop inflammatory foci. In these cases where the transplanted hearts become parasitized, the ensuing inflammatory response is nearly identical to that observed in the native hearts of T. cruzi-infected mice in terms of cell types present and adhesion molecules and cytokines expressed. Importantly, this response is strikingly different from that observed in the allogeneic heart rejection. These results clearly document that parasitization of heart tissue is both necessary and sufficient for the induction of tissue damage in Chagas disease and strongly argue against a principal autoimmune etiology for this disease.

Accessory lung lobe torsion and chylothorax in an Afghan hound.

Torsion of the accessory lung lobe is extremely rare and has been reported only in one human. Accessory lung lobe torsion (LLT) and chylothorax occurred in a 3.5-year-old, male Afghan hound. An exploratory thoracotomy was used to remove the torsed lung lobe. When medical management of the chylous effusion failed, thoracic duct ligation was performed, resulting in resolution of the effusion. The dog remains clinically healthy 29 months postoperatively.

Gallbladder mucocele causing biliary obstruction in two dogs: ultrasonographic, scintigraphic, and pathological findings.

Two dogs were found to have intraluminal gallbladder masses which caused partial or complete extrahepatic biliary obstruction. On histological examination, the gallbladder masses were confirmed to be mucoceles. Gallbladder mucoceles are rare in humans and previously have been described only after gallbladder rupture in two dogs. In the dogs of this report, the biliary obstruction was relieved by cholecystectomy. Each dog also had histological evidence of chronic liver disease with intrahepatic cholestasis. The clinical diagnosis of biliary obstruction was based on scintigraphic and sonographic findings which will be discussed and compared with other hepatobiliary diseases.

A wire loop technique for ligation of patent ductus arteriosus.

A novel, yet simple and inexpensive, technique is described for the safe passage of suture material for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in small animals. The risk of haemorrhage is reduced by minimising dissection with forceps and by preventing inadvertent grasping of perivascular connective tissue.