Median lingual hair heterotopia associated with pyogranulomatous glossitis in a Labrador retriever: Surgical treatment using carbon-dioxide laser.

A 9-year-old male Labrador retriever dog was presented with dysphagia and presence of hairs on the tongue. Buccal examination revealed ulcerative glossitis and lingual hairs along the midline. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the tongue showed multiple hair shafts contained in a proliferative tissue along the midline and extending in a fistulous tract towards the right ventral aspect of the tongue at mid-length. Surgical excision was completed using a carbon-dioxide laser. Histopathological examination revealed a pyogranulomatous inflammation centered on growing hairs, confirming the diagnosis of glossitis and lingual hair heterotopia. At 10 mo after surgery, all clinical signs and glossitis had disappeared despite partial recurrence of hair on the dorsal sulcus and in the sublingual fistula. Key clinical message: Although lingual hair heterotopia usually has no clinical repercussions, associated ulcerative lesions should support imaging and biopsy.Resection of the lesion using a carbon-dioxide laser resulted in a good outcome in this case, but recurrent hair growth is possible.

Hétérotopie pilaire linguale associée à une glossite pyogranulomateuse chez un chien labrador : traitement chirurgical à l'aide d'un laser au dioxyde de carbone. Un chien Labrador mâle entier de 9 ans est présenté pour une dysphagie et la présence de poils sur la langue. L'examen de la cavité buccale met en évidence une glossite sévère associée à des implantations pilaires. L'échographie et l'imagerie par résonance magnétique de la langue mettent en évidence de multiples poils contenus dans du matériel tissulaire s'étendant le long de la ligne médiane et présentant un trajet fistuleux vers la partie ventrale droite de la langue à mi-longueur de cette dernière. Une exérèse est réalisée à l'aide d'un laser au dioxyde de carbone. L'examen histopathologique de la pièce d'exérèse révèle une inflammation pyogranulomateuse centrée sur des poils en croissance, confirmant le diagnostic de glossite et d'hétérotopie pilaire linguale. Dix mois après la chirurgie, aucun signe clinique n'est réapparu et la glossite a disparu, malgré la récidive partielle de poils sur la partie dorsale de la langue et en région sublinguale droite.Message clinique clé : Bien que l'hétérotopie pilaire linguale n'ait généralement pas de répercussion clinique, les lésions ulcéreuses associées devraient justifier une imagerie et une biopsie.La résection de la lésion à l'aide d'un laser au dioxyde de carbone a donné de bons résultats dans ce cas, mais une pousse récurrente des poils est possible.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Endoscopic Removal of Gastric Foreign Bodies with a Bottle Liner in 12 Dogs (2020-2023).

Endoscopy is widely used to remove gastric foreign bodies using grasping forceps and loop snares to manipulate and retrieve the foreign material. However, as not all foreign bodies can be removed using conventional endoscopic techniques, this case series describes the use of bottle liners for the removal of gastric foreign bodies in 12 dogs between 2020 and 2023. A 4 oz bottle liner (Drop-Ins) was placed at the end of the endoscope and pushed into the stomach. With the help of forceps introduced into the operating channel, the foreign body was pushed into the bottle liner. The bottle liner containing the foreign body was then extracted with the help of traction threads. The technique was used as the initial retrieval method in 5 dogs because of smooth (i.e., difficult to grasp) or sharp (i.e., that may damage the digestive tract mucosa during removal) foreign bodies and as a rescue procedure in 7 dogs. Foreign body retrieval was successful in all 12 dogs, with minor complications reported in 5 dogs (erosions and bleeding of the gastroesophageal sphincter). The use of a bottle liner represents an affordable alternative to gastrotomy when foreign bodies cannot be grasped with forceps or snares.

Treatment of recurrent hunting-associated respiratory distress episodes in 2 dogs.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE) in hunting dogs is an uncommon and poorly described condition for which no preventive treatment is available. Two dogs were presented for recurrent respiratory distress strictly associated with hunting activities. Diagnosis was based on bilateral, symmetrical, interstitial-to-alveolar pattern in the caudodorsal lung fields on thoracic radiographs, exclusion of other causes, and spontaneous clinical and radiographic improvement. Considering that the pathogenesis of exercise-induced NCPE likely involves α- and ß-adrenergic overstimulation, treatment with sympathetic blockers was used in both dogs. The first dog no longer showed respiratory signs during hunting activities. However, treatment failed to prevent respiratory distress in the other dog. Based on the large number of red blood cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the second dog, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage was suspected, as described in racing horses. The loop diuretic furosemide successfully prevented further hunting-associated respiratory distress episodes in this dog.

Radiographic Measurements of Internal Organs in Rhode Island Red Hybrid Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and Their Evolution During Egg Formation.

Backyard poultry hens are becoming very popular as pets, and thus the demand for treating the individual chicken is increasing. Few basic diagnostic techniques commonly used in small animal practice have been evaluated in this species. At the moment, there is no study in backyard hens describing radiographic measurements of internal organs contrary to psittacine birds or birds of prey. Moreover, the effect of egg laying on these measurements has not been studied in avian species even though it could affect radiographic measurements depending on the stage of egg formation. This is of particular concern in laying hens since they are able to lay on a daily basis. Thirteen adult hens and 3 juvenile Rhode Island red hybrid hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were used to evaluate which organs can be reliably measured and to provide preliminary reference values for clinically healthy chickens. Additionally, whole body radiographs were collected every 2 hours over 24 hours in 5 adult hens to study the evolution of these measurements throughout egg formation. Organs that could be clearly delimitated on radiographs were measured, and the only organs that could be reliably measured were the heart and liver silhouettes. These measurements were significantly higher in adult compared to juvenile hens (P = 0.024). Among the different organ ratios, heart width: total liver width ratio was the only significantly different measurement and was higher in juvenile hens (P = 0.024). Hepatic silhouette measurements and ratios were found to increase over time (P < 0.02) but did not follow the progress of egg mineralization. Eggshell thickness was found to be a promising parameter to evaluate the stage of egg formation, and thus should be taken into account when trying to establish reference intervals for radiographic measurements of internal organs in laying hens.

Video telescope operating monitor-assisted surgery is equivalent to conventional surgery in treatment of cervical intervertebral disc herniation in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of the video telescope operating monitor (VITOM) and use of a conventional unassisted surgical method for treatment of cervical intervertebral disc herniation in dogs. ANIMALS: 39 dogs with cervical intervertebral disc disease. METHODS: Prospective study. Dogs were prospectively nonrandomly assigned to either the VITOM (n = 19) or conventional surgery (20) group depending on VITOM system availability. Signalment and preoperative neurologic status were recorded for all dogs. Preoperative and postoperative CT myelography was performed to compare intervertebral space location, spinal cord dimensions at the decompression level, ventral slot dimensions, and residual disc material. Surgical complications and postoperative neurologic outcomes were recorded. Data were compared between the 2 groups using fixed-effects or mixed-effects models to consider double reading of CT myelography images. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups regarding the decompression ratio (P = .85), vertebral length body ratio (P = .13), ventral slot width ratio (P = .39), residual disc material (P = .30), and sinus bleeding (P = .12). No significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding postoperative neurologic grade (P = .17). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: VITOM-assisted ventral slot decompression is equivalent to conventional surgery in treatment of cervical intervertebral disc herniation in dogs. The use of VITOM remains a good alternative to the conventional surgical method.

Assessment of survey radiography as a method of diagnosing bilateral laryngeal paralysis in dogs.

The gold standard for diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis is laryngoscopy under light anesthesia. This prospective analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether a radiographic assessment of the larynx could be used as a non-invasive screening tool for diagnosing laryngeal paralysis in non-sedated animals, as the laryngeal ventricles may appear wider in affected animals. The laryngeal ventricles of 18 dogs with bilateral laryngeal paralysis composing the affected group and 25 non-sedated dogs presenting no respiratory abnormality composing the control group were evaluated using right lateral radiography of the larynx. Three observers measured the ratios of the maximal ventricular length and surface to the body length of the third cervical vertebra (MVL/LC3 and VS/LC3, respectively). They also subjectively assessed the ventricular shape as either normal or rounded. The most accurate criterion was found to be MVL/LC3, as the respective areas under the ROC curves were 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-0.97), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.87-0.91), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.95) for MVL/LC3, VS/LC3, and ventricular shape evaluation, respectively. Based on ROC curve analysis, two thresholds of clinical interest were set for the MVL/LC3; bilateral laryngeal paralysis was very unlikely for values < 0.3 and very likely for values > 0.5. The findings of this study support the use of lateral laryngeal radiography as a screening tool for diagnosing bilateral laryngeal paralysis. However, further diagnostic tests remain required if MVL/LC3 lies between these threshold values or if clinically indicated. Further studies are warranted to explore the use of laryngeal radiography in unilateral paralysis and other laryngeal or oropharyngeal diseases.

Left pancreaticoduodenostomy after removal of the right lobe and the head of the pancreas in a cat.

OBJECTIVE: To report a surgical technique for pancreaticoduodenostomy and its outcomes in a cat. ANIMALS: A 14-year-old domestic cat. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A cat was referred to our hospital with a large abdominal mass. On ultrasonographic examination, this mass was identified as a large fluid-filled cavity in place of the right pancreatic duct and involved the pancreatic and accessory pancreatic ducts. A small echoic cavity was observed in the left pancreatic lobe. Serous fluid was collected from the large cavity. On cytology, the small cavity was consistent with an abscess. A partial left pancreatectomy was performed to remove the abscess. The large cavity was excised with the remnant of the right pancreatic lobe and body. After ligation of the pancreatic ducts, the left pancreatic duct was isolated and an end-to-side pancreaticoduodenostomy was performed. RESULTS: The cat recovered without complications. Histological examination was consistent with chronic pancreatitis and peripheral inflammation. No evidence of postoperative pancreatic insufficiency was detected on clinical examination or laboratory findings. A focal ampulla-like dilation of the pancreatic duct was noted on ultrasonography, with no other complications at the anastomosis. The cat presented 225 days postoperatively with respiratory distress. Multiple nodules were identified throughout the lung parenchyma on radiographs. Abnormalities on ultrasonographic examination included an enlarged liver infiltrated with nodules. Due to poor prognosis, the cat was euthanized. Final histopathological diagnosis was diffuse carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Pancreaticoduodenostomy restored pancreaticointestinal continuity after extensive pancreatectomy involving the pancreatic ducts and resulted in long-term survival in the cat reported here.

Prevalence and diagnostic value of the ultrasonographic honeycomb appearance of the spleen in cats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of a honeycomb appearance of the spleen in a population of referral cats presented for ultrasound examination, and to determine the diagnostic value of this finding vs the definitive diagnosis, the splenic cytological and haematological results. METHODS: Data were obtained from the medical records (2016-2018) of cats that had an ultrasonographic honeycomb appearance of the spleen, a splenic cytological diagnosis and a complete blood count. RESULTS: Twenty-five cats were included. Prevalence of the honeycomb pattern was 6.8%. None of the spleen was considered normal on cytology and four types of lesions were found: lymphoid hyperplasia (64%), neoplasia (16%), extramedullary haematopoiesis (12%) and splenitis (8%). A honeycomb pattern was successfully identified with a linear high-frequency probe in all cats, but only in 36% of cases with the micro-convex probe. Follow-up information was available for four cats, in which the honeycomb appearance persisted up to 105 days after the first examination; there was persistence of the honeycomb pattern in all cases. Cats with a splenic cytological diagnosis of extramedullary haematopoiesis had the lowest haemoglobin plasma concentration (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Honeycomb appearance of the spleen is uncommon in cats and, in our study, was systematically associated with cytological alterations; most of the time it was benign (84%). The use of a high-frequency linear probe improves its detection rate. No epidemiological, ultrasonographic or clinical criteria allow differentiation between the different types of infiltration and fine-needle aspiration is therefore recommended.