Factors affecting the differential epithelial cell count in preputial cytology of healthy intact dogs.

Information is limited on the factors that may affect the preputial differential epithelial cell count in healthy intact dogs. Our objectives were to establish RIs of the preputial differential epithelial cell count in dogs and investigate the potential impact of signalment, presence of gross preputial discharge or neutrophils, preputial cleaning, and normal estrogen variation on the differential cell count. We enrolled prospectively 50 client-owned, healthy dogs in our study. Preputial cytology smears were obtained, and we performed a 4-part (parabasal, intermediate, superficial, cornified) differential cell count, before and after gentle preputial cleaning. We found higher counts of fully cornified cells (median: 11-12%) compared to previous studies. The cleaning procedure significantly decreased the intermediate (p = 0.002) and increased the superficial (p = 0.006) cells. Age was positively associated with intermediate (p = 0.007) and negatively with superficial (p = 0.01) and cornified (p = 0.02) cells. The concentration of estrogens was negatively associated with the percentage of parabasal cells (p = 0.04). In healthy dogs, a variable impact may be expected in the preputial differential epithelial cell count, by the cleaning of the prepuce before sampling, the age of the dogs, and the normal variation of estrogen concentration.

The effect of the stage of the ovarian cycle (anoestrus or dioestrus) and of pregnancy on the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential association of increased blood progesterone (P4 ) concentrations and/or late pregnancy with the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR), in healthy bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy under general anaesthesia during anoestrus or dioestrus or during the second half of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. ANIMALS: Ninety-four healthy, female, dogs, aged 1-8 years presented for elective ovariohysterectomy. METHODS: Non-pregnant animals were classified into group A (anoestrus) (n = 35) if blood P4 concentration was sufficiently low or group D (dioestrus) (n = 26) if blood P4 concentration was sufficiently high. All animals in the second half of pregnancy were classified into group P (n = 33). Acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1) ) was administered intramuscularly as preanaesthetic medication, and sodium thiopental (10 mg kg(-1) , with additional doses if needed) was administered intravenously (IV) for induction of anaesthesia. After endotracheal intubation, halothane (1.1-1.3% end-tidal concentration) in oxygen was used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Lower oesophageal pH was monitored continuously throughout surgery using a pH-measuring probe. Reflux was considered to have occurred whenever pH values of >7.5 (alkaline reflux) or <4 (acid reflux) were recorded. On completion of surgery, carprofen (4 mg kg(-1) ) was administered IV. Further administration of analgesics post-operatively was dictated by visual analogue scale pain scoring. RESULT: Acid GOR was observed in five of 26 dogs in group D, six of 35 group A, and 12 of 33 group P (p = 0.152). The incidence of GOR in group P approached statistical significance and was higher than the incidence in the combined group A + D (one sided p = 0.044, two sided p = 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: In dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy, GOR during anaesthesia occurs with a high incidence in dogs in the second half of pregnancy compared to non-pregnant animals during anoestrus or dioestrus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measures could be taken in such cases to avoid the consequences of potential reflux.

Anesthesia and perioperative management of a pneumonectomized dog.

Although left- or right-sided pneumonectomy is tolerated by normal dogs, complications impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems are not uncommon. Pneumonectomy in dogs results in secondary changes in the remaining lung, which include: decreased compliance and vital capacity; and increased pulmonary vascular resistance potentially leading to right ventricular hypertrophy. Such alterations make the anesthetic management of an animal with one lung particularly challenging. This report describes a dog with a history of left pneumonectomy due to Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia 3 yr before presentation. The dog presented with a vaginal wall prolapse, and surgical resection of the protruding vaginal wall, ovariectomy, and prophylactic gastropexy were performed. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol and was maintained with isoflurane using intermittent positive pressure ventilation and a constant rate infusion of fentanyl. Epidural anesthesia was also used. Recovery and postoperative management were uncomplicated. Intensive hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring and appropriate response and treatment of any detected abnormalities, taking into consideration the pathophysiologic alterations occurring in a pneumonectomized animal, are required for successful perianesthetic management.

Vaginal rupture and evisceration in a dog.

A 1.5-year-old German Shepherd mixed breed dog was admitted with mild haemorrhage from the vulva and a perineal mass of 24-hour duration, which had been first observed immediately after parturition. Parturition had occurred at low ambient temperature, and only one puppy survived out of the seven oversized fetuses. The dog was in poor body condition, dehydrated, hypothermic, depressed, non-ambulatory and in a state of shock. Intestinal loops, the urinary bladder and the uterine horns and body were protruding from the vulva. A true vaginal prolapse was also observed. The abdominal viscera were flushed with warm sterile saline solution, protected and maintained wet. The laboratory findings included moderate anaemia, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminaemia, azotaemia and elevated liver enzyme activities. Stabilisation of the dog's general condition was attempted before surgery. Antimicrobial and analgesic drugs were also administered. After exploratory laparotomy the protruding organs, which were in good condition, were reduced. A recent rupture in the vaginal wall, approximately 6 cm long, was observed. Ovariohysterectomy and partial vaginectomy were performed. The preoperative course of therapy was continued, but the bitch died 12 hours later. The probable cause of vaginal rupture and evisceration in this bitch was tenesmus and/or trauma due to the oversized fetuses.

Effect of endogenous progesterone and oestradiol-17beta on the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux and on the barrier pressure during general anaesthesia in the female dog.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effect of increased blood progesterone (P(4)) and oestradiol-17beta (E(2)) concentrations on the barrier pressure (BrP) and the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in female dogs under general anaesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blinded experimental trial. ANIMALS: Seven female, adult, healthy dogs weighing 14-21 kg and aged 1-7 years. METHODS: Each of the animals was studied under the influence of high blood E(2) and basal P(4) (study O), basal E(2) and high P(4) (study P) and basal E(2) and P(4) (study C) concentrations. Animals were premedicated with acepromazine and anaesthesia was induced with thiopental and maintained with halothane. Lower oesophageal pH was monitored continuously for 1 hour after induction. GOR was defined as oesophageal pH >7.5 or <4. Manometry of the posterior oesophageal sphincter (POS) was then performed using the slow pull-through technique. RESULTS: Acid GOR was detected in only one animal of study O. The three studies did not differ significantly in GOR. Mean BrP was 11.2 (study O), 9.1 (study P) and 11.6 mmHg (study C). No significant differences were detected with respect to mean BrP, intra-gastric pressure and POS pressure. CONCLUSIONS: It is unlikely that the increased concentrations of E(2) or P(4) during the normal ovarian cycle influence the functional efficiency of the POS as a major barrier to GOR in healthy, female dogs under general anaesthesia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The fact that female dogs undergoing obstetrical surgery represented a substantial sub-group of the animals which developed postoperative benign oesophageal stricture, should probably not be attributed to the effects of increased concentrations of female sex steroid hormones.

Serum estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and respective uterine cytosol receptor concentrations in bitches with spontaneous pyometra.

The role of serum estradiol-17 beta (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) in relation to uterine estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) was investigated in canine cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra (CEH-P). Blood and uterine samples were collected pre- and post-ovariohysterectomy, respectively, from 54 bitches presenting spontaneous CEH-P and 25 healthy control bitches. Competitive enzyme immunoassays (EIA) and enzyme ligand immunoassays (ELIA) were applied to estimate serum hormones and uterine cytosol active receptors, respectively. Animals were classified in the stages of first half of diestrus, second half of diestrus and early anestrus on the basis of reproductive history, clinical signs, uterine and ovarian macro- and microscopic inspection and serum P(4) concentration. Bitches with CEH-P, compared to their respective stage controls, exhibited (a) similar P(4) fluctuations, (b) higher E(2) concentrations, (c) lower PR concentrations during diestrus first and second half and (d) lower ER concentrations during diestrus first half and early anestrus. Negative correlation was detected between P(4) and ER within both CEH-P and control groups. It was concluded that P(4) was the main uterine receptor regulator for both PR and ER during diestrus and early anestrus in healthy and affected uteri. However, in CEH-P bitches, high P(4) levels in diestrus appeared to over-activate uterine PRs, leading to stronger PR self-down regulation and ER suppression. These findings indicate an increased sensitivity of CEH-P uterus to P(4) action. During early anestrus, a complementary role of endogenous E(2) was considered, since reduction of P(4) action appeared to permit uterine ER replenishment and activation by relatively high E(2) levels.

A comparison between ethanol-induced chemical ablation and ivermectin plus prednizolone in the treatment of symptomatic esophageal spirocercosis in the dog: a prospective study on 14 natural cases.

This study included a total of 14 dogs with spontaneous esophageal spirocercosis. Historical and clinical evidence of esophageal dysphagia, detection of parasitic ova in fecal samples and endoscopic documentation of esophageal nodules were the inclusion criteria. The animals were randomly assigned into two groups: group A (n = 6 ) dogs received two intranodular injections of absolute ethanol (96%) via a through-the-endoscope injector, at weekly intervals; group B (n = 8) dogs were put on ivermectin (600 microg/kg BW, subcutaneously, twice, 14 days apart) and oral prednisolone (0.5mg/kg BW, every 12h, for a total of 3 weeks, tapering the dose accordingly). Clinical and fecal examination as well as endoscopy, were performed on admission and at 20, 60 and 180 days from the beginning of the treatment. One group A dog responded poorly and died of pyothorax during the trial and another developed esophagitis due to accidental intraluminal ethanol infusion, only to experience an uneventful recovery. At different times during the 6-month follow-up period, there was a complete disappearance of the clinical signs in 4/6 group A dogs. However, full nodular regression was achieved only in one dog, and parasitic ova were still found in the feces of 4/6 dogs. At the same period of time in five group B dogs still available for evaluation, resolution of the clinical signs and complete nodular regression were seen in four and five animals, respectively, while negative fecal results were obtained in all dogs (8/8) of the same group 2 months from the beginning of the treatment. No significant difference was found between the groups, regarding the resolution of clinical signs, though group B dogs demonstrated a significantly higher rate of regression of esophageal nodules as well as negative fecal results, compared to group A dogs. The combination of ivermectin and prednizolone may be considered an effective treatment in the symptomatic and evidently asymptomatic esophageal spirocercosis of the dog.