Treatment of a cystocele in a female dog 3 days after whelping.

A case of a cystocele is reported in a 3-year-old intact female Doberman pinscher. The urinary bladder and vaginal body were reduced within the abdominal cavity and secured by cystopexy and cervicopexy allowing the uterus and ovaries to be spared. This is the first report describing the surgery for a cystocele in a young female dog 3 days after whelping, with sparing of the reproductive tract. Key clinical message: This is the first report to describe a cystocele in a young intact female dog after whelping with sparing of the female reproductive tract.

Traitement d'une cystocèle chez une chienne 3 jours après la mise bas. Un cas de cystocèle est rapporté chez une femelle Doberman pinscher intacte de 3 ans. La vessie et le corps vaginal ont été réduits dans la cavité abdominale et sécurisés par cystopexie et cervicopexie permettant d'épargner l'utérus et les ovaires. Il s'agit du premier rapport décrivant la chirurgie d'une cystocèle chez une jeune chienne trois jours après la mise bas, avec préservation de l'appareil reproducteur.Message clinique clé :Il s'agit du premier rapport décrivant une cystocèle chez une jeune chienne intacte après mise bas avec préservation de l'appareil reproducteur femelle.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

A three-dimensional (3D), serum-free, Collagen Type I system for chondrogenesis of canine bone marrow-derived multipotent stromal cells (cMSCs).

The dog is an underrepresented large animal translational model for orthopedic cell-based tissue engineering. While chondrogenic differentiation of canine multipotent stromal cells (cMSCs) has been reported using the classic micromass technique, cMSCs respond inconsistently to this method. The objectives of this study were to develop a three-dimensional (3D), serum-free, Collagen Type I system to facilitate cMSC chondrogenesis and, once established, to determine the effect of chondrogenic growth factors on cMSC chondrogenesis. Canine MSCs were polymerized in 100 µL Collagen Type I gels (5 mg/mL) at 1 x 106 cells/construct. Constructs were assessed using morphometry, live/dead staining, and histology in 10 various chondrogenic media. Four media were selected for additional in-depth analyses via lactate dehydrogenase release, total glycosaminoglycan content, qPCR (COL1A1, COL2A, SOX9, ACAN, BGLAP and SP7), immunofluorescence, and TUNEL staining. In the presence of dexamethasone and transforming growth factor-ß3 (TGF-ß3), both bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) generated larger chondrogenic constructs, although BMP-2 was required to achieve histologic characteristics of chondrocytes. Chondrogenic medium containing dexamethasone, TGF-ß3, BMP-2 and bFGF led to a significant decrease in lactate dehydrogenase release at day 3 and glycosaminoglycan content was significantly increased in these constructs at day 3, 10, and 21. Both osteogenic and chondrogenic transcripts were induced in response to dexamethasone, TGF-ß3, BMP-2 and bFGF. Collagen Type II and X were detected in all groups via immunofluorescence. Finally, TUNEL staining was positive in constructs lacking BMP-2 or bFGF. In conclusion, the 3D, serum-free, Collagen Type-I assay described herein proved useful in assessing cMSC differentiation and will serve as a productive system to characterize cMSCs or to fabricate tissue engineering constructs for clinical use.

Video-assisted extirpation of cranial mediastinal masses in dogs: 18 cases (2009-2014).

OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical findings, surgical procedures, complications, and outcomes in dogs undergoing extirpation of masses from the cranial mediastinum via video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and establish preliminary guidelines for case selection when considering VATS for thymectomy in dogs. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 18 client-owned dogs that underwent extirpation of a cranial mediastinal mass by means of VATS at 5 academic referral hospitals from 2009 through 2014. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed and data extracted regarding signalment, clinical signs, physical examination findings, diagnostic imaging results, surgical approach and duration, cytologic and histologic examination results, complications, outcome, and cause of death, when applicable. RESULTS 16 dogs had a thymoma, 1 had thymic anaplastic carcinoma, and 1 had hemangiosarcoma. Seven had both megaesophagus and myasthenia gravis. Median approximate tumor volume was 113.1 cm3 (interquartile range, 33.5 to 313.3 cm3). Median duration of VATS was 117.5 minutes (interquartile range, 91.5 to 136.3 minutes). Conversion to an open thoracic surgical procedure was required for 2 dogs, 1 of which died during surgery. Median survival time following VATS for dogs with thymoma and concurrent myasthenia gravis and megaesophagus was 20 days. Dogs with thymoma without paraneoplastic syndrome survived for ≥ 60 days, and none of these dogs died of disease-related causes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE VATS appeared to be an acceptable approach for extirpation of masses from the cranial mediastinum in dogs under certain conditions. Dogs with myasthenia gravis and megaesophagus had a poor postoperative outcome.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Cadaveric Teaching Model for Performing Arthrocentesis with Veterinary Students.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a recently developed cadaveric canine model was an effective tool for teaching arthrocentesis to fourth-year veterinary students. Arthrocentesis is an important diagnostic tool and technical skill that can be difficult to teach in the clinical setting. Eighteen fourth-year veterinary students participated in a within-subjects experiment that evaluated their ability to successfully perform arthrocentesis in the canine model and in an unmodified control cadaver. Students completed an online survey about the experience. Ability to perform the procedure was assessed by monitoring the number of attempts and redirects required to enter the joint and by recording any volume recovered from the arthrocentesis. In both phases of the study, the participants were able to aspirate a measurable volume of fluid from the joints of the model. Participants recorded an increase in confidence with arthrocentesis after using the model in the first phase of the study and unanimously supported inclusion of the exercise in future teaching situations.

Development of a Cadaveric Model for Arthrocentesis.

This article reports the development of a novel cadaveric model for future use in teaching arthrocentesis. In the clinical setting, animal safety is essential and practice is thus limited. Objectives of the study were to develop and compare a model to an unmodified cadaver by injecting one of two types of fluids to increase yield. The two fluids injected, mineral oil (MO) and hypertonic saline (HS), were compared to determine any difference on yield. Lastly, aspiration immediately after (T1) or three hours after (T2) injection were compared to determine any effect on diagnostic yield. Joints used included the stifle, elbow, and carpus in eight medium dog cadavers. Arthrocentesis was performed before injection (control) and yield measured. Test joints were injected with MO or HS and yield measured after range of motion (T1) and three hours post injection to simulate lab preparation (T2). Both models had statistically significantly higher yield compared with the unmodified cadaver in all joints at T1 and T2 (p<.05) with the exception of HST2 carpus. T2 aspiration had a statistically significant lower yield when compared to T1HS carpus, T1HS elbow, and T1MO carpus. Overall, irrespective of fluid volume or type, percent yield was lower in T2 compared to T1. No statistically significant difference was seen between HS and MO in most joints with the exception of MOT1 stifle and HST2 elbow. Within the time frame assessed, both models were acceptable. However, HS arthrocentesis models proved appropriate for student trial due to the difficult aspirations with MO.