Effect of carprofen on hemostatic variables in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of carprofen on hemostatic variables in clinically normal dogs. ANIMALS: 12 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: 10 dogs (6 females, 4 males) received carprofen (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h) for 5 days. Two dogs (untreated control group; 1 female, 1 male) did not receive carprofen. Hemostatic variables (platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, platelet aggregation, and bleeding time) were assessed for all dogs prior to treatment, on day 5 of treatment, and 2 and 7 days after discontinuation of the drug (days 7 and 12). Serum biochemical variables and Hct were assessed prior to treatment and on days 5 and 12. RESULTS: In dogs receiving carprofen, platelet aggregation was significantly decreased, and onset of aggregation was significantly delayed on days 5, 7, and 12, compared with pretreatment values. Activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly increased on days 5, 7, and 12 over pretreatment values in treated dogs, but values remained within reference ranges. Significant differences were not detected in buccal mucosal bleeding time, other serum biochemical and hemostatic variables, or Hct, compared with pretreatment values and the internal control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of carprofen for 5 days causes minor but not clinically important alterations in hemostatic and serum biochemical variables in clinically normal Labrador Retrievers. Carprofen is commonly used to treat osteoarthritis and chronic pain in dogs, but prior to this study, its effect on platelet aggregation and hemostatic variables was unknown.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin G cryoglobulinemia and multiple myeloma in a domestic shorthair cat.

A 13-year-old castrated domestic shorthair cat was examined because of fever, anorexia, and dermatologic lesions. Crusting, erythema, and well-demarcated purple discoloration of the foot pads and the tips of the pinnae, nose, and tail were seen. A white flocculent precipitate was detected in cooled serum. This precipitate dissolved upon rewarming, consistent with a cryoglobulin. Hypercalcemia, high alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities, thrombocytopenia, and a monoclonal IgG gammopathy were found. Numerous hepatic nodules were detected by means of abdominal ultrasonography. Cytologic evaluation of fine-needle aspirates of the liver and spleen revealed numerous plasma cells, and evaluation of a bone marrow aspirate revealed plasmacytosis. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma and monoclonal IgG cryoglobulinemia was made, and the cat was euthanatized.

Congenital myotonia in related kittens.

Four closely related domestic shorthair kittens were investigated following the detection of abnormalities in their gait, difficulty opening their mouths and muscle hypertrophy. They walked with a stiff, stilted gait, with the stiffness reducing during exercise. Startling of the kittens resulted in hyperextension of the limbs and falling to lateral recumbency, or spasm of the orbicularis oculi muscle, prolonged prolapse of the nictitating membranes and flattening of the ears. One kitten was intermittently dysphonic. Endotracheal intubation of the anaesthetised kittens was difficult due to an inability to open the mouth to a wide angle, and narrowing of the glottis due to muscle spasm. A diagnosis of congenital myotonia was made based on the clinical signs, the kittens' ages, typical myotonic discharges on electromyography, and the histopathological and histochemical findings in muscle. This is the first report of congenital myotonia in this species.