ACVR and ECVDI consensus statement for teleradiology

Increased demand for the interpretation of diagnostic images by board-certified radiologists and profound advancements in technology have led to extremely rapid growth in the field of veterinary teleradiology over the past decade. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide a guideline for best practices for quality and safety in veterinary teleradiology. The statement addresses appropriate image acquisition and transmission, the creation of teleradiology submissions, quality control in teleradiology, and appropriate documentation of imaging reports, as deficiencies in any of these areas may directly affect the standard of patient care. The consensus statement may be used as a guide for radiologists, primary care veterinarians, technicians, and students for the use of teleradiology in practice.

Tactile stimulation of the perigenital region during manual bladder expression improved the urine stream in cats affected by upper motor neuron injury

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the tactile stimulation of the perigenital region together with manual bladder expression (MBE) facilitated the urine stream in cats with acute or chronic upper motor neuron injury (UMNI).

ANIMALS

34 cats with UMNI having urinary retention.

METHODS

All the cats had a complete neurologic examination, which determined the localization of the UMNI between T3 and L3. They were classified as chronic UMNI if the injury had occurred more than 3 days previously. The cats were divided equally into 2 groups: the M group (n = 17) managed with only MBE, and the MT group (17) managed with MBE and tactile stimulation.

RESULTS

In both groups, all the cats affected by chronic UMNI resumed urination. The time required to obtain a urine stream in the chronic UMNI was 9.3 seconds in the M group and 3.1 seconds in the MT group (P < .05). In the cats affected by acute UMNI, a urine stream was achieved in 54% of the M group and 100% of the MT group (P < .05). The time to obtain a urine stream in the acute UMNI cats was 7.8 seconds in the M group and 3.75 seconds in the MT group (P < .05).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Adding tactile stimulation of the perigenital region to the MBE improved the urine stream in cats affected by UMNI.

Efficacy of Serial Ultrasonographic Examinations in Predicting Return to Play in Agility Dogs with Shoulder Lameness

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of shoulder ultrasound as a method of predicting the likelihood of returning to competition in agility dogs with shoulder teno-muscular injuries after a standardised rehabilitation protocol. Thirty-two agility dogs with a clinical and ultrasonographic diagnosis of shoulder teno-muscular injury were included in a prospective study with physical and ultrasound examinations at the time of diagnosis (T0) and at two (T2), four (T4) and six (T6) months; during this period, the dogs received rehabilitation treatments. The endpoint of the study was to obtain information regarding participation in agility competitions 12 months after diagnosis, based on telephone interviews with the owners. The clinical lameness score (CLS) and the ultrasound lesion score (ULS) were used as outcome measurements. The CLS indicated partial recovery from a shoulder injury at T2 (78%), while the ULS indicated no satisfactory recovery at T2 in any patient. At 4 months, the CLS alone was not a valuable predictor of full recovery from a shoulder injury in agility dogs. Relative Risk indicated that, at T2, ultrasound was 23.8 times more valuable in identifying a shoulder lesion as compared to clinical lameness score (CLS), and it was 2.53 times more valuable at T4.

Veterinary-focused assessment with sonography for trauma-airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure: a prospective observational study in 64 canine trauma patients

OBJECTIVE

To describe the technique and findings of the 'veterinary focused assessment with sonography for trauma-airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure' protocol in dogs suffering from trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective observational study on a new point-of-care ultrasound protocol on 64 dogs suffering from trauma and comparison of findings with radiology.

RESULTS

Comparison of the results of this new ultrasound protocol for trauma patients with radiography findings for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, alveolar-interstitial syndrome and abdominal effusion revealed positive agreement of 89, 83, 100 and 87% and negative agreement of 76, 83, 76 and 92%, respectively. Novel findings of the 'veterinary focused assessment with sonography for trauma-airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure' exam, which were not previously reported for dogs undergoing focused assessment with sonography for trauma, included alveolar-interstitial syndrome (suggestive of pulmonary contusions), diaphragmatic hernia, retroperitoneal effusion and tracheal injury. Our new technique may also help identify increased intracranial pressure via changes in optic nerve sheath diameter and haemodynamic instability through the evaluation of the caudal vena cava and cardiac function.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The described ultrasound examination protocol can be rapidly performed on dogs suffering from trauma during resuscitation and it may detect injuries previously undetectable using other veterinary point-of-care ultrasound protocols.

Clinical and histopathological features of a thymolipoma in a dog

This study presents a case of a canine thymolipoma, which is a rare, slow-growing, benign tumor of the thymus composed of mature adipose tissue and thymic tissue. A 9-year-old spayed, female miniature pinscher presented with chronic cough and dyspnoea. Radiology revealed pleural effusion and a mediastinal mass with a fatty appearance. The mass was attached to, and silhouetted, the adjacent pericardium. Microscopically, the mass was composed of adipose tissue with numerous cords and nests of thymic tissue without corticomedullary arrangement. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of this uncommon neoplasm in a dog. The gross and histological findings are similar to those described for thymolipomas in humans. The possible histogenesis for this neoplasia in a dog is also discussed.

Follicular development and plasma concentrations of LH and prolactin in anestrous female dogs treated with the dopamine agonist cabergoline

The effect of a daily administration of a dopamine agonist (cabergoline, 5 microg/kg) for 4 weeks, starting about 95 days after the end of estrus on follicular development and its relationship with LH and prolactin secretion has been investigated in two groups of anestrous bitches (Beagles and Greyhounds). Pro-estrus was detected in 80% (8/10) of beagles and 50% (3/6) of treated greyhounds. The mean inter-estrus interval of treated animals was 132+/-5.0 and 169+/-7.0 days for beagles and greyhounds, respectively, and in both this differed significantly from the cycle preceding treatment (192+/-9.0 and 198+/-12.0 days) and from that in untreated bitches (194+/-11.0 and 196+/-11.0 days for beagles and greyhounds, respectively (all comparisons at P<0.001). The interval from the beginning of treatment to pro-estrus in responding animals was 13.3+/-1.90 days in beagles and 20.3+/-1.70 days in greyhounds. Cabergoline increased (P<0.001) the length of pro-estrus (10.6+/-0.50 and 11.7+/-0.50 days) in the treated estrus cycle compared to the previous estrus cycle (8.4+/-0.30 and 8.8+/-0.40 days for in beagles and greyhound, respectively). Ovarian enlargement and follicle development was detected by ultrasound in 90% of treated beagles and in 83% of greyhound between the second and third weeks of treatment, but only 80% of beagles and 66% of treated greyhound displayed pro-estrus and estrus. In the treated bitches, mean plasma LH increased (P<0.001) before pro-estrus. There was high variability in mean plasma prolactin levels between animals. These data indicate that the administration of the dopamine agonist cabergoline to anestrous bitches increases mean LH plasma levels and induces follicular development shortly before pro-estrus but this activity is not always followed by pro-estrus and estrus. Finally, prolactin per se does not have a prominent role in the control of folliculogenesis in the bitch.

The effect of administering a dopamine agonist (Cabergoline) on follicular and luteal development during pro-estrus and estrus in the female greyhound

To study the effect of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline, on ovarian activity in the female dog during pro-estrus and estrus, 6 greyhounds were treated with 5 microg/kg per os of Cabergoline for 20 days beginning on the first day of pro-estrus; 6 animals were left untreated (controls). Ovarian morphology was determined by ultrasound examination once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. Follicles were divided into three classes on the basis of their diameter: F1 (<3mm), F2 (3-6mm) and F3 (>6mm). The presence and diameters of post-ovulatory follicles (F-POST) and corpora lutea (CL) were also recorded. Blood samples were taken once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. The plasma was assayed for LH, prolactin and progesterone by radioimmunoassay. There were no differences between Cabergoline-treated and control dogs in the duration of pro-estrus or estrus. There was a progressive increase in follicle diameter from the start of pro-estrus when follicles were mainly class F1 to the day of estrus when follicles were mainly class F3. Three days after the start of estrus, the first F-POST follicles were detected. This pattern of development continued and on day 5 the first CLs were detected. By day 9, only CLs were detected. The peak of pre-ovulatory LH was within 3 days of estrus and ovulation was detected in all animals within 3 days of the LH peak. There were no differences in LH concentrations between groups. Plasma prolactin levels varied between animals and were reduced in treated dogs, however, this was not statistically significant (P=0.12). Plasma progesterone levels were below 1.0 ng/ml before the LH surge and thereafter gradually increased. There were no differences in plasma progesterone concentrations between treated and control dogs. In conclusion these results show that the administration of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline during pro-estrus and estrus did not affect the duration of pro-estrus or estrus or the pattern of follicular and luteal development in female dogs.

Use of ultrasound to diagnose diaphragmatic rupture in dogs and cats

Twenty-one cats and six dogs that presented to a first-opinion clinic with signs of dyspnea and muffled cardiac auscultation received ultrasonography to look for signs of diaphragmatic rupture. The presence or absence of diaphragmatic rupture was subsequently determined on the basis of unequivocal radiographic signs, surgical findings, or necropsy. Consistent findings in animals with diaphragmatic rupture were irregular or asymmetric cranial aspect of the liver and abdominal viscera in the thorax. Accuracy of ultrasonography was 25/27 (93%). One false-negative result occurred in a cat with a chronic diaphragmatic rupture in which adhesions between the liver and lung simulated the appearance of an intact diaphragm. One false-positive result occurred in a dog with an abscess involving the left lung and pleural cavity, which was misinterpreted as the stomach. The results of this study support use of ultrasonography in animals with suspected diaphragmatic rupture.