Computed Tomographic Findings of Dental Disease and Secondary Diseases of the Head Area in Client-Owned Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 90 Cases

Domestic rabbits have teeth that grow throughout the animal's life and are prone to disease. Clinical signs of dental disease in domestic rabbits are non-specific, and, therefore, a definitive diagnosis usually requires additional methods. This study was carried out on a group of 105 domestic rabbits aged 3 to 9 years. In total, 90 domestic rabbits with dental disease visible on CT images and other secondary diseases of the head area qualified for this study. Malocclusion was found in 57 (63.3%). Retrograde elongation of the tooth apices in the mandible was present in 39 (43.3%), and it was present in the maxilla in 48 (53%). Clinical tooth crowns were overgrown in 39 (43%). Dental abscesses were present in 54 (63%). Secondary to the presence of a dental abscess, osteomyelitis was found in 43 (79% of the animals with a dental abscess). Dental inflammatory resorption was found in 36 (40%). Secondary to dental disease, nasal cavity inflammation was found in 18 (20%). Otitis media was present in six (6.7%). The most common dental disease found in this study's animals was malocclusion secondary to abnormal clinical crown abrasion and abnormal tooth growth. In domestic rabbits, osteomyelitis is a common complication of dental abscesses. Computed tomography is an invaluable diagnostic method in the diagnosis of dental disease and secondary diseases of the head area, such as inflammation of the nasal cavities or otitis media, in pet rabbits.

Laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy in the treatment of urinary incontinence due to ectopy of the ureters in female dogs: A pilot study

Ureteral ectopia is rare and requires surgical treatment after a thorough diagnostic workup. Open surgical techniques for repositioning ectopic ureters have been known for many years and are well described in the literature. However, to the best of our knowledge, no laparoscopic method of correcting this pathology has been described, which, in our opinion, would benefit the animal in terms of the healing process and overall clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of laparoscopic treatment of ureteral ectopia, which causes urinary incontinence in dogs. All of the operated ten dogs presented in this study were client-owned females with symptoms of urinary incontinence due to a unilateral intramural ectopic ureter. A three-trocar laparoscopic technique was used to perform the ureteroneocystostomy of the ectopic ureter. In this article, clinicopathological data, imaging features, procedural findings, complications, and short- and long-term outcomes are presented. The procedure was feasible in all cases. No major postoperative complications were observed. Among the minor complications, slight hematuria was observed in three dogs, which resolved spontaneously. In the period of at least one year after surgery, no negative impact of the procedure was observed. Seven of the ten operated dogs regained urinary continence. The remaining three dogs required additional surgery (urethral bulking) because of a lack of improvement after adjuvant pharmacological treatment. Overall, good-to-excellent long-term outcomes can be achieved; however, dogs that remain incontinent after laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy may require additional treatment.

Author Correction: The effect of changes in cardiovascular activity on corneal biomechanics and pulsation in rabbits

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The effect of changes in cardiovascular activity on corneal biomechanics and pulsation in rabbits

The aim was to assess the relationships between cardiovascular activity, corneal pulse characteristics, and corneal biomechanics in rabbits. Seventeen rabbits were randomly assigned to one of two anesthetic regimens to induce differences in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Experimental protocol included measuring blood flow parameters in the ophthalmic artery by color Doppler imaging, corneal biomechanical parameters using a non-contact tonometer Corvis ST, and the corneal pulse (CP) signal using a non-contact ultrasonic technique. Statistically significantly lower mean values of normalized amplitudes of higher CP harmonics and changes in eight of the twelve corneal biomechanical parameters were observed in the rabbit group with lower arterial blood pressure and higher heart rate, intraocular pressure, and resistive index. The results of partial correlations showed that the CP signal energy and amplitude of its first harmonic correlate with the resistive index, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, whereas no statistically significant correlation was found between any of the CP parameters and intraocular pressure. Our pilot study indicates, for the first time, that non-contact and continuous measuring of corneal pulse allows indirectly assessing changes in cardiovascular activity when the confounding effect of intraocular pressure is eliminated.

Laparoscopic assisted percutaneous herniorrhapy in dogs using PIRS technique

Background

In the literature, no studies describe the use of laparoscopic techniques for inguinal hernia repair in canine clinical patients. The surgical technique—Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing (PIRS) presented in this article is the world's first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical technique for inguinal canal closure in dogs.

Aim

The aim of the presented study is to evaluate the possibility of employment of the laparoscopic PIRS technique in clinical practice as well as to technically evaluate its usefulness in the treatment of the inguinal hernia in dogs. The presented study describes the procedure and the results of laparoscopic treatment of 11 inguinal hernias in nine dogs (two bilateral).

Methods

The whole procedure is performed under camera control introduced through one umbilical trocar. The very closure of the inner inguinal ring is done with the injection needle by a small puncture over the inguinal canal with the help of which the suture material is inserted, and the canal of the operated inguinal hernia is closed. Each operated dog underwent a thorough clinical examination before surgery which was combined with ultrasound examination of the inguinal canals before, immediately after and three months after surgery.

Results

There was no hernia recurrence in the study period in the operated dogs and all individuals returned to full mobility immediately after recovery from anesthesia.

Conclusions

Due to the low invasiveness and simplicity of performance, the PIRS technique described in the study should be taken into account when choosing a treatment method for non-traumatic inguinal hernia in dogs. At the same time, the possibility of using the described technique in other types of inguinal hernia in dogs requires further research.

Accuracy of real-time shear wave elastography in the assessment of normal small intestine mucosa in dogs

The aim of the study was to assess the physiological stiffness of the normal canine jejunal mucosa based on shear wave elastography. The study was carried out on 60 dogs. In all the animals studied, the abdominal ultrasound was carried out using the SuperSonic Imagine Aixplorer system. The site of the jejunal elastography was determined using standard ultrasonography and all the measurements were carried out thrice. The stiffness of the area examined was determined during each measurement. Mean values were calculated based on the results obtained. The normal stiffness of the jejunal mucosa ranged from 1.305 kPa to 9.319 kPa (mean 5.31 ± 2.04 kPa). Based on our findings, we determined the range of normal values of the jejunal mucosal stiffness in healthy dogs. In addition, shear wave elastography was found to be safe and easy to perform. Moreover, it did not require anaesthesia or patient immobilisation for long periods.

Magnetic resonance imaging of liver tumors using gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) - pilot study

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging using gadoxetic acid, a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent, is one of the most useful MRI techniques used to diagnose liver tumours in humans. During the hepato-biliary phase, there is uptake of gadoxetic acid by normal hepatocytes, leading to hepatic parenchymal enhancement. This feature is used in human medicine to diagnose hepatic parenchymal metastatic disease, to differentiate primary liver tumours, to diagnose liver cirrhosis and focal nodular hyperplasia. This study presents the preliminary results of magnetic resonance imaging of focal lesions localised in the liver parenchyma in dogs following the administration of gadoxetic acid.

Results

The lesion enhancement ratio (ER_lesion) in the tumour metastasis was 0.05; the liver enhancement ratio (ER_liver) – 0.49 and the post-contrast lesion-to-liver contrast ratio (CR) was 0.17. In dogs with hepatocellular hyperplasia, these values were 0.54; 0.51; and 1.18, respectively. In two dogs with a hepatic adenoma, the ER_lesion was 0.26 and 0.17, respectively; the ER_liver was 0.47 and 0.47, respectively and the CR was 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. In the dog with a neuroendocrine tumour, the ER_lesion was 0.03; the ER_liver amounted to 0.58 and the CR was 0.35. In the case of a hepatocellular carcinoma, these coefficients were 0.2, 0.6 and 0.3, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the results, it may be assumed that the MR images of the proliferative hepatic parenchymal lesions in dogs using gadoxetic acid are similar to those obtained in humans. This suggests that the contrast enhancement patterns used in human medicine may be useful in differentiating hepatic parenchymal lesions in dogs.

A liver core needle biopsy technique in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

The aim of this study was to describe a core needle biopsy technique in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) and to assess the incidence of complications when applying this method. Biopsies were taken from the right hepatic lobe of 36 healthy guinea pigs under ultrasound guidance using a Tru-Cut needle. There were no immediate complications in 35 animals but ultrasound images showed a haemorrhage from the biopsy site in one guinea pig. The haemorrhage stopped after administering a sterile cooling dressing. One guinea pig died 13 days after the biopsy due to late complications. The procedure is in some animals associated with severe, potential life-threatening, complications. Assessment of the biopsy site by ultrasonography for 30 min after the procedure is recommended to allow timely handling of haemorrhage. The procedure is not recommended in animals with a suspected coagulopathy. Due to the risk of severe complications, this procedure should be restricted to guinea pigs where the result of the biopsy examination is expected to be valuable for the choice of treatment or prognosis. Owners should be made aware of the risks associated with the procedure.