Urethral haemangiosarcoma in a boxer

A seven-year-old, entire female boxer presented with a history of restless behaviour and inappetence. Physical examination revealed that the dog was listless and had a hunched gait. Neurological examination was normal. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 4 cm x 4 cm mass in the cranial pelvic canal. Neurological abnormalities were detected three days after presentation, and progressed from proprioceptive deficits to loss of deep pain sensation in the pelvic limbs over a two-day period. The dog was euthanased and postmortem examination revealed that the pelvic mass was a urethral haemangiosarcoma with metastasis to the second lumbar vertebra. This case is unusual as urethral tumours are usually transitional cell carcinomas and frequently present with signs of dysuria.

Panniculitis associated with pancreatitis in a cocker spaniel

A 13-year-old, male cocker spaniel presented with a history of inappetence, depression and reluctance to stand. The dog had multiple, ulcerated skin lesions which were diagnosed as panniculitis by histopathology. A diagnosis of pancreatitis was made on the basis of markedly elevated serum lipase concentrations, abdominal ultrasonography which showed an abnormal lobulated area of hypoechoic tissue in the body and right lobe of the pancreas, and a fine needle biopsy from this area which revealed large numbers of degenerate neutrophils. After treatment with antibiotics and prednisolone, the dog made a full clinical recovery and was free of clinical signs for four months. The dog was euthanased five months later and postmortem examination revealed chronic, active pancreatitis and a pancreatic adenoma. This is the first report of antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis and panniculitis in a dog.