Prognosis for dogs with nonlymphomatous, small intestinal tumors treated by surgical excision

Long-term follow-up information was obtained for 39 dogs that had undergone surgical excision of nonlymphomatous, small intestinal tumors. For all dogs evaluated in this study, the median survival time was 10 months, and the one- and two-year survival rates were 40.5% and 33.1%, respectively. There was no difference in survival times between dogs with adenocarcinomas (n=23) and dogs with leiomyosarcomas (n=16). Survival times were significantly (p less than 0.0001) shorter for dogs with histological evidence of metastases at the time of surgery (median, 3.0 months) than for dogs with no histiological evidence of metastases (median, 15.0 months).

Surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment of alveolar echinococcosis in a dog

Surgical removal of macroscopically detectable metacestode tissue followed by postoperative chemotherapy according to established human protocols resulted in complete clinical remission and immediate normalization of hyperglobulinemia in a dog with alveolar echinococcosis (AE). The disease is caused by the metacestode stage of the cestode, Echinococcus multilocularis. In endemic areas, AE should be included in the differential diagnosis of polycystic liver masses, especially if concomitant hyperglobulinemia is present. However, the importance of AE is not only the disease of the single dog itself but also the potential risk of infection for humans in an endemic area.

Use of a medial bone plate for repair of radius and ulna fractures in dogs and cats: a report of 22 cases

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the technique of medial bone plating in the repair of radius fractures in dogs and cats.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study was made of patients diagnosed with fractures of the radius that were stabilized by application of a bone plate to the medial side of the bone.

ANIMAL POPULATION

Sixteen client-owned dogs and 4 client-owned cats. The animals' ages varied from 5 months to 8 years, and their weight varied from 1.3 to 49 kgs.

METHODS

Animals were evaluated using radiography or client assessment, or both.

RESULTS

Medical plate application was technically easier to do than cranial plate application, the technique avoided the extensor tendons, and permitted greater versatility in the selection of smaller plates for the fixation of distal radius fractures. All fractures repaired by this method healed with no postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Medial plate application may be used for osteosynthesis of distal or middiaphyseal radius fractures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of this technique in morphologically complex fractures. In patients with fractures of the proximal radius, cranial plate application is considered more appropriate.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Medial plating of radial fractures has significant advantages compared with conventional plate application; it provides the surgeon with an alternative method of fixation for selected radius fractures in dogs and cats.

Comparative viability of peninsular and island axial pattern flaps incorporating the cranial superficial epigastric artery in dogs

Experimental island and peninsular axial pattern flaps that incorporated the cranial superficial epigastric artery and vein were developed in 6 Beagles. Mean percentage of flap area that survived, for both flaps, was 87%, and percentage of surviving flap area was not significantly different for island versus peninsular flaps. In 1 dog, ligation of an aberrant, perforating branch of the cranial epigastric artery resulted in necrosis of 53% of the flap area. The cranial superficial epigastric axial pattern flaps have potential application for closure of skin defects within their arc of rotation and may be particularly useful for closure of large defects on the ventral aspect of the thorax. A peninsular flap was used to close a defect of the ventral portion of the thoracic wall in a clinical case.

Comparison of the holding power of 3.5-mm cortical versus 4.0-mm cancellous orthopedic screws in the pelvis of immature dogs (cadavers)

A 3.5-mm cortical orthopedic screw was compared with a 4.0-mm cancellous screw for maximal load to failure in the pelvis of immature dogs. The pelvis from young cadavers (7 to 13 months old) was divided into hemipelves and used for testing of the 2 screw types. Two sites in each hemipelvis were used, mid-shaft of the ilium and mid-sacrum, including the wing of the ilium. The screws were extracted, and maximal load to failure and mode of failure were recorded. Maximal load to failure per millimeter of engaged thread was calculated. In either pelvic site, the 4.0-mm cancellous screw required a significantly (P < 0.05) higher pullout force per millimeter of engaged screw threads than did the 3.5-mm cortical bone screw.