BackgroundCanine idiopathic eosinophilic lung disease (ELD) is sparsely documented in the literature.MethodsClinical presentation and outcome of dogs diagnosed with ELD (eosinophilic bronchitis or eosinophilic bronchopneumonia) were reviewed. Subgroups were made based on chronicity of clinical signs and findings of thoracic imaging: NCI (no changes in thoracic imaging), BRON (bronchial/peribronchial pattern), INT (bronchointerstitial/interstitial/alveolar).ResultsSeventy cases were included. There were more young to adult, crossbreed and female dogs. Compared with the other two groups NCI dogs showed lower bronchoalveolar lavage fluid eosinophilic pleocytosis and absence of circulating eosinophilia, bronchiectasis or death due to respiratory disease. All dogs responded clinically to corticosteroids. Median treatment duration was four months. Remission (no clinical signs after treatment discontinuation for >one month) and long-term remission (>six months) was achieved in 60 per cent, and 51 per cent of patients, respectively. Relapse occurred in 26 per cent of cases after remission but was rare (3 per cent) after long-term remission. The one-year, two-year and four-year survival to death due to respiratory disease was 98 per cent, 97 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively.ConclusionPrognosis and initial clinical response for ELD was generally good although achievement of long-term remission was only seen in 51 per cent of dogs. Different outcomes based on chronicity of signs, corticosteroid dose, thoracic imaging abnormalities and other clinical variables were not appreciated.

BackgroundReports of chronic hepatitis in dogs caused by Leptospira spp. are confined to small case series. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allows the identification of spirochetes in liver samples. Consequently, this technique may help elucidate the role of Leptospira spp. in cases of chronic hepatitis.ObjectivesTo describe cases of hepatic leptospirosis in dogs diagnosed by FISH and subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) speciation, with the absence of clinically relevant renal involvement.AnimalsTen client‐owned dogs.MethodsRetrospective case series from the University of Cambridge presented between 2013 and 2016 or cases consulted by telephone advice during this time period. Cases were selected based on histopathologically confirmed granulomatous hepatitis and leptospiral organisms identified by FISH and PCR speciation (Leptospira interrogans/kirschneri).ResultsAll cases had increased liver enzyme activities, and FISH in combination with PCR speciation‐confirmed infection with L. interrogans/kirschneri. Four dogs underwent repeat liver biopsy, FISH and PCR speciation 4‐15 months after initial presentation and doxycycline treatment with 1 dog undergoing repeat sampling at necropsy. Three dogs that underwent repeat biopsy remained positive for L. interrogans/kirschneri infection. Six dogs were alive at the time of manuscript preparation and 4 dogs were euthanized as a result of progressive liver disease.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe presence of hepatic leptospiral organisms may be associated with chronic granulomatous hepatitis without clinical evidence of renal involvement. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the etiological role of these organisms in the disease.

BackgroundChronic hepatitis (CH) occurs commonly in dogs but is associated with a variable and largely unpredictable prognosis. p21, a cell‐cycle inhibitor and marker of cellular senescence, is upregulated in human liver disease and is a better prognostic marker than histological or clinical scoring systems.ObjectiveTo quantify hepatocyte p21 immunopositivity in histopathology samples from dogs with CH and determine its association with outcome.AnimalsTwenty‐six client‐owned dogs with histologically confirmed CH, and 15 dogs with normal liver histology.MethodsMedical records and liver histopathology samples were retrospectively reviewed to identify cases of CH. Immunohistochemistry for p21 was performed on all samples and hepatocyte immunopositivity was visually quantified. Relationships between p21 and dog age and dog survival time were statistically evaluated.ResultsHepatocyte p21 immunopositivity in dogs with CH was high (median percentage of positive hepatocytes: 90%, range: 20%‐98%) and exceeded 70% in 23/26 cases with no association with age. In control dogs, p21 immunopositivity was low (≤15% positive hepatocytes in 12/15 cases) and was positively correlated with age (r s = 0.63; P = .011). Dogs with p21 immunopositivity exceeding 91.8% (upper tercile) had significantly shorter survival compared to dogs with less than 88.9% immunopositivity (lowest tercile; 218 versus 874 days, P = .006). Increasing hepatocyte p21 immunopositivity was significantly negatively associated with survival time (HR 4.12; 95% CI 1.34‐12.63; P = .013).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMarked p21 immunopositivity in dogs with CH might be indicative of widespread hepatocellular senescence. A significant association with survival time also suggests a potential value for p21 quantification in determining prognosis.

Objectives To characterise and document the progression of idiopathic renal haematuria in a large cohort of medically managed UK dogs. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of 41 client‐owned dogs with confirmed (n=14), or suspected (n=27) idiopathic renal haematuria from 4 UK‐based referral centres. Clinical findings and outcomes of dogs (2001 to 2018) were determined from the review of medical records and telephone follow‐up. Results Median survival time from diagnosis was long [1482 (152 to 1825) days] irrespective of treatment and clinical response. Only 1 case was euthanased due to idiopathic renal haematuria, and anaemia or azotaemia occurred infrequently. In total, 25 dogs received angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy, of which 23 received benazepril [0.44 (0.19 to 0.82) mg/kg/24 hours], two received enalapril (0.40 and 0.78 mg/kg/24 hours) and one received telmisartan (1 mg/kg/24 hours). In cases with follow‐up urinalyses, complete resolution of haematuria was documented in eight of 19 (42%) dogs following angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker treatment, with partial improvement in five of 19 (26%) and no improvement in six of 19 (31%). Conversely, of the two untreated dogs where outcome was available, one had partial improvement and the other had no improvement. Clinical Significance In this study, idiopathic renal haematuria was associated with a good prognosis and low complication rate. Resolution or improvement in haematuria occurred in both angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker‐treated and untreated dogs, indicating that further studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these interventions.

Objectives To describe the history, clinicopathological abnormalities, diagnostic imaging findings, lymph node cytological/histological appearance, treatment and outcome of English springer spaniels diagnosed with idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis. Materials and Methods In this retrospective UK‐based multicentre study, 64 dogs were recruited from 10 referral centres, 32 first‐opinion practices and three histopathology/cytology laboratories, between 2010 and 2016. Results The median age at presentation was 6 years (range: 0.17 to 11.75). Neutered females were frequently affected. Pyrexia (83.8%), peripheral lymphadenomegaly (78.4%), dermatological lesions (72.9%), lethargy (67.6%), hyporexia (54%), diarrhoea (29.7%), coughing (24.3%), epistaxis, sneezing or nasal discharge (21.6%), ocular signs (21.6%) and vomiting (16.2%) were reported in dogs for which the history and physical examination records were available. Popliteal (45.3%), superficial cervical (35.9%) and submandibular (37.5%) lymphadenomegaly were frequently reported. Haematology and serum biochemistry revealed non‐specific changes. When undertaken, testing for infectious diseases was negative in all cases. Lymph node cytology, histopathology or both demonstrated mixed inflammatory (27%), pyogranulomatous (24%), neutrophilic (20%) or granulomatous (11%) lymphadenitis. Treatment details were available for 38 dogs, with 34 receiving prednisolone for a median duration of 15 weeks (range: 1 to 28 weeks). A good to excellent clinical response was reported in all but one case. Ten dogs relapsed after discontinuing prednisolone. Clinical Significance Idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and pyrexia in English springer spaniels. The characteristics of the disease, absence of identifiable infectious aetiology and response to glucocorticoid therapy suggest an immune‐mediated aetiology.

Cellular senescence is a molecular hallmark of ageing that is associated with multiple pathologies, and DNA damage marker γH2AX, together with cell cycle inhibitor p21, have been used as senescence markers in multiple species including dogs. Idiopathic canine chronic hepatitis has recognised breed-related differences in predisposition and prognosis, but reasons behind this are poorly understood. This retrospective study using archived post mortem tissue aimed to provide insight into liver ageing in 51 microscopically normal canine livers across seven breed categories, including those with and without increased risk of chronic hepatitis. Immunohistochemistry was conducted for γH2AX, p21, and cell proliferation marker Ki67, and the mean number of positive hepatocytes per high power field was determined. All three markers were strongly correlated to each other, but no age-dependent expression was seen in the combined study population. Overall expression levels were low in most dogs, with median values representing less than 1.5% of hepatocytes, but this increased to 20–30% in individual dogs at the upper end of the range. Individual breed differences were noted in two breeds that have increased risk of chronic hepatitis, with English Springer Spaniels having lower expression of Ki67 than other dogs, and Labradors having higher expression of Ki67 and γH2AX than other dogs. These results warrant further investigation in these breeds and highlight a need to validate reliable markers of cellular senescence in dogs.

A three-year-old Basset Griffon Vendeen was presented for peracute-onset paraplegia. MRI of the lumbar spinal cord confirmed marked intramedullary hyperintensity, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid identified marked neutrophilic pleocytosis and increased protein concentration. An inflammatory aetiology was therefore considered possible despite imaging and history being more consistent with a diagnosis of fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). No neurological improvement occurred following appropriate treatment, and postmortem examination later confirmed numerous fibrocartilaginous emboli with marked, multifocal myelomalacia. This is the first case report to document marked cerebrospinal pleocytosis in a canine patient with FCE, and highlights that such changes should be interpreted with caution and not used to distinguish between vascular and inflammatory aetiologies.

Thirty-two dogs were identified. Median age at onset was 13 weeks old (range 8-32 weeks old), males were overrepresented (75% male entire, 22% female entire, 3% female neutered). The most commonly recorded clinical signs were pain (32/32), pyrexia (29/32), lethargy (28/32), and being non-ambulatory (17/32). Sixteen of thirty-two dogs were affected in all four limbs, thirteen had forelimbs affected, three were affected in three limbs. Where information was available, 18/27 dogs were vaccinated within 30 days of presentation. Twenty-nine dogs required hospitalisation for analgesia and supportive care, 16/32 were discharged on corticosteroids (dose