Canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture is often bilateral and asymmetrical, ranging from partial to complete rupture. The purpose of our diagnostic accuracy study was to assess the accuracy of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of fiber loss and use of a visual analog scale in the diagnosis of complete versus partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture in 28 clinical dogs with unilateral complete rupture and contralateral partial rupture. Three Tesla MRI was performed on 56 stifles using sagittal sequences (T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat saturation, proton density fast spin echo, and T2-weighted 3D fast spin echo CUBE). Two MRI observers assessed the cranial cruciate ligament for fiber loss and completed a visual analog scale. The MRI data were compared to arthroscopy and clinical status. Accuracy classifying partial or complete rupture was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Compared to arthroscopy, for complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI detection of fiber loss were 0.78, 0.50-0.60, and 0.68-0.71, respectively, and, for partial tears, specificity was 1.00. An MRI In stifles with clinically unstable complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture, both MRI tests are sensitive though not specific compared to arthroscopy. As a diagnostic imaging method, MRI may help guide treatment in patients with cranial cruciate ligament damage, particularly for stable partial rupture.

Ultrasonography and radiography are standard diagnostic tests for cats with suspected splenic disease, however published information on outside sources of variation are currently lacking. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, crossover group study was to evaluate effects of common sedative drugs on the sonographic and radiographic characteristics of the spleen in healthy cats. Fifteen healthy adult research cats were randomly assigned into one of three groups corresponding to different sequences of administration of five sedative drugs/drug combinations (acepromazine; butorphanol; dexmedetomidine; midazolam and butorphanol (MB); and dexmedetomidine, butorphanol, and ketamine (DBK)), administered at 1‐week intervals. At each visit, three‐view abdominal radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations were performed prior to sedation and repeated 15‐30 min and 2‐3 h post sedation. Two board‐certified radiologists (one ACVR and one ACVR/ECVDI) evaluated the anonymized and randomized images. Acepromazine resulted in significantly increased sonographic and radiographic splenic measurements from baseline, which remained significantly increased 2‐3 h post sedation. The mean magnitude of this change ranged from 0.9 mm (tail height, SD 1.4 mm) to 1.8 mm (body height, SD 1.7 mm) for ultrasound, and was 2.2 mm (ventrodorsal width, SD 2.3 mm) for radiographs. With butorphanol, there was no significant change in splenic size. For dexmedetomidine, MB, and DBK, there was a trend toward increased splenic size from baseline to the first post‐sedation timepoint, which was statistically significant for radiographic measurements, although not for ultrasound. Findings indicated that acepromazine should be avoided prior to imaging while butorphanol may be used when sedation is needed in cats presenting for potential splenic disease.

Background Awareness of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in cats has increased since the development of an assay for feline trypsin‐like immunoreactivity (fTLI). Ultrasound findings in cats with EPI have only been reported rarely and described as nonspecific. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe the ultrasonographic findings, clinical signs, and concurrent diseases in cats with EPI. Animals Twenty‐two client‐owned cats with EPI. Methods Multicenter retrospective descriptive study including cats with serum fTLI concentration ≤8 μg/L and an abdominal ultrasound examination performed within 6 weeks of fTLI measurement. Sonographic measurements of maximal pancreatic thickness and maximal pancreatic duct diameter as well as ratios of pancreatic duct diameter to pancreatic thickness were obtained. Additional sonographic findings, concurrent conditions, and clinical signs were recorded. Results The most common clinical sign was weight loss (15/22 cats). Chronic enteropathy was the most common concurrent disease (13/22 cats). In 39% of cats, the pancreas had minimal or no sonographic alterations. Pancreatic duct dilatation (>2.5 mm), pancreatic duct tortuosity with variable diameter, or both were seen in 6/13 cats. The pancreatic parenchyma was subjectively thin in 6 cats. A significant relationship was found between subjectively thin pancreatic parenchyma and increased pancreatic duct size : pancreatic thickness ratio (P = .004). Diffuse gastrointestinal dilatation with echogenic content was observed in 8/22 cats. Conclusion Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency often causes minimal to no sonographic pancreatic changes. Nonetheless, the findings of thin pancreatic parenchyma, pancreatic duct dilatation, or diffuse small intestinal dilatation with echogenic contents in cats with unexplained weight loss or unformed feces should raise clinical suspicion for EPI.

OBJECTIVE To identify clinical characteristics of, prognostic factors for, and long-term outcome of dogs with multiple acquired portosystemic shunts (MAPSSs) and determine whether survival time was associated with previous portosystemic shunt attenuation. ANIMALS 72 client-owned dogs with MAPSSs. PROCEDURES Medical records of dogs in which MAPSSs had been diagnosed between January 2000 and August 2018 were reviewed for signalment, historic and diagnostic findings, management methods, and outcome. RESULTS Median survival time of dogs (n = 23) that died of causes related to MAPSSs was 580 days (range, 156 to 1,363 days). Factors significantly associated with dying of MAPSS-related versus unrelated causes included body weight, albumin concentration at the first and last recheck examinations, and cholesterol, total solids, and glucose concentrations at the last recheck examination. Dogs not receiving medical management or without signs of depressed mentation at the time of initial presentation were less likely to die of causes related to MAPSSs. Patient status (alive vs dead of causes related to MAPSSs vs dead of causes unrelated to MAPSSs vs dead of unknown causes) was not significantly associated with survival time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Survival time for dogs with MAPSSs was not shortened by previous portosystemic shunt attenuation surgery and was not different when death was versus was not related to MAPSSs. Dogs with MAPSSs that had progression of biochemical changes consistent with liver dysfunction were more likely to die of causes related to MAPSSs and were unlikely to live a normal lifespan.

A three-month-old pot-bellied pig presented for acute paraplegia following a presumptive fall. CT examination identified a vertebral subluxation of L1–L2 with a comminuted fracture of the L1 vertebra. Spinal stabilisation was performed with polyvinilidine (Lubra) plates. The pig improved neurologically and regained the ability to walk. Spinal radiographs six weeks following surgery revealed partial failure of the plates in the caudal aspect of the vertebral column and suspected pressure atrophy of spinous processes. Eighteen months later, the plates were piercing through the skin, so they were removed surgically and the pig did well from then on. This case report describes the feasibility of spinal stabilisation in a pot-bellied pig associated with a good outcome, but also reveals potential complications and spinal changes that can be observed after use of polyvinilidine plates in this species.