The medical records of 65 dogs that underwent complete or partial ligation of a single congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) were reviewed to determine the long-term clinical clinical results. Information retrieved from the records included age at surgery, preligation (baseline) portal pressure, postligation portal pressure, change in portal pressure from baseline, complete or partial occlusion of the shunting vessel and fasting, and 2-hour postprandial bile acids from the preoperative, early postoperative (PO), and greater than 1 year PO time periods. A clinical rating score derived from a follow-up examination greater than 1 year PO was assigned to each dog. Of the 56 dogs that survived the perioperative period, 29 (52%) had complete and 27 (48%) had partial ligations. Age at surgery, pre- and postligation portal pressure, change in portal pressure from baseline and serum bile acid concentrations were not related to long-term clinical outcome. Clinical rating scores were significantly greater for dogs with partial CPSS ligations compared with dogs with complete ligations, indicating a less favorable clinical outcome for partial ligations. Fasting and 2-hour postprandial bile acid values at both PO time intervals were significantly greater in partial versus complete ligation groups. Follow-up information for more than 1 year was available on 18 of 29 dogs (62%) with complete ligations. All were clinically normal. Of 27 dogs with partial ligations, 11 dogs (41%) developed recurrence of clinical signs resulting in presentation to the university or referring veterinarian for additional surgery, medical management, or euthanasia. Only three dogs with partial CPSS ligation (11%) were clinically normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

No predictors of survival were identified. No associations between outcome of surgical treatment (survival vs nonsurvival) and preoperative findings, biliary rupture, surgical procedure performed, results of histologic examination of the liver, or development of pancreatitis were found. Cholecystoduodenostomy and cholecystectomy appear to be acceptable treatments for gallbladder mucocele.

Results suggest that a 2-cm lateral margin and a deep margin of 1 fascial plane appear to be adequate for complete excision of grade-I and -II MCTs in dogs.

Results suggest that UAL will improve quality of life in most dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis. However, the complication rate is high, with postoperative pneumonia being the most important major complication. Minor complications were common but did not adversely affect owner-assigned quality-of-life scores in most dogs.

Hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD) is a disease involving a microscopic shunting of blood through the liver without the presence of a macroscopic portosystemic shunt (PSS). Data was collected from medical records and telephone conversations with referring veterinarians and owners of 24 dogs diagnosed with HMD. Criteria for diagnosis included histopathological evidence of microvascular dysplasia on hepatic biopsy as well as surgical exploration and a normal mesenteric portogram to rule out a macroscopic PSS. Dogs with HMD frequently have less severe clinical signs and a better long-term prognosis than do those with a PSS that are managed medically.

Necrotizing sialometaplasia (NS) is a distinct, though rare disease of the salivary glands. Histologic findings in humans and dogs are identical, but the distribution of affected glands and clinical course are very different. Small terrier breeds are predisposed. Clinically, canine NS is characterized by nausea (i.e., ptyalism, lip smacking, gulping), dysphagia, and pain in the mandibular region. Surgical removal of the affected glands produces minimal, if any, improvement; however, transient administration of anticonvulsants has resulted in dramatic clinical improvement in three cases.

Increased serum C-reactive protein and S100A12 concentrations were observed in a subpopulation of dogs with various types of hepatic diseases, suggesting acute-phase inflammation and activation of phagocytic cells, respectively. Dogs with higher hepatic necroinflammatory activity scores tended to have higher serum C-reactive protein concentrations. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding in a larger group of dogs.

Two dogs that had ingested foreign bodies were presented with vomiting. The foreign bodies appeared as metal and dense on abdominal radiographs. Abdominal exploratory identified intestinal perforation in one case and gastrointestinal tissue trapped between the two foreign bodies adhered to each other in the second case. The foreign bodies were identified as magnets in one case and magnets and other metallic foreign bodies in the second case. Both dogs had excellent outcomes following surgical intervention. These cases demonstrate the danger of tissue entrapment between the foreign bodies as a result of the magnetic attraction between two objects. Dogs that are presented with a history of or are suspect for ingesting multiple magnets or a magnet and metal foreign bodies should be treated with surgical intervention because of the risk of gastrointestinal perforation as a result of magnetic attraction between the foreign bodies.