Ovariohysterectomy is a surgical procedure performed for sterilization. If part or all of an ovary remains after the surgical procedure, ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) occurs. After revascularization of the remaining ovarian tissue, the sexual cycle of bitches and queens continues. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) measurement for the diagnosis of ORS in bitches. Forty-six female dogs were divided into four groups: the prepubertal, unspayed, spayed, and ORS groups. The serum AMH, progesterone, and estradiol concentrations of the bitches in all groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The stage in the sexual cycle of each bitch was determined based on vaginal cytology findings and serum estradiol and progesterone levels. The mean serum AMH concentration of the unspayed bitches (4.26 ± 0.82 ng/ml) was similar to that of the bitches with ORS (4.40 ± 1.09 ng/ml). However, the difference between the mean serum AMH level of the bitches with ORS and the spayed bitches (0.28 ± 0.09 ng/ml) was significant. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that the serum AMH level is substantially lower in spayed than in both intact bitches and bitches with ORS. According to this result, measurement of the serum AMH level is a useful tool for diagnosis of ORS in bitches.

Mammary tumours are the most common tumour type in female dogs. The formation of the mammary tumours is multifactorial but the high incidence of tumour disease in certain canine breeds suggests a strong genetic component. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most important genes significantly associated with mammary tumours. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the variations of these two genes and canine mammary tumours. 5'-untranslated region, intron 8 and exon 9 of BRCA1 and exons 12, 24, 27 of BRCA2 were sequenced in order to detect the genetic variations. In addition to six previously identified polymorphisms, six novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected. Five of the coding SNPs were synonymous and three of them were non-synonymous. The comparison of the sequences from 25 mammary tumour bearing and 10 tumour free dogs suggested that the two SNPs in intron 8 and exon 9 of BRCA1 and two SNPs in exon 24 and exon 27 of BRCA2, which are firstly identified in this study, might be associated with mammary tumour development in dogs. Especially one SNP in exon 9 of BRCA1 and one SNP in exon 24 of BRCA2 were found to be significantly associated with canine mammary tumours.

In this study, the efficacy of aglepristone and/or intrauterine antibiotic administration for the treatment of bitches with cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra complex was investigated. Twenty-four bitches (5-12 years old) with the diagnosis of pyometra were treated at the University of Kafkas and at Istanbul University. The diagnosis of pyometra was established on the basis of the results of clinical, ultrasonographic and vaginal examinations, the haematological and biochemical findings and the history data. In Group I (n = 13), aglepristone (Antiprogestin, Alizine ® , Virbac, France; 0.33 ml/kg, s.c.) was administered on days 1, 2, 7, and 14 (day 1: diagnosis). In Group II (n = 11), intrauterine antibiotic treatment was performed according to the antibiogram on days 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 in addition to aglepristone given as in Group I. Clinical and ultrasonographic examinations, haematological results and occurrence of oestrous cycles revealed that the ratio of effectively treated bitches was 6/13 and 9/11 in Groups I and II, respectively.

The analgesic effect of wound infiltration with bupivacaine was evaluated in cats undergoing bilateral mastectomy. Twenty-one female cats with mammary gland tumors were anesthetized with propofol and oxygen-isoflurane anesthesia following premedication with atropine. In the trial group (Group I; n=11), 30 ml of saline containing 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine was infiltrated topically into the surgical wound right after removal of the mammary glands, whereas only saline solution was infiltrated in the control group (Group II; n=10). At the same time, carprofen (4 mg/kg) was also administered subcutaneously in both groups. Behavioral signs of pain were monitored during the recovery period after general anesthesia. In order to examine the behavioral changes associated with acute pain, a questionnaire was prepared and given to the owners to be completed 4 hr and then 10 hr after the operation. According to the owners’ anwers to the questionnaire, a pain score was specified using a “numerical rating scale” for each cat. Although some cats showed mild to moderate pain, the pain score recorded at 4 hr after the operation was significantly lower in Group I (P<0.001). No significant difference was found at 10 hr after the operation between the groups. The incidence of vocalization, aggression and convulsion within 2 hr after the operation was also lower in Group I. In conclusion, wound infiltration with bupivacaine before incisional closure provided reliable analgesia at least 4 hr after bilateral radical mastectomy in cats.

Th e aim of this study was to determine the correlation between fetal number and placentome diameters in pregnant sheep. In the present study 25 Kıvırcık mixed breed pregnant ewes were used. Pregnancy of the ewes was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography by the 25th day aft er insemination. A transabdominal probe (6.5 MHz) was used on the pregnant ewes at the 30th day. At this time the placentomes appeared as hypoechogenic areas with a "C"like shape. Th roughout the pregnancies 5 placentomes were measured from each ewe every week. Th e results showed no signifi cant diff erence between placentome diameter size in single and twin-pregnant ewes except during the 5th and 12th weeks. Th e average of placentome diameter size in the single and twin-pregnant ewes was, respectively, 6.60 ± 0.56 mm and 8.20 ± 0.45 mm at the 5th week and 34.02 ± 1.62 mm and 29.47 ± 0.63 mm at the 12th week. Th e minimum signifi cance degree was P < 0.05 in statistical analysis. Th is study found that measurement of placentome diameter size at the 5th and 12th week of pregnancy is not helpful in determining fetal number in a pregnant ewe. However, further investigations are needed to explain the diff erence in placentome diameter at the 5th and 12th weeks of pregnancy.

A nine-month old, orange tabby, intact male cat was brought to our clinic with the complaint of swelling in the mammary glands. In anamnesis; long acting progesterone was administered to the cat in a private clinic for suppression of oestrus one week ago. As a result of clinical examination, fibroepithelial hyperplasia was detected in all mammary glands. For the purpose of treatment, aglepristone started to be used for sequential five days. Because ulceration and necrosis occurred in the mammary glands at the end of the first week, the treatment was completed with total mastectomy section. In this article, a case of fibroepithelial mammary hyperplasia which was formed as a result of progesterone administration to suppress the oestrus in a male cat is described.

A 25 kg, 4 years old, Boxer breed bitch which had ovariohysterectomy section 2 years ago, was presented with weakness, loss of appetite, masses on abdominal and inguinal mammary glands and vaginal bleeding. Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) was diagnosed with vaginal cytology. Intra-abdominal mass around the iliac artery and remnant ovary behind the right kidney were determined on ultrasonographic examination. The remnant ovary and the masses on mammary glands were removed by surgical approach. However, intra-abdominal mass could not be extirpated because of its localization during the same laparotomy. A biopsy was taken from the vaginal mass. According to histopathology, TVT and collagenous hamartoma were detected on mammary glands. Also, TVT was observed in vaginal and intra-abdominal masses. Chemotherapy protocol was arranged for intra-abdominal mass and vaginal TVT which occupied for ten weeks. Hemogram, vaginal smear and transabdominal ultrasonography were repeated before each chemotherapy course. Size of the intra-abdominal mass, pulsatility index (PI) and relative index (RI) values of iliac artery were evaluated with B-mode ultrasonography and doppler ultrasonography during the treatment, respectively. As a result, positive correlation between PI and RI values were determined. In the presented case, TVT and its metastases were successfully treated with both surgery and chemotherapy. It was concluded that evaluation of the metastases with doppler ultrasonography will be favorable to reveal the hemodynamic alterations of related organs or tissues.

ABSTRACT:A four-year-old cross-breed and neutered bitch weighing 24 kg, was presented with vaginal bleeding for one month and a vaginal mass identified two previously. An ovariohysterectomy operation was performed at two years of age; however, mating subsequently continued. Vaginal bleeding and an irregular-shaped, oedematous vaginal mass (12 × 9 × 7 cm) were detected on clinical examination. The bitch also exhibited leukocytosis and erythrocytopenia. Abundant erythrocytes together with neutrophils, lymphocytes, intermedier cells and transmissible venereal tumour cells were observed in vaginal cytology. Abdominal ultrasonography showed cystic ovarian tissue (2.42 × 1.36 cm) next to the right kidney. Chemotherapy was performed once a week for six weeks leading to a gradual declined in the size and oedema of the mass and to a stop in bleeding. Subsequently, the vaginal mass was extirpated and the ovarian remnant tissue was removed via laparotomy on the same day. The bitch was found to be healthy on examination four months later.