No abstract

The anatomical variations of the portal vein and the hepatic artery ramifications were analysed on liver corrosion casts in 20 dogs as a possible aid in the surgical management of the organ. The portal vein ramified similarly in all dogs. It divided into the smaller right portal branch from which vessels for the caudate process and both right lobes arose and the substantial left portal branch, which supplied the remaining liver portions and in 12 cases also the dorsal part of the right lateral lobe. Right lateral, right medial and left branches are the major arteries originating from the hepatic artery; however, their origin and course varied among individual animals. In 10 livers, the right lateral and the left branches originated from the hepatic artery, while the right medial branch arose from the left branch and usually supplied the right medial lobe solely. In nine livers, the right medial branch arose directly from the hepatic artery and supplied quadrate lobe and gallbladder as well, while in one liver the common artery, which subsequently divided into lobar branches, branched away from the hepatic artery. An additional branch for the caudate process, originating directly from the hepatic artery, was observed in 10 livers. Certain liver portions received the arterial blood from two major branches, which was particularly characteristic for the right medial lobe (six livers) and caudate process (10 livers). The course of the major arterial branches was also variable, although they proceeded in close anatomical relationship with the portal vein branches. The left arterial branch accompanied the left portal branch on its dorsal aspect (15 cases) or crossed it from the caudal aspect (five cases). The right lateral branch crossed the initial parts of the left and right portal branches either from cranial (12 cases) or caudal aspects (eight cases), while the right medial branch always crossed the left portal branch from its caudal aspect.

The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess complete blood count (CBC) indices of dogs with periodontitis (PD; n = 73) and dogs with oropharyngeal tumors (OT; n = 92) in comparison to CBC indices of healthy dogs (HD; n = 71). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume to platelet ratio, and platelet large cell ratio index (PLCRi) were evaluated as biomarkers of systemic inflammatory response provoked by PD and OT. Results of multivariable polytomous logistic regression analysis indicated no significant associations between CBC indices and PD. Both NLR and PLCRi were significantly higher in dogs with OT when compared to HD and dogs with PD and could, therefore, indicate a tumor-associated systemic inflammatory response. Additional studies of CBC indices, along with other biomarkers of systemic inflammatory response, are recommended to validate them as reliable indicators of clinical disease activity.

The cardiorespiratory parameters, the depth of anaesthesia and the quality of recovery were evaluated in six spontaneously breathing dogs that had been premedicated with medetomidine (40 microg/kg, supplemented with 20 microg/kg an hour later), administered with either propofol (1 mg/kg followed by 0.15 mg/kg/minute, intravenously), or with ketamine (1 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg/hour, intravenously) and propofol (0.5 mg/kg followed by 0.075 mg/kg/minute, intravenously). The dogs' heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were higher and their minute volume of respiration and temperature were lower when they were anaesthetised with propofol plus ketamine, and a progressive hypercapnia leading to respiratory acidosis was more pronounced. When the dogs were anaesthetised with propofol/ketamine they recovered more quickly, but suffered some unwanted side effects. When the dogs were anaesthetised with propofol alone they recovered more slowly but uneventfully.

Background: Peri-articular histiocytic sarcoma (PAHS) occurs in dogs, including Bernese Mountain Dogs (BMD). An etiologic relationship with previous joint disease has not been documented.Hypothesis: Peri-articular histiocytic sarcoma in BMD will be more frequently encountered around previously diseased joints compared with normal joints.Animals: 920 European BMD. Methods: A retrospective study, in which data were obtained through an Internet questionnaire and from 2 veterinary pathology laboratories. Archived samples of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining diagnosed PAHS and synovial cell sarcoma (SCS) were immunolabeled with CD18 and pancytokeratin. Descriptive, comparative, and actuarial statistics comprise the data analysis.Results: All primary synovial tumors were identified as PAHS based on their morphology, positive CD18, and negative pancytokeratin labeling. Joint disease was diagnosed in 226 BMD, of which 15 developed PAHS in a previously diseased joint and 3 in a nondiseased joint. Of the remaining 694 BMD without joint disease, 9 developed PAHS. The odds ratio for a dog with previous joint disease developing PAHS is calculated as 5.4 (95% CI: 2.3-12.5; P < .0001) compared with no previous joint problem. A significant association between previous joint disease and PAHS in the same joint was demonstrated for the left elbow (P = .016), right elbow (P = .006), right shoulder (P = .047), left and right stifle (P < .001), and left carpal joint (P = .010).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The results of this study suggest a relation between previous joint disease and the development of PAHS in the same joint of European BMD. Owners of BMD should monitor dogs for peri-articular swellings, particularly around previously diseased joints.

The paper aims to establish a range for serum Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and to determine the correlation between TAC and some individual antioxidants (vitamin A and E, lipid standardised vitamin E [Vit E/LS/], β-carotene, total bilirubin and albumin) in a uniform population of beagle dogs. Emphasis was directed on their general health status to establish a basis for future investigation of the role of TAC in diseases of dogs as species most frequently studied in veterinary medicine. The animal body possesses a variety of protective antioxidant substances that act as a harmoniously and finely tuned mechanism to neutralise harmful oxidants. TAC measurements provide a tool for establishing links between antioxidant capacity and the risk of disease as well as for monitoring of antioxidant therapy. Serum samples of 19 healthy beagles were assayed for TAC on LP 700 photometer (Dr. Lange, Germany) with a commercially available TAS kit ("Total Antioxidant Status" -TAS; Randox, Crumlin, UK). TAS kit measures the capacity of all of the antioxidants present in serum or plasma sample. The assay is based on the suppression of the absorbance of the radical cation of 2,2"-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS •+ ) by antioxidants. Assay results are expressed as mmol/l of Trolox (6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, -tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid -a water-soluble analogue of α-tocopherol) equivalents. The range for TAC expressed as mean ± SD resulted in 1.08 ± 0.08 mmol/l. TAC correlated positively with albumin (r = 0.18), vitamin E (r=0.14) and Vit E (LS) (r = 0.20), and negatively with total bilirubin (r = -0.30), vitamin A (r = -0.15) and β-carotene (r = -0.13) although no significant correaltion has been found.

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It is well known that pyometra syndrome with endotoxemia and/or sepsis in bitches may impair different organ systems and functions including haemostasis, which may considerably influence the outcome if overlooked or underestimated. The present clinical study was carried out on thirty-seven clinical patients admitted to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Veterinary Faculty in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Preoperative diagnosis was based on clinical signs, haematology results and ultrasonographic examination. Ovariohysterectomy was performed as final treatment. The study is aimed at the effects of pyometra syndrome on haemostatic functions as well as at the comparison between haemostatic functions and haematology and biochemistry results. Acute phase reaction with leucocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperfibrinogenemia was identified preoperatively and up to 24 hours postoperatively. Changes in the haemostatic profile - prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, shortened thrombin time, increased concentration of D-dimeres and thrombocytopenia - which were confirmed in the study, suggest the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), most likely due to influence of E. coli endotoxin. The changes of haemostatic profile and concurrent acute phase reaction suggest the connection between inflammation and coagulopathy. Attention and early recognition of haemostatic function impairment should be addressed in pyometra syndrome patient in order to be able to timely substitute coagulation and anticoagulation factors with fresh blood, fresh or freshly frozen plasma or added heparin when appropriate