An eight-month-old, male, neutered, domestic short hair cat was presented for further investigation of white granuloma-like lesions on the tongue and recent onset regurgitation. The owner reported that the cat had an ‘unusual’ gait. Moderate increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminostransferase and markedly elevated creatine kinase were present. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate-to-severe oesophageal impaction, cardiomegaly and an irregular appearance of the diaphragm. Endoscopy revealed a distended oesophagus with accumulation of ingesta. Difficulties were encountered when passing the endoscope through the cardia. Histology of the white granuloma-like lesions were pathognomonic of calcinosis circumscripta. These features raised the suspicion of feline muscular dystrophy. Muscle biopsies and electromyography were declined, and the patient was euthanased. Postmortem examination, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were suggestive of dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (DDMD). This case emphasises the importance of including DDMD as a differential diagnosis for regurgitation and lingual calcinosis circumscripta in cats.

This study provides vital information for veterinarians, breeders and owners of CKCS about common presentations of syringomyelia and other neurological diseases to allow for earlier recognition of these potentially painful disorders. It concludes that syringomyelia is the most prevalent neurological disease in referral practices and emphasizes the frequency of pain associated with neurological disorders, but when compared to previous studies, it may be underdiagnosed in first opinion practices.

To describe diagnosis, CT findings, management and short-term outcome of a large population of canine pyothorax cases.MethOds: Retrospective analysis of 101 canine pyothorax cases at two UK referral centres. Medical records and CT images were reviewed. Dogs were included if pre-and post-contrast CT was performed within 48 hours of presentation.Results: CT abnormalities included pleural thickening (84.1%), pannus (67.3%), pneumothorax (61.4%), mediastinal effusion (28.7%), pulmonary (13.8%) and mediastinal (7.9%) abscessation, foreign body presence (7.9%), foreign body tracts (6.9%) and pneumonia (6.9%). Seventy-one percent of dogs were managed surgically, of which 90.2% survived, and 29% were managed medically, of which 72.4% survived. Overall mortality was 14.8% and 86.6% of these dogs died within 48 hours of admission. All dogs with evidence of a foreign body on CT underwent surgery. clinical significance: Mortality in our population was low and most dogs that died did so within 48 hours of hospitalisation, regardless of management type.

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