Medical records from dogs having abdominal ultrasound (US) performed between March 2005 and October 2008 were reviewed for detection of focal liver lesions (FLL) with both cytologic and histologic sampling. Samples were classified as to either the presence or absence of major categories of pathologic processes, including malignant neoplasia, inflammation, hyperplasia/benign neoplasia, vacuolar change, extramedullary hematopoeisis, cholestasis, necrosis, and no microscopic abnormalities. Evaluation of selection bias was performed by review of the relative distribution of cytologic diagnoses for cases with histology compared with cases excluded from the comparison analysis because histology results were not available. Cytology had the highest sensitivity for vacuolar change (57.9%), followed by neoplasia (52.0%). Cytology had the highest positive predictive value (PPV) for neoplasia (86.7%) followed by vacuolar change (51.6%). Cytology had lower sensitivity and PPVs for inflammation, necrosis, and hyperplasia. The ability of cytology to characterize disease in canine FLL varies by pathologic process. Clinicians can have a high degree of confidence when a cytologic diagnosis of neoplasia is given; however, cytology is less reliable for excluding the potential for neoplasia. Cytology has a low sensitivity and PPV for inflammation and a limited diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of vacuolar change.

Large ultrasonographically detected liver lesions and the presence of peritoneal fluid were associated with malignant liver disease in dogs.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess risk factors and complications affecting postoperative outcome of dogs with laryngeal paralysis treated by either unilateral arytenoid lateralization (UAL) or bilateral ventriculocordectomy (VCC). Medical records of all dogs having either UAL or VCC between 2000 and 2011 were analyzed. Twenty-five dogs had VCC and 20 dogs had UAL. The overall postoperative complications rates for VCC and UAL were similar (52% and 60%, respectively; P = .0887). Dogs that had UAL were more likely to have acute postoperative respiratory distress and aspiration pneumonia (P = .0526). Dogs with VCC were more likely to have chronic postoperative respiratory distress and aspiration pneumonia (P = .0079). Revision surgery was required in 6 dogs (24%) following VCC and 2 dogs (10%) following UAL. Sex, breed, presenting complaint, type of service provided, and concurrent diseases were not significantly associated with higher risk of either death or decreased survival time postoperatively with either procedure. Overall postoperative complication rates, required revision surgeries, and episodes of aspiration pneumonia were similar in dogs undergoing UAL and VCC surgeries. Dogs that had VCC appeared to have an increased risk of lifelong complications postoperatively compared with UAL; therefore, VCC may not be the optimal choice for treatment of laryngeal paralysis.