Case series summary Following diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy, three cats developed a continuous pneumothorax. All three cats required continuous suction to evacuate air from the thoracic cavity. Despite continuous suction, the pneumothorax persisted for all cats and blood patch pleurodesis (BPP) was performed using blood donor cats. All three cats had resolution of their pneumothorax within 24 h of BPP. Relevance and novel information This is the first report of BPP used in feline patients. More recently autologous BPP has been reported for use in dogs and humans, with a reportedly high success rate. BPP may allow timely resolution of continuous pneumothorax in cats and provide an alternative treatment option to prolonged medical management or surgical intervention. Allogenic blood from a donor cat may be necessitated in feline BPP when cardiovascular instability is appreciated in these small patients.

OBJECTIVE To compare perioperative characteristics of dogs with cystic calculi treated via open versus laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy (LAC). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 89 client-owned dogs that underwent open cystotomy (n = 39) or LAC (50). PROCEDURES Medical records of dogs that underwent cystotomy between 2011 and 2015 were reviewed. History, signalment, surgery date, results of physical examination, results of preoperative diagnostic testing, details of surgical treatment, duration of surgery, perioperative complications, treatment costs, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. RESULTS 5 of 50 (10%) dogs required conversion from LAC to open cystotomy (OC). There was no significant difference between the LAC (1/50) and OC (2/39) groups with regard to percentage of patients with incomplete removal of calculi. Duration of surgery was not significantly different between the LAC (median, 80 min; range, 35 to 145 min) and OC (median, 70 min; range, 45 to 120 min) groups. Postoperative duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter for dogs that underwent LAC (median, 24 hours; range, 12 to 48 hours) versus OC (median, 26 hours; range, 12 to 63 hours). Surgical and total procedural costs were significantly higher for patients undergoing LAC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that LAC may be an acceptable minimally invasive technique for treatment of cystic calculi in dogs. Surgery times were similar to those for dogs undergoing OC; however, surgical and total procedural costs were higher. Further investigation is suggested to determine which patients may benefit from LAC versus traditional OC.

Objective To describe the perioperative findings and outcomes in dogs that underwent exploratory thoracotomy following porcupine quill migration and report (1) the use of traction alone for the removal of superficial quills in the pulmonary parenchyma, and (2) the use of exploratory pericardiotomy for the incidental identification of cardiac quills. Animals Five client‐owned dogs. Study design Short case series. Methods Medical records of dogs with pneumothorax or pericardial effusion secondary to porcupine quill migration from January 2019 to January 2022 were reviewed. Advanced imaging and a median sternotomy were performed in each dog. Demographics, preoperative findings, surgical treatment, and outcome were recorded. Results Pulmonary quills were treated with gentle traction or lung lobectomy. The intraoperative palpation or appearance of the pericardium prompted pericardiotomy in three dogs, exposing epicardial and intravascular quills. No evidence of these quills was detected on preoperative advanced imaging or on gross appearance of the pericardium. Quills were removed with a combination of gentle traction, purse‐string sutures, and mattress sutures. Pneumothorax and pericardial effusion resolved postoperatively in all dogs. All dogs survived to discharge. Conclusion Traction allowed removal of quills that were superficially attached to the pulmonary parenchyma without the need for subsequent lobectomy. Epicardial and myocardial quills were detected following pericardiotomy in three dogs despite the absence of quills grossly penetrating the pericardium. Preoperative imaging did not allow consistent detection of quills.

No abstract

A 5‐year‐old male, neutered, English Bulldog presented for acute progressive paraparesis. Neurological examination revealed a weak withdrawal reflex in the left pelvic limb and lumbosacral pain, suggestive of a L4–S3 myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an incidental intramedullary mass at the T9 vertebra and L7–S1 intervertebral disc protrusion with bilateral foraminal stenosis. The dog was treated with epidural methylprednisolone. Repeat neurological examination postepidural revealed normal withdrawal reflexes and resolution of lumbosacral spinal pain. However, progressive paraparesis, thoracolumbar pain and epaxial muscle atrophy were evident. A T3–L3 myelopathy was suspected secondary to the intramedullary mass. The mass was surgically resected, and histology revealed haemangioblastoma. Neurological status improved initially, but deteriorated later due to the lumbosacral disease. The dog improved following repeat methylprednisolone epidural injection, but remained paraparetic. This case report is consistent with previous literature and provides additional information on the treatment and prognosis of spinal cord haemangioblastoma with concurrent lumbosacral disease.

No abstract

A 4‐year‐old, spayed, female Jack Russell terrier dog presented after ingestion of 0.135 kg of dried beet pulp pellets. Survey radiographs revealed severe gastric distension. The dog was hospitalised and received intravenous fluids, analgesics and an antiemetic and recovered without complication. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of medical management of gastric distension secondary to beet pulp ingestion in a dog. This case illustrates that surgical intervention of severe gastric distension secondary to dry beet pulp ingestion may not be required. Close monitoring for evidence of gastric obstruction or perforation is warranted.