This consensus statement on chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is based on the expert opinion of 7 specialists with extensive experience in diagnosing, treating, and conducting clinical research in hepatology in dogs. It was generated from expert opinion and information gathered from searching of PubMed for manuscripts on CH, the Veterinary Information Network for abstracts and conference proceeding from annual meetings of the American College of Veterinary Medicine and the European College of Veterinary Medicine, and selected manuscripts from the human literature on CH. The panel recognizes that the diagnosis and treatment of CH in the dog is a complex process that requires integration of clinical presentation with clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, and hepatic biopsy. Essential to this process is an index of suspicion for CH, knowledge of how to best collect tissue samples, access to a pathologist with experience in assessing hepatic histopathology, knowledge of reasonable medical interventions, and a strategy for monitoring treatment response and complications.

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Thirteen dogs with cardiac tamponade resulting from pericardial effusion were prospectively evaluated to determine feasibility and outcome of thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy. A lateral thoracoscopic approach allowed adequate exposure to remove a 4- to 5-cm-diameter section of pericardium in all dogs. Complete resolution of cardiac tamponade occurred in all dogs for which there was follow-up (11 dogs). Ten of 13 dogs (76.9%) had neoplastic pericardial effusion. One of these dogs remains alive at 220 days postoperatively and is asymptomatic. The mean survival of the remaining 9 patents with neoplastic effusion was 128 days (range, 14-544 days; median, 38 days). Three of 13 patients (23.1%) had idiopathic pericardial effusion. Two of these dogs remain alive at 585 and 1,250 days postoperatively. One dog with idiopathic pericardial effusion developed cardiomyopathy and was euthanized 18 days after the procedure. Results indicate that the procedure was technically successful in all dogs. No anesthetic complications occurred. Procedural complications included phrenic nerve transection (1 dog), lung laceration (1 dog), and moderate intraoperative bleeding (1 dog). No adverse clinical manifestations of the complications were apparent. We conclude that thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy is technically feasible and offers several advantages over conventional open thoracic surgical pericardiectomy.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a purified porcine insulin zinc suspension for treating dogs with uncomplicated diabetes mellitus. Fifty-three dogs were treated for 60 days after an initial dose determination period. The means of the blood glucose concentrations during 12-hour glucose curves and the means of the blood glucose nadir concentrations during 12-hour glucose curves for all dogs were determined before beginning insulin therapy (time 0), at the end of the dose determination period (time 1), 30 days after time 1 (time 2), and 60 days after time 1 (time 3). Presence of polyuria, polydipsia, and ketonuria was determined at each time point. Adequacy of control of hyperglycemia was based on 12-hour blood glucose curves and improvement in clinical variables (results of physical examinations, historic information, polyuria, polydipsia, and ketonuria). Safety was evaluated by questionnaire, performance of physical examination, CBC, serum chemistry profile, and urinalysis. The means of the blood glucose concentrations during 12-hour glucose curves and the means of the blood glucose nadir concentrations during 12-hour glucose curves for all dogs at times 1, 2, and 3 were significantly lower compared with time 0 (P < .0001). There was a reduction in the proportion of dogs with polyuria, polydipsia, and ketonuria of 82, 86, and 80%, respectively. All of the dogs had adequate glycemic control at time 1, 66% at time 2, and 75% at time 3. At time 3, 66% of dogs required insulin injections q12h. Other than hypoglycemia, there were no important adverse effects of insulin administration. The insulin, was safe and efficacious for reducing blood glucose and clinical signs in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

BackgroundStudies investigating the prevalence of vector‐borne pathogens in southern California dogs are limited. Occult infections might be misdiagnosed as idiopathic immune‐mediated disease.Hypothesis/Objectives(1) To determine the prevalence of vector‐borne pathogens in southern California dogs with compatible clinical findings using PCR and serologic panels and (2) to determine whether testing convalescent samples and repeating PCR on acute samples using the same and different gene targets enhance detection.AnimalsForty‐two client‐owned dogs with clinical signs of vector‐borne disease presenting to specialty practices in San Diego County.MethodsCombined prospective and retrospective observational study. Forty‐two acute and 27 convalescent samples were collected. Acute samples were prospectively tested for antibodies to Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Babesia, Borrelia, and Anaplasma species. PCR targeting Ehrlichia, Babesia, Anaplasma, hemotropic Mycoplasma, and Bartonella species was also performed. Retrospectively, convalescent samples were tested for the same organisms using serology, and for Ehrlichia, Babesia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella species using PCR. Acute samples were retested using PCR targeting Ehrlichia and Babesia species.ResultsEvidence of exposure to or infection with a vector‐borne pathogen was detected in 33% (14/42) of dogs. Ehrlichia and Babesia species were most common; each was identified in 5 dogs. Convalescent serologic testing, repeating PCR, and using novel PCR gene targets increased detection by 30%.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceRepeated testing using serology and PCR enhances detection of infection by vector‐borne pathogens in dogs with clinical signs of immune‐mediated disease. Larger prevalence studies of emerging vector‐borne pathogens in southern California dogs are warranted.

Thirteen dogs with cardiac tamponade resulting from pericardial effusion were prospectively evaluated to determine feasibility and outcome of thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy. A lateral thoracoscopic approach allowed adequate exposure to remove a 4-to 5-cm-diameter section of pericardium in all dogs. Complete resolution of cardiac tamponade occurred in all dogs for which there was follow-up (11 dogs). Ten of 13 dogs (76.9%) had neoplastic pericardial effusion. One of these dogs remains alive at 220 days postoperatively and is asymptomatic. The mean survival of the remaining 9 patents with neoplastic effusion was 128 days (range, 14-544 days; median, 38 days). Three of 13 patients (23.1%) had idiopathic pericardial effusion. Two of these dogs remain alive at 585 and 1,250 days postoperatively. One dog with idiopathic pericardial effusion developed cardiomyopathy and was euthanized 18 days after the procedure. Results indicate that the procedure was technically successful in all dogs. No anesthetic complications occurred. Procedural complications included phrenic nerve transection (1 dog), lung laceration (l dog), and moderate intraoperative bleeding (1 dog). No adverse clinical manifestations of the complications were apparent. We conclude that thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy is technically feasible and offers several advantages over conventional open thoracic surgical pericardiectomy. P ericardial effusion can result from many causes, 1 and may result in cardiac tamponade when the intraperi-cardial pressure rises sufficiently to affect cardiac function by compressing the heart and limiting diastolic filling. 2 Consequently, stroke volume, arterial pulse pressure, and venous return are significantly decreased and perfusion of vital tissues is impaired. The animal may die if intraperi-cardial pressure is not decreased. 2 Initial management of cardiac tamponade often includes pericardiocentesis. 3 In almost all cases caused by neoplasia and in 40-50% of the cases caused by idiopathic pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade recurs following pericardio-centesis. 3 In these cases, a partial or total pericardiectomy performed through a lateral thoracotomy or median ster-notomy is often advocated for treatment. These techniques are expensive and have the potential for substantial post-operative complications. Problems with standard open tho-racic surgical procedures include postoperative pain, hy-poventilation, hypothermia, acid-base disturbances, shock, oliguria, and prolonged anesthesia time. 3,4 The purpose of this study was to investigate a less invasive technique for performing a partial pericardiectomy using thoracoscopy in the dog. Materials and Methods Dogs Thirteen dogs with pericardial effusion were referred to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego from 1992 through 1996. Peri-cardial effusion with cardiac tamponade was confirmed with 2-dimensional echocardiography characterized by some degree of right atrial and/or right ventricular collapse. The presence or absence of a cardiac From the V...