CT can provide valuable information for the investigation of dogs with elbow dysplasia, but the absence of CT signs (or the absence of arthroscopic abnormalities) does not rule out elbow lesions.

The objective of this study was to determine intra- and inter-observer variability of echocardiographic measurements in awake cats. Four observers with different levels of experience in echocardiography performed 96 echocardiographic examinations in four cats on four different days over a 3-week period. The examinations were randomized and blinded. The maximum within-day and between-day CV values were 17.4 and 18.5% for inter-ventricular septal thickness in diastole, 18.7 and 22.6% for left ventricular free-wall thickness in diastole, 9.8 and 14.9% for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, 20.8 and 15.2% for left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and 21.2 and 18.4% for left ventricular shortening fraction. The maximum within-day CV values were most often associated with the least competent observer (i.e. the graduate student) and, the minimum CV values with the most competent observer (i.e. the associate professor in cardiology). A significant interaction between cat and observer was also evidenced. Thus, the most competent observer could not be replaced by any of the other observers.

Osseous defects affecting the atlas were identified in computed tomography and magnetic resonance images of five dogs with cervical signs including pain, ataxia, tetraparesis, or tetraplegia. Osseous defects corresponded to normal positions of sutures between the halves of the neural arch and the intercentrum, and were compatible with incomplete ossification. Alignment between the portions of the atlas appeared relatively normal in four dogs. In these dogs the bone edges were smooth and rounded with a superficial layer of relatively compact cortical bone. Displacement compatible with unstable fracture was evident in one dog. Concurrent atlantoaxial subluxation, with dorsal displacement of the axis relative to the atlas, was evident in four dogs. Three dogs received surgical treatment and two dogs were treated conservatively. All dogs improved clinically. Incomplete ossification of the atlas, which may be associated with atlantoaxial subluxation, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dogs with clinical signs localized to the cranial cervical region.

Objective -To review the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in small animals. Data Sources -Human and veterinary clinical studies, reviews, texts, and recent research in canine and feline PTE diagnosis and thromboembolic therapeutics. Human Data Synthesis -In humans, clinical probability assessment and point-of-care D-dimer-based algorithms are widely used. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography is the gold standard for PTE diagnosis in humans. Echocardiography is increasingly used for bedside assessment of affected patients. In low-risk human patients anticoagulants alone are recommended while patients with cardiogenic shock are treated with thrombolytics followed by anticoagulation. Veterinary Data Synthesis -PTE is associated with numerous predisposing conditions causing hypercoagulability, blood flow stasis, or endothelial injury. Identifying at-risk patients is key to diagnosis in small animals. Thromboelastography provides a method for identifying hypercoagulable patients. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography may replace selective pulmonary angiography as the imaging technique of choice for PTE diagnosis. PTE therapy consists of supportive treatment combined with appropriate, individualized thromboembolic pharmacotherapy for acute treatment and chronic management. Thrombolytic therapy for PTE remains controversial but may be indicated in hemodynamically unstable acute PTE. Thromboprophylaxis in specific conditions is rational although evidence of efficacy is limited. Prognosis depends upon degree of cardiopulmonary compromise and patient response to therapy. Mortality rates in small animals are unknown. Conclusions -New diagnostic techniques and advances in therapy offer significant potential for improvements in the identification and treatment of PTE in small animals. Further study must be directed to validating new diagnostic modalities and evaluating therapeutic regimes.

Three dogs and one cat with lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder are reported and the findings on abdominal radiographs and ultrasound are described. Mural lesions representing lymphoma affecting the urinary bladder were identified ultrasonographically in all animals. The most common complications associated with urinary bladder lymphoma were hydronephrosis and hydroureter. In two patients contrast radiography was necessary to detect leakage of urine in the peritoneal and retroperitoneal space. The radiographic and ultrasonographic signs were similar to those reported with other urinary bladder neoplasms; hence urinary bladder lymphoma could not be distinguished from the more common urinary bladder neoplasms, such as transitional cell carcinoma. It is important to include lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of urinary bladder wall thickening and mural mass in dogs and cats.

Medical records of 77 cats that had clinical signs of vestibular disease and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head were reviewed retrospectively. The aetiological, clinical and MRI characteristics were described and evaluated for a relationship with patient outcome. Forty cats (52%) had signs of central vestibular dysfunction (CVD), which was part of a multifocal disease in 17 cats (43%). The most frequent causes of CVD were inflammatory conditions (18 cats; 45%), including bacterial inflammation as an intracranial extension of otitis interna (five cats; 13%), feline infectious peritonitis (three cats; 8%) and toxoplasmosis (two cats; 5%). Neoplasia (12 cats; 30%) and vascular disease (four cats; 10%) were respectively the second and the third most frequent causes of CVD. Thiamine deficiency was diagnosed in one cat based on MRI findings and improvement following vitamin B(1) supplementation. Of 37 cats (48%) with peripheral vestibular dysfunction (PVD), idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) was suspected in 16 (43%) and otitis media/interna was suspected in 16 (43%). Within the group of cats with evident MRI lesions, the location of the imaged lesions agreed with the clinical classification of vestibular dysfunction in 52/55 (95%) cats. Most of the cats (nine cases; 56%) with presumed IVS had rapid and complete recovery of their clinical signs. As most of these cats presented with progressive clinical signs over 3 weeks they were classified as having 'atypical' IVS to differentiate them from cats with the typical non-progressive IVS. No underlying systemic diseases were documented in any of these cases. Statistically significant predictors of survival included neurolocalisation (central or peripheral vestibular system), age and gender. No difference in survival was observed between cats with presumed idiopathic peripheral syndrome and cats with otitis media/interna.

The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of cats with ureteric obstruction managed with double pigtail ureteric stents and to document the incidence of lower urinary tract signs at long-term follow-up. Data were obtained retrospectively from the medical records (2009-2012) of 26 cats that underwent ureteric stent placement. Owners were contacted for follow-up, and a quality of life questionnaire completed. Survival to discharge after stent placement was 85% (22/26). Prevalence of postoperative uroabdomen necessitating further surgery was 15% (4/26). Stents were replaced 4-28 months after the initial surgery in four cats because of migration, fracture, encrustation causing luminal obstruction or sterile cystitis, respectively. Nine cats were alive at follow-up, which was 3-28 months after the original surgery. Nine cats had azotaemic chronic kidney disease and nine had signs related to sterile cystitis; three of these cats were euthanased as a result of the severity of the signs. Preoperative serum creatinine of the survivors (9.4 mg/dl, n = 9) was not significantly different from that of the non-survivors (6.5 mg/dl, n = 13; P = 0.295). Quality of life was assigned a mean score of 8/10. Median survival of cats following discharge was 419 days (range 44-994 days). Signs consistent with sterile cystitis affected 35% of cats. It was concluded that ureteric stent placement in cats was associated with a 15% mortality rate before hospital discharge. Long-term management of ureteric stents is associated with a high rate of lower urinary tract signs.

The variable appearance of feline pulmonary oedema is likely to complicate its radiographic diagnosis.