Renal pelvic dilatation is often recognized sonographically in dogs and cats, but ranges of measurements expected with different urologic conditions remain unknown. Ultrasound images of 81 dogs and 66 cats with renal pelvic dilatation were reviewed, and six groups were formed based on medical records: (I) clinically normal renal function, and (II) clinically normal renal function with diuresis; (III) pyelonephritis; (IV) noninfectious renal insufficiency; (V) outflow obstruction; (VI) miscellaneous nonobstructive anomalies. Medians for maximal pelvic width (range) for group I was 2.0 mm (1.0-3.8) in 11 dogs, and 1.6 mm (0.8-3.2) in 10 cats; for group II, 2.5 mm (1.3-3.6) in 15 dogs, and 2.3 mm (1.1-3.4) in 16 cats; for group III, 3.6 mm (1.9-12.0) in nine dogs, and 4.0 mm (1.7-12.4) in seven cats; for group IV, 3.1 mm (0.5-10.8) in 33 dogs, and 2.8 mm (1.2-7.3) in 13 cats; for group V, 15.1 mm (5.1-76.2) in six dogs, and 6.8 mm (1.2-39.1) in 17 cats; and for group VI, 3.8 mm (1.2-7.6) in seven dogs, and 3.0 mm (1.3-7.5) in three cats. Pelvic width in group I was lower than in groups III-V (P ¼ 0.0001), but did not significantly differ from group II. Pelvic width !13 mm always indicated obstruction. While the proportion of bilateral pelvic dilatation was not different among groups, the difference in pelvic width (maximal-minimal) was greater in group V vs. groups I, II, and IV (P ¼ 0.0009). These results confirm that renal pelvic dilatation can be detected sonographically in dogs and cats with clinically normal renal function, and that it increases with renal insufficiency, pyelonephritis, or outflow obstruction. Nevertheless, renal pelvic width varies substantially within groups and should be interpreted with caution. r

Administration of prednisone to healthy Beagles resulted in hypercoagulability as indicated by TEG tracings, whereas the effect on TG was more variable. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms of hypercoagulability and its clinical impact.

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Background: Thrombelastography (TEG) is used to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of blood during clotting and provides a global assessment of hemostasis and clot lysis. TEG analysis initiated with recombinant human tissue factor (TF) has not been evaluated in clinically healthy horses. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether TEG results are affected by the time elapsed between sampling and analysis (storage time) of equine blood samples and to establish a preliminary equine reference interval for a modified TEG assay, using recombinant human TF to initiate coagulation. Methods: Citrated blood samples were obtained from 20 clinically healthy adult horses. Thirteen samples were stored for 30, 60, and 120 minutes at room temperature before TEG analysis. Coagulation was initiated by adding 20 mL of CaCl 2 to 330 mL of blood and 10 mL of diluted recombinant TF for a final dilution of 1:3600. Reaction (R) and clotting (K) times, angle (a), and maximum amplitude (MA) were compared between time points. A preliminary reference interval (minimum-maximum values) was determined using data from all 20 horses after 30 minutes of sample storage. Results: There was a significant effect of storage time on R, K, and a but not MA. Reference intervals were: R, 3.65-6.4 minutes; K, 1.8-5.45 minutes; a, 33.4-66.21; MA, 41.2-64.1 mm; lysis at 30 minutes post-MA (LY30), o 2.75%; and lysis at 60 minutes post-MA (LY60), 1.55-9.5%. Conclusions: TEG can be performed on equine citrated blood samples using recombinant human TF to activate clot formation. TEG parameters were significantly affected by storage time, suggesting an incomplete inhibition of coagulation in citrated blood.While conventional coagulation tests evaluate the soluble or plasmatic components of coagulation, in vivo coagulation is the sum of complex interactions among coagulation factors, platelets, endothelial cells, erythrocytes, and even leukocytes.1,2 Thrombelastography (TEG) assesses the mechanical properties of the blood clot during its formation and subsequent lysis. [3][4][5] In human medicine, TEG is used to detect clinically significant coagulation disorders in patients perioperatively and in intensive care.6 TEG is commonly performed on native fresh whole blood within 5 minutes of collection.7 This constraint limits its use in clinical pathology laboratories and in many veterinary hospital facilities. More recently, the use of citrated whole blood has extended the time that may lapse between blood collection and initiation of coagulation. 7,8 TEG has been validated and used to predict the risk of bleeding and assess hypercoagulability in dogs [9][10][11][12] and has been used to monitor heparin therapy in cats.13 TEG also was used to evaluate a horse with a platelet dysfunction.14 Horses, like other species, can have congenital and acquired coagulation disorders 15 and TEG could be useful in the rapid diagnosis of coagulopathies associated with gastrointestinal disorders or neonatal sepsis. 16,17 The objectives of this study were to as...

Our study demonstrates that thrombin generation can be measured in canine plasma and may be useful in assessing the degree of anticoagulation provided by UFH.

Background: Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) has been associated with thrombotic disease in dogs. Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to use thromboelastography (TEG) and measurement of thrombin generation (TG) to characterize the hypercoagulable state in dogs with HAC. We hypothesized that dogs with HAC would have a hypercoagulable profile on TEG tracings and an increase in thrombin generation as measured by endogenous thrombin potential (ETP).Animals: Sixteen dogs with HAC. Dogs were compared with a population of normal dogs used to obtain reference intervals.Methods: TEG tracings on citrated whole blood were obtained from 15 dogs, and TG measurements on frozen-thawed platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were obtained from 15 dogs.Results: For the TEG analysis, when results of individual dogs were compared with the reference interval, 12/15 dogs had at least 1 parameter associated with hypercoagulability. When the population of HAC dogs was compared with a population of healthy dogs, HAC dogs had decreases in R and K and increases in a and MA values. The ETP was increased when the HAC group was compared with a population of normal dogs. However, only 3/15 dogs had an ETP above reference interval, and 1/15 had a decreased lag time.Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Of 16 dogs with HAC, 12/15 had evidence of hypercoagulability when evaluated by TEG, 4/15 when evaluated by TG, and 2 dogs had increases in ETP and MA.

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Objective To describe the use and outcome of percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) for removal of urethral and bladder stones in dogs and cats. Study design Retrospective case series. Animals Sixty‐eight client‐owned dogs and cats. Methods Records were reviewed and analyzed for dogs and cats that underwent PCCL between January 2012 and December 2017. Signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging data, procedure time, use of lithotripsy, biopsy, perioperative and immediate postoperative complications, hospitalization times, stone composition, and urine culture results were recorded. Owners were contacted by phone or email 3 weeks after the procedure. Follow‐up communications with the owner and referring veterinarian were also recorded. Results Seventy percutaneous cystolithotomies were performed in 59 dogs and nine cats. The median duration of the procedure was 95 minutes (45‐420), and lithotripsy was required in 3% (2/70) of PCCL. Complications during the procedure were reported in one case. In eighty‐three percent of procedures (58/70), animals were discharged within 24 hours postoperative. Twenty‐four percent (16/68) of animals had minor complications (lower urinary tract signs), and one dog had a major complication (surgical wound dehiscence) during the 3 weeks after the operation. Long‐term follow‐up revealed stone recurrence in 21% of cases followed more than a year after the procedure (7/33). Conclusion Percutaneous cystolithotomy allowed removal of bladder and urethral stones with rapid postoperative recovery and few major perioperative or short‐term postoperative complications. Clinical significance Percutaneous cystolithotomy provides an attractive minimally invasive surgical alternative for removal of lower urinary tract stones in small animals.