Objective: To compare the outcomes of dogs treated for single extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) by thin film banding (TFB) or placement of an ameroid constrictor (AC) at a single institution. Study design: Retrospective case series. Animals: 76 client owned dogs with CPSS treated with TFB (n=53) or AC (n=23). Methods: Records were reviewed for signalment, pre-, intra-and postoperative management and short-term outcomes. Data on second surgeries were reviewed. Long-term outcomes were obtained by use of an owner-directed health related quality of life questionnaire. The rates of complications, mortality, and revision surgery were compared between the treatment groups. Results: Postoperative complications occurred in 15 dogs with TFB (28%) (9% mortality, n=5) and 8 with AC (35%) (4% mortality, n=1) dogs. Long-term follow up was available in 41/56 dogs at a median of 53 (15-88) months. Revision surgery for persistent shunting was performed in 14 (29%) dogs treated initially with TFB, and no dogs treated initially with AC (P=0.007). Median long-term outcome scores were good in both groups. 9/14 revision surgeries led to favorable outcomes. Conclusions: Persistent shunting requiring revision surgery was more common when CPSS were treated with TFB than AC but both treatments achieved favorable long-term outcomes. Clinical significance: Treatment of CPPS by placement of an AC rather than a TFB seems more reliable for shunt attenuation and prevention of revision surgeries.

An Airedale Terrier was presented for evaluation of depression and reluctance to be touched on the head. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the head was performed. The images revealed bone lesions affecting the calvarium at the level of the coronal suture and left mandibular ramus, with focal cortical destruction, expansion, and reactive new bone formation. Skull lesions were hypointense on T1-weighted sequences, hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences, and showed an intense and homogeneous enhancement after gadolinium administration. Reactive new bone formation and periosteal proliferation were confirmed histopathologically. The clinical signs, imaging findings, and histopathological examination were consistent with craniomandibular osteopathy.

The principal aim of this study was to document the effectiveness of tonsillectomy in dogs using a vessel-sealing device compared with a standard technique with tonsillectomy forceps. A secondary aim of the study was to document histopathological changes of the excised tonsillar tissue in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. 20 dogs were studied. The time taken to remove a tonsil using LigaSure was a mean of 44.8 seconds (sd 15 seconds, 95 per cent CI 40  to 57 seconds) and with the standard technique a mean of 305.9 seconds (sd 67 seconds, 95 per cent CI 272  to 349 seconds). Significantly less haemorrhage occurred using LigaSure compared with the standard technique. Histopathology of the tonsils was characterised by multifocal neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammation, and 1-2 mm of heat-induced coagulation necrosis at the cut edge of LigaSure tonsils. This study shows that LigaSure is significantly faster and resulted in less bleeding than the standard technique.

Objective: To determine the influence of follow-up radiographic examination on recommendations made during routine clinical re-evaluation of dogs that had undergone uncomplicated tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Study design: Retrospective multi-institutional case series. Animals: Client-owned dogs (N = 1010) that underwent uncomplicated TPLO. Methods: Records from 11 institutions were searched for dogs that had been treated with unilateral TPLO and had no history of postoperative complications before their routine follow-up examination. The frequency of change in further clinical recommendations resulting from client-or clinician-voiced concerns or radiographic abnormalities was investigated. Results: Follow-up evaluation was performed at a median of 6 (range, 4-15) weeks after TPLO. Radiographic examination findings contributed to a change in recommendations in 4.15% (38/915) of dogs presented without client concerns and without abnormalities at orthopedic examination. Abnormal radiographic findings alone influenced the management of 3.76% (38/1010) of dogs. An association was detected between clinical features and radiological findings leading to a change in recommendations (P < .0001). Administration of