A 3-year-old male neutered Shih Tzu cross was presented for investigation of a three-week history of weight loss, seborrhoea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Initial clinicopathological findings included pancytopenia, mild hypercalcaemia and marked hyperglobulinaemia. Subsequent bone marrow and skin biopsies revealed the presence of Leishmania amastigotes. Quantitative serology was positive for Leishmania species and PCR on the bone marrow sample confirmed a Leishmania infantum infection. The patient had been in the owner’s possession since a puppy, had no travel history outside of the UK and had never received a blood transfusion or been used for breeding. However, another dog in the household that had been imported from Spain had been euthanased six months previously due to severe leishmaniosis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of canine leishmaniosis in the UK without a history of travel to an endemic area, and most likely represents a case of dog-to-dog transmission.

Dogs with right-sided CHF and ascites may be at increased risk for primary hyperfibrinogenolysis (ie, hypofibrinogenemia and discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results).

Objective: To characterize a group of hypertensive patients in relation to beliefs, knowledge, attitudes and factors that could affect treatment compliance. Methods: The data were collected by interviewing hypertensive outpatients. Results: A total of 511 hypertensive patients were studied: most were women, white, with elementary education, and 53±11 years old. The patients had high levels of knowledge about hypertension and treatments. However, they interrupted the treatment due to the expensive medicines and the lack of instructions. Furthermore, they believed they had to take medicines only when they felt unwell, and they did not attend their medical appointment usually due to forgetfulness and personal problems. Regarding the attitudes against the antihypertensive treatment, hypertensive patients forgot to take the medicines, took the medication at different hours, stopped taking the medication on their own account, did not follow instructions, and did not exercise regularly. Conclusion: The profile of the hypertensive patients identified aspects that can hamper treatment compliance. Keywords: Hypertension/prevention & control; Hypertension/therapy; Knowledge, attitudes and health practice; Psychosocial disease effects RESUMO Objetivo: Caracterizar um grupo de hipertensos em relação a crenças, conhecimentos, atitudes e fatores que podem interferir na adesão ao tratamento. Métodos: Os dados foram coletados através de entrevista com hipertensos em seguimento ambulatorial. Resultados: Foram estudados 511 hipertensos: a maioria mulheres, brancas, com escolaridade de nível fundamental, 53,0 ±11,0 anos. Foram verificados índices elevados de conhecimento sobre a doença e tratamento. Porém, o tratamento foi interrompido devido a remédios muito caros e falta de orientação e acreditavam que devem tomar os medicamentos somente quando se sentem mal, além de faltarem à consulta médica, principalmente por esquecimento e problemas particulares. Em relação às atitudes frente ao tratamento, observou-se que esquecem de tomar os remédios, não tomam no mesmo horário, deixam de tomar por conta própria, não seguem as orientações e não praticam exercícios físicos regularmente. Conclusão: A caracterização dos hipertensos identificou aspectos que podem dificultar a adesão ao tratamento. Descritores: Hipertensão/prevenção & controle; Hipertensão/terapia; Conhecimentos, atitudes e prática em saúde; Efeitos psicossociais da doença RESUMENObjetivo: Caracterizar a un grupo de hipertensos en relación a las creencias, conocimientos, actitudes y factores que pueden interferir en la adhesión al tratamiento. Métodos: Los datos fueron recolectados a través de una entrevista a hipertensos con seguimiento en consulta externa. Resultados: Participaron 511 hipertensos: la mayoría mujeres, blancas, con un nivel de escolaridad primario y edad de 53,0 ±11,0 años. Fueron verificados índices elevados de conocimiento sobre la enfermedad y el tratamiento. Sin embargo, el tratamiento fue interrumpido debido a medicamentos muy caros y falta de orie...

An 11-year-old cat was presented with an approximately 2-month history of dysphagia, intermittent regurgitation and weight loss. An oesophageal foreign body was identified on plain radiographs, and an oesophagotomy was performed to remove a large V-shaped bone from the caudal cervical oesophagus. A gastrostomy feeding tube was placed to allow nutritional support postoperatively. Medical treatment for oesophagitis was initiated after surgery. No complications were encountered and the cat was discharged 4 days after surgery.

Background: Complicated hypertension can be influenced by the characteristics of hypertensive patients.

A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat underwent investigations for acute onset of lethargy, hyporexia, and cough. Computed tomography of the thorax identified a large mass-like lesion in the left cranial lung lobe and bilateral pleural effusion. Thoracotomy and left cranial lung lobectomy were performed. Histopathology of the pulmonary mass was consistent with a localized Toxoplasma gondii pneumonia, confirmed by positive polymerase chain reaction on the affected lung lobe.After adjunctive medical management with a 28-day course of clindamycin (12.5 mg/kg PO q12h), clinical signs resolved and repeat thoracic radiographs documented no abnormalities. The cat remains clinically well 1 year after surgery.

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Mammary tumours are one of the most common neoplasms in small animal practice. Early detection and correct management improves overall survival. However, in contrast to canine mammary tumours, the majority of feline mammary tumours are malignant, have metastasised by the time of diagnosis and still carry a poor prognosis. Multiple factors from neutering status to proliferative markers have been investigated as potential prognostic indicators. Staging of mammary tumours before surgery remains important as it indicates the likely outcome and assists therapeutic decisions. This article will review tumour behaviour, classification, diagnosis and prognostic factors associated with mammary tumours, and current treatment recommendations.