Background: Lipoma is a benign tumor composed of mature adipose tissue commonly found in subcutaneous tissues. However, eventually, lipomas may be located between the muscle fasciae being classifed as intermuscular lipomas. Complete surgical resection of the tumor mass is indicated as a treatment of affected patients.This report describes fve cases of intermuscular lipoma in dogs, due to the scarcity of data in the literature and lipoma relative importance in the clinical and surgical routine.Case: Five dogs were presented with a history of a large volume in the limbs with progressive growth, suggesting the presence of neoplasia. The frst step was to conduct anamnesis, when the owner reported slow growth, absence of pain, limping and licking of site. No other change was observed upon physical examination. Complete blood count (CBC) as well as liver assessment (FA) and renal (creatinine) were performed in all patients, and the results showed no changes. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed and showed cells from adipose tissue, followed by histopathological examination of the lesions. Histopathological examination after incisional biopsy of the tumors showed malignancy-freetissue, composed of adipocytes without atypia, interspersed with fbrovascular stroma, confrming the lipoma diagnosis.Intermuscular lipomas were diagnosed in fve dogs with a history of a large volume in the limbs with progressive growth; all of them underwent bloc resection of the tumors. In all cases, the intermuscular lipomatous tumors were well-circumscribed and easily isolated from the tissues.Discussion: Although lipomas are relatively common in older dogs, especially in the subcutaneous tissue, intermuscular subtype is rare in veterinary medicine, which justifes the report of these cases. Intermuscular lipomas account for only 0.3% of the occurrences in human medicine. Morphologically described as tumors of slow and progressive evolution, typically reaching sizes up to 2 cm in humans, the particular cases of tumor masses greater than 5 cm are called giant lipomas. Theslow development of intermuscular lipomas has also been described in domestic animals by, thus corroborating the clini cal history in this work. The intermuscular septum is considered as the origin of intermuscular lipoma, with subsequent development of the adipose tissue between adjacent muscle bundles, thus, resulting usually in well-circumscribed mass of easy surgical divulsion. The morphological characteristics of the resected lipomas, as well as the simple surgical technique corroborate descriptions in the literature. Intermuscular lipomas consist of a challenging diagnosis despite attracting little attention from surgeons. The possibility of the mass being malignant, such as liposarcoma, should also be consideredsince the clinical symptoms consist of swelling of the deep soft tissues. The diagnosis for all these patients was obtained by histopathological examination, since the simple observation of the clinical fndings alone does not support the tumor diagnosis. Lipoma and liposarcoma should be differentiated by cytological and histopathological evaluations of the neoplasia, whereas infltrative lipomas can be diagnosed based on diagnostic imaging methods or even on the fndings during surgery. In this report, specifcally, the fndings during surgery contributed to the differentiation between infltrative and intermuscular lipoma, while for malignancy rating all patients underwent cytological and histopathological evaluations asindicated in the literature. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that complete resection of intermuscular lipoma proved to be an effective treatment to cure the patients.Keywords: benign neoplasm, surgery, resection of intermuscular, canine.

This study aims to report the technique of partial cystectomy and bilateral ureteral reimplantation for resection of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in the trigone region of the bladder and the long-term follow-up in a Bernesse Mountain dog. The proposed surgical technique was considered viable and a potential treatment option for TCC in bladder trigone, with benefits regarding the prevention of urinary tract obstruction due to neoplastic growth and local removal of the primary tumor, which may limit or delay the spread of the disease even without adjuvant chemotherapy. The main disadvantages related to the described technique are ureteral stricture, intermittent cystitis and local relapse. However, the results are acceptable considering the long-term survival of 610 days in the case described.

Thoracoscopy is replacing open lung biopsies because it is less invasive, usually the technique is done using three portals and intracorporeal suture technique. This study described the feasibility and efficacy of a novel pre tied loop ligature and to propose a thoracoscopic access strategy with two portals to perform lung biopsy in patients under 5 kg. Ten rabbits were positioned in dorsal recumbency. Total thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed using a combined transdiaphragmatic approach and a right intercostal approach. A pre tied loop ligature was placed to perform a caudal lung lobe biopsy. Insufflation of the thoracic cavity was not performed. The total surgery time was 41.4 ± 14.5 min. The procedure was carried out free of complications that prevented slippage or tightening the knot or that made it come loose after the lung biopsy; there was no serious complication during the surgical procedure. The samples obtained averaged 1x0.64x0.45 cm (Length, Width, Depth) and were considered satisfactory according to the histopathologic evaluation. Thorax radiographs taken before and after the surgeries were compared and showed no pneumothorax or hemothorax. Necropsy confirmed no knot failure occurred at the biopsy site. The use of the novel pre tied loop ligature is a safe and effective technique, avoiding problems with the limited size of the thoracic cavity in small patients.

Background: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) usually affects the trigone region of the bladder and proximal portion of the urethra. TCC in dogs is often complicated by local tumor invasion and obstruction of the urethra, ureters, or both. Urinary obstruction is the cause of death in approximately 60% of dogs with TCC. Radical surgeries are associated with morbidity and mortality rates. Stents have recently been evaluated for use in dogs with ureteral obstruction resulting from a variety of urinary tract tumors. This report aims to describe bilateral ureteral stent placement for treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction and long-term follow-up in a dog.Case: An 11‐year‐old female spayed Maltese with ureteral obstruction secondary to transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in the bladder trigone. After palliative debulking procedure and diagnostic of TCC in bladder and NSAIDs treatment, recurrence has occurred causing ureteral obstruction and TCC had invaded the abdominal wall. Abdominal wall local tumor resection, trigone mass debulking and bilateral ureteral stent placement was made. A double-pigtail ureteral stent of appropriate length was advanced to bypass the ureteral obstruction. Stent sizes were 3.5 Fr in diameter and from 8 to 32 cm in length. The patient underwent surgical resection of the transitional cell carcinoma in the abdominal wall. The correct location of the bilateral ureteral pigtail stent was certified by abdominal radiography. Recovery was uneventful and the dog was discharged 2 days after surgery. Eleven months after stent placement, the dog developed lumbar vertebrae metastasis, without evidence of recurrent ureteral obstruction. The owners elected euthanasia 517 days after original presentation and 337 days after ureteral stent placement. Euthanasia was unrelated to the local tumor obstruction but was related to the bone metastasis.Discussion: Ureteral stent placement is feasible techniques for treatment of bladder TCC in dogs, with the objective of delaying the evolution of the disease and preventing ureteral obstruction. According to previous studies, although distant metastatic disease is worrisome, in the majority of dogs with bladder TCC, the primary location of the tumor is the most common cause of death. In patients with ureteral obstruction, early intervention preserves functional renal tissue. Thus, relief of obstruction should be recommended as soon as possible before irreversible renal damage occurs. The authors encourage aggressive and timely intervention, particularly when ureteral obstruction is bilateral. In the present report, 90 days postoperatively local recurrence causing ureteral obstruction was not evidenced on bladder ultrasound images and laboratory test follow-up. After this period, until 180 days after debulking surgery, tumor recurrence occurred, causing clinical signs and compromising renal function. Complications associated with stent placement included stent migration, recurrent ureteral obstruction, stranguria/pollakiuria, presumably due to irritation of the trigonal region from the distal stent; imperfect stent location; ureteral trauma during stent placement; and urinary tract infection. In the present report, the ureteral stents were placed for palliative treatment for malignant ureteral obstructions. Although urinary tract infection was recurrent, other complications associated with bilateral ureteral stent did not occur, such as accidental dislocation or stent obstruction by the tumor. The results obtained were satisfactory for urinary tract obstruction, allowing survival of 517 days. These findings may support long-term ureteral stenting in veterinary patients.

Background: Ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly in which the final segment of one or both ureteral orifices is located distal to the bladder trigone. It may be classified as intra- or extramural. Surgical treatment of ectopic ureters in dogs is recommended and the approach varies with the classification. In the postoperative period, complications are common. When stenosis of the new ureteral ostium occurs, immediate repeated surgery is recommended. This study aimed at using the double J catheter placement following neoureterostomy to treat urethral obstruction secondary to the surgical treatment of an intramural ectopic ureter in a dog.Case: An 8-month-old female French bulldog with dysuria and urinary incontinence was seen at a private veterinary hospital in Jaboticabal, São Paulo. The patient had previously been diagnosed with an intramural ectopic ureter on the right side following imaging tests (ultrasound, computed tomography, and abdominal radiography, excretory urography) and had undergone neoureterostomy and closure of the intramural pathway approximately a year ago. Ultrasonographic examination showed dilation of the caudal portion of the ureter and hydroureter, which was suggestive of right ureteral stenosis. Computed tomography was also performed to evaluate the kidneys, ureters, and bladder; an increase in the diameter of the right ureter in its middle portion and close to the bladder triangle was observed. A new surgical intervention was indicated and performed. The ureteral route was identified in a region of the bladder trigone, incised, and probed with a urethral probe No. 04. The intramural course in the proximal urethra was identified and probed with a 16G epidural catheter. It was necessary to perform a neoureterostomy. A longitudinal incision (spatulation) of approximately 5 mm was made in the distal portion of the right ureter to increase the circumference of the anastomosis. The double J 4.7 French (Fr) catheter was inserted through the new ureter ostium into the bladder and advanced into the right kidney in a retrograde manner. Once the proximal end of the double J catheter reached the renal pelvis, the guidewire was withdrawn slowly to allow the catheter to bend in the areas of the renal pelvis and the trigone. The distal end of the double J catheter that extended beyond the bladder lumen was sectioned for better bladder closure. The patient underwent clinical evaluation and laboratory tests (complete blood count and serum creatinine concentration, urine test with bacteriological culture and susceptibility test) 2 weeks after the procedure and, subsequently, every 3 months. Ultrasonography of the urinary tract was performed every 2 months.Discussion: We used a double J catheter in the patient due to a previous obstruction of the ureter ostium after the first surgical procedure. In this way, complications such as postoperative obstructions due to ureteritis and ureteral constriction were avoided and ureteral anastomosis was facilitated. It has been reported that animals subjected to ureteral stent placement have high incidences of dysuria and urinary tract infection, and low incidences of stent migration and occlusion. In this case, no signs of occlusion or obstruction of the implant were identified, but there was a recurrence of urinary tract infections. These frequently cause urethral obstruction associated with the healing of the new ureteral ostium. Patient follow-up and findings associated with the long-term insertion of the double J catheter provide support for the clinical relevance of the present report.

The objective of this study was to develop a locked tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) plate and to compare this implant with the conventional bone fixation method using a locked plate to determine bone stabilization against torsion forces. Maximum force, angle at peak torque, and stiffness values were determined. Ten synthetic tibias were used, divided into 2 groups. The results in Group 1 (modified TPLO plate) and Group 2 (locked plate) were assessed using analysis of variance and the means were compared using Tukey’s test at 5% probability. There were significant differences in the angle at peak torque and stiffness. The group Modified TPLO plate had higher mean values of stiffness compared with Group locked plate. Group locked plate showed a greater angle at peak torque compared with Group modified TPLO plate. All constructs failed due to tibial fractures distal to the plate. The modified TPLO plate presented higher stiffness indexes than conventional locked plate in torsion. The locked plate presented greater elasticity than modified TPLO plate having greater angle at the peak of torque.

Background: Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) is a common disease of the cervical spine, and causes neurogenic disorders commonly diagnosed in large and giant breeds dogs. There are many surgical procedures proposed for the treat­ment of CSM. Although many authors report a high success rate (between 70% and 90%) after surgical procedures, the high number of techniques described reflects the difficulty in treating this disorder. The objective of this paper is to report a case of CSM with chronic ventral compression (intervertebral disc extrusion) that was treated with dorsal decompres­sion, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the decompressive technique through pre- and post-operative myelograms.Case: A 9-year-old Doberman Pinscher dog weighing 41.8 kg presented due to a history of tetraparesis. Neurological exami­nation did not reveal any alteration in mental status. There was absence of conscious proprioception on the four limbs; the pelvic limbs were more severely affected. Bilateral patellar hyperreflexia and normal flexor withdrawal reflex were observed on the hind limbs. There was decreased flexor withdrawal reflex and increased extensor tone on the forelimbs. The patient exhibited pain during caudal cervical palpation, and no alterations were seen on the cutaneous trunci reflex. Superficial pain was absent in the hind limbs; forelimbs exhibited presence of motor function with severe paresis. Survey radiographs revealed intervertebral disc space narrowing between C6-C7. A myelogram revealed ventral and dorsal compressions of the spinal cord in the C6-C7 area. Surgical treatment was elected, and laminectomy of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae was performed. Improvements were progressive on evaluations made on the seventh, eighteenth, forty-fifth, and sixtieth days after surgery. On the forty-fifth day after surgery, the patient was able to walk with the aid of a support sling, but was incapable of standing and walking without help. Muscle atrophy and paresis progressively improved up to the sixtieth day after surgery, but such improvement was not enough for the patient to get up and walk without the aid of the sling. In view of the evolution of the clinical signs during the post-operative period, another myelogram was performed to check if the extruded intervertebral disc, which was not removed during laminectomy, was still causing spinal cord compression. In comparison to the first myelogram, the compression was significantly attenuated by the surgical procedure. In this examination, the contrast medium columns were minimally compromised by the presence of herniated material; because of that, we opted not to perform a second surgical intervention for removal of herniated disc content.Discussion: Cervical laminectomy is indicated primarily for cases of dorsal compression associated with osteoarthritic changes of facet joints, malformation of the dorsal lamina, or ligamentum flavum hypertrophy however, this technique has also been used to treat ventral compressions, especially if they are multiple. There are no reports of direct comparison between laminectomy and other surgical techniques for the treatment of chronic ventral compressions; consequently, the choice of the technique depends on the surgeon’s experience and preference. Some authors argue that cervical laminec­tomy is not enough to attenuate the compression caused by the disc because this technique does not allow removal of the herniated disc material located ventrally. However, in the case reported here, a comparison between pre- and postopera­tive myelograms revealed that even though the herniated material was not removed, dorsal decompression allowed dorsal dislocation of the spinal cord and, consequently, promoted considerable attenuation of ventral compression.Keywords: Wobbler syndrome, nervous system, spinal cord, cervical vertebrae.

The aim of this study was to develop a modified tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) plate and to compare its biomechanical properties with a locking compression plate (LCP) and plate-rod constructs for the stabilization of experimentally induced gap fractures in canine synthetic tibias. The tibial models were assigned to either repair with a modified TPLO plate (Group 1), locking compression plate construct (Group 2), or plate-rod construct (Group 3). The specimens were loaded to failure in axial compression, three-point mediolateral and craniocaudal bending. There was no statistical difference between the three groups regarding stiffness (N/mm) and deformation (mm) in axial compression. The modified TPLO plate achieved load to failure similar to the plate-rod construct in craniocaudal bending. There was no significant difference between groups on mediolateral bending tests regarding load to failure and deformation. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in stiffness between groups 1 and 2. In conclusion, the modified TPLO plate had similar mechanical properties to LCP and plate-rod construct in the axial compression and bending tests. Nonetheless, clinical studies with a large population of dogs are required to determine the value of this new implant in proximal tibial fracture repair.