The Internet has radically changed how dogs are advertised for adoption in the United States. This study was used to investigate how different characteristics in dogs' photos presented online affected the speed of their adoptions, as a proof of concept to encourage more research in this field. The study analyzed the 1st images of 468 adopted young and adult black dogs identified as Labrador Retriever mixed breeds across the United States. A subjective global measure of photo quality had the largest impact on time to adoption. Other photo traits that positively impacted adoption speed included direct canine eye contact with the camera, the dog standing up, the photo being appropriately sized, an outdoor photo location, and a nonblurry image. Photos taken in a cage, dogs wearing a bandana, dogs having a visible tongue, and some other traits had no effect on how fast the dogs were adopted. Improving the quality of online photos of dogs presented for adoption may speed up and possibly increase the number of adoptions, thereby providing a cheap and easy way to help fight the homeless companion animal population problem.
Background
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis aids in categorizing underlying disease processes in patients with neurologic disease. Convention suggests that CSF should be collected caudal to the lesion. However, little evidence exists to justify this assertion.
Hypothesis/Objectives
Evaluate the clinicopathologic differences between CSF collected from the cerebellomedullary (CM) and lumbar cisterns in dogs presented for evaluation of neurologic disease.
Animals
Fifty‐one client‐owned dogs undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CSF collection for investigation of neurologic disease.
Methods
Cerebrospinal fluid was prospectively collected from the CM and lumbar cisterns in all patients. The total protein (TP) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) count, and total nucleated cell count (TNCC) were analyzed within 30 minutes of collection. Results and cytology findings were interpreted by a single pathologist.
Results
Fifty‐one paired samples were collected. The TNCC (P < .001), RBC (P < .001), and TP (P < .001) were different between collection sites. When grouped by neurolocalization, TP (intracranial, P < .001; cervical, P < .001; thoracolumbar, P < .001) and RBC (intracranial, P < .001; cervical, P ≤ .002; thoracolumbar, P = .006) counts were significantly different. The TNCC was significantly different in the cervical (P = .04) and thoracolumbar localizations (P = .004) but not for intracranial (P = .30) localizations. The pathologist's interpretation differed between sites in 66.7% of the cases (34/51).
Conclusions
In dogs with lesions that neurolocalized to the brain or cervical spinal cord, there may be clinical benefit in collecting fluid from both the CM and lumbar cisterns. In dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy, CSF collected from the CM cistern may not be representative of the underlying disease process.
A medulloblastoma was surgically debulked from a 6 year old American Staffordshire Terrier, who then received a modified lomustine (CCNU), vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisolone (LOPP) protocol. The dog improved significantly and continued to do well until deterioration and euthanasia 5 months following surgery. This is the first known published case report of surgical cytoreductive surgery of a medulloblastoma in a dog with documented response to surgery and chemotherapy. Medulloblastoma is a primitive neuroectodermal tumor that is the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumor in children, though it is less common in adults. This case illustrates the value of considering human literature when creating treatment plans for uncommon brain tumors in veterinary patients. Medulloblastoma should be a differential for cerebellar tumors in young to middle aged dogs, and surgery and chemotherapy should be considered.
Pseudolymphoma is a drug reaction to anti‐epileptics that is well recognized in humans; it has been reported in one cat but not dogs. In this report, lymphoma‐like clinical signs are suspected to be secondary to phenobarbital administration in a dog. A 2.5‐year‐old male, neutered Shepherd mix presented for a 3‐day history of progressive ataxia, dazed mentation, pyrexia, and lethargy. While hospitalized, the dog developed generalized lymphadenopathy and sustained pyrexia. The dog was receiving levetiracetam and phenobarbital for epilepsy, and serum concentrations of both were within standard therapeutic ranges. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Cytology of the peripheral lymph nodes was consistent with reactive lymph nodes, and aspirates of the liver and spleen revealed histiocytic‐neutrophilic inflammation. Phenobarbital was discontinued and replaced with zonisamide. Within 24 hours, the dog was normothermic, and other clinical signs resolved within a week. This case highlights a potentially serious yet reversible adverse reaction to phenobarbital in a dog. This idiosyncratic reaction could be mistaken for neoplasia and is an important differential for lymphoma‐like signs in any dog administered phenobarbital.
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