Background: Mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs. Malignant tumors may carry a poor prognosis and necessitate surgery. Few data are available on the value of cytologic examination as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for mammary tumors in dogs. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether cytologic findings in fine-needle aspirate specimens of canine mammary tumors correlate with histopathologic results and whether the cytologic diagnosis is associated with postoperative outcome. Methods: In this prospective study, fine-needle aspirate samples were obtained from 50 mammary tumors in 50 dogs. Results of cytologic and histopathologic examination were compared, using the histologic diagnosis as the reference method. Kaplan-Meier log rank analysis was used to evaluate univariate association of the cytologic diagnosis with duration of survival, local control, and metastasis-free interval. Results: Adequate cytologic samples were obtained in 43/50 (86%) cases. The cytologic diagnosis correlated with the histologic diagnosis for benign and malignant tumors in 40/43 (93%) and 35/43 (81%) cases, respectively. Cytologic examination had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 96% for the diagnosis of malignancy. The cytologic diagnosis had significant univariate association with duration of survival (P =.016), recurrence-free interval (P =.003), and metastasis-free interval (P =.014). Conclusions: Cytologic examination of mammary tumors in the dog has satisfactory accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy and is associated with postoperative outcome. Further studies on the diagnostic accuracy of cytology as well as multivariate analysis of its preoperative prognostic value in mammary tumors in the dog are warranted.

True thrombocytopenia is uncommon in cats; however, low platelet counts frequently are found using automated cell counters. Although this discrepancy is a well known problem, the prevalence of low automated platelet counts in feline blood samples has not been documented. We retrospectively compared the prevalence of low automated platelet counts with low blood smear-estimated platelet counts in feline blood samples. Results of blood sample analysis from 359 cats during a 1-year period at the University of Glasgow Veterinary Haematology Laboratory were examined. Smear estimates of platelet number were done in those cases in which records did not indicate adequate platelet numbers. Platelet counts obtained with an impedance counter (Minos Vet, Abx Hematologie) were <200X10(9) cells/L in 256 samples (71%) and <50X10(9) cells/L in 43 samples (12%). However, based on estimation of platelet numbers from blood smears, only 11 samples (3.1%) had platelet counts of <200X10(9) cells/L and 9 samples (2.5%) had counts of <50X10(9) cells/L. Four cats with thrombocytopenia estimated by blood smear evaluation had clinical signs of a bleeding disorder. Disorders associated with thrombocytopenia included neoplasia, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and infectious diseases. There was no evidence that delay due to mailing of samples was associated with lower automated platelet counts than would have been obtained on the day of sampling. The high prevalence of apparent thrombocytopenia in automated platelet counts was attributed to a combination of platelet aggregation and the impedance method of cell differentiation by size. Vigilance and careful examination of blood smears is required to identify the few cats with true thrombocytopenia.

Aggregation of feline platelets in vitro results in difficulty assessing platelet number. A citrate‐based anticoagulant containing the platelet inhibitors theophylline, adenosine, and dipyridamole (CTAD; Diatube‐H, Becton Dickinson, Oxford, UK) has been developed for use in human platelet studies and heparin assays. To evaluate the efficacy of CTAD in reducing platelet aggregation in feline blood samples, aliquots of blood from 51 cats were anticoagulated with EDTA, CTAD, and for 12 samples, citrate solution. Samples preserved in CTAD had significantly higher (P ≤ .001) platelet counts, as determined by an impedance counter, hemacy‐tometer, and smear estimation, than samples preserved in EDTA. In addition, subjective assessment of blood smears showed significantly fewer platelet aggregates (P<.001) in CTAD‐treated samples compared with EDTA samples. Although values were similar, automated platelet counts and smear estimates of platelet number were significantly higher (P < .05) and platelet aggregation was significantly less (P < .05) in CTAD samples than in citrate samples. These results suggest that the platelet inhibitory activity of CTAD reduced feline platelet aggregation. Automated total WBC counts in CTAD samples were significantly lower (P<.001) than automated counts in EDTA samples but were similar to manual WBC counts in EDTA samples. Differences in both platelet and WBC counts between CTAD and EDTA or citrate samples were clinically relevant. Mean platelet volume and MCV were significantly lower (P< .05) in CTAD samples than in EDTA samples. No effect was seen on cell morphology or staining characteristics. The anticoagulant CTAD offers an advantage over both EDTA and citrate for feline hematologic analysis, by decreasing pseudothrombocytopenia and pseudoleukocytosis.

Retraction and protection of the caudoproximal tibial soft tissue envelope is recommended during TPLO; however, to prevent retention of microscopic particulate cotton debris, alternatives to cotton gauze sponges should be considered as protective devices.

Interpreting haematology and biochemistry results from reptiles is notoriously difficult, due at least in part to the lack of data for many species and the wide variation in reference ranges for others. This article describes sampling techniques in reptilian species and discusses what different parameters mean in terms of physiological status and the indication of particular diseases.

April 25, and the ewe was treated with two doses of 20 mg/kg oxytetracycline (Engemycin 10 per cent) for suspected bacterial pneumonia. The illthrift and harsh lung sounds initially improved, but the ewe developed more severe anaemia; the organisms reappeared in blood smears, and the pneumonia recrudesced. The ewe was euthanased on June 18, 2002, and examined postmortem.Grossly, the ewe's carcase was pale and emaciated. There was 200 ml of clear, pale yellow fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Gelatinous oedema was evident in the mediastinal, mesenteric and perirenal tissues. Haemal nodes in the mesentery and sublumbar tissue were enlarged, with dimensions up to 10 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm. There was well demarcated, greybrown consolidation in the cranioventral portions of the left and right lungs, and brown, malodorous fluid exuded from cut surfaces.On histological examination, the lymphoid tissue of the haemal nodes was hyperplastic (Fig 2b), whereas there was little development of lymphoid follicles in the splenic white pulp or the cortices of the mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes. The medullae of the lymph nodes were oedematous, with a diffuse increase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Haemosiderosis was evident in Küpffer cells in the liver and in other cells of the monocyte-macrophage system in the spleen, lymph nodes, haemal nodes and lungs. There were accumulations of haemosiderin in the proximal convoluted tubular epithelial cells and interstitial macrophages in the kidney (Figs 2c, d). Erythrophagocytosis was evident in the spleen and haemal nodes. Bone marrow from the mid-diaphysis of the femur consisted of a loose, oedematous, fibrillary stroma of low cellularity. The liver had several small foci of periacinar necrosis associated with loss of hepatocytes and infiltration by macrophages containing brown, granular material. Suppurative bronchopneumonia was evident in the cranioventral portions of the lungs. Mild, non-suppurative epicarditis and interstitial myositis were evident. Small numbers of sarcocysts were scattered throughout the myocardium and skeletal muscle. There was hyperplasia of the zona fasciculata of the adrenal gland. A cyst was present in the thyroid gland. Mild chronic enteritis was evident. There were no significant findings in the rumen, reticulum, abomasum or pancreas.Faecal samples collected when the ewe was presented were negative for nematode eggs by the McMaster technique and negative for fluke eggs by the Boray flotation technique. Non-haemolytic Escherichia coli was isolated from faeces submitted for culture on February 13, but faecal cultures were negative for β-haemolytic E coli, as well as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium species. Faecal smears stained by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique were negative for acid-fast

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