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Background The aetiology of insulin resistance ( IR) in naturally occurring canine hypothyroidism is poorly understood and likely multifactorial. Excess secretion of growth hormone ( GH) by transdifferentiated pituitary cells may contribute to IR in some hypothyroid dogs, but although this has been demonstrated in experimental studies, it has not yet been documented in clinical cases. Case report A 4-year-old male entire Samoyed presented with an 8-month history of pedal hyperkeratosis and shifting lameness, which had been unresponsive to zinc supplementation, antibiotics and glucocorticoid therapy. The dog also exhibited exercise intolerance and polydipsia of 12 and 2 months duration, respectively. On physical examination, obesity, poor coat condition, widened interdental spaces and mild respiratory stridor were noted. Initial laboratory test results revealed concurrent hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus ( DM). Further investigations showed IR, GH excess and a paradoxical increase of GH following stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Conclusions To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case that suggests that GH alterations may have clinical significance in naturally occurring hypothyroidism. Among other factors, hypothyroidism-induced GH excess should be considered as a possible cause of IR in patients suffering from hypothyroidism and concurrent DM. In such cases, DM may reverse with treatment of hypothyroidism, as was documented in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Quantitative and semiquantitative methods have been proposed for the assessment of MR severity, and though all are associated with limitations. Measurement of vena contracta width ( VCW) has been used in clinical practice. Objective To measure the VCW in dogs with different levels of MR severity. Animals Two hundred and seventy-nine dogs were classified according to 5 levels of MR severity. Methods This was a retrospective study. EROA and regurgitant volume calculated by the PISA method, were measured and indexed to BSA. Descriptive statistics were calculated for VCW and VCW index for all categories of MR severity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (ρs) were calculated to compare the results of the different methods ( VCW and VCW index vs RV PISA, RV PISA index, EROA, EROA index), and between VCW and VCW index versus MR severity. Results All Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were significant ( P < .001). The median values of VCW resulted of 2.9 mm ( IQR 3.4-2.5) and of 4.6 mm ( IQR 5.4-4.1) in the groups previously classified as mild-to-moderate and moderate-to-severe, respectively. The median values of VCW index resulted of 4.4 mm/m2 ( IQR = 5.5-4.2) in mild-to-moderate MR and of 10.8 mm/m2 ( IQR = 12.8-9.4) in moderate-to-severe MR. Conclusion and Clinical Importance This is not a validation study against any previously validated invasive gold standard, the VCW method has proved easy to employ and it might be an additional tool in quantifying disease severity that supports, rather than replace, data coming from other techniques in daily clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seven-year-old male Jack Russell terrier was presented with a history of coughing, generalised weakness and lethargy 10 days after an abdominal coeliotomy to repair a large diaphragmatic rupture. Thoracic radiographs demonstrated a soft tissue mass in the mid- caudal right thoracic cavity. Ultrasonographic studies, bronchoscopy and subsequent exploratory thoracotomy confirmed a diagnosis of a right cranial lung lobe torsion (LLT), with an anomalous caudodorsal displacement of the affected lobe. LLT should be considered as a differential diagnosis for respiratory tract disease following diaphragmatic rupture repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A mature donkey was presented for evaluation of a forelimb lameness and presence of a large mass on the left forelimb distal to the elbow joint. Clinical examination, radiographs and cytological examination of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates of the mass led to a presumptive diagnosis of osteosarcoma. The donkey was subsequently subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteosarcoma in the proximal radius with expansion of the mass through the ulnar cortex and metastases to liver and regional lymph nodes, areas of metastasis previously unreported in the equine literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]