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Objective: To investigate: 1) acanthocytosis and presence of acanthocytes in peritoneal fluid as a diagnostic marker for hemangiosarcoma (HSA) in dogs with non-traumatic hemoabdomen; and 2) the association between other erythrocyte, biochemical, and hematologic abnormalities as a mean of differentiating HSA from other disease., Study Design: Prospective double-blinded cohort study., Animals: Dogs (n = 40) with non-traumatic hemoabdomen., Methods: Dogs diagnosed with hemoabdomen (January 2012 to May 2013) had cytologic evaluation of abdominal effusion and peripheral blood smears. Peripheral blood CBC, PT, and aPTT, as well as blood and effusion acanthocytes, keratocytes, schistocytes, lactate, glucose, PCV, and TP results were compared using the paired t-test or Fisher's exact test. Based on histologic confirmation of HSA, dogs were divided into 2 groups (HSA, non-HSA) and variables compared., Results: There was no significant difference in erythrocyte morphology in abdominal effusion or peripheral blood between dogs with HSA or non-HSA related hemoabdomen. Platelet concentration and peripheral blood PCV were significantly lower in the HSA group., Conclusions: A reliable preoperative biochemical or cytologic test to differentiate between HSA and non-HSA related hemoabdomen was not identified., (© Copyright 2015 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Objective: To compare the bending structural stiffness and bending strength of thick and thin 2.4 mm limited contact dynamic compression plates (2.4 LC-DCP), 2.0 mm LC-DCP (2.0 LC-DCP), and 2.0 dynamic compression plates (2.0 DCP)., Study Design: In vitro mechanical study., Methods: Two thicknesses of 2.4 LC-DCP, 2.0 LC-DCP, and 2.0 DCP stainless-steel plates were tested in 4-point bending. Data were collected during bending until implants plastically deformed. Bending structural stiffness and bending strength were determined from load displacement curves. Mechanical properties were compared between plates and the effects of plate type, size, and thickness on stiffness and strength were assessed using ANOVA., Results: The thick 2.4 LC-DCP implant was the stiffest and strongest; the thin 2.0 DCP implant was most compliant and weakest. Larger sized plates, thicker plates, and limited contact design of plates enhanced stiffness and strength. For the plates studied, plate size had a larger effect than plate type or thickness on stiffness and strength., Conclusion: Increasing the size (width) and thickness of plates increases both the bending structural stiffness and strength. For the plates studied, LC-DCP implants were stiffer and stronger than DCP implants., Clinical Relevance: Plate bending structural stiffness and strength can be most effectively enhanced by using a larger sized plate, but gains can also be achieved by using a thicker plate and/or an LC-DCP instead of a DCP implant when possible., (© Copyright 2010 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)