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Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is used to evaluate vascularity of the gastrointestinal wall in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Objective: To assess the feasibility of CEUS for the evaluation of duodenal perfusion in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Animals: Forty-two dogs with IBD and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Methods: All CEUS studies of the duodenum were analyzed to obtain time-intensity curves and perfusion parameters. The procedure was repeated in 12 IBD dogs 2months after a standardized treatment. Results: On CEUS, the duodenal wall showed a typical perfusion pattern characterized by a radial and simultaneous enhancement of the wall in all dogs. On qualitative assessment, no differences were observed in contrast medium distribution between healthy and affected dogs, or between dogs with IBD before and after treatment. Peak intensity (PI) and area under the curve (AUC) significantly differed between healthy (PI=3.58 arbitrary units [au; 1.86-4.93 au] and AUC=47.63 au seconds [aus, 22.68-62.15]) and affected dogs (PI=5.10au [0.63-15.16 au] and AUC=63.62 aus [5.31-212.20 aus]; P=.03 and.03, respectively). No significant differences were found for the perfusion parameters before and after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: We showed that CEUS allows discrimination between IBD affected dogs and healthy dogs by evaluation of time-intensity curves, but did not provide useful information for monitoring therapeutic response. The qualitative assessment identified no significant differences between healthy and affected dogs, or between dogs before and after treatment.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common supraventricular arrhythmia more frequently observed in large breed dogs. Objectives Estimate the prevalence of AF in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and identify risk factors for developing AF. Animals A total of 2194 client-owned dogs with MMVD, including 1280, 588, 290, and 36 dogs in ACVIM stages B1, B2, C, and D, respectively. Methods Retrospective, cross-sectional study. The medical databases of 3 veterinary teaching hospitals were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of MMVD after complete cardiovascular evaluation and cardiac rhythm assessment using routine 2-minute ECG or good quality ECG tracing during echocardiographic examination. Results Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 59 dogs with a prevalence of 2.7%. Univariate analysis showed that mixed breed, male sex, advanced ACVIM stage, left atrial and ventricular enlargement, fractional shortening (FS), and presence of pulmonary hypertension were significantly associated with development of AF. According to 2 multivariable models, the left atrium (LA)-to-aorta ratio (odds ratio [OR] = 14.011, 7.463-26.304), early trans-mitral velocity (OR = 2.204, 1.192-4.076), body weight (OR = 1.094, 1.058-1.130), and FS (OR = 0.899, 0.865-0.934) and LA (OR = 5.28, 3.377-8.092), advanced ACVIM stage (OR = 4.922, 1.481-16.353), and FS (OR = 0.919, 0.881-0.959) were significant predictors of AF for models 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions and clinical importance Atrial fibrillation is an uncommon complication of MMVD and is significantly associated with the more advanced stage of the disease, increased LA dimension and body weight, and decreased FS.

Background Improvement in cardiac function has been demonstrated after thyroxine treatment in humans with hypothyroidism using the myocardial performance index (MPI). Cardiac changes after thyroxine supplementation are poorly documented in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism and comparison with clinically healthy dogs is lacking. Objectives To evaluate the electrical activity and mechanical function of the heart in dogs with primary hypothyroidism at baseline (T0) and after thyroxine supplementation (T60). Animals Forty client‐owned dogs with hypothyroidism and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Methods Prospective cohort study. Selected electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables, including the MPI, were measured in all dogs at T0 and in 30 hypothyroid dogs at T60. Results Hypothyroid dogs had significantly decreased median or mean heart rate (HR), P wave amplitude, and R wave amplitude (P = .04, P = .002, and P = .003, respectively) and E‐point‐to‐septal separation normalized to body weight (EPSSn) and trans‐mitral E wave velocity (E max; P

A 9-year-old Giant Schnauzer was referred for polyuria and polydipsia. On abdominal ultrasound, a hyperechoic mass with low color Doppler signal was detected in the medial right hepatic lobe. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) demonstrated increased enhancement of the mass during the arterial phase, and contrast washout during portal and late phases with decreased enhancement relative to the liver. These findings were consistent with primary liver malignancy or liver metastasis. A final diagnosis of cholangiocellular adenoma was made based on histopathology. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a benign hepatic neoplasm exhibiting malignant CEUS characteristics in a dog.

An 11-year-old, male, Pekinese was examined because of a sporadic, nonresponsive, nonproductive cough. Radiographically there was cardiomegaly and a soft tissue mass in the cranial mediastinum. Echocardiographically, chronic degenerative valvular disease was diagnosed. Furthermore, a large anechoic structure located cranial to the right atrium was detected. Computed tomography was performed to define the mediastinal mass and a right auricle aneurysm was diagnosed. The dog died suddenly 1 day after the diagnostic imaging procedures. At necropsy, a right auricular aneurysm without discontinuity of the pericardial sac was confirmed. Intrapericardial right auricular aneurysm should be included in the differential diagnoses of cranial mediastinal masses.