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Case Report: A 3‐year‐old female neutered greyhound presented for a dental procedure under general anesthesia. At the time of presentation, the dog was clinically well, with no health concerns from the client except for halitosis. The dog underwent general anesthesia with 13 teeth extracted and was stable until a severe, acute bradycardia was noticed at 2 h and 20 min postinduction. Venous blood analysis revealed a marked hyperkalemia. The dog was treated with calcium gluconate, an intravenous fluid bolus, glucose, and atropine. Serum potassium levels returned to within normal reference range at 60 min posttreatment. The dog developed ventricular tachycardia in recovery which responded to two lignocaine boluses. The dog was discharged from hospital in a stable condition. Conclusions: Unanticipated hyperkalemia during anesthesia was treated in an otherwise healthy greyhound undergoing a dental procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Neonatal and pediatric diseases are complex and can cause high mortality in kittens, associated with bacterial infections, blood type mismatches, congenital defects, viral and parasitic diseases, and poor care, among others. This study aimed to identify the leading causes of death and prevalence of congenital malformations by performing necropsies on 68 stray kittens under two months old. Results showed that respiratory lesions were the leading cause of death in the youngest kittens, while older kittens primarily suffered from gastrointestinal problems. Infectious diseases were common in all age groups, and 40% of the kittens had congenital malformations, with the most common being megaesophagus, cardiovascular anomalies, and bone and kidney defects. The findings highlight the importance of good hygiene in preventing infections and emphasize the need for better care and preventive measures to enhance kitten survival rates. Neonatal and pediatric mortality in kittens could be associated with bacterial infections, complications from inadequate management, congenital malformations, neonatal isoerythrolysis, parasitic diseases, and viral diseases. The complexity of causes, coupled with kittens' physiological and immunological immaturity, complicates the diagnosis and treatment of disease, highlighting the necessity for preventive measures. This study aimed to identify the leading causes of death and the occurrence of congenital malformations in stray kittens. Necropsies were performed on 68 kittens, all aged under two months. Results indicated that respiratory lesions were the leading cause of death in the youngest group, while gastrointestinal problems were more prevalent in older groups. Infectious causes were predominant across all age groups. Congenital malformations were observed in 40% of the animals, with megaesophagus, cardiovascular anomalies, bone defects, and kidney defects being the most prevalent. The findings underscore the critical importance of hygiene in preventing infections and related complications. Promoting sterilization and sanitary control in stray cats is essential to reduce overpopulation and improve living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Advances in pain research challenge the concept that animals lack pain senses, showing that they have similar neural pathways to humans and experience pain similarly. Understanding brain circuits for effective pain control is crucial for adjusting pain control to individual patient responses and conditions. Pain management in oncological patients aims to lessen the impact of tumor cell development and its consequences on the immune system. Researchers have focused on improving algological approaches to better respond to patient needs, which requires a deeper understanding of how analgesics work, interact with other drugs, and affect patients' conditions. Opioids, although linked to tumor progression, remain the mainstay for managing oncologic pain. Advancements in understanding pain physiopathology have historically challenged animals' absence of pain senses. Studies have demonstrated that animals have comparable neural pain pathways, suggesting that cats and dogs likely experience pain similarly to humans. Understanding brain circuits for effective pain control has been crucial to adjusting pain management to the patient's individual responses and current condition. The refinement of analgesic strategies is necessary to better cater to the patient's demands. Cancer pain management searches to ascertain analgesic protocols that enhance patient well-being by minimizing or abolishing pain and reducing its impact on the immune system and cancer cells. Due to their ability to reduce nerve sensitivity, opioids are the mainstay for managing moderate and severe acute pain; however, despite their association with tumor progression, specific opioid agents have immune-protective properties and are considered safe alternatives to analgesia for cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immobilisation and anaesthesia of wild felids may be complex and potentially dangerous events, making it difficult to implement more advanced anaesthetic techniques such as neuraxial anaesthesia. A Eurasian lynx was referred for femur fracture repair after it was seen with lameness of the left pelvic limb sustained in its natural environment. The animal was remotely darted using a combination of ketamine (5 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Once immobilised, the lynx was transported to the veterinary hospital in a restraining cage. After induction and endotracheal intubation, pelvic limb radiographs confirmed a closed, comminuted fracture of the left femur that required open reduction and internal stabilisation. A sacrococcygeal epidural was performed before surgery using lidocaine (2 mg/kg) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) to complement the ketamine–xylazine–isoflurane anaesthesia, which allows a low‐end‐tidal isoflurane concentration. Clinical signs were continuously monitored and remained stable during the entire procedure, with the exception of a temperature that decreased to 35.8°C. No intraoperative analgesic rescues were necessary. Recovery was smooth and uneventful. The lynx showed no signs of motor weakness after surgery or other side effects related to the anaesthetic procedure. The successful management of this surgical case suggests that the described anaesthetic protocol could be recommended in orthopaedic procedures of the pelvic limbs in wild Felidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine cutaneous histiocytoma (CCH) represents a significant proportion of dog skin tumours, often manifesting as the most common neoplastic skin condition in young animals. Predominantly affecting dogs under four, these tumours appear primarily as solitary lesions that may regress spontaneously. This study, conducted over five years at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, involved a detailed histopathological and ultrastructural examination of 93 CCH cases. Histologically, these tumours showed distinct patterns of lymphoid infiltration, which contributed to their classification into four groups based on the inflammatory response and histological architecture. Most tumours displayed signs of epidermal invasion and frequent mitotic figures, with necrosis present in over half of the cases. Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells were characterised by pleomorphism, abundant organelles, and adherens-type junctions. This study offers significant insights into the pathophysiology and morphological characteristics of CCH, underscoring the importance of detailed histological and ultrastructural analysis in accurately diagnosing and understanding this common canine tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Congenital defects have been described in almost every vertebrate group. In crocodiles, teratology alterations have been described in captive animals (pets, zoos, farms) such as Crocodylus niloticus and Gavialis gangeticus. The present study aimed to characterize congenital malformations of C. acutus from a farm in Lomas de Matunilla, Ballestas, Bolívar, Colombia. The analyzed eggs presented macroscopic malformations, with 42 different types of anomalies observed. Limb and tail malformations (29%) were the most common changes observed. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, Cuvier, 1807) (Class Reptilia, Family Crocodylidae) is a crocodile species inhabiting the Neotropics. Congenital defects have been described in almost every vertebrate group. In crocodiles, teratology alterations have been described in captive animals (pets, zoos, farms) such as Crocodylus niloticus or Gavialis gangeticus. The present study aimed to characterize congenital malformations of C. acutus from a farm in Lomas de Matunilla, Ballestas, Bolívar, Colombia. A total of 550 unhatched eggs were examined after embryo death. A total of 61 embryos presented malformations, with 42 different types of anomalies observed. Limb and tail malformations (29%) were the most common malformations observed. Several malformations, such as cephalothoracopagus, thoracopagus, sternopagus, xiphopagus twins, campylorrachis scoliosa, and acrania, were documented in crocodiles for the first time. Research in teratology enhances our understanding of crocodile biology. It plays a role in their conservation and management, thus helping to ensure the long-term viability of these species in their natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Equine melanomas are a common problem in clinical practice. Although a known issue in the equestrian world, there is still some lack of knowledge about various aspects of the disease. Due to the misconception that these tumors do not cause problems, there is a tendency to leave them to be treated at a later date. However, there is still little evidence regarding the effect of time on these tumors. This work aimed to study the clinical and histological differences between tumors excised sooner and later. In this retrospective study, information regarding 34 horses and 42 tumors was analyzed. According to the results, tumors with delayed excision were statistically more likely to acquire larger dimensions (p = 0.038) and be malignant (p = 0.035). Furthermore, delayed excision was also associated with a higher number of tumors (p = 0.011), since horses with a tumor for more than 6 years often had multiple tumors. With this study, we conclude that delayed excision has clinical and histological consequences for equine melanoma, highlighting the importance of surgical removed at an early stage, when excision is easier, preventing future complications. Equine melanomas are a common neoplasm in gray horses. However, scientific knowledge about their progression over time is quite scarce. Some owners and veterinarians still believe that early intervention is not necessary, stating that tumors evolve very slowly and intervention could worsen the animal's condition. This work aims to identify clinical and histological differences that may exist between equine melanomas with different excision intervals (time between tumor detection and surgical excision). A total of 42 tumors (13 benign and 29 malignant) from 34 horses were included in this study. There was a statistically significant association between excision interval and tumor size (p = 0.038), with tumors excised later being significantly larger than the ones excised sooner. The excision interval was also statistically associated with the number of tumors (p = 0.011), since the horses that carried a tumor for longer seemed to be prone to have multiple tumors. Furthermore, there was an association between excision interval and malignancy (p = 0.035), with tumor excised later being fives times more likely to be malignant. This study provides evidence of delayed excision's effect on the progression of equine melanomas. Additionally, it reinforces the importance of the early excision of these tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed by several tumors, promoting tumoral immunosuppression by binding to programmed cell death protein (PD-1). PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in human melanoma has been shown to result in tumor regression and prolonged tumor-free survival. Since there are only a few available treatments for equine melanoma, the search for new therapies is important. This work intended to study the immunolabeling of PD-L1 in equine melanocytic tumors. A total of 77 melanocytic tumors were classified as benign or malignant and evaluated by extension of labeling. A total of 59.7% of the tumors showed >50% of immunolabeled cells. Regarding malignant tumors (n = 38), 24 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, 13 tumors presented between 25–50% and one tumor presented <10%. Regarding benign tumors (n = 39), 22 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, nine tumors presented 25–50%, three tumors presented 10–25%, two tumors presented <10% and three tumors did not present expression. The results of this study suggest that PD-L1 may have therapeutic potential for equine melanomas. Currently available treatments for equine melanocytic tumors have limitations, mainly due to mass localization and dimension, or the presence of metastases. Therefore, a search for new therapies is necessary. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed by several tumors, blocking T cell-mediated elimination of the tumor cells by binding to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). A novel therapeutic approach using PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in human melanoma resulted in tumor regression and prolonged tumor-free survival. This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in equine melanocytic tumors. A total of 77 melanocytic tumors were classified as benign or malignant and evaluated by extension of labeling. A total of 59.7% of the tumors showed >50% of immunolabeled cells. Regarding malignant tumors, 24/38 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, 13 tumors presented between 25–50% and one tumor presented <10%. Regarding benign tumors, 22/39 tumors presented >50% of labeled cells, nine tumors presented 25–50%, three tumors presented 10–25%, two tumors presented <10% and three tumors did not present expression. Our results suggest that PD-L1 blockade may be a potential target for immunotherapy in equine melanocytic tumors and that future clinical research trials into the clinical efficacy of the anti-PD-L1 antibody are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, commonly known as bracken fern, is a cosmopolitan plant species absent only from polar and desert regions. Worldwide, Pteridium aquilinum has been rapidly spreading due to the neglect of agricultural fields and the growing wave of forest fires. This plant has several toxic components such as thiaminases, brains, active glucosides, beta-glucopyranosides and ptaquloside in its constitution that can be lethal to animals. The animals do not normally choose it as food, except in situations of food shortage, in periods of drought, when the ferns are still green or when the animals graze in places with large amounts of the plant in question. In order to revisit the major syndromes caused by P. aquilinum's major toxins, the authors present several cases of acute and chronic ruminant poisoning associated with ingesting P. aquilinum in Portugal in sheep and cattle. The primary associated syndromes observed in animals that consume this plant were thiamine deficiency, blindness in sheep, acute or subacute poisoning with bone marrow depression, and consequently, leucopenia and bladder tumors in cattle. Given the economic impact of the diseases caused by the toxins of this plant, and the possible public health implications, it is imperative to minimize these syndromes in animals and establish measures for their prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Portugal, there are four venomous species, the horned viper (Vipera latastei), seoane (Vipera seoanei), rat snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), and the hooded snake (Macroprotodon brevis ibericus), and in the UK, there is one: the common European adder (Vipera berus). Snake venom is a complex mixture of toxins whose composition varies depending on the family, genera, species, and even subspecies. In Europe, particularly Portugal, there are no published data on the frequency of these types of incidents, but it is estimated to be high, mainly in dogs. Thus, to characterize the injuries caused by the bite of venomous snakes in domestic animals, the authors describe cases in dogs, cats, and goats with a suspected snakebite. Animals presented wounds compatible with snakebites, with two points 1 to 1.8 cm apart that could be noted on the head or limbs. The main clinical signs observed included pain, oedema, and necrosis. From the animals that died, a post-mortem examination revealed subcutaneous and muscular necrosis and hemorrhages of surrounding tissues, including muscles and organic hemorrhages. The severity of envenomation depends on the quantity of inoculated venom; the species, age, size, and previous state of health of the bitten animal; the bite location; and post-bite excitability. With this study, the authors hope to help improve the knowledge regarding snakebites in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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