Search

Rangeliosis, caused by protozoan Rangelia vitalii, is transmitted by the tick Amblyomma aureolatum. The disease is characterized by hemolytic and hemorrhagic disorder and has been described in dogs and other wild canids. The aim of this study was to compare clinicopathological findings and laboratory results of a Rangelia infection in a crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) with those of canine rangeliosis. The zoo of Universidade de Caxias do Sul, received a crab-eating fox with marked jaundice in mucous membranes, dark-colored stools and neurological signs. The animal underwent an ear tip smear examination and blood collection for complete blood counts, serum biochemistry and PCR. Free-living and intraerythrocytic pyriform structures consistent with R. vitalii were found in the blood smear of the ear tip. The erythrogram revealed normocytic normochromic anemia, moderate macrocytosis, polychromasia and metarubricytosis. The leukogram revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and monocytosis, as well as severe thrombocytopenia. Serum biochemistry showed hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and elevated levels of urea and creatinine. The treatment was performed with imidocarb hydrochloride and dexamethasone, however 24 h after initiation of treatment the animal died. Macroscopic examination revealed jaundice, subcutaneous edema, enlarged superficial lymph nodes, splenomegaly, and hemorrhage of internal organs. Histological sections of the cerebellum, lung, pancreas, intestine and heart were consistent with R. vitalii infection of the vascular endothelium. Pathological and hematological findings were similar to those found in infected dogs, with clinical presentation characterized by hemolytic anemia and hemorrhage. The description of this case showed that C. thous does not only serve as reservoir of R. vitalii but may also develop disease.

RESUMO: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de cães atendidos no Serviço de Neurologia (SN) do Hospital Veterinário Universitário (HVU), de 2006 a 2015, com o objetivo de identificar cães com neoplasias encefálicas e obter informações a respeito da raça, do sexo, da idade, dos sinais neurológicos, da localização, da evolução clínica, do tipo e origem do tumor e dos achados de exames complementares e de necropsia. Dos 40 cães com neoplasias encefálicas incluídos neste estudo, 67,5% foram classificadas como de origem primária. Cães sem raça definida e Boxers foram os mais acometidos. Os principais sinais clínicos observados incluíram crise epiléptica, alteração de comportamento e andar em círculo. A região tálamo-cortical foi a mais afetada. Quanto ao tipo do tumor, o meningioma (32,5%) e o oligodendroglioma (12,5%) foram os mais encontrados. A evolução dos sinais clínicos variou entre quatro e 210 dias (média de 44 dias). ABSTRACT: A retrospective study including dogs with brain neoplasms was conducted at the Service of Neurology (SN) of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, from 2006 to 2015, with the objective to identify and characterize breed, sex, age, neurological signs, the location, the clinical evolution, the type and origin of the tumor and the findings of complementary examinations and necropsy. Of the 40 dogs with brain tumors included in this study 67.5% were classified as primary origin. Mixed breed dogs and Boxers were the most affected. The main clinical signs observed included seizures, behavioral changes and walk in circle. The thalamus-cortex region was the most affected. Regarding the type of the tumor, the meningioma (32.5%) and oligodendroglioma (12.5%) were the most common. The evolution of the clinical signs varied from four to 210 days (mean 44 days).

RESUMO Relata-se um caso de um felino com sinais de dificuldade respiratória havia cerca de 30 dias e emagrecimento progressivo. Ao exame radiográfico torácico e de abdômen, ficou evidenciada perda de definição da linha diafragmática, sendo compatível com hérnia diafragmática. Na laparoscopia, foi observado grande defeito diafragmático, além de estruturas herniadas. Em razão de as vísceras abdominais direcionarem-se ao tórax, dificultando a oclusão do defeito com suturas intracorpóreas, optou-se pela realização de incisão paracostal, procedendo-se à herniorrafia por celiotomia reduzida. A videolaparoscopia permitiu localizar o local herniado e promover a redução dos órgãos envolvidos com mínimo trauma operatório. Logo, mostrou-se como eficaz ferramenta diagnóstica e auxiliar no tratamento de hérnias diafragmáticas crônicas de grande dimensão em gato. ABSTRACT This is a case report of a cat with signs of respiratory distress for about 30 days and progressive weight loss. The thoracic radiograph and abdomen examination evidencing loss of definition of the diaphragmatic line is compatible with diaphragmatic hernia. In laparoscopy, a large diaphragmatic defect and herniated structures were observed. Since abdominal viscera point towards the chest making occlusion of defective intracorporeal sutures difficult, paracostal incision proceeding to hernia repair by short celiotomy was chosen. Laparoscopy allows for location of herniated place and promotes the reduction of organs involved with minimal surgical trauma. Therefore, it was shown to be an effective diagnostic tool and an aid in the treatment of chronic diaphragmatic hernias of large size in a cat.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar cães com doença do disco intervertebral toracolombar (Hansen tipo I) submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico em um serviço de rotina em neurologia de um hospital veterinário universitário no período de 2006 a 2014, e obter informações a respeito da idade, do sexo, da raça, local da extrusão, interpretação da mielografia, avaliação dos graus de disfunção neurológica, recuperação funcional desses cães e observar a ocorrência de recidiva dos sinais clínicos da doença. A raça mais frequente foi Dachshund (69%), seguida dos cães sem raça definida (14,5%). Os locais mais afetados foram entre T12-T13 (31,9%) e L1-L2 (19,1%). Dos 110 cães, 74 (67,3%) tiveram melhora dos sinais clínicos após o procedimento cirúrgico, sendo 54 (49,1%) considerados satisfatórios e 20 (18,2%), parcialmente satisfatórios. Destes cães, seis (8,1%) cães estavam em grau II, 19 (25,7%) em grau III, 35 (47,3%) em grau IV e 14 (18,9%) em grau V. Pode-se concluir que o tratamento cirúrgico promove recuperação funcional satisfatória na maioria dos cães com extrusão de disco toracolombar. O prognóstico para recuperação funcional após o tratamento cirúrgico é tanto melhor quanto menor for o grau de disfunção neurológica e o percentual de recidiva é baixo em animais submetidos a este tipo de terapia. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to identify dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (Hansen type I) submitted for surgical treatment on a routine service in neurology in a university veterinary hospital in 2006-2014, and to get information about age, sex, breed, site of extrusion, interpretation of myelography, evaluation of the degree of neurological dysfunction, functional recovery of these dogs, and to verify the recurrence of clinical signs of disease. The most common breed was Dachshund (69%), followed by mixed breed (14.5%). The most affected sites were between T12-T13 (31.9%) and L1-L2 (19.1%). Of the 110 dogs, 74 (67.3%) improved clinical signs after surgery, 54 (49.1%) satisfactory and 20 (18.2%), in part satisfactory. From these dogs, six (8.1%) dogs were in grade II, 19 (25.7%) in grade III, 35 (47.3%) in grade IV, and 14 (18.9%) in grade V. It can be concluded that satisfactory surgical treatment promotes functional recovery in most dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion. The prognosis for functional recovery after surgical treatment is better the lower the degree of neurological dysfunction and the recurrence percentage is lower in dogs subjected to this type of therapy.

De 2006 a 2013 foram diagnosticados 81 casos de doença vestibular canina no serviço de rotina em neurologia de um hospital veterinário universitário do sul do Brasil. Desses, aproximadamente dois terços foram diagnosticados com doença vestibular central (DVC) e cerca de um terço como doença vestibular periférica (DVP). Cães com raça definida foram mais acometidos que aqueles sem raça definida, principalmente Dachshund (DVP) e Boxer (DVC). Os principais sinais clínicos observados, tanto na DVP quanto na DVC, incluíram: inclinação de cabeça, ataxia vestibular e estrabismo ventral ou ventrolateral. Deficiência proprioceptiva, disfunção dos nervos cranianos V-XII e alteração de nível de consciência foram vistos apenas em casos de DVC, já a ausência de reflexo palpebral ocorreu apenas em casos de DVP. Doenças inflamatórias/infecciosas, principalmente cinomose e otite bacteriana, foram as condições mais comumente associadas à DVC e à DVP, respectivamente. Esse artigo estabelece os aspectos epidemiológicos (sexo, idade e raça) e a prevalência dos sinais clínicos observados em cães com doença vestibular na Região Central do Rio Grande do Sul, discute a utilização dos achados clínicos no diagnóstico correto e na diferenciação entre DVC e DVP, e define quais as principais doenças responsáveis pela ocorrência dessas duas síndromes clínicas. Eighty-one cases of vestibular disease in dogs were diagnosed by the neurology service in a veterinary teaching hospital in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Approximately 2/3 of these cases were interpreted as central vestibular disease (CVD) with the remaining cases being considered as peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Pure breed dogs, especially Dachshunds (PVD) and Boxers (CVD) were more affected than mixed breed dogs. The main clinical signs observed in cases of CVD and PVD included head tilt, vestibular ataxia, and ventral or ventrolateral strabismus. Proprioceptive deficits, cranial nerve V-XII dysfunction, and changes in the levels of conscience were observed only in cases of CVD, whereas absence of palpebral reflex occurred only in cases of PVD. Inflammatory or infectious diseases, especially canine distemper and bacterial otitis were the most commonly observed conditions associated with CVD and PVD, respectively. This article establishes the epidemiology (sex, age, and breed) and prevalence of clinical signs related to canine vestibular disease in the Central Rio Grande do Sul State; discusses the use of the clinical findings in the correct diagnosis and differentiation between CVD and PVD; and defines the main specific diseases responsible for the occurrence of CVD and PVD in dogs.

This paper reports a case of a rare variant of the cervical spinal cord astrocytoma diagnosed in a dog with progressive neurological signs, initially asymmetrical, not ambulatory tetraparesis, segmental reflexes and normal muscle tone in all four limbs and absence of pain upon palpation of the cervical spine. Myelography revealed attenuation of the ventral and dorsal contrast line in the third region of the fifth cervical vertebra. At necropsy intramedullary cylindrical mass that stretched from the third to the sixth cervical vertebra, which replaced all the gray matter of the spinal cord was observed. In the histological study, there was the replacement of the substance by neoplastic cells mantle arranged loosely. The cells were large and slightly rounded. The eosinophilic cytoplasm was well defined, sometimes forming processes interconnecting cells. The nucleus was eccentric, round, oval or kidney-shaped, and the nucleolus was evident. Thus, the microscopic changes observed in the cervical spinal cord were consistent with gemistocytic astrocytoma. RESUMO Relata-se um caso de uma variante rara de astrocitoma na medula cervical, diagnosticado em cadela com sinais neurológicos progressivos, inicialmente assimétricos, de tetraparesia não ambulatória, com reflexos segmentares e tônus muscular normais nos quatro membros e ausência de dor à palpação da coluna cervical. A mielografia revelou atenuação da linha de contraste ventral e dorsal na região da terceira à quinta vértebra cervical. À necropsia, foi observada massa cilíndrica intramedular que se estendia da terceira à sexta vértebra cervical, a qual substituía toda a substância cinzenta da medula espinhal. No estudo histológico, observou-se substituição da substância por manto de células neoplásicas arranjadas frouxamente. As células eram grandes e levemente arredondadas. O citoplasma eosinofílico, bem delineado, por vezes formava processos interligando as células. O núcleo era excêntrico, redondo, oval ou reniforme, e o nucléolo evidente. Logo, as alterações microscópicas observadas na medula espinhal cervical foram compatíveis com astrocitoma gemistocítico.

RESUMO: O sistema linfático mamário de animais saudáveis e neoplásicos é pouco estudado. Inexistem respostas detalhadas quanto ao padrão de comunicação entre as cadeias linfáticas mamárias com as abdominais e pélvicas em animais sadios ou com neoplasmas na referida glândula. Por essa razão, pretendeu-se avaliar a ocorrência dessa comunicação linfática intrabdominal, verificando também se a cadeia linfática inguinoilíaca poderia ser adequadamente abordada via cirurgia laparoscópica. Para tanto, os animais foram distribuídos, de forma randômica, em três grupos cirúrgicos: pacientes submetidos à técnica de coloração linfática com o corante azul de metileno estéril (G1); animais submetidos à técnica de impregnação linfática com o corante verde de indocianina (G2); animais submetidos à técnica demarcação linfática, utilizando solução fisiológica de NaCl a 0,9% (G3). Em todos os grupos, foi realizada a aplicação intradérmica, do corante ou solução fisiológica, ao redor da mama inguinal direita, em tempos distintos de 12h ou 30min, antes da incisão de pele. Após, foram coletadas, por videolaparoscopia, duas regiões contendo tecido adiposo, laterais às artérias ilíacas interna e externas, buscando avaliar a presença e o número de linfonodos extirpardos. Por último, realizou-se a ovário-histerectomia eletiva pelos mesmos portais de acesso. Foram considerados ainda, o tempo de cirurgia e as complicações e dificuldades técnicas trans e pós-operatórias. A técnica proposta de linfadenectomia inginoilíaca intrabdominal não obteve êxito na coleta de linfonodos. As técnicas de marcação linfática realizadas, utilizando tanto o azul de metileno a 1%, como o verde de indocianina a 1%, não evidenciaram nenhuma marcação transoperatória nos tempos estudados. Em relação às complicações e dificuldades técnicas trans e pós-operatórias, observou-se, em todos os animais, reações de hipersensibilidade cutânea ao uso dos corantes. As técnicas propostas não apresentaram maiores dificuldades de execução ou complicações transoperatórias. ABSTRACT: The lymphatic mammary system in healthy and neoplastic animals has been poorly studied. There is sparse information regarding the communication pattern along the mammary lymphatic chain and abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes in healthy animals or in those bearing mammary neoplasms. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of such intra-abdominal lymphatic communications, as well as the feasibility of laparoscopic assessment of the inguinoiliac lymphatic chain. Animals were randomly divided into three groups: dogs that underwent lymphatic staining with sterile methylene blue solution (G1); lymphatic staining with indocyanine green dye (G2); placebo subjects were submitted to the same injection technique, but using sterile normal saline (G3). In all groups, intradermal administration of dye or saline around the right inguinal mammary gland was performed 12 hours or 30 minutes before skin incision. Afterwards, two areas containing adipose tissue were sampled laparoscopically, lateral to the external and internal iliac arteries, and the number of lymph nodes retrieved was assessed. Animals were submitted to ovariohysterectomy using the same laparoscopic approach, following adipose tissue/lymph node excision. Other assessments included operative time, intra and postoperative complications and technical difficulties. The proposed technique for intra-abdominal iliac lymphadenectomy was not successful in recovering lymph nodes. The lymphatic staining technique using either methylene blue or indocyanine green provided no intraoperative staining. Regarding the complications and technical difficulties, all animals presented mild hypersensitivity reactions regardless of the dye used. Laparoscopy for inguinoiliac lymph node exploration presented no other technical difficulties or postoperative complications.

A acústica nas salas de aula é essencial tanto para a compreensão da fala quanto para a saúde dos usuários. Assim, os países buscam minimizar esses problemas elaborando normas que busquem reduzir o ruído. Desta forma, este trabalho tem por objetivo verificar a diferença entre os valores máximos e mínimos permitidos nas normas vigentes e fazer uma comparação com as normas oriundas da Organização Mundial da Saúde. O âmbito do estudo abrangeu os seguintes países: Brasil, Portugal, Inglaterra, Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Suécia, Itália e França. Para tal, inicialmente foi realizado um estudo sobre as normativas referentes ao ruído, especificamente no ambiente escolar. Posteriormente foi elaborada uma análise estatística comparando os parâmetros acústicos (Tempo de Reverberação em segundos e o nível do ruído ambiente em decibels). Portanto, na comparação tem-se que a norma brasileira é a única que não possui especificações para o Tempo de Reverberação em salas de aula, e o ruído ambiente está 9,1% abaixo do máximo aceito. As normas dos Estados Unidos e da Alemanha são as mais criteriosas, enquanto a Itália é a única que permite que o Tempo de Reverberação seja maior do que o recomendado pelas normas anteriores.

Background: Dioctophyme renale, also known as “giant kidney worm”, is a cosmopolitan parasite, which usually affects domestic and wildlife canids in wetlands. Nephrotomy and nephrectomy are the only treatment options. Laparoscopic nephrectomy for dioctophymosis was first performed in veterinary patients in the late 90’s. Canine pyometra is one of themost frequent surgical disorder in the small animal setting. The purpose of this study was to report a case of successful one-stage laparoscopic approach for nephrectomy and ovariohysterectomy in a bitch.Case: A female stray dog, rescued from a riverside community, was presenting hematuria. Abdominal echography revealed presence of Dioctophyme renale worms within the right renal parenchyma. Moreover, the uterus was moderately filled by anechoic content. The patient was clinically stable and undergone laparoscopy. A 10-mm trocar was established at the middle third of the right flank, followed by 12-mmHg CO2 insufflation. The telescope was inserted and a giant worm wasseen free within the abdominal cavity. A second 10-mm port was inserted cranial and dorsally to the first one. The parasite was retrieved using a laparoscopic Kelly forceps. A third 5-mm trocar was inserted in a classic laparoscopic triangulation port positioning. Renal artery and vein were individually triple ligated using titanium clips and then transected. The rightovarian pedicle was sequentially coagulated and transected using laparoscopic bipolar forceps. The right kidney was then dissected and detached from the abdominal wall, followed by cauterization and transection of the left ovarian pedicle. The uterus was exposed out of the abdominal cavity through the 5-mm port access. Uterine body and vessels were double ligated using polyglactin 910, with transfixating ligatures, and then transected. The opening of the retrieval bag was exposed through the cranial port site incision. Eight dioctophyme worms and the kidney sections were withdrawn through the sacusing a Kelly hemostat. Abdominal wounds were closed in two layers using cross-mattress polyglactin 910 sutures. Skinwas closed using interrupted horizontal mattress nylon sutures. Patient was discharged on the early post-op, receiving tramadol chloride and sodium dipyrone for three days and enrofloxacin for seven days. The patient recovered uneventfully. Owner was contacted by phone eight months following surgery, which informed the bitch was clinically stable.Discussion: Riverside stray dogs present high incidence of dioctophymosis worldwide, due to irregular feeding and consequent intake of intermediate hosts. The reported patient met those features, without previous background regarding infestation episode. It presented hematuria, which usually results from renal parenchyma consumption by the worms. The patient was retrieved nine dioctophyme worms. Laparoscopic approach for nephrectomy has already been reported in veterinary patients, as well as three-port lap-assisted OVH have been performed. Innovative aspect of this case report concerns the one-stage laparoscopic approach for both nephrectomy and OVH. Moreover, the procedures required only three-port access, which was considered a suitable and safe minimally invasive approach in dogs affected by Dioctophyme renale and concurrent indication for OVH. The three-port access shown is adequate to perform one-stage nephrectomy and ovariohysterectomy in bitches, for reaching benefits of laparoscopic surgery in comparison to conventional approaches.Keywords: canine, endosurgery, kidney, laparoscopy, videosurgery.

Background : Melanoma is a primary ocular neoplasm that may affect the iris, ciliary body, the choroid coat and others components of the eye. The ocular melanomas have a low metastatic level in dogs when compared to cats. Old animals are more affected than the young ones and there is no breed predilection. A complete eye examination and ocular ultrasound will lead to the diagnosis that will be further confirmed through histopathology. Current treatment of choice is based on the size and the structures involved by the tumor that can range from local resection to orbital exenteration. The objective of this study is to report a case of iris melanoma involving the ciliary body and the choroid coat of a Poodle, emphasizing its clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment. Case : This study reports a case of an intact male canine Poodle, 15 years old, weighing 5 kg that was referred for care to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. The owner initially presented a history of a progressive increase dark-colored intraocular volume in the right eye iris of the dog. On the clinical examination, no abnormality was found. On the ophthalmic examination, the right eye possessed misshapen pupil, hyperemia ocular conjunctiva (+) and diffuse corneal opacity (+) with paracentral pigmentation between 7-10 hour. On biomicroscopic ex­amination, using a slit lamp, it was observed an iris distension that was protruding directly into the anterior chamber and a diffuse opacity of the lens. Intraocular pressure was eight mmHg. B-mode ultrasonography revealed a mass involving the iris, ciliary body and the choroid coat with perilesional retinal detachment, suggesting iris ciliary body and choroid mela­noma. Due to the bad prognosis of the affected eye, the patient underwent to orbital exenteration procedure. The extracted eyeball was placed in 10% formalin and sent for histopathological examination, which was later reported as showing an iris melanoma involving the ciliary body and the choroid coat. The patient was re-examined six months postoperatively and no neoplasm recurrence signs were observed. Discussion : The animal stated in this report showed an increased volume of the right eye and dark pigmentation involving the iris. As highlighted by the actual literature, the size of this kind of neoplasm can vary from small to larger nodules and it can causes relevant anatomical changes. The pigmentation in these cases may vary from dark colors (black or brown) to white, for example, the amelanotic melanomas. In this report it was observed a nodular staining quite blackened pig­mentation. This kind of cancer involves mainly not neutered male dogs, with breed predilection as the German shepherd dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and also Poodles, as reported in this case. The treatment suggested by the literature, can range from diode laser therapy to microsurgical resection with enucleation or exenteration, depending on the size of the affected region and structures involved. The treatment of choice in this patient was the orbital exenteration because of the capacity of this tumor to spread throughout the uvea and it was not sure whether scleral infiltration could already exist, although the enucleation could also be indicated. However, through the histopathological examination, it could be confirmed that the neoplasm was located only at iris, involving also the ciliary body and choroid coat without sclera leakage, so there would be no need for exenteration. The average age of the patients is around nine years old ac­cording to published reports, namely older animals as the patient here described. The orbital exenteration technique, with good safety margin resection, proved to be efficient for the surgical treatment of iris melanoma involving the ciliary body and the choroid coat. Keywords: ophthalmology, neoplasm, uvea.

Background : Secondary neurological disorders hypothyroidism is unusual in dogs, especially when compared with other clinical signs, such as lethargy, weight gain and dermatological alterations. When manifested, these signals refer to the peripheral or central nervous system and the most common include: vestibular disease, seizures, laryngeal paralysis, poly­neuropathy and paralysis of the facial nerve. Several reports of neurological disorders associated with hypothyroidism are found in literature, basically international. In the national literature, however, there are few reports on the subject. Thus, the aim of this study was to report a case of facial paralysis associated with hypothyroidism in a dog. Case : A male canine, the boxer race, with 7-year-old were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the UFSM with a history of difficult water and food intake and asymmetry of the face for seven days. On neurological ex­amination, the animal found itself alert and locomotion, postural reactions and segmental reflexes without changes. In the evaluation of the cranial nerves, there was a menace response absent the right side, however with preserved vision, palpebral and lip ptosis of the right side and reflection palpebral absent on the same side. Opposite the historical, clinical, neurological and laboratory test findings, the diagnosis was facial paralysis secondary to hypothyroidism. As differential diagnoses were listed, inner otitis neoplasm in inner ear, trauma and idiopathic facial paralysis. After the diagnosis, clini­cal treatment was instituted with levothyroxine sodium, at a dose of 0.02 mg kg orally every 12 h, being observed total improvement of clinical signs (no changes for water intake and food, menace response and reflection palpebral normal and symmetry of the face) in 32 days. Discussion : The diagnosis of facial paralysis associated with hypothyroidism was based on the history, clinical and neurological examination findings, laboratory assessment of thyroid function by observing low serum free T4 and high concentrations of TSH, the therapeutic response after supplementation levothyroxine sodium, and exclusion of other pos­sible causes, such as otitis interna and traumatic. The pathogenesis of this change associated with hypothyroidism is not completely understood, although it is believed that cranial nerve paralysis (trigeminal, facial and vestibulocochlear) may result from the resulting compression of myxedema deposit nerve or in the tissues of the head and neck, demyelination caused by disordered metabolism of Schwann cells, decreased blood perfusion of the inner ear secondary to hyperlipidemia and increased blood viscosity or metabolic defects ranging from change in axonal transport to severe axonal loss. Treatment consists of supplementation of levothyroxine and most dogs with neurological disorders associated with hypothyroidism will present partial or total improvement of clinical signs between two and four months, generally being observed improve­ment within the first week of treatment. In the dog this report, after the beginning of treatment, improvement was observed partial and total clinical signs in 15 and 32 days, respectively. Therefore, with appropriate treatment, hypothyroidism is a disease with an excellent prognosis. The report brings to clinical relevance, the importance of hypothyroidism in the dif­ferential diagnosis of facial paralysis in dogs with face asymmetry history, the laboratory evaluation of thyroid function and response to therapy with levothyroxine sodium supplementation essential for definitive diagnosis . Keywords: neurology, facial nerve, peripheral neuropathy, dogs.

Background : Intervertebral disc disease is a usual neurological disorder in dogs, which the spinal cord is compressed by intervertebral disc extrusion or protrusion. Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy isan acute infarction disease of spinal cord caused by fibrocartilaginous emboli histologically identical to the nucleus pulposus of intervertebral discs. The aim of this report is present two cases of fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy in dogs with intervertebral disc disease. Cases : Two dogs - dachshund breed - were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the UFSM. In the first case, the dog was three years old and the owner described complete inability to move the pelvic limbs. The neurological examination revealed paraplegia, postural reactions deficits, normal spinal reflexes and muscle tonus in the hind limbs, pain on palpation in T12-T11 region and loss of deep pain in hind limbs. In the other case, the dog was seven years old and the owner described partial inability to move four limbs. The neurological examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, postural reactions deficit, normal spinal reflexes in four limbs and pain on palpation in cervical spine. In both cases, the presumptive diagnosis was intervertebral disc disease and surgical treatment was indicated. The dog with thoracolumbar injury died during the anesthesia and the dog with cervical injury was euthanized, after decision of owner. During the necropsy was observed intervertebral disc extrusion between L1-L2 vertebrae in a dog and between C3-C4 vertebrae in the other case with cartilaginous fragments in the spinal canal. Histopathology revealed marked diffuse necrosis with multifocal hemorrhage and cartilaginous emboli. Discussion : Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy is commonly reported in large and giant breed dogs, though also occur in small and medium-sized breeds of dogs. One hypothesis is the pulpous nucleus remains soft for a longer period in large breed dogs, empowering to infiltration in the spinal cord vessels. The intervertebral disc extrusion occurs predominantly in dogs with age between three and six years old, in the cervical, thoracolumbar (T11-L3) and lumbar regions. Chondroid or fibroid degeneration of the intervertebral disc is the most common cause of spinal cord compression in small animals. In chondrodistrophic breed dogs is frequently chondroid degeneration, which the nucleus pulposus moves into the spinal canal through rupture of the annulus fibrosus (extrusion or Hansen type I), causing acute spinal cord compression. The prevalence of fibrocartilaginous embolism in adult and old dogs increase the possibility of predisposing factors, facilitating the injection intravascular of nucleus pulposus material. One of the most accepted theories about the mechanism of fibrocartilaginous emboli into the vessels is due to increase of inside discal pressure and liberation of fibrocartilaginous emboli from nucleus pulposus into the vertebral artery for retrograde flow, reaching the spinal cord by blood flow. The simultaneous occurrence of intervertebral disc disease and the infarction of spinal cord in the proximate region accentuate the hypothesis that the etiology of fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy is mechanical into the vessels of the spinal cord. Keywords: neurology, spinal cord, intervertebral disc disease, dogs.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar cães com poliartrite e obter informações a respeito da idade, sexo, raça, peso corporal, queixa principal, alterações no exame físico, do líquido sinovial e resposta à terapia instituída. Os cães sem raça definida e acima de seis anos de idade foram os mais acometidos e o principal sinal clínico observado foi dificuldade de locomoção (71,5%), seguido de dor articular (52,3%) e claudicação (33,3%). Febre e inapetência foram observadas em cinco (18,5%) e quatro cães (14,8%), respectivamente. As principais alterações hematológicas encontradas foram anemia não regenerativa (29,6%), leucocitose (26%) e trombocitopenia (18,5%). Os resultados da bioquímica sérica foram considerados normais em sete de 27 cães (26%) e as principais alterações foram hiperproteinemia (55,5%) e hipoalbuminemia (37%). A inflamação sinovial foi considerada acentuada em 17 cães (77,5%), sendo os neutrófilos predominantes em 52,4% dos casos (n=14). O tratamento foi realizado em 18 cães com doses imunossupressoras de corticosteroides, sendo efetivo em 89% dos casos

Background: Hypothyroidism in dogs can cause lethargy, weight gain, dermatological signs and, uncommonly, neurological signs. These may involve the peripheral or central nervous system, leading to a decreased level of consciousness, central or peripheral vestibular disease, epileptic seizures, cognitive dysfunction, facial nerve paralysis, laryngeal paralysis, and polyneuropathy. There are few cases reported in the literature relating hypothyroidism and central vestibular disease. The aim of this study was to report a case of a stroke secondary to hypothyroidism that resulted in central vestibular syndrome in a dog.Case: A 13-year-old female Pitbull, weighting 37 kg, was referred to a Veterinary University Hospital with a two weeks history of dyspnea, coughing and walking difficulty. On neurological examination, the animal presented vertical nystagmus, somnolence, non-ambulatory tetraparesis, decreased postural reaction in all limbs and normal spinal reflexes. The laboratory exams revealed a mild leukocytosis and increased creatinine, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Due to historical, clinical, neurological and laboratory tests findings, the animal was diagnosed with central vestibular syndrome secondary to an intracranial neoplasm. Clinical treatment was instituted with corticosteroids, however the animal did not respond and died. On necropsy, the heart was enlarged and coronary arteries were thicker. No macroscopic changes were found in the brain. On histological analysis, the coronary arteries were congest by lipids that almost occluded the arterial lumen. The same alteration were found in splenic and renal arterioles, and in the brain’s leptomeninges. Also in the brain, it was observed perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells and focal gliosis. The thyroid was atrophied and fibrosed bilaterally. Therefore, those changes were compatible with atherosclerosis secondary to hypothyroidism.Discussion: Neurological sings secondary to hypothyroidism are uncommon. From 116 dogs with hypothyroidism, only 22 (19%) had neurological presentations. The majority was associated with peripheral nervous system showing polyneuropathy and cranial nerve dysfunction. When associated with central nervous system the most common sings are pathological nystagmus, postural reaction deficits, tetraparesis, hemiparesis, and paradoxical vestibular diseases. These signs are similar to the findings in the case reported here, characterizing it as a central vestibular disease. Different from humans, dogs have a natural resistance against atherosclerosis, however, hypothyroidism can result in lipids metabolic deficits, increasing its plasma levels. In this report, the arterial lesion and ischemia secondary to atherosclerosis, especially in the brain steam, have led to the neurological presentation. The dog also had hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, which are related to hypothyroidism. As high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are common findings in hypothyroidism, it is important to evaluating blood levels of those lipids in dogs with central vestibular diseases, even though there are no others endocrinal signs. This case shows that, even though central vestibular disease is not a common neurological presentation in hypothyroidism, it is always important to considerer this metabolic affection as a precursor and a differential diagnosis to central vestibular disease.

Background : Meningioma is the most common brain tumor in dogs. These extra-axial tumors originate in one of the meninges, and arachnoid is the most common. Several retrospective studies of brain tumors are found in the international literature. However there are few researches in the national literature. The purpose of this study is to report twelve dogs with brain meningioma. The breed, gender, age, neurological signs, the brain location, the clinical evolution, the tumor classifcation and diagnostics tests were investigated. Cases : Twelve dogs were attended at Veterinary Hospital of Santa Maria University: six mixed-breeds; four Boxer; a Dachs hund; and a Poodle. The age ranged from eight to 14 years, with average of ten years and nine months old. The clinical signs observed were generalized seizures (9/12); behavioral changes (6/12); walk in circle (5/12); swallowing diffculty (2/12 [16%]); hypermetria (2/12); central vestibular syndrome (1/12); and amaurosis (1/12). The presumptive diagnosis was brain neoplasm in all dogs. Six dogs were underwent symptomatic treatment with corticosteroids and anticonvulsants; two dogs were underwent corticosteroids; and four were euthanized without performing treatment. After starting treatment, four dogs (50%) showed clinical improvement in the frst week, however, the clinical signs worsened after two weeks. The thalamus-cortex region was affected in seven cases (59%), followed by cerebellar-pontine region (25%), brainstem (8%) and cerebellum (8%). In the histological classifcation of meningiomas, the meningothelial variant was observed in six dogs, three psammomatous, two transitional and a fbroblast. Discussion : The average age of initiation of clinical signs was ten years and nine months, similar result found in a large study about brain tumor. Female dogs were most affected (n = 8), although some authors did not report sexual predis position. The neurological signs of dogs with brain meningiomas occur through adjacent structures compression, direct invasion of tissues, interruption of circulation, edema, inflammation and necrosis. The thalamus-cortex region was the most affected and the seizures were the most common clinical signs observed in dogs, according to the international literature. The meningiomas canine are histologically classifed into two groups: benign tumors (meningothelial, fbroblast, transitional, psammomatous, angiomatous, papillary, myxoid and granular cells); and malignant tumors (anaplastic). The meningothelial variant was found most frequently in this stud (50%), according to the others authors. The clinical course of time was determined from the onset of signs found in neurological examination until the time of death or euthanasia of dogs, being progressive in all patients. In this study, encephalic neoplasms showed slow evolution of signals between fve to 180 days (mean 58 days). This time is longer compared to other study in which the mean survival of 86 dogs was 30 days. In the present study, there was only symptomatic treatment with corticosteroids and/or anticonvulsant. The conclusion of this study is that brain meningioma is a common tumor; occur in adult and older dogs of different breeds; the clinical signs more frequent were seizures, behavioral changes and walk in circle to the side of the lesion. The palliative treatment with corticosteroids and anticonvulsants may be effcient in controlling the clinical signs, however the long-term prognosis is adverse. Keywords: neoplasm, brain, neurology, dog.

RESUMO: Foi realizado um estudo epidemiológico retrospectivo de gatos com doenças neurológicas atendidos em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário entre 2001 e 2014. O objetivo foi identificar e caracterizar a idade, o sexo, a raça, as doenças neurológicas e classificá-las de acordo com a região anatômica e o acrônimo DINAMIT-V. Foram observados 155 gatos com doenças neurológicas em 13 anos, sendo o diagnóstico confirmado em 112 gatos (72,2%) e presuntivo em 43 (27,8%). Gatos sem raça definida (77,9%) foram os mais comuns, seguido de gatos da raça persa e siamesa. Os locais mais afetados foram medula espinhal entre T3-L3 (28,4%) e tálamo-córtex (24,5%). A maioria dos gatos (43,9%) foi diagnosticada com doença traumática, principalmente trauma de medula espinhal, seguida de doença inflamatória/infecciosa (33,5%). Pode se concluir que a maior prevalência das doenças neurológicas de gatos envolve a medula espinhal e o tálamo-córtex, sendo as traumáticas as mais frequentes. Os dados obtidos podem auxiliar em futuros estudos sobre a frequência e a distribuição das principais doenças neurológicas em gatos. ABSTRACT: A retrospective epidemiological study on neurological disease of cats was performed using data from cats admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2001 to 2014. The aim the study was to determine the age, sex race, and type of neurological disease affecting cats and identify these diseases according to the anatomical region and disease classes, specified under the acronym DINAMIT-V. One hundred and fifty five cats with neurological disease were observed during 13 years; the diagnosis was confirmed in 112 (72.2%) and was presumptive in 43 (27.8%). Mixed breed cats (77.9%) were the most commonly affected, followed by Persian and Siamese cats. The most affected anatomic sites were segments T3-L3 of the spinal cord (28.4%) and thalamic-cortical area (24.5%). Most cats (43.9%), were diagnosed with trauma, mainly spinal cord trauma, followed by inflammatory/infectious disease (33.5%). It is concluded that the neurological disorders in cats have higher prevalence in the spinal cord and thalamic-cortical areas and that the most frequent class of disease is trauma. Data obtained may assist future studies regarding neurological diseases in cats.