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There are several reports in the veterinary literature on tracheal assessment; however, there is a lack of studies on the trachea in voluntarily breathing dogs. The aim of this study was to describe the natural shape of the trachea in awake dogs and to assess tracheal dimensions and the width-to-height ratio. Thoracic computed tomographic images of awake small breed dogs without any signs of respiratory malfunction (n = 19) were evaluated. Each trachea was categorised into one of four different shapes: circular, horseshoe, crescent or focal dorsal invagination. The circular shape was prominent, particularly in the thoracic inlet and intrathoracic area, while the horseshoe shape was also normally present. In this group of normal dogs, there were no crescent-shaped tracheas, but focally invaginated tracheas were observed. The mean tracheal heights at five locations, namely the caudal endplate of the fourth cervical vertebra, cranial endplate of the seventh cervical vertebra, mid-body of the first thoracic vertebra, mid-body of the third thoracic vertebra, and 1 cm cranial to the carina were 9.12, 8.96, 9.34, 9.88 and 10.16 mm, respectively. The widths at these same sites were 12.26, 10.42, 10.07, 9.82 and 10.23 mm, respectively. The width-to-height ratios of each tracheal location were 1.38, 1.20, 1.10, 1.01 and 1.03, the last two of which are consistent with the circular shape of the intrathoracic trachea. Multi-detector computed tomography under non-general anaesthesia is a non-invasive and unparalleled imaging tool for describing tracheal appearance in healthy awake dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive urothelial (transitional cell) carcinoma (UC) is the most common cancer in the canine urinary tract. Prolonged survival of dogs with UC due to better management of the primary tumor and prevention of urethral obstruction might have contributed to an apparent increase in distant metastasis. Metastasis to bone is particularly concerning because the ensuing pain often leads to euthanasia; however, little is known of the frequency, site, or nature of UC skeletal metastasis. In a retrospective analysis, 17 (9%) of 188 canine UC cases had histologically confirmed skeletal metastasis, mainly to the vertebrae. In a prospective analysis of 21 dogs with UC that underwent total body computed tomography (CT) at euthanasia followed by a standardized pathologic examination, skeletal lesions detected on CT were suspected to be metastatic in 4 dogs and were confirmed as metastatic UC histologically in 3 (14%) dogs. In all 3 cases, skeletal metastasis had been suspected based on history and physical examination; however, 1 dog had additional CT-detected skeletal metastases in a clinically unsuspected location, and 2 dogs had histologically confirmed skeletal metastases that corresponded to nonspecific osseous lesions on CT. These findings suggest that total body CT could be helpful in detecting skeletal metastasis as a cause of bone pain in dogs with UC as well as in identifying clinically “silent” sites of skeletal metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri ( GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One lesion was partially embedded within the wall of the cecum, and the other lesion was attached to the antimesenteric border of the colon via the serosa. A 5-month-old intact male Labradoodle presented for a 1-day history of vomiting, lethargy, inappetence and recent sock ingestion. [Extracted from the article]

A set of fine-focusing soft x-ray sources has been manufactured to meet the requirements of research and development work at the BEPC Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. The electrical and optical characteristics of the source as well as preliminary experiments on contact microscopy performed with the source are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracheal collapse with axial rotation was diagnosed in four dogs. Radiographs showed increased tracheal dorsoventral height at the caudal cervical and thoracic inlet with and apparent intraluminal soft tissue opacity, mimicking an intraluminal tracheal foreign body. Computed tomography confirmed dorsoventral tracheal collapse with axial rotation in all dogs. Short-term outcome with medical treatment of all dogs was excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 4 year old Bull Mastiff dog that has gastric bezoar obstruction. The said condition refers to rare conglomerate masses of either foreign materials or indigestible organic substances presents in the lumen of the gastro-intestinal tract. Various drugs were given to the dog including amoxycilin, Lactated Ringer and Duphalyte. The dog underwent surgery.

The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri ( GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary study objective was to determine whether clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can underestimate canine gliomatosis cerebri (GC); we also investigated immunohistochemical features. Seven dogs with GC were studied; four recruited specifically because of minimal MRI changes. Neuroanatomic localization and the distribution of MRI, gross and sub-gross lesions were compared with the actual histological distribution of neoplastic cells. In six cases, clinical examination predicted focal disease and MRI demonstrated a single lesion or appeared normal. Neoplastic cells infiltrated many regions deemed normal by clinical examination and MRI, and were Olig2-positive and glial fibrillary acid protein-negative. Four dogs had concurrent gliomas. GC is a differential diagnosis for dogs with focal neurological deficits and a normal MRI or a focal MRI lesion. Canine GC is probably mainly oligodendrocytic. Type II GC, a solid glioma accompanying diffuse central nervous system neoplastic infiltration, occurs in dogs as in people., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The effect of feeding a limited iodine diet on radioactive iodine uptake in the thyroid glands of hyperthyroid cats is unknown., Objectives: To determine how feeding limited dietary iodine affects radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid glands of hyperthyroid cats., Animals: Eight geriatric cats with spontaneous hyperthyroidism., Methods: Prospective study of eight client owned hyperthyroid cats fed a commercially available iodine limited diet for 6 months. Clinical signs were evaluated and TT4 and fT4 were measured during consumption of the diet. Uptake of (123)I was determined before and 8-16 weeks after exclusive consumption of the diet., Results: Clinical signs of hyperthyroidism resolved in all cats, but there was no significant increase in body weight. TT4 and fT4 decreased into the reference range by 8-16 weeks in all cats. Mean TT4 before consumption of the diet was 9.7 μg/dL (SD 5.2) and after consumption of the diet was 3.1 μg/dL (SD 0.9). Scintigraphy revealed unilateral uptake of isotope in 5 cats and bilateral uptake in 3 cats. Mean percentage uptake of (123)I by the thyroid gland at 8 hours after isotope administration was 16.2 (SD 11.8) before diet consumption and 34.6 (SD 11.7) 8-16 weeks after exclusive consumption of the diet. The percentage increase was variable between cats (38-639%)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Limited iodine diets increase iodine uptake in the autonomous thyroid glands of hyperthyroid cats. Further studies are necessary to determine if consumption of a limited iodine diet changes sensitivity of the thyroid gland to (131)I treatment., (Copyright © 2015 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Background: Clinical signs associated with respiratory tract disease are regularly encountered in people with kidney failure, and have been anecdotally reported in dogs., Objectives: To compare clinical signs indicative of pulmonary disease, clinicopathologic findings, radiographic abnormalities, and histologic findings in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) or International Renal Interest Society Stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) to nonazotemic dogs. To determine associations between abnormalities indicative of pulmonary disease and outcome in azotemic dogs., Animals: One hundred sixty-seven pet dogs (54 AKI dogs, 50 CKD dogs, 63 nonazotemic control dogs diagnosed with intracranial disease)., Methods: Retrospective cohort study comparing signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathologic variables, prevalence, and severity of pulmonary radiographic patterns, histopathologic findings, and survival times in AKI, CKD, and control dogs., Results: Clinical signs of pulmonary disease were significantly more common in AKI dogs. Prevalence of an alveolar lung pattern was greater in AKI and CKD dogs. Alveolar mineralization was the most common pulmonary histologic lesion in AKI dogs (6 of 8 dogs), with concurrent alveolar concretions or mineralization of pulmonary vessels or bronchioles noted in 1 dog each; mineralization of lung tissues was not noted in control dogs. Neither clinical signs nor presence of an alveolar pattern were associated with likelihood of survival to discharge or median number of days from discharge until death., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Abnormalities indicative of pulmonary disease are more common in azotemic dogs than in control dogs; however, prognosis is not associated with presence of clinical or radiographic pulmonary dysfunction., (Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

This paper describes a novel method using maximum entropy principle introduced by Shannon to construct a unique integrated character and gives a comparison between this method and multivariate statistics in quantitative genetics. In multivariate genetic analysis multivariate statistics is usually used for a polygenic system of multiple quantitative traits to form several complex character. Genetic analysis can be implemented through treating these correlated elementary traits by using the technique of principal component analysis or canonical correlation. Differing from the multivariate statistics, this paper presents a new method using maximum-entropy principle to obtain a unique integrated character from a set of correlated quantitative traits. This method has the advantages of simple mathematical structure and process, simple and clear results.