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Background: Duodenal ulceration (DU) in dogs derives from different causes but has never previously been related to gallbladder agenesis (GA). GA is a rare congenital disorder in dogs and is considered a predisposing factor for DU in humans.Case Description: A 5-month-old intact female Maltese was presented for acute vomiting and diarrhea. Abdominal ultrasound suggested duodenal perforation and absence of the gallbladder. Exploratory laparotomy was performed to treat the perforation and confirmed GA. Hepatic ductal plate malformation (DPM) was histologically diagnosed in liver biopsy, but no signs of liver dysfunction were detected by blood work at first admission. Two months later, the dog developed signs of portal hypertension and medical treatment was started. However, the clinical condition gradually worsened until liver failure and the dog was euthanized 8 months after surgery. Necropsy confirmed hepatic abnormalities.Conclusion: This report describes a case of DU associated with GA and DPM in a dog. As in humans, GA may represent a hepatobiliary disease predisposing to gastroduodenal ulcerations.

No standardized treatment guidelines are reported in veterinary medicine for dogs with large pituitary corticotroph neoplasms causing neurological signs, and such dogs usually have a short overall survival. When these dogs undergo pituitary surgery and the tumor regrows there are few reports of subsequent treatments. A 7 yr old male Maltese diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism developed seizures in conjunction with a large pituitary corticotroph adenoma and underwent transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. After 3 yr of clinical remission, hypercortisolism recurred, and trilostane therapy was initiated. One year later, the dog developed new neurological signs and computed tomography revealed regrowth of a large pituitary mass that was then treated with radiation therapy. The dog lived disease-free for 3 more yr. At postmortem examination, a more aggressive pituitary neoplasm than the one examined at the time of surgery was found, which is suggestive of malignant transformation into a carcinoma despite the absence of convincing metastasis.

Complicazioni della chirurgia ortopedica nel gatto politraumatizzato Del Magno S, Foglia A, Cola V, Pinna S, Valentini S, Giunti M, Pisoni L. Scopo del lavoro Il presente lavoro mira a valutare la frequenza e il tipo di complicazioni in seguito a chirurgie ortopediche in corso di politrauma nel gatto. Materiali e metodi Gatti politraumatizzati in cui è stata eseguita almeno una chirurgia ortopedica dal 2012 al 2016 sono stati inclusi e classificati in base a sede e tipo di lesione, tipo di trattamento chirurgico e medico e tipo di complicazioni riscontrate. Ai pazienti è stato attribuito uno score clinico, come precedentemente riportato (Vnuk et al, 2004). L’analisi statistica delle variabili oggetto di studio è stata condotta mediante l’utilizzo di test per dati non parametrici. La significatività dei test è stata considerata per un valore di p< 0,05. Risultati Sono stati inclusi 42 gatti europei, 19 femmine e 23 maschi. L’età mediana era di 24 mesi (range 7 mesi-18 anni), il peso mediano era di 4 kg (range 2,2-6,6). I traumi ortopedici localizzati allo scheletro appendicolare sono risultati i più frequenti (62%), seguiti dai traumi del bacino (33%), del distretto maxillo-facciale (29%) e della colonna vertebrale (12%). In 31 gatti erano presenti lesioni in altre sedi anatomiche con un coinvolgimento significativamente più frequente dei distretti toracico e cranico. Il valore mediano dello score attribuito alle lesioni traumatiche riportate è risultato essere pari a 6 (range 2-12). Tale punteggio è risultato essere positivamente correlato al numero di distretti interessati dal trauma. Nel 57% dei casi era presente uno stato di shock all’ammissione, che è risultato essere significativamente più frequente nei soggetti con lesioni traumatiche localizzate a più di due distretti corporei. Nel periodo post-operatorio le complicazioni verificatesi più frequentemente sono state: anemia grave (17%, 7/42 pazienti), parziale fallimento dell’intervento (12%, 5/42), peggioramento dei deficit neurologici secondari ad osteosintesi del bacino (7%, 3/42) e infezioni del sito operatorio (14%, 6/42). Le infezioni erano associate a batteri multiresistenti (5/6), necrosi tissutale estesa (3/6) ed esposizione degli impianti di osteosintesi (2/6). L’anemia si è sviluppata più frequentemente nei gatti che presentavano infezioni nel periodo post operatorio. Una terapia antibatterica empirica è stata somministrata in tutti i pazienti come monoterapia (30/42 casi) o terapia combinata (12/42) a discrezione del medico curante. Lo sviluppo delle infezioni nel periodo post-operatorio è risultato significativamente più frequente in soggetti trattati con terapia combinata. Il tempo intercorso tra l’ammissione e il primo intervento chirurgico (mediana 1 giorno, 0-4) e/o il primo intervento ortopedico (mediana 2 giorni, 0-11) non sono risultati correlati all’insorgenza di complicazioni. Un solo paziente con trauma facciale e trauma cranico è deceduto nel periodo post-operatorio. La durata del ricovero (mediana 10 giorni) è risultato significativamente maggiore in caso d’infezione post-operatoria. Discussione Un paziente politraumatizzato risulta essere spesso un paziente critico e al momento non sono presenti linee guida sul tipo di approccio chirurgico e il tempo in cui intervenire (Peterson et al, 2015). L’anemia è una complicazione frequente nel periodo post-operatorio, di solito di natura multifattoriale. La risposta infiammatoria sistemica secondaria alla presenza di infezione sembra contribuire ad aggravare lo stato di anemia nel periodo post-operatorio in questa popolazione. L’infezione del sito chirurgico è una complicazione grave e rappresenta una spesa notevole per il proprietario vista la maggior durata dell’ospedalizzazione. La maggior incidenza di infezioni in pazienti trattati con una combinazione di antibatterici suggerirebbe di impostare un’iniziale monoterapia, solo se necessaria, da variare sulla base dell’esame colturale. L’esecuzione di esami batteriologici su potenziali siti d’infezione al momento dell’ammissione del paziente ed eventualmente la loro ripetizione durante il decorso è di fondamentale importanza per impostare una terapia antibatterica mirata e prevenire o ridurre lo sviluppo di antibioticoresistenza. Questa strategia terapeutica andrebbe associata ad un ottimale controllo dell’infezione, che includa la rimozione del tessuto necrotico dal sito di lesione. Il fallimento seppure parziale dell’intervento riscontrato in alcuni pazienti è probabilmente ascrivibile ad una gestione non adeguata del paziente in sede chirurgica e/o post-operatoria. L’aggravamento delle lesioni neurologiche secondarie ad osteosintesi del bacino risulta spesso temporanee (Meeson, 2015). Nei 3 casi del presente studio interessati da tali alterazioni, si è assistito ad un significativo miglioramento clinico al momento della dimissione. Vnuk D et al, Feline high-rise syndrome: 119 cases (1998-2001). J Feline Med and Surg, 6:305-312, 2004 Peterson NW et al, The impact of surgical timing and intervention on outcome in traumatized dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care, 25:63-75. Meeson RL, Geddes AT, Management and long-term outcome of pelvic fractures: a retrospective study of 43 cats. J Feline Med Surg, Oct 7, pii:1098612X15606958 2015.

Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective therapy for the treatment of pituitary adenomas; although few veterinary hospitals suggest this therapeutic option. The surgical technique is performed through a transoral, transsphenoidal approach with the complete removal of the pituitary gland. In case of macroadenomas the surgeon aims to remove most of the neoplastic tissue to improve and prolong the life of the patient. Advanced diagnostic imaging is necessary to obtain a precise localisation of the fossa hypophysalis as well as detailed information about the shape, siye and extent of the neoplasia. Despite the difficulties in the management of the patient, the percentage of reported perioperative mortality is low (8-16%), as well as the percentage of relapses. The latter increases recurrence rate raises in case of macroadenoma. The purpose of this review is to analyse the surgical technique and the management of the patient in the perioperative period. A. learning curve for the execution of surgery and for the perioperative management by different specialists is necessary.

Del Magno S., Gruarin M., Foglia A., Agnoli C., Dondi F., Pisoni L. EARLY ORTHOPAEDIC SYMPTOMS IN A DOG WITH SYSTEMIC ASPERGILLOSIS Introduction Systemic aspergillosis is a rare disease in dogs. The unusual orthopaedic presentation in this case report could be helpful in the timely diagnosis of the pathology. Case description A female, 1.5 years old, mixed-breed dog, was presented for lameness in the left hindlimb. A periosteal proliferation was present on radiographs on the left ileal wing and gluteal enthesistis was suspected. After therapy with NSAID the clinical condition worsened with generalized enlargement of the lymph nodes, azotemia and pyelonephritis. Fungal hyphae were detected in the urine and in the lymph nodes. MRI of the pelvis reveals a severe lesion involving muscle and the bone of the left ileal wing, resulting in osteolysis. Surgical biopsy demonstrated a mycotic myositis and osteomyelitis. Culture from urine and lymph nodes were indicative of infection by Aspergillus spp, group Aspergillus terreus. The antymycogram showed sensibility to itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B. Itraconazole (10 mg/kg 24q) was started and the clinical situation improved. After 1 month the dog had evidence of discospondylitis of L1-L2 and a worsening of the dilatation of the renal pelvis and of the ureters. The dosage of the itraconazole was elevated to 7 mg/kg 12q. After 16 months the dog was euthanized because of severe osteomyelitis of the left femur .The necropsy confirmed the mycotic osteomyelitis of the left ileal wing, of the femur, discospondylitis and pyelonephritis. Discussion Systemic mycosis usually are promoted by immunosuppression and the route of entrance for Aspergillus are believed to be either pulmonary or gastroenteric. In the case reported the dog did not have any demonstrated predisposing factor to immunosuppression. A primary local infection of the iliac wing is not probable because no surgery or wound was detected. Systemic infection by Aspergillus has major incidence in young female German Sheperd dogs and the dog of the present case was may have been related to this breed. MRI was performed because in humans it is considered one of the best advanced diagnostic imaging techniques at detecting the soft tissue involvement in mycotic osteomyelitis. The surgical curettage of mycotic osteomyelitis was not performed because of the generalized nature of the infection, and only a biopsy was performed surgically in the iliac region. The sensibility shown in vitro by the fungus to itraconazole, was not sufficient in vivo, even at high dosage, to eliminate the infection. Other drugs like voriconzole were not used because of the relatively high costs, while amphotericin B was considered risky in such an azotemic patient. Nevertheless the survival of the dog was of 16 months from diagnosis and can be considered satisfactory in comparison to the outcome reported in literature.

TRANSSPHENOIDAL HYPOPHYSECTOMY AS TREATMENT FOR MACRO-ADENOMAS IN THE DOG: CASE SERIES Pisoni L, Del Magno S, Foglia A, Fracassi F, Corradini S, Joechler M. Introduction Pituitary tumors can be classified according to the ratio between the pituitary height and the brain area (P/B value) with a cut-off of 0.31 mm-1 between micro and macroadenomas1. The aim of the study is to retrospectively review the surgical therapy and the related complications of the cases of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in dogs with macroadenomas performed at the DIMEVET of the University of Bologna. Material and methods In the study dogs with a pituitary adenoma diagnosed by CT or MRI and treated surgically between 2011 and January 2015 were included. For transsphenoidal hypophysectomy all the dog were sedated with midazolam and fentanyl, the induction was executed with propofol and after oro-tracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained by propofol in costant rate infusion and isolfuorane. Analgesia was provided by fentanyl. All the surgical procedures were performed according to the microsurgical technique described by Meij in 19972. In the post-operative period the dogs were monitored for neurological deterioration, electrolytes and fluid balance. Antibiotics, gastroprotection and opioids were administered. Hormonal supplementation consisted of desmopressin, corticosteroids and thyroxine. The histological evaluation of the masses removed was carried out. Results Seven dogs were included in the study and 8 surgeries were performed. The main represented breed was the Labrador Retriever (2/7 dogs), the median body weight was 34,5 kg, the median age was 7,5 years and 6/7 dogs were male. Of the 7 dogs included, 4 had pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. One dog had hypopituitarism and 4 dogs showed severe neurological signs. All the 7 cases had an enlarged pituitary gland, the median P/B value was 0,8 mm-1 . In one dog the first surgical approach to the sphenoid bone resulted too caudal, in one dog there was a moderated bleeding during surgery and one dog had septic shock when recovered from anesthesia. In the post-operative period, complications were hypernatremia and hypertension (5/8 cases), neurological deterioration (4/8), exophthalmos (2/8), agitation (2/8) and venous thrombus (2/8), one in the splenic vein and one in the cranial vena cava. Four dogs were discharged, while 1 dog died due to sepsis and 3 dogs were euthanized for deterioration of clinical and neurological conditions. The histological diagnosis was adenoma in all cases. Discussion and conclusion Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy represents a solution to decrease the mass effect in enlarged pituitary adenomas, however better results were observed in microadenomas. A surgical learning curve is necessary for the surgeon. Nevertheless the complete removal of the mass is not always possible. In surgery the main difficulties were the exact locatization of the fossa hypophysalys and to recognize and completely remove the neoplastic tissue. All the cases presented had macroadenomas, some of them with very enlarged pituitary glands. In these dogs more complications were encountered in the post-operative period. Surgery represents a curative therapy, in cases of complete removal of the mass, both for the neurological signs and the eventual endocrinological disease. 1. Kooistra et al, J Endocrinol, 1997 2. Meij et al, Vet Surg, 1997

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to describe the long-term survival of a dog affected by an ACTH producing-pituitary adenoma treated by surgery, medication and radiation therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 7-yr-old old male Maltese dog w as referred to DIMEVET for epileptic seizures, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and symmetrical alopecia. Pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism w as diagnosed by endocrine tests. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a pituitary mass w ith a P/B ratio 0.75, reference 3%, p53 immunoreactivity.2 Reports of invasive canine pituitary tumors are rare; this is the first report of a long-term survival of a dog affected by this type of tumor that w as treated by surgery and subsequently by radiation therapy. Comprehensive management of pituitary adenomas using the various treatment modalities may significantly prolong the dog’s life. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1Kooistra et al., 1997; 2Mamelak et al., 2011.

Introduction. Oesophageal duplication cysts are unusual congenital disorders of the foregut. They are infrequent in humans and even less common in domestic animals. We report a case of thoracic oesophageal duplication cyst, treated successfully by surgical resection. Case report. A 7 year old, entire male Rottweiler was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Bologna University, with a history of chronic dysphagia and regurgitation. Endoscopy showed a submucosal bulging mass in the right side of the lower oesophagus and computed tomography revealed a cystic lesion in the caudal mediastinum, probably arising from the oesophagus.With a presumptive diagnosis of oesophageal cancer, abscess or congenital duplication cyst the patient underwent surgery by right lateral thoracotomy at the level of ninth rib. Histologic evaluation confirmed the clinical suspicion of a cystic structure. Histological examination showed a 5 cm diameter cystic lesion containing mucoproteinaceous fluid with a dual muscular layer. The inner layer was composed of cuboidal epithelium. Discussion. In humans oesophageal duplication cysts result from a foregut budding error from the third to the sixth week of embryonic development and they account for 10% to 15% of duplications of all foregut cysts. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of duplication cyst in the thoracic esophageal tract in dogs. Conclusions. Although the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology may be improved, oesophageal duplication cysts respond well to complete surgical excision, therefore surgical treatment is always recommended, like in humans, immediately after diagnosis to avoid complications such as bleeding or aspiration.

Introduction: The hernias of intervertebral discs are a common and debilitating disease in dogs usually hesitate in surgery. This study was aimed to score, based on a modified histological grading system, the samples taken in vivo, and associate these with related clinical data. Materials and Methods: Surgery herniated disc material was collected from 29 dogs. The samples were processed and stained by H&E, histochemistry using Gruber, and by immunohistochemistry using FVIII. For all samples, at least 3 months follow up was available. Results: Inflammation was added as a parameter in the grading system and scored 0 when not present and 1 when present. All cases with inflammatory cells showed simultaneously presence of fibrosis, mineralization and neoangeogenesis. The amount of proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix decreased proportionally with the increase of cells chondrocyte proliferation. Discussion and Conclusion: According to the present results, most of the samples were scored as grade 3 in the modified grading system going from grade 1 to 5. This data can be partially explained by the variability of histological material, this being taken in vivo and in most cases consists only of the nucleus pulposus. Separating and applying the scoring for the annulus fibrosus and for the pulpy nucleus, based on the collected material, may give more precise scores.

The spiral loop of the ascending colon (SLAC) in cattle has the form of a flattened disk consisting of two centripetal coils, a central loop and two centrifugal coils. It is attached to the great mesentery and it is located, with its longitudinal major axis, in the middle of the mass of the jejunum. In the last few years during autopsies or surgery to resolve pathologies such as volvulus, intussusception, and intestinal torsion, the frequent occurrence of abnormalities of location of the spiral loops (with or without detachment from the mesentery) was evidenced. So much so as to advance the hypothesis that these abnormalities might facilitate the above mentioned pathologies (Rademacher and Gentile, 2008). Moreover, a research on slaughtered calves showed a prevalence of SLAC abnormalities in 42.4% of the animals (472/1,113) (Gentile et al.; 2013). The deviations range from a simple reduction of the adherence to the mesentery (“conical relaxation”, with spiral coils loosely attached to the mesentery. 381/1,113 = 34.2% in the above mentioned slaughtered calves) to a situation of a partial detachment (“partial dystopia”, with distancing of only some spiral loops form the mesentery. 68/1,113 = 6.1%, see above). The worst case is the complete dislocation of all the spiral loops from the mesentery disk (“ectopia”, with detachment and total movement of the entire elliptic disk form its central mesentery position. 23/1,113 = 2.1%, see above). Aim of the present study was to verify whether abnormalities of location of the SLAC can be found also in the prenatal life. A macroscopic examination of the SLAC of 58 Holstein bovine fetuses was carried out. Fetuses size ranged from 14 cm to 80 cm in crown-rump length (CRL). All together 23 out of 58 fetuses showed a conformation of the SLAC different from what expected on the base of anatomical texts. In particular, 10/58 (17.2%) had a conical relaxation, 5/58 (8.6%) a partial dystopia and 2/58 (3.4%) a complete ectopia. Furthermore, SLAC of 6/58 fetuses (10.3%) , although having a correct adhesion to the great mesentery, showed abnormal spiraling. Finally, in 16/58 fetuses (27.6%) the spiral loops, instead of having two centripetal coils and two centrifugal coils, as normally described in veterinary anatomy texts, demonstrated just one and a half centripetal coils and one and a half centrifugal coils. This study supports the hypothesis that the abnormalities encountered previously in adult animals are, for the majority, of a congenital nature. The high prevalence of a conformation of the SLAC different from what described in anatomy texts , at least for the lightest deviations, indicates the need of reconsidering the true normal anatomical condition of the SLAC.

L’iperaldosteronismo primario è una patologia considerata rara nel gatto ed è causata da un’eccessiva secrezione di aldosterone da parte della corteccia surrenalica. L’ipersecrezione può essere causata o da un’iperplasia bilaterale della zona glomerulosa o da una neoplasia aldosterone-secernente, detta aldosteronoma. Due gatti di sedici anni sono stati presentati per debolezza, atassia e ventroflessione del collo. Un protocollo diagnostico completo ha permesso di evidenziare in entrambi i soggetti ipokalemia e un notevole aumento della creatinchinasi. In entrambi i gatti l’ecografia addominale ha evidenziato una massa a carico di una ghiandola surrenale; tale reperto, associato alla misurazione dell’aldosteronemia, ha permesso di raggiungere un forte sospetto di aldosteronoma. Il protocollo terapeutico nel primo caso ha previsto l’asportazione chirurgica della ghiandola surrenale, mentre nel secondo caso si è optato per una terapia medica con integrazione di potassio gluconato e spironolattone. In entrambi i casi è stata ottenuta una completa remissione della sintomatologia.

ANALISI ISTOLOGICA DI TESSUTO DISCALE ERNIATO PRELEVATO CHIRURGICAMENTE. STUDIO PRELIMINARE SU 18 CANI HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SURGICAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION TISSUE. PRELIMINARY STUDY ON 18 DOGS Beha Germana, Pisoni Luciano,Mandrioli Luciana, Bombardi Cristiano, Muscedere Daniele, Del Magno Sara, Cinti Filippo, Benazzi Cinzia Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO) Riassunto Le ernie dei dischi intervertebrali costituiscono ad oggi una patologia debilitante e dolorosa, che colpisce prevalentemente razze canine condrodistrofiche. La valutazione sia della tipologia di lesione (Hansen tipo I, II e III) che della localizzazione del materiale erniato viene comunemente effettuata con risonanza magnetica a cui segue intervento chirurgico. La necessità di una graduazione istologica del tessuto discale prelevato ha costituito lo scopo di questo lavoro, preliminarmente basato sulla messa a punto di una metodica semiquantitativa per la definizione di gradi di degenerazione delle varie componenti del disco (nucleo polposo e anello fibrocartilagineo). In sede di emilaminectomia per ernia, diagnosticata con risonanza magnetica, su 18 cani di età compresa tra i 3 ed i 13 anni, di entrambi i sessi, condrodistrofici e non, nei tratti tra C4-C5 e L4-L5, sono stati prelevati frammenti di materiale erniario, i quali sono stati sottoposti ad esame istologico (E-E, Gruber). I primi risultati hanno permesso di graduare sia per il nucleo che per l’anello le variazioni di densità cellulare e le lesioni strutturali, secondo una metodica mutuata dalla Medicina Umana. Il grading ha previsto, inoltre, la quantificazione dell’infiammazione e della calcificazione, in quanto presenti a livello di nucleo in 10 casi. Tutti i frammenti analizzati mostravano degenerazione di gravità variabile. Per confermare la validità del grading, e quindi l’entità delle lesioni, sono stati prelevati e sottoposti ad esame istologico 3 frammenti di materiale discale prelevato da soggetti deceduti esenti da patologie erniarie. Summary Intervertebral disc herniation is a debilitating and painful disease, which is most common in canine chondrodystrophic breeds. The evaluation of the types of lesion (Hansen type I, II and III) and the location of the herniated material is commonly carried out with magnetic resonance imaging followed by surgery. Aim of the present study was to develop a semi-quantitative grading method for degeneration of the various component of the disc (nucleus and annulus). During hemilaminectomy, fragments of herniation material were collected for histological examination (HE and Gruber stain) from 18 dogs, diagnosed for discal hernia with magnetic resonance imaging. The dogs were aged between 3 and 13 years, of both sex, chondrodystrophoid and nonchondrodystrophoid, and the sections were collected between C4-C5 and L4-L5. The preliminary results have allowed us to grade the alterations in cell density and structural lesions (based on a human medicine method) both in the nucleus and annulus. In addition, the grading was applied also to inflammation and calcification, present in the nucleus in 10 cases. All the analyzed fragments were affected by various degrees of degeneration. To confirm the efficacy of the scoring and the extent of the lesions, 3 fragments of disc material were collected from deceased subjects, unaffected by disc herniation, and histologically examined.

Objectives of this study were to evaluate plasma concentrations and analgesic efficacy of fentanyl administered transdermically in dogs undergoing spinal surgery. At the end of the surgery and before awakening, a fentanyl-patch was applied and was maintained in situ for 72 h. Blood samples were taken before the application of the patch, at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, and 72 h after application and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h after its removal. Before each blood sampling, pain evaluation was carried out using the Glasgow pain score, appropriately modified. Plasma concentrations of fentanyl were determined using a specific immuno-enzymatic kit. In this study, the minimum analgesic plasma concentration (0.23 ng ⁄ mL) required to achieve analgesia in human and considered to apply also for dogs was reached in all animals. No animal showed pain in the range of ‘intense pain’; in two cases, the level of the pain was slight or moderate. No undesired effects were found. Results suggest that the use of transdermic patches could represent a valid aid in pain therapy in small animals; in particular, it contributes to the postoperative well-being of patients undergoing major surgery.

Ectrodactyly, or cleft hand deformity, is a rare, probably heritable, developmental anomaly of the distal limb, due to a paraxial longitudinal deficiency of one or more elements of the distal limb bud in the developing embryo. It is characterized by the presence of an abnormal longitudinal soft tissue and bony separation or cleft in the distal limb, with associated hypoplasia, aplasia and malformation of one or more bones of forearm, carpus, metacarpus and digits. The Authors present a case of monolateral ectrodactyly in a young female dog. The dog was treated surgically with reconstruction of the soft tissues and stabilization of the metacarpal bones. Two years follow-up the clinical situation is satisfactory in presence of synostosis between the II, III and IV metacarpal bones and in presence of cleft of the II and III carpal bones