Table of Contents and Abstracts

A 6-month-old intact male English bull terrier dog was presented with chronic intermittent gastrointestinal signs followed by acute central nervous deficits. The dog was diagnosed, using computed tomography angiography, with concomitant congenital extrahepatic left gastro-azygos portosystemic shunt and extrahepatic umbilico-caval shunt; these were surgically attenuated with a complete silk suture ligation and placement of an Ameroid constrictor, respectively. The surgical outcome was successful and long-term follow-up was excellent.

Key clinical message:
This case report describes the features of 2 rare, concurrent congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in a dog and their successful surgical attenuation. This clinical presentation is rare, but advanced cross-sectional imaging allows for adequate diagnosis and strategic surgical planning.

Laparoscopic procedures offer advantages over traditional laparotomies due to decreased complications, shorter hospital stays, and reduced postoperative pain. Orthopedic needlescopic procedures, in which a 1- to 1.9-millimeter telescope is used, provide these benefits as well as shorter operation times and even less pain and scarring. Needlescopic abdominal procedures have not been investigated in animals. A successful prophylactic gastropexy under needlescopic visualization in a 51.6-kilogram Great Dane dog is reported. This report demonstrates the viability, safety, and success of needlescopic gastropexy in a dog with the use of a 1.9-maillimeter needle arthroscope.

Key clinical message:
New information is provided for future hypothesis advancement on the use of needle arthroscopes for abdominal and thoracic surgery in dogs.

A 5-month-old spayed female Shiba Inu dog was presented because of acute vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. The dog had undergone elective ovariohysterectomy, received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and undergone an intestinal biopsy 1 d before presentation. On physical examination, the dog was in shock and had abdominal pain. There were an increased hematocrit, band neutrophilia with toxic change, and elevated urea concentration and liver enzyme values. Abdominal ultrasound revealed gas foci within the gastric wall, hepatic parenchyma, and colonic wall, consistent with emphysematous infection. Fecal analysis revealed low levels of Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene. The dog was treated medically with intravenous fluids, antimicrobial therapy, gastric decompression, and supportive treatments. Rapid clinical improvement was noted, accompanied by improvements on repeat abdominal ultrasonography examinations and blood work. A positive outcome was observed in this dog. The etiology for emphysematous infection was unclear, with multiple risk factors reported in human literature. In this case, administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, preexisting enteropathy, and recent abdominal surgery may have contributed to disease development. This is the first report of concurrent emphysematous gastritis, pneumatosis coli, and emphysematous hepatitis in a dog. This case report could aid practitioners in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating emphysematous infections in dogs with acute abdominal symptoms.

Key clinical message:
This is the first report of concurrent emphysematous gastritis, pneumatosis coli, and emphysematous hepatitis in a dog. The report provides information regarding the pathogenesis of, risk factors for, and diagnosis and treatment of emphysematous infections.

A 1-year and 4-month-old neutered male shar-pei dog was brought to the emergency department for evaluation of pericardial effusion and a suspected cardiac mass. The presence of a mass with adhesions to the pericardium, right auricle, and right ventricle was confirmed through computed tomography, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The mass was surgically excised and diagnosed through histopathology as a myxoma or low-grade myxosarcoma with mineralization and osseous metaplasia. This case report describes the diagnostic tests completed, the surgical excision, and the outcomes of a rare cardiac neoplasia in an uncommon location.

Key clinical message:
This report describes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and surgical management of an intrapericardial extracardiac myxosarcoma in a dog with cardiac tamponade. This rare type of neoplasia should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs with intrapericardial masses. Surgical excision of these masses should be considered as a treatment option in applicable cases.

A 6-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was referred because of a 5-day history of walking with a crouched hindlimb stance. Before referral, the cat had been recovering from perineal urethrostomy surgery, preceded by 6 wk of recurrent urinary tract infections, with 3 urinary blockages during that interval. The cat was being managed on nitrofurantoin (4 mg/kg, q8h), prescribed by the referring veterinarian and administered for only 1 d before the perineal urethrostomy surgery. Two days after the nitrofurantoin was restarted, the cat began displaying the crouched hindlimb stance. At the time of presentation for the crouched hindlimb stance, the cat had been administered nitrofurantoin (4 mg/kg, q8h) for a total of 6 d (1 d before the surgery and 5 d at home in between the 2 veterinary visits; however, the medication was not administered in hospital during either visit). Ambulatory paraparesis with no ataxia, decreased patellar reflexes, and decreased medial (digit 2) withdrawal reflexes were present in both hind limbs, consistent with a peripheral polyneuropathy affecting the femoral nerves. Computed tomographic imaging of the thoracic and lumbar spine showed no abnormalities compatible with the clinical signs. A presumptive diagnosis of peripheral polyneuropathy secondary to nitrofurantoin administration was made.

Key clinical message:
Although peripheral polyneuropathy is a reported side effect of nitrofurantoin, there are only isolated reports of its occurrence in humans and, to the authors’ knowledge, no reported cases in companion animals. This case report focuses on the minimally reported neurologic side effects associated with nitrofurantoin administration in companion animals.

A fractious feedlot steer was diagnosed with hind-limb lameness at 19 d on-feed. Clinical examination (Week 0) revealed white line separation of both lateral digits of both hind feet. Debridement confirmed toe-tip necrosis syndrome and the steer was treated with oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg, SC) and meloxicam (0.10 mg/kg, SC). Radiographs revealed osteolysis of P3 bones of both lateral digits, and by Week 4 the medial claw of the right hind foot was similarly affected. Clinical and radiographic examinations were conducted over a 25-week period. Rectal temperature, body weight (BW), cortisol (salivary and hair), haptoglobin, and complete blood (cell) counts were obtained over a 22-week period. New horn growth covered the debrided sole defects by Week 7, and radiographs confirmed remodelling of the P3 bones. At slaughter (Week 25), both hind feet appeared normal except for the lateral digits being longer than the medial digits. Radiographs indicated permanent changes in the P3 bones. Although this animal had osteolysis in 3 of 4 hind-limb digits, it was successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy and debridement on Week 0 followed by a second debridement in Week 2. Early intervention and debriding are central to preventing other sequelae such as deep digital sepsis.

Key clinical message:
A feedlot steer diagnosed with toe-tip necrosis syndrome, including osteolysis of 3 of 4 hind-limb digits, was successfully treated with debridement and antimicrobial therapy. Radiographic examinations confirmed remodeling of the distal phalanges (P3) and absence of active infection 25 wk after treatment. This case underscores that feedlot animals with osteolysis of multiple P3 bones can be treated successfully using debridement and antimicrobials.

This report documents clinical signs, semen parameters, and reproductive organ lesions in rams during a natural Brucella ovis outbreak. Eleven rams from 1 flock underwent 2 breeding soundness evaluations and necropsies. Brucella ovis was isolated from all semen ejaculates and confirmed via whole-genome sequencing. Despite above-threshold scrotal circumferences, all rams were categorized as unsatisfactory due to poor semen quality and leukocytes in semen. Semen motility values in 9 of 11 infected rams and morphologically normal sperm in all infected rams were below the recommended threshold values. Necropsies revealed gross lesions in 7 of 11 rams, with histopathology revealing inflammatory lesions in the epididymides, ductus deferens, ampullae, and seminal vesicles in all rams and in the testes in 9 of 11 rams. Inflammatory infiltrates were primarily lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic, with fibrosis, vasculitis, mineralization, and spermatic granulomas also observed.

Key clinical message:
Gross and histopathological lesions as well as semen characteristics were described in rams naturally infected with B. ovis. Most were subclinical cases. Veterinary practitioners can utilize changes in semen quality and the presence of leukocytes as potential indicators of B. ovis infection in rams, which may prompt further confirmatory testing.

An 18-year-old intact female pygmy goat was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Teaching Hospital (Auburn, Alabama, USA) for evaluation of purulent vaginal discharge of unknown origin. Following physical and ultrasonic examination, pyometra secondary to vaginal obstruction caused by a persistent hymen was diagnosed. The hymen is composed of tissue remnants at the site of the junction of the caudal portion of the paramesonephric ducts (which form the vagina) and the urogenital sinus (which forms the vestibule). Failure of the normal canalization of the hymen may completely obstruct normal vaginal drainage of fluids produced by the female reproductive tract. Persistent hymen with retention of reproductive secretions in the vaginal vault has been described as a developmental defect in several domestic animal species. Hymenotomy and repeated luteolytic doses of prostaglandin F2α resulted in establishment of normal vaginal drainage and resolution of the pyometra. Diagnosis in an 18-year-old pygmy goat doe as described in this case report is unusual because the defect is most often diagnosed when a female is presented for attempted breeding following puberty.

Key clinical message:
We report a case of an 18-year-old pygmy goat doe diagnosed with pyometra secondary to vaginal obstruction caused by a persistent hymen. This case serves as an alert for clinicians to consider uncommon reproductive etiologies in older goats kept as pets.

Objective
To compare sedation following premedication delivered via subcutaneous (SC) injection at or adjacent to the Governing Vessel 20 acupuncture location (GV20adj), interscapular SC injection (iscapSC), or lumbar epaxial intramuscular (IM) injection.

Animals
Cats receiving ovariohysterectomy or castration surgery, randomly allocated to GV20adj (n = 18), iscapSC (n = 18), or IM (n = 20) groups.

Procedure
Premedication consisted of dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg) and methadone (0.2 mg/kg). Sedation, infrared temperature (GV20adj and iscapSC sites), and signs of nausea and vomiting were recorded.

Results
The GV20adj injection resulted in greater sedation than iscapSC injection (P < 0.05) and similar sedation compared to IM injection. Sedation was more consistent with GV20adj than IM injection. Site temperature was higher at the GV20adj site than the iscapSC site (P < 0.0001). Nausea symptoms were similar between groups (P = 0.209), with increased vomiting in the iscapSC group (15/18 cats) compared to GV20adj (8/18, P = 0.035) and IM groups (9/20, P = 0.021).

Conclusion
Sedation via GV20adj injection was similar to, but more consistent than, IM injection, and superior to iscapSC injection. Higher GV20adj site temperature suggested greater perfusion, potentially explaining differences in sedation and vomiting.

Clinical relevance
The GV20adj injection route in cats is a viable route for premedication or sedation.

Objective
To clarify the clinical course during molnupiravir treatment for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Animals and procedure
Cats diagnosed with FIP and treated with molnupiravir at Hokkaido University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) were retrospectively reviewed.

Results
Eleven cats were eligible for inclusion. Six cats had effusive FIP and 5 had non-effusive FIP. In non-effusive cases, 2 cats had neurological abnormalities at diagnosis, whereas 1 additional cat developed neurological signs during treatment. The median initial dosage of molnupiravir was 13.0 mg/kg (range: 10.0 to 15.0 mg/kg), PO, q12h. One cat died after 11 d and the remaining 10 cats completed an 84-day course of treatment. All neurological cases were given dosage increases, extended treatment duration, or both. The median final dosage of molnupiravir in non-neuro-FIP cases was 13.1 mg/kg (range: 10.0 to 15.0 mg/kg), PO, q12h, whereas dosages in neuro-FIP cases were 15.0, 15.2, and 17.2 mg/kg, PO, q12h in the 3 affected cats, respectively. In non-neurological cases, dysrexia, lethargy, and high serum amyloid A were resolved within 15 d. Total follow-up duration ranged from 175 to 362 d. No relapses were observed.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Monitoring responses to molnupiravir treatment requires observing clinical signs and conducting clinicopathological evaluations, including acute-phase protein evaluation.

Objective
To estimate the prevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in spring-born beef calves, at or near fall weaning, and assess how concentrations of BVDV Type 1 and Type 2 antibodies near weaning varied among BVDV vaccination programs.

Animals
Serum was collected from 1934 beef calves in 107 herds in the Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network (C3SN).

Procedure
Reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect BVDV infection, and serum virus neutralization assay measured antibody concentrations for BVDV Type 1 and Type 2. Records of BVDV vaccine use were available for nursing calves and cows within the past year from 95 herds. Mixed regression was used to estimate the association between herd vaccination status and antibody concentrations.

Results
Overall, 0.2% of calves and 2.8% of herds were positive or suspect for current BVDV infection. Median serum virus neutralization BVDV Types 1 and 2 titers were 54 and 108, and 19% of calves had undetectable titers. One in 3 calves had titers ≥ 324 and < 6% had titers ≥ 8748. In the 95% of herds in which cows had been vaccinated against BVDV, calves that received 1 or 2 doses of BVDV vaccine pre-weaning (80%) were more likely (P < 0.02) to have BVDV Types 1 and 2 titers ≥ 324 near weaning compared to unvaccinated calves.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Although the overall low prevalence of persistently infected calves was similar to that in previous reports, BVDV antibody titers were higher and the herd-level prevalence of BVDV infection was lower than in previous reports. Herd-level prevalence of BVDV infection was lower in Canadian beef herds that commonly administered BVDV vaccination to both cows and nursing calves. Calves from vaccinated herds also had significantly higher BVDV Type 1 and Type 2 titers at weaning, suggesting reduced risk from transient infection.