California Animal Hospital

IntroductionThis report describes the use of three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D-CISS) and phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) sequences to investigate the etiology of severe hydrocephalus, and the subsequent surgical management and long-term outcome.Case presentationA 5-month-old male Rhodesian Ridgeback presented with acute, progressive neurological signs culminating in non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Clinical and imaging findings were consistent with non-communicating tetraventricular hydrocephalus with concurrent severe syringomyelia, but conventional MRI failed to identify the cause of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow obstruction. Following failure of medical management, advanced MRI sequences were performed to clarify the underlying etiology and guide surgical planning. These included 3D-CISS for high-resolution anatomical assessment and PC-MRI for dynamic evaluation of CSF flow. The findings demonstrated patent intraventricular CSF flow and no evidence of arachnoid septations within the fourth ventricle, thereby excluding a fourth ventricle arachnoid diverticulum. Instead, the imaging findings supported a presumptive diagnosis of hydrocephalus secondary to lateral aperture occlusion. A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was placed, resulting in substantial clinical improvement, although mild residual cerebellar deficits persisted. Five months later, the dog experienced acute deterioration. Computed tomography revealed fracture of the distal catheter at the level of its abdominal wall anchoring site, likely due to progressive tension as the dog grew, resulting in the catheter snapping into two segments. Revision surgery restored CSF diversion and led to rapid clinical recovery. The patient remains neurologically stable at 28 months of age, 15 months post-revision.ConclusionAdvanced MRI sequences, particularly 3D-CISS and PC-MRI, were instrumental in supporting the presumptive diagnosis of lateral aperture obstruction as the underlying cause of hydrocephalus and in guiding an individualized, effective surgical strategy. This case highlights the diagnostic and clinical value of advanced MRI techniques in managing complex hydrocephalus.

This study aimed to determine if canine total ankle replacement (cTAR) can be performed using a lateral surgical approach by comparing implant orientation, limb orientation and tarsocrural stability after implantation using a lateral or medial approach.Ten cadaveric limbs from five large-breed dogs were implanted with a cTAR prosthesis using a medial or a lateral approach. Caudocranial and mediolateral radiographs were obtained. Joint orientation, limb orientation, angular tarsocrural stability (varus and valgus laxity) and rotational tarsocrural stability (internal and external rotational laxity) were measured before and after implantation and compared. Polar gaps around cTAR components were measured.Before implantation, mean valgus laxity was 1.8 degrees larger in limbs which were implanted with a cTAR prosthesis using a lateral approach than in limbs implanted using a medial approach. After a lateral approach, mean valgus laxity was 4.4 degrees larger (7.2 degrees) than before (2.8 degrees), and mean external rotational laxity was 5.4 degrees larger (10.7 degrees) than before (5.3 degrees). After a medial approach, mean external rotational laxity was 6.7 degrees larger (11.6 degrees) than before (4.9 degrees). The mean angular laxity was 6.0 degrees larger after a lateral approach (15.5 degrees) than a medial approach (9.5 degrees). Significant differences among other measurements collected after a lateral or medial approach were not identified.A cTAR prosthesis can be implanted using a lateral approach and result in a properly oriented tarsocrural joint that is rotationally stable and has slight angular laxity.

Los 100 PerrosEnsayo reflexivo del libre albedríoAutor: Gabriel Herskovits ORCID: 0009-0007-1227-0613 Fecha: 7 de Enero de 2017 Tipo de documento: Ensayo reflexivo Licencia: Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Registro Safe Creat

To document surgical incision healing for hospitalized sea turtles. Medical records for sea turtle surgical cases from a single hospital between 2008 and 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Cases that involved traumatic wounds or open fractures that were present at the time of admission, ophthalmic surgery, or acoustic transmitter implantations were excluded. Species, weight, time since admission to the hospital, surgical procedure, methods, duration, temporal proximity of diagnostic testing and antibiotic use, and presence of major comorbidities were evaluated as related to healing duration and complication occurrence. Complicated incisions were defined as those that required substantial additional medical or surgical management to promote healing. 48 Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) and 4 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) had 70 surgical incisions. Fifty-five incisions for 38 turtles healed, while 14 turtles (15 incisions) died prior to healing. Complications occurred in 20% of the 55 incisions. Orthopedic surgical incisions had a higher complication rate (37.5%) compared to soft tissue surgical incisions (6.5%). Complicated incisions had longer healing duration (mean ± SD, 74 ± 25 days; median, 75 days; range, 40 to 113 days) compared to uneventful incisions (mean ± SD, 41 ± 13 days; median, 39 days; range, 20 to 81 days). Body weight was positively associated with healing duration. Although the use of suture instead of staples for skin closure was positively associated with complications, this may have been related to nature of the surgery (orthopedic vs soft tissue) rather than the skin closure method. Sea turtle surgical incisions have a moderately high rate of complications, especially for orthopedic procedures. Complications may not be apparent for several weeks, but they can be successfully managed. Incisions generally heal within several months, even if complicated. Given the complication rate in the present study, careful postoperative monitoring is recommended for several months following surgery in sea turtles, and additional management may be needed in cases with complications.

The evaluation and treatment of wounds are very common in veterinary practice. Classification of wounds can help guide treatment options for individual patients as well as prognosis for expected wound healing. Recognition of the degree of bacterial contamination of a wound is important for guiding management strategies. The goal of open wound management, in general, is to convert a contaminated wound into a clean wound, or a wound that can be surgically closed. Treatment of chronic wounds presents a significant clinical challenge.

Industrial food production, trans-continental/trans-oceanic food distribution, and processing systems have led us down an unsustainable path. Insects are a whole food, easy to rear locally without transportation or complex processing, and yet, they supply safe, delicious sources of prebiotics. Cultural background plays a significant role in adoption of insects for food, feed, and fertilizer. We explore details of how a country of 220 million people is transitioning from a traditional food system where edible insects have a place of high value to a food system where insects are mass produced locally and incorporated into the food system as a nutritional staple already highly regarded. We will compare what could be possible in the Hawaiian Islands with what has been developed in 20,000 food insect farms in northern Thailand where climatic conditions are similar. We consider the way in which Indigenous peoples of the western, contiguous USA read the land and its resources and used insects as a protein source in areas where land did not support large herds of bison, antelope, deer, or elk. We explore how a circuitous path seems to be returning this sovereign food to Native food systems. Opportunities abound with edible insects to human and companion animal health as well as environmental health.

Background: Quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation (MR) severity has become increasingly important as surgical and catheter-based therapies for MR reduction become available. Hypothesis/Objectives: Obtain quantitative measures of MR severity across stages of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) and evaluate agreement between two methods. Animals: 51 client-owned dogs stratified across three stages of DMVD (ACVIM B1, B2, and C).

To describe the application of uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents for treatment of extrahepatic biliary obstructions (EHBOs) and the outcomes for dogs and cats treated for EHBO with this technique. Retrospective single institutional study. Eight dogs and three cats treated at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego for EHBO between January 2012 and February 2022. Data collected from the medical records included signalment, presenting complaint, laboratory and imaging findings, surgical findings, hospitalization time, complications, and follow-up information. Median duration of short-term follow up was 16 days (6-45 days). Improved biochemical abnormalities and resolution of clinical signs were recorded in 10/11 cases. Two dogs died within 2 weeks of surgery. One dog developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome 5 days postoperatively and was euthanized; the cause of death in the second case was unknown. Long-term follow up was available in seven cases, with a median duration of 307.5 days (62-2268 days). Bile-duct patency was maintained for at least 356-622 days (median: 446 days) in three cats and 62-2268 days (median: 650.5 days) in four dogs with long-term follow up available. One cat had recurrent obstruction with choledocholiths 446 days postoperatively. One stent was removed 614 days postoperatively due to recurrent cholangiohepatitis. Uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents were placed successfully and relieved EHBO in all cases that survived to discharge. Use of uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents should be considered as an alternative to temporary choledochal luminal stenting or cholecystoenterostomy to manage EHBO.

Introduction: Toy-breed dogs may be predisposed to radial and ulnar fractures and experience higher complication rates, including stress protection-induced osteopenia. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes and complications associated with different postoperative coaptation techniques in these patients. We hypothesized that stiffer coaptation such as splinting would be associated with higher complication rates and similar outcomes compared to use of a modified Robert-Jones bandage (MRJB) or no postoperative coaptation.