Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and is one of the most common chronic conditions in dogs and other species. The management of OA remains a longstanding focus in veterinary medicine. Traditionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the first-line treatment option for canine OA. Recently, bedinvetmab, a canine-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the nerve growth factor (NGF), has been added as a pain management option for canine OA. Is monthly bedinvetmab injection safe in dogs over 12 months old with OA compared with other interventions? Four articles met the inclusion criteria of a structured literature search and investigated adverse events (AEs) associated with bedinvetmab. Two studies investigated a 3-month treatment period and did not find an increase in AEs associated with bedinvetmab in comparison with the placebo control group. The third study compared the safety of bedinvetmab to meloxicam in a 2-month treatment period, where bedinvetmab was found to have fewer associated AEs. The fourth study conducted a disproportionality analysis, and the musculoskeletal AEs were reported significantly more frequently in bedinvetmab-treated dogs than other traditional therapeutics. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of bedinvetmab, though stronger evidence supported the safety of bedinvetmab when administered for under 3 months. Future research should investigate the long-term safety of bedinvetmab and incorporate radiographic imaging pre- and post-treatment to monitor unusual joint changes.

Canine urinary bladder neoplasia is uncommon, representing less than 1% of canine neoplasms. Amongst cases of urinary bladder neoplasia in dogs, primary urothelial carcinoma is the most frequent. Urothelial carcinomas are malignant invasive tumours which tend to be slow growing and metastasise late. However, the metastatic rate is high, with approximately 50% of cases developing metastases typically to the regional lymph nodes and lungs. Skeletal metastases are rare, with the most common reported sites being the femur and the vertebrae. Metastases to the skull are even rarer, with only a few previously documented cases in dogs. This report describes a case of primary urothelial carcinoma in the urinary bladder of a dog, with widespread metastases, including to the skull. The dog presented for chewing difficulties and limping of the left hindlimb, with large firm masses found on the skull and the left tibiotarsal joint. A necropsy revealed the masses on the head and left tibia were metastatic carcinomas, the latter site also having invaded into the tibiotarsal joint. Additional carcinomas of similar cellular morphology were found in the urinary bladder, ribs, skin and lungs. Neoplastic cells contained cytoplasmic Melamed-Wolinska bodies, a characteristic feature of urothelial carcinomas. Collectively, the findings are suggestive of a primary urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma with widespread metastases, including to rarely documented sites, such as the parietal bone of the skull, left tibia, left tibiotarsal joint and the ribs. This represents the third documented case of skull metastases from a urothelial carcinoma in a dog.

This critically appraised topic (CAT) explored the association between body weight and survival in dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV). A systematic literature search identified six peer-reviewed studies published between 1978 and 2024 that met predefined inclusion criteria. Four of the six studies demonstrated a significant association between lower body weight and increased mortality. While some studies undertook multivariable analysis to account for confounders, limitations including inconsistencies in study design, retrospective data collection, and limited control for variables such as age, breed, and body condition score (BCS) reduce the overall strength of the conclusions. Overall, there is moderate evidence to suggest that lower body weight may be a negative prognostic factor in CPV survival. Further prospective research with standardised methodology is essential to validate these findings and disentangle the impact of confounders such as age, breed, and BCS.

A one-year-old male entire French Bulldog presented with progressive submandibular and ventral cervical swelling. Initial treatment for a suspected lingual abscess secondary to stick chewing yielded only transient improvement. Despite both conservative therapy and surgical intervention, the dog's condition deteriorated, prompting advanced imaging. Bilateral lingual masses and pulmonary abnormalities were identified. Post-mortem examination confirmed a diagnosis of lingual haemangiosarcoma (LHSA) with multifocal metastasis and severe pulmonary haemorrhage. This is the first reported case of LHSA in a French Bulldog. This case illustrates the potential for atypical presentations of lingual neoplasia, especially in brachycephalic breeds where baseline oropharyngeal compromise may obscure or exacerbate clinical signs. This report emphasises the importance of including neoplasia in the differential diagnosis for persistent or progressive lingual swelling, even in young dogs and breeds predisposed to upper airway obstruction.

To evaluate the postoperative analgesic effects of the combined transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and superficial serratus plane (SSP) blocks in dogs undergoing unilateral radical mastectomy. A total of 16 client-owned dogs were enrolled. Animals were divided in two groups (n = 8 each) to receive TAP and SSP blocks alone (locoregional anaesthesia, LA) or with meloxicam and methadone (multimodal analgesia, MA). Acepromazine was given as premedication. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale Short Form (CMPS-SF) up to 24 h postextubation. Methadone was used for postoperative rescue analgesia when CMPS-SF scores ≥6/24. Data were analysed accordingly, and results considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. Postoperative rescue analgesia was required in two and one dogs for LA and MA, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between groups. The total number of methadone administrations was 3 for LA and 1 for MA. Rescue analgesia was required at 6- and 1-hour post extubating for LA and MA, respectively. The CMPS-SF did not vary between groups. TAP-SSP blocks used alone or in combination with meloxicam and methadone, provided postoperative analgesia for 6 to 24 hours in dogs undergoing unilateral radical mastectomy. Local anaesthesia was successful in providing postoperative pain management for at least 6 h after mastectomy in dogs.

Chlamydia psittaci was detected by real-time PCR in the lung, liver and kidney of an equine foetus that had aborted in South Australia in August 2023. The corresponding microscopic lesions included lymphocytic and histiocytic chorionitis, necrosis of placental villi associated with bacteria in the cytoplasm of trophoblastic epithelial cells, and multiple microgranulomas in the liver. Equine chlamydial abortion had not been diagnosed previously in South Australia. Eight days after examining the foetus and placenta, the veterinary pathologist developed fever and subsequently was admitted to hospital. Specimens were obtained from the patient by bronchoscopy, and C. psittaci was detected by real-time PCR in the submitted bronchial washings. This is the first report of zoonotic C. psittaci infection acquired by handling infected equine tissues to be confirmed by real-time PCR.