Table of Contents and Abstracts

A 13-year-old cryptorchid Yorkshire terrier dog was referred because of a recurrent abdomen-filling mass. One year before referral, an abdominal mass was surgically removed and revealed to contain 2 testes with seminoma and rudimentary uterine tissue attached to it. At the time of referral, an abdominal mass had recurred; computed tomographic and histopathologic assessments of Tru-Cut (Merit Medical) biopsies revealed that the mass was lymph node metastasis of seminoma. Palliative-intent, intensity-modulated radiation therapy was delivered at the start as 15.2 Gy in 4 fractions over 2 consecutive days, and 4 wk later with 7.6 Gy in 2 fractions on the same day. Gross tumor volume reduced from 343.3 to 42.4 cm³ in 4 wk. The 15.2 Gy protocol was repeated after 6 mo, with further tumor size reduction to 29.3 cm³. Mild, small-intestinal diarrhea and decreased appetite were only noticed after the first radiation therapy and were self-limiting within 2 wk. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported use of successful radiation therapy with a short-period protocol in a Yorkshire terrier with abdominal seminoma and persistent Müllerian duct syndrome.

Key clinical message:
A short-period radiation protocol was effective for the treatment of abdominal metastasized seminoma in a dog.

A 3-year-old castrated male French bulldog was presented with a mass on the left thorax that had appeared 3 wk before the consultation. Blood analyses were unremarkable. Computed tomography revealed a large heterogeneous mass arising from the 10th rib, invading the left chest, contiguous to but not infiltrating the aorta. Based on biopsies, the diagnosis was an osteoblastic osteosarcoma. Surgical treatment occurred 10 d after the computed tomographic scan and biopsies. Due to a rapid increase in the tumor’s extent, the aorta was partially surrounded by the mass. Poor visibility led to an accidental aortic section with a vessel-sealing device (LigaSure; Covidien). Aortic cross-clamping allowed a 25-millimeter-long resection of the descending aorta from T7 to T11, followed by an end-to-end anastomosis. Postoperatively, the dog had temporary hind-limb ataxia for < 2 wk. At 4 mo postoperatively, the dog was euthanized due to the reappearance and degradation of new neurological symptoms associated with a left paravertebral recurrence of the tumor with slight penetration of the vertebral canal. Necropsy revealed no long-term ischemic lesions in any abdominal organ or the spine, but there was spinal cord axonal degeneration (attributed to chronic mild compression). However, the site of recurrence of the tumor-induced neurological symptoms was unrelated to the aortic resection and cross-clamping.

Key clinical message:
Aortic cross-clamping, resection of the descending aorta, and their neurological sequelae induced by ischemia are rarely described in nonexperimental studies in veterinary medicine. This is the first report of an 18-minute cross-clamping and a 25-millimeter-long resection of the descending aorta in which aortic cross-clamping and resection were done as an unplanned salvage procedure, and of its outcome 4 mo later, with no long-term ischemic lesions.

An 8-month-old intact male golden retriever dog was presented to the emergency department of a large private-practice specialty hospital. The dog had become cyanotic and collapsed following administration (orogastric tube) of 1.4 mL/kg of hydrogen peroxide 3% to induce emesis for ibuprofen ingestion. The dog had severe methemoglobinemia (33%; reference range: 0.3 to 1.5%) and developed anemia. The methemoglobinemia resolved after 24 h of hospitalization with supportive care. Results from assessment with high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry were consistent with ibuprofen ingestion, with no acetaminophen detected.

Key clinical message:
This case demonstrated methemoglobinemia in a dog following both ibuprofen ingestion and hydrogen peroxide 3% administration.

A 9-year-old spayed female Labrador retriever was presented with intermittent expiratory cough and dyspnea unresponsive to prednisone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Radiographic and computed tomographic examinations identified a localized dorsal intraluminal tracheal wall mass without detectable locoregional metastasis, leading to surgical resection and anastomosis of the affected tracheal segment. Histopathological analysis confirmed the mass as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clear lateral and deep skeletal muscle margins. Monitoring after surgery, rather than adjuvant therapy, was elected by the dog’s owner. The dog recovered with no complications noted and was in a state of clinical remission at the final in-hospital evaluation (3 mo after surgery). This case represents the second documented instance of canine tracheal SCC treated successfully with surgery. It underscores the potential for surgical intervention as a viable treatment option, potentially improving prognosis and survival outcomes in dogs affected by tracheal SCC. Regular evaluations and serial imaging examinations are recommended to monitor for recurrence and ensure long-term clinical remission.

Key clinical message:
This case marks the first documented tracheal resection and anastomosis as treatment for canine tracheal SCC and only the second reported tracheal SCC in a dog. Despite the typical negative outcomes associated with this SCC, the dog in this report achieved clinical remission without the need for chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Surgical intervention may be a viable treatment option for tracheal SCC, potentially improving prognosis and survival outcomes in affected dogs.

Anencephaly is a congenital condition characterized by incomplete brain development and malformations of cranial bones and cerebral hemispheres. Such defects arise from improper neural tube closure during embryogenesis. Although well documented in humans, they are infrequently reported in veterinary medicine. The etiology of anencephaly in dogs is not fully understood, but a strong genetic predisposition has been observed, particularly among brachycephalic breeds. In addition, studies in humans have implicated factors such as folic acid deficiency, hypervitaminosis A, and exposure to teratogens as potential contributors. Using diagnostic imaging techniques, including radiography and ultrasonography, it is possible to detect intrauterine modifications indicative of malformation. Unfortunately, there are no known corrections or treatments for anencephaly, and affected fetuses are typically stillborn or die within hours after birth. This case report presents observations of 2 neonatal puppies with anencephaly, acalvaria, exophthalmia, and palatoschisis, providing further insights into these puzzling brain malformations in canines.

Key clinical message:
The present report highlights the importance of prenatal monitoring for diagnosis of anencephaly in dogs. It describes radiographic and ultrasonographic findings and compares morphological changes in 2 affected puppies of different breeds and clinical histories.

Objective
This study was to determine if the prescribing practices of western Canadian beef cow-calf veterinarians changed after Canada revised federal regulations in 2018 to require veterinary prescriptions for all medically important veterinary antimicrobials.

Animals
Beef cattle, cow-calf.

Procedure
An electronic survey was used to capture onboarding of new clients and to record herd health information, dispensing of antimicrobials after hours, reported client concerns with the regulation changes, and basic veterinary practitioner demographics such as province of licensure and number of years in practice. Seventy-two western Canadian veterinarians completed the survey in the winter of 2024.

Results
After 2018, the frequency of onboarding of new clients increased, as did herd health data capture. Most participants (80%) reported spending more time supporting client needs for antimicrobial prescriptions after 2018, with 63% reporting more beef cow-calf clients needing this service and 39% reporting the acquisition of new beef cow-calf clients. Billing for onboarding as professional time increased after 2018 but the relative frequencies of methods for dispensing antimicrobials after hours did not change. Changes in prescribing veterinary antimicrobials after 2018 included a decrease in sulfonamides and increases in tetracyclines and phenicols. Reported changes in client antimicrobial use included decreases in penicillin and sulfonamides and increases in phenicols and macrolides.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Although veterinarians reported challenges in meeting client needs and complying with the regulatory change, their comments were largely neutral to positive regarding the effect of the changes. Suggestions from veterinarians included the development of tools to support prescribing and to track client antimicrobial inventory, client antimicrobial use, and disease incidence.

Objective
The objective was to assess communication skills of veterinary practitioners in Türkiye and to examine influences of sociodemographic characteristics on these skills.

Participants
A total of 615 actively employed veterinary practitioners were recruited.

Procedure
The study population comprised veterinarians actively engaged in clinics, polyclinics, or animal hospitals in Türkiye. The Communication Skills Inventory, consisting of 45 items and 3 sub-factors, was used as the data collection tool. Visits were conducted across 14 selected provinces representing 7 geographical regions of Türkiye. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 615 veterinary practitioners and data were collected during sessions averaging 25 min in duration.

Results
In this study, 68.1% of the participants were male, 56.1% were between 23 and 33 y old, 23.6% were employed in the Marmara region, 29.8% had been active in clinical practice for < 5 y, and 75.3% were working primarily with pets. In addition, 81.8% had not received communication training, 92.8% lacked ethics training, and 93.3% were not affiliated with professional organizations. The average total score of veterinarians from the Communication Skills Inventory consisting of 45 items and 3 factors was (mean ± SD) 148.6 ± 11.2 points; therefore, communication skills of these veterinarians were generally at a good level.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Parameters other than gender influenced the communication skills of veterinary practitioners. Communication-skills scores were higher among those serving the pet group, those with < 5 y of active clinical experience, individuals aged 23 to 33 y, and those who had received communication and ethics training and were actively involved in professional organizations. To identify specific factors influencing communication skills of veterinary practitioners and to implement practices based on the findings, qualitative research is recommended. Such studies should include not only veterinary practitioners but also animal owners and veterinary team members with whom they interact.

Objective
The objective was to compare perioperative factors that may influence clinician decisions regarding antimicrobial therapy duration and outcomes in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy.

Animals
Horses > 1 mo of age undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic that survived without repeat celiotomy for ≥ 5 d.

Procedure
Retrospective cohort study. Cases were grouped by duration of antimicrobial therapy: G1, ≤ 24 h; G2, 1 to 3 d; G3, > 3 d. Admission, surgical, and postoperative data from the medical records and long-term outcome assessed via telephone follow-up were compared among groups.

Results
In total, 187 horses (67, 52, and 68 for G1, G2, and G3, respectively) were included. Differences in proportions of horses with strangulating lesions (29.9, 46.2, and 52.9%), undergoing enterotomy (23.9, 61.5, and 52.9%), and treated with resection/anastomosis (11.9, 28.9, and 39.7%) were identified (P = 0.02, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.001). Overall incisional infection rate in hospital was 12.8%, with no difference among groups (10.4, 13.5, and 14.7%; P = 0.80). Differences in proportions of horses with gastrointestinal (29.9, 42.3, and 55.9%; P = 0.009) and other inflammatory/infectious (13.4, 33.1, and 36.8%; P = 0.007) postoperative complications were identified. There was no difference among groups in survival to discharge (97.0, 96.2, and 89.7%; P = 0.20). Horses in G3 had increased duration of hospitalization [11 d (5 to 48 d)] versus G1 [8 d (5 to 63 d)] (P < 0.0001). Cost of hospitalization was higher for horses in G3 [$9410 ($3790 to $29 240)] than for those in G2 [$7340 ($1860 to $15 260)], which was higher than for those in G1 [$5330 ($3280 to $17 140)] (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion
Antimicrobials were used for a longer duration in horses with more compromised bowel, after surgical procedures that entered intestine, and in cases with a variety of postoperative complications. Of note, incisional infection was a complication not associated with duration of therapy. Limited case numbers in some subgroups reduced statistical power, and findings should be interpreted accordingly.

Clinical relevance
Operative and postoperative factors associated with longer duration of antimicrobial use in this study have been previously identified to influence clinical decision-making regarding the duration of antimicrobial therapy. However, the similar rate of incisional infection among groups suggests that this risk should minimally influence clinicians when deciding upon the duration of therapy. This study highlighted that further prospective, blinded studies are required to determine the risks and benefits of antimicrobial use in the postoperative period.

Background
Otodectic mange is one of the most common ectoparasitic diseases in cats and the most common cause of feline otitis externa. It is particularly prevalent in young cats between 3 and 6 mo of age and is a veterinary concern, especially in catteries, due to its highly contagious nature. Although there is a risk of overdiagnosis if based solely on cerumen, it is not difficult to identify Otodectes cynotis if there is a clinical suspicion in a young cat. Considering the variety of available acaricidal molecules, as well as the need to use the most effective treatment, the present article reviews evidence comparing various types of systemic treatment for otodectic mange in cats.

Results
Isoxazolines (sarolaner, fluralaner, or esafoxolaner) or similar molecules such as tigolaner (a bispyrazole) and macrocyclic lactones (selamectin, eprinomectin, or moxidectin) can lead to parasitological cure and improvement of clinical signs associated with otodectic mange in cats, with rare, mainly cutaneous side effects with mild, autoresolving lesions.

Conclusion
Similarities in the clinical and parasitological efficacy of these substances highlight the need for comparative studies that could allow identification of the most efficacious product.

A 10-year-old intact male North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) was evaluated under general anesthesia by a zoo veterinarian and 2 Board-certified ophthalmologists concerning a white opacity in the anterior chamber of the right eye (OD). Ophthalmic examination of OD revealed ventral keratitis, a hypermature cataract, equatorial lens capsule rupture, and anterior luxation of the lens nucleus. The right eye lacked a dazzle, direct, and indirect pupillary reflexes. No ocular anomalies were noted in the left eye. Enucleation of OD was conducted due to vision loss, the anticipation of constant need for medication to control uveitis, and the increased risk for secondary glaucoma. Histologic examination of OD confirmed a cataract, phacolytic uveitis, and lens epithelium migration and proliferation, consistent with lens capsule rupture. The extrusion of the cataractous nucleus could have been due to the powerful ciliary body muscles in otters. The contraction of these muscles may have increased the curvature of the anterior portion of the lens, causing the weakened lens capsule to rupture and extrude the nucleus into the anterior chamber.