Internal medicine

Lung ultrasound: ‘flooding’ in fulminant pulmonary oedema in cats and a comparison with pneumonia

Pulmonary oedema in cats and dogs is typically characterised by increased ‘B lines’ (also known as ultrasound lung rockets or comet-tail artefacts). This is a feature of oedema in the broadest sense and is not specific to aetiology. Differential diagnosis of this phenomenon includes trauma, electrocution, acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury, overhydration, asthma, near-downing … Continue reading

12/11/2018 roger cardiology, Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Full agonist opiates in acute pancreatitis: are they really contraindicted?

There are some pieces of wisdom passed down through generations of veterinary teaching which acquire mythical status: their origins lost in the mists of time. Amongst these is the ‘rule’ that full agonist opiates are contraindicated in acute pancreatitis because of the potential for bilary spasm in the face of potential obstruction due to pancreatic … Continue reading

06/11/2018 roger Internal medicine

Sonography of presumed granulomatous colitis in a French Bulldog

A severe colitis refractory to conventional treatments is not uncommon in young French Bulldogs and Boxers in the UK: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jvim.12020 A definitive diagnosis requires histopathology; conventionally using mucosal biopsies acquired at colonocopy. However, it’s certainly worth having a look with ultrasound before embarking on scoping. This helps to identify the worst-affected sections of … Continue reading

05/11/2018 roger Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Multi-faceted maropitant

This is all a bit of a revelation: we know maropitant is an effective anti-emetic but…. It’d be great to have a potential new analgesic wouldn’t it? PLoS One. 2015 Oct 29;10(10):e0140734. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140734. eCollection 2015. Comparison of NK-1 Receptor Antagonist (Maropitant) to Morphine as a Pre-Anaesthetic Agent for Canine Ovariohysterectomy. Marquez M1, Boscan P1, … Continue reading

31/10/2018 roger Internal medicine, Uncategorized

Intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in a kitten

This patient is a five-month-old DSH with a history of ill-thrift and presumed hepatic encephalopathy (episodic hypersalivation, ataxia, blindness, seizures). Interestingly, her fasting bile acids were unremarkable. However, on abdominal ultrasonography there are all kinds of shenanigans: First off, the left side of the liver contains a bizarre, aneurysmal dilation of the vasculature which communicates … Continue reading

24/10/2018 roger Internal medicine, ultrasonography, Uncategorized

Sonographic diagnosis and surgical management of perforating, benign duodenal ulcer in a dog

Gastric and duodenal ulceration is probably relatively common in dogs: usually secondary to NSAID and/or glucocorticoid treatment, liver disease, hypoadrenocorticism, mast cell tumours or gastrinoma. However, perforation and subsequent septic peritonitis is less frequent. In fact there are few published cases. Hinton L. E., McLoughlin M. A., Johnson S. E. & Weisbrode S. E. … Continue reading

23/10/2018 roger Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Persistent cutaneous flushing associated with presumed renal neoplasia in a dog

There are lots of dogs out there with diffuse or macular erythema, petechiae, ecchymoses and other varieties of ‘red skin’. ‘Flushing’ is a term used to describe erythema in people caused by vasodilation: it is usually transient and benign. Persistent flushing is somewhat more worrying. The present case involves a 9 y.o. FN Labrador with … Continue reading

14/10/2018 roger dermatology, Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Canine infective endocarditis: observations on presentation, incidence and sonography

There remain relatively few published case series of infective endocarditis in dogs. The largest being Sykes et al. published in two parts: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Jun 1;228(11):1723-34. Evaluation of the relationship between causative organisms and clinical characteristics of infective endocarditis in dogs: 71 cases (1992-2005). Sykes JE1, Kittleson MD, … Continue reading

14/10/2018 roger cardiology, Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Post-surgical neurological complications of portosystemic shunt surgery in cats and dogs: prevention and management

Post-ligation neurological syndrome (PLNS) remains a major frustration. It’s gratifying that we are increasingly able to diagnose and close shunts but equally heart-breaking when everything goes pear-shaped post-op. The spectre of a horrible week of distressing, potentially very expensive and frequently-fatal seizuring in intensive care complicates the whole decision-making process. There’s an obvious need to … Continue reading

01/10/2018 roger Internal medicine, ultrasonography

Sonographic findings in a dog with potential ‘Canine Seasonal Illness’: SCI

‘Seasonal Canine Illness’ remains a syndrome of unknown aetiology: well summarised in this article by Mayank Seth: www.theveterinaryexpert.com/sickness-and-diarrhoea/seasonal-canine-illness-sci/ Cases appear to be clustered in certain areas within the UK: or, at least, awareness of SCI is clustered in those areas. We visit several practices close to Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest in eastern England which … Continue reading

24/09/2018 roger Internal medicine, ultrasonography, Uncategorized