I feel that pyelonephritis is a bit of a neglected subject in small animal medicine. Since we don’t often do pyelocentesis, the diagnosis tends to be presumptive on the basis of UTI plus systemic signs. And when there are few confirmed cases then it’s hard to establish optimal treatment regimes. Unless one does a lot … Continue reading
The inconvenient bottom line is that there is nothing intrinsic about the appearance of effusions or tissue oedema caused by fluid overload to distinguish them from those caused by congestive heart failure or any other pathological process. We have to infer the probable cause (or causes) from history, physical examination, clin path and imaging. So, cardiogenic … Continue reading
This is a cat we saw last week. She presented for routine vaccination and was found to have a tachydysrhythmia. No hyperpnoea, no dyspnoea, outwardly well. This is her echocardiography. First, right long axis four chamber view: Her left atrium measures about 28mm (normal being <16mm). Technically, that falls into the ‘huge’ category. … Continue reading
I have to confess that this dog caught me out initially. A 12 m.o. Springer Spaniel; relatively well in herself but presenting with abdominal distention due to progressive ascites (of the modified transudate variety). No loud murmur. This is the liver: That’s not normal. The parenchyma is heterogeneous: specifically, the centres … Continue reading
Just a little image of interest…to show how closely the pancreas is associated with the transverse and descending left colon in the dog. And how the colon is enveloped within the resulting swamp of inflamed fat when the pancreas is poorly. And a still image of the very inflamed-looking ileo-caeco-colic junction from the … Continue reading
A two-year-old, neutered female Cocker Spaniel presented with a history of several days’ malaise, mild diarrhoea, inappetence and fever (40 C). Before any drugs were administered she then developed multiple widespread skin lesions consisting of sharply-demarcated ulcers up to 3cm diameter with swelling, overlying crust and surrounding erythema. Figures: a) profile of the … Continue reading
My observation is that, amongst UK veterinary practices and institutions, there is considerable variation in protocols on when to give prophylactic PPIs to dogs (and to a lesser extent) cats who are prescribed glucocorticoids. The mechanisms through which glucocorticoids might promote ulcer formation have been proposed to include inhibition of gastric mucus synthesis, enhancement of … Continue reading
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
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
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
