Canine osteosarcoma is an agressive tumour that has both a locally invasive and highly metastatic biologic behavior. Osteosarcoma is the most important primary bone tumour in dogs, being the most common. Usually, it's occurrence is in the appendicular skeleton and the most frequently involved are large and giant breeds, being the cancer of elderly, large dogs. The aim of this case report is to describe the diagnostic methods, the therapeutic targets and the evolution of a canine osteosarcoma. This case highlights that the diagnosis is made by corroborating the results of the blood tests, the imaging methods (radiographs, CT scans) and the cytological evaluation. Multimodal therapy should be considerd to provide patients with maximum survival time and to improve the quality of life. The therapeutic management for a canine osteosarcoma case should include surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and palliative care. Despite these therapies, the prognosis is, for the most part, negative with a great metastatic occurrence, mostly to the lungs. This report is an example of how diagnostics and therapeutics can be used in the management of a canine appendicular osteosarcoma.
Scottish Fold cats have an unique appearance due to their forward-folded ears, being considered a defining feature of the breed. It is considered that the folded ears are a result of an underlying cartilage disorder, a genetic abnormality that predisposes the affected cats for another genetical condition of the musculo-skeletal system, termed osteochondrodysplasia. Osteochondrodysplasia is a painful and progressive syndrome characteristic only to the Scottish Fold breed due to a mutation in the TRPV4 gene. This condition is characterised by skeletal deformities, such as shortened feet and splayed phalanges, affecting primarily the hindlimbs, short, thick and inflexible tails, shortened caudal vertebras and ankylosing polyarthropathy of the affected joints. This paper has the objective of characterising the main bone and joint problems observed in a 1 year-old female Scottish Fold cat which presented for lameness and postural abnormalities of the hindlimbs.
Scapular luxation is an uncommon cause of forelimb lameness in cats. Dorsal dislocation of the scapula occurs by trauma, having a result a tearing of the muscular support for the scapula, the serratus ventralis, trapezius, and rhomboideus muscles. In this case report is presented the surgical management of dorsal scapula luxation in one adult cat. Dorso-caudal scapula approach (dissection of the infraspinatus muscle) was performed and a small portion of teres major muscle was elevated. Caudal scapular border was attached of the 5th rib with a cerclage wire and the torn edges of the trapezius and rhomboideus muscles were sutured. Postoperative pneumothorax was diagnosed and treated with thoracentesis and aspiration. Clinical outcome was considered good with resolution of lameness and normal scapular motion. Open reduction and internal fixation (scapulo-costal cerclage) represent one treatment option in dorsal scapular luxation in cats.
A diaphragmatic hernia occurs when organs from the abdominal cavity migrate into the thoracic cavity, through a discontinuity of the diaphragm. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia occurs secondary to car accidents, falling from different heights, kicks or animal fights. There is no breed nor sex predisposition. Time-lapse of diaphragmatic hernia ranges from a few hours to years. Barbed sutures, used especially in human sugery, have certain advantages over traditional sutures: shorter suturing time, better tissue coaptation and better tension holding in the surgical wound due to evenly distributed barbs along the thread. This study describes the history, clinical signs, clinical and paraclinical investigations, surgical treatment, as well as post-operative care and follow-up of a feline patient with a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. The suture material used in this case provided excellent tension in the surgical wound, leading to a full recovery of the patient within 10 days.
