IntroductionFeline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a painful chronic disease with limited treatment options, especially in severe cases. For this reason, regenerative therapies are being explored as a potential solution.MethodsThe current study investigates the safety and efficacy of systemic application of equine peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ePB-MSCs) in 16 cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). A blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed in one veterinary practice with daily owner evaluations and veterinary visits on days −7, 0, 21 ± 3, 42 ± 3, and 84 ± 3 (optional: 182 ± 5).ResultsIn both treatment groups, one adverse event and one serious adverse event were reported, which were not linked to the treatment. Hematology and biochemistry assessments did not result in any remarkable changes. The change in Stomatitis Disease Activity Index Score (SDAI) did not show a significant effect for time (p = 0.368), treatment (p = 0.626), or the interaction (p = 0.696). There is no significant difference with respect to the failure time in the two treatment groups (p = 0.629) or the number of animals receiving rescue therapy in the two treatment groups (p = 0.26). Moreover, biopsy analysis did not result in a significant difference over time (p = 0.386). Furthermore, the average owner reports did not show any effect of time (p = 0.631).DiscussionIn conclusion, the single intravenous application of ePB-MSCs in cats suffering from FCGS was safe. Based on the current data using the current study design, there was no evidence that the application was more effective than the control. Further studies evaluating the efficacy of equine peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in cats suffering from chronic gingivostomatitis with a longer follow-up, different evaluation parameters, and/or adjusted treatment regimen are recommended.

A 3-year-old intact female Sulawesi crested macaque (Macaca nigra) was referred for progressive abnormal behavior and ataxia in all four limbs. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed cystic lesions located in the occipital lobes and in the right cerebellar culmen, together with the presence of communication between the subarachnoid space and lateral ventricles. The lesions showed no contrast enhancement on CT. These imaging findings were consistent with porencephaly, which was confirmed on necropsy and histopathology. An inflammatory meningoencephalitis was diagnosed.

BACKGROUND:Orthobiologics such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2MG) are increasingly used for equine musculoskeletal injuries. However, their composition and safety with repeated allogeneic intra-articular administration remain poorly investigated. OBJECTIVES:To characterise orthobiological preparations with or without 1 h incubation at 37°C (PRP, PRP + Inc, A2MG, A2MG + Inc) and evaluate immunological safety following repeated intra-articular administration (autologous and allogeneic) of PRP combined with A2MG + Inc in healthy horses. STUDY DESIGN:In vivo experiments. METHODS:This was a two-phase study with biochemical characterisation followed by repeated intra-articular injections in four healthy horses. Blood was processed to produce PRP or A2MG, with or without incubation, and characterised using haematology, biochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For immunogenic assessment, healthy horses received three intra-articular injections of combined PRP and A2MG + Inc at 2-week intervals (Days 0, 14 and 28) (allogeneic n = 3, autologous n = 1). Blood and synovial fluid were collected on Days 0, 14, 28 and 42. Blood was analysed for haematology, biochemistry, CD4/CD8 ratio and SAA, while synovial fluid was analysed for leukocyte counts and immunoglobulins. RESULTS:Biochemical characterisation demonstrated effective removal of blood cells from all orthobiologics. PRP-based formulations were enriched in platelets and growth factors, whereas A2MG preparations had higher alpha-2-macroglobulin and lower growth factor levels. Repeated intra-articular administration of PRP and A2MG + Inc caused no clinically relevant changes in systemic or synovial immune cells, lymphocyte subsets, or acute-phase markers, indicating no immunological activation. MAIN LIMITATIONS:Small sample sizes, the limited scope of characterised compositions and the use of combined PRP and A2MG + Inc for which only individual components were characterised. CONCLUSIONS:PRP may promote repair via growth factors, and A2MG is proposed to modulate immunity and catabolism. Repeated intra-articular injections of PRP with A2MG + Inc caused no systemic or synovial immune response, with no differences between autologous and allogeneic use.

ObjectivesIt is often suggested in the literature that the anatomy of the extrahepatic portal vein (EHPV) in dogs and cats is similar. Nevertheless, variations and contradictions in the tributaries of the EHPV in cats have been described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the normal anatomical variations of the tributaries of the EHPV in a large cohort of cats.MethodsA retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study of abdominal CT angiography (CTA) scans was performed. Cats that underwent CTA between January 2020 and July 2024 were reviewed in consensus by three observers. Cats with vascular anomalies or CTA scans in which the EHPV or its tributaries could not be accurately evaluated were excluded.ResultsA total of 52 CTA scans were included. The splenic vein (SV) was consistently present in all cats as the most caudally inserting vein in the EHPV. The left gastric vein (LGV) entered the EHPV directly in 42/52 cats and, in 36 of those, the LGV was the most cranial vein entering the EHPV. In 28 cats with direct insertion, a second branch of the LGV entered the SV. In eight cats, a single LGV entered the SV, as is typically seen in dogs. In the remaining two cats, the LGV was not identified. In 34/52 cats, the gastroduodenal vein entered the EHPV, as described in dogs, whereas in the remaining 18 cats, the right gastric vein and cranial pancreaticoduodenal vein entered the EHPV together.Conclusions and relevanceVarious anatomical variations of the inserting veins in the EHPV were identified. Knowledge about the variation in normal anatomy of the EHPV and its tributaries is important, especially to evaluate complex pathologies of the EHPV, such as vascular anomalies and EHPV thromboses.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the soft palate thickness in brachycephalic dogs 3 months after performing folded flap palatoplasty (FFP) or standard staphylectomy (STS). STUDY DESIGN:Prospective, observational study. ANIMALS:Twenty client-owned dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome undergoing corrective multilevel upper airway surgery. METHODS:Clinical examination consisted of an exercise tolerance test (ETT) and evaluation of the oropharynx and larynx. Computed tomography (CT) of the skull was performed to measure the length (LEN), rostral thickness (RTH), and middle thickness (MTH) of the soft palate, with calculations of the longitudinal cross-sectional area (CSA) and palatal volume (VOL). Dogs were assigned to undergo FFP (n = 10) or STS (n = 10). Examinations were repeated 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS:The ETT score 3 months postoperatively improved in 6/8 dogs in the FFP group and in 10/10 dogs in the STS group. Shortening of the soft palate resulted in reduction of the median LEN, CSA, and VOL after both FFP and STS. Median rostral thickness increased by 8.2% (IQR -2.0 to 20.6) after FFP and by 10.1% (IQR 1.0 to 15.7) after STS. Median middle thickness increased by 7.9% (IQR -5.0 to 20.9) after FFP and decreased by 16.9% (IQR -27.0 to -0.4) after STS. CONCLUSION:Folded flap palatoplasty did not result in decreased soft palate thickness in the dogs in this study when evaluated by CT 3 months postoperatively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:Folded flap palatoplasty and STS both resulted in postoperative clinical improvement. Future studies, including a CT immediately postoperatively, could indicate whether the soft palate is thinned immediately after FFP.

In human medicine, questions regarding heritable disorders are dealt with by clinical geneticists and genetic counselors and both the field, their roles and the tools they use are well-defined. Even though the prevalence of diseases is far higher and scientific literature agrees on expectations towards an increased importance, this does not seem to be the case in veterinary medicine. While we hypothesize that there will be an overlap, some characteristics uniquely linked to veterinary medicine might not be covered. To investigate this in-depth and in an attempt to define the field, we compared the internationally accepted definitions and its subparts on genetic counseling in human medicine with what is found in veterinary literature and what was seen in cats and dogs presented at our dedicated small animals clinical genetics/genetic counseling clinic. The results were used in a stepwise analysis that lead to a set of three potential definitions (i.e. on what genetic counseling is, who provides it and which tools are used) that fullfill four criteria (i.e. definitions have to be clear/self-explanatory, minimally sufficient, complete and valid). The short version of the definition of genetic counseling in veterinary medicine is: "Genetic counseling is the process of helping animal owners and breeders understand – and adapt to – the medical, psychological, familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.” Genetic counseling in small animal practice is currently provided by veterinarians and the tools that are used, can be divided in five categories. The signalment of the patients revealed that both cats (30

A mixed‐breed dog (2 years) was presented at Ghent University for severe emerging dysfunctional behaviour following a violent fireworks explosion close to the dog. Before this event, the dog displayed no abnormal or dysfunctional behaviour. Behavioural analysis of the dog showed a progression of behavioural problems, which persisted for several months without improvement, despite different treatment efforts. Therefore, a functional brain scan was performed and revealed increased regional cerebral blood flow in the cerebellar area. This finding initiated an exploration into the potential role of functional brain imaging in diagnosing and comprehending complex canine behavioural disorders such as trauma‐related dysfunctional behaviour. This case report aims to underscore the potential application of more objective assessment methods in veterinary behavioural medicine.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain modulation technique, has been explored as an additional treatment option for behaviorally disordered dogs. For optimal effectiveness of the rTMS treatment, accurate coil positioning to the stimulation target is pivotal. Frameless stereotactic neuronavigation for the localization of intracranial regions has been established as a reliable targeting method. However, given the varying skull shape and brain structures among dog breeds, divided into mesocephalic, brachycephalic, and dolichocephalic breeds, localizing the rTMS target area, the central left frontal cortex, can be challenging. Previous neuronavigation studies have only investigated its use in mesocephalic breeds of dogs. Because this neuronavigation is based on expensive high-tesla magnetic resonance imaging data, and anesthesia needed for immobilization, a cheaper and reliable localization alternative to broaden the rTMS use in the veterinary field is needed.The objective of this study was twofold. First, the study aimed to evaluate external localization of the central left frontal cortex within the three skull types (retrospective study 1). Then, this external localization method was compared to the conventional frameless neuronavigation technique to check the consistency, focusing on mesocephalic and dolichocephalic breeds (prospective study 2). Thirty-two brachycephalic, thirty-seven mesocephalic and thirty dolichocephalic dogs were included to evaluate the external localization of the central left frontal cortex by external measurement (retrospective study 1, data obtained from previously performed MRI scans). For the second objective, thirty-eight dogs (35 mesocephalic breeds and 3 dolichocephalic breeds) were recruited to compare the external measurement localization method and the localization by neuronavigation (prospective study 2, data extracted from study 1 and former rTMS studies). The first part of this study showed the central left frontal cortex was externally located approximately two-thirds of the total skull length (sagittal length) in meso- and dolichocephalic dogs, at the center of the skull length in brachycephalic dogs, and 0.65-0.70 cm to the left of the cerebral midline for all skull types (retrospective study 1). Using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis, the second part of the study showed high consistency between these two methods, for the length of the skull (0.94), the relative position of the left frontal cortex (0.84), and the distance to the cerebral midline (0.69) in mesocephalic and dolichocephalic breeds (prospective study 2). Our findings suggest that the conventional frameless neuronavigation could be replaced by the external localization method in the mesocephalic and dolichocephalic dog breeds, and therefore ultimately reduce anesthesia time and financial burden when applying non-invasive brain modulation techniques like rTMS. More research needs to be conducted for brachycephalic dogs to validate this method in this specific population of dogs.

BackgroundMesenchymal stem cells provide a valuable treatment option in orthopedic injuries in horses.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological, biochemical, immunological and immunomodulatory parameters following intralesional treatment with tenogenic primed equine allogeneic peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (tpMSCs) in client-owned horses with naturally occurring superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and suspensory ligament (SL) injuries.MethodsThe immunogenicity and immunomodulatory capacities of tpMSCs were assessed in a modified mixed lymphocyte reaction, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 14 horses with SDFT and SL injuries after treatment with tpMSCs. In a second study, 18 horses with SDFT and SL injuries received either an intralesional injection with tpMSCs (n = 9) or no treatment (n = 9).ResultsThe tpMSCs did not provoke a cellular immune response (p < 0.001) and were able to immunomodulate stimulated T lymphocytes (p < 0.001) in vitro. Therapeutic use of tpMSCs did not result in relevant hematologic or biochemical abnormalities.Main limitationsBoth studies had a small sample size. No statistical analyses were performed in the second study. Fibrinogen was only analyzed in a single horse prior to treatment.ConclusionCo-incubation of tpMSCs and PBMCs of horses that have been previously exposed to tpMSCs did not elicit a cellular immune response and tpMSCs were able to immunomodulate stimulated T lymphocytes. Intralesional treatment with tpMSCs did not provoke abnormal changes in hematological and biochemical parameters.

Objectives The aim of the study was to compare CT with video-otoscopy for detecting external ear canal masses in cats and to describe CT features of feline external ear disease. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the external ear canals of cats that underwent both CT and video-otoscopy. Two blinded observers reviewed the CT scans and their findings were compared with video-otoscopy results evaluated by one blinded observer. Results Of the 32 examined ears, 13 had an external ear canal mass detected by both CT and video-otoscopy. No false positives were identified. All 19 ears without masses were correctly identified as true negatives, resulting in perfect agreement for mass detection (kappa = 1.000). On histopathology, 9/13 masses were diagnosed as polyps, 1/13 masses was diagnosed as carcinoma, 2/13 did not undergo histopathology and 1/13 masses seen on video-otoscopy was diagnosed as otitis externa with granulomatous tissue formation. Of the 16 cats examined, 12 had a mass in the external ear canal diagnosed by video-otoscopy: six domestic shorthairs, five Maine Coons and one Oriental Shorthair cat. Of these cats, 11 had a unilateral mass and one had a bilateral mass. There was very low agreement between CT and video-otoscopy for ear canal wall enhancement and erythema (kappa = 0.033), as well as for ear canal thickening and stenosis (weighted kappa = 0.056). There was no significant difference between chronic and non-chronic clinical signs in terms of the presence of ear canal wall mineralisation ( P = 0.223). Conclusions and relevance There is high agreement between video-otoscopy and CT in detecting external ear canal masses in cats. However, there is very low agreement between CT and video-otoscopy for ear canal wall enhancement, erythema, thickening and stenosis. The presence of external ear canal mineralisation did not correlate with the chronicity of clinical signs.

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a common orthopedic condition, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. While current breeding programs often rely on ventrodorsal hip-extended (VDHE) radiographs, it is known they fail to accurately assess hip joint laxity. Therefore additional laxity-oriented diagnostic techniques have been developed. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Vezzoni modified Bädertscher distension device (VMBDD) technique, which quantifies hip joint laxity with the laxity index (LI), as a screening tool in two breeding programs. Data from a Belgian population of assistance dogs (population A) and a French population of guide dogs (population B) were analyzed. The heritability estimates of the LI, estimated using Bayesian statistical methods, were high in both populations (0.83 in population A and 0.82 in population B). Improved screening of parents by combining the VMBDD technique with the VDHE, significantly decreased LI and the prevalence of CHD in their offspring. In population A, when two parents were screened with the VMBDD compared to one, there was an average LI decrease of 0.03 (P<0.05). In population B, when one or both parents were screened with the VMBDD compared to none, the average LI decrease was 0.04 (P< 0.05) and 0.05 (P<0.01), respectively. In population A, screening both parents with the VMBDD in addition to the VDHE, resulted in 82.7% (P< 0.05) lower odds of CHD compared to screening only one parent. In population B, screening one parent led to 72.3% (P<0.05) lower odds of CHD compared to none of the parents being screened. In population B, when both parents were screened with the VMBDD, not a single case of CHD was observed in the puppies. In conclusion, based on these results, the VMBDD technique has the potential to drastically reduce CHD prevalence and is as such an excellent tool for breeding programs.

The phrenic lymph node (PLN) has been described in bovine, equine, and feline anatomic references but descriptions in canine anatomic references are currently lacking. Authors have observed a well-defined, soft tissue attenuating, contrast-enhancing structure in a location consistent with previous anatomic descriptions of the PLN in dogs that underwent thoracic CT for neoplastic staging. The aims of this two-part, retrospective/prospective, anatomic, prevalence study were (1) to describe the presence of a soft tissue structure close to the thoracic caudal vena cava, defined as the presumed PLN, in a series of dogs that underwent CT as part of the staging for metastatic disease; (2) to confirm the lymphatic origin of the presumed PLN in a dog through postmortem examination; (3) to assess the prevalence of the presumed PLN in a population of dogs that underwent thoracic CT or MRI for different clinical purposes; and (4) to assess the possibility to visualize the presumed PLN with ultrasonography. The lymphatic origin of the presumed PLN was confirmed by postmortem examination in one dog. The presumed PLN was visible in 29 of 777 canine CT examinations (prevalence 3.7%). The presumed PLN was not visible in 9 of 10 prospectively recruited ultrasound cases. Most dogs with visible presumed PLNs were large-medium breeds that were presented for neoplastic staging purposes. Findings indicated that a structure consistent with the previously reported anatomic features of PLN in cattle, horses, and cats may be detected with a low prevalence in canine CT and MRI examinations.

Background As current therapies for canine osteoarthritis (OA) provide mainly symptomatic improvement and fail to address the complex pathology of the disease, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising biological approach to address both aspects of OA through their immunomodulatory properties. Methods This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of xenogeneic MSCs in dogs with OA at different dose levels after intravenous injection. OA was surgically induced in the right stifle joint. Thirty-two male and female dogs were divided into three treatment groups and a control group. Regular general physical examinations; lameness, joint, radiographic, and animal caretaker assessments; pressure plate analyses; and blood analyses were performed over 42 days. At study end, joint tissues were evaluated regarding gross pathology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. In a follow-up study, the biodistribution of intravenously injected 99m Tc-labeled equine peripheral blood-derived MSCs was evaluated over 24h in three dogs after the cruciate ligament section. Results The dose determination study showed the systemic administration of ePB-MSCs in a canine OA model resulted in an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and joint tissue protective effect associated with improved clinical signs and improved cartilage structure, as well as a good safety profile. Furthermore, a clear dose effect was found with 0.3 × 10 6 ePB-MSCs as the most effective dose. In addition, this treatment was demonstrated to home specifically towards the injury zone in a biodistribution study. Conclusion This model-based study is the first to confirm the efficacy and safety of systemically administered xenogeneic MSCs in dogs with OA. The systemic administration of a low dose of xenogeneic MSCs could offer a widely accessible, safe, and efficacious treatment to address the complex pathology of canine OA and potentially slow down the disease progression by its joint tissue protective effect.

Computer tomography has been described for the detection and characterization of different thoracic neoplastic diseases in dogs, both primary and metastatic. Its use and availability in veterinary medicine are rapidly increasing in the clinical setting, particularly in referral practices. Due to the cross-sectional nature of this modality, CT is particularly useful in the assessment of complex anatomical regions, such as the thoracic cavity. In this review, the most common applications of thoracic CT for the diagnosis and staging of different neoplastic processes in dogs are highlighted.

Dysfunctional behavior has been observed in working dogs and is known to impair their quality of work and quality of life. However, the relationship between behavioral consequences and disaster deployment in search -and-rescue (SAR) dogs is a matter that remains under investigated, and solid evidence in the literature inves-tigating behavioral alterations related to disaster deployment is lacking. Therefore, this systematic literature review was performed to comprehensively analyze the possible evidence of behavioral deviations in working dogs linked to physical or psychological trauma that may have been sustained during disaster response opera-tions. A search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted and finalized on February 1, 2023, resulting in the selection of 11 studies for review. In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of SAR dog welfare, both behavioral and physical effects during and after deployment were considered. The results showed that physical health consequences, such as wounds and gastrointestinal signs, were prevalent but mild. Addi-tionally, although little systematic research has been done on behavioral consequences, some studies have re-ported changes in behavior during and after deployment, including fatigue and attitude changes. These results emphasize the importance of further behavioral research to thoroughly investigate canine emotional welfare post-disaster deployment to ensure optimal productivity and welfare of these working dogs.

Narrowing of the equine cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina (IF) has the potential to cause forelimb lameness and/or neck pain although limited information is available on CT of the IF. The aims of this retrospective, analytical study were to describe a protocol for quantifying CT cervicothoracic IF size; evaluate the repeatability of IF size measures; test associations between IF size and adjacent articular process (AP) size, ventral extent, and anatomic location; and determine the proportion of IF with narrowing. Computed tomographic images were acquired in 20 Warmblood horses that presented with forelimb lameness and/or neck pain. All IF between C5 and T2 (n = 160) were evaluated. IF cross-sectional area (CSA), APCSA, and AP ventral extent were measured. The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was calculated. Possible associations between IFCSA and: APCSA, ventral extent, side, or location were assessed. IF narrowing was defined as more than 50% of reduction in IF height when compared with its widest part(s). The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was excellent. There was a significant association between IFCSA and: APCSA (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.859; slope = -0.106), ventral extent (P = 0.022; R2 = 0.161; slope = -0.0617), and location (P < 0.001; higher values between C7 and T2). The association between IFCSA and ventral extent was small. Narrowing was identified in 61 (38.1%) IF. Maximum degree of narrowing was most common at the cranial (26.3%) and middle (68.8%) third of the IF. Narrowing was not identified at T1-T2. In conclusion, CT cervicothoracic IF size can be measured with excellent repeatability, and associations were found between IF size and: AP size, ventral extent, and location.

Primary thoracic wall neoplasia is uncommon in dogs and the prognosis depends on tumor type. The aims of this retrospective, multi-center, observational study were to describe CT features of primary thoracic wall neoplasia in dogs and to test the hypothesis that CT features would differ among tumor types. Dogs with a diagnosis of primary thoracic wall bone neoplasia and thoracic CT study were included. CT findings recorded were as follows: dimensions, location, invasiveness, grade and type of mineral attenuation, periosteal reaction, contrast enhancement, and presence of presumed pulmonary metastases, pleural effusion, and sternal lymphadenopathy. Fifty-eight cases were included (54 ribs and four sternum). Fifty-six were malignant (sarcomas - SARC) and two were benign (chondromas - CHO). Out of the 56 malignant tumors, 41 had histological confirmation of the tumor type: 23 (56%) osteosarcomas (OSA), 10 (24%) chondrosarcomas (CSA), and eight (20%) hemangiosarcomas (HSA). The majority of rib tumors were right-sided (59%) and ventrally located (72%). Malignant masses showed severe invasiveness, mild/moderate contrast enhancement, and different grades of mineral attenuation. Sternal lymphadenopathy was significantly more frequent in dogs with OSA and HSA compared to dogs with CSA (p = 0.004 and p = 0.023). Dogs with HSA showed significantly lower mineral attenuation grades compared to dogs with OSA (p = 0.043). Primary thoracic wall bone neoplasias were more frequently arising from the ribs, with only a few cases of sternal masses. Findings can be used to help prioritize differential diagnoses for CT studies of dogs with thoracic wall neoplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a common orthopaedic condition in dogs and stress radiography is the best diagnostic tool for early diagnosis. Objective force guidelines are lacking, leaving room for errors and fraud during screening. Our objective was to develop an accurate and validated measuring device that allows quantification of the applied force in vivo in real-time during stress radiographic imaging. A two-step approach was followed. First, four load cells were incorporated in the original Vezzoni Modified Badertscher Distension Device (VMBDD) and a dedicated computer program was developed. In vitro evaluations of the accuracy demonstrated a trueness of 0.19 N (0.1%FS) and precision of 0.26 N (0.2%FS) for the individual loadcells. The trueness and precision of the assembled VMBDmD were 0.02 N (0.02%FS) and 0.52 N (0.38%FS). Secondly, the modified device was tested on several cadavers. The device was similar in use as the VMBDD, did not interfere with radiographic acquisition, gave the operator real-time feedback, and linked the force with the radiograph. Altogether, we describe the accuracy of the VMBDmD and have evaluated its use in cadavers. We saw that the device successfully quantified and stored the applied force in real-time during stress radiography.

The thymus is a lymphatic mediastinal organ that is largely subject to changes with age. In human patients, the CT characteristics of the thymus in children and adults is well described. Furthermore, it is known in human medicine that stress can lead to a reduction in the size of the thymus, followed by a phase of hyperplasia (called the 'rebound effect'). The visualization of thymic tissue in the cranial mediastinum of adult dogs with neoplasia is possible and could be related to a similar effect. In this study, we aimed to describe the CT characteristics of the thymus in adult dogs with neoplasia and to compare the aspect of the thymus in these dogs to juvenile dogs with a presumed normal thymus. A total of 11 adult dogs with neoplasia and 20 juvenile dogs were included. Several CT features of the thymus were evaluated, including the size, shape, and pre- and post-contrast attenuation values. The overall appearance was lobulated in all of the adult dogs and homogeneous in all of the juvenile dogs; it was left-sided in all of the adult dogs, while it was located in the midline in a few of the juvenile dogs (right-sided only in one). The thymus was less attenuating in adult dogs, in some cases with negative minimum pre-contrast attenuation values. In some dogs with neoplasia, the thymus can be detected at CT examination despite their age.

Osteoarthritis is a frequently occurring joint disorder in veterinary practice. Current treatments are focused on pain and inflammation; however, these are not able to reverse the pathological condition. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could provide an interesting alternative because of their immunomodulatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of a single intravenous (IV) injection of xenogeneic equine peripheral blood-derived MSCs (epbMSCs) as treatment for articular pain and lameness. Patients with chronic articular pain were injected intravenously with epbMSCs. They were evaluated at three time points (baseline and two follow-ups) by a veterinarian based on an orthopedic joint assessment and an owner canine brief pain inventory scoring. Thirty-five dogs were included in the safety and efficacy evaluation of the study. Results showed that the epbMSC therapy was well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events and no increase in articular heat or pain. A significant improvement in lameness, range of motion, joint effusion, pain severity, and interference scores was found 6 weeks post-treatment compared with baseline. This study demonstrates that future research on IV administration of epbMSCs is warranted to further explore its possible beneficial effects in dogs with chronic articular pain and lameness.Clinical Trial gov ID: EC_2018_002