OBJECTIVE:To determine the influence of radiographic examination on the recommendations made at the time of planned re-evaluation of dogs after medial patellar luxation (MPL) surgery.STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective multi-institutional case series.ANIMALS:Client-owned dogs (N = 825) that underwent MPL surgery.METHODS:Records of 10 referral institutions were searched for dogs that had been treated surgically for unilateral MPL and underwent a planned follow-up visit, including radiographs. The frequency of, and reasons for, changes in further recovery recommendations were investigated.RESULTS:Follow up was performed at a median of 6 (range, 4-20) weeks postoperatively. Isolated radiographic abnormalities were identified in 3.3% (27/825) of dogs following MPL surgery and led to a change in recommendations in 3% (13/432) of dogs that were presented without owner or clinician concerns. Lameness, administration of analgesia at follow up, and history of unplanned visits prior to routine re-examination were associated with a change in postoperative plan (P < .001). In the absence of owner and clinician concerns, the odds of having a change in convalescence plans were not different, whether or not isolated radiographic abnormalities were present (P = .641).CONCLUSION:Routine radiographs at follow up did not influence postoperative management of most dogs after MPL surgery in the absence of abnormalities on clinical history or orthopedic examination.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:Dogs that were presented for routine follow up after unilateral MPL surgery without owner concerns, lameness, analgesic treatment or a history of unplanned visits, and for which examination by a surgical specialist was unremarkable, were unlikely to benefit from radiographs.

Objective To determine and compare median sternotomy (MS) closure-related complication rates using orthopedic wire or suture in dogs. Study design Multi-institutional, retrospective observational study with treatment effect analysis. Animals 331 client-owned dogs, of which 68 were excluded. Methods Medical records of dogs with MS were examined across nine referral centers (2004-2020). Signalment, weight, clinical presentation, surgical details, complications, and outcomes were recorded. Follow-up was performed using patient records and email/telephone contact. Descriptive statistics, treatment effect analysis and logistic regression were performed. Results Median sternotomy closure was performed with wire in 115 dogs and suture in 148. Thirty-seven dogs experienced closure-related complications (14.1%), 20 in the wire group and 17 in the suture group. Twenty-three were listed as mild, four as moderate and 10 as severe. Treatment effect analysis showed a mean of 2.3% reduction in closure-related complications associated with using suture versus wire (95% CI: -9.1% to +4.5%). In multivariable logistic regression, the only factor associated with increased risk of closure-related complications was dog size (p = .01). This effect was not modified by the type of closure used (interaction term: OR = 0.99 [95% CI: 0.96/1.01]). Conclusion The incidence of closure-related complication after MS was low compared to previous reports. The likelihood of developing a closure-related complication was equivalent between sutures and wires, independent of dog size, despite a higher proportion of complications seen in larger dogs (>= 20 kg). Clinical significance Use of either orthopedic wire or suture appear to be an appropriate closure method for sternotomy in dogs of any size.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been uncommonly reported in dogs and is often associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). OSA independent from BOAS has been rarely reported. Treatment of OSA with ondansetron has only been reported in one dog and has not been reported in a breed commonly affected by BOAS. Here, we report the case of a pug with episodes of OSA despite appropriate treatment of BOAS. Administration of ondansetron led to a rapid and near-complete resolution of the clinical signs, with a follow-up of 3 mo. OSA independent of BOAS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs that present for sleep-disordered breathing without exercise intolerance after appropriate treatment for BOAS. Use of certain serotonin antagonists may be useful as a treatment option for these cases.

Two dogs were evaluated because of a recurrent left-sided facial swelling. In Case 1, computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a tubular fluid-filled mass associated with the left parotid salivary gland and extending to the oral region. On oral examination, no parotid duct papilla was identified, raising the suspicion of an obstruction at the level of the papilla itself, causing secondary ectasia of the duct. Marsupialisation of the duct was performed, but the swelling did not completely reduce. In Case 2, CT revealed a spherical fluid-filled mass, intimately associated with the left parotid gland and extending cranially. On oral examination, an extension from the mass could be followed rostrally to the level of the oral mucosa, caudal to the maxillary fourth premolar, but the papilla was not visible. No surgery was performed. According to our review of literature, this report represents the first description of CT findings for parotid duct ectasia.

A 9-year-old, male neutered Jack Russell terrier, weighing 6.7 kg required general anaesthesia for retrieval of an oesophageal foreign body (OFB) of 7 days duration. Removal of the osseous foreign body with oesophagoscopy was successful but revealed severe oesophageal necrosis with two full thickness tears of the caudal thoracic oesophagus prompting surgical intervention. Bilateral thoracotomy was performed, and the oesophageal lesions were successfully apposed. A gastrostomy tube was placed to provide nutrition until oral feeding resumed. Fourteen days post-operatively the dog began to regurgitate with increasing frequency. Oesophagoscopy was repeated and revealed healing of the oesophageal lesions. Thoracic radiography was also normal. A fluoroscopic barium swallow study was performed 24 days post-operatively which revealed severe oesophageal dysmotility of the caudal thoracic oesophagus. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of severe oesophageal dysmotility as a delayed, post-operative complication of oesophageal surgery following complete perforation by an osseous OFB.

OBJECTIVE:To report perspectives of minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) techniques in veterinary surgical practice in 2018.STUDY DESIGN:Electronic questionnaires.SAMPLE POPULATION:Diplomates and residents of the American College of Veterinary Surgery and European College of Veterinary Surgery and members of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society.METHODS:Survey questions pertaining to MIO and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) were sent electronically to the sample population. Questions assessed training, current caseload, benefits, and limitations of MIO and MIPO.RESULTS:Two hundred fifty-six veterinary surgeons completed questions pertaining to MIO, and 238 veterinary surgeons completed questions pertaining to MIPO. With regard to MIO, only 16% of respondents reported that they performed MIO regularly or exclusively, and 62% wanted to perform more MIO than they were currently undertaking. Tibial fractures were most commonly selected for MIO/MIPO stabilization techniques in both cats and dogs. Challenges in achieving adequate fracture reduction were identified as the greatest limitations of MIO/MIPO techniques. Forty-three percent of respondents felt there were not enough MIPO training opportunities.CONCLUSION:Currently, MIO/MIPO techniques are performed infrequently, with a large proportion of respondents revealing that they would like to perform more in the future. There is also evidence that additional training opportunities would be welcomed for MIPO.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:The results of our survey provide evidence that, despite the benefits of MIO and MIPO compared with more traditional fracture stabilization approaches, significant barriers must be overcome before the techniques are likely to be more widely adopted.

William Robinson describes the diagnosis and treatment of a lung lobe torsion that was causing breathlessness in a 2-year-old Pug.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of rigid endoscopy in the management of oropharyngeal stick injuries. METHODS Retrospective analysis of case records between 2011 and 2013 from a large referral hospital. Data regarding signalment, clinical presentation, treatment options and final outcomes were recorded. RESULTS Nine dogs were identified with acute oropharyngeal stick injuries. There were seven males and two females and the dogs were of various breeds, ages (1 · 5 to 9 years) and weights (11 · 9 to 38 · 4 kg). The time from injury to referral was between 1 and 3 days (median: 2 days). All dogs were anaesthetised and the tracts explored using a 30° forward-oblique, 2 · 7-mm-diameter, 18-cm-length rigid endoscope with corresponding 14 · 5 Fr sheath. The endoscopy was performed under saline irrigation. Foreign material (>1 mm in size) was removed using grasping forceps fed through the sheath. Subsequently, the tracts were re-inspected and flushed with further saline to confirm that all foreign material had been removed. All dogs recovered uneventfully and had excellent outcomes with no cases representing with chronic manifestations of oropharyngeal stick injuries. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Rigid endoscopy is an effective method for the diagnosis, assessment and, in certain cases, treatment of acute oropharyngeal stick injuries in dogs.