ABSTRACT. In the present article the history, physical examination findings, laboratory test results, treatment, follow up and outcome of 2 cats with sialoceles were reported. Both cats were presented with a painless fluctuant cervical swelling. In one cat a ranula was also present. Aspiration of the swellings detected highly viscous fluid and cytology of the aspirates was consistent with the appearance of saliva. A diagnosis of sialocele was made. Both cats were managed by resection of the mandibular and sublingual gland complex through a lateral approach. In case 2 marsupialization of the ranula was also performed. The histopathological examination of the excised tissues in one cat was compatible with chronic inflammation of the mandibular and sublingual gland. The outcome was favorable in both cases and no relapses were detected after a mean follow up time of 13 months.

Objectives The purpose of the present study was to describe histologically the gastro-oesophageal junction in the cat and interrelationships of this region. Our hypothesis was that cats are devoid of abdominal oesophagus. Methods Three centimetres of the terminal oesophagus, the phreno-oesophageal membrane with 1-2 cm margins of the diaphragmatic crural muscle and the proximal 3 cm of the gastric cardia were obtained from nine domestic shorthair cats and one domestic longhair cat that were euthanased for reasons other than digestive tract pathology. Longitudinal samples were examined histologically. Evaluated parameters included the location of the phreno-oesophageal membrane with reference to the transition between the oesophageal and gastric mucosa, the thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle of the muscular layer of the distal oesophagus at points 3 mm and 6 mm cranial to the mucosa transition, and the thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle layer at the mucosa transition level. Median differences in the thickness of the smooth muscle layer were compared by performing non-parametric statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results The transition of the oesophageal to gastric mucosa was abrupt and corresponded to the point of insertion of the phreno-oesophageal membrane at the diaphragm level in all cats. The mean thickness of the circumferential smooth muscle layer at the point of oesophageal to gastric mucosa transition was significantly greater than the mean thickness of the oesophageal circumferential smooth muscle layer at 3 mm and 6 mm cranial to the mucosa transition ( P ⩽0.05). The increased muscle thickness at the gastro-oesophageal junction correlates with the accepted location of the high-pressure zone, reflecting the caudal oesophageal sphincter. It seems that the whole oesophagus was situated within the thoracic rather than the abdominal cavity. Conclusions and relevance No distinct abdominal oesophagus was observed in nine domestic shorthair cats and one domestic longhair cat. These findings might have implications for the pathophysiology of hiatal hernia in cats.

For the first dog, the duration of both procedures (umbilical hernia reparation and removal of the cryptorchid testicle) was 22 minutes and the skin incision was 2.0 cm length. For the second dog, procedure duration and skin incision length were 18 minutes and 2.5 cm, respectively. During the post-operative period no lesions, haemorrhages, signs of pain or other surgical complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS The criptorchidectomy performed by LESS through the commercial device is a feasible, safe and effective approach in dogs. The first case presented the ideal indication for the single port use, using the same incision for both procedures. LESS presents itself as an alternative to conventional laparoscopy in dogs with the additional advantage of only one incision, providing easy and secure organ retrieval.