One radiotherapy (RT) protocol used for canine oral melanoma (OM) gives 36 Gy total, in six weekly or biweekly fractions (6 Gy × 6). This retrospective study characterizes oncologic outcomes for a relatively large group of dogs treated with this protocol and determines whether radiation dose intensity (weekly vs. biweekly) affected either progression‐free or overall survival (PFS and OS). Dogs were included if 6 Gy × 6 was used to treat grossly evident OM, or if RT was used postoperatively in the subclinical disease setting. Kaplan–Meier statistics and Cox regression modelling were used to determine the predictive or prognostic value of mitotic count, bony lysis, World Health Organization (WHO) stage (I, II, III, or IV), using systemic anti‐cancer therapies, tumour burden at the time of RT (macroscopic vs. subclinical), radiation dose intensity (weekly vs. biweekly), and treatment planning type (manual vs. computerized). The median PFS and OS times for all dogs (n = 101) were 171 and 232 days, respectively. On univariate analysis PFS and OS were significantly longer (p = <.05) with subclinical tumour burden, WHO stages I or II, and weekly irradiation. On multivariable analysis, only tumour stage remained significant; therefore, cases were grouped by WHO stage (I/II vs. III/IV). With low WHO stage (I/II), PFS and OS were longer when irradiating subclinical disease (PFS: risk ratio = 0.449, p = .032; OS: risk ratio = 0.422, p = .022); this was not true for high WHO stage (III/IV). When accounting for other factors, radiation dose intensity had no measurable impact on survival in either staging group.

ObjectiveTo describe the use of a low dose dexmedetomidine infusion as preoperative treatment for hypoglycemia secondary to a functional pancreatic tumor in a dog.Case summaryAn 8.7-year-old castrated male Hungarian Vizsla presented for further evaluation of persistent hypoglycemia after the referring veterinarian established a tentative diagnosis of insulinoma based on paired insulin and glucose measurements. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography demonstrated evidence of a pancreatic mass with possible hepatic metastases. Attempts to aspirate the lesions under ultrasound guidance were unsuccessful, and the dog was hospitalized overnight for planned surgical resection of the presumed pancreatic tumor and biopsy of the hepatic lesions the following day. In response to a progressive increase in patient anxiety and agitation trazodone was prescribed ~5 mg/kg orally every 8 h and gabapentin at ~7 mg/kg every 8 h. As the dog continued to remain anxious dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1 mcg/kg was administered intravenously immediately followed with an infusion of dexmedetomidine at 1 mcg/kg/h. The anxious behaviors were successfully controlled with minimal cardiovascular side effects. Serial blood glucose measurements obtained during this time demonstrated euglycemia. The dog remained euglycemic while receiving dexmedetomidine for the remainder of the pre-operative period and for duration of hospitalization following surgical resection and biopsy.New or unique information providedThis case report demonstrates a possible role for dexmedetomidine to counteract hypoglycemia in dogs with insulinomas.

A red-eared slider with a chronic non-healing ulcerative shell lesion was diagnosed with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The animal underwent surgical debulking and adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy. The lesion initially responded, with near-complete tumour regression, but then began growing again just a few months after finishing radiotherapy. Then, after several months with no additional tumour-directed therapy, the lesion again regressed. Five years post-irradiation and with no further treatment, the turtle now remains tumour-free. This unusual pattern of disease regression, followed by transient growth and then long-term local tumour control, suggests either a spontaneous remission or a pseudoprogression-like phenomenon. Careful clinical follow-up and reporting of future cases will aid in determining whether this pseudoprogression-like event was random, versus being a common component of the chelonian response to irradiation of cutaneous SCC.