Medical records of 80 dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during a 4-year period were evaluated regarding history, breed predilection, clinical signs and additional examination findings. Cases were selected if compatible clinical symptoms, increased serum activity of amylase or lipase and morphologic evidence of pancreatitis by ultrasonography, laparotomy or necropsy were all present. Like in other studies, neutered dogs had an increased risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Although breed predilection was consistent with earlier reports, some notable differences were also observed. Apart from Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Fox Terriers, the sled dogs (Laikas, Alaskan Malamutes) also demonstrated a higher risk for pancreatitis according to our results. Concurrent diseases occurred in 56 dogs (70%), diabetes mellitus (n = 29, 36%) being the most common. Clinical signs of acute pancreatitis were similar to those observed in other studies. The study group represented a dog population with severe acute pancreatitis, having a relatively high mortality rate (40%) compared to data of the literature. Breed, age, gender, neutering and body condition had no significant association with the outcome. Hypothermia (p = 0.0413) and metabolic acidosis (p = 0.0063) correlated significantly with poor prognosis and may serve as valuable markers for severity assessment in canine acute pancreatitis.

The aim of the study was to compare the plasma levels of antioxidants by measuring total antioxidant activity (TAS) and ferric reducing ability of the plasma (FRAP) in healthy dogs and in those that are suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or from mitral endocardiosis (ME). Dogs with echocardiographically diagnosed ME (10 dogs) as well as DCM (23 dogs) were sampled. Of dogs with DCM, eight having DCM with sinus rhythm (SR) were included in the DCM-SR group and 15 having DCM with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the DCM-AF group. Total antioxidant levels measured by TAS assay differed neither significantly between the cardiac patients and the control group nor between the heart disease groups. Ferric reducing ability of the plasma in animals with cardiac disease was significantly higher than in the control animals, and the difference was also significant in between the two DCM groups. However, the differences between the antioxidant levels of the DCM and ME groups did not reach significance in none of the antioxidant (TAS and FRAP) tests. Summarizing the results of this study it can be concluded that there is an increased antioxidant reactivity detected by the FRAP, but not by the TAS assay in the blood of dogs with naturally occurring cardiac disorders. The magnitude of this increase seems to be more affected rather by the severity of the cardiac insufficiency and/or by the heart rate or rhythm disorder than by the underlying heart disease itself.

The aim of the study was to establish normal reference echocardiographic values for three Hungarian dog breeds, and to determine the potential dependence of intracardiac parameters on body weight, age and gender. M-mode and twodimensional echocardiography were performed on 95 clinically healthy dogs in- Gender did not correlate with any of the measured echocardiographic parameters in any breeds. In Mudis, a positive correlation was found between the LAD:AOD ratio and age, as well as between the LAD:AOD ratio and E point to septal separation (EPSS).

The aim of the present study was to verify the validity of two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) measurement technique in dogs with left atrial enlargement. Thirty-one dogs with clinically and echocardiographically proven cardiac diseases were randomly selected. The left atrial right-to-left diameter (La r-l ) and the diameter of the left atrium just above the mitral annulus (La ama ) as well as the ratio of left atrial to aortic diameter (La/Ao) were measured by 2DE. The La r-l / La ama ratio was independent of body weight (R 2 = 0.0006) and age (R 2 = 0.0012), respectively. A significant linear relationship was found between La ama and La/Ao (the ratio that expresses the severity of atrial enlargement): La ama = 1.2238 La/Ao + 1.1608 (R 2 = 021; P < 0.01). There was also a positive linear relationship between La r-l and La/Ao: La r-l = 1.6876 La/Ao + 1.2648 (R 2 = 0.27; P < 0.005). In our dogs with cardiac disease, the La r-l /La ama ratio showed no significant relation to the La/Ao index (R 2 = 0.028). Thus, La r-l /La ama proved to be independent of the severity of atrial enlargement. Based on the strong relationship stated in the equation between La ama and La r-l [La r-l /La ama = 1.31159 (95% confidence interval)], La ama can also be used for the assessment of left atrial size even in dogs with cardiac disease. Key words: Left atrium, dog, atrial enlargement, echocardiographyThe study of left heart function and diseases by ultrasonography includes the measurement of left atrial dimensions. However, while measurement methods of the left ventricle can be considered well established in all regards also in *

Background The aim of the study was to investigate the use of single‐pedicle advancement flaps in the fixed skin regions of the head, neck and paravertebral region in guinea pigs. Methods Ultrasonography was performed on the guinea pigs to visualise the vascular anatomy of the looser regions of the thorax and abdomen and the more fixed paravertebral region and neck. Flap surgeries were then planned and undertaken on seven guinea pigs, with six having tumours on the lip, under the eye, the forehead, the neck or the paravertebral pelvic region, and one having a large paravertebral pelvic scar of unknown origin altering the animal's movement. The previously recommended 2:1 flap length:base width ratio was not enough in most cases, so larger flaps (3.5:1) were required. Results All seven single‐pedicle advancement flaps survived and healed with outstanding results. Conclusion The authors recommend to use reconstructive surgery in guinea pigs when there is a need to close large or difficult wounds, even on areas of fixed skin. Adequate arterial supply and sufficient venous outflow can be provided with larger flap length:base width ratios than previously suggested and can lead to full recovery.