Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a naturally occurring contagious neoplasm of dogs located mainly on the external genitalia of both sexes. The course of vincristine chemotherapy, the most effective and practical therapy, is affected by the immune status of the host. The aim was to investigate recombinant human interferon alpha‐2a (rhIFN α‐2a) and vincristine for treatment of CTVT. A total of 21 female dogs were included. In group I (n = 9), vincristine (0.025 mg/kg, IV) was administered weekly. In group II (n = 6), dogs were injected intratumorally weekly with 1.5 million IU rhIFN α‐2a. In group III (n = 6), rhIFN α‐2a and vincristine were combined. No tumour regression was observed after three injections of rhIFN α‐2a in group II and weekly vincristine was administered. The number of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), mitotic figures and apoptotic cells were counted in subsequent incisional tumour biopsies. The Kaplan–Meier Method was used to analyse survival using complete tumour regression as the outcome and Breslow Test was used for comparison of survival curves. Differences in TILs, cell proliferation and apoptosis between groups were assessed by analysis of covariance. Complete regression was observed in all animals included. Mean duration of vincristine treatment for complete regression was shorter in group II (3.50 weeks, 95% CI, 3.06–3.94, P < 0.05) and group III (3.17 weeks, 95% CI, 2.84–3.49, P < 0.01) compared to group I (5.11 weeks, 95% CI, 4.42–5.80). Vincristine and rhIFN α‐2a combination increased TILs in CTVT biopsies compared to vincristine treatment (P = 0.017) and vincristine treatment after rhIFN α‐2a (P = 0.049). Vincristine treatment after rhIFN α‐2a (Group II; P < 0.001) and rhIFN α‐2a and vincristine combination (Group III; P < 0.001) decreased apoptosis. The results indicate that intratumoral rhIFN α‐2a treatment alone is not effective in CTVT. However, combination of rhIFN α‐2a and vincristine shortens the duration of treatment compared to vincristine therapy.

Objectives Termination rates for the highly recommended aglepristone (AGL) treatment are low in late-term pregnancy in queens. We studied the effects of an AGL and cloprostenol (CLO) combination in the termination of late-term pregnancy. Methods Pregnant queens were assigned to two groups. Queens in the AGL group (n = 10) received AGL 10 mg/kg, twice, 24 h apart. Queens in the AGL-CLO group (n = 9) were additionally injected with a single dose of CLO (5 μg/kg) 24 h after the second dose of AGL. Progesterone, 17beta(β)-oestradiol, cortisol, oxytocin and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α) metabolite were measured in sera obtained at days 0, 1 and 2, and on the day of abortion. Results Average gestational age in both groups was similar (AGL 38.61 ± 0.91 days vs AGL-CLO 39.39 ± 1.35 days; P >0.05). Termination rates were 80% and 100% in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively ( P <0.05). Fetal expulsion time was significantly longer ( P <0.001) in the AGL group (96.9 ± 6 h) compared with the AGL-CLO group (69.8 ± 3.3 h). Duration of abortion was 19.8 ± 2.6 h and 12.6 ± 1.4 h in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively ( P <0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. Significantly ( P <0.05) lower serum progesterone concentrations were observed in both groups at the day of abortion and concentrations in the AGL-CLO group (4.19 ± 0.80 ng/ml) were lower than in the AGL group (9.89 ± 2.21 ng/ml; P <0.05). Conclusions and relevance AGL and CLO combination increases pregnancy termination rate in late-term pregnant queens. In addition, CLO contributes to a decrease in luteal function in AGL-treated late-term pregnant queens.

Bilinen yüzlerce yıllık tarihi ile köpeklerde elektif cerrahi sterilizasyon, veteriner pratikte en sık gerçekleştirilen cerrahi prosedürdür. Köpeklerde; geleneksel orta hattan ovariohisterektomi, lateral ovariohisterektomi, ovariektomi, prepubertal sterilizasyon, laparoskopik ovariohisterektomi/ovariektomi, kastrasyon ve vazektomi gibi çok sayıda cerrahi sterilizasyon tekniği tanımlanmıştır. Köpeklerde cerrahi sterilizasyonun yapılıp yapılmayacağı veya ne zaman yapılacağına dair kararlar oldukça karmaşık bir süreci gerektirir. Veteriner hekimlerin köpeklerde cerrahi sterilizasyonun risk ve faydalarının yanı sıra, hangi yaşta uygulanması gerektiğine dair görüşleri arasında ciddi farklılıklar bulunmaktadır. Sterilizasyon kararı alınırken bir köpeğin evcil hayvan olarak uygunluğu, yaşam ortamı, diğer köpekler ile interaksiyonu, iş köpeği olarak çalışma potansiyeli, köpek popülasyon dinamikleri gibi birçok faktör ile birlikte temelde köpeğin sağlık durumu ve sağlık beklentileri göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır. Bu derlemede, konu ile ilgili güncel literatür ışığında, köpeklerde cerrahi sterilizasyon kararı verilirken değerlendirilmesi gereken uzun dönem sağlık risk ve yararları ele alınmıştır. Sonuç olarak, köpeklerde elektif cerrahi sterilizasyon; kontrasepsiyon, yaşam süresinin uzaması, meme ya da üreme sistemine ilişkin patolojilerin engellenmesi ve davranış problemlerinin azaltılması gibi amaçlarla veteriner hekimler tarafından şiddetle tavsiye edilmelidir. Contraception in dogs I: Evaluation of surgical sterilization risk and benefits

Molar changes of the placenta are exceptionally rare in animals and in the cat, only one case of partial hydatidiform mole in a stillborn kitten was reported. A 3-year-old female cat was referred for anorexia, vomiting, depression and vaginal discharge. Abdominal distention and pain were noted. Blood count abnormalities were also observed in the cat. A septated, enlarged uterus with anechogenic content was diagnosed on ultrasonographic examination. Ventral midline ovariohysterectomy was performed. An uneventful recovery was observed and total blood count was within normal range on day 3 following ovariohysterectomy. Partial hydatidiform mole diagnosis was made based on the presence of embryos, gross appearance and histopathological findings. This report reflects the clinical presentation and histopathological findings of a partial hydatidiform mole leading to pregnancy loss in the cat.

Two-portal laparoscopic ovariectomy (LOVE) was performed in adult (n=23) and prepubertal dogs (n=23) to compare surgical time and to evaluate the effect of age, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), ovarian pedicle fat score (OPFS) and intraoperative surgical complications on surgical time. Three classes of BCS were considered: BCS 1-2=lean; BCS 3=ideal; BCS 4-5=overweight. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. OPF was scored and was considered negative or positive. Intraoperative complications were recorded. Total surgical time was recorded as time from the first skin incision to placement of the last portal closure suture. The surgical procedure was divided into 7 different stages and the time for each stage was recorded. Data are reported as mean±SEM. Differences in the duration of defined surgical stages between groups were evaluated by age, BW, OPFS and intraoperative complications. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the effect of BCS. No major complications were observed. Five and 4 minor complications were observed in adult and prepubertal dogs, respectively. Total surgical time was not different (p>0.05) between adult (20.63±0.60 min) and prepubertal (21.48±1.75 min) dogs. BCS, BW and OPF did not affect total surgical time (p>0.05). Intraoperative complications prolonged surgical times (25.20±2.33 min vs 20.04±0.93 min). Time from first skin incision to insertion of first trocar was shorter (p