The medical records of 39 dogs with acute nontraumatic hemoabdomen were identified and reviewed. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were identified in 36/37 (97%) and 25/33 (76%) dogs, respectively. Coagulopathies were identified in 26/31 (84%) dogs. When a definitive diagnosis was obtained, malignant neoplasia was diagnosed most frequently and occurred in 24/30 (80%) dogs. Hemangiosarcoma accounted for 21/30 (70%) diagnoses. Sixteen dogs underwent exploratory laparotomy, of which seven (44%) survived the perioperative period. Of the dogs that did not undergo surgery, 9/23 (39%) survived to be discharged from the hospital.

Ductal plate malformations (DPMs) represent developmental biliary disorders with a wide phenotypic spectrum. This study characterizes DPM in 30 Boxer dogs. Median age was 1.5 (range, 0.3-10.0) years, with 12 dogs <1 year. Clinical features included increased serum levels of liver enzymes (28), gastrointestinal signs (16), poor body condition (14), abdominal effusion (9), and hepatic encephalopathy (2). Additional malformations included gallbladder atresia (8), atrophied left liver (2), absent quadrate lobe with leftdisplaced gallbladder (1), portal vasculature atresia (left liver, 1), intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (1), and complex intrahepatic arteriovenous malformation (1). All dogs had portal tracts dimensionally expanded by a moderate-to-severe multiple small bile duct phenotype embedded in abundant extracellular matrix; 80% displayed variable portal-to-portal bridging. Quantitative analysis confirmed significantly increased fibrillar collagen and a 3-fold increased portal tract area relative to 6 Boxer and 10 non-Boxer controls. Biliary phenotype was dominated by tightly formed CK19-positive ductules, typically 10 to 15 mm in diameter, with 3 to >30 profiles per portal tract, reduced luminal apertures, and negative Ki-67 immunoreactivity. CK19-positive biliary epithelium intersected directly with zone 1 hepatocytes as a signature feature when considered with other DPM characteristics. Phenotypic variation included a multiple small bile duct phenotype (all dogs), predominantly thin-walled sacculated ducts (4), well-formed saccular ducts (4), and sacculated segmental, interlobular, and intralobular ducts (Caroli malformation, 2 dogs, one with bridging portal fibrosis). Histologic evidence of portal venous hypoperfusion accompanied increased biliary profiles in every case. We propose that this spectrum of disorders be referred to as DPM with appropriate modifiers to characterize the unique phenotypes.

Results suggested that copper accumulates in livers of cats as primary and secondary processes. Long-term management of cats with PCH was possible.

Results suggested that HCS may have a heritable component in Shih Tzus, although the condition may also be identified in Shih Tzus without affected relatives. Clinical, clinicopathologic, ultrasonographic, and histologic abnormalities in affected Shih Tzus were similar to those previously reported for dogs of other breeds with HCS.

BackgroundThe prevalence of concurrent disease in hyperthyroid cats is unknown.ObjectivesTo identify the prevalence of concurrent intra‐abdominal disease using abdominal ultrasound examination (AUS) in hyperthyroid cats referred for radioactive iodine treatment (RIT) and to determine whether the requirement for pretreatment AUS is justified.AnimalsFive hundred and thirty‐four client‐owned cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and referred for RIT.MethodsRetrospective study. Age, breed, sex, body weight, clinical signs, total serum T4 concentration, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, serum creatinine concentration, urine specific gravity (USG), AUS results, and biopsy or cytology results, or both (if obtained) were collected from the medical records.ResultsThe prevalence of concurrent disease identified using AUS in hyperthyroid cats referred for RIT was 36.1%; 22.8% of the cats in the study had renal disease and 2.4% had confirmed neoplasia. Significant differences in median USG (P value 0.032) and median BUN (P value 0.028) were found between cats that had abnormal kidneys on AUS compared to those with normal‐appearing kidneys. Only 2.2% of the cats were not treated with RIT as a result of changes identified on AUS and subsequently obtained cytology or biopsy results.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe results indicate that pretreatment AUS in hyperthyroid cats referred for RIT is unnecessary in most patients.