Angularis oris axial pattern flaps provide an additional effective option for repair of defects in the hard and soft palate to the distal gingival margin of the canine tooth or beyond, depending on skull conformation. Advantages of this flap include its highly vascular and robust character, high degree of mobility and a surface of tough buccal mucosa.

Four adult dogs with polycythemia secondary to reversed patent ductus arteriosus (rPDA) were treated with hydroxyurea, a myelosuppressive agent, for 6-22 months. Regardless of initial hematocrit, clinical signs attributed to the presence of polycythemia improved with hydroxyurea treatment. Chronic hydroxyurea therapy (40-50 mg/kg PO q48h) was well tolerated in this group of animals; mild, clinically silent thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were detected in some animals but resolved with decreased dosage or dose frequency. Chronic hydroxyurea therapy may provide an alternative to repeated phlebotomy for therapy of polycythemia secondary to rPDA.Key words: Case series; Chemotherapy; Cyanosis; Phlebotomy; Right-to-left shunt.T he right-to-left (''reversed'') form of patent ductus arteriosus (rPDA) is much less common than the leftto-right shunting form in dogs.1,2 Clinical signs associated with rPDA include hindlimb weakness, collapse, differential cyanosis and seizures, and are related to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues.1,3 Repeated phlebotomy has been used as a palliative measure to lessen the degree of polycythemia in affected dogs and thereby control clinical signs; however, this procedure may not be well tolerated by the patient. 1,3,4 Hydroxyurea is a myelosuppressive agent that has been used to treat polycythemia due to noncardiovascular disease in dogs. 5,6 This report documents successful use of chronic hydroxyurea therapy to alleviate clinical signs related to secondary polycythemia in 4 consecutive cases of canine rPDA. Dog 1A 9-month-old, 4-kg, spayed female Miniature Poodle was evaluated at the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UW-VMTH) for a possible portosystemic shunt. During diagnostic evaluation the dog was noted to have differential cyanosis and a rPDA was confirmed with contrast echoaortography.7 At the time of presentation, the dog's PCV was 58% (reference range 38-55%). A portosystemic shunt was confirmed and ligated successfully.Two months after shunt ligation, the dog's PCV was 76% with total protein concentration within the reference range. Phlebotomy was performed every 3 weeks for a total of 7 treatments. After a volume of blood calculated to decrease the PCV to 60% (ϳ15 mL/kg) was removed, lactated Ringer's solution was administered intravenously. The dog consistently exhibited transient (approximately 1 hour) severe hindlimb weakness immediately after phlebotomy and the dog was lethargic for up to a week after phlebotomy. At each 3-week examination, the dog's PCV had increased from a value after phlebotomy of 60% to 77-79%.After the 7th phlebotomy treatment, hydroxyurea a therapy was ini- The owners reported a marked improvement in the dog's activity level and exercise tolerance with commencement of the hydroxyurea therapy. Improvements in the dog's energy level were most noticeable when the PCV was 65% or less. No adverse effects were identified by the owners. The dog's PCV ranged between 68% and 75% during the first 2 months of hydroxyurea therapy. White b...

Four adult dogs with polycythemia secondary to reversed patent ductus arteriosus (rPDA) were treated with hydroxyurea, a myelosuppressive agent, for 6-22 months. Regardless of initial hematocrit, clinical signs attributed to the presence of polycythemia improved with hydroxyurea treatment. Chronic hydroxyurea therapy (40-50 mg/kg PO q48h) was well tolerated in this group of animals; mild, clinically silent thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were detected in some animals but resolved with decreased dosage or dose frequency. Chronic hydroxyurea therapy may provide an alternative to repeated phlebotomy for therapy of polycythemia secondary to rPDA.

A 1-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of signs of urinary incontinence. Retrograde positive contrast urethrocystography and excretory urography with pneumocystography revealed bilateral intramural ectopic ureters and absence of the right kidney. During abdominal exploratory surgery, only the left kidney was located. The left intramural ectopic ureter was repaired by neoureterostomy (creation of a new opening for the ureter to enable urine to empty into the bladder). The right ectopic ureter was ligated at its entrance into the urinary bladder serosa. Results of excretory urography (performed immediately after surgery and repeated 8 weeks later) revealed successful correction of the left intramural ectopic ureter. Twelve weeks after surgery, the dog remained continent. To the authors' knowledge, there are few reports of ectopic ureters in male dogs; furthermore, the urinary tract abnormalities detected concurrently in this dog are also unusual.

Administration of ceftazidime subcutaneously (30 mg/kg, q 4 h) or as a constant IV infusion (loading dose, 4.4 mg/kg; rate, 4.1 mg/kg/h) would maintain serum ceftazidime concentrations above the MIC determined for 101 clinical isolates of P aeruginosa. Use of these dosages may be appropriate for treatment of dogs with infections caused by P aeruginosa.