The updated VCOG‐CTCAE v2 guidelines contain several important updates and additions since the last update (v1.1) was released in 2011 and published within Veterinary and Comparative Oncology in 2016. As the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) is no longer an active entity, the original authors and contributors to the VCOG‐CTCAE v1.0 and v1.1 were consulted for input, and additional co‐authors sought for expansion and refinement of the adverse event (AE) categories. VCOG‐CTCAE v2 includes expanded neurology, cardiac and immunologic AE sections, and the addition of procedural‐specific AEs. It is our intent that, through inclusion of additional authors from ACVIM subspecialties and the American College of Veterinary Surgery, that we can more comprehensively capture AEs that are observed during clinical studies conducted across a variety of disease states, clinical scenarios, and body systems. It is also our intent that these updated veterinary CTCAE guidelines will offer improved application and ease of use within veterinary practice in general, as well as within clinical trials that assess new therapeutic strategies for animals with a variety of diseases. Throughout the revision process, we strived to ensure the grading structure for each AE category was reflective of the decision‐making process applied to determination of dose‐limiting events. As phase I trial decisions are based on these criteria and ultimately determine the maximally tolerated dose, there is impact on standard dosing recommendations for any new drug registration or application. This document should be updated regularly to reflect ongoing application to clinical studies carried out in veterinary patients.

Results indicated that dogs with oral melanoma can have a long PFI and ST after resection with wide margins.

The objective of this study is to determine the rate of toxicity, median survival time (MST) and prognostic factors in dogs with presumed intracranial meningiomas that were treated with stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). Patient demographics, neurological history, details of SRT plans and response to treatment (including toxicity and survival times) were examined for potential prognostic factors. Overall MST (MST) due to death for any cause was 561 days. There was a mild to moderate exacerbation of neurological symptoms 3-16 weeks following SRT treatments in 11/30 (36.7%) of dogs. This presumed adverse event was treated with corticosteroids, and improvement was seen in most of these dogs. Death within 6 months of treatment as a result of worsening neurologic signs was seen in 4/30 (13.3%) of dogs. Volume of normal brain that received full dose at a prescription of 8Gy × 3 fractions was predictive of death due to neurological problems within this 6-month period.

Objective: To report the incidence of postattenuation seizures (PAS) in dogs that underwent single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (cEHPSS) attenuation and to compare incidence of PAS in dogs that either did or did not receive prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam (LEV). Study design: Multi-institutional retrospective study. Population: Nine hundred forty dogs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs that underwent surgical attenuation of a single cEHPSS from January 2005 through July 2017 and developed PAS within 7 days postoperatively. Dogs were divided into 3 groups: no LEV (LEV−); LEV at ≥15 mg/kg every 8 hours for ≥24 hours preoperatively or a 60 mg/kg intravenous loading dose perioperatively, followed by ≥15 mg/kg every 8 hours postoperatively (LEV1); and LEV at <15 mg/kg every 8 hours, for <24 hours preoperatively, or continued at <15 mg/kg every 8 hours postoperatively (LEV2).Preliminary results of this study were presented at the Association

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (EOS) is a rare, highly malignant mesenchymal neoplasm arising from viscera or soft tissues characterised by the formation of osteoid in the absence of bone involvement. Owing to the rarity of these neoplasms very little information exists on treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome following surgical treatment of non-mammary and non-thyroidal soft tissue and visceral EOS in dogs. Thirty-three dogs were identified; the most common primary tumour site was the spleen. Dogs that had wide or radical tumour excision had longer survival times compared with dogs that had only marginal tumour excision performed [median survival time of 90 days (range: 0-458 days) versus median survival time of 13 days (range: 0-20 days)]. The use of surgery should be considered in the management of dogs with non-mammary and non-thyroidal soft tissue and visceral EOS.