Aim:The main objective of the study was to describe the use of skin fold advancement flaps (SFAFs) and other reconstructive techniques for closure of large skin defects following mammary tumor excision in dogs.Materials and Methods:Twelve dogs underwent reconstruction of large ventral skin defects following mammary tumor excision with wide margins. Skin fold flaps (flank fold flap and elbow fold flap) were elevated from the flank and elbow region, respectively, and transposed and sutured onto the large ventral skin defect following mastectomy in all the dogs. In addition to the skin fold flaps, other reconstructive techniques such as undermining, walking sutures, and tension-relieving suture techniques were followed during surgery in the closure of large skin defects without skin tension and compromising limb mobility. The skin flap viability was assessed subjectively by gross observation of the flap such as color, temperature, capillary perfusion, and cosmetic appearance, and scoring (1-4) was done. Tissue samples were collected from a surgical site on days 3, 6, and 12 post-operatively for histopathological evaluation and healing status of the skin flap.Results:All the surgical wounds healed primarily, without any major complications and the skin flap remained healthy throughout the healing process post-operatively. Distal flap necrosis was noticed in one case and necrosis of skin flap between two suture lines was noticed in another case in which the necrotized distal portion healed by secondary intention after 7 days. The mean survival of subdermal plexus flap in the above cases was 98% which was a subjective evaluation based on surface area of the skin defect measured by Image’ J software and the flap dimensions. The average healing of skin flap in days was 14.91±0.86.Conclusion:The SFAFs along with other reconstructive techniques help in the reconstruction of large ventral skin defects following mastectomy in dogs without much compromising limb mobility.

A total of 14,747 dogs were presented to Small Animal Ophthalmology unit of Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital for different ophthalmic diseases during the period of 2018 to 2021. Out of which, 649 (4.4%) dogs had less common intraocular and orbital diseases. The remaining 14,098 (95.6%) dogs had only corneal and extraocular diseases which were not included in this incidence study. The incidence was higher with cataract (n=170, 26.19%), followed by retinal detachment (n=96, 14.79%), proptosis (n=95, 14.64%) and retinal degeneration (n=89, 13.71%). Apart from these, incidence of eyeball lesions like exophthalmos was 2.16% (n=14), enophthalmos 0.46% (n=3) and anophthalmia 0.46% (n=3). The incidence of amaurosis was 7.86% (n=51), hyphema 5.39% (n=35), lens luxation 3.08% (n=20), glaucoma 2.31% (n=15) and panophthalmitis 6.78% (n=44). Incidence of intraocular tumours 1.23% (n=8) and retrobulbar tumours was 0.92% (n=6).

Background: Pyometra or cystic endometrial hyperplasia complex in dogs is a hormonally mediated bacterial disease wherein middle-aged bitches are most affected. The current study was carried out in pyometra-affected bitches to determine the alterations in hormonal, histopathological and haemato-biochemical profiles after 14 days of ovariohysterectomy. Methods: Blood samples were collected both from control (n=15) and affected bitches (n=15) showing signs of open cervix pyometra preoperatively and postoperatively on the day of surgery, on the 7th and 14th day after ovariohysterectomy. Blood samples were subjected to the estimation of endocrinological and hematobiochemical parameters. The ovary, oviduct and uterus were collected for gross and histological observations. Result: The pre-operative serum progesterone (ng/ml) recorded in bitches affected with pyometra were 9-fold higher than controls (9.77±2.64 vs 0.61±0.66) (P less than 0.01). There was a non-significant difference in the pre-operative (414.63±62.88) and post-operative (390.6±54.20) estrogen concentration and the results indicated a presence of an extragonadal source of estrogen. The enormous endometrial lumen of these cysts contained eosinophilic hazy granular material and tissue debris along with massive infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly neutrophils. The findings of the study revealed that progesterone is the major contributory factor and extragonadal sources of estrogen may be present along with hyperplastic changes in the uterine and glandular epithelium in pyometra-affected bitches.

An 11 year old male non-descript dog was presented with the history of frequent vomition and progressive weight loss for the past one month. The dog was dull, dehydrated, anaemic and emasciated. Positive contrast survey radiographs, revealed delayed gastrointestinal transit time and absence of foreign body. Exploratory laparatomy was done which revealed thickening of entire layer of the gastric wall with pylorus and the histopathology revealed gastric adenocarcinoma. Since the tumor was spread to the full thickness of the stomach wall including pylorus, the prognosis was informed to the owner and euthanasia was advised.

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