A five-year-old male Boerboel presented for examination, collapsed for an unknown period of time. On clinical examination, multifocal subcutaneous masses and enlarged prescapular lymph nodes as well as neurological deficits that suggested a multifocal neurological syndrome were found. Fine needle aspirates of the prescapular lymph nodes revealed cells suggestive of osteosarcoma. Radiographs showed foci of mineralisation within the soft tissue masses as well as diffuse pulmonary metastasis and a caudodorsal mediastinal mass believed to be a Spirocerca lupi nodule. Computed tomography imaging, necropsy and histopathology confirmed S. lupi oesophageal neoplastic transformation (extraskeletal osteosarcoma), believed to be the primary lesion, and the majority of secondary metastasis to the brain, spine, heart, multiple muscular groups and abdominal organs. This is the first known report of extraskeletal osteosarcoma metastasis to the brain and spinal cord in a dog.

Cutaneous neoplasia occurs commonly in dogs and owners in consultation with their veterinarian must decide when to perform surgery to obtain a histopathological diagnosis. The objective of this study was to identify breed predispositions for canine cutaneous neoplasms and determine factors associated with malignancy. This retrospective case-series evaluated histopathology reports from two veterinary pathology laboratories in South Africa during a six-month study period. Breed predispositions were analysed using log-linear models and risk factors for malignancy were evaluated using binary logistic regression. Data were available for 2553 cutaneous neoplasms from 2271 dogs. The most frequent neoplasms were mast cell tumours (21.1per cent), histiocytoma (9.4per cent), haemangiosarcoma (8.3per cent), melanocytoma (5.8per cent) and lipoma (5.1per cent). Boxers (relative proportion (RP)=38.9; 95% CI 2.3 to 646), pugs (7.6; 1.4 to 41.0), Staffordshire bull terriers (7.0; 1.9 to 26.3), boerboels (3.8; 1.3 to 10.7), Labrador retrievers (2.7; 1.0 to 7.0) and mixed breed dogs (2.2; 1.1 to 4.4) had a higher frequency of mast cell tumours. Jack Russell terriers (OR=2.5; 95% CI 1.8 to 3.5), Rottweilers (2.3; 1.3 to 3.9), pit bull terriers (2.2; 1.1 to 4.3) and Staffordshire bull terriers (1.6; 1.0 to 2.6) were more likely to have malignant neoplasms. Dog signalment might facilitate prognosis determination for cutaneous canine neoplasia before receiving a histopathological diagnosis.

The transthecal approach provides improved visualization of the palmar aspect of the DIPJ compared to the conventional blind approach and may be useful in nonseptic conditions of the DIPJ. However, because of the creation of communication with the DFTS, use of the transthecal approach for suspected synovial sepsis of the DIPJ may be contraindicated.