The objective of the study was to review current literature to determine whether the topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes healing in experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. The hypothesis was that the adjunct of PRP has a positive effect on wound healing. An electronic search was carried out on the following databases: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Research Gate, Cochrane Wounds Group, Veterinary Information Network. No publication date nor language restrictions were applied. Randomised and not randomised controlled clinical trials comparing PRP with placebo or with other treatments were included. The reduction of open wound area in PRP-treated (test) wounds compared to control wounds was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were healing time and number of healed cases in test group compared to control. The following effect sizes were calculated: the Hedges’ g for continuous variables; the odds ratio for binary data. Eighteen controlled clinical trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis, with a total of 661 wounds. All studies were published in the period 2007–2016. Eight studies were carried out on rodent/lagomorph mammals and 10 on non-rodent/lagomorph mammals. In all included studies, control wounds underwent placebo or were left untreated. The PRP group showed a better healing performance than the control group in each outcome. The effect size was statistically significant considering the primary outcome and the overall aggregation of the three outcomes. The effect size, although in favour of the treatment with PRP, was not significant considering the healing time and the number of healings. The overall heterogeneity was mild or moderate. Five studies reported a high risk of selection bias. The publication bias was always mild or absent. The results support the hypothesis of the positive effects of the PRP when compared to control groups in the treatment of experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. PRP can therefore be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in stimulating second intention healing of acute wounds in healthy animals.

The purpose of this study was to describe and assess the feasibility of a new intra-articular approach in the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs using an artificial ligament and a new bone-anchor system. Twelve canine cadavers weighting 26 to 45 kg were used in this ex-vivo study. Special tibial and femoral screws, two helicoils, and a high resistance artificial fiber compose the implant. Surgery was performed using the cranio-lateral approach to the stifle joint. Helicoil and tibial screw, connected to the fiber, were inserted in the center of the tibial insertion area of the cranial cruciate ligament. The fiber was passed over-the-top, tensioned, and fixed to the femoral screw, previously inserted with the helicoil in the distal part of the femur. Surgery was completed in all the cases. Occasional problems found during the insertion of the helicoils and screws were resolved with simple procedures. Post-operative clinical assessment showed negative cranial drawer test, negative cranial tibial thrust, and normal range of motion. Radiographic evaluation showed an appropriate positioning of both tibial and femoral implants in all the cases. The results of the first surgical appraisal of this new technique are encouraging, although further studies are necessary to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of this procedure.

A hand-made, radiolucent, custom-designed device having a mobile and a non-mobile platforms was used to objectively quantify the in vivo cranial tibial translation, in order to assess the functional status of cranial-cruciate-ligament (CrCL) in dogs. The hypothesis was that changes in CrCL integrity would result in detectable changes in tibial translation. To validate the diagnostic method, data from injured (PA, n = 32), contralateral (CO, n = 32) and healthy stifles (HE, n = 32) were compared. Normalized tibial translation (Δ N ) of each stifle was measured in medio-lateral radiographic projection obtained before and during standard thrust force application, in PA (43.59±12.97%), CO (20.32±6.69%) and HE (12.22±3.77%). Comparing PA with HE and CO (Δ N cut-off value: 29.73%), diagnosis could be issued with very high probability. Comparing HE with CO (Δ N cut-off value: 14.80%), high performance was obtained. The translator device could be a useful tool to objectively quantify the in vivo tibial translation in dogs with CrCL rupture, before surgery and during post-operatory follow-up.

A 4-year-old intact female, mixed breed dog was presented with a complaint of dyspnea. Clinical examination revealed symptoms related to disease of the upper airways. Radiographic findings were consistent with tracheal collapse associated with anomalies involving the seventh cervical vertebra and the first ribs bilaterally. Radiographs were highly suggestive of cervical ribs; computed tomography and ultrasound examination allowed complete characterization and better localization of the anomalies with relationship to the adjacent muscle and vasculature. Cervical ribs are malformations widely described in human medicine, but only sporadically in dogs. Herein, we discuss etiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of cervical ribs and possible correlations between the cervical ribs and other anatomical anomalies noted in this dog.

The purpose of this report was to describe an uncommon congenital anomaly in a dog. An 8-year-old, mixed-breed, male dog, was referred because of progressive difficulties on defecation. A complete diagnostic work-up (hematological analysis, radiology, ultrasound, and computed tomography), followed by surgery and histopathology, allowed us to diagnose the condition as unilateral urogenital disontogeny. The disorder was characterized by unilateral anomalies of the urinary tract (ectopic and dilated hydroureter, hydronephrosis, and renal dysplasia) associated with ipsilateral anomalies of the genital system (partial permanence of the duct of Wolff evolved into an epididymal-like structure and testicular agenesis). En bloc surgical excision of the complex of urogenital anomalies was performed with no complications during or after surgery. Surgery was considered to be effective in this dog since he no longer showed clinical signs of illness.