Up to 70% of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament tears have concurrent meniscal injury, and these injuries can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis and persistent lameness. Studies assessing joint space width on knee radiographs in people have indicated associations between joint space width and meniscal injuries. The aim of this prospective analytical study was to determine if there was an association between stifle joint space width on three different radiographic projections (the standard tibial plateau leveling osteotomy projections and a standing lateral projection) and meniscal injuries identified at surgery in dogs. There was a significant association between dogs with a meniscal tear and the corresponding joint space width on standard tibial plateau leveling osteotomy lateral radiographic projections (P‐value = .0028). Based on receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, joint space widths measuring less than 3.43 mm may indicate a meniscal tear, with a corresponding 89.5% specificity and 40.5% sensitivity in dogs weighing 31 kg. Joint space narrowing is seen with meniscal tears in dogs, and radiography may be a noninvasive way to identify meniscal tears prior to surgery.

A 24-year-old Warmblood gelding presented with a 6-hour history of recurrent colic signs of increasing severity. Upon presentation, he was mildly painful, tachycardic and tachypnoeic and had decreased borborygmi. Nasogastric intubation resulted in no net reflux and rectal palpation revealed an ascending colon impaction. Percutaneous abdominal ultrasonography revealed dilated, thickened and hypomotile loops of small intestine. Complete blood count revealed leucopenia with neutropenia and an increased packed cell volume. Serum biochemistry revealed hyperproteinaemia, hyperglycaemia, hypocalcaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and elevated liver enzymes. Despite sedation and fluid resuscitation, the gelding became severely colicky. A repeat ultrasound was performed, revealing a moderate amount of free fluid and a mass effect between the liver and right dorsal colon. Abdominocentesis yielded a yellow, turbid fluid containing free-floating white debris with an increased total protein and lactate concentration. Cytology of the fluid revealed necrotic mesothelial cells. The gelding was humanely euthanised due to poor prognosis. Necropsy revealed acute, severe pancreatitis and duodenitis. The mass effect on ultrasonography was retrospectively identified as the pancreas exhibiting a similar architecture to that seen in cases of acute pancreatitis in small animals.