Soft tissue surgery
Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital abnormality that arises when the fetal ductus arteriosus (DA) fails to close. Left-to-right or right-to-left (less common) shunting of blood usually occurs as a result. PDA occurs in approximately 1 in 1000 dogs and is one of the most common congenital heart defects diagnosed in dogs. PDA is rare in cats, occurring in approximately 2 in 10,000 cats.
Soft tissue surgery
Hepatobiliary Neoplasia
(Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
Hepatocellular tumors arise from hepatocytes. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy of the dog. It is less common in the cat. Metastatic rates are relatively low, although rates are higher with nodular and diffuse forms. Metastasis occurred in < 5% of patients in one report. Another report on necropsy samples demonstrated a 36% metastatic rate. Most occur as solitary nodules in left-sided liver lobes. They tend to be soft, fragile tumors.
Hepatocellular adenoma (i.e. hepatoma) is a benign hepatocellular tumor that is commonly found as an incidental finding in dogs at necropsy. In the cat, it occurs more often than hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatomas are usually well circumscribed and sometimes pedunculated. They can occur as solitary nodules or in multiples. They tend to be fragile and rupture or bleed easily. Differentiation from nodular hyperplasia and regenerative nodules can be difficult. Hepatomas can become extremely large. Clinical disease is associated with compression of other organs, hemorrhage from rupture, and paraneoplastic hypoglycemia
Soft tissue surgery
Splenic Neoplasia
(Leiomyosarcoma)
Primary splenic tumors are categorized as: 1) Angiogenic tumors: hemangiosarcoma (HSA), hemangioma 2) Lymphoid and other round cell tumors: lymphoma, leukemia, mast cell tumor, plasma cell tumor/multiple myeloma, histiocytic sarcoma 3) Non-angiogenic, non-hematopoietic tumors
a) Encompasses a long list of mostly uncommon splenic neoplasms
b) Includes leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, extraskeletal osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lipoma, liposarcoma, myxosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, undifferentiated sarcoma, melanoma, carcinoma, peripheral nerve sheath tumor, myelolipoma, mixed mesenchymal sarcoma (mesenchymoma)
Soft tissue surgery
Linear Foreign Body
In general, intestinal foreign bodies are straightforward to treat and have a good prognosis as long as they are diagnosed early. Linear foreign bodies, however, present particular problems for surgeons. String, cords, fabric and tape are capable of passing through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully, but create problems when one end becomes lodged and the remainder of the foreign body is propelled along the intestine by peristalsis. Because the tethered string cannot be expelled, the intestine telescopes orally and becomes plicated. The string may then cut through the intestinal wall as it becomes tight (usually at the mesenteric edge). Due to the plication of the intestines, it is not possible to simply extract the string by pulling on one end, as that tightens it further and exacerbates the risk of intestinal perforation. The combined difficulties of removing the string, and extensive intestinal damage, mean that multiple enterotomies and/or intestinal resection are often indicated. Patients with chronic linear foreign bodies may be suffering from malnutrition, dehydration or even peritonitis, and this combined with extended surgical times can lead to a high mortality rate.
Soft tissue surgery
Caval Syndrome
(Heartworm Disease)
Dirofilariasis is a mosquito-borne, nematodal infestation caused by Dirofilaria immitis. Domestic dogs and some wild canids are the normal definitive hosts and serve as the main reservoir for infection. Cats are occasionally infected. Heartworm disease (HWD) has a worldwide distribution that is limited to regions that have suitable mosquito intermediate hosts and ambient temperatures capable of permitting development of larvae within those mosquitoes. Some regions have seasonal periods of susceptibility.