A 6-year-old male Pit bull mix dog presented for bleeding from the mouth persisting for five days. A clinical evaluation revealed a 2 × 3 cm soft tissue mandibular mass at the crown of the first premolar, as well as a non-regenerative anemia and hyperproteinemia. Cytologic and histopathologic evaluations of the mass were compatible with an oral plasmacytoma.

Eight hunting dogs were visited by a state veterinarian on the island of Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, as owners reported anorexia and paralysis in five of their dogs. The veterinarian observed a combination of clinical signs consistent with tick-borne illness, including fever, anorexia, anaemia, lethargy and paralysis. Blood and ticks were collected from each dog and submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for analysis. Microscopic analysis revealed a mixed infection of intracytoplasmic organisms consistent with Babesia spp. (erythrocyte) and Ehrlichia spp. (monocyte), respectively, from one dog, while a complete blood count indicated a regenerative anaemia (n = 1; 12.5%), non-regenerative anaemia (n = 4; 50%), neutrophilia (n = 3; 37.5%), lymphocytosis (n = 2; 25%), thrombocytopaenia (n = 3; 37.5%) and pancytopaenia (n = 1; 12.5%). DNA isolated from the eight blood samples and 20 ticks (16 Rhipicephalus sanguineus and 4 Amblyomma ovale) were subjected to conventional PCR and next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia and Babesia/Theileria/Hepatozoon, respectively. The DNA of Ehrlichia spp., closely related to Ehrlichia canis, was detected in the blood of three dogs (37.5%), Anaplasma spp., closely related to Anaplasma marginale, in two (25%), Babesia vogeli in one dog (12.5%) and seven ticks (35%) and Hepatozoon canis and Anaplasma spp., in one tick (5%), respectively. These findings highlight the need to test both the vector and host for the presence of tick-borne pathogens when undertaking diagnostic investigations. Further studies are also warranted to elucidate the susceptibility of canids to Anaplasma marginale.

An 8-year-old male (neutered) Labrador with a history of erythematous skin lesions and exercise intolerance for a prolonged period was suddenly found dead. Necropsy findings revealed an infiltrative, focally extensive mass which occupied 25% of the cardiac interventricular septum. Severe endocardiosis was also found on the bicuspid and tricuspid valves. The submandibular lymph nodes and kidneys were bilaterally enlarged, and the pre-hepatic lymph node and spleen were also enlarged. Multiple dermal pustules were present around the mouth and on the ear, and small ulcers were present on the tongue. Histopathological examination detected the presence of neoplastic lymphocytes with a plasmacytoid morphology in these tissues as well as in the tongue and skin lesions. Immunohistochemical (CD3⁺/CD18⁺) evaluation was consistent with a T-cell lymphoma, which could be classified as a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS).

Thyroid tumors occur in many domestic species, but are most common in the dog, in which they are classified as follicular or medullary. During 2012–2016, we received tissue specimens or whole carcasses of 4 dogs with variable enlargement of the thyroid glands. The 2 males and 2 females were of mixed (mongrel) inbreeding, 3–4.5-y-old. All tumors had lobulated architecture forming follicular structures variably containing colloid. On immunohistochemistry of the tumors from 3 of the dogs, 2 were thyroglobulin positive, and all 3 were negative for calcitonin, confirming follicular thyroid carcinoma in 2 of the dogs. Thyroid carcinomas have not been reported previously in related mongrel dogs, to our knowledge.