Objectives: Ultrasonography is used in the evaluation of urinary disorders, and the resistivity index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) have been successfully used to detect early hemodynamic changes in the course of kidney diseases in humans and dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate RI and PI in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Methods: Twenty-nine client-owned cats were selected and divided into a control group (CG; n = 10), a group of animals with obstructive FLUTD (OG; n = 11) and non-obstructive FLUTD (nOG; n = 8). Clinical, laboratory and ultrasound evaluations were performed in all cats. Results: RI and PI values for cats in the CG were below the upper limit of normal suggested in other studies, while cats with FLUTD showed significantly higher values in the assessment of RI ( P = 0.027 and P = 0.034, respectively) and PI ( P = 0.044 and P = 0.048, respectively) of the right and left kidneys. Conclusions and relevance: Alteration in renal blood flow was observed in cats with lower urinary tract disorders, even in the nOG group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of renal blood flow changes related to non-obstructive FLUTD.

Http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2015v28n2p119 O quati (Nasua nasua) é uma espécie de ampla distribuição na América do Sul, inclusive no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi observar e descrever a morfologia da ramificação dos principais ramos arteriais das aortas torácica e abdominal do quati, comparando os achados com a literatura existente sobre as demais espécies domésticas e silvestres. Para este estudo foram utilizados dois exemplares machos adultos da espécie, coletados em rodovias do estado de Minas Gerais, mortos por atropelamento. Os espécimes foram fixados em solução formalina e tiveram os ramos aórticos preenchidos com látex para posterior dissecação e estudo. Observou-se que a artéria subclávia esquerda é ramo direto do arco aórtico, não há formação de um tronco bicarotídeo nem de um tronco celíacomesentérico, fatos descritos de forma semelhante nos carnívoros domésticos. Dessa forma, notou-se que as ramificações dos ramos arteriais da aorta do quati, tanto na cavidade torácica quanto abdominal, seguem uma distribuição muito semelhante à observada nos carnívoros domésticos, o que reflete sua proximidade evolutiva dentro da ordem Carnivora. Com isso, esse estudo mostrou-se importante por aprofundar o conhecimento anatômico dessa espécie silvestre, permitindo que aspectos já conhecidos da medicina de cães sejam aplicados ao quati.

Bladder tumors in dogs represent approximately 2% of all malignant lesions recorded, with urothelial carcinoma being the most common and aggressive form. This study aimed to characterize the elastographic properties of canine urothelial carcinoma using ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse) elastography and to evaluate its diagnostic capacity. Seven dogs with urothelial carcinoma and nine healthy dogs were evaluated, comparing shear wave velocity (SWV) and bladder wall thickness between the groups. The results showed that SWV was significantly higher in dogs with urothelial carcinoma (median of 2.53 m/s) compared with healthy dogs (median of 1.41 m/s) (p = 0.0045). Bladder wall thickness was also greater in dogs with carcinoma (0.28 ± 0.05 cm) compared to healthy dogs (0.14 ± 0.26 cm) (p = 0.0003). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (88.9%) for SWV in differentiating healthy and neoplastic tissues. These findings suggest that ARFI elastography is a promising tool for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma in dogs, offering a noninvasive and quantitative approach that can complement traditional diagnostic methods. ARFI elastography may aid in early diagnosis and clinical management, improving the prognosis of patients with bladder neoplasia.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography as a diagnostic tool for lung lesions in dogs. Dogs referred to the Radiology Department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 2020 and 2022 for the detection of lung lesions were included in the study. The characteristics of the lung lesions were assessed using radiography as a screening tool for localization, B‐mode ultrasound for tissue characterization, and subsequently, both qualitative (elastogram grades 1–3) and quantitative (shear wave velocity—SWV) elastographic evaluations. The lesions were classified based on clinical, ultrasound, radiographic, histopathological, and/or cytological findings into the following categories: consolidations, atelectasis, or neoplasms (nodules and masses). Twenty‐six dogs met the eligibility criteria and were included in the study. In some cases, the same dog had more than one type of lesion, resulting in the evaluation of 35 lung lesions: 13 masses, 8 nodules, 8 consolidations, and 4 areas of atelectasis. The quantitative elastographic evaluation revealed lower stiffness in atelectatic lesions (1.48 ± 0.35 m/s) compared with consolidations (2.94 ± 0.64 m/s), nodules (2.85 ± 1.40 m/s), and masses (3.13 ± 1.45 m/s), although no definitive diagnostic cut‐off value was established, due to the limited number of benign lesions. The results suggest that ARFI elastography can be a valuable complementary tool alongside clinical data and conventional imaging techniques in assessing lung lesions in dogs. Future studies with a larger sample size of benign parenchymal lung lesions are needed to further explore the potential of elastography for predicting malignancy.

Respiratory obstruction in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) can lead to secondary gastrointestinal alterations. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the echogenicity of the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum in dogs affected by brachycephalic syndrome. The correlation of these findings with BOAS severity, hematological alterations, and signs of systemic inflammation was investigated. Fifty-two brachycephalic patients and 15 mesocephalic controls, aged between 1 and 8 years, underwent evaluation including hemogram, biochemical analysis, C-reactive protein, and B-mode ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract. Brachycephalic animals were categorized based on the severity of BOAS, and owners provided clinical data via questionnaire. In the quantitative analysis, eight regions of interest were defined within the mucosal layer of the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum, and the mean pixel values were quantified for each structure. Leukocyte count (p≤ 0.001), eosinophils (p = 0.002), monocytes (p < 0.001), creatinine (p≤ 0.001) and total protein (p≤ 0.001) were higher in brachycephalic dogs than mesocephalic dogs. Hematological patterns showed mild leukocytosis, possibly indicating subclinical inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs exhibited elevated echogenicity in the duodenum and jejunum, measured in pixels (duodenum: 18.2 ± 11.3; jejunum: 25.6 ± 15.2), which was significantly higher than mesocephalic dogs (p< 0.05; duodenum: 11.04 ± 4.3; jejunum: 9 ± 7), according to variance analysis. Brachycephalic dogs of grades 0, 1, and 2 exhibited higher values than controls and grade 3 dogs. In conclusion, quantitative ultrasonography reduces subjectivity and provides objective insights into gastrointestinal alterations in BOAS-affected dogs.

Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection that requires prolonged and aggressive treatment. Local drug delivery systems have been investigated to improve recovery and reduce the need for extended systemic antibiotic therapy. This study evaluated composites of synthetic hydroxyapatite associated with cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) magnetic nanoparticles as a ciprofloxacin delivery system for infected bone defects. New Zealand rabbits were used as an experimental model, with osteomyelitis induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus into a humeral bone defect. Fifteen days after inoculation, the animals were allocated into five groups and underwent surgical debridement followed by implantation of biomaterials in the treated groups, while control groups received no biomaterial. Bone marrow samples were collected for bacterial culture before implantation. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 0, 15, and 42 days, and samples collected at 42 days were analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histology. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated a significant increase in bone density 15 days after bacterial inoculation. Micro-computed tomography revealed extensive cortical bone destruction and high cortical porosity in all groups, with no significant differences between treated and control groups. However, histological analysis showed significantly greater new bone deposition in treated groups, while necrosis was more frequent in controls. These findings indicate that the tested biomaterials positively influenced bone regeneration.