Wii^® balance board (WBB) is a device that can measure and record body sway. This study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of WBB in small sized dog as inexpensive, portable and convenient tool. The center of pressure path length (CPPL) and 95% confidence ellipse area (Area 95) were evaluated with only two plates of WBB. The parameters were evaluated between no load (0 kg) and mass group (0.25-4 kg on each one plate). 23 dogs (2.3-7.3 kg) were evaluated for with hindlimb standing for 10 seconds. The mass group showed a significant value in comparison to the no load during the measurement. And intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) between CPPL and Area 95 revealed very high both mass and dog group. In the evaluation of medial patellar luxation (MPL) as a diagnostic tool, 80 dogs with MPL and 23 non-affected dogs were used. In studies of CPPL and Area 95, significant differences were found between non-affected and MPL groups for 10 and 30 seconds, respectively. The WBB can be used as a valid tool for evaluating hind limb standing balance and can be useful as an objective tool to present clinical results in small sized dog with MPL.

Wii^® balance board (WBB, Nintendo, Japan) is a device that can measure and record the center of pressure path length (CPPL) and 95% confidence ellipse area (Area 95) in relation to body sway. For evaluating measure of improvement after reconstruction of medial patellar luxation (MPL) in small sized dogs, A total of 6 dogs with limping and lameness gait attributed to Grade II, III or IV MPL were evaluated. Dogs were measured for difference of extension and flexion range of motion in the stifle (dROM), muscle mass, lameness, willingness to bear weight on the affected limb while standing, and willingness to lift the contralateral limb scores, CPPL and Area 95 of WBB on pre-surgery, post-surgery 4, 8 weeks. CPPL was significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Except for CPPL, measured variables were significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 4 and post-surgery 8 weeks (p < 0.01).

It is important to identify the most suitable anesthetic agent that has minimal side effects to be able to control and perform surgeries on bears. In this study, we examined and compared the induction and recovery times as well as the physiological changes occurring during anesthesia induced by medetomidine-zolazepam/tiletamine (MZT) and xylazine-zolazepam/tiletamine (XZT) at general anesthesia for laparoscopic salpingectomy in 326 female Asiatic black bears. The body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and levels of PaO₂ and EtCO₂ were the physiological changes measured during surgical procedures in female bears after anesthesia. In addition, the levels of pO₂, pCO₂, and sO₂ were measured using a portable blood gas analyzer. To induce recovery from anesthesia, bears anesthetized with MZT were intravenously administered atipamezole and bears anesthetized with XZT were intravenously administered yohimbine. The combination MZT, at dosages of 0.019 ± 0.001 mg/kg for medetomidine and 1.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, or the combination XZT, at dosages of 2.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for xylazine and 3.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, proved to be reliable and effective in anesthetizing Asiatic black bears for a 40-min handling period for routine clinical procedures. The average anesthesia induction times were 16.5 ± 0.95 min for the bears in the MZT group and 12.0 ± 0.44 min for those in the XZT group. A significant difference was noted between the two drugs (P < 0.001) in terms of the average anesthesia induction time. The anesthesia induction time was shorter for bears with lower body weights than those with higher body weights (P < 0.05). The recovery time of MZT was significantly faster than that of XZT (11.3 ± 0.45 min vs. 18.5 ± 0.83 min) (P < .001). The bears anesthetized with MZT exhibited lower cardiopulmonary suppression than those anesthetized with XZT (P < 0.05). The body temperatures and EtCO₂ of bears in the M ZT group were significantly lower than those in the XZT group as time progressed after anesthesia (P < 0.05). The average pO₂ before the bears were supplied with oxygen was 64.8 ± 3.7 mmHg, but it increased to 211.5 ± 42.5 mmHg afterwards (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results indicate that bears anesthetized with MZT have longer anesthesia induction time, shorter recovery time, slower heart and respiratory rates, and lower body temperatures and EtCO₂ than those anesthetized with XZT. These findings suggest that XZT is preferable to MZT, warranting further research on its uses and clinical responses in bears.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of complete blood cell count (CBC) of blood samples collected from the jugular vein, cephalic vein and lateral saphenous vein and to find out if there were clinically significant differences. Total of 40 dogs were tested. CBC tests were conducted with blood samples obtained from the jugular vein, cephalic vein and lateral saphenous vein and manual differential count was performed to accurately distinguish the white blood cell (WBC) types. The results were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA and posthoc test was conducted using the least significant difference method. As a result, there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in the total WBC and monocyte count. The post-hoc test of total WBC counts revealed a significant difference between the jugular vein and cephalic vein, and the jugular vein and lateral saphenous vein. For monocyte counts, a significant difference was observed between the jugular vein and lateral saphenous vein.

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are major promising targets in anticancer therapy in human and veterinary medicine. Using immunohistochemistry method, we evaluated the expressionof five types RTK (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, VEGFR 2, c-Kit and Abl) in the six canine brain tumor samples (2 meningioma, 2 astrocytoma, 1 ependymoma and 1 choroid plexus papilloma). A total of five samples expressed PDGFR-β (5/6), one sample, the choroid plexus papilloma, expressed c-Kit (1/6), and a total of two samples expressed Abl (2/6). None of the samples showed expression of PDGFR-α and VEGFR 2. We demonstrate that a significant portion of canine brain tumors express tyrosine receptors for growth factors and show that these receptors generally localize to tumor cell membranes and the cytoplasm. Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression for the RTKs PDGFR-β, c-Kit, and Alb in canine brain samples reveals an interesting potential for molecular targeting by TKIs in therapeutic studies of canine brain tumors, and more studies will be needed to assess the interactions and efficacy of these RTKs and TKIs. Based on these results, we have some evidence for novel chemotherapeutic trials using TKIs for canine nervous tumors.

This study was designed to compare the effects of continuous release of an anti-glaucoma drug applied by an osmotic pump and by conventional eye drop instillation in normal beagle dogs, by measuring drug concentration in the blood and monitoring intra-ocular pressure (IOP). In group 1, an osmotic pump filled with Trusopt® was implanted subcutaneously over the right eye of each dog and the IOP was measured. In group 2, the right eye of each dog was administered with 2% dorzolamide (Trusopt®, Merck, USA) three times per day. Blood was sampled once per week in all groups. The IOP of the end of this study was 16.7 ± 0.58 mmHg in group 2 and 17.7 ± 2.52 mmHg in group 2. Dorzolamide concentration in blood increased continuously over 4 weeks up to 585.8 ± 79.42 ㎍/L in group 1, and 747.3 ± 27.89 ㎍/L in group 2. We achieved satisfactory results in the osmotic pump group, which had a similar effect on IOP, and low fluctuations in IOP. Therefore, the results of this study should allow osmotic pumps to be consider as an alternative method to eye drops for the effective, safe, and convenient treatment of glaucoma.

Apharyngostrigea ibis (Trematoda: Strigeidae) were obtained from the small intestine of two black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) and three grey herons (Ardea cinerea jouyi) between July 2006 and September 2018 in Daejeon metropolitan city and Kangwon province, Republic of Korea. The body is covered with a relatively thick cuticle, devoid of spines, and bipartite. The body measures at 2.3-3.33 × 0.86-1.20 mm, and the fore-body is ventrally concave. The oral sucker leads into a short esophagus that is devoid of a muscular pharynx. The worm was studied with a scanning electron microscope for the first time resulting in the detection of a pair of lappets located at the bilateral portion of the oral sucker. This is the first record of A. ibis in the Republic of Korea.

A castrated, 6-year-old, male Turkish Angora cat with a history of respiratory distress was referred to the hospital. Physical examination revealed a cardiac murmur, and thoracic radiographic findings revealed pleural effusion and cardiomegaly. Echocardiography showed abnormality of the tricuspid and mitral valve, and color-flow Doppler imaging revealed regurgitation between both atrium and ventricle. Based on the echocardiographic examination, tricuspid valve dysplasia concurrent with mitral valve dysplasia was diagnosed. However, the patient died a week after treatment. In necropsy, bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia and left ventricular hypertrophy were confirmed. This is the first report to describe a middle age Turkish angora cat having bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia which has high mortality and only been reported rarely in cats. This case report also describes its clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings, treatment and discussions how the patient could live long.

A 14-month-old Thoroughbred colt with hind limbs lameness was referred to Equine Hospital of Jeju National University. During physical examination, the patient could not walk in a straight line but wobbled especially with hind limbs. He hesitated when backing and crossed hind limbs while circling tightly by protracting the outer hind limb keeping the inner hind limb stationed. Stenosis was observed between the 2nd (C2) and 3rd (C3), and the C3 and 4th (C4) cervical vertebrae on radiographs. The colt diagnosed as cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) based on the clinical signs and radiological findings. To confirm the diagnosis, postmortem computed tomography (CT) and histopathologic examination were performed after the euthanasia. The CT images revealed severe compression of the spinal cavity and cord between C3 and C4 cervical vertebrae. Grossly, there was compression of the spinal cord between the C3 and C4 cervical vertebrae. Histopathologically, severe axonal swelling and demyelination characterized by vacuolation and cavity formation were observed in the white matter of the spinal cord, especially in C3 and C4. CSM is problematic in the horse racing industry because of abnormal walking. This case report of CSM may offer information for diagnosis of the disease in the equine veterinary fields in the Republic of Korea.

A four-year old, indoor-living neutered male Old English Bulldog was presented for generalized ulcerative dermatitis. Generalized alopecia and multifocal papules and ulcers with crusting were observed mainly in the dorsal trunk. Cytology of the skin lesions revealed a pyogranulomatous inflammation comprising macrophages and nondegenerate neutrophils. Histopathology also revealed a nodular dermatitis characterized by mixed infiltration of monocytes and neutrophils involving the superficial and deep dermis. Neither of bacteria nor fungus was identified in microscopic exam and culture. From those findings, a diagnosis of cutaneous sterile pyogranuloma/granuloma syndrome (SPGS) was made. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs of prednisone and cyclosporine was performed and visible ulcerative skin lesions were resolved after 4 weeks of initiation of therapy. Treatment with combination of cyclosporine and prednisone may be effective for the case of SPGS.

A five-year-old female Yorkshire Terrier dog presented with a perianal mass. Fine needle aspiration revealed that the mass comprised two different types of cells: hepatoid epithelial cells and melanin-containing melanocytes. Histopathological examination confirmed perianal gland adenoma with malignant melanoma. Evidence of metastasis was found on thoracic radiography with soft-tissue densities observed within the pulmonary parenchyma. The dog survived for three months after diagnosis of malignant melanoma. This report describes the clinical findings, diagnostics used, cytological and histopathological findings, and the potential prognosis for a dog diagnosed with malignant anal sac melanoma.

A two-year-old spayed female Persian cat demonstrated weight loss, anorexia, and vomiting for one week. Hematologic findings suggested chronic renal failure. Radiography and ultrasonography revealed severe bilateral renomegaly with hypoechoic nodules and subcapsular hypoechoic rim. Fine needle aspiration of the kidney revealed malignant lymphoma. The cat received in-hospital treatment for chronic renal failure for seven days, followed by chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone). The cat tolerated chemotherapy well and chronic kidney disease was alleviated. However, complete remission was not achieved. After 93 days of treatment, the cat exhibited anisocoria and mental dullness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hypertrophy and enhancement of cranial nerves. Chemotherapy was replaced with lomustine (10 mg orally), and two weeks later, cytosine arabinoside (50 mg/㎡ subcutaneously), twice daily for consecutive days. Five days after substitution chemotherapy, the patient showed anemia due to severe intestinal bleeding and died. Post-mortem examination and histopathologic analysis confirmed renal T-cell lymphoma with metastasis to the central nervous system, colon, and nasal cavity. Survival time was 117 days after the diagnosis of renal lymphoma.

An 11-year-old, female Miniature Schnauzer dog was presented with recurrent skin ulcer of the second metatarsal region in the right hindlimb following metatarsal resection. Physical examination revealed an ulcerated and bleeding lesion of the second metatarsal region in the right hindlimb. Impression smears of the ulcerative lesion confirmed numerous degenerated neutrophils and mixed bacterial infection. Initially, the dog was treated with antibiotics and povidone-iodine flushing for the control of deep pyoderma. Because the skin lesion had been deteriorated over time despite of topical and systemic treatments, skin biopsy was performed. Histopathologic examination indicated squamous cell carcinoma based on the features of multiple nests of squamous neoplastic cells and mitotic figures. Although amputation of the right hindlimb was performed, the dog was expired five months later because of tumor metastasis to the lung and the popliteal lymph node. This is the first case report describes malignant digital squamous cell carcinoma in Korea.

The aim of this study was to compare the plasma progesterone concentrations during gestation in 4 breeds of companion bitches. When Day 0 was timed the first male acceptance, plasma progesterone were 1.8 ± 0.4 ng/ml (Mean ± SD) at Day 0 and increased constantly with 58.5 ± 8.9 ng/ml a peak at Day 20. Thereafter plasma progesterone concentrations was decreased below 1.0 ng/ml with 0.7 ± 0.2 g/ml at Day 65. There were no statistically significant differences of plasma progesterone concentrations in the each day of gestation and in litter size among the companion bitches (p < 0.01). These results indicated that the plasma progesterone concentrations was useful method for estimating optimal breeding time, ovulation time, the time of onset of parturition, properly planned elective cesarean section and abortion time in companion bitches.