• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.240-245
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• 2022

A 15-year-old, neutered male, Shih-Tzu, was presented at the Chonnam National Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of acute onset of persistent coughing, exercise intolerance, and abnormal heart sound. On thoracic auscultation, a split-second heart sound and a wheezing sound were detected on both sides of the chest walls. On physical examination, the dog's body condition score (BCS) was 7/9, and had stenotic nares. Thoracic radiographs revealed right-sided enlargement of the cardiac silhouette (vertebral heart score (VHS) 11.2; reference interval = 8.9-10.1), mild main pulmonary artery (MPA) bulging, mild interstitial infiltration, and hepatomegaly. The electrocardiogram showed right axis deviation, suggesting right ventricular hypertrophy. The echocardiographic study showed moderate pulmonary hypertension and moderate tricuspid regurgitation. There were no findings of a tracheobronchial disease, pulmonary thromboembolism, congenital shunt, left heart disease, or parasitic disease. Based on clinical signs and diagnostic findings, the dog was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension secondary to brachycephalic syndrome. To rectify respiratory exacerbating factors, the dog was recommended weight control by restricting dietary intake and managing concurrent Cushing's syndrome. Treatments included sildenafil, pimobendan, furosemide, and ramipril. After five months of taking medications and weight control, the severity of pulmonary hypertension improved from moderate to mild. The clinical signs of the patient, including coughing and exercise intolerance, improved a lot. For 5 months of follow-up, the patient has not reported further recurrence of respiratory distress.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.404-407
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• 2005

A 4-week-old 0.5 kg male Shih Tzu with history of congenital abnormality, abnormality, was referred to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Chungbuk National University for further evaluation and treatment. During physical examination, the dog revealed mild depression and dyschezia. In plain radiographs, a digital thermometer put in the anus and grasped blind end of the rectum. In contrast radiographs, a urethrorectal fistula was confirmed. Urine specimens were collected with cystocentesis. Bacteria of the urine were detected using an auto microorganism analyzer. According to history taking, physical examination, radiographic signs and urinalysis, it was diagnosed as type IV atresia ani with a urethrorectal fistula. The dog was treated by fistulectomy and anoplasty, and discharged with instruction. Three days after operation, mild dehiscence was appeared. Wound was left to heal by second intention. During the follow-up of eight weeks, wound showed it to be healed and defecation was normal.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.173-176
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• 2012

A 6-year-old male Shih tzu dog was presented for evaluation of abdominal distention. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed a soft tissue density mass containing large amount of fluid. Ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration of the mass was performed and cytologic impression was granulation tissue with hematoma and fibroplasias. On exploratory laparotomy a mass was identified at the root of mesentery adhered to distal jejunum. Because the mass could not be separated from the attached jejuna loops, the mass and the adhered sites were surgically removed all together and enteroanastamosis was performed. Histologically a low grade myxosarcoma was diagnosed. Tumor cells were positive with alcian blue stain and Ki67 index by immunohistochemistry was 2.5. The dog recovered from surgery uneventfully, and has been in good condition without any signs of recurrence or metastasis for about 30 months after surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2009

An-11-year-old male Shih-tzu was admitted to emergency care unit of Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital with signs of dyspnea, anuria and depression. There were abnormalities on complete blood count and serum chemistry included leukocytosis with mild left shift, mild azotemia, and increased ALT activity. Fluid therapy(0.9% saline, 40 ml/hr) and antibiotics were immediately initiated. The patient began to vomit after 5 hours' rest and pale mucous membrane, bradycardia, and hypertension were noted. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed enlarged left adrenal gland and thrombus in caudal vena cava(CVC). Result of ACTH stimulation test was normal. Cytology of ultrasound-guided FNA smears showed numerous naked nuclei, which was suggestive of adrenal medullar tumor. Concentrations of 24 hour urine metanephrine and normetanephrine was moderately increased compared to those of a control dog. Adrenal mass was surgically removed, and biopsy of the CVC mass was obtained. After surgery the patient began to recover but the dog acutely developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died. On histopathology the adrenal mass and biopsy of the CVC mass were consistent with pheochromocytoma. On electron microscopic view norepinephrine specific granules were found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2013

A 7 years-old intact female dog (4.8 kg) was referred with primary complaints of enlarged surface lymph nodes, cardiac murmur, coughing and exercise intolerance. Diagnostic imaging studies found cardiomegaly with distended caudal vena cava, marked left ventricular and interventrciular septal thickening and flattening, severe aortic and pulmonic stenosis (~5 m/s), and mitral and tricuspid regurgitation (~4 m/s). Cytology for the samples obtained from submandibular lymph node and left ventricle revealed high grade malignant lymphoma. The case was diagnosed as cardiac lymphoma. The dog was treated with prednisolone (2 mg/kg, PO, q24h), lomustine (80 $mg/m^2$ PO, q3wk), diltiazem (1 mg/kg, PO, q12h) and enalalpril (0.5 mg/kg, PO, q12h). The clinical signs were improved after therapy. The dog is still on the chemotherapy and regularly checked up.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.34.1-34.9
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• 2023

Dogs exhibit patterns of health issues that vary by life stage. An understanding of disease incidence with respect to breed and age/life stage could be an important component of canine health management and welfare. This study aimed to describe the age-specific disease incidence of 3 small dog breeds that attended veterinary clinics in the Republic of Korea, based on data from electronic veterinary medical records (EVMRs). A total of 40,785 EVMRs from Maltese (n = 21,355), Miniature Poodle (n = 11,658) and Shih Tzu dogs (n = 7,772) were analyzed. Common health problems in 3 small dog breeds were 'diseases of the skin' and 'diseases of the ear,' respectively. Among dogs aged ≤ 3 years, 'preventive medicine' was the most common cause cited for veterinary clinic visits. Among dogs aged 4 to 8 years, the most frequent health problems were 'diseases of the skin.' Among dogs aged 9 to 13 years, 'heart diseases,' 'kidney diseases,' 'mammary gland tumor,' and 'neoplasia (unspecified)' were considerably more frequent, compared to the rates in dogs ≤3 years. Among dogs aged ≥ 14 years, 'heart diseases' and 'sneezing/cough' were the main health problems. In all breeds, the frequencies of 'diseases of circulatory system,' 'diseases of respiratory system,' 'diseases of the nervous system,' 'endocrine' and 'neoplasia' increased rapidly with aging. This surveillance could inform strategies for disease screening tests and management based on life stage in these dog breeds and enable more effective health management.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2012

To determine the prevalence of the primary glaucoma (PG) and occurrence of primary glaucoma in initially non-affected normal eye. Medical records of 7751 dogs presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) of Seoul National University (SNU) between January 2006 and December 2009 were examined. Among 7751 dogs, forty three dogs (0.55%) developed PG. The following breeds were included in the study: 18 American Cocker Spaniels, 17 Shih Tzus, 3 Mixed Breeds, 2 Malteses, 2 Pekingeses, and 1 Chow Chow. The mean onset age of PG in the first eyes was $7.1{\pm}2.3$ years in the all breeds. Compared with Mixed Breed (0.54%), American Cocker Spaniel (3.16%, p = 0.004) and Chow Chow (20%, p = 0.001) had a higher risk of developing glaucoma. Twenty six of 43 dogs (60.1%) were females with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.53. Twenty nine of 33 eyes (87.9%) developed glaucoma in the fellow eye within mean ${\pm}SD$ time of $17.5{\pm}2.7$ months. From this study, American Cocker Spaniel and Shih Tzu were the most frequent PG breed in Korea. Also, unilateral PG dogs developed glaucoma in the non-affected normal eye within approximately 17 months. The results indicate that prophylactic medical therapy with antiglaucoma agents should be considered to delay or prevent developing glaucoma in non-affected normal eye.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2020

A 13-month-old, 3.3 kg castrated male Shih-tzu presented with right hindlimb lameness. The physical examination revealed atrophy of the right thigh muscles, hyperextension of the stifle joint and external torsion of the tibia. On the radiographic examination, patella alta and genu recurvatum were observed. A biapical deformity of the tibia and external torsion of the distal tibia were detected by computed tomography (CT). A three-dimensional (3D) printed bone model was designed and constructed for the preoperative plan prior to surgery. Rectus femoris muscle transposition, femoral shortening ostectomy and open wedge osteotomy of the distal tibia were performed using hybrid external skele/t0al fixation (hybrid-ESF). A dynamic stifle flexion apparatus was used to prevent recurrence of a quadriceps contracture (QC). Intense physiotherapy was administered postoperatively. The dog began to use the affected limb one week after surgery. Functional improvement in the affected limb was observed, and full weight-bearing was possible at 3 months after surgery. Union of the osteotomy lines was observed at 3 months, and the stifle joint was fully movable at 7 months after surgery. Regarding the treatments for QC, these methods may be excellent candidates, as they do not lead to severe damage to the limb or amputation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.350-353
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• 2014

A 13-year-old, castrated male, Shih Tzu dog with a history of acute ataxia was referred to veterinary medical teaching hospital and anesthetized for diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of cervical intervertebral disk disease. After preanesthetic evaluation including physical examination, blood chemistry, radiography and ultrasound, the patient was premedicated with intravenous butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced by intravenous propofol (6 mg/kg) and maintained with isoflurane at 1.2 minimal alveolar concentrations. Because the mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 70 to 58 mmHg at 70 minutes after induction, dobutamine was administered by constant rate infusion ($5{\mu}g/kg/min$) to treat hypotension. However MAP did not increase, and heart rate rapidly decreased from 100 to 55 beats per minute (bpm). To treat bradycardia, intravenous glycopyrrolate ($5{\mu}g/kg$) was administered, and heart rate increased to 165 bpm. After extubation of endotracheal tube, the patient showed normal recovery without any problems related to cardiovascular system. Unexpected dobutamine-induced bradycardia was considered as Bezold-Jarisch reflex. It is recommended that clinicians know and prepare the possibility of bradycardia during dobutamine therapy under general anesthesia.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 2017

A 4 months old, intact male Shih-tzu was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University for evaluation of the cause of cardiac murmur and syncope. Thoracic radiography revealed right-sided cardiomegaly. Echocardiography showed marked hypertrophy of right ventricular free wall and obstruction of right ventricular outflow tract, indicating double chambered right ventricle (DCRV). The dog was medicated with atenolol and sildenafil for DCRV, however, clinical signs did not control by medication. Balloon dilation for DCRV was performed to ameliorate patient's clinical signs. The peak systolic pressure gradient across the obstruction region was decreased and clinical signs was improved by balloon dilation procedure. This is the first case report of balloon dilation for the treatment of canine DCRV in South Korea.