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Background Comparison of clinical findings, chest radiographs (CXR), lung ultrasound (LUS) findings, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at admission and serial follow‐up in dogs with aspiration pneumonia (AP) is lacking. Hypothesis Lung ultrasound lesions in dogs with AP are similar to those described in humans with community‐acquired pneumonia (comAP); the severity of CXR and LUS lesions are similar; normalization of CRP concentration precedes resolution of imaging abnormalities and more closely reflects the clinical improvement of dogs. Animals Seventeen dogs with AP. Methods Prospective observational study. Clinical examination, CXR, LUS, and CRP measurements performed at admission (n = 17), 2 weeks (n = 13), and 1 month after diagnosis (n = 6). All dogs received antimicrobial therapy. Lung ultrasound and CXR canine aspiration scoring systems used to compare abnormalities. Results B‐lines and shred signs with or without bronchograms were identified on LUS in 14 of 17 and 16 of 17, at admission. Chest radiographs and LUS scores differed significantly using both canine AP scoring systems at each time point (18 regions per dog, P < .001). Clinical and CRP normalization occurred in all dogs during follow up. Shred signs disappeared on LUS in all but 1 of 6 dogs at 1 month follow‐up, while B‐lines and CXR abnormalities persisted in 4 of 6 and all dogs, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Lung ultrasound findings resemble those of humans with comAP and differ from CXR findings. Shred signs and high CRP concentrations better reflect clinical findings during serial evaluation of dogs.

Chiari-like malformation (CM), syringomyelia (SM) and middle ear effusion (also called PSOM) are three conditions that frequently occur in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). Both CM and SM are currently screened in the Netherlands prior to breeding and are graded according to the British Veterinary Association's Kennel Club (BVA/KC) scheme. This study evaluated the prevalence and estimated genetic parameter of CM, SM and middle ear effusion from 12 years of screening results. For SM, the classical method using the BVA/KC scheme, was compared with exact measuring of the central canal dilation. For CM, the BVA/KC scheme was compared with a more detailed scheme. Next to this the presence of microchip artifacts was assessed. 1249 screening of 1020 dogs were re-evaluated. Results indicated the presence of CM in all dogs, suggesting it has become a breed-specific characteristic. And although different grades of CM were observed, the condition did not deteriorate over time. SM was present in 39% of the dogs and a clear age effect was demonstrated, with SM increasing with age. This emphasizes the importance of screening at appropriate age, since SM can worsen with increasing age. One alternative is to promote repeated measures. The presence of middle ear effusion in this study was 19%-21% for dogs younger than 3 years, and 32%-38% for dogs older than 3 years. In as much as 60%, microchip artifacts were noticed, leading to the recommendation to place microchips in another location in breeds that are susceptible to developing SM. Finally, this study estimated the heritability of CM in this population, due to the lack of phenotypic variance, to be very low at 0.02-0.03. The heritability for SM central canal dilatation to be 0.30, compared to 0.13 for the classical BVA/KC method, using a model including the age effect and the combined effect of veterinary clinic and year of the evaluation. Genetic correlations were rather small, ranging from 0.16-0.33. As a conclusion, screening for SM and CM in the entire population should be maintained, and a selection scheme against SM should be based on estimated breeding values for the exact measurement of the central canal dilatation.

Background Pharyngeal collapse (PC) is a relatively common condition in brachycephalic dogs and often coexists with other airway collapses, including tracheal collapse (TC) and bronchial collapse (BC). However, the relationship between PC severity, clinical signs, and other forms of airway collapse is not well understood. Objectives Evaluate the correlation between PC severity and clinical signs, the severity of other airway collapse, and demographic factors such as breed and age. Animals Ninety‐five client‐owned dogs. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was conducted at Seoul National University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from April 8 to September 5, 2024. The severity of PC and TC, and the presence of BC, cervical lung lobe herniation, and tracheal kinking were evaluated using fluoroscopy. Medical records were reviewed for data on signalment, respiratory clinical signs, and body condition score. Correlations between PC severity and other factors were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results Severity of PC had a significant positive correlation with clinical signs, particularly cyanosis or respiratory distress, as well as age and brachycephalic conformation (Pearson's r, 0.26, 0.30, 0.46, respectively; p value, < 0.05 for all). No significant positive correlation was found between PC severity and TC or BC. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Fluoroscopic assessment of PC severity is clinically relevant, especially in older and brachycephalic dogs. Our study emphasizes the value of fluoroscopic evaluation as a tool for assessing the severity of PC, aiding in the diagnosis and management of affected dogs.

Cholecystectomy is indicated for gallbladder mucoceles (GBM). Evaluating the patency of the biliary duct and precise biliary tree visualization is crucial for reducing the risk of compromised bile flow after surgery. Therefore, intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is recommended during cholecystectomy to prevent biliary tract injury. Although indocyanine green (ICG) cholangiography has been extensively reported in human medicine, only one study has been conducted in veterinary medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to demonstrate the use of ICG for IOC to identify fluorescent biliary tract images and determine the patency of the common bile duct during cholecystectomy in dogs. This study comprised 27 dogs, consisting of 17 with gallbladder mucoceles (GBM) and 10 controls, specifically including dogs that had undergone elective cholecystectomy for GBM. ICG injection (0.25 mg/kg) was administered intravenously at least 45 minutes before surgery. During the operation, fluorescent images from cholangiography were displayed on the monitor and obtained in black-and-white mode for the comparison of fluorescence intensity (FI). The FI values of the gallbladders (GBs) and common bile duct (CBD) were measured using FI analyzing software (MGViewer V1.1.1, MetapleBio Inc.). The results demonstrated successful CBD patency identification in all cases. Mobile GBM showed partial gallbladder visibility, whereas immobile GBM showed limited visibility. Additionally, insights into the adequate visualization of the remaining extrahepatic biliary tree anatomy were provided, extending beyond the assessment of CBD patency and gallbladder intensity. Our study demonstrates the potential of fluorescent IOC using intravenous injection of ICG for assessing the patency of the cystic duct and common bile duct during cholecystectomy in patients with GBM, eliminating the need for surgical catheterization and flushing of the biliary ducts. Further research is warranted to investigate and validate the broader applicability of ICG cholangiography in veterinary medicine.

Background Jugular foramen syndrome (JFS), dysfunction of cranial nerves (CNs) IX, X, and XI caused by lesions involving the jugular foramen (JF), is rarely reported in dogs. Objective Describe presenting complaints, neurologic findings, advanced imaging findings, underlying diagnoses, and outcomes in dogs with JFS. Animals Fourteen client‐owned dogs. Methods Retrospective, multicenter study of dogs diagnosed with JFS using advanced imaging between 2016 and 2024. Results Affected dogs were older (median age, 9.9 years; range, 7.9–14.5 years) and presented with chronic progressive clinical signs (median duration, 135 days; range, 5–720 days). Common presenting complaints included coughing (7/14), retching (6/14), head tilt (5/14), and laryngeal stridor (4/14). Neurologic abnormalities were noted in 11/14 dogs, with CN deficits (10/11), including unilateral laryngeal paralysis (5/10) and tongue atrophy (4/10), being the most common finding. Additional signs included head tilt (7/11) and postural reaction deficits (5/11). Intracranial lesions were identified in 10/14 dogs, with meningioma being the most frequent radiologic or histopathologic diagnosis. In dogs with extracranial lesions (4/14), thyroid carcinoma was common. Median survival time was 218 days (range, 16–477 days). Conclusion and Clinical Importance Neoplastic or suspected neoplastic causes of JFS are common and lesions often extend beyond the JF by the time of diagnosis. As such, neurologic deficits in dogs with JFS often reflect involvement of multiple CNs, not limited to CNs IX, X, and XI. Advanced imaging of the head should be considered in dogs with clinical signs consistent with JFS.

Background Gliomas in dogs remain poorly understood. Objectives To characterize the clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging features and survival of a large sample of dogs with glioma using the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium diagnostic classification. Animals Ninety‐one dogs with histopathological diagnosis of glioma. Methods Multicentric retrospective case series. Signalment, clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic imaging characteristics, treatment, and outcome were used. Tumors were reclassified according to the new canine glioma diagnostic scheme. Results No associations were found between clinicopathologic findings or survival and tumor type or grade. However, definitive treatments provided significantly (P = .03) improved median survival time (84 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 45‐190) compared to palliative treatment (26 days; 95% CI, 11‐54). On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), oligodendrogliomas were associated with smooth margins and T1‐weighted hypointensity compared to astrocytomas (odds ratio [OR], 42.5; 95% CI, 2.42‐744.97; P = .04; OR, 45.5; 95% CI, 5.78‐333.33; P < .001, respectively) and undefined gliomas (OR, 84; 95% CI, 3.43‐999.99; P = .02; OR, 32.3; 95% CI, 2.51‐500.00; P = .008, respectively) and were more commonly in contact with the ventricles than astrocytomas (OR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.03‐53.95; P = .049). Tumor spread to neighboring brain structures was associated with high‐grade glioma (OR, 6.02; 95% CI, 1.06‐34.48; P = .04). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with gliomas have poor outcomes, but risk factors identified in survival analysis inform prognosis and the newly identified MRI characteristics could refine diagnosis of tumor type and grade.

Many pathologies can occur in the periportal space and manifest as fluid accumulation, visible in Computed tomography (CT) images as a circumferential region of low attenuation around the intrahepatic portal vessels, called periportal halo (PPH). This finding is associated with different types of hepatic and extra-hepatic disease in humans and remains a non-specific sign of unknown significance in veterinary literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PPH in a population of patients undergoing CT examination and to assess the presence of lesions related to hepatic and extra-hepatic disease in presence of PPH. CT studies including the cranial abdomen of dogs and cats performed over a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The prevalence of PPH was 15% in dogs and 1% in cats. 143 animals were included and the halo was classified as mild, moderate and severe, respectively in 51%, 34% and 15% of animals. The halo distribution was generalized in 79 cases, localized along the second generation of portal branches in 63, and along the first generation only in one. Hepatic disease was present in 58/143 and extra-hepatic disease in 110/143 of the cases. Main cause of hepatic (36%) and extra-hepatic disease (68%) was neoplasia. Associations between halo grades and neoplasia revealed to be not statistically significant (p = 0.057). In 7% of animals the CT examination was otherwise unremarkable. PPH is a non-specific finding, occurring in presence of a variety of diseases in the examined patient population.

Canine/feline (sub-)cutaneous tumors, which include lipomas, mastocytomas and soft tissue sarcomas, introduce diagnostic challenges due to inherent tissue heterogeneity, accompanied by diverse clinical pathogenesis. Current study integrates conventional imaging techniques optical (white light and autofluorescence) as well as high frequency ultrasound imaging to train machine learning classifiers: linear discriminant analysis, support vector machine and random forest. Study resulted in ~ 100% classification efficiency between benign lipoma and combined mastocytoma and sarcoma tissues for all the classifiers. For the differentiation between mastocytoma and sarcoma tumors, both support vector machine and random forest outperformed conventional linear discriminant analysis classifier. Support vector machine displayed the highest classification efficiency for bimodal groups: (i) ultrasound + fluorescence and (ii) ultrasound + white light as well as (iii) fluorescence + white light. However, it failed for trimodal ultrasound + optics combination, indicating possible upper limit for imaging mode addition. The multimodal effect was obtained using both statistically significant set of features as well as optimal set of features, determined using sequential feature addition. Resulting classification efficiency for combined ultrasound + fluorescence approach was > 85% and even higher for ultrasound + white light or ultrasound + optics multimodal approaches reaching ~ 95%. In the classification of mastocytoma and sarcoma, support vector machine classifier was able to detect significant ( p  < 0.05) multimodal effect for bimodal groups of: (i) fluorescence + white light, (ii) ultrasound + fluorescence and (iii) ultrasound + white light. On the contrary, random forest demonstrated relevant increment only for the combination of fluorescence and white light. Inferior features of ultrasound or fluorescence have been evaluated to be competitive with the features of highly-efficient white light as they were automatically selected during the process of feature optimization. In addition, another phenomenon of manifestation of multimodality has been observed: in multimodal groups, ultrasound features tended to substitute the features of white light, not just simply be added to them. Multimodal approach was determined to be highly-required for the classification of heterogeneous mastocytoma and sarcoma tumors, which display more similar morphological characteristics. However, when differentiating very distinct lipomas from mastocytomas or sarcomas, the multimodal approach was not a requisite.

Background Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a noninvasive tool for examining respiratory distress patients. The lung ultrasound score (LUSS) can be used to quantify and monitor lung aeration loss with good reliability. Hypothesis/Objectives Assess the reliability of a new LUSS among raters with different levels of experience and determine how well the same raters agree on identifying patterns of LUS abnormalities. Animals Forty LUS examinations of dogs and cats and 320 videos were reviewed from a digital database. Methods Retrospective reliability study with post hoc analysis. Protocolized LUS were randomly selected; intrarater and interrater reliability of the LUSS and pattern recognition agreement among 4 raters with different levels of experience in LUS were tested. Results The intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) single measurement, absolute agreement, and 2‐way mixed effects model was 0.967 for the high‐experience rater (H‐Exp), 0.963 and 0.952 for the medium‐experience raters (M‐Exp‐1; M‐Exp‐2), and 0.950 for the low‐experience rater (L‐Exp). The interrater ICC average measurement, absolute agreement, and 2‐way random effects model among the observers was 0.980. The Fleiss' kappa (k) values showed almost perfect agreement (k = 1) among raters in identifying pleural effusion and translobar tissue‐like pattern, strong agreement for A‐lines (k = 0.881) and B‐lines (k = 0.806), moderate agreement (k = 0.693) for subpleural loss of aeration, and weak agreement (k = 0.474) for irregularities of the pleural line. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our results indicate excellent intra‐ and interrater reliability for LUS scoring and pattern identification, providing a foundation for the use of the LUSS in emergency medicine and intensive care.

Background Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is an increasingly recognized extrahepatic biliary disease in dogs. Objectives To investigate cases of GBM and identify variables associated with survival and the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography to identify gallbladder rupture. Animals Two hundred and nineteen client‐owned dogs with GBM. Methods Multicenter, retrospective study of dogs with GBM, presented from January 2007 to November 2016 to 6 academic veterinary hospitals in the United States. Interrogation of hospital databases identified all cases with the inclusion criteria of a gross and histopathologic diagnosis of GBM after cholecystectomy and intraoperative bacteriologic cultures of at least 1 of the following: gallbladder wall, gallbladder contents, or abdominal effusion. Results Two hundred and nineteen dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Dogs with GBM and gallbladder rupture with bile peritonitis at the time of surgery were 2.7 times more likely to die than dogs without gallbladder rupture and bile peritonitis (P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–4.68; n = 41). No significant associations were identified between survival and positive bacteriologic cultures, antibiotic administration, or time (days) from ultrasonographic identification of GBM to the time of surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative likelihood ratios for ultrasonographic identification of gallbladder rupture were 56.1% (95% CI, 39.9–71.2), 91.7% (95% CI, 85.3–95.6), 6.74, and 0.44, respectively. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Dogs in our study with GBM and intraoperative evidence of gallbladder rupture and bile peritonitis had a significantly higher risk of death. Additionally, abdominal ultrasonography had low sensitivity for identification of gallbladder rupture.