We reviewed retrospectively 18 canine cases of malignant tumor in the nasal cavity treated with high-dosed, hypofractionated, and multiple-field radiography. Seventeen dogs were irradiated four times, and the remaining one was irradiated three times; the dose of irradiation at one time was in the range of 5 to 10 Gy, and the median was 9 Gy. The total dose of irradiation was in the range of 30 to 40 Gy, and the median was 36 Gy. Out of 16 cases where the clinical symptoms were improved, CT scanned images taken one to two months later showed lessened tumors in 9 cases. The median survival period of time was 350 days (range 92 to 1141 days). The survival period was significantly shorter in two groups with facial deformity or distruction of the cribriform lamina, and the median survival periods were 224 days in both groups. Regarding adverse effects of radiography, acute adverse effects such as depilation and conjunctivitis were seen, and late adverse effects such as change of hair color were also seen. However, they were mild, and needed no treatment. These findings indicate that high-dosed, hypofractionated, and multiple-field radial irradiation is effective against malignant tumor of the nasal cavity in dogs, and provides size reduction of tumor and prolonged survival period, without harming the dogs' quality of life.

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A four-years-old, male miniature dachshund was brought to us with perianal lesions. The dog was found suffering from hepatopathy, which was considered side effect of long-term medication with chlormadinone acetate. The dog had had a history of prostatomegaly, and been treated with chlormadinone acetate, a progesterone preparation, for two years at another hospital. We stopped giving the medicine since there were no signs of prostatomegaly. But on day 27, the dog showed severe abdominal pain and vomiting. An ACTH stimulation test revealed that this time the dog was suffering iatrogenic secondary hypoadrenocortism. Low dosage of predonisolone was effective in improving the clinical symptoms, and 206 days later predonisolone was stopped. The dog has been in good health since.

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The purpose of this paper was to make an appropriate protocol for obtaining desirable contrast effects by contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) regardless of the size of animals in veterinary clinics. Using a total of 214 cats and dogs of various sizes, non-ionic iodine contrast agent was injected to each animal (600 mgI/2.0 ml/kg) for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 seconds at random. When the injection time was 10 seconds or less, scanning timing was too short because the time density curve had a narrow peak. When the injection period was 30 seconds, the time density curve was too broad. Consequently an appropriate injection time was considered to be 15 to 20 seconds. Our protocol will be useful in providing reproducible contrast effects in small animals.

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Liver biopsy was carried out in eight, healthy-looking, young cats with elevated serum liver enzyme activity. Increased enzyme activity had been noted before spaying or castration, and at medical checkups, but no medical treatment had been effective. Histopathological tests showed suppurative cholangiohepatitis in four cats, lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis in one cat, and hydropic degeneration in the other three cats. The results suggest that there is a possibility of these liver diseases if serum liver enzyme activity remains persistently high in spite of medical treatment in young cats.

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Fecal samples obtained from 190 household dogs and 89 household cats were examined for Cryptosporidium antigen, using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Cryptosporidium antigen was detected in 6.3% (12/190) of the canine fecal specimens, and in 10.1% (9/89) of the feline ones, respectively. In dogs, the profiles such as the appearance of feces, age, gender, origin or life style were not significantly related to the detection rate of Cryptosporidium antigen. Similarly in cats, the profiles had no significant relation to the detection of Cryptosporidium antigen. The present results suggest that Cryptosporidium infection is low but widely spread in household dogs and cats.

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