The purpose of this study was to obtain a proper reference range of values of blood chemistry tests measured with an animal dry-chemistry multianalyzer,‘Fuji-DRI-CHEM 7000V (FDC)’, using rabbits as subjects. Blood specimens from 110 healthy domestic rabbits were tested with the FDC and another kind of multianalyzer which uses solution-type samples, and the results were compared. Roughly, there was a high correlation between the values measured by the two methods, but the values of calcium and albumin (ALB) were quite different. The ALB values measured by the FDC were markedly higher than the other data obtained by various kinds of different devices, so we calculated a revised value of ALB which had been measured by the FDC, using electrophoresis-Reliability of this study is considered to be high because the population, the number of rabbits, was large enough, and there was no bias of age, sex, weight or breed.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a β-blocker in dogs with naturally acquired mitral regurgitation (MR) because its long-term effects in dogs with chronic heart failure (CHF) have not been reported, although beneficial effects of β-blocker therapy for CHF have been demonstrated in humans. The case records of MR in 26 dogs treated with a β-blocker were analyzed retrospectively. First, the dogs were classified according to the functional classification of the New York Heart Association (NYHA); ten dogs were classified as NYHA functional Class II, and 16 dogs as severer classes, class III or IV. A β-blocker, metoprolol tartrate, was started at 0.5 mg/kg/day, and gradually increased to our target dosage, 2.0 mg/kg/day. When the β-blocker was initiated, almost all the dogs were already on regular medication for CHF with digoxin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and/or frosemide, and these medicines were also given during the therapy. Clinical symptoms and radiographic and echocardiographic findings were compared before and after the therapy. One-, three-, and six-month treatment respectively promoted 40%, 45.0%, and 30.8% of the dogs to milder classes. The thickness of the left ventricular wall remained unchanged despite cardiac enlargement on radiographs. Drug-related side effects occurred during the early phase of the therapy in nine dogs (34.6%). The side effects were more likely to occur in severely ill dogs. In summary, combination therapy with conventional regular medication for CHF and long-term treatment with a β-blocker such as metoprolol tartrate may be a new therapeutic strategy for both mild and severe CHF in dogs with MR, although close attention is required during the early phase of the therapy.

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A nine-year-old, mixed-breed dog which had been lame for 20 days was found to have a bone tubercle from the centriciput to the occiput by manipulaton and radiography. On the seventh day of its medical treatment, the dog had a sudden convulsive seizure. Cranial computed tomography revealed the presence of severe bone destruction on the occipital and temporal bones and considerable compression of the brain by a mass. CT images of the mass showed high absorption in the occipital lobe and remarkable midline shift. The dog was diagnosed as suffering from intracranial hypertension. An emergency craniotrypesis was performed, and part of the skull bones and the mass were removed. After the surgery clinical manifestations improved dramatically with normalization of the intracranial pressure. But the dog relapsed, and died on day 57. The mass was histopathologically determined to be a multilobular tumor of bone.

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A six-year-old, 3.7 kg, female domestic cat was brought to us with paralysis of the hindlimbs. Radiography, myelography, and computed tomography revealed a solitary exostosis at the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), and compression of C6, C7, and the first thoracic vertebra (T1). Laminectomy and facetectomy were performed in order to decompress the spinal cord and remove the exostosis, and we managed to remove the lesion. From the cat's medical history, the exostosis was suspected to have developed long before the first visit to us, and discolored spinal cord was observed during the surgery, so that a poor prognosis of neurological symptoms was predicted. In spite of post-operative intensive care, the cat died on the 12th post-operative day. Still, CT was useful in detecting the exostosis in this case. Generally, if a solitary exostosis is detected before neurological symptoms develop, surgical removal of it will enable the animal to live longer and enjoy better quality of life.

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A ferret with a two-month history of bilateral alopecia and prostatocyst, which suggested the possibility of hyperadrenocorticism, was brought to the clinic because of sudden hyposthemia and polyurea/polydipsia. Clinical examination showed that he had hyperglycemia, uricglycemia, and ketonurea. A diagnosis of diabetogenous ketoacidosis was made, and treatment with insulin was initiated. But it was difficult to control the hyperglycemia, although the ketonurea disappeared. As adrenalopathy was suspected, a laparotomy was performed. Both the right and left adrenal glands showed morphological abnormality, and we resected the left adrenal gland completely, and the right adrenal gland subtotally. A few days after the operation, insulin was no longer needed, and no relapse has been seen since then. Histopathologically, the right adrenal gland had an adenoma, and the left gland showed hyperplasia. These findings suggest that hyperadrenocortism could be a cause of diabetes in a ferret.

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