In this study, we developed a simple pressure ulcer risk assessment scale with objective and specific contents and examined its effectiveness. Investigating the changes occurring in older dogs with pressure ulcers in need of long-term care, we noted that the dogs found it more difficult to eat, excrete, and reposition on their own, and that they are leaner, have bone protrusions and joint contractures compared to those without pressure ulcers. Moreover, the number of heads with contracture was significantly higher in older dogs with pressure ulcers. Based on these results, a pressure ulcer risk assessment scale was created. Following the evaluation by a veterinary nurse, non-veterinary staff, and university students, the score concordance rate among the evaluators was high. Additionally, because of using a scale created for dogs in need of long-term care, dogs with pressure ulcers had a significantly higher score (median 7 points [range: 4-10 points]) than those with no pressure ulcers (4 points [1-6 points]). It was clarified that the risk of pressure ulcers was high when the score was 7 or more out of 10 points. Consequently, it was suggested that the scale created in this study is useful as a new tool that can predict the occurrence of pressure ulcers even for owners.

A 13-year-old male beagle was brought to our hospital with a complaint of thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis. CBC at presentation revealed mild non-regenerative anemia (Ht 28.7 %, Ret 1 %), thrombocytopenia (117×103 /μl), and severe lymphocytosis (503,148 /μl). Abdominal ultrasonography showed splenomegaly; thus, splenectomy and bone marrow examination were performed. Based on the histopathological examination of the spleen and bone marrow findings, we diagnosed lymphoma of the spleen. After surgery, lomustine and L-asparaginase were administered, and the lymphocyte count decreased to within the reference level. The results of immunostaining of the spleen and flow cytometry of the peripheral blood suggested that the tumor was derived from cytotoxic T-cells, and we finally diagnosed hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Following splenectomy and chemotherapy, the clinical signs disappeared, however the response to treatment gradually worsened and the subject died on day 274.

Dermatological treatment was administered for a four-year-old castrated male mongrel cat with body weight of 4.9 kg. For nine months, the cat had been administered prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil, with additional ciclosporin for the latter three months, based on a diagnosis as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Moreover, it had developed iatrogenic diabetes and had shown skin symptoms with a cardinal symptom of itching of the face, neck, and shoulder near termination of the diabetes treatment. This skin disease was diagnosed as feline atopic skin syndrome, which was advocated recently, based on various examinations including allergen-specific immunoglobulin E test and histopathological examination of the skin biopsy samples. Diabetes is known to be associated with some dermatologic disorders in cats, but symptoms found for this case differed from known diabetes-associated symptoms. Results suggest that the symptoms worsened along with dose-decreasing or withdrawal of the immunosuppressive drugs, rather than being diabetes-associated.

Lapatinib, a molecular targeting inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), was used in a dog with transitional epithelial carcinoma located in the bladder triangle, and stability was obtained for 169 days. owing to a growth observed on day 200, mogamulizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody with regulatory T-cell infiltration inhibitor (CCR4 inhibitor) properties, was added to the lapatinib treatment reginen. This resulted in shrinking of the tumor and partial remission, enabling survival for 334 days. The only side effect of concurrent administration of the two drugs was grade 1 anorexia in the VCOG-CTCAE, which was manageable, and the subject was in very good condition during treatment. Combination therapy including lapatinib and mogamulizumab for transitional epithelial carcinoma of the bladder in dogs can be considered a promising and effective treatment option in the future.