Fifty-nine aural hematomas of 49 dogs were reviewed. The number of affected dogs weighing less than 5 kg, 5 to 10 kg, 10 to 20 kg, and more than 20 kg, was 1 (2.1%), 6 (12.8%), 11 (23.4%), and 29 (61.7%), respectively. Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers occupied 55.1% of all the dogs, suggesting the higher risk in these breeds. Of all 59 hematomas, 45 (76.3%) had been suffering from otitis externa and in 52 (88.1%) the onset of this disease was older than 5 years old. Histopathology on the pinna surrounding hematoma revealed partial erosions of the auricular cartilage in all 4 cases examined. These results suggest that there are several risk factors for aural hematoma, including larger-breed dogs (Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers), middle-aged to older dogs, and concurrent otitis externa. In addition, age-related alternation of the auricular cartilage, and potentially self-trauma, may contribute to the occurrence of cartilage fracture resulting in hematoma formation.

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Various treatments and their prognosis in 59 aural hematomas of 49 dogs were evaluated retrospectively. In 2 cases untreated, 1 case, which could be followed periodically, developed marked deformation of the pinna. All 23 cases treated with needle aspiration showed immediate recurrence of hematoma. No cases reached healing by repeated needle aspirations alone, but 9 cases receiving repeated aspiration followed by local injection of corticosteroids reached healing within 4 weeks. Nine of these 23 cases received surgery after the recurrence. In 43 cases treated with surgical incision and mattress suture at the hematoma site, no recurrence was noted before the suture removal. Recurrence after healing was observed in 2 of 9 cases (22.2%) receiving the corticosteroid injection, 4 of 14 cases (26.6%) treated with longitudinal incision at the hematoma site, and none of 28 cases treated with multiple incisions at the hematoma site using a biopsy punch. These results suggest the effectiveness of corticosteroids against the hematoma reformation after aspiration, and the comparatively better prognosis after the surgery with multiple incisions using a biopsy punch.

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We established lithotripsy using the special forceps inserted via the urethra. The forceps necessary for this procedure was newly designed. This lithotripsy was performed in two female dogs with the cystolithiasis under general anesthesia. This procedure was less stress to the patient and needed shorter anesthesia time compared with cystectomy. Although improvement of the instrument depending on the animal size or the type of calculus was needed, this procedure is the very effective method for the treatment of cystolithiasis in female dogs.

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A donor cat had the double renal artery, which directly bifurcated from the abdominal aorta. This double renal artery was harvested with the abdominal aorta and anastomosed with the site of bifurcation between the abdominal aorta and the external iliac artery to be consistent with the diameter of the anastomotic site. After the reperfusion, the blood flow of the donor and recipient was good and the paralysis of their hind limb was not observed after transplantation. We suggested that the adequate microsurgical techniques against each case were needed for varied vascular pedicles.

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