Objective: To determine the influence of a quilting suture pattern tacking the subcutaneous tissues to the deep fascia on complications after midline celiotomy in dogs. Study design: Single-center, randomized, blinded, controlled trial conducted in a veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Four...

Experimental and human studies have reported the advantages of a suture length to wound length (SL:WL) ratio greater than 4:1 in midline abdominal closure. This is achieved when the tissue bite (TB) is equal to or larger than the stitch interval (SI). Although TB and SI values are recommended in...

Objectives: To evaluate the recurrence rate of gastric dilatation volvulus and the incidence of complications in subsequent coeliotomies following ventral midline gastropexy. Methods: The medical records of dogs treated for gastric dilatation volvulus by ventral midline gastropexy were...

Case history: A 1-year-old German Shepherd dog presented for delayed onset of a traumatic, dorsal diaphragmatic hernia of the pars lumborum. Clinical findings and treatment: Herniorrhaphy via a ventral midline celiotomy (with and without a paracostal extension) were unsuccessful and the hernia...

Objectives: To compare the use of an electrosurgical device with traditional cold instruments (scalpel and scissors) for midline celiotomy incision. Study design: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Sample population: One hundred and twenty client-owned dogs undergoing abdominal...

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old neutered female Border Collie with a 3-week history of collapse during exercise was evaluated because of recumbency, tachycardia, and hypotension. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Results of biochemical testing indicated the presence of a pheochromocytoma, and CT revealed an...

Background: Migrating plant material is often suspected clinically to be the underlying cause of iliopsoas myositis in the dog, but cannot always be found pre- or intraoperatively. In most cases, recurrence of clinical signs is related to failure to remove the plant material. Preoperative...

This article aims to describe risk factors for post-surgical incisional problems in small animal surgery to help identify them and avoid those directly influenced by the surgeon, thus keeping the complication rate to a minimum. Highlights focused on the length and type of incision (as this is...

Case 1: A nine-month-old entire male beagle presented with a history of chronic diarrhoea, intermittent haematochezia and rectal prolapse. An exploratory laparotomy performed prior to presentation reported visualisation of a suspected caecocolic intussusception. Physical examination revealed a...

Portosystemic shunts are sporadically diagnosed in dogs (1). Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are more common in large breed dogs (1). Portosystemic shunts should be treated surgically if possible, as this has shown better long-term outcome (33, 34, 36). The two dogs treated surgically in this...