The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply bloo…
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. They branch off of the aorta at it’s base. The right coronary artery, the left main coronary, the left anterior descending, and the left circumflex artery, are the four major coronary arteries.
Read DetailsA 6-year-old German shepherd dog was referred for uncontroll…
A 6-year-old German shepherd dog was referred for uncontrolled pruritus and papular dermatitis primarily affecting the caudal region. Response to glucocorticoid therapy had been minimal. The patient spent time both indoors and outdoors but was primarily an indoor pet. He lived with two cats and one other dog. He had been treated for an “unspecified” pruritic skin disease and otitis externa for the past 4.5 years, and the response to glucocorticoid therapy had been good until the previous 10 months. The dog received flea control and heartworm preventative-the last treatment was more than 4 weeks before examination. Glucocorticoid therapy had been discontinued 3 weeks before the referral appointment. On Exam: The dog weighed 43.6 kg, and the general physical examination was within normal limits with exception of the skin and ears. Body temperature was 101.9 degrees F. There was slight bilateral periocular erythema, but no hair loss or excoriations, which was suggestive of an allergic dermatitis along with bilateral otitis externa characterized by erythema and dark-brown exudates. The caudal and medial aspect of the hindlimbs had hair loss and mild papular eruptions. Heart rate was 124bpm. No macroscopic ectoparasites, including fleas, were identified during examination. The major differential diagnoses included flea allergy dermatitis, canine atopy, adverse food reaction, bacterial pyoderma, and cutaneous Malassezia. Several diseases were suspected to be present in this patient. Diagnostic testing included skin scrapings of the lesion and cytologic evaluation of the skin and ears. In addition, intradermal testing with flea antigen was done. Skin scrapings were negative for ectoparasites. Ear swabs revealed large numbers of Malassezia pachydermatis but the skin showed none. Antibiotic therapy with ormetoprim-potentiated sulfadimethoxine at 26.4 mg/kg once daily for 28 days. Treatment with chlorhexidine shampoo (after a cleansing bath) to be used weekly for 4 weeks. The Malassezia otitis was treated with 1% miconazole nitrate compounded 1:1 with Burow’s solution and hydrocortisone.
Read Details