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Department of Pathology
Athens, Georgia 30602-7388
College of Veterinary Medicine
Telephone: (706) 542-5837
FAX: (706) 542-5828
Karelma Frontera Acevedo, DVM, DACVP
University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine
Case # 1
Slide # A12- 45807
Signalment: 6 month old, male, intact, Great Dane puppy
History:
This puppy had an unknown vaccination history. He presented at a veterinary clinic for lethargy and was
prescribed Tramadol and Rimadyl. Two days later, he presented again to the same clinic for vomiting and
diarrhea. The pain medications were discontinued, but he was hospitalized at the clinic for IV fluids, antiemetics, and antibiotics. He was anorexic and lethargic, but drinking normally. The diarrhea continued but the
vomiting discontinued. Tramadol was reintroduced. Puppy was discharged after 5 days at the clinic, and on the
following day presented at another clinic with lethargy and icterus. The parvoviral fecal test at this second clinic
was negative. His bloodwork abnormalities included: low creatinine, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia,
hypoglobulinemia, and thrombocytopenia, with increased ALT, ALP, bilirubin, amylase, and lipase. He was
admitted to the second veterinary clinic and given IV fluids, anti-emetics, GI protectants, and antibiotics. The
puppy died overnight and was submitted for necropsy that following morning.
Gross findings:
The puppy was in poor body condition, with minimal adipose tissue deposition, sunken eyes
(dehydration), pale and slightly yellow mucous membrane, and autolysis was moderate. The abdomen contained
approximately 600 mL of serosanguineous fluid. The liver was diffusely pale, yellow to green, with an
accentuated lobular pattern, rounded edges, and a liver/body weight ratio of 3%, slightly smaller than expected.
The small intestinal mucosa contained multiple round, 1 cm in diameter ulcers, and other areas also contained
pinpoint hemorrhagic foci. The cecum contained numerous black, pinpoint necrotic areas (Payer patches). The
bladder contained large amounts of dark red to brown, turbid urine. The trachea contained moderate amounts of
foamy serosanguineous fluid. Lungs were congested and mottled red. Fecal staining was present around the
anus. No other significant gross lesions were noted.
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Clayton, Vic 3168, Australia
John Mackie
(current address: Vepalabs, 36 Balaclava Street, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia)
Case # 2
Slide #/ID: 9788 2G
Signalment:
4-month-old, female, crossbreed (Merino x Border Leicester x Poll Dorset) sheep.
History:
During September-December 2011, a sheep flock in the western districts of Victoria,
Australia reported an outbreak of disease in lambs 2-6 months old, characterised by
illthrift and crusting of the ears, muzzle and eyelids, suggestive of photosensitisation. The
mortality was approximately 2%. Pasture growth was lush. Parasite control was excellent.
Gross findings:
The liver was enlarged, pale and friable.
Department of Pathology
Athens, Georgia 30602-7388
College of Veterinary Medicine
Telephone: (706) 542-5837
FAX: (706) 542-5828
Presenter: Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott, DVM
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602
Case # 3
Slide #: B12-00447
Signalment: 12-year-old, spayed female Jack Russell Terrier
History: Patient presented to the referring veterinarian for evaluation of a 4-day history of diarrhea and anorexia. An obstructive
pattern was seen on abdominal radiographs and the patient was referred to the UGA emergency service. Surgery was performed to
remove an intestinal mass and a liver biopsy was taken. This patient also had a history of unconfirmed inflammatory bowel disease.
Gross findings: A 0.5 cm x 0.4 cm, cylindrical piece of liver with a prominent reticular pattern was submitted to the biopsy service.
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IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Veterinary Medicine
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Ames, IA 50011-1250
Department of Veterinary Pathology
515-294-3282
FAX 515-294-5423
Presenter’s name and affiliation:
Marie Bockenstedt, 2nd year Anatomic Pathology Resident
Iowa State University
Case # 4
Slide #/ID: “ISU Equine”
Signalment:
52 day old, Appaloosa filly
History:
The foal presented the day it was born for diarrhea, the placenta examination revealed multifocal nodules
that were submitted for histopathology. At 52 days old the filly represented for clinical signs of lethargy,
hind limb paresis, decreased anal tone, and urinary incontinence. Ultrasound and radiographs at that time
revealed multiple liver masses and bony lysis.
Gross findings:
Gross examination of the foal revealed a diffusely enlarged liver with irregular, raised multiple nodular
masses, which extended into the cut surface. Other gross findings included hyperostosis of the left and
right 9th ribs and the distal metacarpal bone, and the 7th lumbar vertebral body was fractured and had a
central area of osteolysis. The vertebral canal near the lumbosacral junction contained a yellow/brown
exudate.
Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences
Julia Lankton, DVM, DACVP
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Case # 5
Slide #/ID: 11-621-2N
Signalment: 9 year old male Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
History: This animal was housed at the Knoxville Zoo in an enclosure with three other
gazelles. The enclosure substrate is dirt, sand, gravel, and grass. The diet consists of
Mazuri ADF-16 pellets, alfalfa and Bermuda hay. This gazelle had a long history of
weight loss and bilateral hind limb lameness. He recently developed pronounced left rear
leg lameness. He was euthanized due to poor prognosis for recovery and inability to
medicate.
Gross findings: The liver was enlarged (700g; 3.4% of body weight) with rounded edges.
Approximately 80% of the liver was pale yellow-white and firm. This firm tissue formed
dissecting bands throughout the liver encircling nodules of dark red-brown parenchyma.
The kidneys were bilaterally small and irregular with mildly dilated pelves. There was
marked degenerative joint disease affecting all major joints. The stifles had flattened
medial trochlear ridges, thickened joint capsules, and numerous osteophytes (medial
luxating patellas, presumptive).
Department of Pathology
Athens, Georgia 30602-7388
College of Veterinary Medicine
Telephone: (706) 542-5837
FAX: (706) 542-5828
Karelma Frontera Acevedo, DVM, DACVP
University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine
Case # 6
Slide # A12- 45824
Signalment: 5 year old, female spayed Mastiff
History:
This dog had a long-term (months to years) history of urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections,
vomiting, and anorexia causing a 20 pound weight loss, although the body condition was still obese. The
incontinence was treated for the past two years with Proin and DES (at times only one of them, but most recently
both). The UTI was treated with Convenia injections in the most recent months. Six months before, the dog was
given NSAIDs and Tramadol for treatment of suspected arthritis; she began vomiting and a reaction to the
NSAID was suspected, so it was discontinued. However, the dog appeared to not fully recover, continued to
vomit, and occasional anti-emetics and GI protectants were prescribed. One of the most recent clinical exams
found hypertension (240 mmHg) and Proin was stopped temporarily. Her chemistry profile and CBC values
varied, but she consistently had high or high normal levels of globulins. Creatinine kinase, lipase, and amylase
have all been increased at some point in the previous months. Her hematocrit has been decreased while her
platelet count has been increased. Bilirubin, ALP, GGT, and BUN have on occasion been on the low to lownormal part of the reference interval. Marked bacteria were found in a recent urinalysis. No radiographs were
performed due to the size of the dog. Abdominal ultrasound was unable to fully assess the liver which was
presumably due to the excessive amounts of abdominal fat. The dog presented to the UGA emergency service
due to sudden collapse after a few days of diarrhea that was occasionally bloody, had a cardiac arrest right when it
arrived, and was not resuscitated. She was presented to the necropsy service the following day.
Gross findings:
The body was in good condition, with excessive adipose tissue deposition, and moderate autolysis. The
mucous membranes were pale with a slight yellow tint, the perianal region was stained with melena that oozed
from the rectum, and the nostrils had moderate amounts of mucopurulent bloody discharge. The stomach
contained moderate amounts of blood, while the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, from the duodenum to the colon,
contained moderate to abundant amounts of blood and bloody discharge. The mucosa of the duodenum was
severely affected with extensive segments of erosion and/or ulceration. The mucosa of the colon was also dark
red to black, think, and multifocally ulcerated. The liver weighed 2.2 lbs, for a liver to body weight ratio of 1%.
It was also small and diffusely yellow with an accentuated lobular pattern. The heart was globoid-shaped and
pale, with the right atrium and ventricle more dilated and larger than expected. No other significant gross figures
were noted.
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Department of Pathology
Athens, Georgia 30602-7388
College of Veterinary Medicine
Telephone: (706) 542-5837
FAX: (706) 542-5828
Presenter’s name and affiliation:
Jennifer Dill, DVM
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602
Case # 7
Slide #: A12-24999
Signalment: 3-year-old female Sharpei Mix
History: The dog presented on emergency for epistaxis, blood around the mouth that failed to clot, and icteric mucus
membranes. Treatment with Vitamin K injection was attempted but the dog continued to decline. This dog had never been
seen by the rDVM so no previous clinical history was available.
Gross findings: All mucus membranes were pale and mildly icteric and there was frank blood in the oral cavity and
petechiation of the inguinal and ventral abdominal skin. All internal organs were diffusely pale and what little blood was
present appeared thin. There were petechial hemorrhages of the heart, urinary bladder and gall bladder. The liver was
enlarged and diffusely pale yellow and no blood oozed from the cut surface.
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