Eyal Ranen

Urethral obstruction in cats: Predisposing factors, clinical, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis

Feline lower urinary tract diseases in general, and urethral obstruction (UO) in particular, are common clinical conditions in cats. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for UO, to characterise clinical and clinicopathological signs, outcome and recurrence, as well as risk factors for mortality and recurrence. Eighty-two cats with UO were compared to 82 sex and time matched controls. The mean age of cats with UO was significantly lower compared to controls, while the mean body weight was higher. The proportion of indoors–outdoors cats was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group, and the proportion of cats consuming only dry food was higher. Overall mortality was 8.5%. Ionised calcium was significantly higher in survivors compared to non-survivors, and the prevalence of hypocalcaemia was lower. Recurrence in 6 months and 2 years were 22% and 24%, respectively. Cats with recurrence had significantly lower urine pH at presentation.

Chondroma of the vertical ramus of the feline mandible

A 5-year-old, castrated male, domestic shorthair cat presented with firm swelling in the right temporal region of the skull. The cat’s jaws were almost locked in the closed position. Radiographs showed a mass with an irregular mineralized matrix superimposed on the caudal right mandible and temporomandibular joint. Surgical exploration revealed that the mass arose from the proximal part of the vertical ramus, which was removed, with the exclusion of the temporomandibular joint. It was possible to open the cat’s mouth to nearly normal extension immediately after surgery. Recovery was uneventful — the cat has had no problem eating and no mass recurrence has been detected 3 years after surgery. Histological examination of the mass was consistent with chondroma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical and pathological description of a chondroma in cats, and one of the rare cases describing clinical presentation and management of primary bone tumours involving the vertical ramus of the feline mandible.

PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY IN A BROWN CAPUCHIN MONKEY (CEBUS APELLA)

Abstract A 14-yr-old male brown capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, with stranguria. The history included distal urethral obstruction and a previous surgical attempt to create a urinary diversion through the perineum. A perineal urethrostomy was performed. In a 17-mo follow-up period, neither stranguria nor dysuria was observed, and the monkeys social behavior appeared normal. Perineal urethrostomy appears to be a simple and practical procedure in primates with a compromised distal urethra.