Madeleine Hubler

The effect of GnRH analogs on urinary incontinence after ablation of the ovaries in dogs.

After removal of the ovaries approximately 20% of dogs develop urinary incontinence. Removal of the gonads results in estrogen deficiency and chronic elevation in the production and secretion of FSH and LH. The gonadotrophins may directly or indirectly, adversely affect the sphincter function of the urethra. Estrogen replacement therapy and treatment with sympathomimetics, such as ephedrine or phenylpropanolamine (PPA), are effective only in some of the affected dogs, and many of these subsequently become nonresponsive. Since the role of the elevated gonadotrophins has not been elucidated, we used depot preparations of GnRH analogues to down-regulate gonadotrophins once or twice in 13 ovariectomized (ovx), incontinent dogs, which were either refractory to alpha-adrenergics (n=11) or in which alpha-adrenergics were contraindicated (n=2). Dogs were treated with leuprolide, deslorelin, buserelin or triptorelin. In 7 dogs treatments with GnRH analogues alone (n=11) resulted in continence for 50-738 days (mean 247). In all dogs except one, where GnRH treatments did not resolve the incontinence completely, additional treatment with phenylpropanolamine was successful. With additional treatment of phenylpropanolamine complete continence was restored for 21-367 days (mean 159). All treatments caused long-term reduction of circulating FSH and LH concentrations to very low or undetectable levels. No adverse effects of treatments were observed.

Ectopic Ureters in Dogs: Clinical Features, Surgical Techniques and Outcome

OBJECTIVE To compare clinical features of ectopic ureter (EU) in male and female dogs and outcome after neoureterostomy with resection restricted to the intravesical part of the ureter for intramural ectopic ureter (iEU) or of ureteroneocystostomy for extramural ectopic ureter (eEU). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS Female dogs (n = 26) with 32 iEU and 8 eEU; male dogs (n = 24) with 25 iEU and 18 eEU. METHODS Data were collected from medical records (1992-2008). Long-term follow-up information after surgical correction by modified neoureterostomy or ureteroneocystostomy was gathered by owner questionnaire. RESULTS Median age at first occurrence of UI was significantly lower in females (<2 months) than in males with EU (8 months; P = 0.0015). Bilateral occurrence and an extramural course of the ureter were more common in males (n = 19 and n = 20, respectively) compared with females (14 and 12, respectively), but the outcome of surgical treatment was comparable in both genders. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis after surgery is fair with a success rate of 72% and a complication rate of 26%. Resection of only the intravesicular ectopic ureter resulted in resolution of incontinence in a high percentage of dogs and thus is an acceptable alternative to removal of the entire ureteral remnant.

Sry-negative xx true hermaphrodite in a basset hound

A true hermaphrodite was diagnosed in a 7-mo.-old Basset hound. The diagnosis was based on the clinical signs, the histology of the gonads and the karyogram. Additionally, the dog was tested for the Y-linked gene Sry, which was negative. The Basset hound presented here is compared to other XX sex reversed animals described in the literature. In man, XX sex reversal is a heterogenous condition. The pathogenesis in Sry-negative individuals is not understood. Thus Sry-negative animals could serve as an animal model of the human disease.

Spaying-induced coat changes: the role of gonadotropins, GnRH and GnRH treatment on the hair cycle of female dogs

Although spaying can result in qualitative hair coat changes in dogs, the influence of spaying on the hair growth cycle has never been described. The study aims were to examine the effect of spaying and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment on canine hair coat, cycle stages of hair follicles, plasma gonadotropin concentrations and mRNA transcription of luteinizing hormone (LH) and GnRH receptors in hair follicles. Fifteen female dogs were examined before and 1 year after spaying and 24 spayed dogs before and after GnRH treatment. Spaying resulted in increased plasma gonadotropin concentrations and increased anagen : telogen ratio of hair follicles, but only 20% of the dogs developed coat changes. No differences were found in mRNA transcription of LH and GnRH receptors. GnRH treatment resulted in reduced plasma gonadotropin concentrations and improvement of coat changes in 79% of patients. This was associated with an increase in catagen hair follicles without changes in the anagen : telogen ratio. The present study demonstrated that spaying had an effect on the anagen : telogen ratio of hair follicles. Spaying-induced coat changes did not correlate with the anagen : telogen ratio. GnRH treatment reduced gonadotropin concentrations and reversed coat changes in some dogs, but had no effect on the hair growth cycle other than increasing the number of catagen hair follicles. A weak positive correlation between the plasma LH concentration and the anagen : telogen ratio was noted; however, our data did not suggest a direct receptor-mediated hormonal effect on the hair follicle. The present study did not identify the pathomechanism of spaying-induced coat changes.

Wirksamkeit, Verträglichkeit und Akzeptanz von Incontex bei Hündinnen mit kastrationsbedingter Harninkontinenz

Im Rahmen einer randomisierten Doppelblindstudie wurde unter Praxisbedingungen die Wirksamkeit, Vertraglichkeit und Akzeptanz von Incontex (Dr. E. Graeub AG, Bern, Schweiz) bei der kastrationsbedingten urethralen Sphinkterinkompetenz bei der Hundin gepruft. Incontex ist ein Sirup mit Knoblauchgeschmack und enthalt den Wirkstoff Phenylpropanolamin (PPA), ein α1-adrenerger Agonist. Insgesamt 24 harninkontinente, kastrierte Hundinnen wurden in die klinische Studie aufgenommen. In einem ersten Behandlungsblock von 4 Wochen wurde den Hundinnen Incontex in einer Dosierung von 1.5mg PPA/kg KGW zweimal taglich oder ein entsprechendes Placebo verabreicht. In einem zweiten Behandlungsblock von weiteren 4 Wochen bekamen alle 24 Hundinnen Incontex in der erwahnten Dosierung. Beurteilt wurde jeweils die Veranderung der Harninkontinenz im Vergleich zur Situation vor Behandlungsbeginn. Von 24 Hundinnen wurden 88% vollstandig kontinent, 8% zeigten eine Besserung und bei 4% blieb jede Wirkung aus. Bei 21% der Tiere traten...

Signs of metastatic disease on thoracic radiographs of dogs suffering from mammary gland tumours: a retrospective study (1990-1998)

A mammary gland tumour (MGT) was clinically diagnosed in 136 dogs. Histologically 71% were malignant and 29% benign. Intrathoracic metastatic disease was noted or suspected radiographically in 13.5% of the dogs with malignant and in 2.5% of the dogs with benign MGT. Six dogs with malignant MGT were necropsied, 5 had pulmonary metastases but only 1 had radiographic signs of intrathoracic metastatic disease. We conclude that radiographs are not very sensitive for detection of early intrathoracic metastatic disease of MGT.