Vetnuus | June 2024 7 free extracts. Recent evidence shows that a significant percentage of dogs with higher-grade MCT’s have genetic mutations in c-kit (stem cell factor receptor) which may be responsible for the genesis and/ or progression of MCT’s in dogs. Not all dogs with MCT’s have c-kit mutations, suggesting that they are not the only mechanisms for the development and/or progression of MCT’s. Eighty-five to ninety percent of dogs and cats with MCT’s have solitary lesions. It is important to note that not all dogs or cats with multiple MCT’s have metastatic or systemic mastocytosis. Studies suggest that well-differentiated MCT’s are slow-growing, usually < 3-4 cm in diameter, without ulceration of overlying skin, variably alopecic and commonly are present for more than 6 months. In contrast, poorly differentiated MCT’s are rapidly growing, variably sized (but generally large), with ulceration of the underlying skin and inflammation/edema of surrounding tissues and lastly rarely are present for more than 2-3 months before presentation. Since most MCT’s are of moderatedifferentiation, signs may be somewhere between these two extremes. Management of dogs and cats with incidentally detected heart murmurs Etienne Côté DVM, DACVIM Department of Companion Animals, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada, C1A 4P3 Heart murmurs are routinely identified in dogs and cats presented for an exam that was not initially focused on the cardiovascular system. These incidentally detected murmurs can be caused by harmless processes (nonpathologic murmurs) or can be the first clue of an underlying structural heart problem (pathologic murmurs). In turn, pathologic murmurs can indicate a minor structural heart problem, or it can be the dominant health concern of the animal. The session will help participants stratify heart murmurs in terms of the severity of the underlying issue (is it all dependent on murmur grade?) and choose the best management strategy for an individual patient (does every animal with a murmur need an echo?). Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the characteristics of heart murmurs and how auscultation and palpation are the foundation for stratifying the differential diagnosis. 2. Understand the strengths and limitations of auscultatory findings: murmur grade, murmur point of maximal intensity, third heart sounds, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. 3. Know the value of further diagnostic testing, notably echocardiography, in a patient with an incidentally detected heart murmur: exploratory vs. confirmatory. Spay/Neuter & Cancer: What Does the Data Really Say? Philip J. Bergman DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology) Director, Clinical Studies – VCA, Oncologist, Katonah-Bedford Veterinary Center, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 - Philip.Bergman@VCA.com Spaying/neutering are common practices in veterinary medicine aimed at controlling pet populations and preventing issues. However, recent research has appropriately raised questions about a potential association between these procedures and an increased risk of cancer in dogs and cats. Several studies suggest a complex interplay between sex hormones and cancer development, indicating that hormonal changes resulting from spaying or neutering could contribute to an altered cancer risk. In female dogs, early spaying has been linked to a decreased incidence of mammary and uterine cancers, compared to possible increased incidence of other cancers such as mast cell tumour, hemangiosarcoma, urothelial carcinoma and possibly lymphoma. Neutering male dogs may be associated with a lower risk of testicular tumours, but a higher risk of urothelial, prostatic and/or bone cancer in some breeds. Unfortunately, the vast majority of studies have utilized very small numbers of dogs with each of the above various tumours, making for less trust in making global recommendations. This trust is further reduced when large studies have found a prolongation in lifetime compared to intact patients. In cats, spaying or neutering has also been implicated in altering cancer susceptibility but the numbers of studies are remarkably less than in dogs currently. Early spaying in female cats appears to similarly reduce the risk of mammary tumours, but may concurrently increase the risk of other malignancies, such as lymphoma. Neutering male cats has been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including urinary tract cancers. While the current body of evidence highlights correlations, establishing definitive causation remains challenging. Research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and inform more nuanced recommendations for veterinary practitioners is needed. A balanced approach, weighing the benefits vs the health risks, is essential to guide responsible and informed decisions regarding spaying and neutering practices in companion animals. How do we reduce anaesthetic mortality in small animal practice? Kenneth Joubert Veterinary Anaesthesia, Analgesia & Critical Care Services VAACCS Blood Bank Veterinary anaesthetic mortality has essentially been unchanged for the last 20 years since the first large-scale study was conducted. For healthy dogs undergoing routine procedures (ASA 1-2) the mortality Events I WVAC 2024
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