A 4-month-old female maltese dog was admitted to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University for evaluation of abnormal color of bilateral irises. This patient had the photophobia in the light and exhibited the complete absence of pigment resulting in white hair, pink muzzle, eyelids and foot-pads. Central zone of the irises were yellow in color influenced by tapetal reflex, and peripheral zone were pale blue. The iridal capillaries were transparented on the irises. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed a yellow tapetal fundus but no pigment in the nontapetal fundus.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Animals ; Dog Diseases/*diagnosis ; Dogs ; Female ; Ophthalmoscopy/veterinary ; Photophobia/diagnosis/veterinary

Canine atopic skin disease is seasonal or sometimes non-seasonal immune-mediated skin disease which occurs commonly in Korea. The definite clinical sign is systemic pruritus, especially on periocular parts, external ear, interdigit spaces and lateral flank. For diagnosis of this dermatitis, complete history taking followed by intradermal skin test and serum in vitro IgE test needs to be performed. Allergen selection for the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis should be varied geographically. In this study, with intradermal skin test(IDST) the prevalence of atopic disease and what allergens are involved in are researched. Allergens used for IDST included 26 allergen extracts from six allergen groups: grasses, trees, weeds, molds, epidermal allergens and environmental allergens. The number of allergens was 42 in which the positive and negative controls are included. The most common positive allergen reaction was the house dust mites on IDST(22/35, 63%). The other positive allergen reactions were to flea(3/35, 9%), molds(1/35, 3%), house dusts(2/35, 6%), feathers (1/35, 3%), cedar/juniper(1/35, 3%), timothy grass(1/35, 3%) and dandelion(1/35, 3%). In this study, the most prevalent allergen causing atopic dermatitis in dogs in Korea was the house dust mites followed by the flea.
Allergens/*immunology ; Animals ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/*immunology ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Skin Tests/veterinary

Multilobular tumour of bone (MTB) is an uncommon tumour and is usually located in the skull. A 13-year-old mixed breed dog was presented with a two-week history of progressively worsening vestibular dysfunction and cognitive abnormalities; it appeared demented and showed asymmetric ataxia and hypermetria of all limbs. The owner opted to have the animal euthanised. Necropsy revealed a large mass occupying the right occipital, parietal and temporal bones, severely compressing the cerebellum and the right occipital lobe. Histologically, it was characterised by the presence of multiple lobules containing osteoid or cartilage and separated by fibrous septae, features typical of MTB. Lung metastases were evident. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an MTB causing both severe cerebral and cerebellar compression and the second detailed report of an MTB of the occipital bone. MTB should be included in the differential diagnosis of bone tumours as well as in cases with central vestibular disease.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology ; Dogs ; Male ; Skull/*pathology ; Skull Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*veterinary

Electroretinography (ERG) is a reliable diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of retinal disease. It measures electric potentials occurring in the retina in response to light stimulation. In this study, we examined the normal electroretinogram using the Handheld Multispecies ERG (HMsERG) in Shih Tzu dogs. ERG recordings were performed in twelve eyes of six healthy Shih Tzu dogs. Dogs were anesthetized with a combination of medetomidine and ketamine. Proparacaine eye drops were also applied as a topical anesthetic. Tropicamide eye drops were applied for mydriasis. After 20 min of dark adaptation, we recorded the amplitudes and implicit times of the b-waves of the rod, standard rod and cone (Std R&C), high-intensity rod and cone (Hi-int R&C), and cone systems, and responses of the cones and inner retina by flicker light stimulation (cone flicker). Results showed that mean the amplitudes of a-waves of Std R&C, Hi-int R&C, and the cone responses were 141.25 microV, 173.00 microV, and 12.92 microV, respectively. The b-waves of the rod responses ranged from 141.58 to 155.25 microV; the Std R&C was 314.75 microV, the Hi-int R&C was 329.42 microV, the cones were 37.75 microV, and the flicker responses were 64.08 microV. The b/a ratios for the Std R&C, Hi-int R&C, and the cone response were 2.29, 1.94, and 3.71, respectively. Mean implicit time of the a-wave of the Std R&C was 15.12 ms, of Hi-int R&C was 13.42 ms, and of the cone response was 7.22 ms. The b-wave of the rod responses ranged from 68.12 to 72.68 ms, of Std R&C were 37.28 ms, of Hi-int R&C were 41.90, of the cone responses were 38.12 ms, and of the cone flicker responses were 22.80 ms. We believe that these parameters can be used as reference "normal" ERGs ranges for Shih Tzu dogs using the HMsERG under medetomidine and ketamine anesthesia.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/diagnosis ; Dogs/*physiology ; Electroretinography/instrumentation/*veterinary ; Retinal Diseases/diagnosis/veterinary ; Time Factors

This study was designed to investigate the incidence of ectoparasite infestation among stray dogs in Gwang-ju City, Republic of Korea. A total of 103 stray dogs collected in the Animal Shelter of Gwang-ju City from November 2003 to August 2005 were investigated in this study. Ectoparasites of one or more genera were detected in 45.6% (47 / 103) of the dogs examined for dermatologic lesions and/or skin scrapings (from 3-5 affected areas). Otodectes cynotis was found to be the most frequent parasite (22.3%, 23 / 103), followed by Sarcoptes scabiei var canis (19.4%, 20 / 103), Ctenocephalides canis (6.8%, 7 / 103), Demodex canis (4.9%, 5 / 103), and Trichodectes canis (1.0%, 1 / 103). Monospecific infestation was found in 83.0% (39 / 47) of the affected dogs, whereas concurrent infestations with 2 or more ectoparasites per animal were found in 17.0% (8 / 47) of the affected dogs. Trichodectes canis is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea. Dogs less than 1 yr old were more heavily infected than other age groups (66.7%), and small-sized dogs of less than 3 kg body weight were more heavily infected than larger dogs (41.7%).
Age Distribution ; Animals ; Dog Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Ectoparasitic Infestations/epidemiology/*veterinary ; Female ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male

This study was designed to investigate the incidence of ectoparasite infestation among stray dogs in Gwang-ju City, Republic of Korea. A total of 103 stray dogs collected in the Animal Shelter of Gwang-ju City from November 2003 to August 2005 were investigated in this study. Ectoparasites of one or more genera were detected in 45.6% (47 / 103) of the dogs examined for dermatologic lesions and/or skin scrapings (from 3-5 affected areas). Otodectes cynotis was found to be the most frequent parasite (22.3%, 23 / 103), followed by Sarcoptes scabiei var canis (19.4%, 20 / 103), Ctenocephalides canis (6.8%, 7 / 103), Demodex canis (4.9%, 5 / 103), and Trichodectes canis (1.0%, 1 / 103). Monospecific infestation was found in 83.0% (39 / 47) of the affected dogs, whereas concurrent infestations with 2 or more ectoparasites per animal were found in 17.0% (8 / 47) of the affected dogs. Trichodectes canis is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea. Dogs less than 1 yr old were more heavily infected than other age groups (66.7%), and small-sized dogs of less than 3 kg body weight were more heavily infected than larger dogs (41.7%).
Age Distribution ; Animals ; Dog Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Ectoparasitic Infestations/epidemiology/*veterinary ; Female ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male

A 3-month-old Schnauzer was presented with congenital defects of the secondary palate. On the clinical examination, coughing, sneezing, drainage of nasal discharge from the external nares and poor growth were found. Vital signs and results of blood examination were within normal ranges. Thoracic radiography revealed mild pneumonia in the right lung lobes. In a puppy suffering from cleft palates, a palatal prosthesis was applied to the hard palate in order to protect the surgical wound, because a routine surgery was not successful. A palatal prosthesis was applied and held in place using the instant glue and plastic bands to protect the surgical wound following the third repeated surgery. Although a small oronasal fistula still remained, there was no functional defect. This prosthesis was easy to apply and helpful to protect the surgical wound. In addition, this implant could be placed or adjusted without or sedation/anesthesia.
Animals ; Cleft Palate/surgery/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/congenital/*surgery ; Dogs ; Male ; Palatal Obturators/*veterinary

Hermaphroditism was identified in a 3-year-old American Cocker spaniel with an enlarged os clitoridis that was shown as reddish finger-like structure protruding from the vulva. The urethral orifice was located cranially to the base of the os clitoridis. The gonads were situated caudal to the kidneys at the cranial tips of the uterine horns, and were composed mainly of seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells and had ovarian follicles in the cortices. The uterus was enlarged and revealed pyometra. Gross and histopathological findings of the dog suggested hermaphroditism with bilateral ovotestes and pyometra.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*pathology/surgery ; Dogs ; Female ; Gonads/pathology/surgery ; Hermaphroditism/pathology/surgery/*veterinary ; Histocytochemistry/veterinary

A 1. 8-year-old intact female Maltese dog was presented because of a history of chronic diarrhea, polyphagia, weight loss, and coprophagia. The patient was severely emaciated and evacuated very moist and four-smelling, yellow feces. Fecal stain with Sudan III revealed numerous lipid droplets. Result of fat absorption test showed aldigestion. A definite diagnosis was made based on trypsin-like immunoreactivity assay in serum which was low enough to be diagnosed as an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. After pancreatic enzyme supplement with porcine pancreatin powder, the clinical signs were disappeared. This case report documents clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, treatment and efficiency of oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a Maltese dog.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy ; Dogs ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency/drug therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Pancreatin/*therapeutic use

Color-dilution alopecia is a relatively uncommon hereditary skin disease seen in "Blue" and other color-diluted dogs. This syndrome is associated with a color-dilution gene. The initial clinical signs are the gradual onset of a dry, dull and poor hair coat quality. Hair shafts and hair regrowth are poor, and follicular papules may develop and progress to frank comedones. Hair loss and comedo formation are usually most severe on the trunk, especially color-diluted area on the skin. Six cases of color-dilution alopecia are reported in 3 months to 10 years old dogs. The breeds of dogs are blue Doberman Pinscher, Miniature Pinscher, Dachshund, and Schnauzer. Grossly, extensive partial hair loss was seen on the skin. Histopathologically, the epidermis is relatively normal but may be hyperplastic. Hair follicles are characterized by atrophy and distortion. Heavily clumped melanin is present in the epidermis, dermis and hair follicles.
Alopecia/genetics/*veterinary ; Animals ; Dog Diseases/*genetics ; Dogs ; Female ; Hair Color/*genetics ; Male ; Skin/pathology