Case Report
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PANCREATIC NODULAR HYPERPLASIA BY PARTIAL PANCREATECTOMY IN A BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG (CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS)

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Abstract

A 7.5-year-old male black-tailed prairie dog was presented for diarrhea of 3 weeks’ duration. Clinical examination revealed a multinodular mass in the left cranial quadrant of the abdomen that was confirmed with ultrasound. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and the majority of the mass and adherent spleen were removed. Histological diagnosis was severe pancreatic nodular hyperplasia associated with secondary pancreatitis and passive splenic congestion. The prairie dog recovered without complications. Three weeks following the surgical procedure, follow-up ultrasound showed no evidence of abnormal tissue in the pancreaticoduodenal area. Two months postsurgery, a follow-up computed tomographic scan revealed no significant abnormalities. No recurrence was noted 13 months following the mass removal. This article describes the diagnosis of pancreatic nodular hyperplasia in a prairie dog and successful treatment of complications arising from the condition by partial pancreatectomy.

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Discussion

In prairie dogs, the pancreas is approximately 17 cm in length.3 A single pancreatic duct enters the descending limb of the duodenum 8 cm distal to the pylorus.3 The orifices of the pancreatic and common bile duct each open separately into the duodenum.3 Pancreatic diseases are rarely described in the prairie dog. In a retrospective study of 167 prairie dog necropsies, an 8-year-old female was diagnosed with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma.4 The animal had a history of weight loss and an abdominal

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jimmy Saunders, DVM, Dip. ECVDI, for reviewing the computed tomography images and David Brasseur, DVM, for performing the ultrasonography.

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