Surgery unit

Resident Research

The investigation of the role of papilloma virus in the aetiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma in young dogs.
S.M.Wasik & B.P. Landon
Financed by the Sarah & Anne Payten Canine Cancer Research Fund (2010)

A 6-month old Golden Retriever puppy was presented to the UVTHS with an oral mass, diagnosed via incisional biopsy as a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This is an unusual clinical presentation; a review of the literature revealed only two similar cases reported previously and a link to papilloma-virus was tentatively made but not substantiated. The aim of this current project is to attempt to identify the presence of papilloma viral DNA in tissues obtained from an oral SCC from a young dog using advanced DNA detection techniques.


A comparison of post operative outcomes in dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy and prophylactic gastropexy with those undergoing standard open ovariectomy and gastropexy.
S.M. Wasik & B.P. Landon
Financed by the Margot Flood and Thea Jean Schnakenberg Bequests (2010)

The aim of this project is to compare postoperative outcomes in female dogs undergoing ovariectomy and prophylactic gastropexy via a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach with those undergoing the same procedures via a standard open midline laparoscopy. Objective measures of post-operative pain/discomfort to be measured and compared include plasma cortisol levels in conjunction with a comprehensive, multiple assessment based pain scoring system. These two parameters will provide an objective assessment of post-operative pain, discomfort and stress. Once the data has been collected for all dogs, statistical analyses will be undertaken to identify any significant differences in pain levels between the treatment groups.

Soft tissue surgery clinical research

A comparative study of laparoscopic ovariectomy and laparoscopic ovariectomy + intracorporeal laparoscopic gastropexy in dogs.

The aim of this study is to investigate objective measurements of stress response and morbidity in dogs undergoing combined laparoscopic ovariectomy and gastropexy and compare this with dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy only and also with dogs undergoing open ovariohysterectomy and gastropexy procedures.

Project type: Resident research project
Supervisor: Dr Ben Landon
Surgery Resident: Dr Sonya Wasik

Clinical evaluation of coil embolization of intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs.
This is a clinical report which will retrospectively evaluate dogs with single intrahepatic portosystemic shunts undergoing coil embolization supported with a caval nitinol stent.

Project type: Clinical evaluation
Supervisor: Dr Ben Landon