Anesthesia of growing pigs with tiletamine-zolazepam and reversal with flumazenil

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of tiletamine/zolazepam and the effect of flumazenil on the recovery from tiletamine/zolazepam anesthesia in the pig. Six Landrace and Yorkshire cross-bred pigs (three females and three males, 3-4 months old) weighing 35.8 ± 1.7 kg were used in this study. Pigs were given tiletamine/zolazepam intramuscularly at a dose of 4.4 mg kg(-1) (2.2 mg kg(-1) tiletamine and 2.2 mg kg(-1) zolazepam) of body weight. Twenty minutes after the administration of tiletamine/zolazem, the pigs were given saline solution (control, Group TZ) or given flumazenil intravenously at a dose of 0.08 mg kg(-1) of body weight (Group TZF). Anesthesia and recovery times, scores of anesthetic effects and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded for each pig. There was a significant difference between the duration of tiletamine/zolazepam anesthesia with and without the antagonist. Flumazenil significantly shortened the recovery time. A significant difference in blood gas variables was observed between the two groups. The anesthetic effects induced by tiletamine/zolazepam could be reversed successfully and safely by flumazenil alone. Therefore, flumazenil administration could be considered in cases in which quick recovery is required in pigs.     

Complications and survival associated with surgical compared with medical management of horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Based on clinical observation, it is hypothesised that horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) that are treated surgically have a shorter duration, smaller volume, and slower rate of nasogastric reflux (NGR) compared to horses treated medically, are more likely to develop diarrhoea than medically managed cases, and have a higher incisional infection rate than a sample population of horses undergoing abdominal exploration for gastrointestinal disease other than DPJ. OBJECTIVES: To compare: 1) duration, volume and rate of NGR and the percentage of horses with diarrhoea between medically and surgically treated DPJ cases; and 2) incisional infection rate in horses with DPJ undergoing abdominal exploration to a sample population of horses undergoing abdominal exploration for gastrointestinal disease other than DPJ. METHODS: Medical records of cases with DPJ diagnosed 1995-2006 were reviewed. Information obtained included subject details, presenting clinical findings, treatment category (medical/surgical), complications (diarrhoea, incisional infection), and outcome (survival/nonsurvival). Data were analysed using a Chi-squared test and a mixed model analysis of variance. Level of significance was P<0.05. RESULTS: Compared to medical cases, surgical cases had significantly decreased survival, a longer duration and larger total volume of NGR, and were more likely to develop diarrhoea. The incisional infection rate for horses with DPJ undergoing abdominal exploration was 16% compared to 7% for the sample population of horses. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of horses with DPJ did not lead to resolution of NGR faster than medical treatment. Surgical cases were more likely to develop diarrhoea and did not have a significantly higher incisional infection rate than the sample population.     

Serum triglyceride concentration in dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum triglyceride concentrations obtained after food had been withheld (i.e., fasting concentrations) in dogs with epilepsy that had been treated long term (> or = 3 months) with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and potassium bromide with concentrations in healthy control dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 57 epileptic dogs that had been treated with phenobarbital (n=28) or with phenobarbital and bromide (29) and 57 healthy, untreated control dogs matched on the basis of age, breed, sex, neuter status, and body condition score. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected after food had been withheld for at least 12 hours, and serum biochemical and lipid concentrations were determined. Oral fat tolerance tests were performed in 15 control dogs and 9 dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital alone. RESULTS: 19 of the 57 (33%) epileptic dogs had fasting serum triglyceride concentrations greater than the upper reference limit. Nine (16%) dogs had a history of pancreatitis, and 5 of the 9 had high fasting serum triglyceride concentrations at the time of the study. A significant relationship was found between body condition score and fasting serum triglyceride concentration in all dogs, but serum triglyceride concentration was not significantly associated with phenobarbital dosage or serum phenobarbital concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that dogs treated long term with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide may develop hypertriglyceridemia. Fasting serum triglyceride concentration should be periodically monitored in dogs treated with phenobarbital because hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for pancreatitis.     

Defining and Dealin with Emergencies

Over the years the meaning and definition of what constitutes an emergency have evolved but still an emergency is very much in the eye of the beholder. Certainly, clients view clinical emergencies in various ways and their expectation of care for their pets has risen with advancements in emergency and critical care medicine. The emergency clinic practitioner has the challenge of satisfying their customers, both client and referring veterinarian while striving to provide the appropriate care to their ultimate customer, the patient.     

Intramuscular anesthesia of bonito and Pacific mackerel with ketamine and medetomidine and reversal of anesthesia with atipamezole

OBJECTIVE: To determine anesthetic effects of ketamine and medetomidine in bonitos and mackerels and whether anesthesia could be reversed with atipamezole. DESIGN: Clinical trial. ANIMALS: 43 bonitos (Sarda chiliensis) and 47 Pacific mackerels (Scomber japonica). PROCEDURE: 28 bonitos were given doses of ketamine ranging from 1 to 8 mg/kg (0.5 to 3.6 mg/lb), i.m., and doses of medetomidine ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 mg/kg (0.1 to 0.7 mg/lb), i.m. (ratio of ketamine to medetomidine, 2.5:1 to 20:1). Doses of atipamezole equal to 1 or 5 times the dose of medetomidine were used. The remaining 15 bonitos were used to determine the anesthetic effects of ketamine at a dose of 4 mg/kg (1.8 mg/lb) and medetomidine at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg (0.2 mg/lb). The mackerels were given ketamine at doses ranging from 11 to 533 mg/kg (5 to 242 mg/lb) and medetomidine at doses ranging from 0.3 to 9.1 mg/kg (0.1 to 4.1 mg/lb; ratio of ketamine to medetomidine, 3:1 to 800:1). Doses of atipamezole equal to 5 times the dose of medetomidine were used. RESULTS: I.m. administration of ketamine at a dose of 4 mg/kg and medetomidine at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg in bonitos and ketamine at a dose of 53 to 228 mg/kg (24 to 104 mg/lb) and medetomidine at a dose of 0.6 to 4.2 mg/kg (0.3 to 1.9 mg/lb) in mackerels was safe and effective. For both species, administration of atipamezole at a dose 5 times the dose of medetomidine reversed the anesthetic effects. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that a combination of ketamine and medetomidine can safely be used for anesthesia of bonitos and mackerels and that anesthetic effects can be reversed with atipamezole.     

Blindness in dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism: relationship with glucose, cortisol and triglyceride concentration and with ophthalmic blood flow

Pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) shows a high morbidity and blindness is one of its complications. Compression of the optic chiasm (OC) by the hypophysis adenoma is one of the causes. Another cause could be due to vascular and metabolic alterations of the PDH. Out of a total of 70 dogs with confirmed diagnosis of PDH, 12/70 showed blindness. In only 2/12 the OC was compromised. Electroretinography in dogs without the OC being compromised showed altered A and B wave patterns. Ophthalmological Doppler showed an alteration of the blood flow only in blind dogs without OC compression. Cortisol concentrations (Co), triglycerides (Tg) and glycaemia (G) were greater in 10 dogs with non-compressive blindness vs. dogs with conserved vision. Loss of vision correlated with the increase in these variables. Blindness in dogs with PDH would be related to changes in retinal blood flow, associated to higher Co, Tg and G concentrations.     

Long-term anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil in the dog and its partial reversal with nalbuphine

Prolonged surgical anaesthesia in the dog was induced with propofol (6.5 ± 1.3 mg/kg) followed by alfentanil (25.5 ± 5 μg/kg) (mean ± 1 sd) and maintained with a continuous infusion of propofol (0.14 to 0.18 mg/kg/min) and alfentanil (2 to 3 μg/kg/min). Neuromuscular blockade was produced with vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg). After induction of anaesthesia with propofol, administration of alfentanil to dogs which had received no pre-anaesthetic medication produced cardiac arrest and apnoea. Administration of atropine intravenously immediately prior to alfentanil prevented these cardiac depressant effects. The cardiac depressant effect of alfentanil was not as severe in a second group of dogs in which anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone. After commencing the continuous infusion anaesthetic regime and establishment of IPPV, blood pressure and heart rate remained stable during the remaining 4 to 6 h period of anaesthesia. Recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and uneventful. The depressant effects of alfentanil on respiration and on consciousness were reversed rapidly by administration of nalbuphine (10 mg total dose). The smooth recovery and the integration of anaesthesia and post operative analgesia attained by the reversal of alfentanil with nalbuphine make this an attractive anaesthetic regime for major surgery in dogs, provided that facilities for IPPV are available.     

Clinical and serological follow-up in dogs with visceral leishmaniosis treated with allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate

Seven dogs with parasitologically proven clinical visceral leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) were treated with a combination of allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate. The dogs received first orally 15 mg/kg of allopurinol every 12 h until the clinical signs improved, in the following 1 month period allopurinol at same dose and subcutaneously 30 mg/kg of sodium stibogluconate combination were given daily and at the end of the combined treatment, allopurinol was continued alone at the same dose till the end of 8 months. During the treatment period, dogs were supported by additional proteins, vitamins, and minerals. A long acting insecticide (collar or drop) was also used in order to prevent further parasite transmission. Follow-up was maintained by clinical, clinicopathological evaluation, and parasitological examination of lymph node, serology using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Before treatment commenced, the most important clinical signs were exfoliative dermatitis, ulcerations, peripheral lymhadenopathy, pale mucous membranes, weight loss, and ocular lesions. Clinicopathological findings included commonly anaemia, hyperproteinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Before the treatment, amastigotes were seen in six of the seven dogs by examination of lymph node aspiration, and IFAT-titers were positive in all dogs. At the end of 8 months treatment, remission of clinical signs, restoration to normal of clinicopathological abnormalities were noticed. Lymph node aspiration was performed on three out of the seven dogs at the end of the treatment because of the very small sizes of the lymph nodes, and no amastigotes were observed. Although the mean IFAT-titer of the dogs were significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared with pretreatment, IFAT-titers of dogs were still positive. No relapses occurred during treatment period and a 6-24-month duration after the end of therapy. Based on the above results, long-term use of allopurinol combined with sodium stibogluconate together with support treatment concluded to have enough therapeutic efficacies in the treatment of dogs with visceral leishmaniosis. Observations of the cases for possible relapses were still going on and insecticide application was carefully carrying on in order preventing a possible re-infection.     

Treatment of canine pyoderma with ibafloxacin and marbofloxacin--fluoroquinolones with different pharmacokinetic profiles

Dogs with superficial or deep pyoderma (n = 228) presented to first opinion veterinarians (n = 20) were treated orally with either ibafloxacin, at a dosage of 15 mg/kg, or marbofloxacin, at a dosage of 2 mg/kg, once daily for 3-16 weeks. On initial presentation, 35% of the cases were classified as having recurrent pyoderma and 40% as having deep pyoderma. Staphylococci (mainly Staphylococcus intermedius) were isolated from over 90% of the cases. The average treatment periods were 41 +/- 26 and 38 +/- 21 days in the ibafloxacin and marbofloxacin groups, respectively. One week after the cessation of treatment, 74 and 81% of dogs (P > 0.05) in the ibafloxacin and marbofloxacin groups, respectively, were classified as having responded to treatment. One month after the cessation of treatment, 70% of the dogs in each group were still classified as cured or improved, and 3 and 11% (P < 0.05) in the ibafloxacin and marbofloxacin groups, respectively, were classified as having relapsed. Despite having different pharmacokinetic profiles, ibafloxacin and marbofloxacin produced similar results when used under field conditions at the recommended dosages.     

Serum 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and corticosterone concentrations in dogs with nonadrenal neoplasia and dogs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism

OBJECTIVE: To assess serum 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and corticosterone concentrations in dogs with nonadrenal neoplasia and dogs being screened for hyperadrenocorticism. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 16 clinically normal dogs, 35 dogs with nonadrenal neoplasia, and 127 dogs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism. PROCEDURE: ACTH stimulation tests were performed in all dogs. Baseline serum cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were measured in the healthy dogs; baseline serum cortisol concentration and ACTH-stimulated cortisol, corticosterone, and 17OHP concentrations were measured in all dogs. Endogenous plasma ACTH concentration was also measured before administration of ACTH in dogs with neoplasia. RESULTS: In 35 dogs with neoplasia, 31.4% had high serum 17OHP concentration and 22.9% had high serum corticosterone concentration. Of the 127 dogs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism, 59 (46.5%) had high ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations; of those, 42 of 59 (71.2%) and 32 of 53 (60.4%) had high serum 17OHP and corticosterone concentrations, respectively. Of dogs with serum cortisol concentration within reference range after ACTH administration, 9 of 68 (13.2%) and 7 of 67 (10.4%) had high serum 17OHP and corticosterone concentrations, respectively. In the dogs with neoplasia and dogs suspected of having hyperadrenocorticism, post-ACTH serum hormone concentrations were significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum concentrations of 17OHP or corticosterone after administration of ACTH may be high in dogs with nonadrenal neoplasia and no evidence of hyperadrenocorticism. Changes in serum 17OHP or corticosterone concentrations after administration of ACTH are proportionate with changes in cortisol concentration.     

Reversal of pentobarbital anesthesia with 4-aminopyridine and yohimbine in cats pretreated with acepromazine and xylazine

In 2 separate experiments, groups of atropinized cats (6 cats/group) were given acepromazine (0.25 mg/kg of body weight) or xylazine (2.2 mg/kg) IM and anesthetized with pentobarbital. The mean dose of pentobarbital was decreased approximately 36% by acepromazine, and approximately 80% by xylazine, compared with published doses. Anesthetized cats were given IV saline solution (control groups) or were given the antagonists 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 0.5 mg/kg), yohimbine (0.4 mg/kg), or 4-AP + yohimbine (0.5 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively). In acepromazine-treated cats, 4-AP + yohimbine was the most effective antagonist; arousal and walking occurred in an average of 10.4 minutes and 91.7 minutes, respectively. Yohimbine enhanced the antagonistic effects of 4-AP. In xylazine-treated cats, yohimbine was an effective antagonist; arousal and walking occurred in an average of 2.8 minutes and 12.8 minutes, respectively. Yohimbine did not enhance the antagonistic effects of 4-AP. Mean respiratory rates were decreased by acepromazine, but were increased by xylazine. Thus, respiratory rate depression by pentobarbital was not as marked with xylazine as it was with acepromazine. Changes in mean heart rate were not remarkable with either sedative, and cardiac irregularities were not palpated or auscultated. In healthy cats, the duration of pentobarbital anesthesia can be controlled by 4-AP + yohimbine (acepromazine-pretreated cats) or by yohimbine alone (xylazine-pretreated cats).     

Benefits and problems with cloning animals

Animal cloning is becoming a useful technique for producing transgenic farm animals and is likely to be used to produce clones from valuable adults. Other applications will also undoubtedly be discovered in the near future, such as for preserving endangered breeds and species. Although cloning promises great advantages for commerce and research alike, its outcome is not always certain due to high pregnancy losses and high morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period. Research into the mechanisms involved in the reprogramming of the nucleus is being conducted throughout the world in an attempt to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in correcting these problems. Although the cause of these anomalies remains mostly unknown, similar phenotypes have been observed in calves derived through in vitro fertilization, suggesting that culture conditions are involved in these phenomena. In the meantime, veterinarians and theriogenologists have an important role to play in improving the efficiency of cloning by finding treatments to assure normal gestation to term and to develop preventative and curative care for cloned neonates.