Puncture Wounds of the Navicular Bursa in 38 Horses A Retrospective Study

The medical records of 38 horses with puncture wounds of the navicular bursa were reviewed. Only 12 horses had a satisfactory outcome (breeding or riding). Of the remaining 26 horses, 19 were euthanized, five were sold due to persistent severe lameness, one died, and one was lost to long-term follow-up. Different combinations of conservative management prior to surgical debridement and drainage of the navicular bursa were unsuccessful in resolving the condition. Horses that were treated surgically within 1 week of the injury and had a hind leg affected had the best chance of a satisfactory outcome. Additional wound debridement was necessary in 15 horses after initial surgical treatment. The most common complications encountered were navicular bone osteomyelitis and sepsis of the deep digital flexor tendon. Thirteen of 14 horses that had rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon and subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint had an unsatisfactory outcome. One mare subsequently developed ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint and was a useful brood mare. Two horses that had biaxial palmar digital neurectomy because of persistent lameness were later euthanized because of navicular bone fracture and rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon. Results from limited numbers of bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivities suggest that penicillin and an aminoglycoside antibiotic should be used as initial antibiotic therapy. Immediate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotic treatment are recommended as the minimum therapy for penetrating wounds of the navicular bursa in horses.     

Intraperitoneal Circulation and Drainage in the Dog

The patterns of dispersion and drainage of a low viscosity, oil-based contrast medium within the peritoneal cavity were examined in 12 normal dogs. Intraperitoneal injection of contrast medium was cranial or caudal and drainage was by the sump-Penrose or open peritoneal method. Radiographs were made over a 96 hour period, before and after peritoneal drainage was established. Each dog was euthanatized and necropsied. The contrast medium was dispersed throughout the peritoneal cavity 15 to 30 minutes after cranial injection and 1 to 2 hours after caudal injection. Most of the contrast medium drained within 6 hours after open peritoneal drainage and within 24 to 48 hours after sump-Penrose drainage. At necropsy, there was complete encasement of all sump-Penrose drains and partial occlusion of all open peritoneal incisions by omentum adhered to the abdominal wound edges. Peritonitis was not grossly evident, but all dogs showed histologic evidence of an acute inflammatory reaction associated with the drain or wound edge.     

Probable Trophic Pad Ulceration Following Traumatic Denervation Report of Two Cases in Dogs

Two dogs developed metacarpal pad ulceration subsequent to a motor vehicle accident. Evidence of ulnar nerve damage was found in both dogs. The ulcers were treated successfully by transferring neurovascular island flap grafts from the dorsum of the foot.     

Medial Plating for the Repair of Middle and Distal Diaphyseal Fractures of the Humerus in Dogs

Six middle and distal humeral shaft fractures in dogs were repaired by the application of a bone plate along the medial shaft of the humerus. In all animals, clinical and radiographic evidence of normal bone healing was observed. The bone plate and ancillary implants were removed from five dogs by 10 months. In none of the six dogs were any untoward effects of placing the bone plate along the medial shaft of the humerus detected nor were there any difficulties encountered with the medial humeral soft tissues.     

Resurfacing Canine Femoral Trochleoplasties with Free Autogenous Periosteal Grafts

Femoral trochleoplasties resurfaced with autogenous free periosteal grafts in six dogs were compared to femoral trochleoplasties performed without grafts in six dogs. The grafts produced cartilage as early as 4 weeks after surgery; however, it was fibrocartilage rather than normal hyaline articular cartilage. The trochleoplasties not resurfaced with periosteum also healed with fibrocartilage but not until 40 weeks postoperatively. The grafted stifles had less patellar cartilage damage when compared to trochleoplasties left to heal without resurfacing.     

Analgesia in Dogs After Intercostal Thoracotomy: A Clinical Trial Comparing Intravenous Buprenorphine and Interpleural Bupivacaine

We prospectively studied 26 dogs that presented for intercostal thoracotomy. Dogs were pre-medicated with oxymorphone, induced with diazepam and etomidate, and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Preoperatively, animal patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 13) received buprenorphine (10 μg/kg intravenously [IV]) every 6 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. Group 2 (n = 13) received 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mg/kg) administered interpleural (IP) by slow injection through a pediatric feeding tube fixed to the most dorsal aspect of the thoracotomy incision. Interpleural injections were administered with each dog placed in lateral recumbency with the incision positioned ventrally; IP injections were administered every 4 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. All cases were monitored in the intensive care unit for 24 hours postoper-atively. The analgesic efficacy of each regimen was evaluated using a pain scoring system that included a subjective pain score, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and changes in the electrocardiogram or neurological status were also noted. Significant increases in mean heart rate, respiratory rate, and total pain score occurred after surgery in dogs in the buprenorphine group. In contrast, dogs in the bupivacaine group had no significant changes when compared with their preoperative values. Dogs in the bupivacaine group had significantly decreased total pain scores and better PaO₂ and oxygen saturation values when compared with the dogs receiving buprenorphine. Hypoventilation did not occur in either group.     

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Dermatophytosis in Dogs and Cats at Louisiana State University: 1981–1990

Abstract— Dermatophytes were cultured from seventy of 1824 (3.8 per cent) canine samples and 61 of 408 (14.9 per cent) feline samples submitted over ten years. Microsporum canis was the most common species isolated (86/131). M. gypseum (31/70) and M. canis (30/70) were isolated most frequently from dogs whereas M. canis was isolated most frequently from cats (56/61). Both male and female dogs and cats were equally affected by dermatophytosis. There was a higher incidence in both dogs and cats less than one year of age. Mixed breed dogs (19/70), domestic shorthaired cats (39/61) and Persian cats (15/61) were most often affected. M. gypseum had a greater incidence of infection in summer and most often caused localized disease in dogs. In dogs, localized dermatophytosis was more common. Localized infections were most often caused by M. canis in all animals, with the head (23/75), feet (10/75) and tail (7/75) affected most frequently. Résumé— Dos dermatophytes ont été isolés à partir de 70/1824 (3,8 pourcent) prélèvements canins et 61/408 (14,9 pourcent) prélèvements félins collectés sur une période de dix ans. L'espèce la plus souvent isolée était Microsporum canis (86/131). Microspomm gypseum (31/70) et M. canis (30/70) étainet les plus fréquemment isolés chez les chiens, alors qu'il s'agissait de M. canis (56/61) chez les chats. Les mâles et les femelles, chiens ou chats, étaient également représentés. Il y avait une nette incidence des animaux de moins d'un an, tant chez les chiens que chez les chats. Les chiens croisés (19/70), les chats européens (39/61) et les chats Persans (15/61) étaient les plus souvent atteints. L'incidence de M. gypseumétait plus importante l'été et provoquait les plus souvent des lésions localisées les chiens. Les formes localisées étaient plus fréquentes chez les chiens et le plus souvent dues àM. canis dans les deux espèces, avec une atteinte préférentielle de la tête (23/75), des membres (10/75) et de la queue (7/75). Zausammenfassung— Aus siebzig von 1824 Proben von Hunden (3,8 Prozent) und 61 von 408 Proben von Katzen (14,9 Prozent) von einem Zeitraum über zehn Jahre wurden Dermatophyten angezüchtet. Microsporum canis war die am häufigsten isolierte Spezies (86/131). Microsporum gypseum (31/70) und M. canis (30/70) wurden am häufigsten bei Hunden isoliert, M. canis dagegen wurde am häufigsten bei Katzen isoliert (56/61). Männliche wie weibliche Hunde und Katzen waren gleichermaßen von Dermatomykosen betroffen. Sowohl bei Hunden also auch bei Katzen war die Inzidenz bei Tieren unter einem Jahr höher. Am häufigsten erkrankten Mischlingshunde (19/70), Kurzhaarhauskatzen (39/61) und Perserkatzen (15/61). Die Inzidenz der Infektion mit M. gypseum war im Sommer größer, bei Hunden verursachte es mehr lokalisierte Erkrankungen. Bei Hunden überhaupt waren lokalisierte Dermatomykosen häufiger anzutreffen. Lokalisierte Infektionen wurden bei alien Tieren am häufigsten durch M. canis verursacht, am meisten betroffen waren Kopf (23/75), Pfoten (10/75) und Schwanz (7/75). Resumen Se cultivaron dermatofitos de setenta de 1824 (3,8 por ciento) muestras caninas y 61 de 408 (14,9 cor ciento) muestras felinas, sometidas durante diez anos. Microsporum canis fue la mas común de las especies aisladas (86/131). Microsporum gypseum (31/70) y M. canis (30/70) se aislaron mas frecuentemente de perros, mientras que M. canis fue aislado con más frecuencia de gatos (56/61). Ambos, macho y hembra, perros y gatos fueron igualmente afectados por la dermatofítosis. Había una mayor incidencia en perros y gatos menores de un año de edad. Perros de cruce de razas (19/70), gatos domésticados de pelo corto (39/61) y gatos persas (15/61) fueron afectados con más frecuencia. M. gypseum tenía una mayor incidencia de infección en verano, y muy frecuentemente causaba enfermedades localizados en perros. En perros, fue más commún la dermatofitosis localizada. Infecciones localizadas eran más frecuentemente causadas por M. canis en todos los animates, con la cabeza (23/75), pies (10/75) y rabo (7/75) afectados con más frecuencia.     

Attempts to Modify Reperfusion Injury of Equine Jejunal Mucosa Using Dimethylsulfoxide, Allopurinol, and Intraluminal Oxygen

This study compared the severity of ischemic injury to the equine jejunal mucosa caused by arteriovenous obstruction (AVO) or venous obstruction (VO) with that caused by reperfusion after ischemia. The degree of mucosal damage and regeneration was scored according to a modified version of an established light microscopic classification for ischemic injury. Biopsy specimens taken after 3 and 4 hours of obstruction, and after 3 hours of obstruction and 1 hour of reperfusion, were compared. There were no changes in the severity of mucosal injury (characterized by epithelial sloughing, loss of villus architecture, and necrosis of crypt cells) at 4 hours of ischemia when compared with 3 hours of ischemia. The mucosal injury score increased by one grade in three of six and five of eight segments during reperfusion for the VO and AVO models, respectively; however, only the scores for the AVO model were significantly different from the injury caused by ischemia alone. Modification of reperfusion injury was attempted by the administration of intravenous (IV) allopurinol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or intraluminal oxygen insufflation at the time of release of the AVO and VO. Treatments did not significantly alter either the severity of injury noted after 1 hour of reperfusion or the degree of mucosal regeneration after 48 hours of reperfusion. In this group of ponies, the severity of mucosal damage was greater after 1 hour of reperfusion for both AVO and VO.     

Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs with Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation and Urinary Bladder Dysfunction Managed by Manual Expression,Indwelling Catheterization or Intermittent Catheterization

Objective— To evaluate risk factors for lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) that had manual expression (ME), indwelling catheterization (IDC) or intermittent catheterization (ITC) for urinary bladder management. Study Design— Randomized‐clinical trial. Animals— Dogs (n=62) treated with urinary bladder dysfunction requiring surgery for IVDD and control dogs (n=30) that had surgery for reasons other than IVDD. Methods— Treated dogs were randomly assigned to ME, IDC, or ITC. Urine was collected for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing before and after treatment. Incidence and risk factors for UTI were evaluated. Bacterial isolates and antimicrobial resistance patterns were described. Results— Mean (±SD) time to urination was significantly longer for IDC dogs (7.4±2.75 days) than ME dogs (4.2±2.63) and ITC dogs (4.9±3.12). Thirteen treated dogs (21%) and no control dogs developed UTI: 4/25 (16%) ME, 8/25 (32%) IDC, and 1/12 (8%) ITC. Enterobacter sp. was most frequently isolated (4/13; 31%). Duration of treatment was the only risk factor for UTI and each additional day of treatment increased the risk of UTI 1.5 times. Conclusion— For dogs with acute IVDD, the duration of required urinary bladder management establishes the risk of UTI, not the urinary bladder management technique. Clinical Relevance— Duration of treatment for urinary bladder dysfunction is a risk factor for UTI in dogs recovering from acute IVDD. Treatment for urinary bladder management should be limited where possible and no method of treatment is preferred. For dogs managed by IDC, voluntary urination might occur before clinically suspected.     

Equine Large Intestinal Volvulus A Review of 124 Cases

The average age of 122 horses with ascending colon volvulus was 6.6 +/- 0.4 years. Gastric reflux was a presenting sign in 35% of the cases. Peritoneal fluid protein levels had a mean of 2.54 +/- 0.14 g/dl and 20 horses had grossly normal peritoneal fluid at the time of presentation. Ascending colon volvulus was most commonly found at the level of the cecocolic fold with the initial ventral colon movement in a dorsomedial direction about the ascending mesocolic axis. The overall survival rate was 34.7% with a recurrence rate of only 4.9%.