A rapid and strong laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To develop a technique for laparoscopic gastropexy in dogs and evaluate effects on stomach position and strength of the adhesion between the stomach and abdominal wall. ANIMALS: 8 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were anesthetized, and the abdomen was insufflated with carbon dioxide. A laparoscope was placed through a cannula inserted on the abdominal midline caudal to the umbilicus. Babcock forceps placed through a cannula inserted lateral to the right margin of the rectus abdominus muscle were used to exteriorize the pyloric antrum, a longitudinal incision was made through the serosa and muscular layer of the pyloric antrum, and the seromuscular layer of the pyloric antrum was sutured to the transversus abdominus muscle. After surgery, positive-contrast gastrography was used to evaluate stomach position and the onset of gastric emptying, and ultrasonography was used to assess stomach wall activity and mobility. Dogs were euthanatized 1 month after surgery, and tensile strength of the adhesion was tested. RESULTS: In all dogs, stomach position and the onset of gastric emptying were normal 25 days after surgery, and the pyloric antrum was firmly attached to the abdominal wall 30 days after surgery. Mean +/- SD ultimate load of the adhesion in tension was 106.5 +/- 45.6 N. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The laparoscopic gastropexy technique described in the present study could be performed quickly and easily by an experienced surgeon, resulted in a strong fibrous adhesion between the stomach and abdominal wall, and appeared to cause minimal stress to the dogs.     

Surgical treatment of epulides in dogs: 25 cases (1974-1984)

Epulides were diagnosed and surgically removed in 25 dogs. Histologic examination of the epulides indicated that 40% (10/25) were acanthomatous, 32% (8/25) were ossifying, and 28% (7/25) were fibromatous. Recurrence of the tumor directly resulted in the death of 2 dogs. One of these dogs died of malnutrition 13 months after removal of an ossifying epulis, and regrowth of an acanthomatous epulis that was not resected completely resulted in malnutrition and death in another dog 6 months after surgery. Malignant transformation was observed in a third dog 6 months after removal of an ossifying epulis when an osteosarcoma developed where the epulis had been removed. The range of survival was 6 to 134 months, mean survival time was 43.1 months, median survival time was 49 months, and 1-year survival rate was 92%. Satisfactory long-term tumor control was achieved by aggressive surgical treatment of epulides.     

Free chondral fragment involving the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus in a dog

A saucer-shaped defect involving the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus and a radiopaque joint fragment were evident on radiographs of the left tarsus in a 6-month-old Rottweiler. Surgical treatment involved removal of the joint fragment and debridement of the defect. Histologic interpretation of the specimen was a chondral fragment. It is important to realize the possibility of a lesion in the location described, as this may be an additional site for osteochondrosis dissecans of the canine tarsus.     

Serum prolactin and growth hormone responses to naloxone and intracerebral ventricle morphine administration in heifers

These studies examined responses of serum prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) to opioid agonist and antagonist administration in heifers. To minimize nonspecific and behavioral effects and to facilitate future studies with specific opioid receptor agonists, a cannula was placed within the third cerebral ventricle of the brain of 4- to 10-mo-old heifers to directly access hypothalamic regions involved in the regulation of PRL and GH secretion. Increasing doses of morphine (M) from 2 to 1,500 micrograms injected into the third cerebral ventricle increased (P less than .001) serum PRL concentrations in a dose-related manner. Growth hormone responses were variable, resulting in elevated (P less than .05) serum concentrations following morphine, but no dose-related effects were apparent. Both PRL and GH responses to 700 micrograms M were absent when an intracerebral ventricle injection of an equimolar dose of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, was administered prior to M. In a replicated 4 x 4 latin square, the effects of intravenous naloxone on PRL and GH responses was tested in young (86 +/- 11 d) and older (234 +/- 6 d) heifers. Naloxone at doses of 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg reduced (P less than .05) serum concentrations of PRL for 45 to 60 min. Mean concentrations of GH tended to be higher (P less than .07) in older heifers All doses of naloxone decreased (P less than .05) serum GH concentrations in older heifers but proved ineffective in younger heifers. There were no differences between doses of naloxone on either PRL or GH. These data suggest that endogenous opioids are involved in the regulation of PRL and GH secretion in heifers.     

Dysgenesis of the tubal system in an infertile mare karyotype 63,X:64,XY:65,XXY

A Thoroughbred mare, barren during three years at stud, unresponsive to therapy, and not palpably abnormal anatomically was found to have hypoplasia of the uterine tubes after excision at laparotomy. The cause was an unbalanced genotype. The mosaic karyotype, determined on a blood sample, was indispensible in diagnosis and the case extends the potential for cytogenetic prognostic procedures.     

The pathogenesis of Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3,4 infection in turkeys: a comparison of two vaccine strains and a field isolate

The pathogenesis of avian pasteurellosis caused by two vaccine strains, M-9 and Clemson University (CU), and a highly virulent field isolate, 86-1913, of Pasteurella multocida (serotype A:3,4) was studied in 7-week-old turkeys inoculated by an oculo-nasal-oral technique. Turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913 developed severe progressive bacteremia that began at 4 hours postinoculation (PI) and peaked at 16-20 hours PI. Turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913 had significantly higher concentrations of bacteria in blood and tissues, and greater histologic lesion scores for necrosis, heterophil infiltrates, and intralesional bacteria than turkeys inoculated with strain M-9. Immunohistochemical staining specific for P. multocida demonstrated numerous extracellular bacteria in tissues from turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913. The mortality for turkeys inoculated with isolate 86-1913 was significantly higher than for turkeys receiving the two vaccine strains.     

OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN THE LATERAL FEMORAL CONDYLES OF A HORSE

Osteochondrosis of the lateral femoral condyles was diagnosed radiographically in an 8-month-old, female Arabian horse, which had been presented with a hindlimb lameness. The diagnosis was confirmed by gross and microscopic pathology. The location of the lesions was considered unusual for osteochondrosis in the horse.