Topical anaesthesia alleviates short-term pain of castration and tail docking in lambs

Objective To investigate the effect of a topical anaesthetic formulation on pain alleviation, wound healing and systemic levels of local anaesthetic actives in lambs undergoing castration and tail docking. Design Three placebo-controlled and/or randomised experiments were conducted using three groups of Merino lambs (n = 62, 68 and 19) undergoing routine castration and tail docking. Procedure Surgical castration, with either surgical or hot-iron tail docking, was performed with and without the application of topical anaesthetic (Tri-Solfen®) or placebo. The effects of this procedure were compared with those of rubber ring castration and tail docking, and of the handled but unmarked controls. Wound pain was assessed using calibrated Von-Frey monofilaments over a 4-h period, pain-related behaviour was assessed over 5 h, wound healing was assessed at 14 and 28 days, and the plasma levels of lignocaine and bupivacaine were determined. Results Rapid and up to 4 h primary hyperalgesia developed following surgical castration and tail docking in the untreated and placebo-treated lambs. It was absent in the castration wounds, and significantly reduced in the tail-docking wounds, of the treated lambs. Hot-iron docking was associated with mild and transient secondary hyperalgesia, which was abolished by the topical anaesthesia. There was a significant reduction in pain-related behaviours in treated lambs, which were not significantly different in their behaviour to the sham-operation handled controls. Plasma lignocaine and bupivacaine levels were below the toxic thresholds in all tested lambs. Conclusion Topical anaesthesia alleviates wound pain and significantly reduces pain-related behaviours in lambs undergoing surgical castration plus surgical or hot-iron tail docking, without a negative effect on wound healing or a risk of systemic toxicity.     

Wound healing after mulesing and other options for controlling breech flystrike in Merino lambs: quantitative and semiquantitative analysis of wound healing and wound bed contraction

Background A two‐part study examined wound healing and contraction occurring after mulesing and two alternative methods of preventing breech flystrike in sheep. Objective To quantify wound healing using a scoring system and to assess the contractility of the wound bed of the breech after mulesing, cetrimide‐intradermal treatment and application of clips. Method The study group of 30 mulesed, 30 cetrimide‐intradermal treated, 30 control and 10 clip‐treated sheep were humanely killed at six time points from 3 to 47 days after each treatment. Wound healing post treatment was assessed using a scoring system, and contractility was assessed by the quantification of myofibroblast expression. Statistical analyses allowed comparisons of temporal wound healing and contraction between treatment groups. Results Mulesing wounds healed faster in the first 11 days, but by 19 days wound healing was similar between the mulesing and cetrimide‐intradermal groups. By 32 days, all three treatment groups had similar wound healing scores. There was greater myofibroblast expression in the mulesing group in the first 11 days after treatment, but by 19 days expression was similar in both the mulesing and cetrimide‐intradermal groups. The clip group had significantly less myofibroblast expression from 32 days after treatment. Conclusion Wound healing is initially most rapid after mulesing, but there are similar wound healing scores in the mulesing and cetrimide‐intradermal treatment groups by 19 days. Both mulesing and the cetrimide‐intradermal treatment induce a similar amount of wound bed contraction, with less contraction observed after application of clips.     

Haematological, biochemical and selected acute phase protein reference intervals for weaned female Merino lambs

Background   Merino lambs are currently the subject of much research into the welfare aspects of mulesing and mulesing alternatives.
Objective   Obtain haematology, biochemistry and acute phase protein reference intervals using modern methodologies for female Merino lambs.
Method   Blood was collected from 50, weaned, 9- to 16-week-old, female Merino lambs. Haematology and biochemistry panels were performed using routine automated methods. The acute phase proteins, fibrinogen, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, were also measured using commercially available techniques. The reference intervals were determined to be the central 95% of results.
Results   Differences in the concentrations for some analytes were seen when compared with reported studies in sheep, but may be explained by the use of sheep of a different signalment, as well as different methodologies for analyte measurement. Overall, most analytes gave similar values to those previously reported in other studies. Notable exceptions were alkaline phosphatase, phosphate and globulins, for which the different results were often attributed to the younger age of the sheep in the present study, and platelets and creatine kinase, for which the elevated levels may have been a result of stress and muscle exertion associated with blood collection and husbandry practices.
Conclusion   Established haematological, biochemical and acute phase protein reference intervals are necessary for the investigation of the systemic impact of mulesing and mulesing alternatives and for the investigation of systemic diseases affecting weaned, 9- to 16-week-old, female Merino lambs in general.     

Effects of meloxicam or tolfenamic acid administration on the pain and stress responses of Merino lambs to mulesing

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of two long-acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at reducing the pain and stress responses to mulesing in lambs. PROCEDURES: Merino lambs (n = 60) were allocated at 5 weeks of age to six treatment groups: (1) sham mules; (2) mules; (3) tolfenamic acid-sham mules; (4) tolfenamic acid administered 45 min before mulesing; (5) tolfenamic acid at the time of mulesing; (6) meloxicam at the time of mulesing. Plasma cortisol was measured at -0.75, -0.25, 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h relative to mulesing. Beta-endorphin concentrations in plasma were determined at 0, 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Haematology was performed on blood samples taken at -0.75, 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Plasma haptoglobin was measured at 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Rate of wound healing was determined 72 h post mulesing, and animal behaviour, including posture, was measured for 6 h after mulesing. RESULTS: The mulesed lambs exhibited large increases in plasma concentrations of cortisol, beta-endorphin and haptoglobin. All mulesed animals lost weight significantly in the week after mulesing, regardless of analgesic administration, but the difference in weight between mulesed and unmulesed lambs was less at the final measurement, 2 weeks after mulesing. Mulesed lambs spent significantly less time lying ventrally than control lambs. All lambs that were mulesed, including those administered NSAIDs, spent more time standing with a hunched posture and less time walking normally than control lambs. CONCLUSIONS: The NSAID treatments applied 45 min before or at the time of mulesing at the dose levels used in this study were not effective in reducing the acute response of lambs to mulesing.     

Comparison of a liquid and a powder insecticidal dressing to aid healing and prevent flystrike of mulesing wounds in lambs

A proprietary insecticidal mulesing powder containing diazinon and an experimental liquid dressing based on eucalyptus oil, naphthalene, cresylic acid and chlorfenvinphos in a carrier of liquid hydrocarbons and petroleum oil were compared for their ability to promote wound healing and reduce the incidence of fly strike in freshly mulesed lambs. Throughout the trial period of 4 weeks, fly trapping confirmed the presence of Lucilia cuprina in the paddock where the ewes and lambs were grazing At inspection one month after mulesing, no deaths had occurred since mulesing and no lambs showed evidence of cutaneous myiasis, although a number of their dams (with 8 months wool) were struck. At 4 weeks after mulesing, the wounds of the lambs treated with the experimental liquid dressing showed better healing than those treated with the powder dressing. It was concluded that both mulesing preparations were effective in inhibiting flystrike, but the liquid dressing promoted faster wound healing than did the powder.     

Evaluation of dressings to aid healing of mulesing wounds on sheep

Five proprietary and one experimental dressing were compared with no treatment in their ability to aid healing of mulesing wounds in over 1900 young lambs. Healing was judged as the completeness of shrinkage of the mulesing cuts and the condition of scabs on the new skin surface. When assessed at 21 d it was found that treatment with Heriots Crown Wound Powder or Coopers Mulesing Powder offered a significant advantage over leaving the wounds untreated. Neither aqueous organophosphate washes, Defiance nor Defiance containing 0.08% chlorfenvinphos offered any healing advantage over controls. However, washing the wounds with an aqueous organophosphate solution aided healing more than the Defiance-based dressings. It was considered that the powders or the washes encouraged quick scab formation either by creating a dry covering (powders) or by washing away blood and allowing fast drying of the wound. The Defiance-type dressings slowed healing by keeping the wound moist for up to 10 d, but healing was not significantly different to the untreated group by 21 d.     

Effects of a topical anaesthetic formulation and systemic carprofen, given singly or in combination, on the cortisol and behavioural responses of Merino lambs to castration

Objective   To determine the effectiveness of a topical anaesthetic formulation (Tri-Solfen) with or without the administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (carprofen) on the pain and distress response associated with ring or surgical castration of ram lambs.
Procedures   Merino ram lambs (n = 78) were allocated to 10 treatment groups: 4 groups of knife-castrated lambs and 4 groups of ring-castrated lambs received carprofen (4 mg/kg SC) and Tri-Solfen; 2 control groups (sham) received carprofen at 0 or 4 mg/kg SC. Measurements included plasma cortisol and haptoglobin concentrations, haematology, and behaviour, including posture.
Results   Knife-castrated lambs had higher peak cortisol and integrated cortisol responses for the first 6 h after treatment and greater concentration s of circulating acute phase proteins than ring-castrated lambs, both of which were significantly different from the sham controls. Tri-Solfen applied to the knife castration wound significantly reduced both the peak plasma cortisol concentration and the integrated cortisol response for the first 6 h and improved lying behaviour in the first 12 h. Carprofen reduced the cortisol response to knife castration at 30 min, but elevated the cortisol responses at 24 and 48 h. Carprofen nearly halved the number of acute pain behaviours associated with ring castration. There were no significant additive or synergistic effects from combining the analgesic treatments. Tri-Solfen applied to the tail wound provided no detectible benefits during ring castration + tail docking.
Conclusions   The physiological and behavioural responses suggest that ring castration has less impact on the lamb than knife castration. The specific analgesic treatments can provide modest amelioration of the pain and discomfort associated with castration. Alternative doses or application methods may enhance their efficacy.     

EEG changes in 4-week-old lambs in response to castration, tail docking and mulesing

OBJECTIVE: To interpret changes in EEG in relation to perceived pain of castration, mulesing and docking in lambs. DESIGN: Analysis of covariance (randomised block design) to determine the effects of treatment on eight bandwidths of the EEG frequency spectrum. PROCEDURE: Ninety-eight, 3- to 4-week-old lambs were subjected to one of seven treatments: castration, tail docking, mulesing, ear tagging, sham shearing, formalin injection (to induce lameness) and handling. EEG was recorded for 15 min before treatment, during treatment, and for 15 min after treatment. RESULTS: Consistently lower mean power values across all bandwidths of the EEG were found at the time of mulesing and docking than at handling and shearing (P < 0.01). Formalin injection resulted in lower power values than handling and shearing (P < 0.01). Castration had lower power values than handling and shearing. Similarly, for 15 min after treatment, mulesing and formalin injection had significantly lower power values than handling, shearing, ear tagging and castration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The consistent effects associated with mulesing, docking and castration compared to handling, shearing and ear tagging suggest that mulesing at both the time of treatment and during 15 min after treatment results in a response that is similar to that of induced lameness. Docking and castration result in a response at the time of treatment that is similar to induced lameness and mulesing, but during 15 min after treatment is similar to the non-noxious control treatments. However, the depressing effects on the mean power values are the reverse of that anticipated from a previously developed pain model, highlighting the need for further research to develop this technology to evaluate pain associated with husbandry procedures.     

Use of wound soaker catheters for the administration of local anesthetic for post-operative analgesia: 56 cases

Objective  To describe the administration of local anesthetic through wound soaker catheters for post-operative veterinary patients and to characterize complications.
Study design  Retrospective study of hospital records.
Animals  Records of patients in which a wound soaker catheter was placed post-operatively between November 1, 2004 and July 1, 2006 at a veterinary teaching hospital. Records in which a limb amputation was performed between January 1, 2002 and August 1, 2007 and in which a wound soaker catheter was not placed were reviewed for historic control.
Results  A total of 56 cases were identified in which a wound soaker catheter was placed post-operatively including 52 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 goats. Twenty canine cases were identified in which limb amputation was performed and no wound soaker catheter was placed. The majority of surgical procedures for which a wound soaker catheter was placed included thoracic limb amputation (46.4%) and pelvic limb amputation (35.7%). Wound soaker catheters remained in place for an average of 1.6 ± 0.5 days. Feline and caprine patients received intermittent bupivacaine boluses every 6 hours. Canine patients received continuous lidocaine infusions. Complications included disconnection of the catheter from the infusion (7.7%), one seroma, and one suspected lidocaine neurotoxicity. Incisional infections were noted in 3/56 (5.3%) limb amputations with wound soaker catheters placed which was not higher than the incisional infection rate found in the historic control cases 3/20 (15%).
Conclusion and clinical relevance  Use of the wound soaker catheter was a viable means of providing local analgesia in post-operative veterinary patients. Studies are needed to evaluate efficacy of pain management, and to further investigate techniques for catheter placement and maintenance which may help to optimize the analgesia achieved using this technique.     

Effect of bandaging on second intention healing of wounds of the distal limb in horses

Objective   To evaluate the effect of a non-occlusive dressing incorporated in a 3-layer bandage on second intention healing of wounds of the distal portion of the limb.
Study Design   Untreated wounds in 33 adult horses used in four studies using the same wound-healing model conducted over 5 years.
Methods   Standardised, full-thickness wounds were made in the skin overlying the dorsomedial aspect of the mid-metacarpus; 17 horses were bandaged with a non-occlusive dressing covered by gauze-coated cotton wool that was compressed with adhesive tape; 16 horses were left unbandaged. Wounds were photographed weekly for 9 weeks and the images were analysed electronically.
Results   There were significant effects associated with bandage (P < 0.0001), week (P < 0.001), and bandage by week interaction (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in wound area at the first time-point after wound creation (P = 0.38). After week 1, there was a difference between bandaged and unbandaged wounds in wound area at each measurement until the end of the study. Bandaged wounds showed greater and more prolonged retraction. Unbandaged wounds retracted for 2 weeks before beginning to contract, whereas bandaged wounds continued to retract for 3 weeks. In bandaged wounds excess granulation tissue required regular trimming, but not in unbandaged wounds. There was no difference between groups in the total days to healing or the overall rate of healing.
Conclusions   These results should be treated with caution until validated with contemporaneous, controlled studies. Covering a wound with a non-occlusive dressing in a 3-layer bandage led to greater wound retraction, modulated the rate of wound contraction and promoted excessive granulation tissue. If excessive granulation tissue is excised regularly, bandaging has no effect on total time to healing.     

The effect of a topical anaesthetic formulation, systemic flunixin and carprofen, singly or in combination, on cortisol and behavioural responses of Merino lambs to mulesing

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pain responses of lambs to mulesing, and the effectiveness of potential analgesic treatments. PROCEDURES: Merino lambs (n=64) were allocated at 5 weeks of age to eight treatment groups: 1) sham mules; 2) conventional mules; 3) topical anaesthetic, incorporating lignocaine, bupivicaine, adrenaline and cetrimide, applied immediately after mulesing; 4) flunixin + topical anaesthetic, with flunixin administered 2.5 mg/kg s.c. 90 min before mulesing; 5) carprofen + topical anaesthetic, with carprofen administered 4 mg/kg s.c. 90 min before mulesing; 6) carprofen, administered as above; 7) flunixin, administered as above; and 8) carprofen + flunixin, administered as above. Plasma cortisol was measured at 0, 0.5, 6, 12 and 24 h relative to mulesing. Animal behaviour, including posture, was recorded for 12 h after mulesing. RESULTS: The conventional mules lambs exhibited large increases in plasma cortisol, reduced lying and increased standing with a hunched back compared with sham mules animals. Topical anaesthetic reduced the cortisol peak to mulesing and hunched standing, and increased lying compared with the conventional mules treatment, but generally did not result in values equivalent to sham mules animals. Carprofen, flunixin, and carprofen + flunixin treatments did not reduce the cortisol response to mulesing but substantially ameliorated some changes in behavioural postures. Flunixin + topical anaesthetic reduced the cortisol peak following mulesing and substantially ameliorated most changes in behavioural postures. Carprofen + topical anaesthetic abolished the cortisol peak following mulesing and substantially ameliorated most changes in behavioural postures. All mulesed animals lost weight in the week after mulesing regardless of analgesic administration, but there were no significant differences in growth rate between any of the eight treatments over the 3 weeks after mulesing. CONCLUSIONS: Analgesics can moderate the pain response of lambs to mulesing. The welfare outcome for lambs of mulesing could be improved by use of a combination of local anaesthetic and long acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.     

Relationships between Low Serum Cobalamin Concentrations and Methlymalonic Acidemia in Cats

Background: Serum cobalamin concentrations below reference range are a common consequence of gastrointestinal disease in cats. Serum cobalamin ≤ 100 ng/L is associated with methylmalonic acidemia.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cobalamin deficiency, defined by elevated serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), in cats with serum cobalamin ≤ 290 ng/L, and the optimum serum cobalamin concentration to predict cobalamin deficiency in cats.
Sample Set: Residual serum samples (n = 206) from cats with serum cobalamin ≤ 290 ng/L.
Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Serum cobalamin and folate were measured with automated assays. Serum MMA was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cobalamin deficiency was defined as serum MMA > 867 nmol/L. Sensitivity and specificity of serum cobalamin concentrations ≤290 ng/L for detecting MMA > 867 nmol/L were analyzed using a receiver-operator characteristic curve.
Results: There was a negative correlation between serum cobalamin and MMA concentrations (Spearman's r =−0.74, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of MMA ≥ 867 nmol/L in cats with serum cobalamin ≤ 290 ng/L was 68.4%. Serum cobalamin ≤ 160 ng/L had a 74% sensitivity and 80% specificity for detecting MMA > 867 nmol/L. No significant difference in serum folate concentrations was detected between affected and unaffected cats.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Elevated MMA concentrations, suggesting cobalamin deficiency, are common in cats with serum cobalamin ≤ 290 ng/L. Cobalamin deficiency is clinically significant, and supplementation with parenteral cobalamin is recommended for cats with gastrointestinal disease and low serum cobalamin concentrations.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates epithelial cell growth and epithelial wound healing in canine corneas

Objective  To evaluate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of canine corneal epithelial cells and epithelial wound healing.
Animal studied  Canine corneal epithelial cells from the corneas of euthanized dogs and corneal epithelial wounds on one eye from each of 24 dogs.
Procedures  The proliferation of corneal epithelial cells in vitro was measured using the methylthiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. A corneal wound on one eye of each dog was made with a corneal trephine (6 mm diameter). Four concentrations of bFGF, 0, 100, 500, and 1000 ng/mL, were applied to the affected eyes of dogs, t.i.d. Fluorescein staining was used to assess closure of the corneal epithelial wound.
Results  The addition of bFGF resulted in a significant increase in epithelial proliferation at 24 h after culture, except 1 ng/mL bFGF. Cells with all bFGF treatments proliferated significantly at 48 and 96 h compared to those in the non-bFGF group. bFGF at a concentration of 10 ng/mL promoted cell proliferation maximally. The wound healing rate in the bFGF-treated groups was greater than that in the control. All corneal wounds in bFGF-treated corneas closed by day 7, whereas two of six corneal wounds in the control showed poor healing. None of the eyes developed corneal clouding or neovascularization during the experiment.
Conclusions  Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerated the proliferation of canine epithelial cells and effectively promoted corneal epithelial wound healing.     

Effect of bovine freeze-dried amniotic membrane (Amnisite-BA™) on uncomplicated canine corneal erosion

Objective   To evaluate the effectiveness of bovine freeze-dried amniotic membrane (FD-AM) (Amnisite-BA™) in the surgical treatment of corneal ulceration in dogs.
Animals studied   Eight normal Shih-tzu dogs.
Procedures   The corneas of 16 eyes were scored with an 8.0-mm trephine under general anesthetic and 100% ethanol was applied to remove a standardized button of corneal epithelium. The eyes were treated as described below and the corneas were evaluated 48 h later. The dogs were divided into four treatment groups: (i) control, (ii) amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT), (iii) nictitating membrane flap and (iv) contact lens. The proportion of the corneal wound that healed was calculated and all eyes were enucleated. Histological sections of cornea were assessed with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) assay.
Results   The proportion of corneas healed in the different treatment groups was (i) 38.02%, (ii) 89.15%, (iii) 52.31%, and (iv) 60.56%. Epithelial healing was significantly increased in the AMT group (ii) ( P  = 0.001) while groups (iii) and (iv) were not significantly different from the control group ( P  = 0.537 and P  = 0.198, respectively). The number of PCNA positive cells was (i) 275.00, (ii) 740.50, (iii) 285.75 and (iv) 420.59, these varying compared with the control group with statistical significance of (ii) P  = 0.002, (iii) P  = 0.999, and (iv) P  = 0.467. The greatest healing rate and epithelial cell proliferation was achieved with AMT compared to the other treatment regimes.
Conclusions  The results of this study show that FD-AM transplantation is an effective treatment for enhancing canine corneal wound healing and suggest that the approach will provide superior results compared to conventional treatments for the condition.     

Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Adjuvant Pamidronate with Palliative Radiotherapy and Intravenous Doxorubicin for Canine Appendicular Osteosarcoma Bone Pain

Background: Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) causes focal malignant osteolysis leading to severe pain. Despite the documented efficacy of radiotherapy or IV aminobisphosphonates for managing cancer bone pain, their potential combined therapeutic value has not been reported in OSA-bearing dogs.
Hypothesis: Pamidronate combined with standardized palliative therapy will improve pain control and bone biologic effects in OSA-bearing dogs.
Animals: Fifty dogs with appendicular OSA treated with standardized palliative therapy and either pamidronate or sterile saline.
Methods: Randomized, prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Treatment responses for dogs receiving standardized palliative therapy with (n = 26) or without (n = 24) adjuvant pamidronate were serially evaluated for changes in subjective pain scores, urine N-telopeptide (NTx) excretion, primary tumor relative bone mineral density ( r BMD), and computerized pressure platform gait analysis.
Results: Median duration of subjective pain relief for dogs treated with adjuvant pamidronate or placebo was 76 and 75 days, respectively ( P = .39). Forty percent (20/50; pamidronate [11/26] and placebo [9/24]) of dogs experienced durable analgesia, defined by pain alleviation ≥112 days. For patients achieving durable pain control, dogs treated with pamidronate achieved greater reductions in NTx excretion and larger increases in r BMD compared with placebo controls. Changes in peak vertical force assessed by computerized pressure platform gait analysis correlated with pain alleviation in OSA-bearing dogs.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Combining pamidronate with standardized palliative therapy is safe, but does not clearly improve pain alleviation. However, in dogs achieving durable pain control, adjuvant pamidronate appears to decrease focal bone resorption in the local tumor microenvironment.     

Susceptibility of mulesing wounds to oviposition and strike development by the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia caprina

The age and/or physical condition of mulesing wounds had a significant effect on both the oviposition response of L. cuprina and the ability of the wound to support a strike. Up to 48 h after mulesing, untreated wounds elicited a strong oviposition response in contrast with chemically treated wounds, although subsequent larval development was negligible. Seven to 9-day-old wounds, however, regardless of the wound treatment, were highly attractive oviposition sites, which subsequently developed into strikes; the D3 formulation of Defiance*S, however, significantly depressed strike development and shows promise as a mules wound treatment. A marked improvement in the wound healing 14 to 16 d after mulesing coincided with a significant decrease in oviposition. Only those sheep whose wound scabs remained broken, exposing pus and raw tissue, attracted oviposition; subsequent development of the eggs into strikes was negligible.     

Wounds of the pastern and foot region managed with phalangeal casts: 50 cases in 49 horses (1995–2006)

Objective   Describe the use of a phalangeal cast as treatment for wounds in the pastern and foot region of horses. Secondly, to evaluate the healing and soundness of horses treated with phalangeal casts.
Design   Retrospective study of 49 horses.
Procedures   Medical records of 49 horses that were treated with a phalangeal cast for 50 cases of wounds in the pastern and foot region at equine referral hospitals from 1995 to 2006 were reviewed and follow-up information was obtained.
Results   Treatment consisted of wound debridement, lavage, wound closure (28 wounds), cast application and antibiotics (84%). At follow-up, the majority of horses were sound (42 of 47 wounds, 89.4%), three horses were still lame and one horse was euthanased because of persistent lameness. Three horses were lost to follow-up. There was no statistical difference between the outcomes of horses treated acutely (<24 h) or after a 24-h delay. Similarly, the involvement of synovial structures in the wound did not significantly influence outcome.
Conclusions   In this study, wounds involving the pastern and foot that were treated with a phalangeal cast carried a good prognosis for soundness (89.4%) and cosmetic healing (89.5%). The phalangeal casts were well-tolerated and effective.     

Castration of lambs: a welfare comparison of different castration techniques in lambs over 10 weeks of age

Seventy male lambs over 10 weeks of age were castrated using Burdizzo, rubber rings, or surgery to assess the acute and long-term effects of castration. All castrations were performed under local anaesthesia. The surgically castrated lambs were additionally sedated with xylazine and the sedation reversed with tolazoline. The frequency of abnormal postures and immediate behavioural responses indicated that surgically castrated lambs were most distressed; the lambs castrated using Burdizzo and rubber rings were not dissimilar to those of the control group. Between 1.5 and 9 h after castration, signs of pain and distress were at a lower level in lambs anaesthetised with bupivacaine compared with those treated with lidocaine. Due to the markedly faster wound healing, Burdizzo castration seemed to be preferable (fewer signs of long-term pain) when compared to the rubber ring technique. It was concluded that local anaesthesia with bupivacaine, followed by the Burdizzo method is the preferable technique for the castration of lambs older than 10 weeks of age.     

Breed predisposition to congenital alacrima in dogs

Objective  To evaluate the clinical characteristics and breed predisposition of congenital alacrima in dogs.
Animals studied  Dogs with congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Procedures  A search of the medical records of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1974–2005 and the University of California–Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1986–2006 for dogs under 1 year of age with a diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was performed. These cases were further reviewed for dogs with a Schirmer's tear test I of ≤ 5 mm/min before 6 months of age, with no known causes for KCS, which did not respond to appropriate KCS therapy; these cases were considered to have congenital alacrima. These breeds were compared to all other breeds using the Fisher's exact test with correction for multiple comparisons.
Results  Congenital alacrima was identified in 19 dogs representing 11 breeds and mixed breeds. Yorkshire Terriers and Bedlington Terriers were statistically overrepresented compared to reference populations ( P  < 0.01 and P  = 0.04, respectively).
Conclusions  Yorkshire terriers are significantly at risk for congenital alacrima compared to other breeds. The significance of the increase in congenital alacrima in Bedlington Terriers in this study may not be clinically relevant and may be due to the small total number of dogs of this breed that presented to the both hospitals. Based on the poor response to therapy in humans with congenital alacrima, it may be prudent to offer guarded prognoses for KCS in juvenile Yorkshire terriers.     

Hypogammaglobulinemia in Racing Alaskan Sled Dogs

Background: Serum immunoglobulin dynamics have not been studied in racing sled dogs, despite hypoglobulinemia having been reported during racing events.
Hypothesis/Objectives: Hypoglobulinemia in racing sled dogs is associated with decreases in serum IgA, IgE, IgG, and IgM concentrations during prolonged exercise.
Animals: One hundred and fifty-seven Alaskan sled dogs that successfully completed a 1,000 mile race.
Methods: Serum was obtained from 118 sled dogs within 1 month before the race and within 12 hours after completing the race. Serum also was obtained after 4 months of rest from 51 dogs that successfully completed the race, including 12 previously sampled dogs. Serum total protein ([TP]), albumin, and globulin ([Gl]) were measured, and serum IgA, IgE, IgG, and IgM were quantified by ELISA.
Results: The proportion of dogs with [Gl] ≤ 2.2 g/dL was significantly greater immediately after racing (38 of 118 dogs, 32.2%) than before racing (21 of 118 dogs, 17.8%, P = .005). Four months after racing, [Gl] was ≤ 2.2 g/dL in 23.5% (12 of 51) of dogs. [IgG] was significantly lower before (8.21 ± 4.95 mg/mL) and immediately after (7.97 ± 5.62) racing compared with 4 months after racing (18.88 ± 5.76). Serum [IgM] and [IgE] were higher and [IgA] was lower before racing compared with immediately after racing.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Sled dogs participating in long-distance racing have substantial decreases in [IgG] in addition to decreases in [IgM] and [IgE]. The pronounced hypogammaglobulinemia observed in a large proportion of racing sled dogs might predispose them to infectious disease.