Fluid and electrolyte therapy in ruminants.

Five important questions always must be asked and answered regarding fluid and electrolyte therapy in ruminants: (1) Is therapy needed? (2) What type of therapy? (3) What route of administration? (4) How much should be administered? and (5) How fast should the solution be administered? Food animal veterinarians routinely should carry the following commercially available crystalloid solutions and have the knowledge of how to use the products appropriately: Ringer's solution, 1.3% NaHCO3, acetated Ringer's solution, HS (7.2% NaCl), 8% NaHCO3, 23% calcium gluconate, calcium-magnesium solutions, and 50% dextrose. Ruminants with a blood pH less than 7.20 should be treated intravenously with 1.3% or 8.0% NaHCO3, and those animals with a blood pH greater than 7.45 should be treated intravenously with Ringer's solution. Oral electrolyte solutions or intravenous acetated Ringer's solution should be administered to ruminants with a blood pH greater than 7.20 but less than 7.45, and acetated Ringer's solution is preferred to lactated Ringer's solution. HS solution should be administered whenever rapid resuscitation is required. Oral administration of electrolyte solutions is underused in neonatal and adult ruminants. The optimal solution for oral administration to neonatal ruminants has a sodium concentration between 90 and 130 mmol/L; a potassium concentration between 10 and 20 mmol/L; a chloride concentration between 40 and 80 mmol/L; 40 to 80 mmol/L of metabolizable (nonbicarbonate) base, such as acetate or propionate; and glucose as an energy source. The optimal formulation for adult ruminants is unknown, but such a solution should contain sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and propionate to facilitate sodium absorption and to provide an additional source of energy to the animal. Acidemia is treated best by intravenous or oral administration of NaHCO3. Alkalemia is treated best by intravenous administration of Ringer's solution and oral administration of chloride-rich electrolytes such as KCl; the latter provides a physiologically more appropriate treatment than oral administration of vinegar or acetic acid solutions. Hypocalcemia is treated best by administering intravenous calcium borogluconate solutions or oral CaCl2 gels. Hypomagnesemia is treated best by intravenous or subcutaneous administration of combined calcium and magnesium solutions. Hypophosphatemia is treated best by oral administration of feed-grade monosodium phosphate. Hypokalemia is treated best by oral administration of feed-grade KCl; hyperkalemia is treated best by intravenous administration of 8.0% NaHCO3 or HS. The major challenges in treating fluid and electrolyte disorders in ruminants are making treatment protocols more practical and less expensive and formulating an optimal electrolyte solution for oral administration to adult ruminants.     

一种蓝莓不良症状的诊断方法

本文介绍了一种分析蓝莓生长不正常时原因的方法,通过4个步骤的原因分析,从而帮助蓝莓种植者作出正确地判断并解决问题。     

The importance of animal cognition in agricultural animal production systems: an overview.

To describe and then fulfill agricultural animals' needs, we must learn more about their fundamental psychological and behavioral processes. How does this animal feel? Is that animal suffering? Will we ever be able to know these things? Scientists specializing in animal cognition say that there are numerous problems but that they can be overcome. Recognition by scientists of the notion of animal awareness has been increasing in recent years, because of the work of Griffin and others. Feeling, thinking, remembering, and imagining are cognitive processes that are factors in the economic and humane production of agricultural animals. It has been observed that the animal welfare debate depends on two controversial questions: Do animals have subjective feelings? If they do, can we find indicators that reveal them? Here, indirect behavioral analysis approaches must be taken. Moreover, the linear additivity of several stressor effects on a variety of animal traits suggests that some single phenomenon is acting as a "clearinghouse" for many or all of the stresses acting on an animal at any given time, and this phenomenon might be psychological stress. Specific situations animals may encounter in agricultural production settings are discussed with respect to the animals' subjective feelings.     

Adverse effects in veterinary practice

Is there a link between vaccination and feline fibrosarcomas? How significant is the risk of immune‐mediated disease in relation to vaccination? What are the risks when administering multiple drugs concurrently? These were some of the questions considered at the BSAVA Congress during sessions on adverse effects in veterinary practice     

Exercise physiology. An overview

Through the study of equine exercise physiology, one can learn more about what happens to the body of the performance horse during all forms of exercise. Better understanding of skeletal, joint, tendon, and ligament adaptations to loading and stress may allow adjustments to be made in training techniques to reduce the incidence of injury. The information obtained from exercise research may also facilitate the investigation of questions such as the following: What makes one horse perform better than another? How can one bring out the optimal performance in each horse? How can one tell when a horse has arrived at its peak performance capability? What are the factors that actually limit performance?     

The human being from the point of view of animals or, "Who knows whether the breath of men goes upwards?" (Ecclesiastes 3:21)]

The question of whether animals have souls has been asked since as early as the Old Testament. Where this is believed to be true, fiction has provided interesting models in literature: The human being as seen by animals has been a popular subject since Apuleius' 'Asinus aureus' and how man appears from the perspective of a donkey or a beetle, that is to say the perspective from below, becomes controversial. Examples may be found in all languages and centuries in Jonathan Swift, Miguel Cervantes, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Ludwig Tieck, Heinrich Heine, Viktor von Scheffel, Franz Kafka and others. Résumé at the end: How does man answer this question or his own self-questioning?     

Clinical chemistry. In-clinic analysis, quality control, reference values, and system selection

The clinician never has had a better selection of user friendly analytical systems for in-clinic use. Selection of a system should be made only after several questions have been answered, including: What is the technical knowledge and experience of the persons who will use the system? Who will initiate and supervise a quality assurance program? Which analysis and what volume of samples are anticipated now and in the future? The estimated cost per test should include the total cost of instrumentation and maintenance, calibrators, controls, reagents, and technical and supervisory time. Have the methods been validated for the animal species involved and are adequate reference values available? Read the package inserts completely for each analyte. Do not rely on the advice of salespeople for guidance in answering many of these questions, but do question them carefully about statements made, especially regarding warranties and technical service. For those clinicians willing to accept the responsibilities associated with in-clinic testing, an increased awareness of laboratory medicine and a resulting increased interest and ability to provide quality medical care can be expected.     

One Health as a moral dilemma: Towards a socially responsible zoonotic disease control

During the last decade, the concept of One Health has become the international standard for zoonotic disease control. This call for transdisciplinary collaboration between professionals in human, animal and environmental health has produced several successes in zoonotic disease control, surveillance and research. Despite the lack of a clear definition, a shared agenda or institutional governance, One Health has proven to be a fruitful idea. Due to its ambiguity, the One Health concept functions as a boundary object: by leaving room for interpretation to fit different purposes, it facilitates cooperation. In many cases, this results in the promotion of health of humans, animals and the environment. However, there are also situations in which this mutual benefit of a One Health approach is not that evident, for instance, when healthy animals are culled to protect public health. Although such a strategy could well be part of a One Health approach, it is hard to understand how this contributes to the health of concerning animals. Consequently, these practices often lead to public debate. This raises questions on how we should understand the One Health concept in zoonotic disease control. Is it really about equally improving the health of humans, animals and the environment and is this even possible? Or is it ultimately just public health that counts? In cases of conflict between different values, the lack of a universal definition of the One Health concept contributes to this complexity. Although boundary objects have many positive aspects, in the context of One Health and zoonotic disease control, this conception seems to conceal underlying normative differences. To address moral dilemmas related to a One Health approach in zoonotic disease control, it is important to reflect on moral status and the meaning of health for humans, animals and the environment.     

A Fresh Look at the Process of Arriving at a Clinical Prognosis Part 2: Colic

Generating an accurate prognosis in a horse with colic involves identifying and determining the severity of homeostatic derangements, particularly aberrations in cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and hemostatic functions. The basic questions to be answered are as follows: How sick is the horse?, How healthy was he to begin with?, and How well has he responded to treatment? Although laboratory data are very helpful in making such determinations, a thorough physical examination can suffice if necessary, particularly when repeated to obtain serial data. By reframing the serious colic case in terms of how the horse’s system is responding—or failing—as a whole in its attempts to restore homeostasis, we are better equipped to act preemptively or promptly enough to avert a fatal result and to ensure minimal short- and long-term complications.     

The owner-animal-environment triad in the treatment of canine periodontal disease

In a perfect world, all veterinarians and veterinary dental technicians would understand periodontal disease as well as the dental specialist. They would all be able to recognize the early signs of periodontal disease and recommend treatment to prevent its progression. The owners would have the financial resources, time, and desire to maintain their pet's oral health. The dogs would all be calm and compliant with home care and have no particular anesthetic risks. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. Some veterinarians do not understand periodontal disease any better that I understand cosmic string theory. Some owners have limited financial resources and are not particularly committed to their pet's oral health. Some animals will not tolerate any type or manner of home care. Given that animals, their mouths, and their owners come in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes (figuratively and literally), how can we talk about the treatment of periodontal disease as if it is a single condition with a single treatment, or even only a few treatment options? Each owner, animal, and its environment must be assessed on an individual basis to develop a treatment plan that is reasonable and attainable based on the unique circumstances of each case. So, what should be the goal when treating periodontal disease? Is it the preservation of all teeth at all costs? Is it the preservation of important teeth if the costs can be kept reasonable? I would suggest that the overriding goal of periodontal treatment should be the elimination and prevention of oral infection and oral pain. In the domestic environment, dogs have no real need to defend territory. They have no need to prehend and kill live prey animals. In short, the domesticated pet dog does not need teeth at all. This may seem like an odd statement for a veterinary dentist to make, but I feel quite strongly that a dog is far better off having no teeth than having bad teeth. My preference is that a dog should have a full set of healthy, functional teeth, but preserving bad teeth in the face of a poor or questionable prognosis serves no positive purpose.     

Attitudes of Australian and Turkish veterinary faculty toward animal welfare

The attitudes of veterinary faculty toward animal welfare were surveyed in four Australian and three Turkish veterinary schools. The former were considered to be typical of modern Western schools, with a faculty of more than 40% women and a primary focus on companion animals, whereas the latter were considered to represent more traditional veterinary teaching establishments, with a faculty of 88% men and a primary focus on livestock. A total of 116 faculty responded to the survey (42 Australian and 74 Turkish faculty members), for response rates of 30% and 33%, respectively. This survey included demographic questions as well as questions about attitudes toward animal-welfare issues. Women were more concerned than men about animal-welfare issues, especially the use of animals in experiments, zoos, entertainment, and sports and for food and clothing. Total scores demonstrated different concerns among Turkish and Australian faculty. The study demonstrates that the veterinary faculty of these two countries have different concerns for animal welfare, concerns that should be acknowledged in considering the welfare attitudes that students may adopt.     

Web-based technology: its effects on small group "problem-based learning" interactions in a professional veterinary medical program

The objective of this investigation was to ascertain whether and how the introduction of a new technology (WebCT) influenced faculty teaching styles while facilitating small group problem-based learning (PBL) sessions in a professional veterinary medical (PVM) program. The following questions guided the study: (1) How does the use of technology affect faculty teaching behaviors? (2) Do the facilitators' interactions with WebCT technology change over the course of one semester? (3) What is the perceived impact of WebCT on facilitators' role in PBL? The study employed a combination of qualitative (case study) and semi-quantitative (survey) methods to explore these issues. Nine clinical sciences faculty members, leading a total of six PBL groups, were observed over the course of an academic semester for a total of 20 instructional sessions. The qualitative data gathered by observing faculty as they facilitated PBL sessions yielded three major themes: (1) How do PBL facilitators adapt to the addition of WebCT technology? (2) Does this technology affect teaching? and (3) How do PBL facilitators interact with their students and each other over the course of a semester? No direct evidence was found to suggest that use of WebCT affected teaching behaviors (e.g., student-centered vs. teacher-centered instruction). However, all facilitators showed a moderate increase in comfort with the technology during the semester, and one participant showed remarkable gains in technology skills. The teaching theme provided insight into how facilitators foster learning in a PBL setting as compared to a traditional lecture. A high degree of variability in teaching styles was observed, but individuals' styles tended to remain stable over the course of the semester. Nevertheless, all facilitators interacted similarly with students, in a more caring and approachable manner, when compared to the classroom or clinic atmospheres.     

Stems to GEMs: impact of stem cell technology on engineered animal models

Collectively, these presentations introduced the audience to the roles of ES cells in generating phenotypes of transgenic animals,and they provided examples where the GEMs were used to define molecular mechanisms of disease or where ES cells were used as a therapeutic modality. Points of discussion among audience members reinforced the importance of strain-associated background lesions in animal models, technological advances in imaging functional biology, opportunities for stem cell therapies, and ubiquitination in regulation of cell proliferation. The 2012 American College of Veterinary Pathologists symposium ‘‘Evolutionary Aspects of Animal Models’’ will focus on the proper selection of a relevant animal model in biomedical research as critical to investigative success. Recent work characterizing rapid evolutionary changes and differences in physiology between species questions the validity of some comparative models. Dr. Robert Hamlin will be speaking on cardiovascular disease in ‘‘Animals as Models of Human Cardiovascular Disease: Or the Search to Overcome Outdated Evolutionary Homeostatic Mechanisms.’’ Dr. Stefan Niewiesk will discuss evolutionary factors that affect modeling the human immune system in ‘‘Of Mice and Men: Evolutionarily, What Are the Best Rodent Models of the Human Immune System for Infectious Disease Research?’’ Dr. Steven Austad will consider evolution in ‘‘Evolutionary Aspects of Animal Models of Aging.’’Finally, Dr. Elizabeth Uhl will conclude the session with ‘‘Modeling Disease Phenotypes: How an Evolutionary Perspective Enhances the Questions.’’     

Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Animal Feed on Reproductive Health in Farm Animals*Euroconference Wageningen, The Netherlands, 20–22nd November 1998

This Euroconference was a follow-up to the Euroconference held in Halle, April 1997. The programme of the conference in Halle had an exploratory character with respect to accumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment and in animal tissues and their effects on animal physiology and reproduction. Many questions arose from the first Euroconference, such as: What are biologically meaningful levels of environmental contamination? Is there a risk for farm animals’ health and reproduction? What assays are available and which are the most appropriate to be used? These questions formed the basis for the programme of the second Euroconference held in Wageningen in November 1998. Taking these questions into consideration, the programme of the Wageningen Euroconference was divided into four main topics. In the first session an overview was given on sources and levels of EDCs in the environment. The second session addressed chemical nature and metabolism of EDCs including phytoestrogens. In the third session the effects of EDCs on ovarian function and embryo development were discussed and in the last session the advantages and disadvantages of different in vivo as well as in vitro assays were debated.     

Teaching insights from adult learning theory

How do undergraduate and graduate students learn? How can we use what we know about the learning process to teach more effectively? While the research has yet to connect fundamental processes in the brain to what we do as teachers with certainty, the past half-century of work on adult learning has produced several useful theories that can inform instructional choices. This article provides an overview of three learning models that yield insights into teaching practice--novice/expert behaviors, cognitive development, and learning styles--along with ways in which instructors can draw on these models in course planning and classroom teaching. Application of the theories toward refinement, reduction, and replacement of live animals in the veterinary medical curriculum is also discussed.     

How the sheep's brain controls the visual recognition of animals and humans.

Visual recognition of objects and individuals is important for humans and many animal species. How does the brain process such visual information and how does experience modify such processing? To answer these questions we have used single-cell, electrophysiological recording techniques to investigate the responses of single neurons in the temporal cortex of the brain of the conscious sheep to visual images of animals and humans. Results show that a small population of these cells responds (latencies less than 180 ms) specifically to projected images of animal and human faces. Different cells respond to 1) faces with horns, and how large the horns are; 2) faces of sheep of the same breed, particularly to socially familiar individuals, and 3) faces of humans or dogs. In general, frontal views of faces (i.e., direct eye contact) are more effective stimuli than profiles or views of the back of the head. Some other cells in the temporal cortex respond to the sight of a human shape, rather than to the face. These latter cells are specialized for visual recognition of the human shape dependent on what actions are displayed (approaching or withdrawing figure), posture adopted (bipedal or quadrupedal), and view presented (front or side). These results provide important information on the complex neural processing of visual recognition of individuals by sheep and suggest that experience may modify sensory processing. Thus, behaviorally important, distinguishing features (such as horns), preferred individuals (socially familiar animals), and potentially threatening individuals (humans and sheep dogs) are specifically coded for, at a sensory level, so that appropriate behavioral or emotional responses can be made with the minimum delay.     

Is this a genetic disease?

This paper begins with a brief summary of knowledge concerning the frequency and types of genetic diseases in small domestic animals, particularly the dog. The major question considered is, ‘How does one recognise that a given disease has an important genetic component in its cause?’ Six lines of evidence leading to that conclusion are discussed and exemplified by a variety of known and suspected genetic diseases in the dog and cat.     

经济危机中的兽药企业应对策略

由美国金融危机引发的全球经济危机已经影响到我国的实体经济领域,兽药企业也未能幸免.如何在危机中求生存求发展,成为众多兽药企业急需解决的问题.本文从我国兽药企业的发展现状出发,分析了目前兽药企业发展所存在的问题,并提出了解决这些问题的对策和建议.