Tetanus: pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and update on new treatment modalities

Objective: To review the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and current treatment modalities used in treating tetanus in small animals and humans. Etiology: Tetanus is caused by the activity of a toxin released from the bacterial organism, Clostridium tetani. The disease has an incubation period of 3 days to 3 weeks and usually follows a deep penetrating wound. Diagnosis: The diagnosis of tetanus is usually based on history and clinical signs. Therapy: Therapy of tetanus consists of direct and supportive care and includes toxin neutralization via human or equine derived immunoglobulin, antimicrobial therapy to eliminate C. tetani, and central and peripheral muscle relaxants to control hypertonicity. Adjunctive care may include positive pressure ventilation, anticonvulsant medication, drugs to treat autonomic dysfunction, and nutritional support. Prognosis: Prognosis varies based on severity of clinical signs at the time of diagnosis and the availability of appropriate care.     

A retrospective study of canine house soiling: diagnosis and treatment

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relative frequency and type of elimination problem seen in dogs at a university referral practice and to evaluate the efficacy of the suggested treatments. Cases presented to the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell University between 1987 and 1996 were reviewed. Of 1,173 cases, 105 (9%) were house-soiling cases. Of these cases, the authors obtained outcome information from 70. Within the diagnosis of house soiling, incomplete housebreaking (n=59; 84%) were the most frequent referral cases, of which 48 cases (81%; 95% confidence interval, 69% to 90%) improved. Separation anxiety was considered the second most common underlying cause (n=27; 39%), of which 85% (n=23; 95% confidence interval, 66% to 96%) improved. Behavior modification was the most often suggested treatment (n=58), with 48 (83%) cases improving. Behavior modification consisted of accompanying the dog to the preferred elimination area, rewarding the dog for eliminating there, and punishing the dog only when caught in the act of house soiling. These results suggest that correct house training, behavior modification involving positive reinforcement, and appropriate punishment are essential to diminish house-soiling problems in dogs.     

犬细小病毒病的诊断与治疗

犬细小病毒病在临床上常表现为剧烈呕吐，腹泻，血痢等症状，和犬的其它传染病难以区分，易造成临床误诊，延误病情而导致患病犬严重脱水，中毒，全身衰竭而死亡。通过临床症状，病理剖检和实验室检查对其进行了诊断并运用特异性疗法加“一消二止三补”的综合治疗方法治疗，取得了较好的治疗效果。科学的饲养管理和严格的预防措施是防制该病的根本。     

肉鸡腹水症的诊断与防制

肉鸡腹水症又称肉鸡水肿病、心脏衰竭综合征,以病鸡明显腹水、右心室(房)肥大扩张、肺淤血水肿、肝脏肿大及全身性出血为特征,本病是由于慢性缺氧引起心脏、肺脏损伤所致.最近几年丹东肉鸡生产有了很大发展,随着肉鸡饲养规模越来越大,由于一些肉鸡饲养者缺乏科学的饲养管理技术,肉鸡腹水症的发病率也在逐年上升,平均发病率竟达到6%以上,给养殖户造成了重大的经济损失.     

犬瘟热的临床鉴别诊疗要点

犬瘟热早期感染症状易与其他病因所致疾病混淆,在临床上往往因不能及时诊断、贻误治疗时机而给宠物业带来巨大的经济损失。在临床上,早诊断、早治疗是治愈犬瘟热的根本。笔者就临床上如何对犬瘟热进行鉴别诊疗谈一点体会。     

Biology, diagnosis and treatment of canine appendicular osteosarcoma: similarities and differences with human osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common primary bone tumour in dogs. The appendicular locations are most frequently involved and large to giant breed dogs are commonly affected, with a median age of 7–8 years. OSA is a locally invasive neoplasm with a high rate of metastasis, mostly to the lungs. Due to similarities in biology and treatment of OSA in dogs and humans, canine OSA represents a valid and important tumour model. Differences between canine and human OSAs include the age of occurrence (OSA is most commonly an adolescent disease in humans), localisation (the stifle is the most common site of localisation in humans) and limited use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in canine OSA.     

一例犬胃内异物的诊疗

胃内异物是犬临床常见的消化道疾病,在临床诊断中经常会出现误诊,引起动物的死亡.作者通过一例典型病例,从发病情况、临床症状、实验室检查(血液学和影像学检查)和手术治疗及预后各个方面对犬胃内异物的诊治进行了分析和探讨.     

犬乳腺肿瘤的诊治1例

犬乳腺肿瘤在母犬中非常常见,是仅次于皮肤肿瘤的最常见肿瘤,母犬的发生率约0.2%,大约50%的犬乳腺肿瘤是恶性的.犬后面几个乳腺发生肿瘤的可能性更大,因它们相对大一些,含的细胞略多一些,恶变的可能性也大一些.笔者近日诊断并治疗了一病例,现介绍如下:一.病史与临床检查(一)症状2010年9月21日,安徽省来安县一头12岁雌性(未绝育)京巴犬来我院就诊,体重6.3千克,主诉该犬两年多前左侧最后乳腺能摸到豌豆大硬块,但生长速度不快,最近半年硬块变大,速度较快,约一周前硬块表面皮肤破溃,一直不愈合,最近两天吃食不香.     

犬乳腺肿瘤病的诊治1例

乳腺肿瘤是母犬最为常见的一类疾病,老龄母犬多见,公犬少见。美国的一项调查发现,乳腺肿瘤占犬类所有肿瘤的13．4％,而这些肿瘤有41．7名发生于未节育的母犬。据统计,纯种犬发病率高于杂种犬。肿瘤中恶性肿瘤约占40％。     

Laboratory diagnosis of canine pyometra.

The principal laboratory test used to confirm the pyometra diagnosis in the bitch has been the determination of the total white blood cell count in venous blood. A marked elevation is known to be a characteristic of the disease.In the present study, the white blood cell count was determined as well as the γ-globulin level. An elevation of the γ-globulin level and the total white blood cell count was very characteristic to the pyometra patients. The increase in the number of white blood cells nor the high γ-globulin level cannot be regarded specific for pyometra, therefore it was regarded important to find out a more specific test for pyometra.When sonicated E. coli bacteria were tested against sera from pyometra patients in electroimmunodiffusion, the precipitation was almost always detected when E. coli had been isolated from the uterus. This technique provides a quick method in detecting the causative E. coli infection.The present study suggests that whenever laboratory tests are used to confirm the pyometra diagnosis by the total white blood cell count, it is advantageous to analyze the total γ-globulin level in the serum as well as specific antibodies against a common E. coli antigen.Because of the reliability of the glutaraldehyde coagulation test and the simple technique, this can be suggested as the method of choice for an average small animal practice.     

犬产后癫痫病诊治报告

犬的产后癫痫病是犬的常见病之一．尤其是在楼房内笼养的小型玩赏犬发病率很高,仅6个月左右时间,就接诊16例,占笔者所在的动物医院门诊量的7％左右。该病是一种严重的代谢病,其特征是突然发病,体温升高,痉挛,运动失调乃至倒地抽搐,咬牙,口吐白沫,甚至窒息死亡,现就诊疗情况总结如下。     

Feline aggression. Classification, diagnosis, and treatment

Types of aggressive behavior commonly recognized in cats include intermale, territorial, fear/defensive, play, predation, and redirected. Diagnosis is made on the basis of signalment data, the pattern of aggressive postures displayed by the aggressive cat, and the circumstances in which the aggressive behavior occurred. Treatment varies with the type of aggressive behavior but may include neutering, desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques, punishment, drug therapy, and management changes.     

The pathogenesis and diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia: a review.

Hip dysplasia is a common developmental problem affecting the canine population. Despite extensive research into the condition, many questions remain unanswered and numerous misconceptions are present among the general public. The purpose of this paper is to review the current knowledge on the development of hip dysplasia, factors modifying its development, and current diagnostic techniques. A computerized literature search was conducted for the period of January 1983 to April 1985 using the MEDLINE and CAB databases, and the keywords hip dysplasia, hip, dog, and canine. Other articles, wherever possible original research articles, published before 1983 were also reviewed. Animals affected by hip dysplasia are born with normal hips, but quickly develop subluxation of the femoral head. Degenerative joint disease follows. Hip dysplasia is a complex, inherited, polygenic trait. Selective breeding of only normal dogs with normal littermates, parents, and grandparents is the recommended method of reducing the incidence in the general population. Gene expression in affected individuals may be modified by a number of environmental factors. These factors do not cause hip dysplasia, but they alter manifestations of the trait and its severity. Nutrition is a major environmental factor. Excess energy consumption increases the frequency and severity of hip dysplasia in genetically predisposed dogs. Food intake should be regulated to maintain a slender figure with the ribs and dorsal vertebral spines easily palpable, but not visible. Excess dietary calcium and vitamin D contribute to hip dysplasia in genetically predisposed individuals and should be avoided. High dose vitamin C supplementation in growing puppies does not prevent hip dysplasia, and this practice should be discontinued.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Brain injury after head trauma: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Brain injury after impact to the head is due to both immediate mechanical effects and delayed responses of neural tissues. In horses, traumatic brain injury occurs in three main settings: (1) poll impact in horses that flip over backwards; (2) frontal/parietal impact in horses that run into a fixed object, and (3) injury to the vestibular apparatus secondary to temporohyoid osteoarthropathy.Distinct forebrain, vestibular, midbrain, hindbrain, or multifocal syndromes may be encountered in horses with traumatic brain injury. The most important components of treatment are those consistent with principles of "evidence-based medicine". Accordingly,secondary brain injury can most effectively be prevented by establishing normal blood pressure, temperature, blood glucose concentration, and tissue oxygenation. Pain must be controlled and brain swelling may be treated with infusions of hypertonic saline or mannitol. Surgical procedures, including unilateral hyoid bone transaction or elevation of skull fracture fragments, are indicated in selected cases. Optional additional treatments include use of anti-oxidants, conventional doses of corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate and drainage of CSE There is no indication for the use of massive doses of methyl prednisolone sodium succinate.     

Review on canine elbow dysplasia: pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevalence and genetic aspects

Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a progressive skeletal disease, which may comprise osteoarthrotic changes, incongruity of the joint, a fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP), osteochondrosis dissecans of the trochlea humeri (OCD), and an ununited anconeal process (UAP). Disturbances of enchondral ossification, as well as asynchronous growth of the antebrachial bones and an increased growth rate may provoke abnormal stresses on specific locations such as the medial coronoid process, the anconeal process of the ulna or the humeral trochlea, which may result in ED. Overnutrition with calcium, vitamin D and energy had important influence on rapidity of growth and proneness to ED. ED manifests most often in young dogs less than 1 1/2 year, causing clinical signs such as (intermittent) lameness, pain on movement and altered posture of the affected limb, and radiographically secondary osteoarthrotic changes such as osteophytes or the aforementioned primary lesions. As radiographic projection of the primary lesions FCP and OCD may be difficult in the commonly used mediolateral flexed and craniocaudal views, additional projections such as mediolateral extended or anteroposterior oblique views and alternative diagnostic means such as computed tomography (CT) may be worth considering. Cases of ED are reported in various breeds, though some breeds are especially predisposed and seem to be prone to specific primary lesions. For the German shepherd dog, a breed-predisposition for UAP may be explained by broad chondral junction in association with an accelerated pattern of skeletal maturation. Heritabilities were estimated in a variety of studies, depending strongly on the type of model used. The mode of inheritance is not yet ascertained, but recently the common assumption of a polygenic mode of inheritance for ED is doubted. Instead, genetic independence was supposed between different primary lesions, and also for ED as well as for FCP major gene influence was discussed. So long, phenotypic mass selection was accomplished in different countries most often resulting in a reduced prevalence of ED. The use of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) methods including information on relatives and separate evaluation of genetically independent primary lesions may further improve selection against ED.