Urethral Obstruction in Male Cats: Transmission Studies

Urethral obstruction was produced by injecting centrifuged urine from cats with urethral obstruction into the urinary bladders of unaffected cats. Filtration of urine from affected cats did not remove the causative factor.     

Surgical Management of Congenital Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence in Eight Female Cats and a Bitch

Congenital urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is a cause of urinary incontinence in female dogs and cats. In some of these animals, urethra hypoplasia is the primary diagnosis, with the urethra being almost absent in some patients. Treatment of this problem can be difficult. This paper describes two techniques for the surgical treatment of eight cats and one dog with severe urethral hypoplasia. In five animals, partial excision of the bladder neck was performed to create a longer "urethra." In the other four, an attempt was made to conserve bladder volume while simultaneously creating a urethra with a bladder neck flap reconstruction technique. One cat was lost to follow-up, but the clinical signs resolved in three cats and the remaining animals improved. Two cats had recurring cystitis, possibly associated with bladder neck diverticula because of uterine horn remnants terminating abnormally in the bladder. The results in this limited series suggest that reconstructive surgery in cases of severe urethral hypoplasia improves continence control.     

The Response of the Bitch to Treatment with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

Abstract— —Medroxyprogesterone acetate (M.A.P.) was administered to three groups of bitches as follows:

• 1 Eighty-six bitches received a total of 166 injections of M.A.P. to prevent or suppress oestrus. This procedure was entirely successful in 83 bitches (96.5 per cent) and partially successful or unsuccessful in the remaining 3 bitches. Nine others showed unfortunate sequelae of which three bitches subsequently required an ovaro-hysterectomy, 1 showing a chronic endometritis and 2 showing a gross cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium upon histopathological examination. Methods of reducing the rate of failure are suggested.
• 2 Forty bitches received 5 cm³ M.A.P. (250 mg) to suppress false pregnancy and the results were satisfactory in 31 (86 per cent) of the 36 bitches where a follow-up history was obtained. However, the use of M.A.P. to control this condition is considered to be beyond the financial means of the average client.
• 3 Three “poor risk” cases of pyometra were given 5 cm³ M.A.P. and the initial response was good, but all 3 died subsequently. Two suffered a relapse of pyometra, 1 died of nephritis. This form of therapy demands further investigation.

Two bitches developed signs of diabetes mellitus following the administration of M.A.P. Résumé— —L'Acétate de Medroxyprogesterone (M.A.P.) a ?té administréà 3 groupes de chiennes comme il suit:

• 1 Quatre-vingt six chiennes ont reçu un total de 166 injections de M.A.P., pour prévenir ou supprimer l'oestrus. Ce procédé a eu un réultat parfait dans quatre-vingt trois cas (96.5 pour cent) et un succès partiel or un résultat nul dans les 3 autres cas. Neuf autres chiennes ont montré des séquelles malheureuses et conséquemment 3 chiennes durent subir une ovaro-hystérectomie, une montrant une endomedArite chronique et deux autres, une hyperplasie cystique de l'endomètre, visible à l'oeil nu et vérifiée par examen histologique. Des méthodes pour réduire le nombre d'échecs ont été suggérées.
• 2 Quarante chiennes ont reçu 5 cm³ M.A.P. (250 mgm), pour supprimer une fausse grossesse et les résultats furent satisfaisants dans 31 cas (86 pour cent) de 36 chiennes mises en observation. Cependant, l'utilisation du M.A.P. pour dominer cette situation, est considérée au-delà de possibilités financières d'un client moyen.
• 3 Trois chiennes avec pyométrie, dans un mauvais état général, reçurent 5 cm⁵ de M.A.P., et mêrne que la réaction initiale fut bonne, toutes les 3 décédérent subséquemment. Deux chiennes eurent une rechute de la pyométrie et une décéda à cause d'une néphrite. Cette forme de traitement nécéssite d'autres investigations. Deux cas deéeloppèrent des signes de diabète sucré, suivant l'administration de M.A.P.

Zusammenfassung— —Medroxyprogesteron Acetat (M.A.P.) wurde 3 Gruppen von Huendinnen wie folgt verabreicht:

• 1 86 Huendinnen erhielten im ganzen 166 Injektionen von M.A.P., urn Brunst zu verhindern oder zu unterdruecken. Dieses Verfahren war bie 83 Huendinnen (96.5%) voellig erfolgreich und bie den ucbrigen 3 Huendinnen entweder teilweise erfolgreich oder erfolglos. Neun andere zeigten unerwuenschte Folgen; in 3 Faellen war Ovaro-Hysterektomie erforderlich; davon wurde in einem Fall chronische Endometritis gefunden, und in 2 Faellen stark ausgepraegte zytiscshe Hyperplasie des Endometriums bie histologischer Untersuchung. Methoden zur prozentualen Reduktion der Versager werden vorgeschlagen.
• 1 40 Huendinnen erhielten 5 ml M.A.P. (250 mg), um Pseudo-Schwangerschaft zu unterdruecken. Die Resultate waren bie 31 (86%) von den 36 Huendinnen erfolgreich, wo der weitere Verlauf verfolgt werden konnte. Die Anwendung von M.A.P., um diesen Zustand unter Kontrolle zu halten, is jedoch zu teuer fuer den Durchschnitte-Klienten.
• 1 In 3 Faellen von Pyometrium mit zweifelhafter Prognose wurde 5 ml M.A.P. gegeben. Der Anfangserfolg war gut, aber alle drei starben spaeter. Zwei hatten einen Rueckfall von Pyometrium, ein Tier starb an Nephritis. Diese Behandlungsform bedarf weiterer Untersuchung.

Zwei Faelle entwickelten Symptome von Diabetes mellitus nach der Anwendung von M.A.P.     

母犬生产抽搐的诊治

母犬生产抽搐又称产后(或产前)急痫,亦称产惊,是一种以突发、高热、肌肉强直性痉挛为特征的营养代谢性疾病。可发生于产前、产中和产后,但多发生于产后1~3周和产仔较多的中、小型犬。初产和经产母犬均有发生,以青年母犬发病率为高。1发病原因妊娠期饲喂低营养或营养不均衡的食物是本病的一个诱因。母犬在妊娠后期,尤其是临产前几天,胎儿生长迅速,需从母体中摄取大量钙;母犬在哺乳期间,特别是泌乳高峰期(产后1~3周),钙随乳汁大量损耗(产后母乳钙含量比血钙高出10余倍)。这时如果日粮中钙缺乏或动物接受日光照射不足,母体血钙下降,钙、磷比例…     

Successful Treatment for Subinvolution of Placental Sites in the Bitch with Low Oral Doses of Progestagen

Subinvolution of placental sites (SIPS) is the major cause of persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge after parturition in the bitch. Spontaneous remission is common but may take several months, and hence, medical therapy to end the discharge is often requested. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of treatment for SIPS with low oral doses of a progestagen. Nine bitches with SIPS, but otherwise clinically healthy, were found in the computer database of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals. Seven of these bitches were treated with low oral doses of a progestagen (megestrol acetate, 0.1 mg/kg body weight (bw) once daily for the 1st week, then 0.05 mg/kg bw once daily for the 2nd week). The other two bitches were untreated. Treatment results were evaluated by a telephone questionnaire. Progestagen treatment was successful in all of the treated dogs; sanguineous vaginal discharge stopped within the treatment period. One of the two untreated dogs remained symptomatic until the next oestrus, approximately 120 days after parturition, and the other remained symptomatic until 6 weeks before the start of the next pro‐oestrus, 270 days after parturition. No side effects of the progestagen treatment were observed. Subsequent gestations, parturitions and puerperal periods of 5 mated bitches were uneventful. One bitch did not become pregnant after mating. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that oral administration of low doses of progestagen for 2 weeks is effective in stopping persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge in bitches with SIPS, with neither side effects nor reduced subsequent fertility.     

Uterine Rupture in the Bitch

Abstract— An unusual case of rupture of the uterus in a parturient bitch with retention of the foeti in the abdominal cavity for one month after termination of the normal period of pregnancy.     

Clinical Use of Deslorelin for the Control of Reproduction in the Bitch

This study was conducted to evaluate clinical efficacy of deslorelin for inhibiting reproduction in the bitch. Ten adult healthy bitches or bitches with mammary neoplasia for which owners were requesting suppression of cyclicity without performing gonadectomy were administered a 4.7- or a 9.4-mg deslorelin implant subcutaneously. The first implant of deslorelin was administered in anoestrus (n = 5) or in dioestrus (n = 5). Treatment was repeated every 5 months for as long as necessary based on the clinical situation of the dog and owner's desires. Some of the bitches implanted in anoestrus came in heat within 4–15 days after treatment, while none of the bitches implanted in dioestrus showed heat during treatment. Suppression of reproductive cyclicity was successfully achieved in 6/10 bitches for 1–4 years. No behavioural and local/general side-effects were observed in any of the treated bitches. The 4.7-mg deslorelin implant may work well for suppression of cyclicity provided that it is administered in dioestrus and at intervals of 4.5 months. A 9.4-mg implant may be more suitable for this use although its efficacy may also be shorter than 12 months. Owner compliance is an important limiting factor.     

Regulation of Corpus Luteum-function in the Bitch

Functional lifespan of the corpus luteum (CL) in non-pregnant dogs exceeds that of pregnant animals and may last for more than 80 days. Prolactin and LH act luteotropic, however, luteolytic mechanisms are poorly understood. Other than in life stock there is no uterine luteolysine and it was postulated that local paracrine/autocrine mechanisms might play a major role. In following this hypothesis the present investigations have clearly demonstrated that up-regulation of prostaglandin synthesis in the CL as indicated by the expression of cyclo-oxygenase II occurs with its formation and not regression, pointing towards a luteotropic rather than luteolytic action. Throughout dioestrus luteal and other cells of the CL express the oestrogen (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR). While ERalpha expression was not cycle-related, PR concentrations were high in the early and late-luteal phase and a regulatory role of both steroids on CL-function is assumed. As in other species also in the dog the immune system seems to participate in the mechanisms regulating CL-function as an increased presence of lymphocytes within the CL could be detected at the beginning [CD4- CD8-, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)II-antigen expressing cells] and during the latter half of dioestrus (CD8- and MHCII-antigen expressing cells). Thus, leucocyte-derived cytokines may be important and the expression of the mRNA for interleukin (IL)8, IL10, IL12, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 was observed throughout dioestrus. Electron microscopy confirmed the slow process of luteolysis; first distinct signs of degeneration were seen on day 60, accompanied by some apoptotic events. From these data it is concluded that luteal regression as monitored by the gradual decrease of systemic progesterone concentrations in the dog is not an actively regulated but rather a permissive process. Immune-mediated events may play a key role. Changes in the vascular supply, as indicated by the expression of endoglin, seem to be of lower importance.