Intraocular silicone prosthesis in a horse

A 40-mm intraocular silicone prosthesis was placed in a horse's globe to control glaucoma. The glaucoma was suspected to be associated with a lens subluxation, but primary glaucoma could not be ruled out. Medical treatment and cyclocryotherapy had been attempted, but failed to decrease the intraocular pressure to a normal value. The prosthesis was placed, via a dorsal scleral incision, after removal of the intraocular contents. The size of the prosthesis was estimated from measurements of the horse's normal left globe and an enucleated, age-matched globe. Silicone prostheses offer a cosmetic alternative to enucleation of blind, sensitive globes in horses.     

The effect of early calfhood health status on survivorship and age at first calving.

Survival to maturity and age at first calving were studied in heifer calves from 34 randomly selected Holstein dairy farms in southwestern Ontario. Calves were divided into cohorts on the basis of treatment for pneumonia, scours, other diseases, or no treatments, during the first 90 days of life. An effect of pneumonia and scours together, over and above the effects of each disease alone, was assessed by means on an interaction term in the statistical analyses. Heifers which had been treated for pneumonia during the first three months of life were 2.5 times more likely to die after 90 days of age than heifers which had not been treated for pneumonia, after controlling for the farm effect. Heifers with a calfhood history of being treated for scours were 2.5 times more likely to be sold for dairy purposes than other calves. Heifers which had been treated for scours were 2.9 times more likely to calve after 900 days of age than other heifers, after controlling for the farm effect.     

Predictors of owner response to companion animal death in 177 clients from 14 practices in Ontario

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of grief and client desires and needs as they relate to pet death. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mail survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 177 clients, from 14 randomly selected veterinary practices, whose cat or dog died between 6 and 43 days prior to returning the completed questionnaire. PROCEDURE: Veterinary practices were contacted weekly to obtain the names of clients whose pets had died until approximately 200 clients were identified. Clients were contacted by telephone, and a questionnaire designed to measure grief associated with pet death was mailed to those willing to participate within 1 to 14 days of their pet's death. The questionnaire measured potential correlates and modifiers of grief and included three outcome measures: social/emotional and physical consequences, thought processes, and despair. Demographic data were also collected. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of participants experienced severe grief. The most prominent risk factors for grief included level of attachment, euthanasia, societal attitudes toward pet death, and professional support from the veterinary team. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bivariate and multivariate analyses highlighted the impact owners' attitudes about euthanasia and professional intervention by the veterinary team had on reactions to pet death. Owners' perceptions of societal attitudes, also a predictor of grief, indicate that grief for pets is different than grief associated with other losses.     

Phacofragmentation and aspiration for cataract extraction in dogs: 56 cases (1980-1984)

Fifty-six cases of cataract removal in dogs by phacofragmentation and aspiration were reviewed. Improvement of vision was detected in the immediate postoperative period in 53 (94.6%) of 56 dogs. Vision was present in 25 (85.2%) of 29 dogs evaluated at 2 years after surgery, and in 5 (71.4%) of 7 dogs evaluated 4 years after surgery. Reasons for failure of visual improvement and complications in visual eyes were related primarily to development of postoperative anterior uveitis. Age of the dog at surgery was not a significant factor in the restoration of vision.     

Pet ownership increases human risk of encountering ticks

We examined whether pet ownership increased the risk for tick encounters and tickborne disease among residents of three Lyme disease‐endemic states as a nested cohort within a randomized controlled trial. Information about pet ownership, use of tick control for pets, property characteristics, tick encounters and human tickborne disease were captured through surveys, and associations were assessed using univariate and multivariable analyses. Pet‐owning households had 1.83 times the risk (95% CI = 1.53, 2.20) of finding ticks crawling on and 1.49 times the risk (95% CI = 1.20, 1.84) of finding ticks attached to household members compared to households without pets. This large evaluation of pet ownership, human tick encounters and tickborne diseases shows that pet owners, whether of cats or dogs, are at increased risk of encountering ticks and suggests that pet owners are at an increased risk of developing tickborne disease. Pet owners should be made aware of this risk and be reminded to conduct daily tick checks of all household members, including the pets, and to consult their veterinarian regarding effective tick control products.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—FDG‐PET/CT OF A CANINE SPLENIC PLASMA CELL TUMOR

An 8‐year‐old Shih Tzu developed abdominal pain and hyperglobulinemia. A round splenic mass was noted radiographically and sonographically. The patient was evaluated by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT). There was no evidence of metastasis or bone marrow involvement on PET/CT images. The standardized uptake value (SUV) of the splenic mass was increased over the reference range (SUV=4.83). The patient was diagnosed as splenic extramedullary plasmacytoma through immunohistopathologic study. After the splenectomy, the globulin level normalized and the patient is alive without complications.     

An assessment of the utility of microcomputers and dairy herd management software for dairy farms and dairy practices

Microcomputer systems were placed in three veterinary practices each serving three farms (bureau), and onto nine dairy farms (on-farm). Over a twenty-four week period, the utilization of the computer system and the DHM software was monitored. The on-farm system was more costly in terms of equipment and technical support effort, but the information was utilized to a greater extent than it was by the bureau participants who had invested more user time per cow. Note that actual time will vary with the software program used. The farmers indicated that they wished to have access to the information offered by the software. `Computer phobia' was not found to be a problem. The expectations of the computer system and its benefits generally remained high. In general, the information available through the microcomputer system and the DHM software was found to be useful to both the dairy farmers and the veterinarians in this study.     

In vitro studies of Norwegian Red bovine semen immobilized and cryopreserved in alginate solid gel network

Development of new semen cryopreservation techniques improving sperm survival and ensuring availability of viable spermatozoa for a prolonged time‐period after AI is promising tools to reduce sensitivity of timing of AI and enhance overall fertility. The SpermVital^® technology utilizes immobilization of bull spermatozoa in a solid network of alginate gel prior to freezing, which will provide a gradual release of spermatozoa after AI. The objective of this study was to compare post‐thaw sperm quality and in vitro sperm survival over time of Norwegian Red bull semen processed by the SpermVital^® (SV) technology, the first commercialized production line of SpermVital^® (C) and by conventional procedure applying Biladyl^® extender (B). Post‐thaw sperm motility was not significantly different between SV, C and B semen (p > .05). However, sperm viability and acrosome intactness were higher for SV than C and B semen (p < .05). Small differences in DNA quality were observed (p < .05). Sperm viability after storage in uterus ex vivo was higher for SV than for C semen (p < .05). Furthermore, sperm survival in vitro over time at physiological temperature was significantly higher for SV semen than C semen as well as B semen during the incubation period of 48 hr (p < .05). In conclusion, the SpermVital^® technology is improved and is more efficient in conserving post‐thaw sperm quality and results in higher sperm viability over time in vitro for SV than for C and B semen.     

Associations among antimicrobial drug treatments and antimicrobial resistance of fecal Escherichia coli of swine on 34 farrow-to-finish farms in Ontario, Canada

Logistic regression was used to model associations between antimicrobial treatment and resistance among fecal Escherichia coli of finisher pigs at the farm level. Four sets of potential risk factors representing different levels of refinement of antimicrobial use on farms were modelled on resistance to antimicrobials. Final models for each antimicrobial were constructed from treatment and management variables significant on initial screening, and corrections for overdispersion were made. In general, in-feed antimicrobial treatment of pigs was more consistently associated with an increased risk of resistance than individual-animal treatment. Antimicrobial treatment in starter rations was significant in final models of resistance to ampicillin, carbadox, nitrofurantoin, sulfisoxizole, and tetracycline. Treatment in grower–finisher rations was significantly associated with resistance to ampicillin, spectinomycin, sulfisoxizole, and tetracycline. There was little evidence that in-feed antimicrobials increased the risk of resistance to gentamicin, which is a drug used only for individual-pig treatment in this study population. These results suggest that antimicrobial medication of rations of post-weaning pigs selects for and maintains antimicrobial resistance among E. coli of finisher pigs. Although resistance was common on farms that did not medicate rations of post-weaning pigs, the results indicate that antimicrobial use does increase the risk of resistance to the antimicrobials studied.