INTRAVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION (SCHMORL'S NODE) IN FIVE DOGS

The herniation of intervertebral disc material into the vertebral body, known as Schmorl's nodes, is a well described disease process in man. Schmorl's nodes have not until now been described in the dog. This paper describes intravertebral disc herniation in the dog based on five patients taken from a retrospective study of dogs suspected of having cauda equina syndrome. The significance of intravertebral disc herniation in the dog at this time is that they indicate a disturbance in the vertebral endplate, they present definite radiographic signs, should be considered in patients with ostecohondrosis, and remain a possibls etiology for fibrocartilaginous emboli. Back pain is a common sign in people when Schmorl's nodes were the only pathologic findings. The common signs of palpatory pain in the lumbosacral region of the dogs in this report is noted but cannot be directly correlated at this time to the intravertebral disc herniation; however, it is suspected in two of the cases.     

COMPARISON OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF CANINE PROSTATE DIMENSIONS

The purposes of this study were to: 1) compare prostatic dimensions measured on radiographic and ultrasonographic images and 2) compare a subjective radiographic assessment of prostate size with a previously-described objective method. Thirty-four male dogs undergoing investigation of prostatic disorders were used. Prostate length and depth were measured from ultrasonographic and radiographic images. A subjective assessment of prostate size ('small', 'normal', or 'enlarged') was made in 29 animals by one of the authors who was unaware of radiographic or ultrasonographic measurements. In addition, the distance from sacral promontory to the pubic brim was also measured. A prostate length or depth of >70% of this distance was defined as 'enlarged' and <70% as 'normal'. After the effects of magnification on radiographic measurements were eliminated, there were no significant differences between prostatic length measured by the two methods. However, a significant difference was obtained between prostatic depth measurements. The subjective assessment agreed with a previously described objective assessment of prostatic size in 21/29 dogs for prostate length but in only 12/29 for depth. Prostatic length varied from 46.6 to 116.4% (mean 75.7%) of the distance from the pubic brim to the sacral promontory. Prostatic depth varied from 33.0% to 94.6% (mean 59.7%) of the same distance. It is recommended that prostate length, rather than depth, be used when evaluating prostate size from lateral abdominal radiographs.     

Evaluation of hemostatic derangements associated with canine anaphylaxis and the relationship to syndrome severity

Objective

To describe hemostatic derangements associated with canine anaphylaxis and to assess for association with syndrome severity.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Twenty-seven client-owned dogs, recruited from November 2018 to January 2022, diagnosed with anaphylaxis of varying severity were included. Study inclusion required presentation <6 hours after initiation of clinical signs, no medications or history of illness within the prior 2 weeks, lack of comorbidities expected to affect hemostasis, and lack of a disease state that could alternatively explain the clinical presentation.

Interventions

Blood samples were collected within the first hour of presentation for CBC, serum biochemistry, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and viscoelastic coagulation testing for use with a cartridge-based point-of-care device.

Measurements and main results

Clotting time and clot formation time were prolonged, alpha angle and maximum clot firmness were decreased, PT and aPTT were prolonged, and platelet counts were lower in severe cases compared to mild and moderate cases. There were no differences for any parameter between mild and moderate cases. The presence or absence of abdominal effusion was not associated with hemostatic status.

Conclusions

Global hemostatic derangements consistent with hypocoagulability are a prominent feature of severe anaphylaxis in dogs and should be considered for routine evaluation.     

Productivity of sheep and goats under three management systems at Bamenda,Cameroon

The productivity of sheep and goats was examined under three management systems. A regime by which each animal received five doses of fenbendazole in a year gave similar results in terms of survival and liveweight gain to monthly dosing. Sheep kept by traditional methods without anthelmintic treatment survived and grew less well than goats. In contrast goats grew better and produced more young under traditional management although they were in general lighter than sheep.