Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.     

Effect of sodium bicarbonate on racing Standardbreds

Twenty-two Standardbred horses in race training were used in a crossover experiment to determine the effect of oral sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) administration on performance and metabolic responses to a 1.6-km (1-mile) race. Horses were paired and one horse in each pair was treated with either NaHCO3 (300 mg/kg BW) or a placebo, 2.5 h before they raced against each other. Each horse was scheduled to compete in two races, approximately 1 wk apart, one on each treatment. Horses always raced in the same pairs. Fourteen horses successfully completed both races. Jugular blood samples were obtained 1.5 h after treatment (rest), immediately before racing, 5 min post-race and 15 min post-race. In six horses, blood samples also were obtained 30 min post-race. Race times averaged 1.1 s faster after NaHCO3 treatment (P less than .1). Sodium bicarbonate treatment also elevated blood pH (P less than .05). In the horses sampled 15 and 30 min post-race, blood lactate disappearance was faster with the NaHCO3 treatment (P less than .05). The NaHCO3 may delay the fatigue precipitated by i.m. acidosis. Because other factors may limit performance (musculoskeletal soundness, cardiovascular and respiratory ability), NaHCO3 would not be expected to enhance the performance of all horses. However, the effect of NaHCO3 on lactate clearance may have implications for all intensively worked horses; because lactate and the associated hydrogen ions are believed to cause muscle damage and soreness, any mechanism to increase their removal rate could benefit the equine athlete.     

Electroencephalogram of Japanese Black calves affected with cerebrocortical necrosis

Electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations were carried out on three Japanese Black calves (1, 2 and 14 week old) affected with cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN) in order to investigate the relationship between EEG abnormalities and encephalic lesions. Some neurologic signs such as circling, astasia, convulsion and opisthotonus appeared in two of the calves (case 1 and 3). The other calf (case 2), however, showed no neurologic signs. The EEGs obtained from the two calves (case 1 and 2), in the awake state, showed constant high amplitude (50-160 microV) and slow (1-4 Hz) activity (HASA). One of these (case 1) had necrosis mainly in the right hemisphere and showed a markedly asymmetric sharp wave. On the other hand, in case 3, the EEG showed diffuse lowered activity, and almost flat in some leads. A decrease in fast activity observed in common with all three animals. These findings suggest that one of the characteristic EEG patterns of CCN patient may be HASA and decreased fast activity. Histopathologic diagnoses of the calves were CCN in various degrees. The degrees of abnormality of the EEGs seemed to accord with the seriousness of the lesions. Because the EEG obtained from the calf having no obvious neurologic signs showed an abnormal pattern, it was considered that EEG examinations in the early stages of disorders are valuable to diagnose CCN.     

Cimetidine for treatment of melanomas in three horses

Cimetidine, an H2 histamine antagonist, was used in the clinical management of progressive, multifocal melanomatosis in 3 adult gray horses. Prior to treatment, the tumors had increased rapidly in size and number in 2 horses (duration of 6 and 27 months, respectively) and slowly in the third horse (duration of 48 months). All 3 horses were treated with cimetidine (2.5 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 8 h) for 2 months to 1 year. During treatment, the number and size of the melanomas decreased substantially (50 to 90%). The progression of the disease was halted in 2 horses and controlled in the third horse, which is still being treated with cimetidine (1.6 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h). The horses in which treatment was terminated have not been treated for 31 and 41 months, respectively, during which time the melanomas have not increased in number or size.     

Relationship between mitogen receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes and blastogenic responses to mitogen

The relationship between the optimum concentration of mitogen which induces lymphocyte blastogenic response and the receptor occupancy by mitogen was investigated. The receptor occupancies which induced maximal blastogenic activity in equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were 31.1 per cent, 26.5 per cent and 38.4 per cent with phytohaemagglutinin-P, and 48.2 per cent, 17.9 per cent and 24.5 per cent with concanavalin A, respectively. The data clearly show that each animal species had its own optimum concentration of mitogen for stimulation of PBL. Optimum concentration for blastogenesis and number of binding sites of each mitogen had a good correlation with each other for all three species.     

Evaluation of full cortical allografts in 25 dogs

Twenty-five dogs received 26 cortical allografts from Apr 9, 1976 through Jan 31, 1982. Cortical allografts were used to reconstruct fractures of the femur, humerus, tibia, radius, and ulna. These grafts were used to replace comminuted fragments; to lengthen bones; to correct malunions, delayed unions, and nonunions; and in one case, to replace bone lost to sequestrum formation in an infected fracture site. All fractures were stabilized by use of standard ASIF techniques and dynamic compression plates. Frozen bone allografts were used in all cases. These were harvested aseptically and stored in a household freezer for 3 days to one year before use. Clinically normal function was achieved in 96% of the dogs.     

Ionophores alter hepatic concentrations of intermediary carbohydrate metabolites in steers

The effects of ionophores on liver weight and function were determined in finishing steers (n = 24; avg weight 440 kg). Steers were group-fed one of three treatments (control, lasalocid or monensin at 33 mg/kg feed) for 46 d prior to slaughter. Three days prior to slaughter, blood was collected for the determination of serum Ca and Mg. At slaughter, the liver was removed, weighed, sampled, frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of carbohydrate metabolites and minerals. Liver weight (5.9 kg) was unaffected by treatment. Serum and hepatic Ca and Mg were not affected by ionophore treatment. Hepatic glycogen levels in steers fed ionophores were unaffected by treatment. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was 21% lower (P less than .10) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores, whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate was 15 to 37% greater in hepatic tissue of steers fed monensin (P less than .20) or lasalocid (P less than .10). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was elevated more extensively by lasalocid than by monensin with increases of 72 (P less than .05) and 132% (P less than .001), respectively, over controls. Glycerol 3-phosphate levels were 37% (P less than .05) and 12% (NS) greater with these ionophores. Hepatic levels of pyruvate were elevated 12 (NS) to 36% (P less than .17) for monensin and lasalocid. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were 25% lower (P less than .25) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores than in hepatic tissue from control steers. Other metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism in hepatic tissue were not altered appreciably. Changes in levels of intermediary metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism suggest alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism favoring gluconeogenesis in steers fed ionophores.