The surgical management of elbow joint deformity associated with premature growth plate closure in dogs

Two clinical cases are described, with premature closure of the growth plate of the distal ulna in one and of the distal radius in the other. Radical resection of the distal ulna was carried out to remove the 'bow–string' effect in premature closure of the distal ulna. The associated elbow joint deformities were corrected by moving the radius relative to the ulna. This was achieved by placing transverse pins in the bones, and connecting these externally with elastic.     

Osteochondrosis of the elbow joint in young dogs

Osteochondrosis is a failure of the normal process of endochondral ossification. In the elbow joint there are three manifestations of osteochondrosis, namely osteochondritis dissecans of the medial condyle of the humerus, ununited coronoid process and ununited anconeal process. This paper describes a series of sixty-eight cases diagnosed at a referral centre over a 10-year period. Ununited coronoid process and OCD of the medial condyle are not readily diagnosed because the lesions are difficult to demonstrate radiographically, but signs of degenerative joint disease of the elbow in young dogs of the medium to large breeds is strongly suggestive. Surgical treatment is indicated and the surgical approach to the medial aspect of the joint is described.     

Acute poisoning in cattle after eating old non-viable seed of chou moellier (Brassica oleracea convar. acephala)

Thirty cows gained access to a heap of discarded seed of chou moellier that had been stored in a barn for 10 years. Within 24 h 2 cows were dead and one was acutely ill.
The outstanding lesion was oedema of the wall of the rumen. The toxicity was attributed to damage to blood vessels in the rumen wall resulting in marked loss of fluid.     

The Use of Insect Development Inhibitors as an Oral Medication for the Control of the Fleas Ctenocephalides felis, Ct. canis in the Dog and Cat

Résumé— Il existe deux inhibiteurs de croissance des insectes (ICI) sous forme orale pour le contrôle des puces. Le lufénuron s'administre une fois par mois à la dose de 10 mg/kg chez le chien et 30 mg/kg chez le chat. La cyromazine s'administre quotidiennement à la dose de 10 mg/kg en association avec la diethylcarbamazine chez le chien. Aucun des deux produits n'est actif sur la puce adulte, mais cause plutôt une interruption de la production de chitine normale par différents modes d'actions spécifiques. Ceci entraine la mort des formes immatures de puces. Par conséquent, les 2 produits contrôle l'infestation par les puces adultes sur l'animal par le biais de l'élimination des formes immatures présentes dans le milieu. Il existe un délai de 6 à 8 semaines entre 1'administration d'inhibiteurs de croissance des insectes (ICI) et la reduction du nombre de puces adultes sur les animaux traités. Cette période réfractaire est due à la survie de puces immatures présentes dans le milieu avant le traitement aux ICI; elle peut être réduite si l'on démarre le traitement oral par les ICI simultanément à un traitement insecticide du milieu environnant et de l'animal. [Shipstone, M. A., Mason, K. V. The use of Insect Development Inhibitors as an oral medication for the control of the fleas Ctenocephalides felis, Ct. canis in the dog and cat (Utilisation d'inhibiteurs de croissance des insectes sous forme orale pour le contrôle des puces Ctenocephalides felis, Ct. canis chez le chien et le chat). Resumen— Existen dos inhibidores del desarrollo de insectos (ICI) para el control de pulgas. El Lefenuron se administra una vez al mes a una dosis de 10 mg × Kg^-1 en perros y 30 mg × Kg^-1 en gatos. La Ciromacina se administra diariamente a una dosis de 10 mg × Kg^-1 en combinación con citrato de dietilcarbamacina en perros. Ninguno de estos compuestos produce efecto en pulgas adultas, sino que causa una interrupción en la producción normal de quitina por distintos mecanismos de acción. Ello causa la muerte del parásito en estadíos de inmadurez y crecimiento. Así, ambos controlan la infestación por pulgas adultas en el animal mediante la eliminación de estadíos vitales de la pulga. Existe un espacio de tiempo de 6–8 semanas entre el inicio de la aministración de ICA y la reducción del número de pulgas en animales tratados. Ésto et debido a la supervivencia de pulgas inmaduras que se encontraban en el entorno antes del inicio del tratamiento con ICI; este periodo de tiempo se puede reducir iniciando el tratamiento oral con ICI junto con tratamiento insecticida de la vivienda y sobre el animal. [Shipstone, M. A., Mason, K. V. The use of Insect Development Inhibitors as an oral medication for the control of the fleas Ctenocephalides felis, Ct. canis in the dog and cat (El uso de inhibidores del desarrollo de insectos como medicación oral para el control de las pulgas Cenocephalides felis y Ct. canis en el perro y en el gato). Abstract— There are two oral Insect Development Inhibitors (IDI) for the control of fleas. Lufenuron is administered once a month at 10 mg × kg^-1 for dogs and 30 mg × kg^-1 for cats. Cyromazine is administered daily at 10 mg kg^-1 in combination with diethylcarbamazine citrate for dogs. Neither compound exerts an effect on the adult flea, but rather causes an interruption in normal chitin production through different specific modes of action. This causes death of the immature, developmental life stages of the flea. Thus, both control the adult flea infestation on the animal via the elimination of the environmental life stages of the flea. There is a lag phase of 6–8 weeks between the initiation of IDI administration and reduction in the number of adult fleas on the treated animals. The lag phase results from the survival of immature fleas that were present in the environment before the onset of IDI treatment; it can be reduced by initiating oral IDI treatment in combination with premise and on-animal insecticide treatments.     

Cohort study examining long‐term respiratory health,career duration and racing performance in racehorses that undergo left‐sided prosthetic laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy surgery for treatment of left‐sided laryngeal hemiplegia

Reasons for performing study: The risk of respiratory conditions, such as inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), are thought to be higher in racehorses that undergo prosthetic laryngoplasty with ventriculocordectomy (PLVC) surgery to treat left‐sided laryngeal hemiplegia (LLH) than in racehorses with normal laryngeal function. However, this has not been investigated formally owing to the difficulty of obtaining reliable follow‐up data. Objectives: To determine the incidence of respiratory conditions (IAD and EIPH), duration of racing career, number of starts and number of starts for which stakes money was earned in racehorses that had undergone PLVC surgery to treat LLH, compared with racehorses that did not have LLH or undergo any laryngeal surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was used, with surgical, clinical and race data of Thoroughbred racehorses obtained from the time of importation until retirement. The surgical cohort consisted of racehorses that had undergone PLVC for LLH and met specific inclusion criteria. Every surgical case was matched, according to trainer, year of import into Hong Kong and pre‐import international handicap rating, to 2 unexposed racehorses. Results: Respiratory conditions, such as excessive tracheal mucus and epistaxis due to severe EIPH, were significantly increased in the surgical cohort, compared with the matched unexposed cohort (P values <0.001 and <0.004, respectively). Racing career duration in the surgical cohort was significantly shorter than in the unexposed cohort, which was primarily due to retirement because of epistaxis. The number of race starts was fewer in the surgical than in the unexposed cohort after surgery/matching, but the number of starts for which stakes money was earned was not significantly different. Conclusions and potential relevance: Owners and trainers should be advised that racehorses with LLH that undergo PLVC surgery are at an increased risk of respiratory conditions (IAD and severe EIPH), which is likely to shorten their racing career compared to racehorses with normal laryngeal function. Racing performance in terms of race starts was significantly less in racehorses that had undergone PLVC surgery; however, the number of starts for which stakes money was earned was similar to those racehorses that were unexposed.     

Death in sheep following dosing with copper diethylamine oxyquinoline sulphonate as a commercial injectable copper preparation

Death occurred in sheep following diethylamine oxyquinoline sulphonate (DOS) copper injections given at recommended dose rates. The copper content in unused portions of DOS copper packs was normal and free of bacterial contamination. Liver and blood copper levels in dead and sick sheep were not high. Sick sheep showed signs of hepatic encephalopathy and dead sheep were generally piled against fences and scrub. Deaths were associated with acute, severe, generalised, centrilobular, hepatocellular necrosis and live sheep had elevated circulating levels of liver enzymes consistent with liver damage. In recovered sheep there were no residual complications. It would appear that even at 0.5 mg/kg of DOS copper the safety threshold may sometimes be exceeded in some sheep.     

Patterns of corticosteroid and pepsinogen change related to emotional stress in the monkey

In association with conditioned avoidance sessions of 72 hours' duration, monkeys showed a response pattern characterized by increased levels of 17-hydroxy-corticosteroids and decreased levels of pepsinogen during the stress period, with a marked and prolonged elevation of pepsinogen levels occurring during the recovery period.