Effects of a whole-body spandex garment on rectal temperature and oxygen consumption in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a full-body spandex garment would alter rectal temperatures of healthy dogs at rest in cool and warm environments. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 10 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES: Each dog was evaluated at a low (20 degrees to 25 degrees C [68 degrees to 77 degrees F]) or high (30 degrees to 35 degrees C [86 degrees to 95 degrees F]) ambient temperature while wearing or not wearing a commercially available whole-body spandex garment designed for dogs. Oxygen consumption was measured by placing dogs in a flow-through indirect calorimeter for 90 to 120 minutes. Rectal temperature was measured before dogs were placed in the calorimeter and after they were removed. RESULTS: Rectal temperature increased significantly more at the higher ambient temperature than at the lower temperature and when dogs were not wearing the garment than when they were wearing it. The specific rate of oxygen consumption was significantly higher at the lower ambient temperature than at the higher temperature. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that wearing a snug spandex body garment does not increase the possibility that dogs will overheat while in moderate ambient temperatures. Instead, wearing such a garment may enable dogs to better maintain body temperature during moderate heat loading. These results suggest that such garments might be used for purposes such as wound or suture protection without causing dogs to overheat.     

A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis in cattle in an enzootic region of Mexico

A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis was conducted in two bovine herds in southeastern Mexico. In July 1987, an initial serological screening showed that 64% and 87% of the 654 cattle tested negatively to vesicular stomatitis New Jersey and Indiana antibodies, respectively, using the plaque-reduction serum neutralization test. Most seropositive animals were at least 24 months of age. Based on the initial serological screening, cohorts of seronegative and seropositive cattle were monitered (January–December 1988) for the prevalence of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serological results, using ELISA, indicated that no VSV activity occured in the two study herds. The seronegative cohort of cattle did not yield a positive seroconversion pattern to either VSV Indiana or New Jersey. The seropositive cohort showed a variable antibody response pattern against the VSV. There were no clinical cases of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in the two herds. The data from the national surveillance program for vesicular diseases suggested that 1988 was a year of low VSV infection incidence in southeastern Mexico.     

In vitro biomechanical study of rotational stabilizers of the canine elbow joint

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model for measuring rotary stability of the canine elbow joint and to evaluate the relative contribution of the anconeal process (AN), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). SAMPLE POPULATION: 18 forelimbs from 12 canine cadavers. PROCEDURE: Forelimbs were allocated to 3 experimental groups (6 forelimbs/group). Each intact forelimb was placed in extension at an angle of 135 degrees and cycled 50 times from -16 degrees (pronation) to +28 degrees (supination) in a continuous manner at 2.0 Hz. Cycling was repeated following sectioning of the structure of interest (group 1, AN; group 2, LCL; and group 3, MCL). Torque at -12 degrees (pronation) and +18 degrees (supination) was measured for each intact and experimentally sectioned limb. A Student t test was performed to compare torque values obtained from intact verses experimentally sectioned limbs and for comparison with established criteria for differentiation of primary (> or = 33%), secondary (10 to 33%), and tertiary rotational stabilizers (< 10%). RESULTS: In pronation, the AN was the only primary stabilizer (65%). For supination, the LCL was a primary stabilizer (48%), AN was a secondary stabilizer (24%), and MCL was a tertiary stabilizer (7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: With the elbow joint in extension at an angle of 135 degrees, the AN is a primary rotational stabilizer in pronation, and the LCL is a primary stabilizer in supination. Disruption of the AN or LCL may affect rotary range of motion or compromise stability of the elbow joint in dogs.     

DETECTION OF A LIVER TUMOR IN A BEAGLE DOG USING SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

This case report describes the detection of a liver tumor in an 11–year-old female Beagle dog using single photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT). A mass was palpated in the cranial abdomen during removal of recurrent mammary tumors. A conventional nuclear medicine liver scan, following injection of ^99mTc-sulfur colloid, was equivocal. SPECT was then performed in a second procedure, using a simple system that rotated the dog before a gamma camera. Transverse plane images clearly showed a spheric space-occupying lesion, found at gross necropsy and confirmed histologically as a hepatoma. Discrete liver tumors may be detected more readily and their size determined more accurately using SPECT than with conventional nuclear medicine approaches.     

Ketoconazole therapy in a dog with systemic cryptococcosis

A 2-year-old dog had bilateral chorioretinitis and a cough. Systemic cryptococcosis was diagnosed by evaluating a trans-tracheal aspirate and a cryptococcal latex-particle agglutination antigen titer. Clinical remission was achieved with ketoconazole administration, an imidazole antifungal agent. Serial antigen titers were used to monitor treatment, which was continued for 12 months. Ketoconazole therapy was well tolerated by the dog.     

Use of computed tomography to evaluate pathologic changes in the lungs of calves with experimentally induced respiratory tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To optimize methods for the use of computed tomography (CT) to assess pathologic changes in the lungs of calves and to determine the effect of treatment on lung consolidation. ANIMALS: 10 male Holstein calves. PROCEDURES: Calves were anesthetized to facilitate CT imaging of the thorax. After initial images were obtained, pneumonia was induced in the calves by inoculation through a bronchoscope. Two calves were used in a preliminary study to refine the inoculation dose and optimize CT images. Four calves were administered florfenicol and 4 calves were untreated control animals. Serial images were obtained 24, 48, and 72 hours after inoculation. After final images were obtained, calves were euthanized, and lung consolidation was estimated by use of lung surface area scoring and water displacement. These estimates were compared with estimated lung consolidation obtained by use of CT. RESULTS: Calves had rapid disease progression. Percentage of lung consolidation was not significantly different between treatment groups for any of the estimation methods. Results of an ANOVA of the 3 assessment methods indicated significant differences among methods. Estimates of the percentage of lung consolidation obtained by use of surface area scoring and CT correlated well, whereas water displacement estimates correlated poorly with other methods of consolidation estimation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because of the correlation with other methods for estimation of lung consolidation, CT has the potential to be used to monitor disease progression in calves with experimentally induced respiratory tract disease.     

Comparison of a central and a peripheral (cephalic vein) injection site for the measurement of cardiac output using the lithium-dilution cardiac output technique in anesthetized dogs

The objective of this study was to determine the agreement between cardiac output measured by central (cranial vena cava) versus peripheral (cephalic vein) venous injection of lithium chloride for lithium-dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) determination in the dog. Five dogs (2 males, 3 females), anesthetized with halothane, were used. With each dog, 12 alternating central and peripheral LiDCO measurements were made, resulting in 10 paired comparisons. A total of 50 comparisons were obtained, the cardiac output measurements ranging from 1.11 to 2.76 L/min. The LiDCO measurement from the cephalic vein was similar to that obtained from the recommended central venous site: the difference between the central and cephalic vein determinations for all measurements was 0.098 ± 0.336 L/min (mean ± 2 standard deviations). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a slope of 1.050 (95% confidence interval 0.904 to 1.196) and a y intercept of 0.005 (r = 0.902). Therefore, although the central venous site is recommended by the manufacturer, the cephalic vein can be used instead in the dog, eliminating the need for central venous catheterization and thus reducing time and expense.