Umbilical cord remnant abscess in a yearling colt

An abscess of the external umbilical remnant and umbilical vein remnant was diagnosed in a 16-month-old colt, using ultrasonography. Because of the colt's size, primary closure of the surgical incision after umbilical cord resection was not complete. Vertical mattress stainless steel sutures and stents were used, and healing was by second intention. Intervening gas-filled viscera made it impossible to visualize ultrasonographically the bladder of umbilical artery remnants in a colt of this age.     

Epidural analgesia with 0.75% bupivacaine for laparotomy in goats

Epidural nerve block with 0.75% bupivacaine (1 ml/4 kg of body weight) was performed in 17 goats tranquilized by IM administration of acetylpromazine (0.07 mg/kg). For comparison, epidural nerve block with 2% lidocaine containing 1:100,000 epinephrine (1 ml/5 kg) was performed in 7 goats. Transient signs of CNS stimulation were observed during injection of bupivacaine in 5 goats and of lidocaine in 2 goats. Analgesia of the flank was inadequate for laparotomy in 4 goats given bupivacaine (including 1 goat given a two-thirds dose) and in 2 goats given lidocaine. Analgesia for these goats was provided by local infiltration of the operative site with lidocaine. With bupivacaine, the onset of analgesia was up to 40 minutes, and the duration of analgesia was several hours; most goats were unable to stand for at least 11 hours. In comparison, epidural nerve block with lidocaine had a more rapid onset and much shorter duration. For both anesthetic drugs, despite adequate analgesia for laparotomy, response to manipulation of abdominal viscera was observed in 12 goats. Arterial blood pressure and blood gas tensions were measured in 8 goats given bupivacaine; 3 goats had mean arterial blood pressure less than 70 mm of Hg. Seven goats had normal PaCO2 but 2 goats had low PaO2; 1 goat sedated with xylazine had increased PaCO2 and hypoxemia.     

Thoracic neoplasia in equids: 35 cases (1967-1987)

Thirty-two horses and 3 ponies had neoplasia involving the thoracic cavity. Lymphosarcoma of the thorax was found in 19 (54.2%) of the equids. The other 16 equids had metastatic adenocarcinoma (7 horses; 20%), metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (5 equids; 14.3%), metastatic hemangiosarcoma (3 equids; 8.6%) or undifferentiated sarcoma (1 horse; 2.9%). Thoracic neoplasia was diagnosed before death in 15 equids (42.9%).     

The evaluation of hormone and metabolite profiles after the infusion of glucose, propionate and butyrate in cattle

Lactational performance in high-yielding dairy cows has its limits in metabolic processes. Energy metabolism is maintained by mobilization of body reserves via hormonal regulation, resulting in lipolysis and sometimes ketoacidosis. For characterization of such conditions the intraruminal and intravascular application of glucose and volatile fatty acids was used in ruminant physiology. On the other hand the results of such experiments were correlated to actual and potential milk yield. For this investigation pairs of monozygous Holstein Friesian twins were tested as heifers and as cows by intravenous infusion of glucose, propionate and butyrate after 18 hours of feed withdrawal. Insulin, growth hormone, glucose, free fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate were measured before, during and up to 4 hours after infusion of substrates. Each substrate caused a transient change in plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones. Differences between heifers and cows are discussed with the time series of the mean concentrations. The reaction profile of each animal was characterized by different parameters. Analysis of these parameters revealed a close relation between hormones and metabolites even under the conditions of the load-test.     

A Preliminary Comparison of Lidocaine and Xylazine as Epidural Analgesics in Ponies

Xylazine (0.35 mg/kg) or lidocaine (0.35 mg/kg) was injected into the epidural space of six ponies to compare their effectiveness as epidural analgesics. Each pony received both treatments at 1 week intervals with the order of treatments randomized. Xylazine produced analgesia of significantly longer duration (247 +/- 58 minutes) than that produced by an equal dose of lidocaine (135 +/- 22 minutes). Mild transient ataxia of no clinical significance developed in all ponies with both treatments. Spinal cords were removed from two ponies and examined histologically. No discernible pathologic changes were noted.     

Evaluation of the Staph-Zym-system for identification of Staphylococcus hyicus and Staphylococcus intermedius

The Staph-Zym system was evaluated as a means for identifying cultures of Staphylococcus hyicus isolated from pigs and bovines and cultures of Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from canines. The selected cultures had been identified by conventional methods. The Staph-Zym system correctly identified all 52 S. hyicus and all 33 S. intermedius. It is concluded that the Staph-Zym system is a practical and reliable test for identifying mostly animal pathogenic S. hyicus and S. intermedius, and might possibly be useful for veterinary microbiologists.     

Effect of lenperone hydrochloride on gastroesophageal sphincter pressure in healthy dogs.

Treatment of healthy dogs with the butyrophenone derivative, lenperone hydrochloride, at two different doses significantly decreased gastroesophageal sphincter pressure (GESP). No dose-related effect was identified. Individual variation in the response to lenperone hydrochloride was noted which was consistent on a day-to-day basis. Lenperone hydrochloride is unsuitable for chemical restraint of dogs undergoing esophageal manometry because it decreases GESP and because the magnitude of the decrease varies considerably between dogs.     

Growth and feed utilization by yearling horses fed added dietary fat

Twenty-four yearlings were used to evaluate the efficacy of feeding feed-grade fat to growing horses. All horses were started on trial at 13-months-of-age and were fed for 112 days. The experimental diets, containing similar nutrient-to-calorie ratios, were: 1) control (no added fat; 2) 5% added fat and; 3) 10% added fat. There was a trend for yearlings fed the 10% added fat diet to grow faster and eat less feed than those on the control diet. Data from this study indicate that feed-grade fat can be safely fed to growing horses. Feeding fat to yearlings stimulated growth and efficiency of feed utilization initially, but these effects were not maintained as the yearlings grew toward maturity.