Effect of intravenous administration of dextrose or lactated Ringer's solution on seizure development in dogs after cervical myelography with metrizamide

The effect of fluid (5% dextrose in water or lactated Ringer's solution) administered intravenously on the development of seizures after cervical myelography with metrizamide was studied in 10 dogs. In a crossover experimental design, 8 dogs were used twice. Urine output was measured during the second part of the study to determine whether diuresis was a factor affecting seizure development. Dogs given 5% dextrose in water had significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer seizures than did dogs given lactated Ringer's solution. This was attributed to an increase in CSF glucose concentration and was not associated with diuresis.     

Veterinary information: the current situation and future trends.

Veterinary science is well supplied with abstracting and indexing hournals. Both experience and an investigation undertaken for the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicate that they are comprehensive in scope and subject coverage. Computer operation of information services is now routine, and mechanised alerting and retrospective services are available. A veterinary round table was set up in 1973 by the Commission of the European Communities to attempt to improve veterinary information. The round table is conducting a detailed study of the value of the available machine information systems to veterinarians and is compiling a multi-lingual thesaurus. In addition, it is investigating the need for a new review journal, methods of recording animal disease incidence and variations in the needs of the different types of veterinarians for information. The use of machine information systems is expected to become more widespread in the near future. Many will be available on-line, a method of working which offers great advantages in speed and flexibility of operation.     

Chronic axillary wound repair in a cat with omentalisation and omocervical skin flap

A mature, neutered male domestic cat was presented with a chronic axillary wound of unknown origin and at least three years' duration. The diagnostic investigation included screening tests for feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, tissue culture and histological examination. No underlying aetiology or perpetuating cause could be identified. An omental flap was created, passed via a subcutaneous tunnel, and packed into the wound site after excision of all chronic granulation tissue. The skin defect was closed using an omocervical axial pattern skin flap. A small area of the distal edge of the flap became necrotic but the defect healed by second intention. To the author's knowledge, this is the first clinical report of the use of an omocervical skin flap for repair of a chronic axillary wound in a cat. This flap offers a useful alternative where the use of a thoracodorsal axial pattern flap is not possible due to the extent of the lesion.