Ostertagia ostertagi infection in the calf: effects of a trickle challenge on appetite, digestibility, rate of passage of digesta and liveweight gain

The effects of a trickle challenge with the equivalent of 10,000 infective Ostertagia ostertagi larvae per day on appetite, digestibility, rate of passage of digesta and liveweight gain were investigated in 12 calves assigned to infected, pair-fed control and ad libitum-fed control groups. Digestibility of cellulose, nitrogen, organic matter and dry matter was determined using insoluble acid detergent fibre as a marker on two occasions during the study: (i) Between days 31 and 38, when abomasal dysfunction was greatest; and (ii) between days 52 and 58, beginning approximately one week after anthelmintic treatment (day 46). Rate of passage of digesta was measured using chromium mordanted hay, fed to each calf after each digestibility study period. Voluntary feed intake of the infected group was significantly reduced from day 37 with the greatest depression (77 per cent) occurring just before anthelmintic treatment. The drop in appetite was responsible for nearly 73 per cent of the difference in liveweight gain between the infected and ad libitum fed control groups. The apparent digestibility coefficient of nitrogen was significantly depressed (22 per cent) in the infected group though was restored to control levels by anthelmintic treatment. The rate of passage of digesta was significantly reduced in both pair-fed control (50 per cent) and infected (74 per cent) groups. Anthelmintic treatment increased the latter though only to pair-fed control group levels. It is suggested that the marked hypergastrinaemia seen in the infected calves may have been in part responsible for the decreased rate of passage of digesta and in turn for the drop in appetite.     

Allo-implant reconstruction of a femoral fracture following osteomyelitis

A complicated, segmented fracture of the femoral diaphysis in a dog is presented. Complications arose from multiple surgeries and subsequent osteomyelitis. Repair was staged by firstly removing all implants, secondly treating the osteomyelitis with appropriate antibiotics while spanning the cortical-deficient fracture site with a Kirschner external fixator, and finally rigid fixation of the fracture with incorporation of an ethylene oxide-sterilised intercalary cortical allo-implant. Principles of bone grafting are reviewed.     

Neocortical Astrocytoma in a Dog: Behavioural and Clinico-Pathological Findings

Abstract— —An astrocytoma in a 9-year-old Boxer dog was found on postmortem to have invaded the sensory and motor regions of the neocortex in the right cerebrum. The limbic lobe, internal capsule and corpus callosum were also involved. Clinical symptoms included hyperaesthesia on left side of the body, poor placing response in left fore-leg, convulsions and circling away from the affected side. EEG revealed focal spike discharges which were localized around the cortical area affected.
Résumé— —Chez un chien boxer âgé de 9 ans, un astrocytome a été trouvéà l'autopsie, ayant invadé les régions sensorielle et motrice du néocortex dans le cerveau droit. Le lobe limbique, la capsule interne et le corps calleux étaient également impliqués. Les symptomes cliniques incluaient l'hyperesthésie de la région droite, mauvaise réaction de placement de la patte antérieure gauche, convulsions et tournement de côté de la région affectée. EEG révéla des décharges pointues focales localisées autour de la région corticale affectée.
Zusammenfassung— — Ein Astrocytom bei einer 9 Jahre alten Bulldogge wurde bei der Sektion gefunden. Dieses war in die sensorischen und motorischen Regionen des Neopallium im rechten Gehirn eingedrungen. Der limbische Lappen, die innere Kapsel und das Corpus callosum waren ebenfalls beteiligt. Die klinischen Symptome bestanden in Hyperaesthesie der linken Kärperhölfte, schlechte Bewegungen im linken Vorderbein, Konvulsionen und Fortbewegungen von der betroffenen Seite. EEG zeigte fokale Aehren-Entladungen, die in der betroffenen Rindenzone lokalisient wurden.     

Gastric hemorrhage in dogs given high doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether healthy dogs given high doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) develop gastrointestinal tract ulcers and hemorrhage. ANIMALS: 19 healthy male hound-type dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were assigned randomly to intravenously receive high doses of MPSS (30 mg/kg of body weight, initially, then 15 mg/kg 2 and 6 hours later, and, subsequently, every 6 hours for a total of 48 hours; n = 10) or an equal volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (9). Gastroduodenoscopy was performed before and after treatment. Endoscopic evidence of gross hemorrhage in the cardia, fundus, antrum, and duodenum of each dog was graded from none (0) to severe (3), and a total stomach score was calculated as the sum of the regional gastric scores. Number of ulcers were recorded. The pH of gastric fluid and evidence of occult gastric and fecal blood were measured. Food retention was recorded. RESULTS: Gastric hemorrhage was evident in all dogs after MPSS administration and was severe in 9 of 10 dogs but not visible in any dog after saline treatment. Occult gastric blood was detected more commonly (9/10 vs 2/9), median gastric acidity was greater (pH 1 vs pH 3), and food was retained more commonly (7/10 vs 1/9) in the stomach of MPSS-treated dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High doses of MPSS cause gastric hemorrhage in dogs. All dogs treated with high doses of MPSS should be treated with mucosal protectants or antacids to prevent gastric hemorrhage.     

Acute mitral regurgitation with papillary muscle rupture in a dog

Papillary muscle rupture is uncommon in the dog. Two-dimensional echocardiography provides a rapid, noninvasive test in the diagnosis of acute, severe mitral regurgitation resulting from papillary muscle rupture. This report illustrates the usefulness of echocardiography to determine the cause of acute mitral regurgitation.