Orthodontic correction of a complex malocclusion of the canine teeth of dento-alveolar and skeletal origin using a model cast device in the upper jaw of the dog

Malocclusion of the canines, which in dogs is frequent and often has a congenital pattern, remains a challenge to treat. Steeply positioned lower jaw canines are corrected by means of a specifically designed orthodontic intervention. The case at hand was characterized by a combination of a slight skeletal distal bite and compensatory distal tilt of the entire premaxilla (retrusion, caudal tilt) with a mesial tilt of the canines in the upper jaw (rostral and anterior tilt). An individual solution was found which resulted in a functional adjustment of both upper and lower jaws. A model cast device which included both appropriately tilted areas and screws to ensure distal adjustment solved the problem.     

Correlation between the clinical course of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs and the extent of mast cell infiltration

The data from 20 dogs with histopathologically confirmed granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis were reviewed in an attempt to identify clinical signs and morphological and cellular parameters, particularly the infiltration of mast cells, which might be associated with the clinical course of the disease. Thirteen of the dogs had the acute form of the disease and seven had the chronic form. Young to middle-aged, small breed female dogs were over-represented. Central vestibular signs were observed in six of the dogs with the acute disease. Analyses of cerebrospinal fluid revealed moderate to severe pleocytosis and high protein concentrations in all cases. Histopathological investigations revealed disseminated perivascular cuffs, large confluent granulomata, tissue necrosis, infiltration with neutrophils and a large number of mitotic cells in the dogs with either of the clinical forms of the disease. Tryptase-positive mast cells were observed in all the cases, but there were significantly larger numbers in the dogs with the acute form.     

Jugular venous emboli of brain tissue induced in sheep by the use of captive bolt guns

Emboli of central nervous tissue were detected in the jugular venous blood of two of 15 sheep stunned with a conventional cartridge-operated captive bolt gun and in two of 15 sheep stunned with a pneumatically activated gun. No emboli were detected in arterial blood from these sheep or in venous blood from sheep stunned electrically. Emboli from an animal with BSE could transmit the disease to people.     

Treatment of anovulatory anoestrous postpartum dairy cows with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), prostaglandin F2 alpha, GnRH regimen or with progesterone and oestradiol benzoate

AIM: To compare 2 treatments for anovulatory anoestrus (AA) in postpartum dairy cows. The treatments were combinations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin F2 (PG) or progesterone (P4) and oestradiol benzoate (ODB). METHODS: Forty AA cows from each of 5 herds were blocked by age (2 or 2 years old) and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments. The first group (GPG) were treated with 250 mug of a GnRH analogue, gonadorelin, followed 7 days later by 15 mg of the PG analogue, luprostiol. Two days later the cows were injected with 250 mug of gonadorelin. Cows were artificially inseminated 16-24 h after the second GnRH injection. The second group (P4+ODB) were treated with an intravaginal P4 releasing device for 6 days, followed 24 h after device removal by injection of 1 mg of ODB. Cows were pregnancy tested 35-40 days after the initial insemination and twice again at 6-8 week intervals thereafter. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between P4+ODB and GPG groups in the percentage of cows submitted for insemination in the first 7 days (94.0% vs 100% for P4+ODB vs GPG, respectively; p>0.3), in conception rate to first insemination within the first 7 days (43.6% vs 35.0% for P4+ODB vs GPG, respectively; p>0.2), in the percentage of cows conceiving in the first 28 days of the breeding period (68.0% vs 58.3%, P4+ODB vs GPG, respectively; p>0.1), or in median interval from the end of treatment to conception (20 vs 21 days; p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in the reproductive performance of AA cows treated with either P4+ODB or GPG were detected. However, given the small number of animals enrolled, further data are required before the GPG protocol can be recommended for treatment of AA cows.     

Effects of periparturient diseases and conditions on the reproductive performance of New Zealand dairy cows

AIM: To determine the effect of retained foetal membranes (RFM), periparturient recumbency, calf mortality, dystocia, twin births and induction of parturition on submission and pregnancy rates of pasture-fed, seasonally-calving dairy cows in New Zealand. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected for 2652 cows from 11 herds on the occurrence of periparturient diseases and condition, calving date, age and treatment for anoestrus prior to the planned start of mating (PSM). The effects of each disease or condition on submission and pregnancy rate by 28 days after PSM, final pregnancy rate, and the proportion of cows that conceived more than 50 days after PSM were examined using separate logistic regression models. Results are expressed as odds ratios (OR). Additionally, the effect of each disease or condition on the interval from PSM to conception was examined using survival analysis. Age, herd and late calving (i.e. cows calved < or =40 days before PSM) were included as factors in the models examined. RESULTS: Induction of parturition increased the risk of RFM (OR=3.3, p<0.01). The 28-day submission rate was affected by age and herd but not by any of the periparturient conditions examined. The 28-day pregnancy rate was reduced by RFM (OR=0.04, p<0.05), induction of parturition (OR=0.67, p<0.01), assisted calving (OR=0.61, p<0.01), late calving (OR=0.55, p<0.05) and anoestrus (OR=0.27, p<0.05). The final pregnancy rate was reduced by RFM (OR=0.013, p<0.01), induction (OR=0.25, p<0.05), assisted calving (OR=0.30, p<0.005) and anoestrus (OR=0.32, p<0.05), and was increased if the cow was submitted for mating within 28 days after PSM (OR=2.72, p<0.05). Effects of recumbency and twinning were not significant in any of the models. CONCLUSIONS: Cows that had had RFM or were assisted, induced or late to calve, had significantly lower pregnancy rates or took longer to conceive than unaffected herd-mates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intervention programs aimed at the examination and treatment of cows with periparturient conditions may improve the reproductive performance of New Zealand dairy herds. Investigations of poor reproductive performance of a herd should include analysis of the prevalence and effects of periparturient diseases and conditions.