A simple restrainer for sheep for abdominal radiography

The construction of a simple, portable restrainer for holding sheep in either the horizontal or vertical position for abdominal radiography is described. Examples of its use in locating slow-release pellets-and needles are given.     

Management of acute illness in cats

Pleural effusions can cause dyspnea and cyanosis, and are caused by cardiomyopathy, pyothorax, FIP, FeLV-related disease and trauma. Thoracentesis is used to obtain fluid samples for cytologic examination and culture. Radiographs made after thoracentesis may reveal the cause. Lymphosarcoma causes a sterile exudate containing neoplastic cells. Congestive cardiomyopathy causes a transudate or modified transudate. The sterile exudate of FIP has a proteinaceous background on cytologic examination. The exudate of pyothorax is septic. Treatment depends on the cause but generally includes thoracentesis and supportive care. Cardiomyopathy causes dyspnea, cyanosis, murmurs, gallop rhythms and other arrhythmias. Radiography reveals a globoid heart in the congestive form and a "valentine-shaped" heart in the hypertrophic form. Treatment of congestive cardiomyopathy involves use of furosemide, but is usually unrewarding. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is treated with propranolol. Fever may be caused by infection, immune-mediated disease, neoplasia and unknown causes. Treatment is aimed at removal of the underlying cause.     

Equine hydatidosis: a new record for New Zealand

Cysts found in the liver of a horse which had never been out of New Zealand were used to infect two dogs which were slaughtered 35 days after infection. Large numbers of Echinococcus granulosus were recovered. These cestodes were compared with mature dog-sheep cestodes, using light and scanning electron microscopy and identified as the dog-horse strain of E.granulosus.