Treatment of Trochanteric Ulcers with Cranial Sartorius and Rectus Femoris Muscle Flaps

Five dogs with pressure ulcers over the greater trochanter were treated by debridement and transposition of the cranial part of the sartorius or the rectus femoris muscle. Both muscles had vascular anatomy that allowed transposition based on a major vascular pedicle. All wounds healed promptly by primary intention and no ulcer recurred. The cranial sartorius flap technique was easier to perform than the rectus femoris technique.     

Mandibular Fractures in the Cat A Retrospective Study

A retrospective study was made of 75 mandibular fractures in 62 cats. Mandibular fractures comprised 14.5% of all fractures seen in 517 cats. Automobile trauma was the cause of injury in more than 50% of the cases. The mean age of patients was 29.5 months. Symphyseal fractures were most common (73.3%), followed by fractures of the body (16%), condyle (6.7%), and coronoid process (4%). Sixty-seven percent of the fractures were stabilized. Cerclage and interfragmentary wiring were the most common forms of fixation. Antibiotics were administered to 73.6% of the patients. Complications were reported in 24.5% of the cats. Malocclusion and soft tissue infections were the most frequent complications. Complications developed more commonly in cats with multiple or open fractures. Clinical union occurred by an average of 6 weeks (range, 3-12 weeks) for symphyseal fractures, 10 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks) for body fractures, 6 weeks for coronoid fractures, and 6 weeks (range, 4-8 weeks) for condylar fractures.     

ULTRASONIC DETECTION OF SPLENIC NECROSIS IN THE DOG

Ultrasonographic findings of splenic infarction and necrosis in three dogs are presented. Two previously unreported ultrasonographic patterns are identified: (1) Focal, hypoechoic or isoechoic, circular, wellmarginated nodular masses with peripheral lesions causing deformation of the splenic margin. (2) Diffuse hypoechoic or heteroechoic coarse/"lacy" parenchymal pattern with no deformation of margin. The presence of gas within the splenic parenchyma of one dog was detected by both radiography and ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic patterns of splenic infarction in both man and the dog are discussed     

Comparison of whole blood and plasma colloid osmotic pressure in healthy dogs

Objective – To determine the difference between colloid osmotic pressure (COP) values determined from plasma versus those determined from whole blood. Design – Prospective observational study. Settings – University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals – Fifty‐three healthy dogs. Interventions – None. Measurements and Main Results – Whole blood and plasma COP, CBC, plasma biochemistry. In all dogs, plasma COP values were significantly lower (P=0.02) than whole blood COP, with a mean of difference of 0.5 mm Hg. The mean and median whole blood COP was 21.75 and 21.4 mm Hg, respectively, with a range of 17.9–27.1 mm Hg. The mean and median plasma COP was 21.2 and 20.9 mm Hg with a range of 16.7–28.9 mm Hg. Conclusions – While significant difference exists between plasma and whole blood COP, the individual values are within expected reference intervals for dogs (21–25 mm Hg). Using either sample appears to provide the same information in clinically healthy dog; however, it is recommended that clinicians utilize the same sample type for comparison in an individual patient.     

Effects of Diet and Weight Gain on Body Condition Scoring in Thoroughbred Geldings

In the horse, the body condition score (BCS) system to assess subcutaneous fat deposition is a useful tool for making feeding management decisions. The system includes assessing fat deposition at six body areas (neck, withers, shoulders, ribs, loin, and tail head) and was developed in Quarter Horse mares. It has not been tested for use on other breeds or genders, possibly compromising the system's ability to describe fat accretion in other classes of horse. The objective of this study was to examine the ability of the previously developed fat accretion characteristics to describe fat deposition in mature Thoroughbred (TB) geldings. An additional goal was to determine whether fewer body areas could be used. Fifteen mature TB geldings were fed for weight gain over an 8-month period on one of two diets and were independently assessed for BCS on a monthly basis by two judges. BCS was determined by averaging the scores that were assigned to each of the six body areas. Fat accretion characteristics were also recorded. Across both diets, the neck area scored significantly higher than the withers and loin (P < 0.05) throughout the study. A BCS derived only from the body areas of neck, shoulders, ribs, and tailhead was found to accurately predict the six body area−derived mean BCS. The results of this study provide justification for modifications of the BCS system for use in TB geldings and also demonstrated that fewer body areas can be used to accurately predict mean BCS.     

Recovery of horses from general anesthesia in a darkened or illuminated recovery stall

ObjectiveTo assess whether recovery from general anesthesia, in an illuminated or a darkened stall, has an effect on time to first movement, time to standing, and recovery score.Study designProspective randomized clinical study.AnimalsTwenty-nine healthy, 2- to 5-year-old horses undergoing surgical correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate.MethodsEach horse was assigned randomly to recover in either an illuminated (n = 15) or a darkened stall (n = 14). For pre-anesthetic medication, all horses received intravenous (IV) xylazine (0.4 mg kg⁻¹) and butorphanol (0.02 mg kg⁻¹). Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg kg⁻¹) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg⁻¹) IV and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen. Vital parameters, end-tidal CO₂ and isoflurane were recorded at 5-minute intervals. At the conclusion of anesthesia, horses were placed in either an illuminated or a darkened stall and xylazine (0.2 mg kg⁻¹) IV was administered at extubation. Video cameras were used to record the horses while they were allowed to recover undisturbed. Video recordings were later viewed and recoveries were evaluated on a 100-point scale by three graders.ResultsHorses in illuminated and darkened recovery stalls were evaluated on total anesthesia time, minimum alveolar concentration hours of isoflurane, time to first movement, time to standing, and total recovery score. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measured parameters.ConclusionRecovering horses in a darkened versus an illuminated recovery stall may provide no benefit.Clinical relevanceDarkening the recovery stalls for horses recovering from general anesthesia may be unnecessary.     

Aural Cholesteatoma in Twenty Dogs

Objective— To determine the clinical course in dogs with aural cholesteatoma. Study Design— Case series. Animals— Dogs (n=20) with aural cholesteatoma. Methods— Case review (1998–2007). Results— Twenty dogs were identified. Clinical signs other than those of chronic otitis externa included head tilt (6 dogs), unilateral facial palsy (4), pain on opening or inability to open the mouth (4), and ataxia (3). Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 19 dogs, abnormalities included osteoproliferation (13 dogs), lysis of the bulla (12), expansion of the bulla (11), bone lysis in the squamous or petrosal portion of the temporal bone (4) and enlargement of associated lymph nodes (7). Nineteen dogs had total ear canal ablation–lateral bulla osteotomy or ventral bulla osteotomy with the intent to cure; 9 dogs had no further signs of middle ear disease whereas 10 had persistent or recurrent clinical signs. Risk factors for recurrence after surgery were inability to open the mouth or neurologic signs on admission and lysis of any portion of the temporal bone on CT imaging. Dogs admitted with neurologic signs or inability to open the mouth had a median survival of 16 months. Conclusions— Early surgical treatment of aural cholesteatoma may be curative. Recurrence after surgery is associated with advanced disease, typically indicated by inability to open the jaw, neurologic disease, or bone lysis on CT imaging. Clinical Relevance— Presence of aural cholesteatoma may affect the prognosis for successful surgical treatment of middle ear disease.