Protein Characteristics of Commercial Canine and Feline Hypoallergenic Diets

Résumé— Huit aliments humides pour chat, treize aliments humides pour chien et neufs aliments seés pour chien utilisés comme régimes d'élimination, recommandés ou vendus comme aliment hypoalergénique ont été comparés sur la base: des sources protéiques, de la quantité et de la digestibilité des protéines. Le nombre de sources de protéines variait de deux à neuf. La quantité de protéines (basée sur la matière sèche) variait de 8 à 40 pour cent dans les produits pour chiens et de 27 à 41 pour cent dand les produits pour chats. En se basant sur des différences statistiquement significatives les aliments pour chats et les boites pour chiens ont été classés en trois catégories de digestibilité, les aliments seés pour chiens en deux catégories. II a été proposé que seuls les produits contenant des protéines de haute ou très haute digestibilité soient utilisés chez les animaux suspects d'intolérances alimentaires. [Protein characteristics of commercial canine and feline hypoallergenic diets. (Charactéristiques des protéines des aliments hypoallergéniques industriels pour le chien et le chat.) Abstract— Eight feline, 13 canned canine and nine dry canine commercial pet foods used as elimination diets, recommended or marketed as hypoallergenic diets were compared for protein sources, protein quantity and protein digestibility. The number of protein-containing ingredients varied from two to nine. Protein quantity (dry matter basis) varied from 8 to 40 per cent in canine products and 27–41 per cent in feline products. Based on statistically significant differences, feline diets were classified into three categories of protein digestibility, canned canine diets into three categories, and dry canine diets into two categories. It is suggested that only those products with high or very high protein digestibility should be routinely recommended for patients with suspected adverse reactions to food.     

Cardiovascular Effects of a Continuous Two-Hour Propofol Infusion in Dogs Comparison With Isoflurane Anesthesia

The cardiovascular effects during 2 hours of anesthesia with either a continuous propofol infusion or isoflurane were compared in the same six healthy dogs. Dogs were randomly assigned to be anesthetized with either propofol (5 mg/kg, IV administered over 30 seconds, immediately followed by a propofol infusion beginning at 0.4 mg/kg/min), or isoflurane (2.0% end-tidal concentration). The propofol infusion was adjusted to maintain a light plane of anesthesia. Dogs anesthetized with propofol had higher values for systemic arterial pressure due to higher systemic vascular resistance. Dogs anesthetized with isoflurane had higher values for heart rate and mean pulmonary artery pressure. Cardiac index was not different between the two groups. Apnea and cyanosis were observed during induction of anesthesia with propofol. At the end of anesthesia the mean time to extubation for dogs anesthetized with either propofol or isoflurane was 13.5 min and 12.7 min, respectively. A continuous infusion of propofol (0.44 mg/kg/min) provided a light plane of anesthesia. Ventilatory support during continuous propofol infusion is recommended.     

Management of Intractable Pleural Effusion in a Dog with a Pleuroperitoneal Shunt

Persistent nonchylous pleural effusion followed thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax in a dog. Attempts at tetracycline pleurodesis twice failed to reduce the quantity of pleural effusion. Repeated thoracentesis caused malnutrition and hypoproteinemia. A modified Denver peritoneal-venous shunt was implanted to internally drain the pleural fluid into the peritoneal cavity. Normal body weight and plasma protein concentration were regained in 40 days. Digital compression of the pump chamber alleviated the signs of respiratory compromise, without complication. At 50 weeks post-installation, a proteinaceous clot obstructed the original efferent pump valve, necessitating shunt replacement. Eight weeks after replacement, the dog was asymptomatic.     

Surgical Repair of Metacarpal Condylar Fractures with Palmar Osteochondral Comminution in Two Thoroughbred Horses

Complete displaced lateral condylar fractures of the metacarpus with triangular osteochondral fragments at the palmar articular surface occurred in two Thoroughbred horses. The condylar fractures were repaired with cortical bone screws following removal of the osetochondral fragments via a dorsal arthrotomy and distraction of the condyles. One horse raced successfully after surgery, and the other is being used successfully as an English pleasure mount.     

Canine paraganglioma: a case report

An 8-year-old castrated Cocker Spaniel with tympanic paraganglioma was presented. The tumour was resected twice with an interval of 120 days. The dog presented with tetraparesis 130 days after the second operation and had radiologic evidence of metastasis to the C5 vertebra. On pathologic examination, metastasis of the tumour was found in the myocardium, lungs, kidney, and C5 vertebra. The tumour, which is being described for the first time in the dog, was highly vascular, and was characterized by various-sized groups of medium-sized cells separated by vascular stroma. The neoplastic cells were round or polyhedral with moderately hyperchromatic nuclei, scattered chromatin, indistinct nucleoli, and eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. The metastatic lesions were histologically similar to the primary tumour.     

Use of Colostomy to Manage Rectal Disease in Dogs

Objective — The purpose of this study was to develop a diverting colostomy technique for use in dogs.
Study Design — Clinical case series.
Animals — Five client-owned dogs presented for diseases requiring diverting colostomy during treatment.
Methods — Diverting colostomy was performed in five dogs. A ventral approach was used in the first dog and the colon was exteriorized adjacent to the linea alba. The technique used in the next four dogs involved creation of a left flank rod-supported loop colostomy in which the colon was exteriorized through a muscle-separating flank approach to the abdomen.
Results — Peritoneal leakage of fecal material resulted in the perioperative death of the first dog. The flank colostomies were maintained for times ranging from 3.5 weeks to 7 months. No major complications were observed, but skin excoriation occurred occasionally around the stomasites in all dogs.
Conclusion — Diverting colostomy is a technique that is suitable for use in treatment of dogs with obstruction or leakage involving the distal colon or rectum.     

Oral conidiobolomycosis in a dog

Conidiobolomycosis was diagnosed via culture from an oral lesion in a 1.5-year-old German Shepherd dog. Clinically, the lesion consisted of a large, irregularly shaped, ulcerative focus on the caudal hard palate. Microscopically, the lesion was characterized by an eosinophilic granulomatous stomatitis with hyphal organisms surrounded by eosinophilic sleeves (Splendore–Hoeppli material) suggestive of an entomophthoramycosis. The fungus was cultured and identified with features consistent with Conidiobolus sp. Treatment with itraconazole at 10 mg kg⁻¹ twice daily for 61 days resulted in clinical and radiographic resolution of the lesion.     

Multiple skin tumours in a Doberman Pinscher with colour dilution alopecia

Abstract An 11-year-old Doberman Pinscher with clinical and histological skin features consistent with colour dilution alopecia had a long history of skin disease. The animal had hundreds of papules affecting the ‘blue’ haired áreas of the hair coat. The predominant skin lésions included keratinizing infundibular cysts, keratin horns, perifollicular dermatitis, and sebaceous hyperplasia; these lésions were often accompanied by fürunculosis and suppurative panniculitis. Over a 9-month period, 32 lésions were examined histologically, which included two lipomas, one infiltrative lipoma, one squamous papilloma, two mast cell tumours, four cavernous haemangiomas, one haemangiosarcoma, and three melanomas. It is unknown at present whether the colour dilution phenotype confers increased risk for tumours of the skin and or subcutaneous tissues. Résumé— Un doberman de 11 ans avec des manifestations cutanées cliniques et histologiques compatibles avec le díagnostic d'alopécie des couleurs diluées avait une longue histoire de problèmes cutanés. L'animal présentait des centaines de papules affectant les zones de couleur bleue. Les lésions cutanées prédominantes consistaient en kystes infundibulaires kératinisants, cornes cutanées, dermatite périfolliculaire et hyperplasie sébacée; ces lésions s'accompagnaient souvent de füronculose et de panniculite suppurative. Sur une période de 9 mois, 32 lésions ont fait l'objet d'un examen histologique, dont deux lipomes, un lipome infiltrant, un papillome, deux mastocytomes, quatre hémangiomes caverneux, un hémangiosarcome, et trois mélanomes. On ne sait actuellement pas si le phénotype couleur diluée constitue un facteur de risque accru pour les tumeurs de la peau et des tissus sous cutanés. [Madewell, B. R., Ihrke, P. J., Griffey, S. M. Multiple skin tumours in a Doberman Pinscher with colour dilution alopecia. (Tumeurs cutanées multiples chez un doberman présentant une alopécie des couleurs diluées.) Veterinary Dermatology 1997; 8 : 59–62.] Resumen Un doberman pinscher de 11 años con caracteristicas clinicas e histológicas compatibles con alopecia de color diluido tenia una larga historia de enfermedad cutanea. El animal presentaba centenares de pápulas afectando las áreas de pelo “azul”. Las lesiones prédominantes incluian quistes infundibulares queratinizados, cuernos de queratina, dermatitis perifolicular e hiperplasia sebácea; estas lesiones se acompañaban de fürunculosis y paniculitis supurativa. Durante un periodo de 9 meses, 32 lesiones fueron examinadas histológicamente, incluyendo 2 lipomas, un lipoma infiltrativo, un papiloma escamoso, dos mastocitomas, cuatro hemangiomas cavernosos, un hemangiosarcoma y tres melanomas. Se desconoce aún si el fenotipo de color diluido aumenta el riesgo para la aparición de tumores en tejidos cutáneos y subcutáneos. [Madewell, B. R., Ihrke, P. J., Griffey, S. M. Multiple skin tumours in a Doberman Pinscher with colour dilution alopecia. (Multiples tumores cutáneos en un Doberman Pinscher con alopecia de color diluido.) Veterinary Dermatology 1997; 8 : 59–62.] Zusammenfassung— Ein elfjähriger Dobermann mit klinischen und histologischen Befunden, die bei Farbmutantenalopezie auftreten, wies eine lange Vorgeschichte mit Hautkrankheiten auf. Das Tier zeigte Hunderte von Papeln, die die “blau” behaarten Bezirke des Felles betrafen. Die vorherrschenden Hautveränderungen bestanden in keratinisierenden infundibulären Zysten, Keratinhörnern, perifollikulärer Dermatitis und Talgdrüsenhyperplasie; diese Veränderungen wurden oft von Furunkulose und eitriger Pannikulitis begleitet. Über eine Zeitspanne von 9 Monaten wurden 32 Veränderungen histologisch untersucht, wovon zwei in Lipomen bestanden, eine in einem infiltrativen Lipom, eine in einem squamösen Papillom, zwei in Mastzelltumoren, vier in kavernösen Hämangiomen, eine in einem Hämangiosarkom und drei in Melanomen. Es ist zur Zeit nicht bekannt, ob der Phänotyp mit der Farbverdünnung mit einem erhöhten Risiko für Tumoren der Haut und/oder des subkutanen Gewebes einhergeht. [Madewell, B. R., Ihrke, P. J., Griffey, S. M. Multiple skin tumours in a Doberman Pinscher with colour dilution alopecia. (Multiple Hauttumoren bei einem Dobermann mit Farbmutantenalopezie.) Veterinary Dermatology 1997; 8 : 59–62.]     

Evaluation of an Autotutorial-Simulator Program for Instruction of Hollow Organ Closure

Forty students were randomly assigned into two study groups (traditional, T; and simulator, S) of 20 students each for a core operative practice laboratory. Students were randomly paired and their group assignment and identity remained anonymous to the evaluators throughout the study. Questionnaires were distributed to students to evaluate prior surgical experience and obtain learning resource use information. Before the evaluation sessions, both groups were given identical learning resource opportunities except students in Group S received hollow organ simulators and practice materials for gastrotomy closure. All students were forewarned that surgical instruction would not be available during the evaluation sessions. In the first live animal evaluation session, all student pairs were videotaped after which stomachs were harvested for gross evaluation of the surgical site. Group T performed an additional gastrotomy for video and gross evaluation 2 weeks later. Questionnaire, and gross and video evaluation results were compared statistically between groups and sessions. The hollow organ model did not suitably simulate live stomach tissue; the material was more fragile and stiff and suture cut-out was a problem even with appropriate suture tension and technique. The model was effective for teaching needle placement, instrument usage, creating proper tissue inversion, and methods to minimize instrument handling of tissue during gastrotomy closure. Prior practice with models did not boost student confidence during their live gastrotomy session. The autotutorials (ATs) were well received by students but did not sufficiently address how to manage mucosal eversion, suture tension, and bleeding encountered during live gastrotomy. AT viewing lime positively correlated with mean total video score for Group T during both sessions. None of the students had prior experience performing hollow organ closure and no significant difference in experience level was evident between groups. Mean closure time was not significantly different between groups for session one (Group T, mean, 31.5 minutes, range, 18.4 to 53.4; Group S, mean, 28.2 minutes, range, 16.8 to 36), but was significantly reduced for session two (Group T, mean, 21.3 minutes, range, 13.9 to 31). This AT/simulator program does not significantly influence students' overall gastrotomy closure technique; gross and video evaluation scores were not significantly different between groups. Without instructor supervision, an additional gastrotomy experience did not improve surgical technique appreciably for Group T; however, these students performed the second procedure with more confidence and speed. Instruction during simulator or live animal practice appears to be necessary to assure adequate skill mastery and to reduce perpetuation of mistakes.     

Acquired Aurotrichia ("Gilding Syndrome") of Miniature Schnauzers

Abstract— Eighteen miniature schnauzers which developed a hair coat color change from normal to a golden color are reported. Average age of onset was 2.5 years, with no discernable sex predilection. The discoloration was not associated with endocrine dysfunction or other health problems. Eight of the dogs shared common ancestors. Fifty-five per cent of the dogs regrew their grey hair coats within two years. Résumé— Dix huit Schnauzer nains ayant présente une modification de la couleur de la robe de normal à fauve sont dérits. L'âge moyen d'apparition était de deux ans et demi, sans prédisposition sexuelle. La discoloration n'était pas associée à une dysendocrinie ni tout autre maladie. Huit de ces chiens avaient des ancètres communs. Cinquante cinq pourcent des animaux ont retrouvé un pelage gfis normal au bout de deux ans. Zusammenfassung— Es wird über achtzehn Zwergschnauzer berichtet, deren Fellfarbe sich in einen goldenen Farbton veränderte. Das durchschnittliche Alter bei Beginn der Veränderung waren 2,5 Jahre, eine Geschlechtsprädisposition lag nicht vor. Die Farbveränderung stand nicht im Zusammenhang mit endokrinen Funktionsstörungen oder anderen Gesundheitsproblemen. Acht der Hunde wiesen gemeinsame Vorfahren auf. Bei fünfundfünfzig Prozent der Hunde wuchsen innerhalb von zwei Jahren die grauen Haare nach. Resumen En el présente artículo se estudian diecioncho schnauzers miniatura, los cuales desarrollaron un color dorado del pelo de la capa. La media de edad de aparcición fue de 2.5 años, sin evidente predilección por el sexo. La decoloració no se asoció con malfunción endocrina u otros problemas de salud. Ocho de los perros tenían progenitores en común. Cincuenta y cinco por ciento prensentó crecimiento de pelo gris característico de su capa en un periodo de 2 años.