Coagulopathic Effects and Therapy of Brodifacoum Toxicosis in Dogs

The clinical signs and laboratory changes of brodifacoum (BDF) intoxicated dogs and their response to vitamin K1 treatment were examined. Brodifacoum, a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, was fed to four dogs for 3 consecutive days producing a cumulative dose of 1.1 mg BDF/kg body weight. Clinical observations of the animals were made daily throughout the study. Monitored laboratory parameters included: one-stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), activated coagulation time (ACT), complete blood counts, thrombocyte counts, and serum chemistry values. Response to vitamin K1 therapy was evaluated clinically and by laboratory tests. Serum BDF concentrations were monitored. Inappetence and hemorrhagic tendencies were exhibited by day 5 postrodenticide exposure. One-stage prothrombin time, APTT, and ACT were 25% greater than time zero values at 24, 24, and 72 hours postdosing, respectively. All laboratory parameters returned to normal within 48 hours of initiating vitamin K1 therapy (0.83 mg/kg orally, TID for 5 days). Serum brodifacoum concentrations were highest (1065-1215 ng/mL) during the 3 days after BDF dosing and were detectable (3.0-7.5 ng/mL) until day 24 postexposure. A mean BDF elimination half-life of 6 +/- 4 days was observed.     

DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF THE DOG

A group of 160 Beagles were studied radiographically to determine the pattern of degenerative changes within the vertebral column, especially involving the intervertebral discs. The normal radiographic appearance of both disc and surrounding vertebrae is described. Disc space narrowing and calcification of discal tissues provide radiographic patterns that assist in diagnosis and prognosis. Because of the older age of the dogs, severe degeneration of the endplates with marked instability between vertebral segments was seen.     

Evaluation of a Collagenase Generated Osteoarthritis Biomarker in Naturally Occurring Canine Cruciate Disease

Objective— To determine the clinical value of a novel osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker in detecting canine cruciate disease.
Study Design— Cross sectional clinical study.
Animals— Dogs (n=22) with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and 12 control dogs.
Methods— Concentrations of collagenase-generated cleavage epitope of type II collagen (Col2-3/4C_{long mono}, or C2C) in serum, urine, and joint fluid were compared between a group of dogs with CCL rupture and a control group. Correlation of C2C concentrations to the clinical stage of stifle OA was also evaluated.
Results— There were no significant differences in C2C concentrations in serum, urine, and joint fluid between groups ( P >.05). Subjective scores of lameness, joint effusion, osteophytosis were significantly more severe in the CCL rupture group compared with the control group ( P <.05). There was no significant correlation of C2C concentrations with clinical stage of stifle OA ( P >.05).
Conclusion— This OA biomarker did not detect pathology associated with CCL rupture. Our results suggest that collagenase-specific degradation of type II collagen in articular cartilage may not be involved in the early stage of naturally occurring canine cruciate disease, and that pathology associated with naturally occurring CCL rupture is different from that of experimental OA model.
Clinical Relevance— C2C is not clinically useful in detecting CCL rupture in dogs.     

THE SCINTIGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF SOLID PHASE GASTRIC EMPTYING IN NORMAL CATS

The gastric emptying half-time of solid food in normal cats was determined using a scintigraphic technique. ^99mTc-sulfur colloid was applied to dry food. Sequential images were acquired post prandial, and the gastric emptying half-time was determined for several different acquisition and processing parameters. Good correlation was found between different acquisition and processing methods, some of which made use of edge detection applications, while others used different views, or number of views from which the gastric emptying half-time was calculated. The mean ± standard deviation, (range) and median of the gastric emptying half-time determined using the geometric mean of total counts in hand-drawn regions of interest from the lateral and ventral images were 2.47 × 0.71, (1.42–3.61) and 2.37 hours respectably.     

A COMPARISON OF MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BIOPSY TECHNIQUES

A manual, ultrasound-guided biopsy technique was compared to a new automatic method using a new biopsy device. The liver and the left kidney of 10 dogs were biopsied using the two methods. The specimens from the biopsies were compared for size and quality. Results demonstrate that larger and higher quality samples were obtained with the new automatic method.     

Equine chronic diarrhea: Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine review

Chronic diarrhea is a common problem in equine practice. Herbal medicine has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disease in horses for at least one thousand years. In present-day equine practice in China, the most common approach to treat chronic diarrhea is herbal medicine, or a combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture. Three types of chronic diarrhea in horses will be described in detail in term of symptoms, diagnosis and herbal treatments in this paper. Nineteen herbal formulas for treatment of different types of diarrhea will be introduced. Clinical results of each herbal formula will be evaluated. Acupuncture treatment of this problem will also be included.     

Synovial Hemangioma in a Dog

Objective— To report arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of synovial hemangioma in a dog.
Study Design— Case report.
Animal— Standard Poodle (8-year-old neutered male).
Methods— A soft tissue density mass observed radiographically in the left stifle joint of a dog with a 2-month history of recurrent lameness, hemarthrosis, and a slight cranial drawer sign, was located by diagnostic arthroscopy and surgically excised via arthrotomy.
Results— Histologic evaluation revealed tissue composed of variably sized cavernous vascular spaces filled with erythrocytes that were considered compatible with synovial hemangioma.
Conclusions— In this dog, synovial hemangioma evident as a soft tissue mass on radiographs was associated with chronic lameness and hemarthrosis, and resolved with surgical excision.
Clinical Relevance— Synovial hemangioma, although seemingly rare in dogs, should be considered in the differential diagnosis for nontraumatic, recurrent lameness, and unresponsive to anti-inflammatory therapy when there is a circumscribed intracapsular soft tissue mass evident radiographically together with hemarthrosis.