Reproductive emergencies.

The emergency clinician is frequently called on to manage problems relating to the female reproductive tract. Because owners sel-dom have the medical knowledge needed to differentiate normal from abnormal reproductive behaviors, they frequently look to the emergency veterinarian for guidance and information during and after parturition. For this reason, it is essential that the veterinarian have a good understanding of the normal reproductive cycle as well as the common emergencies that may occur. This article reviews the events surrounding normal parturition in the dog and cat and the reproductive emergencies seen most commonly in practice.     

RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN TESTES OF BULLS INFECTED WITH BESNOITIOSIS

Ten beef bulls infected with Besnoitiosis were examined radiographically and pathologically. Eight of these were slaughtered soon after diagnosis; two were left for a six-month observation period. The radiographic findings were focal and branching-tree calcification of the testes. Histopathologic examination proved these calcifications to be necrotic sections of the seminiferous tubules. Radiography of the testes as a means of evaluating the fertility status of the infected bull is recommended.     

Evaluation of Internal Obturator Muscle Transposition in Treatment of Perineal Hernia in Dogs

A technique that utilizes transposition of the internal obturator muscle for repair of perineal hernias was evaluated. Forty-two male dogs were followed for at least one year after surgery. The repair failed in only one animal, a dog with previously operated bilateral hernias. Microangiography demonstrated an adequate blood supply to the transposed internal obturator muscles of two dogs examined at three weeks and three months after surgery.     

Retrospective Study: Incidence of ionized hypocalcemia in septic dogs and its association with morbidity and mortality: 58 cases (2006–2007)

Objective – To determine the incidence rate and prognostic significance of ionized hypocalcemia (iHCa) among septic dogs. Design – Retrospective study Setting – Veterinary teaching hospital Animals – Fifty‐eight septic dogs that were presented to Cornell University Hospital for Animals between January 2006 and December 2007. Procedure – Cases were diagnosed with sepsis if they exhibited 2 or more criteria of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a concurrent documented infectious focus. Cases were excluded if diagnosed with a concurrent illness reportedly associated with calcium derangements. Lowest, mean, and highest blood ionized calcium concentrations were recorded and statistically analyzed for an association with morbidity, as measured by duration of hospitalization and number of blood product transfusions, and outcome. In addition, the incidence rate of iHCa was recorded. Results – Of the 58 cases included in this study, iHCa was documented in 4 of 6 (67%) patients that died, 5 of 19 (26%) euthanized patients and 5 of 33 (15%) patients that survived to discharge, with an overall incidence of 24%. Dogs that died during hospitalization had more severe iHCa than patients that were discharged or euthanized as well as significantly lower mean ionized calcium concentrations than patients who were discharged. Severity of iHCa was also associated with a longer duration of hospitalization. The highest ionized calcium concentration was not associated with outcome. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance – This study is the first to document the incidence of iHCa among septic dogs. Because both low mean ionized calcium and the lowest documented ionized calcium concentration are associated with poor outcome, it is likely that both the severity and duration of hypocalcemia are important in these patients. Further prospective studies investigating the prognostic significance, etiology and treatment of iHCa among septic veterinary patients are needed to better understand its role in sepsis.     

Palmar Digital Neurectomy in Horses 57 Cases (1984–1990)

The medical records of 57 horses that had palmar digital neurectomy performed between 1984 and 1990 were reviewed. Neurectomies were performed either by transection and elec-trocoagulation (47 horses) or by the guillotine technique (10 horses). Middle-aged geldings, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds were significantly over-represented when compared with the hospital population. Horses used as hunter/jumpers also appeared to be over-represented. Complications occurred in 17 (34%) of the 50 horses for which follow-up information was obtained. Recurrence of heel pain was the most common complication (14 horses). Palpable painful neuromas were detected in three horses. One year after neurectomy, 74% of the horses were sound; this decreased to 63% after 2 years.     

Clinical course, diagnostic findings and necropsy diagnosis in dyspneic cats with primary pulmonary parenchymal disease: 15 cats (1996–2002)

Objective: Correlate the necropsy diagnosis with the history, diagnostic findings, and clinical course of dyspneic cats with primary lung parenchymal disease. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Animals: Client‐owned cats over 6 months of age hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a primary problem of respiratory distress that had pulmonary parenchymal disease on thoracic radiographs, and a complete necropsy. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Cats included were assigned into 2 groups based on the pulmonary histopathology: inflammatory (n=8) and neoplastic (n=7) disease. No statistical difference was found between the groups with regard to age, body weight, clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, physical examination findings, thoracic radiography, duration of hospitalization, treatment, and outcome. Cats with neoplasia had a statistically higher mean total white blood cell count (26.60 k/μL±10.41) than those with inflammatory lung disease (11.59 k/μL±4.49; P=0.026). Cats with bacterial or viral pulmonary disease had a significantly shorter median duration of illness (5 days, range 1–7 days) than all other cats (30 days, range 7–365 days; P=0.0042). Ultrasound guided pulmonary fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) provided an accurate diagnosis in 5/5 cases. Conclusions: Forty‐seven percent of cats with pulmonary parenchymal disease had neoplasia. The clinical diagnosis was difficult to obtain ante‐mortem; lung FNA appeared to be the most helpful diagnostic tool in these cases.     

The effect of vitamin a supplementation on seminal characteristics and vitamin a absorption in stallions

Fourteen mature stallions were paired based on age and pretreatment spermatozoal output. One member of each pair was assigned to either 1) control (3 ml corn oil) or 2) treated (132,000 IU retinyl palmitate in 3 ml corn oil) experimental groups. Treatments were added to oat rations every other day. Seminal characteristics (gel free volume, gel volume, total seminal volume, percent progressively motile spermatozoa, number of spermatozoa per ml, percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa and spermatozoal membrane stability) and total scrotal width of each stallion were recorded before (February) and after three months of vitamin A supplementation (June). Plasma vitamin A was measured at 0,6,12,24, and 48 hours following the first and last treatments to document absorption. There were no treatment effects (p>.05) on seminal characteristics or scrotal width. Seasonal increases were recorded in gel-free volume, total seminal volume, percent spermatozoal motility, total spermatozoal output, percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, and total scrotal width. Plasma vitamin A was lower during the second collection period (June) than the first (February) in both treatment groups. Peak plasma vitamin A was observed 48 hours following ingestion of the first dose of the vitamin but at 12 hours following the last treatment.