Effects of a 61.7 km ride on magnesium and calcium homeostasis in well trained endurance horses

The adequacy of the dietary supply of Mg and Ca was evaluated in seven well trained endurance horses completing a 61.7 km ride. The horses received excessive amounts of dietary magnesium before and during the ride. Blood samples were taken one hour before the start, at the first and second veterinary gate, directly and 1 and 2 hours after the finish. The mean body weight loss was 20.1 ± 3.9 kg which implied a body weight reduction of 4.6 ± 1.0%. No major downward changes of the concentrations of the total and ionized concentrations of calcium and magnesium and erythrocyte Mg concentrations were observed during the ride in response to the Mg and Ca loss via sweat. Also the concentrations of parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were not increased. These results demonstrate that under the conditions of this study sufficient amounts of Mg and Ca were available from the diet, from additional supplementation during the ride and from body stores.     

POSITIVE-CONTRAST ARTHROGRAPHY

Normal colony Beagle dogs were used to evaluate the effect of concentration, volume, and limb positioning on positive-contrast arthrography in the humeral joint. An 8.4% w/v (33.3 mg/ml ± volume) concentration of analytic grade metrizamide (33 mg/ml of iodine) was thought to provide arthrograms of the highest diagnostic quality. Optimal volume of contrast medium was 2–4 ml in dogs with weight of 7.0–15.6 kg (mean, 10.3 kg). Radiographs thought to be of greatest diagnostic value were those made with the dog in lateral recumbency and the limb positioned for neutral, traction, flexion, supination, and pronation views, plus a caudocranial radiograph made with the dog in dorsal recumbency and the limb in traction.     

Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in an Abyssinian Cat With Blood Type B

After receiving a transfusion with unmatched blood, an anemic Abyssinian cat developed an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Similar to many other purebred cats, the recipient had type B blood with strong serum anti-A alloantibodies, whereas the donor had blood type A. Subsequent transfusions with type B blood proved effective and without adverse reactions. This case of a clinical A-B incompatibility reaction emphasizes the need for blood typing and/or crossmatching prior to transfusing cats.     

Evaluation of respiratory parameters at presentation as clinical indicators of the respiratory localization in dogs and cats with respiratory distress

Objective ? To describe clinical respiratory parameters in cats and dogs with respiratory distress and identify associations between respiratory signs at presentation and localization of the disease with particular evaluation between the synchrony of abdominal and chest wall movements as a clinical indicators for pleural space disease. Design ? Prospective observational clinical study. Setting ? Emergency service in a university veterinary teaching hospital. Animals ? Cats and dogs with respiratory distress presented to the emergency service between April 2008 and July 2009. Interventions ? None. Measurements and Main Results ? The following parameters were systematically determined at time of admission: respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, type of breathing, movement of the thoracic and abdominal wall during inspiration, presence of stridor, presence and type of dyspnea, and results of thoracic auscultation. Abdominal and chest wall movement was categorized as synchronous, asynchronous, or inverse. Diagnostic test results, diagnosis, and outcome were subsequently recorded. Based on the final diagnoses, animals were assigned to 1 or more of the following groups regarding the anatomical localization of the respiratory distress: upper airways, lower airways, lung parenchyma, pleural space, thoracic wall, nonrespiratory causes, and normal animals. One hundred and seventy‐six animals (103 cats and 73 dogs) were evaluated. Inspiratory dyspnea was associated with upper airway disease in dogs and expiratory dyspnea with lower airway disease in cats. Respiratory noises were significantly associated and highly sensitive and specific for upper airway disease. An asynchronous or inverse breathing pattern and decreased lung auscultation results were significantly associated with pleural space disease in both dogs and cats (P<0.001). The combination is highly sensitive (99%) but not very specific (45%). Fast and shallow breathing was not associated with pleural space disease. Increased or moist pulmonary auscultation findings were associated with parenchymal lung disease. Conclusions ? Cats and dogs with pleural space disease can be identified by an asynchronous or inverse breathing pattern in combination with decreased lung sounds on auscultation.