Clinical management of the feline urological syndrome

The management of cases of the feline urological syndrome (FUS) is described with particular reference to urethral obstruction in the male cat. Treatment of the obstructive episode and in the post–obstruction period and the prevention of recurrence of blockage in the longer term are discussed and a technique for perineal urethrostomy described.     

The radiological features of osteosarcoma of the appendicular skeleton in dogs: a review of 74 cases

The clinical features, sites of origin and radiological changes associated with 75 osteosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton in 74 dogs are reviewed. Clinical data and the areas affected were broadly similar to those in previously reported series of cases, but the precise sites of origin were found to vary considerably from the generally accepted predeliction site, which is the metaphysis. A wide spectrum of radiological changes was recorded. Only 61.3 per cent of tumours could be classified as characteristic. A further 21.3 per cent showed features suggestive of, but not specific for, osteosarcoma and were therefore classified as equivocal. In the remaining 17.3 per cent the radiological signs, although indicative of neoplasia and usually of malignancy, were quite uncharacteristic. Among 63 cases in which both radiographic and post-mortem examination of the lungs was performed the incidence of pulmonary metastases was 13 per cent, with total correlation between their radiological and pathological detection. Of ten dogs which were treated surgically, one with a radiographically atypical lesion has survived for more than four years.     

The radiological features of non-osteogenic malignant tumours of bone in the appendicular skeleton of the dog: a review of thirty-four cases

The clinical features, sites of origin and radiological changes in 34 dogs with 38 histologically proven non-osteogenic malignant tumours of the appendicular skeleton are reported. The incidence of such tumours when compared with the number of osteosarcomas recorded during the same period is much higher than in previously reported series. A wide variety of tumour types was recorded, fibrosarcomas (nine cases), metastatic deposits (eight cases) and haemangiosarcomas (five cases) being the most common. No distinctive features could be related to histological type, but only one tumour in this group demonstrated radiological signs indistinguishable from those previously classified as characteristic of osteosarcoma (Gibbs, Denny & Kelly, 1984). Lung metastases were detected radiographically in approximately 15 per cent of cases. Of eight dogs treated, either by amputation or surgical excision, three are known to have survived without recurrence for more than two years.     

A further evaluation of the 'over-the-top' technique for anterior cruciate ligament replacement in the dog

The ‘Over-the-Top’ Technique for anterior cruciate ligament replacement using the lateral third of the straight patellar ligament and fascia lata as a graft was used in 150 dogs (average weight 35 kg). Follow-up reports were obtained on 100 cases. The average recovery time was 12 weeks and a successful outcome was achieved in 91 per cent of cases.     

Energy and fibre intake in a group of captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) offered increasing amounts of browse

We investigated the effect of diet on intake of energy and fibre in a group of three captive adult giraffe by weighing offered diet items and leftovers for 7 days after an adaptation period of 7 days. Digestion coefficients were calculated using, as internal marker, the acid detergent lignin content of a faecal sample pooled from subsamples taken during the last 5 days of intake measurement. Two lucerne hay-only diets of differing quality (L1, L2) were fed, as well as the regular diet of lucerne hay and concentrates (L2C), and the regular diet supplemented with 3 or 6 kg of edible, fresh browse material (L2CB3, L2CB6). The proportion of roughage in the ingested diets L2CB6 (45 +/- 5% dry matter), L2CB3 (35 +/- 3%) and L2C (37 +/- 10%) did not differ significantly. Digestible energy intake was low on the hay-only diets [L1: 0.28 +/- 0.06 MJ/kg body weight (BW)0.75; L2: 0.33 +/- 0.10 MJ/kg BW0.75] and increased from L2C (0.60 +/- 0.13 MJ/kg BW0.75) to a significant increase with L2CB3 (0.72 +/- 0.17 MJ/kg BW0.75); no further increase was obvious for L2CB6 (0.63 +/- 0.15MJ/kg BW0.75). The results confirm that giraffes are unlikely to meet energy requirements on lucerne hay-only diets. In a feeding scenario where both lucerne hay and the concentrate component of the diet are fed ad libitum, the animals tended to exchange hay for browse when browse was added. Only the higher level of browse supplementation led to a potentially beneficial increase in fibre intake. Whether additional browse supplementation will lead to increased intakes in a feeding scenario with restricted concentrate provision can be suspected but remains to be demonstrated.     

Risk factors for the infection of Swiss goat herds with small ruminant lentivirus: a case-control study

In the mid-1980s, Switzerland started a programme to eradicate caprine arthritis-encephalitis - an infectious disease of goats caused by the small ruminant lentivirus (srlv). Since 1996, progress towards eradication has slowed down, owing to infections occurring on farms from which the infection had previously been eliminated. To investigate specific risk factors for these new infections and to improve the eradication programme, a case-control study was conducted. Cases consisted of farms that had been officially free of srlv for at least three consecutive years but on which at least one srlv-seropositive animal had been detected during the annual serological surveys of 2001 and 2002. On all the case and control farms where sheep were housed together with goats, a subset of sheep was screened for antibodies to srlv. Potential risk factors were analysed in a logistic regression model; the results indicated that close contact with srlv-seropositive sheep was highly correlated with seroconversion in srlv-seronegative goat herds (odds ratio=26.9), supporting the hypothesis that srlv can be transmitted between sheep and goats, and suggesting that the measures taken so far will not lead to the complete eradication of srlv from Switzerland within the next few years.     

The use of the wire tension band in the treatment of fractures in the dog

The use of the wire tension band for the internal fixation of fractures of the olecranon, patella, proximal and distal epiphyses and lateral malleolus of the tibia, os calcis and radius is described in ten cases.     

Condylar fractures of the humerus in the dog; a review of 133 cases

Case histories have been reviewed of 133 dogs with condylar fractures of the humerus. The fractures were divided into three types: lateral condylar, medial condylar and intercondylar. For each type the breed and age prevalence, the cause of fracture, the method of fixation and the results of treatment have been recorded.     

Anticonvulsant activity of Mimosa pudica decoction

The decoction of Mimosa pudica leaves given intraperitoneally at dose of 1000-4000 mg/kg protected mice against pentylentetrazol and strychnine-induced seizures. M. pudica had no effect against picrotoxin-induced seizures It also antagonized N-methyl-D-aspartate- induced turning behavior. These properties could explain its use in African traditional medicine.     

The lateral fenestration of canine thoracolumbar disc protrusions: a review of 30 cases

Thirty dogs with disc protrusions in the thoracolumbar region were treated by lateral fenestration of the last three thoracic and first three lumbar discs. The case details and results of treatment are presented.