Use of the advanced micro-osmometer model 3300 for determination of a normal osmolality and evaluation of different formulas for calculated osmolarity and osmole gap in adult dogs

Objective: To determine a reference interval of whole blood and plasma osmolalities for dogs using the Advanced Micro Osmometer Model 3300, to compare calculated osmolarity to measured osmolality, to determine a reference osmole gap, and to determine the best formula for calculated osmolaity. Design: Prospective, observational. Setting: Tertiary referral and teaching hospital. Animals: One hundred healthy adult dogs. Interventions: None. Measurements: Serum and whole blood biochemistry and osmolality assessments. Results: The mean and median of the measured whole blood osmolality were 323 and 320 mOsm/kg, respectively, with a standard deviation of 13.2 mOsm/kg. The mean and median of the measured plasma osmolality were 313 and 310 mOsm/kg, respectively, with a standard deviation of 13.2 mOsm/kg. The formula that was closest to predicting the measured whole blood and plasma osmolality was ((1.86(Na+K))+(BUN/2.8)+(Glucose/18))/0.93 followed closely by the traditional formula of (2(Na+K))+(BUN/2.8)+(Glucose/18). The mean calculated osmolarities using these formulas were 314.1 and 313.25 mOsm/L, respectively. The mean osmole gap using these formulas was 3.49 and 4.41 mOsm, respectively, for whole blood and ?2.01 and ?1.1 mOsm, respectively, for plasma. Conclusion: The Advanced Micro Osmometer Model 3300 was successful in measuring the osmolality in relative agreement with the current published reference intervals for osmolality. Measured osmolality correlated well with traditional calculated osmolarity.     

Effect of supplemental manganese on performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing swine

Three hundred sixteen crossbred pigs were used in two experiments to determine the effect of supplemental manganese source and dietary inclusion level during the growing-finishing period on performance and pork carcass characteristics. All pigs were blocked by weight, and treatments were assigned randomly to pens within blocks. In Exp. 1, a total of 20 pens (five pigs/pen) was randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments consisting of control grower and finisher diets, or control diets supplemented with either 350 or 700 ppm (as-fed basis) Mn either from MnSO4 or a Mn AA complex (MnAA). In Exp. 2, a total of 36 pens (six pigs per pen) was assigned randomly to one of six dietary treatments formulated with 0, 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 ppm (as-fed basis) Mn from MnAA. Pigs were slaughtered when the lightest block averaged 120.0 kg (Exp. 1) or at a mean BW of 106.8 kg (Exp. 2). Neither ADG nor ADFI was affected (P > 0.21) by Mn source or high inclusion level (Exp. 1); however, across the entire feeding trial, pigs consuming 320 ppm Mn from MnAA were more (P < 0.04) efficient than pigs fed diets formulated with 20 to 160 ppm Mn from MnAA (Exp. 2). Color scores did not differ (P > 0.79) at the low inclusion (20 to 320 ppm Mn) levels used in Exp. 2; however, in Exp. 1, the LM from pigs fed Mn tended to receive higher (P = 0.10) American color scores than that of pigs fed the control diet, and Japanese color scores were higher for the LM from pigs fed diets containing 350 ppm Mn from MnAA than 350 Mn from ppm MnSO4 or 700 ppm Mn from MnAA (source x inclusion level; P = 0.04; Exp. 2). Chops of pigs fed 350 ppm Mn from MnAA were darker than the LM of pigs fed 350 ppm Mn from MnSO4, and 700 ppm Mn from MnAA diets (source x inclusion level; P = 0.03; Exp. 1), but L* values were not (P = 0.76) affected by lower MnAA inclusion levels (Exp. 2). Even though the LM tended to became redder as dietary MnAA inclusion level increased from 20 to 320 ppm Mn (linear effect; P < 0.10), a* values were not (P = 0.71) altered by including 350 or 700 ppm Mn (Exp. 1). Chops of pigs fed MnAA had lower cooking losses (P = 0.01) and shear force values (P = 0.07) after 2 d of aging than did chops from pigs fed diets formulated with MnSO4. Results from these experiments indicate that feeding 320 to 350 ppm Mn from MnAA during the growing-finishing period may enhance pork quality without adversely affecting pig performance or carcass composition.     

Trauma‐associated acute mesenteric ischemia in a dog

Objective – To describe the successful management of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) in a dog. Case Summary – An 11‐year‐old, 21.4 kg, male castrated Rough‐Coated Collie was referred for evaluation of an acute abdomen following sustaining injuries in a vehicular accident. On presentation to the hospital, clinicopathologic assessments were within normal limits and distended intestinal loops were evident on abdominal palpation. Plain and contrast radiography demonstrated diffusely distended gas‐filled intestinal loops with a delayed barium transit time. Emergency surgical exploration was performed. The cecum and the proximal two‐thirds of the colon were dark purple to black in color and there were no palpable pulses in the mesenteric arteries associated with the cecum and colon. The cecum and proximal two‐thirds of the colon were resected and an ileocolic anastomosis was performed. The dog recovered well from surgery and was discharged 2 days later. Histopathologic examination was consistent with AMI. New or Unique Information Provided – AMI is uncommonly reported in human medicine and is a rare complication from even minor blunt abdominal trauma. This is the first reported case of trauma‐associated AMI in a dog.     

QUANTIFICATION OF CEREBRAL VENTRICULAR VOLUME IN ENGLISH BULLDOGS

Quantitative measurement of cerebral ventricle volume of eight English bulldogs was performed using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The mean ventricular volume was 14.8 ml. with a range of 8.6 m1.-38.1 ml. The mean ventricular volume of two beagles was 2.2 ml with a range of 0.7 m1.3.7 ml. The percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle was found to be significantly larger in bulldogs (14.0%; S.D. = 7.9%) than in beagles (Range = 1.048%). The relationship between the percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and measurements of body weight, age, sex, and various measures of skull anatomy of the bulldog was also determined. The relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic dysfunction was examined. There was a possible trend between high percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and low body weight. This study will serve as a pilot study for examining the relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic disease in bulldogs.     

Effects of tramadol on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of tramadol on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC_SEVO) in dogs. It was hypothesized that tramadol would dose-dependently decrease MAC_SEVO.Study designRandomized crossover experimental study.AnimalsSix healthy, adult female mixed-breed dogs (24.2 ± 2.6 kg).MethodsEach dog was studied on two occasions with a 7-day washout period. Anesthesia was induced using sevoflurane delivered via a mask. Baseline MAC (MAC_B) was determined starting 45 minutes after tracheal intubation. A noxious stimulus (50 V, 50 Hz, 10 ms) was applied subcutaneously over the mid-humeral area. If purposeful movement occurred, the end-tidal sevoflurane was increased by 0.1%; otherwise, it was decreased by 0.1%, and the stimulus was re-applied after a 20-minute equilibration. After MAC_B determination, dogs randomly received a tramadol loading dose of either 1.5 mg kg^?1 followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of 1.3 mg kg^?1 hour^?1 (T1) or 3 mg kg^?1 followed by a 2.6 mg kg^?1 hour^?1 CRI (T2). Post-treatment MAC determination (MAC_T) began 45 minutes after starting the CRI. Data were analyzed using a mixed model anova to determine the effect of treatment on percentage change in baseline MAC_SEVO (p < 0.05).ResultsThe MAC_B values were 1.80 ± 0.3 and 1.75 ± 0.2 for T1 and T2, respectively, and did not differ significantly. MAC_T decreased by 26 ± 8% for T1 and 36 ± 12% for T2. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the decrease between the two treatments.Conclusion and clinical relevanceTramadol significantly reduced MAC_SEVO but this was not dose dependent at the doses studied.