QUANTITATIVE CONTRAST ULTRASOUND ANALYSIS OF RENAL PERFUSION IN NORMAL DOGS

Eight normal dogs with no evidence of renal disease, weighing between 8 and 25 kg were imaged using contrast harmonic ultrasound after injection of a microbubble contrast medium. All dogs received three separate bolus injections of 0.05 ml of commercial contrast medium (Definity). Time/mean pixel value (MPV) curves were generated for selected regions in the cortex and medulla of the left kidney in each dog. Upslope, downslope, baseline, peak intensity, and time to peak were calculated for each zone. For a bolus injection, within the renal cortex (averaging all subjects) the upslope was 7.4 +/- 1.5 MPV/s, downslope was -0.4 +/- .2 MPV/s, baseline was 66.8 +/- 9.3 MPV, peak was 103.6 +/- 8.2 MPV, time to peak (from injection) was 12.8 +/- 5.3 s and from time of contrast medium reaching the kidney was 5.1 +/- 2.0 s. Within the renal medulla (averaging all subjects), upslope was 2.8 +/- 1.7 MPV/s, downslope was -0.3 +/- .2 MPV/s, baseline was 39.3 +/- 6.0 MPV, peak was 65.2 +/- 14.3 MPV, time to peak from injection was 20.9 +/- 6.4 s and from time of contrast reaching the kidney was 11.6 +/- 4.1 s. These baseline data may prove useful in the evaluation of dogs with diffuse disease or vascular compromise.     

Evaluation of the effects of infrared beak trimming in broiler breeder chicks

Detailed behavioural observations were made of broiler breeder chicks after their beaks had been trimmed by an automated infrared treatment at one day of age or by the traditional hot-blade method at one day or seven days, or after they had been sham-trimmed or left untreated. Observations took place immediately after the treatments and at regular intervals until six weeks of age; beak length and bodyweight were also measured regularly. There were no significant effects on the behaviour of the chicks in the first hour after trimming or in the subsequent six weeks. Variability in beak length was low within the treatments and there was significant regrowth, but it was least in the birds that had been hot-blade trimmed at seven days. Both beak-trimming methods were associated with small but significant reductions in bodyweight, with the hot-blade-treated birds being more affected.     

Effects of reconcile (fluoxetine) chewable tablets plus behavior management for canine separation anxiety

Canine separation anxiety is a common behavioral problem presented to veterinarians. Associated behaviors are distressing to both dog and owner, have the potential to disrupt the human-companion animal bond, and may lead to euthanasia. The results of this study demonstrate the clinical efficacy and safety of Reconcile (fluoxetine, 1 to 2 mg/kg/day [0.45 to 0.91 mg/lb/day]), in conjunction with behavior management, for the treatment of canine separation anxiety. The beef flavored chewable formulation was palatable to treated dogs and easy to administer. This study provides to veterinarians and owners valuable information about an effective separation anxiety treatment plan that combines use of Reconcile with behavior modification.     

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the canine larynx

An 11-year-old, female, spayed cocker spaniel was presented with dysphonia caused by a solitary laryngeal mass. Excisional biopsy was performed, and a diagnosis of plasmacytoma was made on the basis of histological examination. Further investigations showed no signs of systemic involvement. Coarse fractionated radiation therapy failed to control the tumour. Therapy was successfully instituted with a conventional combination chemotherapy protocol over a period of 14 months. The dog remains disease free 30 months after diagnosis. Most solitary, extramedullary plasmacytomas in dogs arise in the gastrointestinal tract, with fewer reports in other sites. The larynx is an uncommon sight of involvement in any species, and to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of this tumour type in the canine larynx. In contrast to the therapeutic benefits reported in humans, the combination of surgery and radiation therapy was unsuccessful in this case, although sustained remission was gained following chemotherapy.     

Carbon Monoxide Induced Prevention of Vascular Ristenosis is not Related to Nitric Oxide Activity

Veterinary Research Communications - Mazzola, S., Albertini, M., Pastore, C., Pirrone, F. and Clement, M.G., 2007. Carbon monoxide induced prevention of vascular ristenosis is not related to nitric...     

Internal hydrocephalus and associated periventricular encephalitis in a young fox

Marked lateral ventricular enlargement associated with atrophic cerebral cortex and periventricular encephalitis is described in a 2-month-old fox affected by disorientation, generalized ataxia, difficulty in walking, circling, and blindness. Clinical conditions progressed to stupor and spontaneous death within a few days. At necropsy, severe inflammatory and necrotizing lesions were observed in periventricular sites associated with diverticula and cleft formation in perithalamic areas and rhinencephalic cortex. Immunolabeling for Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, canine distemper virus, and rabies virus was negative. Given the presence of periventricular and choroidal neutrophilic/mononuclear cell infiltration, it is thought that a bacterial infection may have been the cause of the inflammatory lesions, with internal hydrocephalus secondary to the severe periventricular lesions. A similar condition has been previously reported in the pathogenesis of spontaneously occurring acquired canine hydrocephalus, but no viral or bacterial causes have been investigated to date.     

The role of bisphosphonates in the management of patients that have cancer.

Bisphosphonates are pharmacologic agents widely used in people for managing pathologic bone resorptive conditions. Based on their physicochemical properties, bisphosphonates concentrate within areas of active bone remodeling and induce osteoclast apoptosis. Appropriate use of bisphosphonates for treating companion animals requires a thorough understanding of how bisphosphonates exert their biologic effects. This review article highlights general properties of bisphosphonates, including their pharmacology, mechanisms of action, adverse side effects, anticancer mechanisms, surrogate markers for assessing response, and potential clinical utility for treating dogs and cats diagnosed with malignant skeletal tumors.