Fusion podoplasty for the management of chronic pedal conditions in seven dogs and one cat

Eight animals underwent fusion podoplasties for the treatment of chronic interdigital furunculosis (n=3), ectrodactyly (n=1), digit abnormalities associated with tendonectomy (n=1), redundant indertigital skin (n=1), conformational deformity (n=1), and necrotizing fasciitis of the paw (n=1). Median duration of bandaging was 14 days, and median duration of hospitalization was 5 days. Four dogs had dehiscence, which occurred at a mean time of 11 days after surgery. Clinical abnormalities necessitating podoplasty resolved in six animals and improved in two. Six animals had normal ambulation and two dogs had slight weight-bearing lameness after a median follow-up time of 29 mo. Fusion podoplasty may be recommended as a salvage procedure for the treatment of various chronic pedal diseases in dogs and cats.     

Spontaneous urethral catheter kinking or knotting in male dogs: four cases

Four dogs were diagnosed with urethral catheter malfunction. The catheter was kinked in three dogs and knotted in one dog. In two dogs, kinking of the catheter was associated with presence of urethroliths in the perineal urethra. Diagnosis was based on the difficulty encountered retrieving the catheter in all dogs and swelling in the scrotal or perineal area in two dogs. Diagnosis of catheter kinking or knotting was confirmed after catheter retrieval. Catheter removal was achieved in two dogs after traction under anesthesia, whereas scrotal or perineal urethrotomy were used in the other two dogs. No complications associated with urination were reported in any of the dogs after 7 to 12 mo.     

Retroperitoneal Abscess Associated With a Migrating Grass Awn in a Cat: Treatment With Omentalization and Grass Awn Removal

An 18-month-old domestic short hair male castrated cat presented with a history of fever of unknown origin of 1-year duration. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mixed echogenicity mass. Cytological examination of the fluid obtained through fine needle aspiration was consistent with a retroperitoneal abscess. The cat underwent a midline celiotomy and the abscess was opened, lavaged, and omentalized. Antibiotics were also administered. Two months after surgery, the cat represented with a fluctuant swelling in the right flank region at the lumbodorsal triangle. Abdominal and mass ultrasound showed a mixed echogenicity swelling in the right flank. Under gas anesthesia, the swelling was surgically explored and a 0.4 cm long grass awn was found and removed. Telephone communication with the owners 6 months after surgery found the cat to be free of clinical signs.     

Efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid against strike by some primary and secondary blowflies of sheep

SUMMARY Merino sheep, which were hand jetted with ivermectin jetting fluid, and untreated sheep were challenged with larval implants of Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia sericata, Calliphora noclva and Chrysomya ruflfacles at intervals of about 2 weeks from 6 to 16 weeks after treatment. Both Lucilia species produced strike rates of about 90% in untreated sheep; the respective rates were lower for Chr rufifacies (55%) and C nociva (60%). Strike rates for the treated group were about 17, 11, and 9% for L cuprina, L sericata, and Chr rufifacies, respectively. Only 1 implant site in the treated group was struck by C nociva. Treated sheep had significantly (P < 0.01) longer time to first strike than did untreated ones for each species of fly. L sericata, Chr rufifacies, and C nociva larvae implanted on treated animals had significantly (P < 0.05) longer time to first strike than did L cuprina larvae.     

Loss of Restriction Site DdeI, used for Avian Molecular Sexing, in Oreophasis derbianus

Molecular sexing is a rapid and safe procedure for bird sex determination. Two universal methods based on the amplification of a chromo‐helicase‐DNA‐Binding 1 (CHD) gene region, located in both sexual chromosomes (Z and W), have been established. We found that molecular sexing of Oreophasis derbianus failed by using these two procedures. One of them is based on a restriction site located in CHD1W gene but absent in CHD1Z. The DdeI restriction site, used successfully to determine gender in several bird species, was found to be lost because of nucleotide change in O. derbianus. This change created a new restriction site, NlaIII, that was successfully applied for sexing this endangered bird.     

Comparison of three skin-stretching devices for closing skin defects on the limbs of dogs

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of skin-stretching devices for closing defects on the extremities of dogs. Antebrachial skin defects were created on the limbs of 24 dogs randomly divided into three groups. Skin stretchers included staples and sutures passing through them (group A), sutures and hypodermic needles (group B), and Pavletic device (group C). Wounds on the left were further undermined in all groups. Tension and blood perfusion were assessed. After removing the stretchers on day 3, the defects were sutured and wound healing was clinically scored. Histological variables evaluated were cellular infiltration, edema, collagen orientation, and thickness of epidermis. Significant differences in tension were found among groups (p < 0.0005) and between measurement times for undermined (p = 0.001) or non-undermined (p < 0.0005) wounds. In contrast, blood perfusion values did not differ significantly. Clinical scores for group B seemed to be better than those for groups A and C, but differences were not significant. Primary wound closure using the Pavletic device was not feasible. No significant differences in histological variables were found between groups. Skin stretching with staples or hypodermic needles resulted in successful wound management with minor side effects on skin histology and circulation.     

Efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid for the curative treatment of blowfly strikes in sheep

SUMMARY A jetting fluid containing 7.5% w/v ivermectin, which was diluted to 0.03 mg/mL in water and applied using a standard hand jetting technique, was assessed for its efficacy in treating blowfly strikes on Merino sheep. Strikes were induced on sheep held under insectary conditions using laboratory-reared Lucilia cuprina. All struck sheep jetted at 28,48 or 72 hours after exposure to flies were successfully treated. All 1st, 2nd and early 3rd instar larvae were killed within 24 hours of treatment.