Use of the anesthetic combination of tiletamine,zolazepam, ketamine,and xylazine for neutering feral cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the anesthetic combination tiletamine, zolazepam, ketamine, and xylazine (TKX) for anesthesia of feral cats at large-scale neutering clinics. DESIGN: Original study. ANIMALS: 7,502 feral cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were trapped by their caretakers for a feral cat neutering program from July 1996 to August 2000. The anesthetic combination TKX was injected IM into cats while they remained in their traps. Each milliliter of TKX contained 50 mg of tiletamine, 50 mg of zolazepam, 80 mg of ketamine, and 20 mg of xylazine. Females were spayed by veterinarians, whereas males were castrated by veterinarians or veterinary students. Yohimbine (0.5 mg, IV) was administered at the end of the procedure. Logs were kept of the individual drug doses, signalment of the cats, and any complications encountered. These data were analyzed retrospectively (1996 to 1999) and prospectively (2000). RESULTS: Of the 5,766 cats for which dosing records were complete, 4,584 (79.5%) received a single dose of TKX. The mean initial dose of TKX was 0.24 +/- 0.04 ml/cat, and the total mean dose of TKX was 0.27 +/- 0.09 ml. Overall mortality rate was 0.35% (26/7,502) cats, and the death rate attributable solely to potential anesthetic deaths was 0.23% (17/7,502) cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of TKX for large-scale feral cat neutering clinics has several benefits. The TKX combination is inexpensive, provides predictable results, can be administered quickly and easily in a small volume, and is associated with a low mortality rate in feral cats.     

Lymph node staging of oral and maxillofacial neoplasms in 31 dogs and cats

A retrospective study was performed to report the histologic examination results of regional lymph nodes of dogs and cats with oral or maxillofacial neoplasms. Twenty-eight dogs and 3 cats were evaluated. Histologic examination results of standard and serial tissue sectioning of regional lymph nodes were recorded. When available, other clinical parameters including mandibular lymph node palpation, thoracic radiographs, and pre- and postoperative fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes were compared with the histologic results. Squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, and melanoma were the most common neoplasms diagnosed in dogs. Squamous cell carcinoma and fibrosarcoma were diagnosed in cats. Of the palpably enlarged mandibular lymph nodes, 17.0% had metastatic disease histologically. Radiographically evident thoracic metastatic disease was present in 7.4% of cases. Preoperative cytologic evaluation of the mandibular lymph node based on fine needle aspiration concurred with the histologic results in 90.5% of lymph nodes examined. Postoperative cytologic evaluation of fine needle aspirates of regional lymph nodes concurred with the histologic results in 80.6% of lymph nodes examined. Only 54.5% of cases with metastatic disease to regional lymph nodes had metastasis that included the mandibular lymph node. Serial lymph node sectioning provided additional information or metastasis detection. Cytologic evaluation of the mandibular lymph node correlates positively with histology, however results may fail to indicate the presence of regional metastasis. Assessment of all regional lymph nodes in dogs and cats with oral or maxillofacial neoplasms will detect more metastatic disease than assessing the mandibular lymph node only.     

Anesthetic, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic effects of four intravenous anesthetic regimens induced in horses immediately after maximal exercise

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anesthetic, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic effects of 4 IV anesthetic regimens in Thoroughbred horses recuperating from a brief period of maximal exercise. ANIMALS: 6 adult Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURE: Horses were preconditioned by exercising them on a treadmill. Each horse ran 4 simulated races, with a minimum of 14 days between races. Races were run at a treadmill speed that caused horses to exercise at 120% of their maximal oxygen consumption. Horses ran until fatigued or for a maximum of 2 minutes. Two minutes after exercise, horses received a combination of xylazine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg of body weight) and acepromazine maleate (0.04 mg/kg) IV. Five minutes after exercise, horses received 1 of the following 4 IV anesthetic regimens: ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg); ketamine (2.2 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.1 mg/kg); tiletamine hydrochloride-zolazepam hydrochloride (1 mg/kg); and guaifenesin (50 mg/kg) and thiopental sodium (5 mg/kg). Treatments were randomized. Cardiopulmonary indices were measured, and samples of blood were collected before and at specific times for 90 minutes after each race. RESULTS: Each regimen induced lateral recumbency. The quality of induction and anesthesia after ketamine administration was significantly worse than after other regimens, and the duration of anesthesia was significantly shorter. Time to lateral recumbency was significantly longer after ketamine or guaifenesin-thiopental administration than after ketaminediazepam or tilet-amine-zolazepam administration. Arterial blood pressures after guaifenesin-thiopental administration were significantly lower than after the other regimens. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anesthesia can be safely induced in sedated horses immediately after maximal exercise. Ketamine-diazepam and tilet-amine-zolazepam induced good quality anesthesia with acceptable perturbations in cardiopulmonary and metabolic indices. Ketamine alone and guaifenesin-thiopental regimens are not recommended.     

Alterations in levels of various host antioxidant factors in turkey knockdown syndrome

Five components (selenium, glutathione peroxidase, copper, superoxide dismutase, and vitamin E) of the antioxidant system of turkey poults were examined to determine if they play any role in the knockdown (KD) syndrome. All flocks were provided with feed formulated to contain monensin at 54-60 g/ton. Flock data were analyzed as a case-control study with three treatment groups (KD-affected and unaffected turkey poults from a KD flock and poults from an unaffected flock [control]). Affected turkey poults had lower (P < 0.001) serum vitamin E levels compared with unaffected poults from KD flocks or poults from unaffected flocks. No significant differences were observed for the other parameters evaluated but there was a trend towards lower copper and superoxide dismutase values in affected birds. It appears that serum vitamin E concentrations in turkey poults may play a significant role in susceptibility to or protection against KD syndrome. Other components of the antioxidant system may also be involved, and complex interactions among several body systems may be critical.     

Transarterial coil embolization of the internal and external carotid and maxillary arteries for prevention of hemorrhage from guttural pouch mycosis in horses

OBJECTIVES: To develop a transarterial coil embolization technique for occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and maxillary arteries (MA) in normal horses and to evaluate this technique for prevention of hemorrhage in horses affected with guttural pouch mycosis. ANIMALS: Ten adult, normal horses and 4 horses with guttural pouch mycosis. METHODS: All horses had transarterial coil embolization of the rostral and caudal ICA, caudal MA, and rostral ECA. In 1 affected horse, an aberrant actively bleeding branch of the ECA was also occluded. Normal horses had a premortem angiogram, and were killed either at 1 or 2 weeks or 1, 2, or 3 months after the procedure. Specimens from the ICA, ECA and MA were evaluated by light microscopy. RESULTS: No surgical complications were observed, except 1 horse that developed laryngeal hemiplegia and 1 pilot horse that had embolization of the cerebral arterial circle. In normal horses, premortem angiography confirmed complete occlusion of all vessels, and coils were positioned as intended. All normal horses had partially maturing to mature, continuous thrombi occluding at the coils. In affected horses, no further episodes of epistaxis were observed. By day 60, all mycotic plaques had resolved without further treatment. Ophthalmic complications were not observed. CONCLUSION: Transarterial embolization provided a safe, rapid, and effective method for ICA, ECA, and MA occlusion in normal and affected horses. In affected horses, the technique was possible despite active bleeding, allowing adequate identification and occlusion of all sources of hemorrhage.     

Evaluation of the serological response of sheep in one flock to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

Sera from 74 sheep culled from one flock on the basis of performance and response to immunological tests for paratuberculosis or maedi visna were used to evaluate the serological response to a sonicated antigen of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. A total of seven precipitating components was demonstrated. Four components (A,C,V,W) were detected in low frequency only with sera from animals with paratuberculosis while two components (X,Y) were detected in high frequency with sera from animals with or without paratuberculosis. One component (D) was observed in high frequency with sera from animals with paratuberculosis. The magnitude of the serological response to the D component as measured by crossed immunoelectrophoresis correlated well with bacterial load and generally agreed with the quantitative assessment by agar gel immunodiffusion. A development time for crossed immunoelectrophoresis of 24-72 hours after electrophoresis was required to achieve correlation with agar gel immunodiffusion.     

Solubilisation of Mixed Linkage (1→3), (1→4)β-D-glucans From Barley: Effects of Cooking and Digestion

The extractability behaviour of mixed linkage β-glucans from barley has been assessed during cooking and under different regimens used for fibre isolation. Whilst β-glucan extractability increased to around 50% during cooking, from around 30% in the raw flour, methods used for NSP isolation resulted in even greater extractability (>60%). Enzymic rather than chemical treatments were more important in accounting for the increased extractability. Endogenous proteases from the small intestine were shown to be capable of enhancing the extractability of the β-glucan to a level similar to that found in ileal effluent from patients fed an acute barley-based diet. This is consistent with the presence of mixed linkage β-glucans as proteoglycan complexes in barley. The extractability of β-glucans measuredin vivowas significantly higher (P<0·001) than that measured in the original barley but without protease treatment. Thus, not only do «unextractable» β-glucans from barley have the potential to behave as a source of soluble NSP but the fibre matrix can be modified during transit in the upper gut. Hence the amount of soluble fibre present during gut transit can differ significantly from that measured in foods. This has implications for assessing the mechanism(s) involved in determining the response to fibre in the diet. It is important to take account of modifications to the fibre matrix when assessing the dietary response to a fibre source.