Tension-band wiring and lag screw fixation of a transverse, comminuted fracture of a patella in a horse.

A transverse, comminuted fracture of the patella was treated surgically by combining tension-band wiring and lag-screw fixation in a horse. Partial patellectomy or smaller detached fragments of the patella was performed. Satisfactory healing of the fracture was evident 10 weeks after surgery, and there were no complications. Implants were not removed. The horse was sound at a trot 4 months after surgery and was used for pleasure riding 8 months later.     

An evaluation of two cypermethrin-based pour-on formulations on sheep infested with the biting louse, Bovicola ovis

Two synthetic pyrethroid (cypermethrin) based pour-on insecticide formulations, with high cis/trans isomer ratios (80:20) but differing in their respective active ingredient concentrations and solvent component(s), were applied to sheep infested with the biting-louse, Bovicola ovis. All treated sheep were penned with louse-infested sheep 9,12 and 15 weeks after the insecticide was applied. The 2% cypermethrin formulation achieved a higher level of control than the 1.25% cypermethrin formulation at each challenge interval when applied 12 weeks after shearing. The 2% cypermethrin formulation provided 97-100% control of lice from 4 to 16 weeks after application on sheep shorn 6 or 12 weeks prior to treatment. The 1.25% cypermethrin formulation provided 85% control of lice 4 weeks after application on sheep shorn 12 weeks prior to treatment, the level of control increasing to a maximum of 100% by week 9, and declining thereafter. The 2% cypermethrin formulation may provide a better level of control in long-woolled sheep than 1.25% cypermethrin, by compensating for the diluent effect of lipid.     

Radiography, myelography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.

Various methods of documenting pathologic change in the spine and spinal cord are available to the veterinary practitioner. Intimidation caused by the imaging modality and the fear that one will not be able to recognize or diagnose a lesion are the factors that limit the use of diagnostic imaging. One needs only to be able to recognize the variations of normal anatomy to be successful. Once an abnormal area has been identified, the diagnosis is soon to follow. Therefore one should concentrate on improving the simple skills associated with image interpretation and normal anatomy. Lesion identification and definitive diagnoses will follow by natural progression.     

Isoleucine requirement of broiler chicks as affected by the concentrations of leucine and valine in practical diets.

1. Chicks were fed on an isoleucine-deficient diet, with 6 added concentrations of isoleucine to determine their isoleucine requirement and an additional 6 treatments were devised to determine their isoleucine requirement when dietary leucine and valine contents were increased. 2. The diet deficient in isoleucine contained 5.6 g/kg isoleucine with leucine and valine contents of 20.1 and 10.3 g/kg, respectively. Supplementation with leucine and valine increased these to 24.7 and 12.6 g/kg, respectively. 3. The isoleucine requirement was not affected by dietary leucine and valine contents in a diet with 13.4 MJ of ME per kg. Analysis of variance and Least Significant Difference of means indicated an isoleucine requirement of 7.2 g/kg. Non-linear regression of the same data indicated an isoleucine requirement of 8.44 g/kg, based on weight gain, or 8.19 g/kg based on food efficiency. 4. Reasons for the failure to find an imbalancing effect of branched chain amino acids in practical diets are discussed.     

Effects of various steroid milieus or physiological states on sexual behavior of Holstein cows.

Two experiments were conducted to determine how steroid milieus and pregnancy affect sexual behavior. Experiment 1 was arranged as a Latin square with five ovariectomized cows and five steroid milieus: no steroid (N); progesterone (P4); estradiol benzoate (EB); P4 + EB; and P4 followed by EB (P4:EB). Progesterone was administered via pessary (2 g of P4) for 5 d and EB was injected (1 mg i.m.) on the day before a test day. On a test day, cows were exposed for four 30-min periods, twice each with a tied or a loose estrual test cow (prepared using P4:EB). Sexual behaviors recorded were attempted mounts, successful mounts, front mounts, stands, head butts, chin rests, and vulvar sniffs. Cows exhibited more (P less than .05) sexual behavior during periods with the loose estrual test cow than with the tied estrual test cow. Cows receiving P4 alone ranked lowest among treatments for each behavior, whereas cows receiving EB or P4:EB ranked highest or second-highest. Progesterone prevented stands in cows given P4 + EB, but these cows displayed mounting behaviors similar to those of cows given EB and P4:EB. Cows given P4 + EB were similar to those given N for most behaviors. In Exp. 2, 118 intact, lactating cows were observed in groups of four or five for mounting of estrual test cows during 24, 30-min observation periods on 8 d over 2 yr. The design was an incomplete block with physiological state, parity, estradiol, progesterone, and a calculated estrogen:progesterone ratio included in the model. Each block included one or two cows at 23 +/- .8 d after insemination, divided retrospectively into one pregnant and two non-pregnant groups (low [less than 1 ng/mL] vs high progesterone), and other cows at 89 +/- 1.0, 152 +/- 1.2, and 234 +/- 1.7 d of gestation (six physiological groups). Most cows were observed once, but 27 cows were included twice during 2 yr. Only 60% of the 118 cows made attempted or successful mounts even though estrual test cows were always receptive. Physiological state was not associated with amount of mounting because very active (greater than or equal to five attempts) and inactive cows were represented in all physiological groups. The estrogen:progesterone ratio on test day accounted for small, but significant, variation in mounting behavior. For cows observed on two different days, correlations between successive observations were .46 for attempted mounts, .78 for successful mounts, and .71 for total mounts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Morbidity and mortality in pups from pet stores and private sources: 968 cases (1987-1988).

Morbidity (greater than or equal to 1 disease condition) for pups sold from 3 pet stores from January 1987 through December 1988 ranged from 54 to 68%. In 1 store, morbidity was higher for store pups, compared with pups originating from private parties, for such disease conditions as "kennel cough," diarrhea, and several species of gastrointestinal parasites. In-store mortality ranged from 5 to 9.5% of pups arriving for sale.     

Bacterial endocarditis and inflammatory joint disease in the dog

The main clinical features of 12 cases of bacterial endocarditis were lameness, pyrexia, lethargy, anorexia and systolic cardiac murmurs. The lameness varied from generalised stiffness to an inability to stand and walk. Multiple joint involvement was typical. Two types of joint pathology were identified. A marked synovitis with granulation tissue sometimes covering the articular cartilage was present in some joints associated with the presence of bacterial organisms. Other joints proved sterile and showed a milder synovial pathology. In many dogs both an infective arthritis and a non-infective arthritis co-existed. Bilaterally symmetrical joint involvement was typical of the non-infective arthritis. The pathogenesis of the latter was likely to involve the deposition of circulating immune complexes (bacterial antigens, antibody and complement) in the synovium. The infective arthritis was presumed to be secondary to embolic disease, ie, the spread of infected emboli from the heart valve to the joints. Treatment was unsuccessful in all cases.     

Book review

Ethical, Ethological and Legal Aspects of Intensive Farm Animal Management, by E. von Loeper, G. Martin, J. Müller, A. Nabholz, G. van Putten, H. H. Sambraus, G. M. Teutsch, J. Troxler, B., Tschanz, 1987. 158 pp. illustrated. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel. DM 59. ISBN 3 7643 1930 5.