Phenylbutazone toxicity in ponies

The oral administration of phenylbutazone at a dose rate of approximately 10 mg per kg per day for seven to 14 days resulted in the development of signs of toxicity in seven of eight ponies treated. Clinical signs included anorexia, depression and abdominal oedema. Blood biochemical determinations showed a decrease in total plasma protein and calcium concentrations with an increase in urea concentration. These changes were considered indicative of water retention. Three of the ponies died during treatment following the development of shock. Shock was considered to arise from the submucosal oedema of the large intestine observed on necropsy. Oral ulceration was also found in these animals. In two ponies intravenous administration of phenylbutazone (4.0 mg per kg) for seven days was studied. In one of these ponies a marked decrease in total plasma protein concentration occurred.     

Studies of parvovirus vaccination in the dog: the performance of live attenuated feline parvovirus vaccines

The performance of three live attenuated feline parvovirus vaccines licensed for use in the dog was studied. At the end of the primary vaccination course 67 per cent of dogs had inadequate antibody levels (less than or equal to 32) as measured by a haemagglutination inhibition test. Interference by maternal antibody accounted for some of the failures but the fact that there was no significant difference in performance between dogs vaccinated at 12 weeks or 16 weeks of age indicated that maternal antibody was not the only factor.     

The efficacy of praziquantel against cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep

Praziquantel is a new type of acylated isoquinoline-pyrazine. A single, low oral or subcutaneous dose of the compound is reliably effective against all tested juvenile and adult cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep. Praziquantel is the first cestodicide which is also effective on bile duct cestodes. In cats and dogs, 5 mg praziquantel per kg is completely effective on all stages of Taenia hydatigena, T pisiformis, T ovis, T taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum, Mesocestoides corti, Echinococcus multilocularis and E granulosus. Because of its very wide therapeutic index praziquantel is thus particularly suited for eradication programmes, eg, echinococcosis.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PELVIC DIMENSIONS, OTHER BODY MEASUREMENTS AND DYSTOCIA IN DORSET HORN EWES

Fifteen live and 16 post slaughter measurements were recorded from each of 29 mature Dorset Horn ewes in an investigation of pelvic dimensions and their association with past history of dystocia or difficult birth amongst the ewes. For comparison with a breed having a low incidence of dystocia, similar measurements were recorded from 6 mature Border Leicester ewes with no previous history of dystocia.
The range in size of the Dorset Horn pelves was considerable, with conjugate diameter being more variable than transverse diameter (P < 0.05) and a more important cause of variation in pelvic area. A higher incidence of dystocia amongst the Dorset Horn ewes tended to be associated with smaller pelvic areas (r =—0.34; P = 0.08). Pelvic area and conjugate diameter were significantly less (73.4 v 82.8 cm², P < 0.01; and 9.9 v 10.9 cm, P < 0.05, respectively) for those ewes which had dystocia at more than 65% of their lambings, suggesting that pelvic area and conjugate diameter may be factors with critcial levels in predisposition to dystocia. The Border Leicester pelves were 21 % greater in area (P < 0.01) and 17% greater in conjugate diameter (P < 0.01) than the Dorset Horn pelves, although there was no difference in their transverse diameters.
In general, measurements in the region of the pelvis were closely correlated with transverse diameter of the pelvis but not with pelvic area or conjugate diameter. Forelimb length and bodylength were the only measurements recorded in the live Dorset Horn ewes that were significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with both pelvic area (r = 0.53 and r = 0.47 respectively) and conjugate diameter (r = 0.48 and r = 0.49 respectively). However, these live measurements accounted for less than 35% of the variation in conjugate diameter and pelvic area when included in a multiple regression equation.