Toxicity in three dogs from accidental oral administration of a topical endectocide containing moxidectin and imidacloprid

Three dogs were presented with a history of oral administration of a topical endectocide containing imidacloprid and moxidectin. They were diagnosed with imidacloprid and moxidectin intoxication, having ingested doses ranging from 7.5 to 1.4 mg/kg of imidacloprid and 1.9 to 2.8 mg/kg of moxidectin. The three dogs were affected to different degrees of severity, but all displayed signs of ataxia, generalised muscle tremors, paresis, hypersalivation and disorientation. Temporary blindness occurred in two cases. The three dogs were tested for the presence of the multi-drug resistance 1 gene deletion, which can cause an increased sensitivity to the toxic effects of moxidectin, and were found to be negative. Treatment included gastrointestinal decontamination, intravenous fluid therapy and benzodiazepines to control muscle tremors. All three dogs made a complete recovery within 48 h of ingestion.     

Effect of Supplemental Feeding with Glycerol or Propylene Glycol in Early Lactation on the Fertility of Swedish Dairy Cows

The aim of this field study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental feeding with glycerol (GLY) or propylene glycol (PG) during early lactation on the fertility of Swedish dairy cows. Within 17 commercial dairy herds, 798 cows were randomized to three groups that were daily fed supplements with 450 g GLY, 300 g PG or nothing (control, C). The supplements were given twice daily during 0–21 days in milk as a top dress on concentrates. Data on calving date, insemination dates, gynaecological examinations, as well as breed, parity and monthly milk yield were collected. From a subset of 308 cows in seven herds, milk samples for progesterone analysis were taken twice weekly and used to determine the time for onset of luteal activity. The effects of supplements on the intervals from calving to first luteal activity (FLA), first AI (FAI) and conception (CON), respectively, were analysed using semi‐parametric survival models (Cox proportional hazards models) controlling for the effect of parity, breed, calving season, milk yield and the clustering effect of herd. There was no difference in time to FLA between the cows in group C and in group GLY or PG. No differences in time to FAI or in time to CON were found between cows in group PG and group C. However, cows in the GLY group tended to get their FAI later compared with cows in the control group but without at subsequent delaying of time to CON.     

GASTRIC EMPTYING IN CATS USING FOODS VARYING IN FIBER CONTENT AND KIBBLE SHAPES

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of kibble shape and fiber content of commercial dry foods on gastric emptying in healthy cats. Eight healthy cats were used to evaluate four different diets which varied in shape of kibble (round versus triangle) or fiber content (low versus high). Diets were labeled with 99mTc-mebrofenin and gastric emptying was evaluated with nuclear scintigraphy. There was a significant difference between the kibble shapes at both T50 and T20. The triangle shaped kibble required significantly longer time than the round kibble to reach T50 (P = 0.02) and T20 (P = 0.001). Diet fiber content did not have a significant influence on T50, and T20. The influence of caloric and water intake was assessed with division of cats into high, medium, and low intake groups. The caloric intake had its main effect at T50 with the lowest quartile of caloric intake requiring significantly less time to reach T50 than the middle group and upper quartile (P = 0.05). Water intake did not have a significant effect on gastric emptying in this study. There was no relationship or correlation between the surface area of the food (cm2/kg) and T90, T50, and T20.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF FOREIGN BODIES ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC DRAINING TRACTS AND ABSCESSES IN DOGS

This is a retrospective study that describes the historical, physical exam, radiographic, fistulographic, ultrasonographic, and surgical findings associated with non-gastrointestinal and extrathoracic foreign bodies in six dogs. All dogs had a chronic draining tract or abscess. Although radiographs were obtained in five of the six dogs, no foreign bodies were identified with this modality. Fistulography was performed in four of the six dogs, and a filling defect consistent with a foreign body was found in two of four dogs. A foreign body was identified in five of the six dogs with ultrasound. Foreign bodies were removed surgically in five of six dogs. This report clarifies the importance of ultrasound in the evaluation of chronic draining tracts and abscesses in dogs.     

Direct effects of induced parturition on subsequent reproductive performance of dairy cows from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY Reproductive performance was compared between cows whose previous parturition was induced and non-induced cows with similar calving dates, in 49 winter-calving, pasture-fed, commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced in winter when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Reproductive performance was assessed during the next mating period after induction which was mainly in spring of the same year. Percentages of cows in induced and untreated groups that were not pregnant after the mating period (9.0% and 7.2%, respectively) did not differ significantly. Induction tended to increase the percentage of cows of unknown pregnancy status. Mean percentages for induced and untreated groups were 11.5% and 7.9%, respectively. Induced and untreated groups calved at similar intervals after the planned start of calving in the following year, and the percentages of groups that required induction in that year did not differ significantly. The direct effects of induced parturition on reproduction were therefore concluded to be minimal. In seasonal calving herds, improvements in reproductive performance could be expected among cows whose calving dates were altered substantially by induction, due to increased intervals from calving to mating start date .     

Clinical utility of pneumogastrography in dogs

Pneumogastrography utilizes negative contrast media such as air or carbonated beverages to improve visualization of luminal contents and mucosal surfaces within the stomach. Pneumogastrography as a diagnostic technique in cases of gastric disease has not been widely described in the veterinary literature and is a procedure that may yield additional information not obtained from survey radiographs. This technique is useful in the diagnosis of luminal and mucosal gastric diseases. In this article, the pneumogastrography technique and relevant literature are reviewed. Six case examples are included that demonstrate the utility of pneumogastrography in dogs with gastric disease.