Unilateral arytenoid lateralisation: An assessment of technique and long term results in 62 dogs with laryngeal paralysis

Sixty-two dogs with laryngeal paralysis were presented over a three year period. Presenting clinical signs included inspiratory stridor (100 per cent), exercise intolerance or syncopal episodes (81 per cent), loss or alteration in phonation (48 per cent) and coughing or gagging when eating (29 per cent). Causes of the paralysis were determined as traumatic (two dogs), neoplastic (two dogs), iatrogenic (two dogs), congenital (one dog) and idiopathic (55 dogs). Unilateral arytenoid lateralisation was performed in all dogs. The perioperative complication rate was approximately 10 per cent, while the success rate as judged by owners one year postoperatively was greater than 90 per cent. The technique avoided many of the recorded complications of intralaryngeal surgery. Operative times were short and the requirement for postoperative monitoring was minimal. Increasing familiarity with the technique favourably influenced the incidence of complications and the success rate.     

The structure of the shell and polar plugs of the egg of the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura (Nematoda: Trichuridae) from the Samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis)

The structure of the shell of the egg of Trichuris trichiura was examined using light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results confirmed its three-layered structure and provided evidence that the cores of the polar plugs, which could be seen to be extensions of the shell's middle layer, could be lost en bloc, either mechanically or chemically, and in this way probably provided an exit for the first stage larva at hatching.     

A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Charcoal column/thin layer chromatographic method for high fructose corn sirup and spectrophotometric method for hydroxymethylfurfural in honey: collaborative studies.

A new spectrophotometric method is described for determining hydroxymethylfurfural in honey in which interfering background absorption of honey is corrected for by use of a bisulfite-treated sample as blank. Two procedures for detecting high-fructose corn sirup (HFCS) in honey were also tested. In one, charcoal column pretreatment is used to concentrate trace oligosaccharides, followed by thin layer chromatography to differentiate those of HFCS from those of honey. The other method depends on measurement of the isomaltose/maltose ratio by gas-liquid chromatography. The charcoal/thin layer chromatographic method for HFCS has been adopted official first action. The bisulfite method for hydroxymethylfurfural has been adopted interim first action.