Veterinary Record最新文献

Background: During liver lobectomy, exposure of the liver hilus may be improved with the addition of a caudal median sternotomy and diaphragmotomy. This study aimed to report the surgical technique for this procedure and its clinical outcomes when performed in dogs.

Methods: The clinical records of dogs undergoing a caudal median sternotomy for liver lobectomy between 2010 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Data extracted from these records included signalment, preoperative findings, whether the lobectomy performed was right, central or left divisional, complications, histopathology and outcomes. Median survival times (MSTs) and complications were then compared between lobectomy division groups.

Results: Twenty-two dogs were included. The division of liver lobectomy was central in 12 dogs, right in nine dogs and left in one dog. Most (n = 21) dogs had hilar dissection with finger fracture. Intraoperative haemorrhage requiring a transfusion occurred in 12 dogs, including one dog that died intraoperatively. Twenty-one dogs survived to discharge. Postoperative complications were minor in 14 dogs, major in seven dogs and catastrophic in one dog. The MST was 562 days. The complication rate and MST were not significantly different between central and right divisional lobectomies.

Limitation: This was a retrospective study. As such, the treatment protocols and postoperative care were not standardised.

Conclusion: Most dogs undergoing this procedure had a good outcome. Although intraoperative haemorrhage and postoperative complications were common, they were generally manageable. Therefore, this procedure should be considered for challenging liver lobectomies.

Background: Internal teat sealants are commonly used at drying off, with or without intramammary antibiotics, to reduce the risk of mastitis. Both full and partial cannula options are available on most teat sealant and antibiotic tubes, but little evidence exists to support the selection of one option over the other.

Methods: A total of 287 Holstein cows from three UK farms were enrolled in the study. Cows were randomly allocated to receive either full or partial insertion of internal teat sealant at drying off (plus the same insertion type of intramammary antibiotic if required by farm protocols). Somatic cell count and clinical mastitis data were collected, along with lactation number and calving season, and analysed using multivariable regression modelling.

Results: Insertion type was not associated with high postcalving somatic cell counts (SCCs; >200k cells/mL), new infection rates (low to high SCC change across the dry period), cure rates (high to low SCC change across the dry period) or clinical mastitis cases.

Limitations: Only pedigree Holsteins were included; results in other breeds could differ due to teat size.

Conclusion: Insertion type was not associated with high SCC or increased postcalving mastitis cases.

Background: Screening schemes for hip dysplasia have long been used to guide breeding. However, the risks of clinical disease for dogs with high versus low scores are not well documented.

Methods: Longitudinal data were used to quantify the risk of clinical hip disease in dogs with 'low' and 'high' hip scores, as determined by radiographic examination at 10‒14 months of age, using survival and risk analysis.

Results: Survival probabilities indicate that diagnoses of hip disease occurred throughout the lifespan of dogs, but the 'high' hip score cohort was 2.1‒3.0 times more likely than the 'low' hip score cohort to have a diagnosis of hip arthritis. This pattern was repeated in breed-specific analyses of Labradors and Golden Retrievers, with a possible breed influence on hip score and risk of arthritis at comparable scores.

Limitations: Diagnoses may include both false positives and negatives, and the threshold for the determination of 'clear' dogs at 12 years of age used in the risk analysis may have had an influence on the results.

Conclusions: This study provides empirical evidence that dogs with a high hip score at about 1 year of age are at greater risk of being diagnosed with arthritis of the hip later in life than dogs with a low hip score at the same age.

Background: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of an ultrasound and nerve-stimulator-guided medial approach for a radial, ulnar, median and musculocutaneous (RUMM) nerve injection in calves.

Methods: After sedation with 0.2 mg/kg xylazine intramuscularly and 2 mg/kg ketamine intravenously (IV), seven calves were positioned in dorsal recumbency and a linear ultrasound probe was placed transversally on the medial aspect of the proximal third ohumerus. The radial (R) nerve was visualised adjacent to the deep brachial artery and the median and musculocutaneous (MM) and ulnar (U) nerves were visualised cranial and caudal to the brachial artery, respectively. A 20-gauge insulated needle was inserted in plane until near the R and MM nerves. Following a positive motor response (0.4‒0.6 mA stimulus), 0.15 mL/kg/site of tissue dye was injected in both forelimbs. The calves were then euthanased with 70 mg/kg pentobarbital IV. During dissection, staining was considered successful when more than 1 cm of the nerve was coloured in its whole circumference.

Results: The R, MM and U nerves were successfully stained in 13 (93%), 11 (79%) and six (43%) of the 14 injections, respectively.

Limitations: The spread of the dye might differ from that of local anaesthetics, so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Conclusion: A medial approach for RUMM nerve injection in calves seems feasible.