Modern veterinary practice最新文献

Aortic stenosis is a heritable cardiac anomaly most common in German Shepherds, Boxers and Newfoundlands, and less common in Pugs, English Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Fox Terriers, Schnauzers and Bassets. Clinical signs are associated with secondary left-sided heart failure and include coughing, moist rales, exercise intolerance, arrhythmias and a weak femoral pulse. It causes an ejection-type crescendo-decrescendo, systolic murmur best heard on the left side near the elbow. The ECG may be normal or may show signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, including an axis of less than 40 degrees, a QRS complex of greater than 60 seconds in duration, R waves greater than 3 mv in amplitude, ST segment slurring or depression, or T waves of an amplitude greater than 25% of that of R waves. A LAT radiograph usually reveals an enlarged cardiac silhouette, loss of the cranial cardiac waist, and normal pulmonary vasculature, while DV projections show an elongated cardiac silhouette, rounding of the left ventricular border, and a normal descending aorta. Nonselective angiocardiography reveals poststenotic dilatation of the aorta. Treatment of severely affected dogs involves surgical correction.

A clear understanding of the surgical anatomy of the bovine intestinal tract is the most important factor in determining the degree of success to be achieved in the surgical management of intestinal disorders in cattle. However, bovine intestinal anatomy can be very difficult to comprehend, especially in cattle with intestinal distention and malposition. The abundance of mesenteric and omental fat and the compact nature of the mesentery make manipulation and exteriorization of many parts of the bowel difficult. Therefore, it is important to accurately identify specific surgical landmarks. A good working knowledge of the relevant surgical anatomy increases the level of confidence in one's surgical abilities and makes one more willing to consider surgical intervention in a cow with suspected GI dysfunction.

Von Willebrand's disease, the most common, mild, inherited bleeding disorder of animals, is an autosomal trait generally causing high morbidity and low mortality and affecting many breeds of dogs. Clinical signs include hematuria, epistaxis, gingival or genital mucosal bleeding, lameness, and prolonged bleeding from cut nails or wounds. Concurrent hypothyroidism exacerbates the disease. Affected dogs and carriers should not be bred or should be tested for von Willebrand's factor before breeding. Treatment involves IV infusion of fresh whole blood or plasma, at 3-5 ml/lb, with topical use of hemostatic compounds, and avoidance of drugs that interfere with hemostasis.

Performance horses should be thoroughly examined before sale to detect any defects that could render them unsuitable for the purchaser's intended use. With the horse in its stall, the eyes, nasolacrimal puncta, external ear canals and mouth are examined, the rectal temperature measured and the heart, lungs, trachea and sinuses auscultated. Moving the horse out of the stall, the head, parotid glands, mandibular lymph nodes, larynx, neck muscles, jugular veins and cervical vertebrae are inspected. The scapula, point of the shoulder, withers, tuber sacrale and point of the hip are palpated, after which the ventrum, tail, and pelvic and thigh muscles are examined. Structures of all limbs and feet are palpated and inspected for disease and evidence of past surgery. The horse is then worked, on a longe line and under saddle, to evaluate limb carriage and gait. Radiography and other diagnostic procedures are performed as indicated.

In experimental trials on cattle, ivermectin given SC at 200 micrograms/kg had 95% or better efficacy against adult and immature GI and pulmonary nematodes, including inhibited fourth-stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi. Studies of efficacy against ectoparasites revealed nearly 100% efficacy against sucking lice, psoroptic and sarcoptic mange mites and cattle grubs. Safety trials revealed no adverse effects with the recommended dosage, including bulls and pregnant cows. A few grub-infested cattle died from acute esophagitis associated with a host-parasite reaction after ivermectin injection.

A spayed Cocker Spaniel with idiopathic chronic generalized seborrhea responded poorly to treatment, consisting of medicated baths and intermittent use of lincomycin and triamcinolone acetate, over a 5 1/2-year period. At 7 years of age, the animal became refractory to triamcinolone injections. Oral vitamin A therapy was not beneficial, but oral use of 13-cis-retinoic acid (Accutane: Roche), at 0.25 mg/kg BID, resulted in recovery within a month.

A 9-year-old spayed cat that flinched when touched responded poorly to methylprednisolone and phenobarbital. Hyperalbuminemia, hyperproteinemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hyperglycemia and glycosuria resolved with insulin treatment. The flinching disappeared in 2 weeks and insulin use was unnecessary after 6 weeks. A 6-year-old castrated cat with diabetic ketoacidosis and azotemia responded to fluid and insulin therapy but developed a head tilt and insulin shock 2 weeks later. The cat recovered after 6 days of supportive treatment and no longer required insulin after 4 weeks.