The complete blood count (CBC) is a test commonly carried out in the preoperative period of surgical procedures in dogs and cats. Blood cells are analyzed for information that reflects the patient's systemic condition, and it is possible to identify some alterations and diseases, even in asymptomatic patients. This study evaluated the preoperative blood count of 119 animals from elective surgeries performed between 2016 and 2021. The most common alteration found was hyperproteinemia with 31.63% (31), followed by thrombocytopenia with 20.41% (20), erythrocytosis 18.37% (18), thrombocytosis 11.22% (11), leukocytosis 8.16% (8) and anemia with 7.14% (7). The least frequent alteration found was leukopenia, with 3.06% (3). In general, 54,17% of the animals had some laboratory alteration, even though they were clinically healthy. Thus, it was possible to confirm the importance of the preoperative blood count in dogs and cats, highlighting the need for this complementary test to minimize surgical risks to the patient.
Spermatic reserves were determined in three South American camelids: alpaca, llama, and vicuna. Reserves were determined at three different times: before the breeding season (November), after the breeding season (March and April), and during sexual rest (September). Three sexual organs: testicles, epididymis, and vas deferens were isolated from 12 alpacas, eight llamas, and a vicuna. Organs were weighed, and spermatozoa were collected into warmed tubes containing phosphate saline solution. Spermatic concentration was determined using the hemocytometer method. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and the Duncan test was used to assess differences, if any. There was a difference (P<0.05) in spermatic concentration and reserves between llama (41, 98), alpaca (15, 27), and vicuna (0.4 million spz/organ, and 1.4 million spz/g tissue, respectively. Likewise, in alpacas, there was a difference (P<0.05) in spermatic concentration and reserves by organs, being (47, 118 in the epididymis tail and 29 25 million for the vas deferens, respectively. Llama reproductive organs hosted more spermatozoa than alpaca and vicuna. The alpaca's spermatic reserves were not affected by the time of year. However, the epididymis tail and vas deferens contained more spermatozoa than any other reproductive organ.
Among the congenital cardiac alterations observed in small pets, the persistence of the right aortic arch has been described as a rare anomaly in cats. The ductus arteriosus corresponds to a normal fetal vascular structure derived from the distal portion of the sixth left aortic arch that connects the pulmonary artery to the dorsal aorta. During fetal life, this structure has the function of transporting oxygenated blood from the maternal placenta to the aorta, bypassing the collapsed lungs of the fetus. At birth, the increase of O2 partial pressure dissolved in arterial blood (PaO2) and the decline in prostaglandin concentration cause the closure of the ductus arteriosus in the first hours of life, giving rise to the ligamentum arteriosus. If this process does not occur, the ductus arteriosus will remain patent. In this case report, a 4-month-old longhair female kitten was treated, and, during auscultation, a heart murmur was found. After performing a Doppler echocardiogram and color flow mapping, the presence of continuous turbulent flow in the pulmonary artery was demonstrated, characteristic of patent ductus arteriosus persistence. The animal was sent for surgery, and in the post-surgical Doppler echocardiogram, correction of patent ductus arteriosus was verified, demonstrating the absence of continuous turbulent flow in the pulmonary artery.
Epidural anesthesia is a loco-regional blocking technique used to prevent and control pain in pathological processes and surgical procedures, widely used in veterinary medicine. The present work aims at performing a detailed literature review, preferably of the last twenty years, on the various aspects of this technique, including anatomy of the epidural space and peculiarities in small animals, pharmacology and toxicology of the main local anesthetics used, methods for identifying the epidural space, as well as recommended doses, indications, contraindications, and complications of the procedure. With the development of this literature review, it was found that the volume, concentration, and mass of local anesthetics, in addition to knowledge of anatomy and pharmacology of local anesthetics, plays a key role in the success of the technique. Moreover, it was noticed that, with the advent of ultrasonography, the identification of the epidural space is more accurate, compared to other methods. It was concluded that epidural anesthesia is a safe procedure, but not free of possible complications and side effects, as well as any anesthetic procedure. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate each case individually, always valuing the welfare of the patient.
Dogs, renowned for their social nature and versatile roles in human society, necessitate proper nutrition to maintain health and vitality. With the burgeoning pet food market in India driven by increasing poultry production, there exists an opportunity to address environmental concerns while advancing companion animal nutrition. Currently, disposal of inedible poultry byproducts poses environmental challenges, urging a shift towards sustainable practices. This paper advocates for the utilization of poultry slaughter waste in pet nutrition, highlighting its nutritional benefits and environmental implications. By recycling poultry waste into valuable sources of animal proteins, minerals, and vitamins, the pet food industry can meet the dietary needs of companion animals while mitigating environmental pollution. Furthermore, the incorporation of animal byproducts aligns with carnivores' natural dietary instincts and addresses the limitations of plant-based protein sources. Drawing from established practices in industrialized nations, this paper underscores the potential of poultry slaughter waste utilization to propel the growth of the pet food industry in India. Embracing this sustainable approach not only ensures the well-being of companion animals but also fosters economic development and environmental stewardship in the Indian context.
The study was conducted on two herds of Jersey crossbred dairy cows. Samples were taken from two dairy farms to conduct the California Mastitis Test (CMT) during milking. A total of 115 animals were sampled, with 65 animals from Farm 1 and 60 animals from Farm 2. Milk samples were collected from all four quarters of each cow. The study analyzed a total of 460 quarters from the collected milk samples. Among these quarters, 132 quarters (28.69%) were found to be infected. The prevalence of mastitis was 45% in Herd 1 and 25% in Herd 2. The study found that only one quarter of the udder was more affected in both herds. The CMT score (likely a measure of mastitis severity) increased during late lactation. Infected cows had an average milk yield/day of 3.6 liters. Inflammatory (within or under the mammary gland) infections were more common in the first and second parity cows (cows that had given birth to one or two calves, respectively). This could be ascribed to the fact that dairy cows in their starting lactations are more vulnerable to the environmental pathogens because they might not have built up their immunity yet. Overall, this study provides insights into the prevalence, severity, and patterns of mastitis in Jersey crossbred dairy cows located at two different farms. The study highlights factors such as the stage of lactation, parity, and herd differences that can influence the occurrence and severity of mastitis in these animals.
Bladder tumors in dogs are rare, accounting for 1-2% of all cases. Most of these tumors are malignant and of epithelial origin. This study examines various surgical approaches for the complete resection of transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder, showing a recurrence rate of 60%. Surgery may be used as an emergency therapy to relieve partial or complete ureteral obstruction, but owners should be informed that it is only palliative and associated with a high likelihood of early metastasis. Cryosurgery is a local method that relies on the tissue-destructive effects of extremely low temperatures. While intrabdominal cryosurgery is common in human medicine, it is not widespread in veterinary practice. This study presents three canine oncology cases treated through conventional laparotomy and cystotomy, employing similar cryosurgical techniques. Treatments included: i) primary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with previous tumor freezing, cytoreduction by debulking, and base cryoablation; ii) primary TCC with cryoablation only; and iii) poorly differentiated fibrosarcoma (STBs) with tumor excision and base cryoablation. Cold diffusion was controlled through visual observation of the 0°C isotherm and simultaneous tactile palpation. Cryoablation was performed using liquid nitrogen with a portable CRY-AC 700 Brymill device, while radiofrequency ablation was carried out with an Ellman Surgitron device. Treatment was ambulatory, well-tolerated, and resulted in rapid resolution of clinical signs.
The canine hypothyroidism corresponds to a hormonal disorder, mainly caused by destruction of the thyroid gland, followed by idiopathic thyroid degeneration or idiopathic follicular atrophy, leading to a low production of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The canine iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism consists of a disorder caused by the prolonged use of corticosteroids for therapeutic purposes, in most cases in allergic processes, such as canine atopy. In this case report, a twelve-year-old female Schnauzer was presented to the clinical facility with signs of apathy, polyphagia and non-pruritic bilateral symmetric alopecia that extended to the tip of the tail but sparing the head and limbs. Other clinical manifestations included polyuria, polydipsia, and bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The animal was submitted to the blood count, T4, T3, TSH dosage, dexamethasone suppression test, biochemical tests, and imaging tests. Exam results demonstrate the presence of hyperadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism. Since the use of corticosteroids in canine allergic diseases can lead to the development of hyperadrenocorticism, and hypothyroidism corresponds to the most common endocrinopathy in dogs, it is essential that the clinical veterinarian is able to identify these diseases early.
Climate change imposes detrimental heat stress, which disrupts the thermo-regulatory balance of cattle and buffaloes. Quantifying heat stress through bioclimatic indices is a vital step for identifying suitable mitigation/adaptation strategies. So, the trend of different comfort indices for cattle was computed (2000-2019) and used for estimating milk production as these indices provide a holistic view of the bovine’s thermoneutral status. The trend analysis of seasonal comfort index (CI) through box plot analysis indicated that Black Globe Humidity Index (BGHI) had shifted from ‘Low Impact’ to ‘High Impact’, Temperature Humidity Index (THI) had shifted from ‘Normal’ to ‘Danger’ and Comprehensive Climate Index (CCI) had shifted from ‘No stress’ to ‘Mild stress’ from winter to summer season indicating the impact of heat stress during the latter period. The milk production in April had a significant correlation with BGHI, Heat Load Index (HLI), Respiration Rate (RR), THI, CCI, and Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI). Milk production in May and June had a significant relationship with ETI and THI. Lactation-wise milk production analysis indicated that sixth lactation is related to ETI and HLI. Fourth and second lactation had a significant relation with all indices estimated and the first stage of lactation with BGHI, ETI, and RR. The CI with the highest correlation coefficients were used to develop a regression model for a respective month and lactation stage.
Objective: Two cases of cats with urinary obstruction due to iatrogenic complications are presented. The intention of this article is to show the application of the surgical technique of perineal urethrostomy with epidural anesthesia as a viable, accessible and safe solution. Materials and methods: Recently published and studied surgical and anesthetic techniques were used in both cats, the material and methodological requirements are accessible to most veterinary surgeons. Results: The application of the surgical technique immediately resolved both urinary problems after months of periuria and pain. One year after surgeries, both cats retain their normal urination habits, greatly improving their well-being. Conclusion: The feline perineal urethrostomy provides an affordable solution to many complications of recurrent feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Its performance is relatively simple and cheap, epidural block is preferable to reduce pain and discomfort during recovery from anesthesia. Even though it is a safe procedure, possible complications should be taken into consideration and the recovery of urethrostomized patients should be monitored.
The renal dysplasia consists of an abnormal development of the renal parenchyma and stroma, which gives it a whitish appearance and irregular surface, whitish color and firm consistency to the touch. Microscopically, the renal tubules have an adenomatous appearance, with the presence of immature or fetal glomeruli and tubules, primitive mesenchymal tissue with a myxomatous appearance and interstitial fibrosis. The renal dysplasia is considered a congenital and hereditary disease, mainly described in breeds such as Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzu, Miniature Schnauzer, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and Standard Poodle. Dogs affected by the disease present polydipsia, polyuria, anorexia, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss. With disease progresses, secondary renal hyperparathyroidism and fibrous osteodystrophy may develop. In this case report, we describe a six-month-old Golden Retriever dog with a history of polydipsia, polyuria and growth retardation. A complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy were requested, which were essential for establishing the diagnosis of renal dysplasia.
In order to better understand the pathophysiology of diseases of the oropharynx in horses, endoscopy was performed in the oropharyngeal region of dairy and meat producing cattle, with the presence of tumors in the eyes, infra-auricular region or both regions (experimental model), analyzing what these tumors could cause in the innervation of their oropharynx and problems were observed in cattle very similar to those found in equine athletes such as epiglottic entrapment, collapse of the palatine arch, chondritis of the cuneiform recess, loss of palatal tone, but without respiratory symptoms, which we conclude that this model deserves more attention and can help us understand the nervous segments involved as well as the anatomical structures affected.
In this research, health records of calves born in a private dairy cattle farms with a capacity of 400 dairy cows in Ereğli between October 2020 and October 2021 were evaluated. The data determined in the 70 days from birth to weaning of the calves were recorded individually. The birth and weaning weights of the calves were measured at monthly intervals with a sensitive electronic scale up to 100 kilograms. Calves were barned in individual calf hutches and roughage and concentrate feed were offered separately and freely in front of them. Calves received colostrum from their mothers for 3 days. For 70 days, they were fed totally 6 litres of milk twice a day. Commercial calf growth feed with 18% crude protein and 2800 Kcal/kg ME energy was purchased and high quality alfalfa grass produced in the farm was used in calf feeding. Health observations of the calves were made by the technician by scoring cough, nasal discharge, condition of eyes and ears and faeces according to the results of the health observations.
The experiment was carried out to study the single nucleotide polymorphism of Heat Shock Protein (HSP90AA1) gene in selected Nigerian indigenous cattle in Adamawa State. Blood taken on eighty (80) lactating animals within their early lactation (1-60). HSP90AA1 gene was extracted and sequenced. Eight (8) sequences were generated from the selected breeds and were deposited in the GenBank with accession numbers MZ2355888 – MZ2355895. The sequences generated in this study revealed six (6) polymorphic sites in the coding regions (136 G>A, 136 G>A, 89 C>G, 89 C>G, 86 A>G and 86 A>G) that defined four haplotypes. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) of the four breeds revealed that 58.18% of the variation was among breeds than within breeds (41.81%). It was concluded that there is more genetic variation among the studied breeds than within the breeds for HSP90AA1 gene.
In this study, it was aimed at comparing the growth performances of calves born with difficulty and normal calves. The first and most important objective in cattle breeding is to produce a sufficient number of calves within the morphological and physiological limits determined by genetics. In this sense, calf yield varies according to the number of pregnant cows and live-born calves in the herd per unit time. In cattle breeding, especially in dairy cattle breeding, one of the factors that negatively affects calf yield is calving difficulty or difficult calving. Difficult births are generally a cause of significant economic loss for enterprises due to the risks they pose for the health of both cow and calf. In order to compare the growth performances of the calves born with difficulty and normal calves, the birth weight and weaning weight of calves born with difficulty and normal calves were weighed according to whether the births were assisted or not. It was determined that the rate of difficult birth was 14,38% in the enterprise. In the study, it was determined that normal-born calves had an average birth weight of 39.24 kg and Dystocia-born calves had an average birth weight of 39.50 kg. It is understood that the average birth weights of the normal-born calves varied between 21,00 and 54,00 kg, while the average birth weights of the Dystocia-born calves varied between 28,00 and 53,00 kg. In the analysis of variance, the differences between birth types were not found to be statistically significant. When the frequencies of difficult births were evaluated according to the birth weights of the calves, it was understood that difficult births were concentrated between 36 and 45 kg. However, the fact that the calves born between 26 and 35 kg also had Dystocia birth records indicates maternal pelvic bone stenosis.
The yearly time course of body weight and body condition was evaluated in female llamas and alpacas. One hundred and twenty lactating females, 60 llamas, and 60 alpacas maintained grazing natural pastures were assessed monthly for body weight and body condition. Body weight was registered using a scale to the nearest 1 kg. Body condition was evaluated behind the shoulder, and dorsal protrusion of the thoracic vertebrae was detected. Body weight was analyzed using analysis of variance and body condition using the Chi-square test. Body weight, kg, was different (P≤ 0.05) by species and breeds, 97.6 and 56.2 for llama and alpaca, respectively. Chaku llamas, 94.3; Kcara llamas, 100.9, Huacaya alpacas 56.3, and Suri alpacas 55.9 kg. Body condition varied significantly (P≤ 0.05) between llamas and alpacas. Twelve percent of animals presented good body condition compared to 46% of regular and 42% with poor body condition. More llamas and alpacas were in good body condition, and 82 animals, during the rainy season, December, were also pregnant, more than 15 females with poor body condition and nonpregnant during the same period. Body weight and body condition improved during the rainy than the dry season.
The present investigation aimed to assess chemical monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent in processed hen meat products. One hundred random of processed hen meat samples were estimated. The highest concentration mean± SE chemical Food additive Monosodium glutamate (mg/g.) as an flavoring agent was found in samples of canned hen (3.950 ± 0.51) than in hen pannae samples (1.850 ± 0.28), hen minced meat samples were the highest concentration (2.750 ± 1.05), followed by hen shawerma samples (1.730 ± 0.220), and fried hen meat samples (1.470 ± 0.850) mg/g. of chemical Food additive Monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent. So, the current estimated chemical Food additive Monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent contents in the examined processed hen samples were less than the acceptable levels stated by Egyptian Standards, FDA stated that contamination of the examined chicken meat samples in this study revealed that the amount of chemical monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent causing reactions in human being ranged from 0.500 to 3.00 mg. so a typical serving of a foodstuff with added chemical Monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent has less than 0.50 g. of Monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent. Reduction the public health hazards of exposure to these food additives as flavoring agent. The corrected and safe doses of chemical Food additive Monosodium glutamate as flavoring agent in food of human.
The resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics has become a "scourge" of the medical field in recent decades. In this regard, the vector of medical research rightly changed in favor of the search for natural mechanisms to fight pathogens. Nature has produced mechanisms for maintaining balance for millions of years, so it is reasonable to investigate and, in the future, use such mechanisms. This current study reviews and analyzes the last five years of research on the effects of saponin-containing plants on the most common pathogens. The analysis of literary data confirms the growing interest in natural antimicrobial drugs that are currently used in folk medicine or have the prospect of use in humane medicine in different countries of the world. Wide interest of the scientific community in the search for alternative antimicrobial agents, which would make it possible to overcome antibiotic resistance in the treatment of various types of diseases, has been revealed. Current scientific research has confirmed or disproved the effectiveness of only a thousandth part of all possible plants. Undoubtedly, the use of natural plant components will make it possible to make the treatment process cheaper and more effective, so this direction of research is currently very promising from all points of view.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ciprofibrate on serum triglyceride concentrations in canine patients. A sample size of 21 canines was study, that had a diagnosis of familial dyslipidemia, and was established with triglyceride levels above 500mg/dl, treatment with ciprofibrate was evaluated at 2 months. The analysis of the variation in triglyceride levels was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. The Wilcoxon test revealed that the triglyceride concentration decreased significantly after two months of treatment with ciprofibrate; from 621 (512 to 1046)mg/dL to 136 (67 to 215)mg/dL (p <0.0001). The difference in medians was -482.0md/dL with a 97.3% confidence interval of -579.0 to -443.0mg/dL. It was concluded that the use of drugs such as ciprofibrate in the treatment of patients with familial hiperlipidemia, had a significant decrease in serum triglyceride concentrations, without generating adverse reactions in this study.
