Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is hereditary developmental condition that involves a lack of conformity between the femoral head and acetabulum. It invariably leads to osteoarthritis. We hereby review the standard hip ventrodorsal leg extended view to be adopted by our Tanzanian veterinarians. Diagnostic radiography is the only definitive method used to detect CHD. In 1961, a report from a panel of the American Veterinary Medical Association on CHD indicated that, the standard hip ventrodorsal leg extended view is the most preferred. This standard view has become the most common radiographic view for the evaluation of CHD. The standard hip ventrodorsal led extended view is more practical and is technically less demanding. It can be easily reproduced in a practice situation. The use of this view by the Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) established in 1966 has contributed significantly to the radiographic evaluation of canine hip joint and control of CHD. Adoption of this technique by our veterinarians is important in the diagnosis and control of CHD in Tanzania. This will serve to prevent losses to pet owners, dog breeders and dog buyers. Radiological screening and selective breeding programmes have been successfully used to control CHD in several countries. We recommend this view to be used in Tanzania for CHD diagnosis in animals suspected to show hind limb lameness and as routine for breeding dogs. Tanzania Veterinary Journal Vol. 24 (2) 2007: pp. 91-101

The effects of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on reproductive performance of grazing dairy cows was studied. Forty-eight cows in their first to third parity were allocated to eight groups of 6 animals each, based on stage of lactation and milk yield. Groups 1 (control), 2 (Ca), 3 (P) and 4 (Zn) received, respectively, no mineral supplement, 10 g Ca, 8 g P and 400 mg Zn. The rest of the groups received a combination of Ca/P, Ca/Zn, P/Zn or Ca/P/Zn. Animals were drenched daily. Ovarian activity was determined by progesterone concentrations in milk. Prepartum body condition score (BCS) measured using scale 1–5 was 2.5–3.5. Reproductive problems were observed in all groups except that supplemented with Ca. Cows supplemented with Ca, P, Ca/P, Ca/Zn and Ca/P/Zn had significantly (p < 0.05) shorter interval (30 days) from calving to resumption of oestrus as compared to control (69 days). Intervals from calving to conception and between calvings did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05), but were shorter in Ca-supplemented cows. Furthermore, cows in groups 2 and 3 needed an average of 2 services per conception against 3 for cows in other groups. Hence, supplementation with Ca, P and Zn of deficient dairy cows appears to improve reproductive performance.

Hypertrophic osteopathy is a pathological disease process that occurs secondary to intra thoracic lesions that are either pulmonary or non pulmonary in origin. A 6-year-old female German shepherd cross was presented with complaints of losing body condition, anorexia, lameness, and swollen limbs. Clinical examination revealed swelling of all four limbs which were hard and painless on palpation. Radiographic examination of the limbs and the thoracic cavity revealed, irregular periosteal new bone formation along the shafts of most of the long bones and an oval-shaped 6 cm diameter radio dense caudal mediastinal mass. At post-mortem examination, an oesophageal diverticulum was found, filled with foul smelling creamy exudates and a bone foreign body firmly adherent to the wall. Hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to oesophageal foreign body was diagnosed based on history, clinical examination, radiography, post-mortem picture and histopathology.

Two experiments were conducted in the Makambako division of the southern highlands of Tanzania to investigate the effects of regrowth period, season and harvesting frequency on the yield and nutritive value of Chloris gayana. The first experiment was conducted in 2002 in a 4×2 factorial arrangement in a complete randomised block design with six replications. The treatments were period of regrowth (three, six, nine and 12 weeks) and season (early wet season January–March and late wet season April–June). The second experiment was conducted in 2003 in a complete randomised design with six replications. The treatments were four cutting frequencies (three, six, nine and 12 weeks). In Experiment 1, the dry matter yield (DMY) ranged from 1.09–7.99t ha−1 and from 0.97–3.53t ha−1 (P < 0.05), while the crude protein (CP) content ranged from 13.9–8.25% and 16.09–9.85% (P < 0.05) in the early and late wet seasons, respectively. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) declined faster with increasing periods of growth in the early than in the late wet season. ME ranged from 9.21–7.29MJ kg−1 DM (P < 0.05) and 8.02–7.87MJ kg−1 DM (P > 0.05) in the early and late wet seasons, respectively. For Experiment 2, the nine- and 12-week cutting frequencies did not differ (P > 0.05) in terms of cumulative DMY (19.07 versus 18.93t ha−1) but produced nearly twice as much as the three- and six- week cutting frequencies (10.18 and 8.32t ha−1). CP, IVDMD and ME decreased while neutral detergent fibre (NDF) increased with decreased cutting frequency. The results of the present study suggest that the optimal balance of dry matter yield and nutritive value of C. gayana at Makambako is reached at the ninth week of regrowth. Regardless of season, dairy farmers in this area who are feeding pure C. gayana must provide energy supplement to their dairy cows.

The objectives of this study were to assess changes in nutritional status/body condition score, percentage pregnancy and calving rate in Zebu cows and to establish the relationship between body condition score loss and postpartum interval to resumption of ovarian activity. A total of 198 cows and postpubertal heifers of the Tanzanian Shorthorn Zebu kept under a traditional management system were randomly selected from 200 smallholder herds. Factors investigated during bi-weekly visits include body condition score (BCS), heart-girth circumference, milk yield and reproductive status of the animals, pregnancy/non-pregnancy and cyclicity/non-cyclicity. Local weather conditions and dates of occurrence of other reproductive events such as calving were also recorded. Calvings occurred all year round but with a strong seasonal distribution characterized by annual peaks observed between April and July. The annual calving pattern was closely related to rainfall, with peak precipitation occurring a few months before peak calving. The overall percentage pregnancy varied from 30% to 50% throughout the year. Postpartum cows exhibited minimum mean BCS and heart-girth circumference 12–14 weeks after calving, and cows with BCS loss >1 point exhibited the longest time interval from calving to onset of ovarian activity.

The effects of dietary supplementation with dicalcium phosphate containing 10 g calcium and 8 g phosphorus on plasma total calcium inorganic phosphate, body condition score and milk yield were studied for 42 days, during the dry season of 1997 in forty grazing, lactating Zebu cows, in lringa region, Tanzania. The animals were allocated to two groups: one control group (T1) comprising off fifteen cows and a supplementation groUp (T2) comprising of twenty five cows. Dicalcium phosphate supplementation was done twice per week. Blood samples were collected before supplementation and at the engd of experimental period. Total milk yield and body condition of the animals were also recorded. Supplemented cows had higher (P< 0.001) mean plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate (1.30 mmol/Ca and 2. 08 mmol P/l) than the control cows (1.08 mmol/Ca and 1.58 mmol P/l). Supplemented cows, had a better (P<0. 0001) body condition score and produced more milk (3. 10 BCS and 181 kg) than control cows (2.63 BCS and 149 kg) and total 42 days milk yield (149 vs 181 kg). It is concluded that low plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate may be a problem to Zebu cows and that decalcium phosphate can provide a boost to plasma Ca and Pi ,during the dry season. Keywords: calcium, phosphorus, body condition, milk yield, Zebu cows ~Tanzanla J. Agric. Sc. (2002) Vol.5 No.1, 71-76

The present study was carried out in order to compare the reversing effects of alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonists, atipamezole and tolazoline on analgesia, cardiopulmonary depression and rectal temperature changes induced by epidural administration of medetomidine in goats. Eight clinically healthy, small East African goats of both sexes weighing between 12 and 17kg (mean 14.4+/-1.8kg) were used in this study. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of four animals. The first group was given 20µg/kg medetomidine followed by intravenous (IV) administration of 80µg/kg atipamezole, 30min after the initial injection. The second group was given same treatment for medetomidine as group one but followed by IV administration of 2.2mg/kg tolazoline, 30min after the initial injection. In both treatment groups, medetomidine was administered epidurally through the lumbosacral interspace. Analgesia of the flank and perineum was evaluated at every 10min intervals up to 60min. The cardiopulmonary and rectal temperature values were monitored and recorded at every 5min interval up to 60min. In both groups, lumbosacral epidural injection of medetomidine induced generalised analgesia, variable cardiopulmonary depression effects and non-significant changes on rectal temperature. These changes developed as early as 5min and continued until alpha(2)/alpha(1) antagonists were administered. Intravenous administration of alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists; atipamezole and tolazoline reversed analgesia, cardiopulmonary and rectal temperature changes induced by lumbosacral epidural injection of medetomidine in goats. However, atipamezole appeared to be superior (P<0.05) to tolazoline. From this study, it was concluded that IV administration of 80µg/kg atipamezole was better than 2.2mg/kg tolazoline in reversing analgesia and cardiopulmonary depression effects induced by lumbosacral epidural injection of medetomidine in goats. This indicates the superiority of atipamezole to tolazoline as an antidote for medetomidine induced effects in goats.

This study was carried out in order to evaluate the analgesic, sedative, immobilizing and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine in goats after lumbosacral epidural injection of three (10, 20 and 30 micrograms/kg body weight) doses. The volume of the injection for all three medetomidine doses was 5 ml in sterile water. Seventeen clinically healthy, Small East African goats of either sex and weighing between 12 and 22 kg (mean +/- SD; 14.8 +/- 2.5 kg body weight) were used. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups. Seven goats were used for evaluating analgesic, behavioural and cardiopulmonary effects while 10 were used for experimental surgery. The cardiopulmonary values and rectal temperature were determined and recorded at time 0 (preinjection) and at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min, and thereafter at 15-min intervals up to 180 min after injection. Analgesia of the flank and perineum was determined at time 0 (preinjection) and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min using a scoring system. The spread of analgesia to the thorax, neck, forelimbs and head was also determined and recorded. The onset and duration of lateral recumbency was noted and recorded. Medetomidine at the given doses induced variable cardiopulmonary depression, which was not detrimental to the animals. All three doses (10, 20 and 30 micrograms/kg) of medetomidine induced adequate analgesia of the flank and perineum. Analgesia extended to the thorax, forelimbs, neck and head. The duration of lateral recumbency was 136 and 166 min for the 20 and 30 micrograms/kg medetomidine doses, respectively. The duration of lateral recumbency was not determined for the animal given 10 micrograms/kg medetomidine. Signs of sedation (lowering of the head, drooping of the lower lip, partial to complete closure of the eyes and salivation) were noted after administration of all three doses. It can be concluded from this study that all three doses induced adequate analgesia of the flank and perineum. Surgical analgesia of the flank of goats was achieved after lumbosacral epidural administration of 20 micrograms medetomidine/kg, diluted in 5 ml of sterile water. Surgery was not performed with the other doses (10 and 30 micrograms/kg) of medetomidine.

The present study was carried out in order to compare the effects of xylazine and lidocaine on analgesia and cardiopulmonary parameters following epidural injection in goats. Twelve healthy Small East African goats of both sexes (mean +/- SD; 15.6 +/- 1.9 kg body weight) were used. The goats were randomly assigned to two groups of five and seven animals. The first group (n = 5) was given 2% lidocaine-HCl at 4400 micrograms/kg body weight. The second group (n = 7) was administered 2% xylazine-HCl at 150 micrograms/kg body weight. All drugs were diluted in 5 ml of sterile water and were injected epidurally through the lumbosacral interspace with the injection taking over 20 s. Both drugs induced analgesia within 5 min. Signs of sedation, cardiopulmonary changes and lateral recumbency developed within 5-7 min after administration of epidural xylazine. Tail flaccidity and hind limb paralysis developed 3 min after epidural administration of lidocaine. The time from recumbency to regaining normal stance was 60 and 158 min for xylazine- and lidocaine-treated animals respectively. Xylazine induced adequate analgesia of the flank and perineum, which extended to the head and forelimbs. In contrast, lidocaine induced adequate bilateral flank and perineal analgesia extending up to the third thoracic vertebra. For both drugs, analgesia of the flank and perineum persisted for the entire 180-min observational period. Epidural injection of xylazine and lidocaine caused variable depression effects on the cardiopulmonary values but was not so low as to cause concern. It is concluded that lumbosacral epidural injection of xylazine at 150 micrograms/kg body weight in 5 ml of water for injection offers the most desirable sedation and analgesia of the flank and perineum. The longer duration of analgesia may be useful for postoperative analgesia and relief of continuous straining in goats.