IntroductionFurosemide is widely administered in North America for the prophylactic treatment of exercise‐induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Plasma total CO2 concentration (ctCO2) provides a clinically useful screening test for the presence of metabolic acid‐base disturbances, including the pre‐race administration of alkalinizing agents to racehorses. Some racing jurisdictions account for the metabolic alkalosis and increased plasma ctCO2 induced by furosemide administration. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pre‐race furosemide dose and pre‐race plasma ctCO2 in Thoroughbred racehorses.MethodsJugular venous blood was collected anaerobically into 3 mL partially evacuated plastic tubes containing lithium heparin from 226 Thoroughbred horses administered a variable dose of furosemide (150–500 mg IV, n = 217) 3–4 hours previously or not administered furosemide (n = 9).Plasma ctCO2 was calculated from the measured values for pH and pCO2 using a blood gas and pH analyzer [Radiometer ABL 700] and the Henderson‐Hasselbalch equation. Data was analyzed using multivariable linear regression and P<0.05 was significant.Plasma ctCO2 in mmol/L increased linearly (P = 0.0006) with furosemide dose in milligrams adjusted for sex (female, stallion, gelding), such that ctCO2 = 33.38 − 0.71(if female) − 0.63(if stallion) + 0.0040 × (furosemide dose).ConclusionsIntravenous administration of furosemide (150–500 mg) produces a linear dose‐dependent increase in ctCO2 in plasma. High intravenous doses of furosemide (500 mg) have the potential to increase plasma ctCO2 to near the threshold value used to identify the pre‐race administration of alkalinizing agents. This finding supports an allowance of 2.0 mmol/L for furosemide administration used by some racing jurisdictions in North America.Ethical Animal ResearchSamples and data were collected during race day procedures currently in place. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated. Sources of funding: Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Competing interests: none.

IntroductionCalculating the total plasma concentration of carbon dioxide (ctCO2) from the results of blood gas and pH analysis assumes that the value for pK1′ is constant and approximates 6.095. The objective of this study was to verify both assumptions in equine plasma.MethodsDuplicate jugular blood samples were collected pre‐race from 115 trained Standardbreds into 3 mL partially evacuated plastic tubes containing lithium heparin. Blood pH (pHb) and partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) were measured in one tube using a blood gas and pH analyser (Radiometer ABL‐700). The second tube was anaerobically centrifuged and ctCO2 was measured (Beckman EL‐ISE analyser). Plasma pK1′ was calculated for each horse using the Henderson‐Hasselbalch equation, measured values for pHb, pCO2, and plasma ctCO2, and the value for the solubility of CO2 in plasma at 37C (S = 0.0307 {mmol/L}/mmHg) whereby: pK1′ = (pHb + 0.01)–log10({ctCO2‐S × pCO2}/{S × pCO2}), with the term (pHb + 0.01) representing the pH in plasma. The calculated value for pK1′ was standardized to pHb = 7.40 using the Severinghaus equation such that dpK1′/dpH = −0.044. Non‐parametric statistical procedures were used to determine the median value and 95% confidence interval (CI) for pK1′.ResultsThe median value for pK1′ at pHb = 7.40 was 6.097, and the 95% CI for pK1′ was 6.063–6.123.ConclusionsThe 95% CI for pK1′ in equine plasma from trained Standardbreds is narrow and includes the assumed fixed value of 6.095. Our findings support the use of blood gas and pH analysis to calculate plasma ctCO2 in order to detect the pre‐race administration of alkalinizing agents in horses.Ethical Animal ResearchThe study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Purdue University. Sources of funding: Supported, in part, by a grant from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Competing interests: none.

IntroductionThe Accutrend® Lactate (formerly Accusport®) is a low cost point‐of‐care L‐lactate analyser. The analyser is widely used in the training of horses and has been used for research studies and to assist the clinical management of critically ill horses. The analyser is reported to be linear from 0.8–22.0 mmol/L (blood) and 0.7–26.0 mmol/L (plasma); however, test performance at high L‐lactate concentrations in equine blood and plasma has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the Accutrend® Lactate analyzer over a wide range of L‐lactate concentrations in paired blood and plasma samples.MethodsDuplicate jugular blood samples were collected from 8 trained Standardbreds before, during, and after a simulated race on a treadmill into 4 mL partially evacuated tubes containing lithium heparin. Blood and plasma L‐lactate concentrations were measured using a colorimetric lactate‐oxidase mediated reaction (BM‐Lactate® test strips and Accutrend® Lactate) and the reference enzymatic method (L‐lactic dehydrogenase spectrophotometry at 340 nm using samples deproteinized with 8% perchloric acid). Data was analysed using Deming regression and Bland‐Altman plots adjusted for repeated measures (P<0.05).ResultsThe reference method measured a wide range of L‐lactate concentrations in 128 blood (0.2–23.8 mmol/L) and 127 plasma (0.3–41.1 mmol/L) samples. The Accutrend® Lactate analyzer provided an accurate method of L‐lactate measurement, but only when blood and plasma L‐lactate concentrations were <12.5 mmol/L (79% of samples) and <15.0 mmol/L (64% of samples), respectively.ConclusionsBlood L‐lactate concentrations >12.5 mmol/L and plasma L‐lactate concentrations >15.0 mmol/L measured by the Accutrend® Lactate analyzer underestimate the true value by a variable amount when compared with the enzymatic reference method.Ethical Animal ResearchThe study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Purdue University. Sources of funding: Supported, in part, by a grant from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Competing interests: none.

US dairy calves are often disbudded at an early age without analgesics, whereas several other countries require analgesics. Administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in milk replacer would be a simple, stress-free method to deliver analgesics for disbudding if shown to improve well-being. Most studies of NSAID efficacy involve older animals, NSAIDs not labeled for use in US cattle, or NSAIDs administered by injection. Our objective was to determine the effects of administering an NSAID labeled for use in US cattle (flunixin meglumine; FM) in milk replacer on heart rate (HR), physical activity (PA), and salivary cortisol concentration (SCC) in young dairy calves disbudded by cautery.

Australian Veterinary JournalVolume 85, Issue 6 p. 231-231 Otto Martin Radostits 1934 – 2006 DC Blood, DC BloodSearch for more papers by this authorCC Gay, CC GaySearch for more papers by this authorKW Hinchcliff, KW HinchcliffSearch for more papers by this authorPD Constable, PD ConstableSearch for more papers by this author DC Blood, DC BloodSearch for more papers by this authorCC Gay, CC GaySearch for more papers by this authorKW Hinchcliff, KW HinchcliffSearch for more papers by this authorPD Constable, PD ConstableSearch for more papers by this author First published: 30 May 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00159.x DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00159.x Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume85, Issue6June 2007Pages 231-231 RelatedInformation

Abomasal ulceration occurs commonly in milk-fed calves and adult cattle, and severe ulceration can result in abomasal perforation, peritonitis and death. An important therapeutic goal in treating gastric ulceration in monogastric animals is maintaining gastric pH >3.5 by administering oral antacid agents, proton pump inhibitors, or histamine H2-receptor antagonists. Because the efficacy of oral antacid agents in increasing abomasal pH is unknown in cattle, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a widely available oral antacid agent (Extra-strength Maalox®) on abomasal pH in calves. This antacid contains 90 mg of Mg(OH)2 and 100 mg of Al(OH)3 per mL, and the antacid increases gastric pH through the following chemical reactions:Mg(OH)2 + 2H+ ⇒ Mg2+ + 2H2OAl(OH)3 + 3H+ ⇒ AI3+ + 3H2O Purportedly, Mg(OH)2 / Al(OH)3 antacid agents have clinical efficacy in the treatment of abomasal ulceration in adult cattle. There do not appear to be any data available to support or refute such a claim.

SummaryThe objective of our study was to investigate, retrospectively, the role of triple pelvic osteotomy in the management of traumatic coxofemoral luxation. Nineteen patients were identified from medical record data and four dogs returned for long-term physical, goniometric and radiographic evaluation. Seventeen of nineteen dogs had maintenance of reduction of the hip. Due to poor outcome, two of these seventeen dogs required salvage procedures. Three of four dogs that returned for long-term follow-up, owner evaluation, radiographic scoring, and physical examination had satisfactory results. These four dogs had manual goniometric evaluations performed on the affected side, and the contralateral hip. A paired student t-test was used for statistical analysis, and internal rotation was the only value which was significantly (p d0.05) different between the two sides. Reduction alone is not a representation of success when evaluating open management of coxofemoral luxation, because two dogs with poor limb function necessitated femoral head and neck excision for limb salvage. The TPO does have a role in the treatment of traumatic coxofemoral luxation, but may not be sufficient in cases involving congenital dysplasia and/or intraarticular fractures.Triple pelvic osteotomy is a successful means of mitigating the sequela of congenital hip subluxation. This surgical technique can be used to manage dogs with traumatic coxofemoral luxation. There was an indication in this study that reduction alone is not a satisfactory means of evaluating management of traumatic coxofemoral luxation. Dogs with congenital dysplasia or intra-articular fractures associated with traumatic luxation may require alternate methods of reduction.

Ventricular relaxation is altered in a number of cardiac disorders affecting domestic animals. Clinical determination of the ventricular relaxation rate can provide useful information regarding disease severity and response to therapy. We believe that the current gold standard for assessing left ventricular relaxation requires measurement of ventricular luminal pressure at end-expiration using a high-fidelity catheter. Ventricular pressure should be digitized at > or = 200 Hz for the period of pressure fall between the minimum rate of change of ventricular pressure and 10 mm Hg above left ventricular end-diastolic pressure of the preceding beat. The rate of relaxation then should be determined from the digitized data by Marquardt nonlinear least squares parameter estimation using an exponential decay model with nonzero asymptote. The major disadvantage in using an invasive method for evaluating left ventricular relaxation is that it requires general anesthesia in animals that frequently are categorized as high-risk anesthetic patients. Noninvasive estimates of ventricular relaxation using echocardiographic parameters such as isovolumic relaxation time, peak early filling rate, and time from end-systole to peak filling rate provide a crude and nonspecific assessment of ventricular relaxation that can be obtained from conscious animals. Determinations of these echocardiographic indices are of limited usefulness in assessing changes in ventricular relaxation associated with disease progression or therapeutic intervention, unless concurrent estimates of left atrial pressure, mitral valve characteristics, and left ventricular compliance are available.

Normal serum biochemistry values are frequently obtained from studies of captive sedentary (zoo) or free-ranging (wild) animals. It is frequently assumed that values obtained from these two populations are directly referable to each other. We tested this assumption using 20 captive gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota, USA, and 11 free-ranging gray wolves in Alaska, USA. Free-ranging wolves had significantly (P < 0.05) lower sodium, chloride, and creatinine concentrations and significantly higher potassium and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations; BUN to creatinine ratios; and alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase activities relative to captive wolves. Corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase activity (a marker of stress in domestic dogs) was detected in 3 of 11 free-ranging wolves and in 0 of 20 captive wolves (P = 0.037). This study provides clear evidence that serum biochemical differences can exist between captive and free-ranging populations of one species. Accordingly, evaluation of the health status of an animal should incorporate an understanding of the potential confounding effect that nutrition, activity level, and environmental stress could have on the factor(s) being measured.

Cardiac chamber enlargement and hypertrophy are normal physiologic responses to repetitive endurance exercise activity in human beings and domestic dogs. Whether similar changes occur in wild animals as a consequence of increased activity is unknown. We found that free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus, n = 11), the archetypical endurance athlete, have electrocardiographic evidence of cardiac chamber enlargement and hypertrophy relative to sedentary captive gray wolves (n = 20), as demonstrated by significant increases in QRS duration, QT interval, and QT interval corrected for heart rate, a tendency towards increased Q, R, and S wave voltages in all leads, and a significant decrease in heart rate. We conclude that exercise activity level and therefore lifestyle affects physiologic variables in wild animals. An immediate consequence of this finding is that physiologic measurements obtained from a captive wild-animal population with reduced exercise activity level may not accurately reflect the normal physiologic state for free-ranging members of the same species.

Hypertonic saline solution induces a rapid but transient increase in plasma volume, cardiac output, and mean arterial pressure. This solution can be useful to veterinary practitioners and their clients because it provides a rapid and inexpensive technique for the initial resuscitation of food animals in hemorrhagic or endotoxic shock. Hypertonic saline should be used as an adjunct to therapy and not as a cure-all.