Effect of D,L methionine and ammonium chloride on urine acidification, urinary fractional excretion of calcium, and blood bicarbonate in clinically healthy goats.

Background: Urinary acidification with ammonium chloride (AC) for urolith dissolution is a common treatment for goats with urolithiasis. Studies have reported increased fractional excretion of calcium (FECa) following AC administration, which could increase calcium-based urolithiasis. D,L methionine (MET) may result in similar acidification with less calcium excretion.

Assessment of a standing position during abdominal point-of-care ultrasound on abdominal fluid score in dogs.

Objective: To assess the use of a standing position during abdominal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examination when evaluating dogs for peritoneal effusion.

Design: Randomized prospective study over 17 months.

Setting: Single-center, university veterinary teaching hospital.

Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of a bone-screw-fastener for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel screw type on stiffness and failure characteristics of a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) construct under cyclic loading conditions. The authors hypothesized that bone-screw-fasteners (BSF) would result in superior biomechanical stability compared with locking buttress screws (LBS).

Materials And Methods: Twelve pairs of canine cadaveric pelvic limbs were included in this biomechanical study.

Evaluation of Clinicopathological Data, the Specific Feline Pancreatic Lipase Assay, and Abdominal Ultrasound as Severity Determinants in Cats with Pancreatitis.

Limited data exist to predict the severity of pancreatitis in cats. In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the medical records of 45 cats with SP from June 2014 to June 2019. Case definition was based on an internist's review of clinopathologic data, Spec fPL concentration, and AUS findings.

Retrospective analysis of immunosuppressive and anti-thrombotic protocols in nonassociative immune mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Background: Evidence supporting the effectiveness of therapeutic protocols for nonassociative immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (na-IMHA) is weak.

Hypothesis/objectives: Investigate the efficacy of various drugs in na-IMHA.

Animals: Two hundred forty-two dogs.

Medical Management of Canine Chronic Ulcerative Stomatitis Using Cyclosporine and Metronidazole.

Canine chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CCUS) is a spontaneously occurring, painful, and often debilitating condition of the oral cavity, with a suspected immune-mediated component. The response to pharmacological treatment is generally poor, thus the need to identify more effective medical therapies for this condition. This article describes a prospective clinical trial that was designed to evaluate the efficiency of a combination of cyclosporine and metronidazole in managing CCUS.

Sources of variance in the results of a commercial bovine immunoglobulin G radial immunodiffusion assay.

Radial immunodiffusion (RID) is used to quantify IgG concentration in neonatal beef or dairy calf serum; variability has been noted that may affect the precision and accuracy of assay results. We determined the source, range, and homogeneity of variance in the results of a commercial bovine IgG RID assay (Triple J Farm). To estimate the variance in the precipitin ring diameter, we used 6 sera, measured 28 times across 8 plates and 4 lots, and 3 standards with known IgG concentrations, measured 75 times across 69 plates and 5 lots.

Anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban, prednisone, alone and in combination, in healthy dogs.

Background: The potential effects of glucocorticoid administration on rivaroxaban's anticoagulant bioactivity in dogs, and an appropriate rivaroxaban dosage regimen for dogs receiving glucocorticoid therapy are unknown.

Hypothesis/objectives: The objective was to determine whether glucocorticoid administration influences the anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban in healthy dogs. We hypothesized that administration of rivaroxaban and prednisone would reduce the anticoagulant intensity compared with rivaroxaban alone.

Epidemiology's Adoption of System Dynamics is a Natural Extension of Population Thinking.

Epidemiologists have adopted systems thinking as an approach to understanding why health conditions occur in animal populations beyond the knowledge of simple linear relationships. Beef production systems are complex adaptive systems and decisions and policies throughout the system can positively or negatively affect the health of cattle. Those decisions may occur far removed in time or place from the health event and may be logical in the context of other factors in the system.

Assessment of Diversity of Antimicrobial Resistance Phenotypes and Genotypes of Isolates From Bovine Nasopharyngeal Swabs.

The threat of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) for cattle operations is exacerbated by increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in , a leading cause of BRD. Characterization of AMR in by culture and susceptibility testing is complicated by uncertainty regarding the number of colonies that must be selected to accurately characterize AMR phenotypes (antibiograms) and genotypes in a culture. The study objective was to assess phenotypic and genotypic diversity of isolates on nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) from 28 cattle at risk for BRD or with BRD.

Pathological and Ultrastructural Characterization of an Edwardsiella ictaluri Triple hemR Mutant.

Enteric septicemia of catfish, which is caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri, is detrimental to farmed Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus. The hemin receptor HemR is involved in binding and uptake of heme into bacteria. Here, we explored pathological and ultrastructural changes in catfish fry that were immunized with a triple hemR mutant of E.

Effect of washing units of canine red blood cells on storage lesions.

Background: In humans, washing stored blood products before transfusion reduces storage lesions and incidence of transfusion reactions, but the effectiveness of washing canine blood is unknown.

Objectives: The objective was to determine if manually washing units of stored blood would reduce storage lesions without adversely affecting erythrocytes. We hypothesized that washing stored units would reduce concentrations of storage lesions and cause minimal erythrocyte damage.

Investigation of fluorescein stain-based tear film breakup time test reliability in dogs in a clinical setting.

Objective: To determine intra- and interobserver reliability of a fluorescein stain-based tear film breakup time (TFBUT) test as performed in a clinical environment with and without administration of a topical anesthetic.

Animals: 21 privately owned dogs.

Procedures: A randomized study design was used.

Effects of leukoreduction on N-methylhistamine concentration in stored units of canine whole blood.

Objective: To determine the effects of leukoreduction on N-methylhistamine (NMH; a stable histamine metabolite) concentration in units of canine whole blood during storage and incubation at room temperature (approx 22 °C) to simulate temperature conditions during transfusion.

Animals: 8 healthy adult Walker Hounds.

Procedures: A standard unit of blood (450 mL) was obtained from each dog twice, with at least 28 days between donations.

Ex vivo biomechanical comparison of four Center of Rotation Angulation Based Leveling Osteotomy fixation methods.

Objective: To compare the strength of four constructs used to secure an osteotomy in a Center of Rotation Angulation (CORA)-Based Leveling Osteotomy (CBLO) in an ex vivo model.

Study Design: Ex vivo study.

Sample Population: Thirty-two canine tibiae from 17 skeletally mature cadavers weighing between 18 and 33.

Effects of pentoxifylline on canine platelet aggregation.

Background: Pentoxifylline can decrease platelet function in humans, but the anti-platelet effects of pentoxifylline in dogs is unknown. The addition of a luciferin-luciferase reagent during platelet aggregometry can induce a dose-dependent potentiation of platelet aggregation.

Objective: To determine if exposure to pentoxifylline, without the addition of a luciferin-luciferase reagent during aggregometry, causes canine platelet dysfunction.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous continuous rate infusion and repeated intramuscular administration of dexmedetomidine in standing horses.

An ideal dexmedetomidine protocol has yet to be determined for standing sedation in horses. It was hypothesized that an IV bolus followed by CRI dexmedetomidine would have a quicker increase in plasma concentrations compared with repeated IM injections. In a crossover design, eight adult, female horses were randomly placed into two groups: the CRI group (IV bolus dexmedetomidine at 0.

Retrospective Evaluation of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride Use in Horses: 95 Cases (2010-2019).

This study aimed to describe the clinical use of oral fluoxetine hydrochloride administration in horses using a retrospective medical records analysis and to determine owner perception of efficacy via a standardized questionnaire. The records of ninety-five horses for which fluoxetine had been prescribed by the equine service of a veterinary teaching hospital from November 2010 and February 2019 were identified, and data were collected from the medical records. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain data from owners regarding length of administration, ease of administration, adverse effects, and whether the owner noted improvement in the horse's behavior.

A system dynamics model for disease management in poultry production.

The objective of this article was to provide the nonmodeler reader of Poultry Science, an overview of the system dynamics modeling method (SDM) through development of a broiler house disease management simulator (BHDMS). System dynamics modeling uses feedback theory and computer-aided simulation to help elucidate relationships between factors in complex systems, which may be circular or interrupted with long delays. Materials used to build the simulator include data from literature and industry indices.

Biomechanical Comparison of External Fixation and Double Plating for Stabilization of a Canine Cadaveric Supracondylar Humeral Fracture Gap Model.

Objective:  Successful stabilization of comminuted supracondylar humeral fractures is challenging, and biomechanical studies are scarce. This study compares double-plate (DB-PLATE) and linear external fixator with an intramedullary pin tie-in (ESF-IMP) fixation techniques in a cadaveric gap model. The hypothesis was the DB-PLATE construct would be stiffer, stronger and more resistant to repeated loading than the ESF-IMP construct in both cyclic and load-to-failure axial compression testing.

Effects of oral administration of 5 immunosuppressive agents on activated T-cell cytokine expression in healthy dogs.

Background: Dogs are often adminstered >1 immunosuppressive medication when treating immune-mediated diseases, and determining whether these different medications affect IL-2 expression would be useful when performing pharmacodynamic monitoring during cyclosporine therapy.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine the effects of 5 medications (prednisone, cyclosporine, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and leflunomide) on activated T-cell expression of the cytokines IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).

Animals: Eight healthy dogs.

Association between abdominal ultrasound findings, the specific canine pancreatic lipase assay, clinical severity indices, and clinical diagnosis in dogs with pancreatitis.

Background: A clinical diagnosis (CDx) of pancreatitis includes evaluation of clinical signs, abdominal ultrasound (AUS), and pancreatic lipase. However, practitioners are using AUS to diagnose pancreatitis and are using AUS severity to guide decisions. The validity of this is unknown.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction in dogs with cervical spinal disorders before and after surgery using fluoroscopy, motion-mode ultrasound and radiography was not different than a group of control dogs.

Cervical spinal disorders can lead to life-threatening respiratory complications. Diaphragmatic dysfunction is attributed to spinal cord morbidity secondary to cervical myelopathy or decompressive surgical intervention. The purpose of this observational case-control study was to determine the frequency of diaphragmatic dysfunction in dogs with cervical spinal disorders and a control group, the strength of association between cervical myelopathies and decompressive surgery with diaphragm paresis, and the agreement between and clinical usefulness of fluoroscopy, motion-mode ultrasonography, and radiography for diagnosing diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Sperm cellular and nuclear dynamics associated with bull fertility.

The objective of this study was to ascertain cellular characteristics and the dynamics of the sperm chromatin proteins protamine 1 (PRM1) and protamine 2 (PRM2) in the sperm of Holstein bulls having a different fertility status. Important sperm variables were analyzed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Sperm membrane, acrosome status, DNA integrity were also assessed using propidium iodide (PI), fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to Arachis hypogaea (FITC-PNA), and acridine orange (AO) followed by flow cytometry.