Results of surgical correction of abnormalities associated with brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome in dogs in Australia.

Objectives: To describe clinical features of brachycephalic airway obstructive disease in dogs, the incidence of laryngeal collapse in dogs presenting for surgery and the outcome after surgery in dogs with laryngeal collapse.

Methods: Basic clinical details were reviewed retrospectively in 73 dogs. Presence of laryngeal collapse and short-term outcomes after surgery were determined for 64 dogs with complete medical records.

Antemortem diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in two cats on cyclosporin therapy.

Clinical toxoplasmosis was diagnosed antemortem in two cats being treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporin. The diagnosis was made by detecting tachyzoites on cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one case and pleural effusion from the other. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in both cases, only one cat survived.

High-speed treadmill videoendoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract in the horse: the results of 291 clinical cases.

The purpose of the study was to describe the prevalence of upper airway abnormalities and establish if any significant associations existed between study variables and the two most frequently identified disorders; axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds and dorsal displacement of the soft palate. The clinical records and video-recordings of all horses referred for upper respiratory tract evaluation during high-speed treadmill videoendoscopy between November 1997 and September 2003 were reviewed. Of 291 horses included in the study, 265 underwent resting endoscopy and 42% (112/265) had a recognised abnormality.

Mechanical and functional properties of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon.

The in vitro and in vivo mechanical properties of the superficial digital flexor tendon have been described. To date the focus has been on single load to failure testing, however refined in vivo methods may prove useful to evaluate the effects of treatment and exercise on tendons. During maximal exercise, the adult superficial digital flexor tendon operates close to its functional limits with a narrow biomechanical safety margin.

Owner-reported equine health disorders: results of an Australia-wide postal survey.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of health disorders reported by horse owners registered with veterinary practices in Australia.

Design And Method: Mailed questionnaire-based study of horse owners in Australia conducted in 2001.

Results: Data were obtained for 3901 horses belonging to 621 owners.

Sodium monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) poisoning in dogs.

Sodium monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) is a widely used pesticide for control of feral animals such as the fox. Accidental poisoning of domestic animals occurs despite strict regulations on 1080 usage. Dogs are particularly susceptible to the toxin.

Treatment of long bone fractures in South American camelids: 5 cases.

An adult llama and four alpacas were referred with long bone fractures. The llama presented with a closed, comminuted fracture of the right metatarsal bones. Two of the alpacas presented with comminuted fractures of the proximal radius.

The synovial response to exogenous phospholipid (synovial surfactant) injected into the equine radiocarpal joint compared with that to prilocaine, hyaluronan and propylene glycol.

Aims: To determine the effects of the intra-articular injection of surface-active phospholipid in a propylene glycol carrier on synovial fluid composition and joint function of horses, and to compare these effects with those observed after the intra-articular administration of prilocaine, hyaluronan and propylene glycol alone.

Methods: Twenty-four horses were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: Group 1 100 mg of surface-active phospholipid in 1 ml of propylene glycol; Group 2 1 ml of propylene glycol; Group 3 10 ml of prilocaine; Group 4 2 ml of hyaluronan. Left radiocarpal joints were injected with the treatments and the right radiocarpal joints were injected with volume-matched saline as controls.

Recent advances in equine abdominal surgery.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that has applications as a diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic technique. Specialized equipment is necessary to perform equine laparoscopy, and there is a large range of instruments, both disposable and non-disposable available. Laparoscopic procedures described include ovariectomy, cryptorchidectomy, adhesiolysis and herniorrhaphy.

Snake envenomation in dogs in New South Wales.

Objective: To obtain baseline data on the prevalence of elapid snake envenomation in dogs presented to veterinary practices in New South Wales and to assess attitudes of veterinarians to this clinical entity.

Procedure: A mailed questionnaire, sent to all veterinary clinics within New South Wales, was utilised to collect epidemiological information regarding elapid snake envenomation in dogs.

Results: A response rate of 68% was obtained and a yearly prevalence of snake envenomation in dogs across New South Wales veterinary clinics was estimated as 0.

Surgical repair of a cleft soft palate in an alpaca.

A 26-day-old entire male alpaca was referred for surgical treatment of a cleft soft palate. Mandibular symphysiotomy and three-layer closure of the palatal defect resulted in primary intention healing. Despite complications related to anaesthesia the alpaca made a full recovery.

Topical treatments in equine wound management.

Wound repair is a complex series of coordinated events regulated by a delicately orchestrated cascade of cytokines and growth factors that restore the structural integrity of damaged tissue. Manipulation of the growth factor profile or wound environment through topical application of therapeutic agents could positively influence the rate and quality of wound repair. Transforming growth factor-beta,platelet-rich plasma, activated macrophage supernatant, and growth hormone are sources of mediators that may facilitate wound healing.

Unilateral nephrectomy as a treatment for renal trauma in a foal.

A 2-day-old Warmblood colt foal was referred for evaluation of progressive abdominal distension and lethargy. Haemoperitoneum was diagnosed and a ventral midline laparotomy revealed capsular rupture, sub capsular haematoma and haemorrhage of the left kidney. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed and the foal recovered uneventfully, with no reported complications 1 year later.

Effect of breed on anatomy of portosystemic shunts resulting from congenital diseases in dogs and cats: a review of 242 cases.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of species and breed on the anatomy of portosystemic vascular anomalies in dogs and cats.

Design: Retrospective study of 233 dogs and nine cats presenting to the University Veterinary Centre, Sydney.

Methods: Case records were evaluated for breed, sex, age, anatomical and histological diagnosis.

Cervical hyperaesthesia in a Maltese Terrier with necrotising meningoencephalitis.

A 15-month-old female neutered Maltese Terrier was presented with a 12 hour history of low head carriage, reluctance to move and yelping when picked up. Physical examination was unremarkable apart from cervical hyperaesthesia. Twenty four hours after initial assessment there was significant clinical deterioration, with the dog exhibiting lateral cervical flexion and neurological abnormalities consistent with diffuse multifocal cerebral dysfunction.

Migration of wooden skewer foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract in eight dogs.

Wooden skewer foreign bodies were found in eight dogs. Five presented for evaluation of draining sinuses and two for inflammatory disease referrable to the thorax, abdomen or pelvic region. In an additional case, pneumothorax resulted from perforation of the stomach and diaphragm.

Evaluation of four warming procedures to minimise heat loss induced by anaesthesia and surgery in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of four warming procedures, introduced after anaesthetic induction and continued during surgery, in minimising heat loss in anaesthetised dogs.

Design: Dogs were paired. One of each pair was a control; the other was subjected to one of four warming procedures.

Immune-mediated neutropenia suspected in five dogs.

Five cases of suspected immune-mediated neutropenia in dogs are described. Clinical signs varied depending on whether the animals had a systemic infection or concurrent immune-mediated disease. Patients were diagnosed by excluding other causes of neutropenia, supportive bone marrow aspirate findings, an initial favourable response to corticosteroid administration in four of the cases, and concurrent immune-mediated disease.

Chemical arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints using sodium monoiodoacetate in 104 horses.

Objective: To evaluate chemical arthrodesis using sodium monoiodoacetate for treatment of degenerative joint disease of the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Method: Horses were diagnosed with degenerative joint disease of one or more of the tarsometatarsal or distal intertarsal joints based on history, lameness examination, radiographic findings and, in some cases, response to intra-articular anaesthesia or medication.

Comparison of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage in racehorses. 2. Evaluation of the diagnostic significance of neutrophil percentage.

Objective: To determine whether diagnosis of airway inflammation, using cut-off percentages for neutrophils, differs when based on samples from tracheal aspirate (TA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) collected concomitantly from the same racehorse.

Design: Retrospective case series of 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses in race training, but showing poor performance. PROCEDURE TA and BAL samples were collected from all horses 1 to 2 h after high-speed treadmill exercise.

Comparison of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage in racehorses. 1. Evaluation of cytological stains and the percentage of mast cells and eosinophils.

Objective: To compare a fast Romanowsky cytological stain (Diff-Quik) and Leishman's stain for the detection of mast cells in samples from the lower airways of racehorses, and to compare the proportion of mast cells and eosinophils in the total inflammatory cells in tracheal aspirate (TA) with those in paired bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples.

Design: Retrospective case series of 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses.

Procedure: Fifty-one paired TA and BAL samples were collected after treadmill exercise from 48 horses with poor racing performance.