Diagnosis of traumatic scleral perforation in a dog using ocular ultrasound and ultrasound biomicroscopy.

A 10-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was presented for hypotony of the right eye (OD) with decreased vision. The dorsomedial region of conjunctiva was partially swollen but the globe remained intact. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed intraocular haemorrhage, uveitis, and a limbal, corneoconjunctival ulcer near the swollen conjunctiva. During ocular ultrasonography (OUS), the sclera became indented and hypotony occurred, implicating a full-thickness scleral wound. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) confirmed a full-thickness scleral defect, which was surgically apposed. The intraocular pressure normalised and the uveitis subsided post-operatively. OUS and UBM were helpful in suggesting and definitively diagnosing scleral perforation, leading to accurate treatment and good prognosis.

Two different procedures for managing ocular melanosis presenting scleral pigmentation with glaucoma in a Shih-Tzu dog: A case of definitive diagnosis in one eye and a presumed diagnosis in the contralateral eye.

A 12-year-old castrated male Shih-Tzu dog was referred for uncontrolled glaucoma and uveitis with highly pigmented sclera, in both eyes (OU). On ophthalmic examination, the menace response, dazzle reflex and pupillary light reflex were negative OU. The intraocular pressure was 27 mmHg in the right eye (OD) and 70 mmHg in the left eye (OS) despite the administration of antiglaucoma eyedrops. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a closed ciliary cleft OU. Ocular ultrasonography revealed hyperechoic materials in the vitreous OU and retinal detachment OS. When presented for recheck, an extensive malacic corneal ulcer was observed OS. To relieve pain in the blind eyes, enucleation OS and pharmacologic ciliary body ablation (CBA) OD were performed. Histologically, ocular melanosis, which is an inherited disease in the Cairn Terrier breed, was identified in the enucleated eye. The uvea was heavily pigmented. The iris and ciliary body were mildly distorted by a single population of large, round, nonneoplastic cells with pigmented cytoplasm. There was no evidence of an intraocular mass or metastasis before and after intravitreal CBA. This is the first report of bilateral ocular melanosis in a Shih-Tzu dog. Ocular melanosis is a possible differential diagnosis for globe presenting scleral pigmentation with glaucoma in even non-Cairn Terrier breeds and pharmacologic CBA could be considered as a treatment for ocular melanosis with end-stage glaucoma.

Unilateral blindness presumed as sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) in one Dachshund and four Maltese dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe blindness, initially presenting as a unilateral condition and diagnosed as sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS). ANIMALS STUDIED: One Dachshund and four Maltese dogs presented with unilateral blindness, for which the results of general ophthalmic examinations were insufficient to explain the blindness. All dogs were spayed females. RESULTS: Intraocular pressures were normal, and the optical media of the eyes were clear. Fundus appearances of the initially blind eyes were within normal variations, with slightly attenuated retinal blood vessels in some cases when compared with the sighted contralateral eyes. Electroretinography (ERG) amplitudes of the affected eyes were flat and reduced in the contralateral-sighted eyes in four dogs. One dog underwent ERG after the blindness progressed bilaterally 8 days after initial presentation (despite topical steroid medication). Two dogs had no recheck visits, but phone call follow-ups reported bilateral blindness 3 months later in one dog. One dog received no medication and retained vision in the contralateral eye until the last follow-up (94 days later). One dog received systemic cyclosporine and steroid medications and maintained vision in the contralateral eye; however, regular ERG rechecks showed a trend of declining amplitude (448 days). In this dog, optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed different stages of disorganized retinal layers as well as different retinal thickness between the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite normal-looking fundi, ERG and OCT revealed different degrees of retinal changes between both eyes in this study. Eyes with vision might develop progressive blindness after a substantial amount of time in these presumed SARDS cases.

Dacryops with dacryolithiasis in a dog.

BACKGROUND: A 10-year-old castrated male Maltese dog was presented with chronic swelling that had been present for at least 5 years in the medial canthus of the right eye (OD). OBJECTIVES: To describe the treatment outcome of dacryops with dacryolithiasis. METHODS: Bilateral patency of the nasolacrimal system was confirmed by flushing of both upper and lower puncta. Ocular ultrasonography revealed a well-defined, oval-shaped, heterogeneous mass with several hyperechoic foci. Dacryocystorhinography revealed no connection between the mass and lacrimal canaliculus. Gentle blunt dissection of the fibrous connective tissue around the cystic mass was performed. The mass was removed, which intraluminally contained multiple calculi. RESULTS: Histopathologically, the cystic structure was lined by simple cuboidal epithelium and surrounded by smooth muscle actin positive myoepithelial cells consistent with dacryops derived from the lacrimal glandular ductal system. In addition, several spherical basophilic minerals were observed in the lumen, which were identified as dacryoliths. CONCLUSION: Surgical removal of this dacryops with dacryolithiasis was curative without recurrence after four months.

Assessment of the pigeon (Columba livia) retina with spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: To assess the normal retina of the pigeon eye using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and establish a normative reference. METHODS: Twelve eyes of six ophthalmologically normal pigeons (Columba livia) were included. SD-OCT images were taken with dilated pupils under sedation. Four meridians, including the fovea, optic disc, red field, and yellow field, were obtained in each eye. The layers, including full thickness (FT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), thickness from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the outer nuclear layer (RPE-ONL), and from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the inner nuclear layer (RPE-INL), were manually measured. RESULTS: The average FT values were significantly different among the four meridians (p < 0.05), with the optic disc meridian being the thickest (294.0 ± 13.9 µm). The average GCC was thickest in the optic disc (105.3 ± 27.1 µm) and thinnest in the fovea meridian (42.8 ± 15.3 µm). The average RPE-INL of the fovea meridian (165.5 ± 18.3 µm) was significantly thicker than that of the other meridians (p < 0.05). The average RPE-ONL of the fovea, optic disc, yellow field, and red field were 91.2 ± 5.2 µm, 87.7 ± 5.3 µm, 87.6 ± 6.5 µm, and 91.4 ± 3.9 µm, respectively. RPE-INL and RPE-ONL thickness of the red field meridian did not change significantly with measurement location (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Measured data could be used as normative references for diagnosing pigeon retinopathies and further research on avian fundus structure.

Effect of mydriasis with topical rocuronium bromide on electroretinography in domestic pigeons (Columba livia).

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mydriasis using topical rocuronium bromide on electroretinography (ERG) in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Scotopic mixed rod and cone, photopic cone, and photopic flicker ERG were performed on nine eyes of nine healthy adult pigeons under sedation. Each pigeon underwent two sets of ERG recordings. First, without the induction of mydriasis (control) and the second time with the induction of mydriasis using topical rocuronium bromide (treatment). The results were compared using either the Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, where a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in the a- and b-wave implicit times and amplitudes during scotopic ERG between the two groups. The a- and b-wave amplitudes in the photopic cone were significantly higher in the treatment group (63.83 ± 32.33 and 191.75 ± 94.46 µV) compared to the control group (46.15 ± 27.60 and 116.76 ± 70.65 µV; P=0.045 and P=0.032, respectively). The photopic flicker amplitude was also significantly higher in the treatment group (76.23 ± 48.56 µV) than in the control group (42.18 ± 31.18 µV; P=0.044). No statistically significant differences were observed in the photopic cone and flicker implicit times between both groups. In conclusions, mydriasis induced by rocuronium bromide in pigeon resulting in higher amplitudes during the photopic ERG but not scotopic ERG.

Efficacy of topical rocuronium bromide as a mydriatic agent in domestic pigeons (Columba livia).

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of rocuronium bromide as mydriatic agent in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). This study was done in two phases. In the first phase, rocuronium bromide (0.20 mg/20 µl) was topically instilled to the right eye (OD) of eight domestic pigeons. Pupil diameter was measured before instillation (T0), and at 5 (T05) and 10 (T10) min after instillation, and every 10 min thereafter until 160 (T160) min. Pupillary light reflex (PLR) was assessed using a scoring system at the same time points. In the second phase, the same dosage was instilled twice in the span of 10 min into both eyes (OU) of four pigeons (eight eyes). Measurements were done accordingly. The iris color in the first phase were: gravel, pearl and bull eye. All irises in the second phase were bull eye. Mydriasis were observed in 6/8 (75%) pigeons in the first phase. Maximal mydriasis was observed at T30 (mean pupil diameter=4.62 ± 0.13 mm). Pupil diameter in the treated eye was significantly different from contralateral eye and from T0 since T05 (P=0.017 and P=0.006, respectively)-T120 (P=0.043 and P=0.044, respectively). PLR was disappeared from T10 (P=0.034) to T90 (P=0.041). In the second phase, mydriasis was only observed in 2/8 eyes. This study suggested that rocuronium bromide was able to produce mydriasis in pigeons other than bull eye iris.

Totally implantable enzymatic biofuel cell and brain stimulator operating in bird through wireless communication.

Animals digest food to fuel brain neurometabolism via cellular respiration. This study demonstrates the combination of a biofuel cell (BFC) and an animal brain stimulator (ABS) implanted in a pigeon. Glucose oxidation and oxygen reduction in an enzymatic BFC supplied electrical power to the ABS. Power from the BFC reached 0.12 mW in vitro and 0.08 mW in vivo using only the natural glucose and oxygen in the pigeon's body. A power management integrated circuit is used to harvest energy from the in vivo BFC at a rate of 28.4 mJ over 10 min, which is sufficient for intermittent neurostimulation.

Development of dental hygiene gum for cats considering their anatomical features of dentition.

The purpose of this study was to develop effective dental hygiene chews for cats based on the anatomical features of the dentition and patterns of chewing motion. All cats were volunteered for dental prophylaxis followed by dental impressions using yellow stone and alginate under general anesthesia. Twenty parameters related to dentition were defined in order to compare dental impressions using digital caliper. For the chewing motion study, patterns of chewing motion were identified based on recordings made with a digital camera. Ten cats (4 domestic shorthairs, 2 Russian blues, 1 American shorthair, 1 Persian, 1 Turkish Angora, and 1 Devon Rex) were recruited for the study. The parameters related to teeth and oral size were similar among the studied cats. Chewing motion can be described as more of a guillotine-like motion rather than a crushing motion, with cats chewing 3-7 times before swallowing. The chewing pattern of cats involves shearing for a short period of time followed by immediate swallowing. Therefore, the overall size of the dental hygiene chew could be determined based on the measurement of the oral size for inducing chewing. The surface details of the dental hygiene chew could be designed for prevention and removal of dental calculus and plaque in cats considering the anatomical teeth parameters. Dental hygiene chews customized for cats considering the different anatomical features of their teeth might be effective for oral care.

Effect of Three Different Sedatives on Electroretinography Recordings in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia).

This study was conducted to compare the effects of 3 different sedative agents on electroretinography (ERG) in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Six pigeons were sedated with alfaxalone, xylazine, and medetomidine at separate times with a 1-week washout period between sedative administration. After sedation with each agent, pigeons underwent the modified ERG protocol adapted from the standardized protocol for dogs. The scotopic mixed rod and cone response was recorded after 20 minutes of dark adaptation, and the photopic cone response and photopic flicker response were recorded after 10 minutes of light adaptation. Either a 1-way analysis of variance or a Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare the a-wave and b-wave implicit time and amplitude. No significant differences were observed in the scotopic mixed rod and cone response among all 3 sedatives used. Compared with alfaxalone, medetomidine significantly prolonged the a-wave implicit time, depressed the b-wave amplitude of photopic cone response, and prolonged the peak implicit time of the photopic flicker response (P < .05). These results show that medetomidine has a depressant effect on photopic ERG in pigeons at a dosage that produces light sedation.