Foals developmental orthopedic disease associated with metabolic and biometric characterization of pregnant overweight crioulo mares

Background: Musculoskeletal changes in growing foals can be linked to metabolic disorders which affect the cartilage metabolism associated of obesity during the late gestation of the mares, negatively affecting the athletic performance of the otherwise prospective foals. High basal insulin levels can be associated with increased weight and obesity of the mares, altering the supply of the glucose to the fetus and the production of IGF-1, which plays an important role in the endochondral cartilage metabolism. The present study aims to describe the association of metabolic and biometric alterations in overweight Criollo mares with IGF-1 levels and the presence of articular and physeal lesions in their foals. Materials, Methods & Results: A prospective and observational cohort study was conducted using the foals and the overweight mares at field conditions. Twenty-eight foals and their overweight mothers were utilized. The foals’ biometric and metabolic features as weight and height; glucose, total cholesterol, cholesterol HDL, triglycerides, basal insulin, leptin, glucose, total T4 and IGF-1 were analyzed, from the birth until the weaning period around sixth month of life of it. All the foals, at the weaning period, were submitted to the radiograph examination of the tarsal joints and the metacarpal-phalangeal joints to evaluate signs of lesions and the possible distal metacarpal physeal changes, respectively. The mares’ biometric and metabolic features as weight, height and fat tail-head deposition; basal insulin, leptin, glucose, total cholesterol, cholesterol HDL and triglycerides were analyzed at the final period of gestation. The basal insulin levels of the foals at the second, fourth and sixth month of life were 9.87 ± 1.82 µUI/mL, 9.13 ± 1.94 µUI/mL, 9.39 ± 2.54 µUI/mL. The IGF-1 levels of the foals at the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth...

Distal bone lesions diagnosed by radiographic examination in dairy cows without claudication

Background: During decades, dairy cows have been selected for its productive character, with the main focus on the breeding production, being submitted to constant conditions of metabolic disorders, likewise submitted to permanent or intermittent episodes of systemic and / or mechanical aggression, anatomofunctional of its orthopedic system, appearing locomotion injuries. The present approach brings up the variable aspect of lesions in the extensor process of the third phalanx bone, diagnosed by digital radiography, in 17 Holstein cows, with or without joint involvement, the study was conducted in a commercial farm located in the South of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.Case: This case report describes the identification and the appearance of lesions on the extensor process of the third phalanx bone in dairy cattle from a commercial herd. 17 Holstein cows with three lactations, with average production in two milking of 30.67 ± 5.39 L of milk submitted to semi-extensive system, with daily walk of 2.2 km between pasture, food and milking parlor. Weekly, the cows were submitted to clinical diagnosis and radiological exploration, on two periods (pre- and postpartum), from 14 days prepartum to 50 days postpartum. All animals despite the zero score of locomotion, demonstrated no abnormalities of posture or walking, however expressed at least one radiographic change in at least one member. Thereafter, radiographic lesions were evaluated for their variety and severity, indeed animals that had only injury extensor process, with fracture and / or joint involvement were detected. In the animals evaluated in this study there was antecedent clinical record of macroscopic lesions to the digit, without lameness.[...](AU)

Distal bone lesions diagnosed by radiographic examination in dairy cows without claudication

Background: During decades, dairy cows have been selected for its productive character, with the main focus on the breeding production, being submitted to constant conditions of metabolic disorders, likewise submitted to permanent or intermittent episodes of systemic and / or mechanical aggression, anatomofunctional of its orthopedic system, appearing locomotion injuries. The present approach brings up the variable aspect of lesions in the extensor process of the third phalanx bone, diagnosed by digital radiography, in 17 Holstein cows, with or without joint involvement, the study was conducted in a commercial farm located in the South of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.Case: This case report describes the identification and the appearance of lesions on the extensor process of the third phalanx bone in dairy cattle from a commercial herd. 17 Holstein cows with three lactations, with average production in two milking of 30.67 ± 5.39 L of milk submitted to semi-extensive system, with daily walk of 2.2 km between pasture, food and milking parlor. Weekly, the cows were submitted to clinical diagnosis and radiological exploration, on two periods (pre- and postpartum), from 14 days prepartum to 50 days postpartum. All animals despite the zero score of locomotion, demonstrated no abnormalities of posture or walking, however expressed at least one radiographic change in at least one member. Thereafter, radiographic lesions were evaluated for their variety and severity, indeed animals that had only injury extensor process, with fracture and / or joint involvement were detected. In the animals evaluated in this study there was antecedent clinical record of macroscopic lesions to the digit, without lameness.[...]