Determination of cefoxitin in serum and tissue.

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the clean-up and analysis of cefoxitin in serum and tissue is described. Serum (0.5 ml) and tissue (100 mg) samples after homogenization underwent high speed centrifugation. Chromatography was performed on a muBondapak C18 cartridge using a mobile phase of 0.005 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate-acetonitrile-glacial acetic acid (77.5:22:0.5, v/v/v) with a flow-rate of 2.0 ml/min. Ultraviolet detection occurred at 235 nm. The procedure produced a linear curve for the concentration range 100-5000 ng/ml. The assay produced accurate, repeatable and rapid results for both tissue and serum samples without the need for chemical extraction.

Endoscopic and surgical retrieval of fishhooks from the stomach and esophagus in dogs and cats: 75 cases (1977-1993)

Medical records of 3 cats and 72 dogs that had a fishhook endoscopically or surgically retrieved from the stomach or esophagus were reviewed. Endoscopic retrieval was successful in 41 of 62 (66%) animals, and retrieval time and hospitalization time for endoscopic retrieval were significantly shorter than times for surgical retrieval. Rate of failure of endoscopic retrieval was higher for animals with treble-barb, rather than single-barb, fishhooks. Whether a fishhook could be successfully retrieved endoscopically was independent of body weight, amount of time the fishhook had been present, location of the hook, and orientation within the esophagus.

Periosteal osteosarcoma in the long head of the triceps in a dog.

A 2.5-year-old Labrador retriever was evaluated for forelimb lameness. Fine-needle aspirates of a mass in the proximal brachium were suggestive of a mesenchymal tumor. The dog was euthanized and necropsied. Radiographic evaluation and gross and histopathological findings provided a diagnosis of periosteal osteosarcoma in the long head of the triceps.

Effects of temperature and storage time on pin pull-out testing in harvested canine femurs.

Effects of temperature and storage time on canine bone-transfixation pin specimens were tested by comparing pin pull-out forces. A total of 16 femurs from 8 mature dogs were tested. Five nonthreaded Steinmann pins were placed through both cortices in the diaphysis of each femur. The femurs were then sectioned transversely between each pin, with a bone-pin specimen placed evenly into each of 5 groups prior to biomechanical testing. Four bone-pin specimen groups were stored at -20 or -70 C for 14 or 28 days, while 1 specimen group was immediately tested. Pull-out forces for frozen groups were compared with pull-out forces for the fresh group. Using two-way ANOVA, there was no statistical difference in mean axial-extraction forces among bone-pin specimens in any of the tested groups. It is concluded that acute pin pull-out forces are not significantly affected by freezing temperature or time. However, specimens stored at -20 C for as few as 14 days had a trend for increased pull-out forces, compared with freshly harvested specimens. Therefore, the authors recommend storage of bone-pin specimens at -70 C when possible.

Evaluation of pulse oximeter probes and probe placement in healthy dogs.

Placement of two different pulse oximeter probes, a finger (f) probe and a multisite (s) probe, was evaluated in six healthy, anesthetized beagles. Concurrent arterial blood gas values were compared to determine the most consistent (repeatable) and accurate (compared to calculated hemoglobin saturations) pulse oximeter probe and probe placement sites for subsequent use in awake dogs. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation was determined from arterial blood gas analysis (SaO2) and by pulse oximetry (SpO2) at full hemoglobin saturation (mean, 99.5% SaO2) and at moderate desaturation (mean, 92.9% SaO2). Each probe was evaluated with three independent readings at seven different body sites (Achilles, ear, flank, lip, tail, toe, and tongue). Values for SpO2 obtained with the s probe demonstrated a significant correlation with SaO2 values (p = 0.014, R = 0.712) compared to the SpO2 values obtained with the f probe (p = 0.108). The best probe placement sites for the clip-on probes in this study were on the lip and tongue using the s probe; however, the ear, tail, and toe may be acceptable sites in awake dogs using a probe which maintains good contact across these vascular beds.

Comparison of a biofragmentable intestinal anastomosis ring with appositional suturing for subtotal colectomy in normal cats.

A subtotal colectomy was performed on 12 normal adult cats using an interrupted apposing suture pattern of monofilament polyglyconate (n = 6) or a biofragmentable intestinal anastomosis ring (Valtrac, Davis and Geck Company, Danbury, CT) (n = 6) composed of polyglycolic acid and barium sulfate. Abdominal radiographs were made daily, beginning 10 days after surgery, to determine fragmentation rates of the anastomosis ring. The cats were euthanatized 30 days after surgery, and a gross and histopathological evaluation of anastomotic healing and stricture formation was performed. The technique for implantation of the anastomosis ring was easy to learn and required only two purse string sutures to complete. Intraoperative complications associated with the anastomosis ring were minor, and included problems with purse string suture placement, small serosal tears, and spasms of the colon that reduced the lumenal diameter. There were no intraoperative complications in the cats with sutured anastomoses. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all cats. The anastomosis rings fragmented 12.2 +/- 1.1 days (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) after implantation and passed in the stool 3.8 +/- 1.9 days later without clinical signs in five of six cats. There were no statistically significant differences between the time required to perform the anastomosis (P = .348), postmortem gross anastomosis grades (P = .088), or percent of lumenal stricture (P = .178) between the two groups. Histologically, the only significant differences were an increased muscular inversion in the anastomoses performed using the fragmentable ring (P = .039) and an increased muscular eversion in the sutured anastomoses (P < .001) compared with normal colonic architecture.

Fatal cerebral coenurosis in a cat.

A 6-year-old cat that was laterally recumbent and panting was evaluated because of a 10-day history of progressive neurologic abnormalities. Despite aggressive treatment, the cat died on the day of admission. At necropsy, a 1.5-cm-diameter, fluid-filled cyst was found in the white matter of the left cerebrum. The cyst was identified as a coenurus of Taenia serialis, on the basis of the cyst wall, distribution of scolices, and the shape and dimensions of rostellar hooks. Scolices were found in varying stages of ontogeny, ranging from undifferentiated to nearly mature. Taenia serialis has a canid-lagomorph life cycle, with cats being accidental intermediate hosts. However, the potential exists for rare zoonotic transmission and subsequent serious disease in human beings and other accidental intermediate hosts.