Dynamic and Postural Changes in Forelimb Amputee Dogs: A Pilot Study.

The amputation of a limb in quadrupeds can overload the remaining limbs, especially the contralateral one. The compensatory effort is especially high if it is a forelimb. It is, therefore, important to objectively know the changes in weight redistribution that occur in the animal while walking and standing still. With this objective, static (postural) and dynamic kinetic examinations were carried out on five French bulldogs with an amputated forelimb and five intact French bulldogs. For this examination, force and pressure platforms were used. The results were statistically compared using the student t-test. The parameters derived from the ground reaction forces were significantly higher in the amputee group. Surprisingly, postural examination showed that amputated dogs reached the same stability as healthy ones. Tripedal support in dogs does not objectively imply a loss of balance in quantitative terms; although the increase in force used by the remaining limb, as well as its altered cranial disposition during the support phase, may potentially predispose the animal to additional injuries in the future due to an overuse of different musculoskeletal units.

Multiparametric Comparison of Two TTA-Based Surgical Techniques in Dogs with Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tears.

Tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament causes hindlimb lameness in dogs. Different surgical procedures have been proposed to treat this condition. In this study, two different TTA-based techniques and implants were compared. A total of 30 dogs were separated into two groups according to the technique and implant used (Porous TTA® or Model Xgen®). The aim of the study was to assess whether one of these techniques has better functional recovery of the joint, better bone consolidation after the osteotomy procedure and fewer osteoarthritic changes. We compared both groups up to 3 months after surgery. No significant differences were found in any of the assessed parameters. Thus, both procedures were found to be equally effective and safe.

Development of an Artificial Neural Network for the Detection of Supporting Hindlimb Lameness: A Pilot Study in Working Dogs.

Subjective lameness assessment has been a controversial subject given the lack of agreement between observers; this has prompted the development of kinetic and kinematic devices in order to obtain an objective evaluation of locomotor system in dogs. After proper training, neural networks are potentially capable of making a non-human diagnosis of canine lameness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether artificial neural networks could be used to determine canine hindlimb lameness by computational means only. The outcome of this study could potentially assess the efficacy of certain treatments against diseases that cause lameness. With this aim, input data were obtained from an inertial sensor positioned on the rump. Data from dogs with unilateral hindlimb lameness and sound dogs were used to obtain differences between both groups at walk. The artificial neural network, after necessary adjustments, was integrated into a web management tool, and the preliminary results discriminating between lame and sound dogs are promising. The analysis of spatial data with artificial neural networks was summarized and developed into a web app that has proven to be a useful tool to discriminate between sound and lame dogs. Additionally, this environment allows veterinary clinicians to adequately follow the treatment of lame canine patients.

Effects of testosterone and exercise training on bone microstructure of rats.

Background and Aim: Male hypogonadism results from failure to produce physiological levels of testosterone. Testosterone in men is essential in masculine development, sperm production, and adult man's health. Osteoporosis is one of the consequences of hypogonadism. Regular physical exercise and exogenous testosterone administration are frequently used to prevent or treat this condition. This study aimed to understand the effects of lifelong exercise training and testosterone levels (isolated and together) in the main bone structure parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 rats were used and randomly divided into four groups: Control group (CG; n=6), exercised group (EG, n=6), testosterone group (TG, n=6), and testosterone EG (TEG, n=6). A micro-computed tomography equipment was used to evaluate 15 bone parameters. Results: Both factors (exercise training and testosterone) seem to improve the bone resistance and microstructure, although in different bone characteristics. Testosterone influenced trabecular structure parameters, namely, connectivity density, trabecular number, and trabecular space. The exercise promoted alterations in bone structure as well, although, in most cases, in different bone structure parameters as bone mineral density and medullar mineral density. Conclusion: Overall, exercise and testosterone therapy seems to have a synergistic contribution to the general bone structure and resistance. Further studies are warranted, comparing different individual factors, as gender, lifestyle, or testosterone protocols, to constantly improve the medical management of hypogonadism (and osteoporosis).

Pedobarography: a novel approach to test the efficacy of treatments for lameness; an experience with mavacoxib in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Pedobarographic analyses detect pressure redistribution among limbs and within limbs in humans, equids and dogs. The main objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of a set of pedobarographic parameters for the detection of lameness, as well as for its suitability for assessing the effects of therapies against osteoarthritis in dogs. With this purpose, eleven large-breed lame dogs with unilateral osteoarthritis due to elbow dysplasia were evaluated using a pressure platform prior to (D0) and after 3 months (D90) of treatment with mavacoxib, a COX-2 selective NSAID. The obtained parameters were: pressure distribution between lame and sound limbs, as well as paw area, mean pressure, and peak pressure of both lame and sound limbs. RESULTS: The results showed statistical differences in all these parameters between lame and sound limbs at D0; however, at D90, differences were significantly decreased as result of the treatment, indicating a substantial functional recovery under the study design conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The provided data prove the suitability of this novel technique in canine models for the quantitative and objective assessment of lameness, but also for the evaluation of treatments for lameness caused by articular pain.

Safety and Efficacy of New Biodegradable Polymer-based Sirolimus-Eluting Stents in a Preclinical Model.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: New drug-eluting stents (DES) designed to overcome the limitations of existing devices should initially be tested in preclinical studies. Our objective was to analyze the safety and efficacy of new biodegradable polymer-based DES compared with bare-metal stents (BMS) and commercially available DES in a model of normal porcine coronary arteries. METHODS: We randomly implanted 101 stents (BMS and biodegradable polymer-based sirolimus-eluting stents: 3 test stent iterations [BD1, BD2, and BD3], Orsiro, Biomime and Biomatrix) in the coronary arteries of 34 domestic pigs. Angiographic and histomorphometric studies were conducted 1 month (n = 83) and 3 months (n = 18) later. RESULTS: The stents were implanted at a stent/artery ratio of 1.31 ± 0.21, with no significant differences between groups. At 1 month, the new test stents (BD1, BD2 and BD3) showed less late loss and angiographic restenosis, as well as lower histologic restenosis and neointimal area (P < .0005), than the BMS. There were no differences in endothelialization, vascular injury, or inflammation between the new test stents and BMS, although the new stents showed higher fibrin deposition (P = .0006). At 3 months, all these differences disappeared, except for a lower neointimal area with the new BD1 stent (P = .027). No differences at any time point were observed between the new test stents and commercially available controls. CONCLUSIONS: In this preclinical model, the new biodegradable polymer-based DES studied showed less restenosis than BMS and no significant differences in safety or efficacy vs commercially available DES.

Transvenous coil embolisation for the treatment of single congenital portosystemic shunts in six dogs.

This article describes the treatment of single congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSs) (intrahepatic and extrahepatic) using an interventional radiology technique involving embolisation of anomalous vessels with percutaneous coils. Briefly, a multipurpose catheter was introduced into the caudal vena cava and then into the portosystemic shunt. An autoexpandable stent was placed in the caudal vena cava, next to the shunt, in order to avoid coil migrations, and a cobra-like vascular catheter was used to pass through the stent and to place the coils in the shunt. This technique was used for treatment of CPS in six dogs. The results indicate that percutaneous embolisation of a CPS using coils, a less invasive technique than the traditional surgical technique, may result in complete closure of the anomalous vessel without development of portal hypertension.