Comparison of two suture materials for intradermal skin closure in dogs.

The macroscopic and histological appearance of cutaneous incisions closed with polyglecaprone 25 (Monocryl) and polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) suture materials were compared in four dogs. Polyglecaprone 25 compared favourably to polyglactin 910 suture material for closure of canine skin incisions, and was associated with significantly less tissue reaction in the early phases of the healing process than was polyglactin 910 suture material. This difference was not present at later evaluation times.

Comparison of three closure methods and two absorbable suture materials for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions in healthy dogs.

The macroscopic and histological appearance of jejunal antimesenteric incisions approximated with two different absorbable suture materials (monofilament versus multifilament) and three closure techniques (appositional single layer, crushing single layer, and double layer) were compared in healthy dogs at 14 or 28 days, postoperatively. No significant differences between the two suture materials were observed for most of the macroscopic or histological variables. However, the monofilament suture material caused significantly more fibrous tissue reaction in the muscular layer of the jejunum than did the multifilament suture material. Of the three enterotomy closure techniques used in this study, the appositional single-layer method proved to be the best. The double-layer closure method caused a significant decrease in the incisional circumference, the relative circumference, and volume of the jejunum, and a significant increase in jejunal wall thickness. Our findings suggest that canine jejunal enterotomy incisions can be closed using an appositional suture pattern with relatively rapidly absorbable monofilament suture material. The use of double-layer suture patterns for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions should be avoided because the size of the intestinal lumen may be reduced.

Influence of orchiectomy on canine behaviour.

One hundred and twenty-two dog owners were interviewed to obtain information about the effects of orchiectomy on the behaviour, unwanted side effects, and testosterone-dependent disease processes in their dogs. Behavioural problems were the main reason for orchiectomy, unwanted sexual behaviour being the most common, together with roaming, aggression, and abnormal urination behaviour. Objectionable sexual behaviour, inter-male aggression, roaming, and abnormalurination were reduced after orchiectomy in approximately 60 per cent of the dogs. The side effects of orchiectomy included increased bodyweight, increased appetite and decreased activity in less than 50 per cent of the dogs, and there was a significant relationship between increased appetite and bodyweight. The clinical signs of testosterone-dependent disease in most of the dogs either decreased or disappeared after orchiectomy.

[Lameness in a dog following gunshot wound; case report and management protocol]. / Kreupelheid van een hond na schotverwonding; casuïstiek en een plan van aanpak.

The clinical signs and surgical treatment of a 3-year old German wirehair Pointer with chronic intermittent lameness due to a gunshot injury are presented. In addition to routine radiography, ultrasound investigation and positive contrast arthrography of the radiocarpal joint showed that a bullet was located in the lateropalmar part of the radiocarpal joint cavity. Surgical removal of the bullet led to complete clinical recovery. A diagnostic and therapeutic protocol is presented for dogs and cats with gunshot injuries.

A comparison between fixation methods of femoral diaphyseal fractures in cats - a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcome of three different fixation methods and to determine prognostic factors in cats with diaphyseal femoral fractures. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of case records of cats with diaphyseal femoral fractures surgically corrected using external fixators, bone plate or plate-rod construct. Outcome was evaluated by estimating the time to bone healing and by calculating the complication rate. RESULTS: In total, an external fixator was used in 30 cases, a bone plate in 20 cases and a plate-rod construct in 56 cases. All methods were successful in achieving bone healing without significant differences. There was a significant difference between the categorized complication rates between the treatment groups. The external fixation group had the most complications overall. When only the major and catastrophic complications were taken into account, it had the fewest complications. The plate-rod construct had the fewest complications overall, with most being major complications. The bone plate group had a complication rate between that of the external fixation and plate-rod construct groups. It had the most catastrophic complications in relative terms. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: There was no statistically significant difference in the time to achieve bone healing but there was a significant difference in categorized complication rates between the groups.