Behavioral and physiological responses of young horses to different weaning protocols: a pilot study.

In this study, effects of weaning on behavioral and physiological stress parameters in young horses (foals) were determined. Foals were weaned either simultaneously without the presence of adult horses (group A, n = 6), or in the presence of two adult females familiar but unrelated to the foals (group B, n = 5), or weaned consecutively by removing two mother horses per day (group C, n = 6). Behavior, locomotion, salivary cortisol concentration, beat-to-beat (RR) interval, heart rate variability (HRV) and weight were determined. Group A foals lost weight for 2 days (mean ± SEM) - 8.3 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.05. Weaning was followed by increased vocalization which was least pronounced in foals of group B (p < 0.05). Locomotion was most pronounced on weaning day in foals of group A and lowest in group B (p < 0.05). Weaning increased salivary cortisol concentration on the day of weaning in groups A and B and for 2 days in group C (p < 0.05). The RR interval decreased most pronouncedly in group A foals (p < 0.05). There were no consistent changes in HRV. Based on cortisol release and behavior, weaning is associated with stress but this was least pronounced in foals weaned in the presence of two familiar but unrelated adult female horses.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax in a goat: case report.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the results of clinical, ultrasonographic and computed tomographic examination of a 16-year-old goat with extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax. CASE PRESENTATION: The lead clinical signs were abnormal condition and demeanour, fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea, dyspnoea and dilated jugular veins. Ultrasonographic examination of the thorax revealed a precardial mass, measuring 16.4 by 11.4 by 14.2 cm. Computed tomographic examination showed dorsocaudal displacement of the trachea, heart and lungs to the right. A tentative diagnosis of mediastinal or pleural neoplasia was made, and the goat was euthanased and necropsied. A definitive diagnosis was based on histological examination of the mass. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this case report is the first description of extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thorax in goats and serves to broaden the diagnostic spectrum of thoracic diseases in this species. Extraskeletal osteosarcoma should be part of the differential diagnosis in goats with thoracic tumours.

Computed tomography measurements of thoracic structures in 26 clinically normal goats.

The present study was performed to provide computed tomographic (CT) reference values for structures in the thorax of 26 clinically normal Saanen goats. Animals were anesthetized, positioned in sternal recumbency and transverse images with a reconstructed 1.5mm slice thickness were obtained by use of a 40-slice CT scanner. Absolute and relative measurements of the trachea, heart, cranial vena cava, thoracic aorta, caudal vena cava, right and left principal bronchus, right and left caudal lobar bronchus and the concomitant branch of the right and left pulmonary artery and vein, large caudal mediastinal lymph node and lung density were performed with dedicated software. Minimal to moderate interstitial or bronchopneumonia was incidentally found on CT in 24 animals. In conclusion, CT images obtained in this study can be used as a reference for the evaluation of thoracic diseases in goats.