Clinical evaluation of a nutraceutical, carprofen and meloxicam for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis.

The efficacy, tolerance and ease of administration of a nutraceutical, carprofen or meloxicam were evaluated in a prospective, double-blind study on 71 dogs with osteoarthritis. The client-owned dogs were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments or to a placebo control group. The influence of osteoarthritis on the dogs' gait was described by comparing the ground reaction forces of the arthritic dogs and 10 normal dogs. Before the treatments began, and 30 and 60 days later, measurements were made of haematological and biochemical variables and of the ground reaction forces of the arthritic limb, and subjective assessments were made by the owners and by the orthopaedic surgeons. Changes in the ground reaction forces were specific to the arthritic joint, and were significantly improved by carprofen and meloxicam but not by the nutraceutical; the values returned to normal only with meloxicam. The orthopaedic surgeons assessed that there had been an improvement with carprofen and meloxicam, but the owners considered that there had been an improvement only with meloxicam. The blood and faecal analyses did not reveal any changes. The treatments were well tolerated, except for a case of hepatopathy in a dog treated with carprofen.

Comparison of ketoprofen, oxymorphone hydrochloride, and butorphanol in the treatment of postoperative pain in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare analgesic effects of ketoprofen, oxymorphone hydrochloride, and butorphanol when used to control postoperative pain associated with elective orthopedic surgery in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. ANIMALS: 70 dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery on a hind limb. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 postoperative analgesic treatment groups: ketoprofen alone, oxymorphone alone, butorphanol alone, or ketoprofen-oxymorphone. Drugs were given IM at the end of anesthesia. Pain score, sedation score, arterial blood pressures, arterial blood gas partial pressures, and plasma cortisol concentration were measured for 12 hours after surgery. If the pain score was > or = 9, supplemental oxymorphone was administered IM. RESULTS: The proportion of dogs that did not require supplemental treatment with oxymorphone was significantly higher for the ketoprofen alone and ketoprofen-oxymorphone groups than for the oxymorphone alone group. During the first hour after surgery, pain score was lower for oxymorphone alone and ketoprofen-oxymorphone groups than for ketoprofen or butorphanol alone groups. Significant differences were not detected among groups in regard to pain score 2 and 3 hours after surgery or in regard to arterial blood pressures at any time. From 4 to 12 hours after surgery, pain score was significantly lower for the ketoprofen alone group than for other groups. Plasma cortisol concentration was significantly higher for the oxymorphone alone group 6 and 8 hours after surgery, compared with other groups. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Except during the first hour after surgery, dogs given ketoprofen alone after elective orthopedic surgery had a greater level of, and longer-lasting, analgesia than did dogs given oxymorphone or butorphanol alone.

Heartbase tumor and pericardial effusion in a dog.

Pericardial effusion and congestive heart failure occurred in a ten-year-old male Bouvier des Flandres dog. Signs included weakness, exercise intolerance and ascites. Echocardiography identified a heart base mass as a possible cause of the pericardial effusion. A large quantity (650 mL) of bloody fluid was removed by pericardiocentesis and was characterized at cytology as a nonseptic sanguineous exudate. There was no cytological evidence of neoplasia in the effusate. Pericardiocentesis caused dramatic clinical improvement and resolution of the signs of congestive heart failure. Surgical excision was attempted but the mass could not be resected since it invaded the entire dorsal wall of the right atrium as well as part of the aortic root. The cellular origin of the heartbase tumor could not be determined.

Gastric drainage procedures: effects in normal dogs. II. Clinical observations and gastric emptying.

Complete gastric emptying time using barium sulfate mixed with commercial canned dog food was measured radiographically in 29 mature mixed breed dogs before and 3 to 4 weeks after Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy (FRP) (6 dogs), Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty (HMP) (6 dogs), Finney pyloroplasty (FP) (6 dogs), Jaboulay's gastroduodenostomy (JG) (6 dogs), and antral gastrojejunostomy (AG) (5 dogs). The dogs were observed for clinical evidence of side effects. Postoperative endoscopic examination and double contrast gastrography were performed to subjectively evaluate the diameter of the gastrointestinal communication and the amount of enterogastric reflux. Although none of the procedures significantly (p less than 0.05) altered gastric emptying time, the overall tendency was toward slowing down gastric emptying time. The severity of gastrointestinal side effects and enterogastric reflux appeared to be related to the size and/or location of the gastrointestinal opening.

Gastric drainage procedures: effects in normal dogs. III. Postmortem evaluation.

Postmortem macroscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract and plastic moldings of the gastrointestinal communication were done in 29 dogs which had been subjected 3 to 4 weeks previously to one of the following gastric drainage procedure: (1) Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy (FRP) (6 dogs); (2) Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty (HMP) (6 dogs); (3) Finney pyloroplasty (FP) (6 dogs); (4) Jaboulay's gastroduodenostomy (JG) (6 dogs); and (5) antral gastrojejunostomy (AG) (5 dogs). Plastic moldings were also done in nine normal dogs of similar size for comparative measurements. Postmortem examinations and plastic casts of the antropyloroduodenal segment and antrojejunal communication showed significantly widened pyloric canal or large gastrointestinal communication compared to control dogs in all groups except for the FRP group. Almost complete healing had occurred at the myotomy site in FRP dogs, and the pyloric lumen was not significantly larger (less than 0.05) than the pyloric lumen of the control dogs. The lumen of the gastrointestinal junction was increased approximately 4.5 times in the HMP group, 12.0 times in the FP group, 7.2 times in the JG group, and 10.0 times in the AG group.

Gastric drainage procedures: effects in normal dogs. I. Introduction and description of surgical procedures.

Gastric drainage procedures are commonly used in veterinary medicine, particularly in dogs in attempts to prevent recurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). The following five different procedures have been most commonly described: the Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy (FRP); Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty (HMP); Finney pyloroplasty (FP); Jaboulay's gastroduodenostomy (JG); and antral gastrojejunostomy (AG). These surgical procedures have not been compared in a controlled study. This first article of a series of three describes the gastric drainage procedures performed in 30 normal dogs for a comparative study. The FRP and HMP were the fastest and easiest procedures to perform. The degree of difficulty was found to be increased but similar for FP, JG, and AG. No complication occurred during or immediately after surgery.

Fistulography as an aid in the diagnosis of a nonradiopaque foreign body in a dog.

A case of chronic fistula associated with foreign body penetration of the soft tissues was diagnosed in the skull of a dog by fistulography. Radiographic technique and diagnostic features are described and illustrated.

Le choix d'un matériel de suture.

This review summarizes the physical properties of the most frequently used suture materials. It also describes the different healing processes involved in various tissues and discusses the main points of consideration in the proper selection of a suture material.

Un ostéosarcome de la diaphyse du fémur d'un chien, associé à un implant métallique.

AN OSTEOSARCOMA OF THE FEMORAL DIAPHYSIS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF A BONE PLATE IN A DOG: A bone tumor which developed in the middle third of the left femur of an Irish Setter, seven years after a metallic plate had been used to reduce a fracture, is described. Through radiographs, the tumor was found to involve the diaphysis of the bone. The histopathology revealed that it was an osteosarcoma. Spontaneous and induced osteosarcomas are compared, and the possible correlation between the development of a tumor of this nature and the use of orthopedic implants is discussed.

Les différentes bandes de contention utilisées pour la confection de prothèses externes chez les petits animaux.

THE VARIOUS ORTHOPEDIC CASTING TAPES USED FOR EXTERNAL FRACTURE FIXATION IN SMALL ANIMALS.: The most common orthopedic casting tapes which can be used for external fracture fixation in small animals are described in this paper. Their individual characteristics and indications are also discussed.

Cubitus-curvus chez une chienne.

CUBITUS-CURVUS IN A BITCH: This paper presents a case of cubitus-curvus seen in a five month old female crossbreed dog. There is a description of the clinical and radiological aspects of the case and the corrective surgery is also well described. Special attention was given to the normal anatomy and physiology of the growth plates and to the traumas that can affect these structures. Finally, there is an explanation of the pathogeny of the cubitus-curvus. In our case, the evolution was favorable and the healing of the condition was complete.

[Multiple osteochondromatosis in a female boxer (author's transl)]. / Ostóechondromatose multiple chez une chienne Boxer.

Multiple osteochondromatosis in a female BoxerA young female Boxer was presented for a problem of lameness affecting the right hind leg. The lameness was associated with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Following the radiographic examination, lesions compatible with a diagnosis of osteochondromatosis were found. There was no pain associated with this condition and it was an accidental finding. Macroscopic and microscopic finds are discussed and there are a few observations about the pathogeny, treatment and prognosis.