Development and Validation of an Automated Video Tracking Model for Stabled Horses.

Changes in behaviour are often caused by painful conditions. Therefore, the assessment of behaviour is important for the recognition of pain, but also for the assessment of quality of life. Automated detection of movement and the behaviour of a horse in the box stall should represent a significant advancement. In this study, videos of horses in an animal hospital were recorded using an action camera and a time-lapse mode. These videos were processed using the convolutional neural network Loopy for automated prediction of body parts. Development of the model was carried out in several steps, including annotation of the key points, training of the network to generate the model and checking the model for its accuracy. The key points nose, withers and tail are detected with a sensitivity of more than 80% and an error rate between 2 and 7%, depending on the key point. By means of a case study, the possibility of further analysis with the acquired data was investigated. The results will significantly improve the pain recognition of horses and will help to develop algorithms for the automated recognition of behaviour using machine learning.

[Limb amputation in 2 small ruminants]. / Gliedmaßenamputation bei 2 kleinen Wiederkäuern.

A 2-month-old goat and a 5-year-old sheep were referred to the clinic due to severe lameness. The goat had a 5-week-old infected comminuted, left metacarpal fracture with extended osteomyelitis of the distal metacarpal bones. The sheep presented with an open oblique fracture of the left tibia and a concurrent, perforating wound of the fetlock joint in the same hindlimb. In both cases, limb amputation was performed at the level of the shoulder joint and the proximal femur, respectively, under general anesthesia combined with blocks of the large proximal limb nerves. The surgical procedure was successful in both cases and the animals showed good postoperative mobility and quality of life. Limb amputations in small ruminants are rarely described, but may offer a valuable salvage procedure instead of euthanasia.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN SMALL RUMINANTS WITH BRAIN DISEASE.

Brain disease is an important cause of neurologic deficits in small ruminants, however few MRI features have been described. The aim of this retrospective, case series study was to describe MRI characteristics in a group of small ruminants with confirmed brain disease. A total of nine small ruminants (six sheep and three goats) met inclusion criteria. All had neurologic disorders localized to the brain and histopathologic confirmation. In animals with toxic-metabolic diseases, there were bilaterally symmetric MRI lesions affecting either the gray matter (one animal with polioencephalomalacia) or the white matter (two animals with enterotoxemia). In animals with suppurative inflammation, asymmetric focal brainstem lesions were present (two animals with listeric encephalitis), or lesions typical of an intra-axial (one animal) or dural abscess (one animal), respectively. No MRI lesions were detected in one animal with suspected viral cerebellitis and one animal with parasitic migration tracts. No neoplastic or vascular lesions were identified in this case series. Findings from the current study supported the use of MRI for diagnosing brain diseases in small ruminants.

Clinical Practice of Epidural Puncture in Dogs and Cats Assisted by a Commercial Acoustic Puncture Assist Device-Epidural Locator: Preliminary Results.

The objective of this study was to compare an Acoustic Puncture Assist Device-Epidural Locator (APAD-EL) with the "pop sensation" (POP) and "lack of resistance" (LOR) commonly used to confirm penetration of the ligamentum flavum and to ensure correct epidural placement in dogs and cats. We recruited 38 dogs and cats undergoing surgery and receiving epidural analgesia. Two anesthetists performed epidural puncture using the POP and LOR signs. Simultaneously, APAD-EL was used to collect visual and acoustic confirmation during advancement and placement of the needle tip for post hoc evaluation. A positive APAD-EL sign consists of a sudden pressure drop at the needle tip visible on a display and a concomitant pitch change of an acoustic signal. Failure to record a sudden pressure drop is considered a negative APAD sign. Descriptive statistics were used. In 32 patients with positive POP and LOR, the APAD was also positive. In one patient, POP was positive with a negative LOR and APAD result. Five patients had negative POP but positive LOR. Four patients had APAD positive and one (a dog) APAD negative. The study results showed that the APAD-EL information supports the subjective signs of correct needle placement suggested by positive POP and LOR experienced by trained anesthetists. The technique can be useful to assist difficult epidural puncture and as a training and teaching tool.