[Therapeutic options of obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants]. / Therapeutische Möglichkeiten bei obstruktiver Urolithiasis des kleinen Wiederkäuers.

The diagnosis of obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants frequently results in a multitude of decisions that have to be made by the consulted practitioner. Factors that influence the decision for therapy (or euthanasia) are the type of the animal's use, economic aspects and specific options of the veterinarian practice as well as emotional aspects depending on the owners of small ruminants kept as companion animals. The present article aims to present the currently available methods of therapy to facilitate a decision by the practicing veterinarian based on the present state of the science. Naturally, the individual method of choice may differ from the scientific point of view depending on the practitioner's evaluation.

Clasificación y grado de necrosis en colgajo cutáneo aleatorio en ratas tras tratamiento con células madre precondicionadas con hipoxia y retardo del colgajo / Classification and score of necrosis in random skin flap in rats after treatment with transplantation of hypoxia preconditioned adipose-derived stem cells and flap delay

Introducción y Objetivo: Realizar una clasificación de necrosis en colgajos cutáneos aleatorios (predispuesto a necrosis) según los hallazgos macroscópicos e histopatológicos, con o sin tratamiento para aumentar la supervivencia del colgajo, podría ser útil para analizar de forma global el colgajo y evaluar distintas modalidades para disminuir la necrosis. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar si existe más de un patrón de necrosis cutánea del colgajo cutáneo aleatorio al séptimo día de postoperatorio realizando una clasificación de necrosis y comparar la efectividad de los métodos de retardo del colgajo y células madres derivadas de tejido adiposo (ASCs) con y sin precondicionamiento para aumentar la supervivencia del colgajo. Material y Método: Utilizamos 40 ratas macho adultas sometidas a colgajo cutáneo aleatorio en el área dorsal de 2 x 8 cm agrupadas en control, RTC (retardo del colgajo), ASCs y ASCs-H (células madre derivadas de tejido adiposo precondicionadas con hipoxia). Realizamos cálculo del área, puntuación de necrosis y estudio histológico de los colgajos al séptimo día con hematoxilina-eosina, inmunohistoquímica con VEGF (factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular) y cuantificación del colágeno tipo I y III. Resultados: Según la clasificación, el tipo 0 fue considerado como piel normal; tipo 0+ con cambio adaptativo reversible; tipo 1 necrosis menor con inflamación superficial; tipo 2 necrosis menor con inflamación profunda; y finalmente el tipo 3 necrosis en su grado máximo. La piel sana mantiene la coloración y textura elástica y blanda. A medida que progresa la necrosis cambia hacia un tono más oscuro, y la textura y consistencia van aumentando hasta tornarse acartonada y delgada. En los tipos 0+ y 1 observamos focos de reepitelización temprana al séptimo día, mientras que en estadios más avanzados la necrosis fue completa. El grupo de RTC presenta una menor puntuación y por lo tanto necrosis de menor grado respecto al resto de los grupos tratados. Por otra parte, el porcentaje global de necrosis fue menor en los grupos tratados con ASCs y ASCs-H respecto al grupo control (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusiones: La clasificación y puntuación de necrosis parece ser un método adecuado para comprender la evolución de la necrosis del colgajo cutáneo aleatorio y como herramienta para investigación. La necrosis de bajo grado permitiría un afrontamiento conservador y expectante respecto a la de mayor grado. El grupo RTC presentó un puntuación menor al séptimo día con mayor capacidad de reepitelización, mientras que los tratamientos con ASCs y ASCs-H lograron una menor área de necrosis de forma global al séptimo día

Background and Objective: Perform a characterization and classification of necrosis in random skin flaps (predisposed to necrosis) according to the macroscopic and histopathological findings, with or without treatment to increase the survival of the flap, it could be useful to analyze in a global way the flap and evaluate different modalities for decrease necrosis. Our aim is to evaluate if there is more than one skin cutaneous necrosis pattern of the random cutaneous flap on the seventh postoperative day, performing a necrosis classification and to compare the effectiveness of the flap delay and adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) with and without preconditioning methods to increase the survival of the flap. Methods: Forty adult male rats subjected to random skin flap in the dorsal area of 2 x 8 cm grouped into control group, RTC (flap delay), ASCs (adipose-derived stem cells) and ASCs-H (hypoxic preconditioning of adipose-derived stem cells), were used. Area calculation, necrosis score and histological study of flaps on the seventh day with hematoxylin-eosin, immunohistochemistry with VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and quantification of type I and III collagen were performed. Results: According to the classification of necrosis, type 0 was considered normal skin; type 0+ with reversible adaptive change; type 1 minor necrosis with superficial inflammation; type 2 minor necrosis with deep inflammation; and finally type 3 necrosis in its maximum degree. Healthy skin maintains coloring, elastic and soft texture. As necrosis progresses shifts towards a darker tone, texture and consistency increases until it becomes stiff and thin. In types 0+ and 1, foci of early reepithelialization was observed on the seventh day, while more advanced in the classification stages, necrosis is complete. The group of RTC presents a lower score and therefore lesser degree of necrosis with respect to the rest of the treated groups. Moreover the overall percentage of necrosis was lower in the groups treated with ASCs and ASCs-H in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The classification and the score of necrosis seems to be a suitable method for understanding the evolution of skin flap necrosis and as a tool for research. Low-grade necrosis allows conservative and expectant confrontation with respect to higher grades. The RTC group presented a lower necrosis score on the seventh day with greater reepithelialization capacity, whereas treatment with ASCs and ASCs-H achieved a lower area of necrosis overall on the seventh day

Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Dogs: Public Awareness and Perceptions.

Tail docking and ear cropping are two surgical procedures commonly performed on many dog breeds. These procedures are classified as medically unnecessary surgeries whose purpose is primarily cosmetic. Available attitude research surrounding these controversial practices has been limited to surveys of veterinarians and dog breeders familiar with both practices. The aim of this project was to: 1) assess public awareness of tail docking and ear cropping, 2) determine whether physical alteration of a dog affects how the dog, and 3) owner are perceived. In Experiment 1 awareness was measured using a combination of both explicit and implicit measures. We found that 42% of participants (n = 810) were unable to correctly explain the reason why tail docked and ear cropped dogs had short ears and tails. Similarly, an implicit measure of awareness ('nature vs nurture task'), found that the majority of participants believed short tails and erect ears were a consequence of genetics rather than something the owner or breeder had done. The results obtained in Experiment 2 (n = 392) provide evidence that ear cropped and tail docked dogs are perceived differently than an identical dog in its 'natural' state. Modified dogs were perceived as being more aggressive, more dominant, less playful and less attractive than natural dogs. Experiment 3 (n = 410) is the first evidence that owners of modified dogs are perceived as being more aggressive, more narcissistic, less playful, less talkative and less warm compared to owners of natural dogs. Taken together, these results suggest that although a significant proportion of subjects appear unaware of the practices of tail docking and ear cropping in dogs, these procedures have significant impacts on how modified dogs and their owners are perceived by others.

Cosmetic globe surgery in the horse.

Effects of traumatic injury or inflammation on the equine eye can be catastrophic. These ocular conditions can frequently result in blindness or chronic pain. In addition to blindness and pain, permanent unsightly cosmetic defects can occur. This article addresses options available for improved cosmetic outcome in horses with ocular scars or requiring enucleation. Many of these options have been described in detail previously. New information has been added to the discussion of each option where pertinent.

Cosmetic dehorning in goats.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes a technique using primary closure when dehorning goats, and report the results of 22 cases. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of goats that had cosmetic dehorning were reviewed. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty-two goats. METHODS: The medical records of 22 goats, not previously dehorned by other methods, that were cosmetically dehorned between January 1988 and September 1995 were reviewed. Data retrieved from the medical record included age, breed, sex, surgical technique used for dehorning, and any complications that occurred after surgery. All clients were contacted by telephone to determine the course of postoperative healing for each goat. A surgical technique to remove the horns and close the defect primarily was described. RESULTS: The mean age of the goats, all male Nubian or Nubian-Spanish cross, was 6.9 months (range, 2 to 24 months). Horn base diameter ranged from approximately 2 to 4 cm. Mean time from surgery until follow-up was 12.9 months (range, 3 to 57 months). All incisions healed by first intention in 10 to 14 days. Clinical signs of sinusitis were not noted, and owners were pleased with the healing time and cosmetic result obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Primary closure of skin defects after dehorning of goats can be achieved with minimal postoperative care and excellent cosmetic appearance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Primary closure after dehorning in mature goats reduces aftercare.

Surgical management of the tight lip syndrome in the Shar-Pei dog.

The lower lip in some Shar-Pei puppies curls up over the mandible, causing lingual displacement of the incisor and canine teeth and may result in interference with the natural growth of the mandible. Surgical correction of this defect at the proper age can allow the mandible to grow normally and avoid development of an uncomfortable mouth. Two methods of correction are described. Cheiloplasty has been used by the author on 99 puppies over a 10 year period, only two of which were returned for additional surgery because the result was inadequate; the cheiloplasty procedure was repeated in these two dogs. Excision of an elliptical section of the skin of the chin was performed once during the same 10 year period.

Utilización de bioprótesis liofilizadas en la reparación de defectos abdominales en ratas / Use of lyophilized bioprosthesis in the repair of abdominal defects in rats

En el presente trabajo evaluamos la utilidad del pericardio de bovino tratado con glutaraldehído al 0.5 por ciento preservado liofilizado en la reparación de defectos abdominales en ratas. utilizamos 20 ratas Wistar que fueron divididas en dos grupos de estudio, a las cuales se les disecó y resecó un segmento de la pared abdominal ventral lo que produjo un defecto de aproximadamente 2 x 1.5 cm y fue reparado con una bioprótesis de pericardio de bovino. Grupo I: Reparación de la pared abdominal con pericardio bovino tratado con glutaraldehído al 0.5 por ciento (n= 10); Grupo II: Reparación de la pared abdominal con pericardio de bovino tratado con glutaraldehído liofilizado preservado al 0.5 por ciento (n= 10). Los animales fueron evaluados a diario clínicamente durante la primera semana postcirugía y cada tercer día, el tiempo restante. Al finalizar el estudio, los animales se sometieron a eutanasia con una sobredosis de pentobarbital sódico y se evaluó macroscópica y microscópicamente el estado de la bioprótesis. Todos los animales sobrevivieron al procedimiento quirúrgico y al tiempo de estudio que fue de 8 semanas. En los dos grupos, macroscópicamente, la bioprótesis se adaptó bien a la pared abdominal. Microscópicamente los animales de ambos grupos presentaron buena cicatrización con proliferación de fibroblastos y depósitos de colágena sobre y en la periferia de la prótesis así como vasos sanguíneos de neoformación. El liofilizar el pericardio bovino tratado con glutaraldehído al 0.5 por ciento permite un mejor almacenamiento y transporte del mismo, además de que al rehidratarlo mantiene su resistencia, su fácil manejo quirúrgico y no se rechaza

[Consequences of a surgical correction of an insufficient closure of the vulva on genital flora and conception rate in mares]. / Auswirkungen der chirurgischen Korrektur eines mangelhaften Schamschlusses auf die Genitalflora und die Konzeptionsrate bei Stuten.

In this thesis the influence of pneumo-vagina on the microbiological colonization of the genital tract and their manifestation in cytological smears was examined. For mares with poor vulval conformation a comparison of the bacterial growth before and after plastic surgery of the vulva and vestibulum was carried out, as well as the registration of conception rates after operation and insemination. The biggest reduction of the bacterial content in the reproductive tract was found between vestibulum and cranial section of the vagina. The increased number of contaminant bacteria in the cranial section of the vagina during abnormal vulval conformation could be reduced significantly by the plastic surgery of the vulva and vestibulum (p < 0.05). Assuming that an 18-20 days pregnant uterus is free from a colonization with virulent bacteria, a high significant reduction of the increased number of contaminant bacteria in the uterus during vulval incompetence was found after surgical correction (p < 0.01). In mares with poor conformation of the vulva, which had not been operated, the contamination of the reproductive tract had increased at the time of checkup in comparison to the first swab specimens, taken 18-20 days before. The share of mares with a negative bacteriological and positive cytological result was in case of vulval incompetence twice as large as if they had a proper vulval conformation. A decrease of these latent infections was found after plastic surgery of the vulva and vestibulum. From the operated mares a total of 72.9% became pregnant.

Surgical (cosmetic) dehorning in cattle.

Numerous methods have been developed through the ages to dehorn cattle. Some are clever and sophisticated; others are crude. Most methods can be used effectively and humanely, and with desirable cosmetic results. This article discusses the cosmetic and ethical considerations for dehorning, as well as surgical preparation and techniques used.

Skin grafts.

Skin grafting is a method to reconstruct the skin covering on areas of the body where there are defects and insufficient surrounding skin for advancement or for creation of flaps. Grafts are classified according to their host-donor relationship and by their thickness. Autogenous grafts, taken from one area of the body and applied to another area, are the type of graft used most often clinically. Pieces of skin are taken from one area of the body, prepared and applied over a defect that has also been properly prepared to accept the graft. The defect to which a graft is applied must be a healthy bed of granulation tissue or tissue that is vascular enough to produce a bed of granulation tissue. In its new location, the graft will develop a new blood supply and attachment to underlying tissues. This is accomplished as the graft undergoes the processes of fibrinous adherence, plasmatic imbibition, inoculation, and new vessel ingrowth. The types of grafts described in this chapter are split-thickness, full-thickness, seed, strip, and stamp grafts. Each of these graft types must be prepared using certain techniques, and each one has its inherent advantages and disadvantages. Split-thickness grafts may require considerable skill and/or expensive equipment to perform. Although they "take" better than full-thickness grafts, they are usually less cosmetically attractive. Full-thickness grafts require no special skill or expensive equipment, and their cosmetic appearance is better than that of split-thickness grafts, but they do not take as well as split-thickness grafts. Seed and strip grafts are easily accomplished and require no special instruments; however, their cosmetic appearance is not good. Stamp grafts have some of the properties associated with split-thickness grafts as well as those of seed and strip grafts, since they combine features of both.

Mesh skin grafting.

Mesh grafts are split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafts in which parallel rows of staggered slits have been cut. The mesh incisions allow the graft to be expanded to cover large defects, provide a route for drainage of blood or serum from under the graft, and increase the flexibility of the graft so that it can conform to uneven recipient beds. Meshing can be accomplished using a no. 11 scalpel blade or a special meshing machine. The use of unexpanded full-thickness mesh grafts is recommended because their cosmetic appearance equals that of sheet grafts, but the mesh incisions still allow drainage of blood and/or serum from under the graft. This technique has been very successful, with 90 to 100 per cent "take" when the grafts have been applied on healthy granulation beds.

Reconstructive surgery of the lips and cheek.

There are a variety of defects of the lips, cheek, and nasal tissue in small animals that occur as a result of trauma, wide tumor excision, and congenital disorders. Fortunately, there is sufficient labial and buccal tissue available to close many of the moderate-sized defects encountered in practice by utilizing the basic closure techniques discussed in this article.

The use of skin expansion to repair cosmetic defects in animals.

Skin expansion was used in three horses, one heifer, and one dog to aid in the repair of cosmetic defects. Skin expansion was produced by inserting an expandable silicone device subcutaneously and gradually inflating the device with saline. Skin expansion allowed skin to be mobilized and sutured over cosmetic defects without excessive tension. A successful outcome was achieved in four of the five cases reported here. In one animal, two attempts to create a pocket for a silicone prosthesis failed because the expanders ruptured. Complications included implant failure, wound dehiscence, and exposure of an expander. Skin expansion can be used to enable closure of skin defects in areas where skin tension usually precludes repair by local transposition.