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Abstract

Objective—To compare results obtained by use of laparoscopyassisted abomasopexy versus omentopexy via right flank laparotomy for the treatment of dairy cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA).

Animals—120 dairy cows with an LDA.

Procedure—In a prospective clinical trial, cows were randomly allocated to the abomasopexy group (laparoscopy-assisted abomasopexy) or to the control group (omentopexy via right flank). Data were obtained during the first 5 days after surgery and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.

Results—59 of 60 cows in the abomasopexy group and all 60 cows in the control group were treated successfully. Median duration was shorter for the laparoscopic procedure (27.5 minutes), compared with that for the control group (38 minutes). Five cows in the abomasopexy group had wound complications and 2 had LDA relapses, compared with 2 wound complications and no relapses in the control group. During the 5 days after surgery, the abomasopexy group had a significantly higher increase in rate of energy intake and milk yield and a more rapid return to reference range for serum glutamic dehydrogenase activity and total bilirubin concentration, compared with results for the control group.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Success rates were almost equal for both methods. Advantages of the laparoscopic abomasopexy procedure include practicality, low risk of complications, and rapid postoperative recovery. Contraindications are cardiopulmonary diseases. Other disadvantages include the cost of the instruments and inability to perform the procedure in cows with abomasal adhesions.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To compare the content of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and neurofilament 200 in biopsy specimens taken from the abomasal wall of healthy cows of 2 breeds.

Sample Population—Biopsy specimens taken from different sites of the abomasal wall from 20 German Holstein cows and 20 German Fleckvieh cows.

Procedures—Biopsy specimens were examined immunohistochemically, and the content of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and neurofilament 200 was determined by measuring the immunoreactive areas.

Results—Significant differences between the breeds were detected. Substance P-immuno-reactive area in the corpus abomasi was significantly smaller in the German Holsteins (geometric mean ± geometric SD, 679 ± 1.83 μm2) than in the German Fleckvieh cows (1,020 ± 1.65 μm2). Concerning vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, differences between breeds were not significant. Overall nerve density in the antral abomasal wall was significantly greater in German Holsteins than in German Fleckvieh cows (immunoreactive areas for neurofilament 200 in German Holsteins was 4,842 ± 1.29 μm2 and in German Fleckvieh cows was 3,333 ± 1.63 μm2).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The significantly lower content of substance P in the corpus abomasi could explain why German Holstein cows are predisposed to abomasal displacement, compared with German Fleckvieh cows, in which this disease is a rare finding.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To determine changes in serum feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) in response to administration of ceruletide to healthy cats.

Animals—11 healthy cats.

Procedures—Serum fTLI was determined, using a radioimmunoassay, before and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 minutes after IM administration of ceruletide (0.3 mg/kg [0.14 mg/lb]).

Results—Mean ± SD baseline serum fTLI was 23.1 ± 4.1 mg/L. There was a statistically significant, but clinically unimportant, increase in serum fTLI 10 and 30 minutes after ceruletide administration.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In healthy cats, administration of ceruletide induced a statistically significant, but clinically unimportant, increase in serum fTLI. Whether responses in cats with exocrine pancreatic disorders would be different is unknown, but results suggest that a ceruletide stimulation test would likely not be useful for differentiating between healthy cats and cats with subclinical chronic exocrine pancreatic disorders. (Am J Vet Res 2000;61:925–927)

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To directly compare solid-phase gastric emptying times assessed by means of a [13C]sodium acetate breath test ([13C]-SABT) and technetium Tc 99m albumin colloid radioscintigraphy (99mTc-ACR) in healthy cats.

Animals—12 healthy cats.

Procedure—After ingestion of a test meal containing 50 mg of [13C]sodium acetate and 250 MBq of 99mTc-albumin colloid, each cat underwent simultaneous [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR on 2 consecutive days. Breath samples and scintigrams were acquired at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360, 480, and 600 minutes after meal ingestion. Quartiles of gastric emptying (25%, 50%, and 75%) were calculated for breath test analysis by use of the area under the curve of the 13C:12C ratio. Quartiles of gastric emptying times were extrapolated from the scintigraphic findings by beans of nonlinear curve regression analysis.

Results—Mean ± SD gastric half-emptying (50%) times obtained with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR, were 239 ± 28 minutes and 276 ± 59 minutes, respectively. A 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that mean gastric emptying times determined with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR differed significantly. For the stages of gastric emptying, Pearson correlation between the 2 methods was good at 25% (r = 0.655) and weak at 50% (r = 0.588) and 75% (r = 0.566)of gastric emptying.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that the [13C]-SABT can be a valid alternative to 99mTc-ACR in healthy cats; it was easy to perform, was tolerated well by the cats, and had acceptable correlation to scintigraphic findings at gastric emptying of 25%, 50% and 75%. Studies in cats with delayed gastric emptying will be needed to verify the validity of the [13C]-SABT.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To examine outcome data for cats and dogs with congenital internal hydrocephalus following treatment via ventriculoperitoneal shunting to determine treatment-associated changes in neurologic signs, the nature and incidence of postoperative complications, and survival time.

Design—Retrospective multicenter case series.

Animals—30 dogs and 6 cats with congenital internal hydrocephalus (confirmed via CT or MRI).

Procedures—Medical records for dogs and cats with internal hydrocephalus that underwent unilateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation from 2001 through 2009 were evaluated. Data collected included the nature and incidence of postoperative complications, change in clinical signs following surgery, and survival time. To compare pre- and postoperative signs, 2-way frequency tables were analyzed with a 1-sided exact McNemar test.

Results—8 of 36 (22%) animals developed postoperative complications, including shunt malfunction, shunt infection, and seizure events. Three dogs underwent shunt revision surgery. Thirteen (36%) animals died as a result of hydrocephalus-related complications or were euthanized. Following shunt implantation, clinical signs resolved in 7 dogs and 2 cats; overall, 26 (72%) animals had an improvement of clinical signs. After 18 months, 20 animals were alive, and the longest follow-up period was 9.5 years. Most deaths and complications occurred in the first 3 months after shunt placement.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation is a viable option for treatment of dogs or cats with congenital hydrocephalus. Because complications are most likely to develop in the first 3 months after surgery, repeated neurologic and imaging evaluations are warranted during this period.

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association