Analysis of biochemical parameters in canine fetal fluids during the second half of pregnancy.

Although fetal fluids, amnion (AM) and allantois (AL), have been studied at the end of pregnancy in the bitch, little is known about their composition during gestation. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the biochemical parameters of fetal fluids collected from healthy pregnant bitches in mid pregnancy. Fetal fluids were collected from 26 pregnant bitches between 35 and 62 days from ovulation based on ultrasonography. A total of 149 samples were analyzed; 94 samples of known origin (61 a.m. and 33 AL) from 17 dams, which included 17 paired samples (AM and AL from the same fetus; 34 samples), and 55 of unknown origin from nine dams. Reference ranges were formulated for 22 biochemical parameters in AM and AL based on the samples of known origin (n = 94). All parameters (creatinine, albumin, GGT and urea) significantly different between AM and AL were included (by mixed model ANOVA) in the analysis and an algorithm to predict the origin of the fluid was developed (by logistic regression). Overall, of the 94 samples, 79 samples (84%) were correctly identified by the algorithm. For the 33 allantois samples, and for the 61 amnion samples, 23 (69.7%) and 56 (91.8%) were correctly identified by the algorithm, respectively. Based on the algorithm, 31 of the unknown samples (58%) were classified as amnion and 22 samples (42%), as allantois fluid. For all the unknown samples, the average certainty was 86% (compared to 81% for the samples whose fluid type was known), showing the degree of precision of the classification.

Short communication: Meta-analysis on therapy of bovine endometritis with prostaglandin F2α-An update.

The objective of the study was to update a prior meta-analysis on the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF2α. Clinical endometritis in cattle is defined as the presence of a purulent or mucopurulent vaginal discharge after 20 or 26 d, respectively, postpartum. Although the prevalence and impact of this disease are well known, the questions of whether and how to treat endometritis are still controversially discussed. Hence, to ensure timeliness of scientific results, we updated an existing meta-analysis published in 2013 that showed no treatment effect of PGF2α in cases of bovine endometritis. As in the prior meta-analysis, a comprehensive literature search was conducted. After applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3 trials remained that could be added to the 6 trials in the initial meta-analysis. Data for each trial were analyzed using the meta-analysis software Review Manager (version 5.3; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Estimated effect sizes of PGF2α were calculated on calving to first service interval (CFSI) and calving to conception interval (CCI). As revealed by the initial meta-analysis, PGF2α treatment still had no effect on both reproductive parameters. Heterogeneity remained substantial for CFSI and CCI and even increased for CCI compared with the initial meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis, however, did not reveal a source of heterogeneity. In updating the meta-analysis, publication bias for trials reporting CCI became even more pronounced, suggesting that studies with higher standard error (i.e., usually smaller studies) that reported a prolonging effect on CCI after a PGF2α treatment were less likely to be published. Finally, although the number of trials published on the chosen topic and their comparability are still limited, this update of our meta-analysis now provides results that are based on approximately twice the number of included cows. The overall outcome, however, has not substantially changed and a positive effect of a PGF2α treatment in case of clinical endometritis could not be shown. Therefore, we do not recommend a treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF2α as a means to improve reproductive performance.

Antibiotic treatment of metritis in dairy cows-A meta-analysis.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the treatment of bovine metritis with common antibiotic and nonantibiotic treatment options. Acute puerperal metritis, a systemic and potentially painful illness with rectal temperature >39.5°C and signs of toxemia due to an infection of the uterus, occurs within 21 d after parturition. Because of the infectious nature, antibiotics are considered beneficial for the treatment of acute puerperal metritis. Each use of an antimicrobial drug, however, is associated with selective pressure for eventual emergence of resistant bacteria. The 23 trials evaluated in the course of a previously conducted systematic review were the basis for meta-analytic investigations. Selected trials were screened regarding their eligibility for the following investigations: (1) comparison of different antibiotic treatments with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, (2) efficacy of ceftiofur treatment with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, (3) comparison of efficacy of antibiotic versus nonantibiotic drugs with respect to metritis prevalence at time of re-examination, and (4) equivalence assessment of treatment effects on reproductive performance measures. Where at least 3 trials had investigated the same outcome variable and met the inclusion criteria (inclusion of a control or reference group diagnosed with metritis; reporting means and standard deviation in case of continuous data), meta-analytic investigations were carried out. Due to a shortage of comparable studies, we could not conduct investigations (1) and (3). Ceftiofur treatment of 828 metritic cows was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of metritis following treatment in comparison to 804 untreated cows. In conclusion, meta-analytic investigations uncovered a need for more high-quality studies. Furthermore, a positive effect of the most commonly used antibiotic drug, ceftiofur, for the treatment of bovine metritis could be shown. A comparison with other antibiotic or nonantibiotic treatment options could not be made.

Short communication: Progressive motility of frozen-thawed canine semen is highest five minutes after thawing.

Progressive motility is usually estimated by visual inspection using a light contrast microscope at X 100 immediately after semen collection or immediately after thawing frozen semen. Standard operating procedures have never been established for this test. The objective of this experiment was to examine time-dependent changes of motility after thawing cryopreserved canine semen. Semen of 35 dogs was collected, and volume, concentration, progressive motility, morphology, membrane integrity and HOS test were evaluated. For cryopreservation, CaniPRO® Freeze A&B was used. Semen was thawed and diluted using CaniPRO® culture medium. After thawing, semen was evaluated as before. In addition, every sample was evaluated for progressively motile sperm cells 0, 5, 20 and 60 min after thawing. Progressive semen motility was significantly highest five minutes after thawing.

Cystic ovaries and ovarian neoplasia in the female dog - a systematic review.

Most common ovarian diseases appear to be cystic or ovarian tumours. These conditions may affect health, fertility or even the life of the animal. Literature related to ovarian cysts and neoplasia in dogs was assessed to summarize studies and case series on ovarian cysts and primary ovarian tumours in regard to epidemiologic, clinical and fertility aspects. Two research papers on histopathological examination of ovarian cysts could be identified. Seven research papers on ovarian tumours were also assessed, showing inconsistent results on the frequency of occurrence of different types of neoplasia. This might be due to different definitions of diseases and different diagnostic procedures. In conclusion, scarce research has been performed on ovarian diseases in the bitch in the last decades. Many publications are based on case reports. Most quality criteria of study methodology like blinding, randomization, sensitivity and specificity of test methods are not considered in papers on ovarian diseases. In the future, a multicentre data collection of cases could help to gather more data on the incidence, clinical relevance, treatment options and prognosis of ovarian diseases.

Prognostic value of a pre-freeze hypo-osmotic swelling test on the post-thaw quality of dog semen.

Throughout cryopreservation, sperm are exposed to major osmotic challenges. Only intact membranes of sperm cells are able to regulate these volumetric changes, which can be determined by the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS test). Correlations between the HOS test and conventional semen variables are inconsistent. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to examine relationships between HOS test results and standard semen variables before freezing and after thawing and (2) to evaluate the prognostic value of the HOS assessments on post-thaw quality of dog semen. Semen of 35 dogs was collected and analyzed before freezing and after thawing following a 7-day freeze-thaw interval. Conventional semen variables such as sperm cell motility, membrane integrity morphology were evaluated and the HOS test was conducted with results from this test being recorded. In fresh semen the HOS test was positively correlated with progressive motility of sperm cells: r=0.52, sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 and normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.46 (P<0.05). In frozen-thawed semen, the data obtained with the HOS test were positively correlated with progressive sperm cell motility: r=0.67 and membrane integrity: r=0.86 (P<0.05). The data obtained with the HOS test in fresh semen were positively correlated with sperm cell membrane integrity: r=0.50 normal sperm cell morphology: r=0.55 and data from the HOS test (r=0.43; P<0.05) with frozen-thawed semen. For the prediction of individual cryopreservation capacity, results from assessment of the fresh semen variables of good and poor semen quality were statistically compared. Based on these results, it is not possible to predict the quality of frozen-thawed dog semen using the HOS test.

Evidence-based Medicine in Animal Reproduction.

With new knowledge being generated and published daily, the importance of evidence-based approaches in veterinary medicine is obvious. Clinicians must stay current or risk making poor decisions that clients may challenge. Especially in animal reproduction, several new substances and procedures to diagnose or treat reproductive disorders have been introduced in the last years. On the other hand, a closer look at the quality of published literature on animal reproduction reveals major deficits in methodology and reporting of many clinical trials. We strongly recommend systematically assessing the quality of scientific information when reading journal papers before using the given information in practice. The aim of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is to base the decisions in the practice of medicine on valid, clinically relevant research data. Therefore, we suggest that students should become familiar with the concepts of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) at the beginning of their veterinary education. Concepts and supporting tools such as checklists for literature assessment have been developed and validated. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the importance of incorporating EBVM in animal reproduction. The need for further research that produces strong evidence in different fields of animal reproduction and better reporting of relevant study information is obvious.

Invited review: Systematic review of diagnostic tests for reproductive-tract infection and inflammation in dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic and critical appraisal of the quality of previous publications and describe diagnostic methods, diagnostic criteria and definitions, repeatability, and agreement among methods for diagnosis of vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis, salpingitis, and oophoritis in dairy cows. Publications (n=1,600) that included the words "dairy," "cows," and at least one disease of interest were located with online search engines. In total, 51 papers were selected for comprehensive review by pairs of the authors. Only 61% (n=31) of the 51 reviewed papers provided a definition or citation for the disease or diagnostic methods studied, and only 49% (n=25) of the papers provided the data or a citation to support the test cut point used for diagnosing disease. Furthermore, a large proportion of the papers did not provide sufficient detail to allow critical assessment of the quality of design or reporting. Of 11 described diagnostic methods, only one complete methodology, i.e., vaginoscopy, was assessed for both within- and between-operator repeatability (κ=0.55-0.60 and 0.44, respectively). In the absence of a gold standard, comparisons between different tests have been undertaken. Agreement between the various diagnostic methods is at a low level. These discrepancies may indicate that these diagnostic methods assess different aspects of reproductive health and underline the importance of tying diagnostic criteria to objective measures of reproductive performance. Those studies that used a reproductive outcome to select cut points and tests have the greatest clinical utility. This approach has demonstrated, for example, that presence of (muco)purulent discharge in the vagina and an increased proportion of leukocytes in cytological preparations following uterine lavage or cytobrush sampling are associated with poorer reproductive outcomes. The lack of validated, consistent definitions and outcome variables makes comparisons of the different tests difficult. The quality of design and reporting in future publications could be improved by using checklists as a guideline. Further high-quality research based on published standards to improve study design and reporting should improve cow-side diagnostic tests. Specifically, more data on intra- and interobserver agreement are needed to evaluate test variability. Also, more studies are necessary to determine optimal cut points and time postpartum of examination.

Prediction of parturition in bitches utilizing continuous vaginal temperature measurement.

The objective of this study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of a body temperature decline in bitches to predict parturition. Temperature loggers were placed into the vaginal cavity of 16 pregnant bitches on day 56-61 after estimated ovulation or first mating. This measurement technique has been validated previously and enabled continuous sampling of body temperature. The temperature loggers were expelled from the vagina before delivery of the first pup. The computed values for specificity (77-92%) were higher than sensitivity (53-69%), indicating a more precise prognosis of parturition not occurring. In conclusion, our findings may assist interpreting vaginal temperature measurements in order to predict parturition in bitches.

A systematic review of studies performing the hypo-osmotic swelling test to evaluate the quality of canine spermatozoa.

The hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS test) is a simple and inexpensive test to evaluate the functional integrity of sperm cell membranes. According to the existing literature, its simple applicability has turned it into a valuable additional parameter to standard canine semen analysis. In the recent years, much research has been conducted in this field. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the quality of published literature in canine reproduction concerning the HOS test. Using two distinguished databases, 38 articles were detected and analysed subsequently according to various aspects, for example study design, population, semen sampling and implementation concerning the HOS test. Although there are numerous articles available, the diagnostic value of the HOS test remains ambiguous. Until now, neither a recognized test protocol nor reliable reference values have been defined. Most of the trials evaluated show serious methodological flaws and therefore do not permit drawing reliable conclusions. According to our results, approximately half of the studies (n = 20) included a sample size of five or less animals. None of the studies examined the inter- or intraobserver agreement for the HOS test. Further research is warranted including appropriate statistical methods and a sufficient number of animals to establish a standardized test protocol as well as reliable reference values. Most importantly, it is required to clarify a correlation between the HOS test and the fertilizing capacity to determine the diagnostic value of the HOS test.

[Results of a survey regarding the publication of scientific results in German-speaking countries]. / Ergebnisse einer Umfrage zur Publikation wissenschaftlicher Studienergebnisse im deutschsprachigen Raum.

OBJECTIVE: Veterinarians should conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures according to the most recent and scientifically proven methods. Therefore, a rapid and effective transfer of scientific information is crucial. An important link between science and practice are findings published in scientific journals. The productivity of scientists is often measured referring to the number of papers published in reputable journals. Because many of these journals publish in the English language, it is possible that results from German research may never reach German veterinarians or only after a delay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using an online questionnaire, faculty members (professors and scientific assistants) from Germany, Austria and Switzerland were asked how they had published their results during the previous 5 years. Furthermore, they were asked to identify the factors influencing their choice of journal for publication. RESULTS: A total of 118 respondents completed the questionnaire. Nearly two thirds had published ten or more papers during the previous 5 years. More than half of these were published in the English language. Most participants consider the peer review process suitable for enhancing the quality of publications. The impact factor is seen as a fair indicator for the quality of a paper while considered an important factor for the choice of a journal for publication of the respondents own results. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: According to the data, respondents prefer to publish their results in the English language and in journals with a high impact factor. Therefore, veterinarians may never receive this information via German journals or only after a delay. One possible solution could be a regularly published practice-oriented compilation of relevant scientific findings.

[Decision making in veterinary practice]. / Entscheidungsfindung in der tierärztlichen Praxis.

OBJECTIVE: In daily practice, a veterinarian has to judge information and decide whether it can be adequately implemented for a given case. In this context, it is vital to base decisions on the most recent and reliable scientific findings. In Germany, every practitioner must take part in 20 to 40 hours annually of continuing education. To outline the current assessment and employment of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM), we surveyed practitioners concerning continuing education and their skills in obtaining and evaluating scientific information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey amongst veterinary practitioners was conducted throughout five continuing education courses between May 2010 and November 2011. The questionnaire contained 32 questions concerning demographic data and profession (n = 4), qualification (n = 3), continuing education (n = 5) and skills related to EBVM (n = 20). Besides evaluating the statements of all participants, veterinarians were classified based on the type of practice and their statements compared. RESULTS: In total, 293 questionnaires were returned. The majority of small animal practitioners (58.3%) and those working with food animals (54.9%) declared being capable of comprehending scientific talks or papers in English without difficulty. 10.4% of all practitioners neglected reading veterinary journals on a regular basis, while 20.8% stated they regularly read English veterinary journals. The majority of the practitioners sought advice from their employer or a colleague. They attributed a high or very high quality to both these information sources. Almost every participant (92.6%) stated that they consulted medical books, and 88.6% certified this information source as being of high or very high quality. 68.6% of the practitioners evaluated their skills in finding suitable literature as high or very high. However, only approximately half (52.1%) of all participants attributed themselves a high ability to evaluate the quality of the literature found. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most practitioners are very limited in their ability to assess the evidence of scientific information. Therefore, courses that introduce EBVM should be taught in both veterinary and postgraduate education to train critical appraisal of information and to support decision-making based on valid, clinically relevant data.

Alkalinizing effect of NaHCO3 with and without glucose when administered orally to euhydrated neonatal dairy calves.

The use of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) is well established as an effective treatment to correct water-, electrolyte-, and acid-base balance in diarrheic calves. The main ingredients of a commercial ORS are Na, glucose, and alkalinizing agents, such as NaHCO3. Particular importance is attributed to the combination of glucose and Na at a specific ratio to optimize intestinal sodium, and thereby water uptake, through the sodium-glucose co-transport. Enhancing intestinal Na absorption by combining glucose and Na in an ORS has the potential to improve the alkalinizing effect of an ORS according the strong ion theory. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose on the alkalinizing effect of NaHCO3 when administered orally. Nine healthy neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves underwent 3 oral treatments with 2-L solutions of NaHCO3 (150 mmol/L), glucose (300 mmol/L), and glucose + NaHCO3 (300 mmol/L + 150 mmol/L, respectively) in randomized order. Arterial and venous blood was obtained before treatment and in 30-min intervals thereafter for blood gas analysis and determination of plasma protein and electrolyte concentrations. Urine was collected volumetrically to determine urine volume, osmolality, pH, net acid excretion, and renal Na excretion after treatment. Plasma volume changes were extrapolated from plasma protein concentration changes. Treatment and time effects were tested with repeated measures ANOVA. Only subtle differences between oral administration of NaHCO3, with and without glucose, were observed for the change of the standard HCO3 concentration relative to baseline. No differences in plasma Na, plasma volume expansion, renal Na, net base excretion, urine volume, or pH could be identified between animals treated orally with NaHCO3 with and without glucose. Similarly, no differences in blood glucose concentration, plasma volume expansion, urine volume, or renal glucose excretion were observed in the 8h after treatment when comparing oral glucose treatment with and without NaHCO3. Our results indicate that combination of NaHCO3 with glucose in a hypertonic ORS only had a minor effect on the alkalinizing effect of NaHCO3, which is unlikely to be of clinical relevance. The combination of NaHCO3 and glucose neither improved Na, glucose, nor water absorption in euhydrated neonatal dairy calves, questioning the relevance of a specific ratio between Na and glucose in ORS for calves.

Therapy of bovine endometritis with prostaglandin F2α: a meta-analysis.

The objective of the conducted meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF(2α) by statistical means. Postpartum uterine infections have a high prevalence and a very negative effect on reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Because of a wide discordance between research results, a meta-analysis of the efficacy of the treatment of bovine endometritis with PGF(2α) was conducted. A comprehensive literature search was performed using online databases to reveal a total of 2,307 references. In addition, 5 articles were retrieved by reviewing citations. After applying specific exclusion criteria and evaluating specific evidence parameters, 5 publications, comprising 6 trials, were eligible for being analyzed by means of meta-analysis. Data for each trial were extracted and analyzed using meta-analysis software Review Manager (version 5.1; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Estimated effect sizes of PGF(2α) were calculated on calving to first service and calving to conception interval. Prostaglandin F(2α) treatment of cows with chronic endometritis had a negative effect on both reproductive performance parameters. Heterogeneity was substantial for calving to first service and calving to conception interval [I(2) (measure of variation beyond chance)=100 and 87%, respectively]; therefore, random-effects models were used. Sensitivity analysis as well as subgroup analysis showed that the performance of randomization was influential in modifying effect size of PGF(2α) treatment. The funnel plot illustrated a publication bias toward smaller studies that reported a prolonged calving to conception interval after a PGF(2α) treatment. We conclude that the investigation of this subject by means of meta-analysis did not reveal an improvement of reproductive performance of cows with endometritis after treatment with PGF(2α). Furthermore, there is a shortage of comparable high quality studies investigating reproductive performance after PGF(2α) treatment of cows with chronic endometritis.

Does oral administration of the amino acid tyrosine affect oestradiol-17ß concentration and sexual behaviour in the bitch?

The oral administration of the amino acid, tyrosine, has been for years recommended in order to improve fertility, especially to improve copulation behaviour in female dogs. However, evidence is comparatively poor. The objective of our study was to determine whether oral administration of tyrosine has an effect on oestradiol-17ß concentrations and the oestrous behaviour in the bitch. Fifty bitches were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups in which each dog received 100mg/kg/day of either tyrosine or milk sugar orally between Day 3 and Day 9 of heat. Every two to three days, a gynaecological examination was performed and blood samples were taken to determine oestradiol-17ß and progesterone concentrations. The day of ovulation was estimated by clinical findings, and according to the specifications of the laboratory, once progesterone values exceeded 12.7nmol/l. The observed copulation behaviour was not different between the groups. No differences in volume and visual nature of vaginal discharge were observed. At the day of ovulation, mean oestradiol-17ß concentration in the treated group was 163.4pmol/l and 162.2pmol/l in the placebo group, respectively. In conclusion, feeding tyrosine to female dogs between Day 3 and Day 9 of heat did not alter visual signs of heat or copulation behaviour, and did not alter oestradiol-17ß concentration.

[Evidence based medicine in veterinary daily practice]. / Die evidenzbasierte Veterinärmedizin im Praxisalltag.

The veterinary practitioner should base decisions concerning diagnostic procedures and treatments in practice on recent, valid and clinically relevant information. He may rely on journal papers, colleagues, the internet or other sources. It is a great challenge to find appropriate information in a reasonable time. Furthermore, the practitioner has to judge the information regarding its actuality and validity. Ideally, such information should provide a high level of evidence. This means that this information is more likely to be "correct". Good information can be obtained through high quality trials, such as randomized and blinded controlled clinical trials. Universities, publishers and professional organizations should promote editing of scientific information to support practitioners in decision making.

Endoscopic resection of a vaginal septum in a bitch and observation of septa in two related bitches.

CASE HISTORY: In 2008, a 3-year-old female Labrador Retriever was presented for routine breeding soundness evaluation. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Vaginal endoscopy revealed an 8-cm long and 1-cm thick vaginal septum. Surgical resection of the septum was performed under general anaesthesia using a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope. Three months later the bitch was naturally mated and subsequently delivered five male and two female puppies without complications. Both female puppies were examined at the age of 12 and 15 months and showed a vaginal septum with a diameter of 0.3 and 0.5 cm, respectively. DIAGNOSIS: Vaginal septa in three related bitches. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report describing the use of a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope for vaginal surgery in dogs. The septum could be resected quickly, with preservation of surrounding structures. Furthermore, it is the first report collecting information about familial presentation of vaginal septa in female dogs. Based on this case, we suggest that consideration should be given to the possible risk of inheritance of vaginal septa before considering surgical resection and breeding of female dogs.

Application of vaginal temperature measurement in bitches.

Finding innovative, non-invasive methods for continuously measuring body temperature minimizing human interference is important for accurate data collection. The objective of this study was to assess feasibility and accuracy of continuous body temperature measurements with loggers placed in the vaginal cavity of bitches. First, an in vitro experiment was performed to compare values obtained by temperature loggers (n = 26) to a calibrated liquid-in-glass thermometer. The mean differences between the two methods were low. Next, an in vivo experiment was performed using five healthy bitches, and values obtained by the vaginal loggers were compared to measurements collected rectally with digital thermometers. The results show that rectal and vaginal temperatures were correlated. The mean differences between rectal and vaginal temperatures were negligible. We conclude that the utilized temperature loggers provide accurate and reliable data.

[Inappropriate lactation syndrome in goats--case collection and experiences with mastectomy]. / Lactatio falsa bei der Ziege - Fallsammlung und Erfahrungen mit der Amputation des Gesäuges.

OBJECTIVE: Hobby keeping of goats and sheep confronts veterinarians with new challenges that rarely have to be faced in livestock husbandry. During the last five years five goats were presented to the Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, with inappropriate lactation syndrome. Four of these animals had been previously treated with cabergoline without enduring success. According to the request of the owners (informed consent) and the clinical severity of the cases, a mastectomy was performed in all five animals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia using ketamine and xylazine, and with the patients in a recumbent position. RESULTS: Mastectomy in small ruminants requires knowledge of the anatomy of the udder and the possible positions of the supplying blood vessels. Our patients displayed a variety of dispositions of the Vena epigastrica caudalis superficialis. Special attention should be paid to a careful and blunt dissection of the mammary gland, and immediate control of haemorrhage, to maintain a clear view on the anatomic structures. Furthermore, dissection of the glandular tissue should be strictly avoided to prevent milk contamination of the surgical area. A sufficient skin flap has to be left to cover the surgical area after removal of the udder. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Even though udder amputation appears to be a radical and high-risk procedure, all five goats survived the surgery. The wound healing occurred in a reasonable time without any severe complications. In goats that are kept as "hobby animals" and in which an inappropriate lactation syndrome cannot be treated conservatively, mastectomy is a reasonable and promising therapy.

[Validity of the use of L-Tyrosine to enhance fertility of female domestic animals. A study on the evidence from the literature]. / Validität des Einsatzes von L-Tyrosin zur Steigerung der Fruchtbarkeit weiblicher Haussäugetiere. Eine Studie zur Evidenz der Literatur.

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve fertility in female domestic animals, especially in bitches, several authors recommend the feeding of the amino acid L-Tyrosine during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. The aim of this article was a systematic and statistical analysis of current literature in terms of evidence-based medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature research, statistical analysis and classification in levels of evidence. RESULTS: Fifteen German and two English studies on the effect of L-Tyrosine on the fertility in domestic animals were found. The statistical analysis and evaluation of evidence showed that most studies feature methodical deficits and often findings were inconsistent with one another. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Heterogeneous results indicate a considerable need for further research on the effectiveness and dose of L-Tyrosine to legitimate its appliance in practice.