Parotid duct laceration repair in two horses.

Repair of parotid duct lacerations in 2 horses is described using intraluminal silastic tubing as a stent. The duct was lacerated traumatically at the facial vessel notch (incisura vasorum facialium) in the 1st horse, and iatrogenically after removal of an intraluminal sialolith after development of infection within the duct in the 2nd horse. In both cases, a silastic tube was passed retrograde into the duct via the salivary papilla, past the wound until the end lay rostroventral to the parotid salivary gland. The severed salivary ducts and the wounds were sutured. The external portion of the silastic tube was sutured to the skin and the tube left in place. Recovery in the 1st case was uneventful. In the 2nd case a salivary duct/cutaneous fistula formed at a wound distant from the sutured wound, which healed spontaneously. This technique differs from a similar described technique in that the stent tube exits the oral cavity and is attached to the outer skin surface.

The incidence of eye disease in dogs in a veterinary academic hospital: 1772 cases.

Information on the incidence of eye disease in dogs, presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, was extracted from the records of the ophthalmology clinic for the 5 years 1990-1995. The German shepherd dog and maltese each accounted for more than twice as many patients as any other breed. The most important diseases according to breed incidence were cataracts, glaucoma, corneal ulcers, progressive retinal atrophy, iris prolapse, pannus/pigmentation and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Problem areas in private practice were clearly identifiable and arose for different reasons.

[A retrobulbar foreign body in a dog]. / 'N retrobulbêre vreemde voorwerp by 'n hond.

A 2-year-old dog was presented with a history of recurrent pain on opening its mouth. Clinical examination revealed conjunctivitis and chemosis of the left eye. Ultrasound examination of the eye revealed poor definition of the extra-ocular muscles. An orbitotomy was performed and a 50 mm-long silver of wood was removed from the retrobulbar tissues.

[Acute blindness in a dog caused by sudden acquired retinal degeneration]. / Akute blindheid in 'n hond veroorsaak deur skielike verworwe retinale degenerasie.

A 6-year-old male Boxer dog was presented with a history of acute blindness. Direct and consensual pupillary light reflexes were reduced. The fundus of both eyes appeared normal during ophthalmoscopic examination. Further diagnostic investigations included magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and electroretinography. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was normal, but the electroretinogram was extinguished. A diagnosis of sudden acquired retinal degeneration was made.

Unilateral lentectomy in a black-shouldered kite. / Unilaterale lentektomie in 'n blouvalkie.

An extracapsular lentectomy was performed on an adult black-shouldered kite (Elanus caeruleus) presented with a history of head trauma resulting in a unilateral cataract and ventro-medial synechia of the right eye. One week post-operatively, the eye contents were clear and the iris appeared normal. The bird was released into a flight cage 3.5 weeks post-operatively. Two weeks later it was presented with a ruptured right cornea as a result of trauma and enucleation was recommended.

[The significance of the symmetry of the ridge pattern of the hard palate in dogs]. / Die betekenis van die simmetrie van die hardeverhemelterifpatroon by die hond.

In order to find a parameter that could be used to differentiate between a pedigreed dog and a mongrel the symmetry of the hard palate ridge pattern was examined in 239 pedigreed dogs representing 30 breeds and 334 mongrels. A symmetrical pattern was found in 148 pedigreed dogs and in 15 mongrels. This difference according to the Chi-square test is very highly significant. Thus the symmetry of the pattern is a valuable parameter to be used to distinguish between pedigreed dogs and mongrels.

[Superficial corneal edema]. / Oppervlakkige horingvlies edeem.

A 4-year-old Miniature Pinscher was presented with bilateral cataracts which were surgically successfully removed. Severe bilateral superficial corneal oedema developed within 6 days. A bilateral superficial keratectomy and membrana nictitans flaps cured the disease. It was found that after the lentectomy the owner had used a hypertonic salt solution as an eyewash.

[Short communications on cases of eye, larynx, trachea and skin disease]. / Kort mededelings oor gevalle van die oog, larinks, tragea en vel.

A freefloating iris cyst in a dog, the congenitally attached apex of the epiglottis in a cat, spontaneous healing of Filaroides osleri in a dog and dermoid sinus in a Ridgeback crossbreed are discussed.

The treatment of Filaroides osleri infestation with albendazole.

A dog infested with Filaroides osleri was dosed with albendazole at 9,5 mg/kg every day for 55 days. Clinical signs of disease disappeared after 30 days but a few nodules were still present in the left bronchus 373 days after the onset of treatment. The anthelmintic caused an increase in lymphocyte and decrease in neutrophil count.

Extragenital malignant transmissible venereal tumour in a bitch.

Transmissible venereal tumor was diagnosed in the vagina of a bitch. The tumor spread to the oral mucosa in the tonsilar area of a female offspring which was frequently observed licking the vaginal discharge from the bitch. Metastasis to the ovary occurred in the bitch and wide-spread metastasis, especially to the skin, lymph nodes and spleen was recorded in the offspring. Both animals were euthanased due to poor response to treatment. The diagnoses were confirmed by histopathological examination.

[Gastroscopic photo report of achalasia in the dog]. / Gastroskopiese fotoverslag van achalasiekardia in die hond.

Five dogs with achalasia were examined pre- and post-operatively. Photos were taken of the diseased oesophagus, cardia, cardia with retroversion and the cardia following surgery. The normal structures are also shown.

The life-span of mammals.

Various parameters in the life cycle of mammals were investigated to find a possible correlation between these parameters and the life-span. Twenty-two factors were calculated to determine the true life-span of any mammal. In addition a single formula, by means of which the life-span could be determined, was constructed. The life-spans of certain species, as calculated by means of the formula, are compared with authorative estimates.