Morphological and morphometric measurement of the temporomandibular joint of small and medium-weight dogs with different skull shapes.

Background: The recognition and diagnosis of canine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease can be a challenge, often leaving them undiagnosed. Although computed tomography (CT) has proved to be highly efficacious in detecting joint disease in the TMJ, morphometric and morphological studies of the normal TMJ have been scarce. Especially, skull type specific anatomical differences of the TMJ in dogs of different weights and skull morphologies have received limited attention. Objective: This study aimed to compare the TMJ morphologies of dogs across different weight classes and skull types. Study design: Retrospective study. Methods: CT scans were used to measure the depth and width of the Fossa mandibularis and two angles between the Fossa mandibularis and the Caput mandibulae in a total of 92 dogs and 182 mandibular joints, respectively. Results: The TMJ varied in terms of weight groups and skull indices. Shallow mandibular pits, underdeveloped retroarticular processes, and reduced joint congruency were observed particularly in light-weight and brachycephalic dogs. Conversely, dolichocephalic animals displayed deep joint pits, pronounced joint congruency, and a well-developed Processus retroarticularis. Main limitations: Observer learning curve; not every skull shape was represented in each weight group.

Heat Stress Trends in Regions of Intensive Turkey Production in Germany-A Challenge in Times of Climate Change.

This study analyzed trends of enthalpy and the temperature-humidity index (THI) over a period of 50 years in outer air, which lead to severe heat stress in turkeys. Weather station data from 15 German districts with high densities of turkey production were used to investigate the heat input into the barns. Therefore, the parameters of enthalpy and THI with specified thresholds were used for heat stress assessment. Trends in extreme weather situations where these thresholds were exceeded were analyzed and tested for significance using the Mann-Kendall test. In all districts, the heat load increased between 1973 and 2022 for both parameters. Statistically significant heat stress trends were found in 9 of the 15 districts for enthalpy and 14 out of 15 districts for THI. Thus, the established THI thresholds seem to be more sensitive for the detection of heat stress than the chosen enthalpy values. As heat stress is an important issue and a rising concern in times of climate change, farmers and constructors of farm animal facilities should take this into account in future sustainable work.