Measurement of tear secretion in healthy pigeons by using the phenol red thread test.

The objectives of this study were to determine the applicability of the phenol red thread (PRT) test as a new method for the evaluation of tear secretion in healthy male and female pigeons, to establish normal physiologic reference values in these animals, and to compare seasonal variations in these values. Seventy-five pigeons of both sexes, with no ocular abnormalities, were included in the study. The phenol red impregnated thread was inserted into the recessus conjunctiva inferior for measuring tear secretion. After 15 seconds, the thread was removed and the wet portion of the thread was measured (in mm). The mean±sd PRT values were 23.02±2.98 mm/15 seconds and 24.04±2.60 mm/15 seconds for the April and June measurements, respectively. There were significant differences in the PRT between the two months, with a significant increase in June. Mean PRT values for males and females were, respectively, 23.30±3.35 and 22.79±2.65 mm/15 seconds in April, and 24.57±2.41 and 23.61±2.68 mm/15 seconds in June. There was no significant correlation (r=0.075, P>0.05) between bodyweight and tear production in both eyes of the male and female birds in April and June. The results indicated that seasonal variations have an effect on tear production. The PRT was a viable method for the measurement of tear production in pigeons and these measurements could be accepted as reference values for healthy pigeons.

Comparison of ropivacaine with a combination of ropivacaine and fentanyl for the caudal epidural anaesthesia of mares.

Two groups of six mares aged from eight to 18 years were anaesthetised by caudal epidural injections of ropivacaine (0.5 per cent, 0.1 mg/kg) or a combination of ripovacaine (0.08 mg/kg) and fentanyl (100 microg) in a randomised study. The onset of anaesthesia was significantly more rapid (P<0.001) and it lasted significantly longer (P<0.001) in the group anaesthetised with the combination of drugs. The surgical comfort scores of the group anaesthetised with the combination were higher than those of the group anaesthetised with ropivacaine alone (P<0.001), and the quality of intraoperative analgesia, as assessed by the surgeon, was significantly improved. There were no differences between the groups in their average scores for the levels of ataxia and sedation, in their behaviour, or in the incidence of side effects.

[B-mode and color Doppler sonography of kidneys in healthy lambs and lambs with urolithiasis]. / B-Mode- und Farbdoppler-Sonographie der Nieren bei gesunden und bei an Urolithiasis leidenden Lämmern.

The objectives of this study were to determine some morphological characteristics of kidneys and resistive index (RI) changes in renal interlobar artery using B-Mode and color coded doppler sonography in lambs with urolithiasis. The study was performed in 14 male lambs (8 patients, 6 healthy) aged between 2-2.5 months in the same herd. The kidneys had a mean length of 55.6 +/- 1.6 mm, a width of 31.8 +/- 1.2 mm and a parenchymal width of 10.6 +/- 0.6 mm in healthy lambs. These values were 95.4 +/- 3.6., 52.4 +/- 1.3 and 8.75 +/- 0.5 mm, respectively in lambs with urolithiasis. These differences between both groups were significant. Furthermore, the mean resistive index values in lambs with urolithiasis (0.81 +/- 0.017 m/sn) were significantly higher than controls (0.62 +/- 0.013 m/sn). It was concluded that B-Mode and color coded doppler sonography might provide useful information for detection of changes in kidneys of lambs with urolithiasis like hydronephrosis and renal swelling as well as elevated resistance in the renal interlobar artery.