Gastroesophageal intussusception in a Labrador retriever.

A 14-month-old, intact male Labrador retriever was referred for evaluation of vomiting and regurgitation. A diagnosis of gastroesophageal intussusception with aspiration pneumonia was made. The patient responded favorably to aggressive surgical and medical management. The guarded to poor prognosis for gastroesophageal intussusception makes the successful outcome of this case unique.

Hyperkalemia associated with potassium chloride administration in a cat.

Addition of appropriate amounts of potassium chloride solution to fluid administered i.v. resulted in hyperkalemia in a cat. To evaluate whether incomplete mixing of potassium chloride in the fluid might have resulted in the observed hyperkalemia, 40 mEq (20 ml) of potassium chloride solution was injected into each of three 1-L vinyl bags of 5% dextrose in water, with or without attempting to mix the additive with the fluid in the bag. Measurement of potassium concentrations in the bags revealed that injecting potassium chloride solution into a bag of fluid while that fluid is being administered can result in incomplete mixing and discharge of concentrated potassium chloride from the administration set. The greatest potassium concentration measured in fluid sampled from the administration set was 194 mEq/L.

Use of bone marrow serum for biochemical analysis in healthy cats.

Bone marrow blood and venous blood were collected from 21 healthy cats for analysis of 13 serum biochemical variables. The relationship between values in venous serum and bone marrow serum for each variable was evaluated, using a linear regression F test. A P value < or = 0.05 was considered significant evidence that measurements in venous and marrow serum were correlated for that biochemical variable. Biochemical variables for which values were significantly correlated included urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, sodium, chloride, and phosphorus concentrations. In all cats, activities for alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in bone marrow serum exceeded the activities in venous serum. Potassium and phosphorus concentrations were greater in bone marrow serum than in venous serum in 20 cats. Glucose concentrations in bone marrow serum from 19 cats were lower than those in venous serum. Correlation between calcium concentrations in venous and bone marrow serum was not found.

Experimentally induced renal failure in the dog as an animal model of uremic bleeding.

Experimental canine renal failure was studied as a potential animal model for human uremic bleeding. Renal failure accompanied by hemostatic alterations was induced in eight dogs by means of two surgical techniques of renal mass reduction. The hemostatic deficits consisted of immediate and marked reduction of the platelet glass bead retention (PR) to less than 10% of normal and gradual prolongation of the buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) to approximately four times the normal value. Platelet count, volume, aggregation responses, and coagulation were normal. A packed cell volume (PCV) of less than 30% was observed in three dogs. Elevation of the PCV normalized the BMBT in two dogs, but because the PR was unchanged and the BMBT effect was temporary, anemia was not considered the primary cause of the prolonged bleeding time. There was a significant, positive correlation between BMBT and BUN, suggesting that the altered hemostasis may be related to the accumulation of urea or other uremic toxins of protein origin. The finding of a defect in PR and BMBT--tests that require normal platelet adhesion and aggregation--in azotemic dogs were platelet numbers and aggregation are normal indirectly implicates platelet adhesion as the primary hemostatic defect.

Suspected ciliary dysfunction in Chinese Shar Pei pups with pneumonia.

Chronic pneumonia was investigated in a litter of young Chinese Shar Pei in which 4 of 6 dogs were affected. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgA, IgG, IgM) determined by radial immunodiffusion varied over time, but were not consistently lower in affected dogs, compared with control dogs. Two dogs that died had hydrocephalus and lymphoid depletion, in addition to severe broncho-pneumonia. Evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure in 2 affected dogs revealed random orientation of adjacent respiratory tract or oviductal cilia and a greater number of microtubular disarrangements, compared with control dogs. In vivo tracheal mucociliary clearance of 99mtechnetium macroaggregated albumin was absent in 1 dog examined. The ciliary abnormalities were suspected to have resulted in an inefficient mucociliary transport system predisposing to the development of pneumonia. Further evaluation of 1 Chinese Shar Pei revealed lymphocyte mitogenesis results that were not consistently less than those of a control dog, normal total hemolytic complement values, and normal blood neutrophil chemotaxis.

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata in a cat.

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata was diagnosed in a 6-year-old cat. A lesion in the nose resulted in enlargement of the dorsum of the nose. Similar appearing lesions had been removed from the dorsum of the nose 1 and 4 years earlier. The lesion recurred 3 months after surgical excision and irregular administration of ketoconazole. A second cytoreductive operation followed by 5 months' treatment with ketoconazole resolved the infection. Nasal trauma occurring at 8 months and at 5 years before initial examination may have predisposed the cat to development of the Alternaria infection.

Evaluation of hepatic and renal function in cats with chediak-higashi syndrome.

Cats with the Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) have partial oculocutaneous albinism, a bleeding tendency, and enlarged cytoplasmic granules in many cell types including those in the liver and kidney. Hepatic and renal function was evaluated in six CHS and six age-matched control cats to determine if the functions of these organs were compromised by the CHS trait. Serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were determined to assess the status of the liver. Sulfobromophthalein retention tests were also performed. Renal function was evaluated by determination of (14)C-inulin clearance; blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine concentrations; 24-hour protein/creatinine ratios, percent clearance ratios of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and chloride; and urinalysis values. The CHS cats were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the control cats in any of the above tests. Use of a non-parametric statistical test did reveal a mild difference (P = 0.047) in 24-hour protein excretion between CHS and control cats. Complete blood counts were performed, and the packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentrations were significantly lower (P< 0.05) in the CHS cats than in the control cats.

Host response to vaccination.

The desired response to vaccination is protection from clinical disease. This article presents several factors, related to both the host and the vaccine, which may result in inadequate protection from clinical disease following vaccination. Also presented is an overview of adverse reactions to vaccines and the response of young animals and pregnant animals to vaccination.

Vaccines and principles of immunization.

This article discusses the production of the various classes of vaccines and compares the advantages and disadvantages of each. Adjuvants, combination vaccines, heterologous viral vaccines, and vaccination failure are discussed briefly. Reported adverse reactions to vaccination are described at length. Essential vaccination for several exotic species is given.

Dialytic support of dogs with clinically occurring renal failure: a realistic model of acute renal failure in man.

In canine veterinary medicine, both acute and chronic renal failure occur relatively frequently, from a variety of causes similar to those in man. However, the normal dog has a very high protein catabolic rate and high endogenous kidney function, and, therefore, requires frequent and highly efficient dialysis, for maintenance during renal failure. We have developed techniques to support the uremic dog with hemodialysis. An experimentally anephric dog, and two dogs with clinically occurring acute renal failure (caused by ethylene glycol intoxication and heat stroke) have been supported with frequent use of hollow fiber dialyzers, using a carotid artery to jugular vein shunt. Patency of shunts was maintained by administration of oral aspirin. A very high urea and creatinine generation rate necessitated daily dialysis during much of the clinical course of renal failure. The experimentally anuric animal was supported for 35 days. The ethylene glycol-induced renal failure animal was euthanized on the 21st day, and the heat stress-induced renal failure animal recovered sufficient intrinsic renal function after 16 days of dialysis for maintenance of life without dialysis.