Evaluation of ketamine-xylazine in Syrian hamsters.

Few parenteral anesthetics are safe and effective in the Syrian hamster. This study evaluated the anesthetic efficacy and potential for tissue damage of ketamine-xylazine (KX). Two dosage levels were administered intraperitoneally. Ketamine at 50 mg/kg combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine did not produce a consistent, reliable level of immobilization or anesthesia. Ketamine at 150 mg/kg combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine administered IP produced an adequate level of anesthesia without tissue damage for most procedures, but supplementation with lidocaine was necessary for peritoneal incision. Careful positioning of male hamsters for IP injection is imperative to prevent inadvertent injection into the testes with subsequent tissue damage.

Evaluation of Telazol-xylazine as an anesthetic combination for use in Syrian hamsters.

The availability of safe parenteral anesthetics for use in Syrian hamsters is limited. We evaluated the effects of Telazol-xylazine (TZX) combinations with respect to anesthetic efficacy and potential for tissue damage. Two dose levels of the combination were administered by both the intraperitoneal (IP) and intramuscular (IM) routes. TZX by the IM route failed to consistently produce anesthesia and caused gross and histopathologic muscle lesions. IP administration of 20 mg/kg Telazol combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine was adequate for restraint purposes. IP administration of 30 mg/kg Telazol combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine produced a safe, reliable level of surgical anesthesia without evidence of gross or histopathologic lesions. There was no nephrotoxicity at either concentration of the anesthetic. A dose level of TZX that provides safe parenteral anesthesia in Syrian hamsters was determined.

Influence of parental serum immunoglobulins on morbidity and mortality of beagles and their offspring.

Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations were determined for Beagle sires and dams of 717 matings to assess the relationship of parental immunoglobulins with the morbidity and mortality of their pups. A significant relationship was not found between parental immunoglobulins and pup mortality. Pups born to dams with low serum IgA (P less than 0.001) and IgM (P less than 0.02) concentrations, however, were found to have an increased incidence of sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, and conjunctivitis. Thirty-eight percent of pups born to dams with IgA less than or equal to 40 mg/dl developed these same conditions during the first 18 weeks of life, compared with 32% of pups of dams with IgA of 41 to 65 mg/dl and 27% of pups of dams with IgA greater than 65 mg/dl. Similarly, 41% of pups born to dams with low IgM (less than or equal to 135 mg/dl) developed abnormal respiratory tract signs, compared with 34% and 30% of pups born to dams with medium (136 to 175 mg/dl) and high (greater than 175 mg/dl) IgM, respectively. Serum IgA concentrations of the sires were also associated with abnormal respiratory tract signs in pups, but this influence was evident only at 10 to 18 weeks of age. To determine biologic variability of serum IgA, 60 Beagle dams were selected from 3 serum IgA categories, low (10 to 21 mg/dl), medium (60 to 80 mg/dl), and high (125 to 210 mg/dl). A second serum IgA was determined from a sample taken 2 years later.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of a combination of tiletamine and zolazepam as an anesthetic for ferrets.

A combination of equal parts by weight of tiletamine hyrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride was evaluated clinically in 12 adult male ferrets. Two dosage levels of 12 mg/kg and 22 mg/kg were evaluated. Both doses produced excellent immobilization, the length of which was dose dependent. However, only the higher dose consistently produced good muscle relaxation. Excessive pain upon infection was not noted nor was residual lameness evident. Electrocardiagraphically, notching of the QRS complex was noted at both doses. Anesthesia with poor analgesia occurred at the lower dose, while ferrets receiving the higher dose showed more variability in the degree of analgesia. It was concluded that this combination administered intramuscularly provided excellent immobilization, variable muscle relaxation and a generally smooth induction and recovery. At the higher dose, analgesia was adequate for minor surgical procedures of short duration.

Survey of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations in a large beagle population in which IgA deficiency had been identified.

Concentrations of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined for 829 adult Beagles from a commercial kennel in which several IgA-deficient dogs had been identified previously (index kennel). These values were compared with measurements of 100 adult dogs from another Beagle kennel (control kennel). After adjustment for differences in the ages and gender of the dogs, dogs from the index kennel had significantly (P less than 0.0001) lower IgA concentrations (mean, 46 mg/dl) than dogs from the control kennel (mean, 68 mg/dl). Regardless of kennel, males had significantly (P less than 0.01) higher IgA concentrations than did females. Dogs in the control kennel had significantly (P less than 0.04) higher IgG concentrations (mean, 2,649 mg/dl) than did dogs in the index kennel (mean, 2,478 mg/dl), and female dogs in the control kennel had significantly (P less than 0.05) higher IgM concentrations (mean, 189 mg/dl) than dogs of either sex in the index kennel (mean, 162 mg/dl) or male dogs in the control kennel (mean, 163 mg/dl). For both sexes, concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM increased with age.

Fecal occult blood tests in cattle.

Three methods for fecal occult blood detection were evaluated in mature cows. Bovine blood (heparinized) was infused directly into the abomasum of mature nonlactating rumen-fistulated cows. After administration of the blood, feces from the cows were periodically collected, tested, stored, and retested. Sensitivity for two of the three methods was optimal at 2 days of storage, regardless of temperature at storage. A dilute alcoholic solution of guaiac was the most sensitive and reproducible method. In vitro tests demonstrated that guaiac solution could detect a quantity of blood comparable with a daily blood loss of 69 to 75 ml. In addition, the minimal transit time of blood from abomasum to rectum was measured and ranged from 7 to 19 hours.