Objective To determine the influence of plate fixation (locking or dynamic compression) and the site of application (ventral [V] or ventrolateral [VL]) on the resistance to bending of transverse mandibular fractures. Study design Ex vivo, simple randomized study. Sample population Mandibles harvested from adult equine cadavers (n = 18). Methods Bilateral osteotomies were created 1 cm caudal to the mental foramen and perpendicular to the long axis of each mandible. Mandibles were fixed with 1 of 3 methods: (1) VL dynamic compression plate (DCP), (2) V‐DCP, or (3) VL locking compression plating (LCP). Constructs were mounted on a custom testing jig and tested for resistance in bending by applying force to the rostral aspect of the mandible. Stiffness and change of distance of the dorsal osteotomy at 200 N were compared among constructs. Results VL‐LCP constructs were 5.25 and 2.42 times stiffer than V and VL constructs, respectively (P<.001). Change in the width of the osteotomy gap at 200 N of load was reduced 6.04 times when osteotomies were stabilized with VL compared to V (P<.001); no difference was detected between the VL and VL‐LCP constructs (P=.836). Conclusion Ventrolateral LCP fixation of equine transverse mandibular osteotomies provided greater resistance to bending compared with V and VL constructs. Clinical significance These results provide evidence to recommend fixation of transverse interdental mandibular fractures with VL‐LCP rather than with DCP in horses.

Objective To assess the effect of a high fat meal (fat loading) on gastrointestinal motility and the appearance of intestinal villi using video capsule endoscopy and ultrasound. Materials and Methods Four healthy staff‐owned dogs were included in a prospective blinded crossover study. Dogs had initial baseline video capsule endoscopy to measure gastrointestinal transit times and allow for visual assessment of intestinal mucosa. Abdominal ultrasound was also performed to obtain intestinal wall measurements and assess for the presence of mucosal hyperechoic speckling. All dogs had diagnostics repeated twice between one and two hours after ingestion of either corn oil or dairy cream for a total of four control and 16 fat loaded studies. Results Dogs in the corn oil group had greater mean gastric emptying times (740.3 ± 187.6 minutes vs. 237.9 ± 155 minutes) and total transit times (54.50 ± 22.2 hours vs. 23.25 ± 6.1 hours) than controls. Feeding of a fatty meal resulted in substantial retention of the capsules (10 of 16) within the stomach. While intestinal wall thickness of fat loaded dogs did not differ from control dogs, mucosal hyperechoic speckling scores of the duodenum of dairy cream dogs were greater when compared to control dogs (1.625 ± 0.518 vs. 0.500 ± 0.577). Clinical Significance Data from this pilot study provides further evidence that feeding of a small high fat meal results in ultrasonographic as well as visual changes to the intestinal mucosa of healthy dogs. This data suggests that previous recommendations to feed fatty meals to dogs with lymphangiectasia might not allow differentiation with healthy individuals. In addition, due to the marked effect on gastric emptying time, video capsule endoscopy should be avoided in dogs fed a high fat meal.