IntroductionIntestinal obstruction such as atresia coli causes pathophysiological changes in gastrointestinal tissue due to the rise of intra-abdominal pressure. The aim of this study is to determine the intestinal damage with intestinal biomarkers in calves with atresia coli.Material and MethodsThe study was conducted on 40 Holstein calves diagnosed with atresia coli with mild to moderate abdominal distention and 10 healthy Holstein calves which served as the control. Blood samples were collected from all calves, and then serum concentrations of intestinal biomarkers were estimated, namely intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP), liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), using commercially available specific bovine ELISA kits. An automatic blood gas analyser was employed for determining the lactate concentration.ResultsThe concentrations of serum LFABP (P < 0.01), IFABP, TFF3, IAP, and blood lactate (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in calves with atresia coli than in healthy calves.ConclusionThe calves affected with atresia coli exhibited severe intestinal damage, and IFABP, LFABP, and TFF3 have significant diagnostic importance and play a useful role in determining the intestinal damage due to intestinal obstruction. High levels of IAP and lactate may serve as a signal for the development of intestinal injury.

Intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma offers a promising potential for treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. Twenty dogs weighing 25 to 50 kg (mean 38 kg) with unilateral stifle osteoarthritis were used for the study. Fourteen dogs were given intra-articular platelet rich plasma treatment and 6 dogs were used as controls. Double centrifuge method was used to obtain platelet-rich plasma. Radiography and ultrasonography of the affected joint were carried out and scores for lameness severity and pain severity were assigned by the attending clinicians. Synovial fluid was collected under sterile conditions at pre-treatment and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 15thdays, and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. Gelatin zymography and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay were used to determine the synovial fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). No adverse effects associated with the injection of the platelet concentrate or saline were observed. Hudson Visual Analog Scale and Canine Brief Pain Inventory scores for all components were non-significantly different between weeks 0, 4, 12 for control dogs. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 was totally and MMP-2 was partially inhibited in the platelet-rich plasma group. In the control group, MMP-9 was partially inhibited during the first month and activation started later. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 was constant in control samples throughout the experimental period. Platelet-rich plasma is a safe and effective method for treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis, possibly more useful for early cases with mild and moderate osteoarthritis. It is suggested that plasma rich platelet should be injected several times at regular intervals instead of a single application.

The objective of this study intended the application of the current technique of modified tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)-rapid method in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCL) and reports on the clinical outcome and complications. The study material consisted of 17 male dogs of different breeds between the ages of 2-8 years, average weight of 32 kg with a diagnosed unilateral CCL rupture. Hudson Visual Analog Scale (HVAS)-Walking Test Rating, Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CPBI)-Pain Rating) were examined, and rupture of the CCL was diagnosed based on direct radiographic examination. The pre-operative evaluation of the implant to be used in TTA-Rapid technique was determined by measuring radiographic images of the CCL in dogs. Post-operative evaluation in the 1st, 2nd, and at 3 month was performed by radiographic examination, gait and pain tests. Major complications were recorded in 17.6% of the cases. Fourteen (82.4%) dogs had a good to excellent outcome 3 months after surgery. Lameness and pain assessment were performed up to 15 days prior to the operation and 1, 2, and 3 months after the TTA-Rapid technique procedure. It can be concluded that TTA-Rapid technique procedure is a fast, easy to learn and non-invasive treatment of CrCL ruptures in dogs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the intra-articular use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and bio-physically activated PRP (BPRP) on the inflammatory mediators for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. The animals included in this study were 36 mix breed dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the stifle as a result of the clinical and radiological examinations. The dogs were randomly divided into three groups: PRP (platelet-rich plasma), BPRP (biophysically activated platelet-rich plasma) and control (given 0.9% isotonic saline). These three main groups were each further divided into two groups as single and double according to the number of intraarticular administrations. Joint fluid analyses, a clinical examination (Hudson Visual Analog Scale and Canine Brief Pain Inventory Tests) radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations were performed on days 1, 15, 30, 60, and 90 for each group. Genesis System 2 branded and BPRP preparation kits were used in this study. An ELISA method was used to measure the cytokines in charge of the inflammatory mediation (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) in the synovial fluid samples. The records obtained from the walking and pain rating tests were subjected to a statistical analysis program and a Mann-Whitney U test was performed. The results of the ELISA were evaluated by a Tukey test. There was a significant difference between the single and double groups of the PRP administration on days 60 and 90 (P &lt; 0.05) in the walking and pain scores. The double groups of the PRP had better results than the single groups. There was a significant difference between the single groups of the PRP and BPRP for the IL-10 on the 30^th day (P &lt; 0.05). In the single application groups, the BPRP was better than the PRP on day 30 in the IL-10 measurements. In the comparison of the single and double administration groups, there was significant difference between the single and double groups of the BPRP on day 90 (P &lt; 0.05). The double groups of the BPRP had better results than the single groups. In addition, the biophysically activated PRP was found to be superior to the PRP for the IL-10 content. In conclusion, the efficacy of the PRP and BPRP was related to the degree of the osteoarthritis (OA). Especially the success rate in the acute OA patients was higher due to the anti-inflammatory activity of the BPRP. Moreover, the double administration groups gave more positive results than the single administration groups.

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of endoscopy jointly with gastropexy in dogs as a potential mean to aid prevention and evaluation of the long-term effi ciency of this procedure for gastric dilatation-volvulus.The study was performed on ten healthy adult medium-and large-breed dogs. The dogs had no abnormal fi nding upon physical examination and each underwent an endoscopically assisted gastropexy procedure. After surgery all dogs were in good condition. The surgical procedure was followed by x-ray and ultrasonographic examinations. The records included data for gastropexy anatomic location and length, duration of the surgical procedure and complications.The mean ± SD gastropexy length was 3.0 ± 0.25 cm, as determined by ultrasonography, and the mean duration of the surgical procedure was 20 ± 5 minutes.It appears that endoscopically assisted gastropexy is a simple, fast, safe, and reliable method of performing a prophylactic gastropexy in dogs. This procedure maximizes the benefi ts of decreased morbidity and shorter duration of anaesthesia associated with minimally invasive surgery.