PURPOSE:To determine the analgesic, motor, sedation and systemic effects of lumbosacral epidural magnesium sulphate added to ketamine in the sheep. METHODS: Six healthy adult male mixed-breed sheep; weighing 43 ± 5 kg and aged 20-36 months. Each sheep underwent three treatments, at least 2 weeks apart, via epidural injection: (1) ketamine (KE; 2.5 mg/kg), (2) magnesium sulphate (MG; 100 mg), and (3) KE + MG (KEMG; 2.5 mg/kg + 100 mg, respectively). Epidural injections were administered through the lumbosacral space. Analgesia, motor block, sedation, cardiovascular effects, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and rectal temperature were evaluated before (baseline) and after drug administration as needed. RESULTS:The duration of analgesia with the lumbosacral epidural KEMG combination was 115 ± 17 min (mean ± SD), that is, more than twice that obtained with KE (41 ± 7 min) or MG (29 ± 5 min) alone. KE and KEMG used in this experiment induced severe ataxia. The heart rate and arterial blood pressures changes were no statistical difference in these clinically health sheep. CONCLUSION: The dose of magnesium sulphate to lumbosacral epidural ketamine in sheep is feasible, and can be used in procedures analgesics in sheep. Key words: Ketamine. Analgesia, Epidural. Magnesium Sulfate. Sheep. RESUMO OBJETIVO:Determinar os efeitos analgésicos, motores, sedativos e sistêmicos da adição de sulfato de magnésio na analgesia epidural com quetamina em carneiros. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados seis carneiros machos sadios, pesando 43 ± 5 kg, com idade entre 20 a 36 meses. Cada animal recebeu três tratamentos, com duas semanas entre experimentos via administração epidural: (1) quetamina (KE; 2,5 mg/kg), (2) sulfato de magnésio (MG; 100 mg) e (3) KE + MG (KEMG; 2,5 mg/kg + 100 mg, respectivamente). As administrações epidurais foram administradas no espaço lombosacral. Analgesia, bloqueio motor, sedação, efeitos cardiovasculares, freqüência respiratória, temperatura retal e de pele foram avaliados antes (basal) e depois da administração dos fármacos até o fim da analgesia. RESULTADOS: A duração da analgesia com o tratamento KEMG foi 115 ± 17 min (média ± DP), duas vezes superior ao obtido com o tratamento KE (41 ± 7 min) ou tratamento MG (29 ± 5 min) isolados. Os tratamentos KE e KEMG induziram bloqueio motor severo. As pressões arteriais e freqüência cardíaca não foram estatisticamente significantes nestes animais. CONCLUSÃO: A adição de sulfato de magnésio a analgesia epidural com quetamina é viável, e pode ser usado para prolongar os efeitos analgésicos destes bloqueios em carneiros. Descritores: Quetamina. Analgesia Epidural. Sulfato de Magnésio. Ovinos.DeRossi R et al.

PURPOSE:To measure the change in the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (EtISO) associated with epidural nalbuphine and the postoperative analgesic requirements in dogs after ovariohysterectomy. METHODS:Twenty four healthy female dogs were randomly assigned to receive saline or nalbuphine at 0.3 or 0.6 mg/kg (n=8 for each group) administered via lumbosacral epidural catheter introduced cranially into the epidural canal. Changes in heart and respiratory rates and arterial blood pressure during surgery were recorded along with the corresponding EtISO. Immediately after tracheal extubation, analgesia, sedation, heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood pressure were measured at predetermined intervals and every 60 min thereafter until the first rescue analgesic. RESULTS:A significant decrease in EtISO was associated with epidural nalbuphine at 0.3 mg/kg (26.3%) and 0.6 mg/kg (38.4%) but not with saline in ovariohysterectomized dogs. In the postoperative period, VAS and Colorado analgesic scores were lower for the dogs that received the higher nalbuphine dose, which only required supplemental analgesia 10 h following its administration, compared with dogs that received the lower dose. CONCLUSION:Epidural nalbuphine significantly reduces the intra-operative isoflurane requirement and provides prolonged postoperative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy in dogs.

PURPOSE:To compare two different experimental models of osteoarthritis in rabbits: intra-articular collagenase injection and anterior cruciate ligament transection. METHODS:Ten adult rabbits were randomly divided in two groups: COLL (collagenase group) and ACLT (anterior cruciate ligament transection). The COLL group was treated with 0.5 ml collagenase solution (2mg collagenase/0.5 ml sterile PBS), and the ACTL group was subjected to anterior cruciate ligament. After six and twelve weeks, respectively, the animals in the COLL and ACTL groups were euthanized. The gross appearance and histological examinations conducted in the cartilage articular surface was blindly scored according to the criteria developed by Yoshimi et al. (1994) and Mankin et al. (1971), respectively. RESULTS:The gross morphologic observation, macroscopic score and histological examinations have demonstrated that the ACTL group presented the highest scores, and lesions more severe than those in the COLL group. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods, anterior cruciate ligament transection and collagenase, applied to the stifle joint of the rabbits have effectively induced degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue, through statistically significant analysis (p≤0.05). The ACTL method has presented more severe lesions.

A osteopatia hipertrófica é uma doença incomum que tem sido descrita em cães freqüentemente em associação a processos neoplásicos pulmonares primários ou metastáticos. Uma cadela sem raça definida com dez anos de idade foi atendida no hospital veterinário por apresentar prostração, dificuldade de locomoção, aumento de volume edematoso em todos os membros. O exame radiográfico revelou aumento de volume de tecidos moles e reação periosteal de aspecto paliçada no rádio, ulna, metacarpos. Também foi detectada massa tumoral difusa em parênquima pulmonar. O diagnóstico final foi de osteopatia hipertrófica associada à metástase pulmonar de adenocarcinoma.

As luxações coxofemorais traumáticas são lesões ortopédicas comumente observadas na rotina da clínica cirúrgica em animais de companhia como cães e gatos. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar um caso clínico da técnica cirúrgica sutura ílio-femoral com fio poliglecaprone para estabilização de luxação coxofemoral traumática em cão. Um cão, sem raça definida, apresentando três anos de idade, com peso corporal de 8,90 kg, foi levado ao Hospital Veterinário da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, apresentando como queixa principal, atropelamento ocorrido há dez dias e desde então sem apoio do membro pélvico esquerdo. Durante a avaliação inicial, constatou-se que o animal apresentava impotência funcional do membro citado. Como exame complementar foi solicitada radiografia ventro-dorsal e latero-lateral da região de pelve. Diagnosticada a luxação coxofemoral com deslocamento crânio-dorsal do fêmur, foi instituído o tratamento cirúrgico pela técnica de sutura íliofemoral. A utilização da técnica de sutura ílio-femoral com fio absorvível foi eficiente no tratamento da luxação coxofemoral craniodorsal no paciente do presente relato, tendo retorno da funcionalidade do membro e regressão dos sinais clínicos.

Highlights:Cutaneous asthenia (CA), in dogs, is caused by autosomal dominant inheritance. This report describes a clinical case of canine CA of hereditary recessive origin. Autosomal recessive inheritance must be considered for CA in dogs. Healthy parents can generate dogs with CA.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether the volume or concentration of local anesthetic influences its spread and quality of lumbosacral epidural blockade when the total drug dose is fixed.Methods: A total of 30 healthy bitches, undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy received a lumbosacral epidural block with a fixed dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w. bupivacaine after general anesthesia induction with propofol. Treatment 1 group (low volume, high concentration [LVHC], n=15) received 0.2 mL/kg b.w. of 0.25% bupivacaine, whereas treatment 2 group (high volume, low concentration [HVLC], n=15) received 0.3 ml/kg b.w. of 0.167% bupivacaine. Both solutions contained radio-opaque dye. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, cranial spread, first analgesic rescue, and motor blockade were determined at predetermined intervals.Results: At 5 min, the dorsal cranial spread levels of bupivacaine confirmed by radiographic examination were T8 (T1–T10) for HVLC treatment and T8 (T6–T10) for LVHC treatment (p=0.957). However, there was a significant difference (p=0.029) in the ventral spread levels between HVLC treatment (T2; C7-T6) and LVHC treatment (T6; T5–T11). The first analgesic rescue was needed after 249±58 min in the LVHC treatment group and after 179±32 min in the HVLC treatment group (p=0.0005).Conclusion: It was concluded, if the total dose is fixed, then administration of an HVLC bupivacaine local anesthetic solution in the lumbosacral epidural space seems to produce effective post-operative analgesia for ovariohysterectomy surgery in bitches.

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