A technique using two interbody washers and a transvertebral screw was utilised to distract the cervical vertebrae and so decompress the spinal cord in 17 dobermann pinschers and three great danes with cervical spondylopathy. Neurological dysfunction was graded (1 to 5) according to the degree of hindlimb ataxia. Myelography showed evidence of spinal cord compression at C6‐7 in all dogs and at C5‐6 in six dogs. Twenty‐three compressive lesions were reduced when traction was applied to the cervical spine. Seventeen dogs improved following surgery and of these 10 improved by two or more grades. Follow‐up radiographic studies indicated resorption of end‐plate bone and eventual fusion of the vertebral bodies. Displacement of the screw into the vertebral canal, remodelling of the vertebral canal, fracture of C6 ventral spinous process and breakage of the screw were implant associated complications. The distraction‐fusion technique with modifications appears to be an effective procedure for the management of cervical spondylopathy in dogs in which the compressive lesion is soft tissue in nature.

Osteochondrosis is a failure of the normal process of endochondral ossification. In the elbow joint there are three manifestations of osteochondrosis, namely osteochondritis dissecans of the medial condyle of the humerus, ununited coronoid process and ununited anconeal process. This paper describes a series of sixty‐eight cases diagnosed at a referral centre over a 10‐year period. Ununited coronoid process and OCD of the medial condyle are not readily diagnosed because the lesions are difficult to demonstrate radiographically, but signs of degenerative joint disease of the elbow in young dogs of the medium to large breeds is strongly suggestive. Surgical treatment is indicated and the surgical approach to the medial aspect of the joint is described.

Summary A report of 13 unselected clinical cases of colic in horses which were submitted to laparotomy is presented, together with one case of experimental end‐to‐side anastomosis of the ileum into the caecum. Cases are divided into acute or peracute with diverse aetiology, and subacute or chronic where all the lesions involved the small intestine. The technique of anaesthesia and surgical procedures is described and emphasis is placed on the necessity of adequate fluid therapy in such cases.

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