Search

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of four different drugs used for anaesthesia premedication on intraocular pressure and pupil size in dogs. A prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical study was carried out. The subjects were forty client-owned healthy dogs (20 males and 20 females), aged 8.0 ± 2.9 years, with body weights of 11.8 ± 8.5 kg (mean ± SD) and without ocular abnormalities that were scheduled for periodontal treatment. Animals were randomly allocated into four groups and received intravenously either medetomidine 0.01 mg/ kg, acepromazine 0.02 mg/kg, fentanyl 0.01 mg/kg or butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg. Intraocular pressure, pupil size, heart rate, respiratory frequency and systolic and diastolic arterial pressures were measured prior to (baseline) and at five and 10 minutes after premedication (T5, T10). Data were analysed by Anderson-Darling, Bartlett's, ANOVA and Dunnett's tests (P < 0.05). Significant increases of intraocular pressure were observed at T5 and T10 in the fentanyl group. Significant decreases of pupil size at T5 and T10 were detected in the fentanyl, butorphanol and medetomidine groups. In the fentanyl group, heart rate dropped significantly at T10, while respiratory frequency was elevated at T5 and T10. In the medetomidine group, heart rate and respiratory frequency were decreased at T5 and T10. In the butorphanol group, systolic arterial pressure was decreased at T5 and diastolic arterial pressure was decreased at T5 and T10. In the acepromazine group, systolic arterial pressure was decreased at T10. Within ten minutes after intravenous administration in healthy dogs, fentanyl significantly increased intraocular pressure and fentanyl, butorphanol and medetomidine decreased pupil size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of dental calculus deposits is one of the basic parts of professional dental cleaning. Despite the popularity of power-driven scalers, several risks are associated with their use, mechanical damage of the enamel surface being one of the most important. The present study evaluated enamel damage caused by a sonic scaler in different work patterns to quantify the damage and allow a clear comparison. Seventy-five canine teeth were carefully extracted from twenty-three dogs. The scaler was used on a clean surface with several combinations of time (five to twenty seconds) and parts of the scaler (point vs. side of the tip). Subsequently, damaged surface topography was mapped using three-dimensional optical microscopy. The results revealed a high variance in defect depth which was influenced by both factors. Statistical assessment confirmed highly significant (P < 0.001) or at least significant (P < 0.05) differences in data acquired for each group. As expected, the shallowest defects were produced by the scaler side in the shortest experimental period (five seconds). Point use proved to be quite damaging, as it resulted in approximately four times higher median values than the side in the same timeframe. Therefore, it is crucial to follow all safety precautions when handling a power-driven scaler even during routine treatments. Use of the side of the tip and constant movement on the tooth surface are essential to reduce the risk of enamel damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analgesic effects of carprofen, morphine and bupivacaine on early oral pain after periodontal treatment in dogs have been poorly investigated. Forty-five client-owned dogs (8.5 ± 6.4 kg and 7.8 ± 3.2 years) scheduled for periodontal treatment were allocated to carprofen, morphine and bupivacaine groups (n = 15 each). The study was designed as a prospective, randomised, double "blinded" clinical study. Carprofen (CAR, 4 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or morphine (MOR, 0.3 mg/kg, intramuscularly) was given thirty minutes before the dogs were placed under anesthesia. Bilateral maxillary and mandibular nerve blocks were performed with bupivacaine (BUP, 1 mg/kg), after the induction of anesthesia. Dogs were anaesthetised with medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane and reversal was carried out using atipamezole. Periodontal painful sub-gingival scaling was performed in all dogs. Periodontal treatment lasted for up to one hour. A modified University of Melbourne Pain Score (UMPS, 0-28 points), Visual Analog pain Scale (VAS, 0-100 mm), plasma glucose (Glu) and serum cortisol (Cor) levels were assessed before administration of analgesics (MOR-0, CAR-0, BUP-0) and two hours thereafter, that is thirty minutes after atipamezole administration (MOR-2, CAR-2, BUP-2). Analgesia rescue with tramadol (2 mg/kg intramuscularly) was provided for animals with modified UMPS over 14 or VAS over 50 points. Differences in Glu and Cor values were analysed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, in UMPS and VAS over time for each group with the Friedman test and pre- and postoperatively using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Analgesia rescue was provided to one patient of the CAR group and one patient of the MOR group. No differences in UMPS values between groups were detected. A significant increase in VAS values after treatment was detected in all groups. Plasma glucose levels significantly increased in MOR-2 compared to MOR-0 and CAR-2. Serum cortisol levels significantly increased in MOR-2 compared to MOR-0, CAR-2 and BUP-2. The results of this study indicate that bupivacaine nerve blocks could be superior to carprofen, which in turn could be superior to morphine, for early analgesia (up to two hours) following sub-gingival scaling for periodontal treatment in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Palliative surgery for advanced-stage prostatic cancers was tested with regard to survival rate and complications in a prospective randomised clinical study of dogs. Currently, therapeutic approaches have a grave long-term prognosis in clinically significant prostatic cancer. Methods: Of 167 dogs with prostatic disorders, 24 were diagnosed with prostatic cancer. Eleven dogs underwent subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy, while in 10 dogs total prostatectomy was performed. The remaining three dogs were euthanased at their owner’s request. Dogs treated by subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy and those treated by total prostatectomy were followed until their death. Results: It was found that dogs treated by subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy survived 5·63 times longer (mean [sd] 112·0 [63·03] days) than those treated by total prostatectomy (19·9 [10·67] days) (P<0·01). Moreover, a significant decrease in postoperative complications after subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy was recorded, especially with regard to urinary incontinence. Clinical Significance: It was concluded that, in the authors’ facility, treatment of prostatic cancer by subtotal intracapsular prostatectomy was superior to that by total prostatectomy, with respect to both postoperative survival and serious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]