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Objective The present study was undertaken to establish reference values for Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the long-eared hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus). Animals Fourteen healthy long-eared hedgehogs ( H. auritus) of either sex were studied. Procedures The hedgehogs were individually immobilized with an intramuscular injection of combined Ketamine (20 mg/kg) and Diazepam (0.5 mg/kg), and each animal underwent ophthalmic examinations including: STT, tonometry, biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Results No significant effects of animal gender, weight, side (right vs. left eye) were found in this study. Mean (SD) STT values for all eyes ( n = 28) were 1.7 ± 1.2 mm/1 min with a range of 0-4 mm/1 min. Mean STT in male animals was 2.2 ± 1.2. Mean STT in female Hedgehogs was 1.3 ± 1.1. Mean (SD) IOP values by applanation tonometry were 20.1 ± 4.0 mmHg (range 11.5-26.5 mmHg). Mean (SD) IOP values by applanation tonometry were 18.2 ± 4.0 and 22.0 ± 3.2 mmHg for males and females, respectively. Conclusions This study reports STT and IOP findings in long-eared hedgehogs ( H. auritus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to determine the acute effects of a single intravenous dose of ondansetron on the electrocardiogram of dogs. Eight adult crossbreed dogs were used in this study. The electrocardiogram recording was obtained before the infusion of ondansetron and repeated at 5, 30, 60, and 120 min after treatment. The ECG measurements of heart rate, PR interval, QRS interval, ST segment, T-wave amplitude, and QT interval were taken from lead II. The JT interval was calculated as the QT interval minus the QRS interval. Rate-corrected QT and JT intervals (QTc and JTc) were obtained by using two formulas QTc = QT/√R-R interval and JTc = JT/√R-R interval. In comparison to the baseline values, mean heart rate significantly decreased at 5, 30, and 60 min after administration of intravenous ondansetron. There was significant prolongation of QT, QTc, and JT intervals at 30 and 60 min after infusion of drug. T-waves showed significant changes in its direction and amplitude at 60 and 120 min after treatment compared to the baseline values. In conclusion, ondansetron at standard dosages apparently causes ECG changes in healthy dogs. These include marked QT interval prolongation and reduction in heart rate. Although in current experiment, we did not observe serious arrhythmias in this group of dogs, it does not exclude the possibility of ventricular arrhythmias in prolonged use after reaching a certain cumulative dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 4-year-old female Spitz dog was presented with 7-day history of progressive anorexia, some episodes of vomiting and jaundice, a 1-month history of polyuria and polydipsia, and left anal sac abscess. Serum biochemical abnormalities included hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypoalbuminemia, and marked elevation of alkaline phosphatase. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a liver parenchyma of normal appearance. The gall bladder was thickened and contained a small quantity of echogenic material. Histopathology demonstrated cholecystitis and cholangititis. There are few cases of concurrent bacterial cholecystitis and cholangitis in dogs. It seems that concurrent bacterial cholecystitis and cholangitis in association with diabetes mellitus is an uncommon clinical condition in dogs. The present report is unique because it describes concurrent cholecystitis and cholangitis in a diabetic Spitz dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine reference values for Schirmer tear tests I and II in clinically normal pigs. Animal studied Twenty clinically normal Landrace pigs (10 males and females) without ocular abnormalities were used in this study. Procedures In all pigs, Schirmer tear tests (STT) I and II were performed by using a sterile Schirmer tear test standardized strip (Schirmer-Tränentest®, Germany) placed in the lower conjunctival fornix for 1 min. Results For each test (STT I and STT II), no differences were observed between the right and left eyes ( P ≥ 0.5). The mean ± SD STT I value was 15.6 ± 3.7 mm/min (range, 10-22 mm/min), while the mean STT II value was 12.4 ± 3.8 mm/minute (range, 5-18 mm/min). The mean STT II value was significantly lower than the STT I level ( P < 0.001). Animal gender did not have a significant effect on STT I and II values ( P = 0.52). The mean ± SD STT I/II values of 10 juvenile pigs were significantly lower than the mean ± SD STT I/II values of 10 adult pigs ( P < 0.001). Conclusions This study of 20 Landrace pigs provided valuable information on normal STT I/II in this species. Knowledge of normal STT reference values in pigs enables the clinician to evaluate corneal pathology and diagnose tear deficiency syndromes with greater accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex hormone-related alopecia is a rare clinical condition in dogs. A 9-year-old female dog was presented with a history of symmetrical alopecia on the caudal aspects of both thighs. A dermatophyte culture, skin scrapes, and acetate strip examinations were negative for dermatophytes, parasites, and yeasts. The only abnormality in abdominal ultrasonography was multiple cystic follicles within the ovaries. This increased the possibility of hyperestrogenism due to ovarian cysts. Serum estrogen assay indicated elevated estrogen concentration. Ovariohystorectomy was performed and tissue samples of uterus, ovaries, and skin biopsies were submitted for histopathological examination. In histological examination, the polycystic ovary was characterized by multiple follicular cysts. Results of histopathological findings in skin biopsies were similar to that reported with hyperestrogenism. In view of information achieved from the presented case, hyperestrogenism should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs with clinical manifestation of symmetrical alopecia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine effects of 14 days of oral administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on aqueous tear production in clinically normal Syrian hamsters. Animal studied Fifteen healthy adult Syrian hamsters. Procedure Baseline phenol red thread test ( PRTT) values were recorded 1 day prior to treatment. Eight hamsters in treated group received 15 mg/kg trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole orally twice a day for 14 days. The remaining seven hamsters were used as untreated controls and received a placebo. All ophthalmic tests were performed without chemical restraint. PRTT values were evaluated in both eyes of all Syrian hamsters using a commercial PRTT strip of a single lot number. Results The mean ± SD baseline PRTT values for treatment group and control group were 7.25 ± 1.3 mm/15 s and 5.42 ± 1.13 mm/15 s, respectively. After 14 days of drug administration, the mean ± SD PRTT values for treatment group and control group were 5.62 ± 1.5 and 5.64 ± 0.74, respectively. Significant decreases in the PRTT values, compared with baseline values, were observed in the treatment group on day 15 ( P = 0.042). Conclusions Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole decreased tear production in the hamster in this study . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate tear production in the common mynah ( Acridotheres tristis) using the phenol red thread test (PRTT) and to make a comparison of measurements with the PRTT placed in the fornices of lower and upper eyelids, tear production of both eyes in 22 healthy adult captive mynah birds was evaluated. After positioning of threads in the fornices of upper and lower eyelids, the PRTT values of the birds were 17.5 ± 3.1 mm/15 s and 19.2 ± 2.5 mm/15 s, respectively. A significant difference was found between PRTT values for upper eyelids and lower eyelids ( P = 0.01). This study provides novel data for normal reference ranges of PRTT values in healthy common mynah birds and shows that a difference is found depending on where the PRTT thread is placed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]