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Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a highly effective therapeutic method employed to remove toxic byproducts and metabolites from the body when this role can no longer be fulfilled by the kidneys that are either permanently damaged as in chronic kidney failure, or need time and proper treatment to recover from other diseases of the kidney itself or pathologies that may affect the renal function as they progress. This technique uses the peritoneum ability to act as a filtering membrane, through which the toxins, such as urea and creatinine, pass into the peritoneal cavity, being subsequently removed along with the dialysate. The study describes the evolution and follows the dynamic of the biomarkers in 5 dogs suffering from kidney failure, that did not respond well to specific treatment and for whom peritoneal dialysis was the best therapeutic approach. Peritoneal dialysis was performed in 5 dogs, with ages between 5 and 15 years old, during 6 months, using Diaenal PD4 glucose 1.36% W/V/13.6mg/ml produced by Baxter. Blood samples were taken from each dog before the procedure, and then twice a week to monitor the electrolytes, creatinine and urea levels. Also, before introducing the dialysate into the peritoneal cavity, the patients underwent ultrasound examination to evaluate the kidneys and to exclude other problems that would prevent this maneuver, and 2 hours after administering the dialysate to measure the absorption rate. All 5 patients exhibited an important recovery after 8-14 dialysis sessions, showing that the procedure was able to maintain kidney stability, a fact proved also by the levels of metabolites involved in the clinical evolution. Ecography performed before and after dialysis revealed that the hydration level is key point in the success of the procedure. Peritoneal dialysis is a more affordable and less invasive procedure to gradually eliminate the uremic toxins. It can offer temporary support for kidneys until the recovery of renal function is done, or when hemodialysis cannot be used as a basic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freezing of sperm is a method of conservation of spermatozoa, theoretically for an unlimited time. The freezing methods are an important tool for preservation of genetic diversity of the species and in assisted reproduction. The principle for cryopreservation of semen is reducing temperature of sperm determines a reduction of the metabolic activity of spermatozoa that permits their storage. A number of freezing methods have been described in the literature in the last 30 years. Some methods are registered marks and require buing a francise to be used. Proprietary agencies include Canine Cryobank, CLONE, International Canine Semen Bank (ICSB) and Synbiotics. Nonproprietary systems with published protocols include the Norwegian Tris extender, the Uppsala-Equex system 1 and 2 and its modifications, the CERREC extender, the CERCA extender, the extender developed by England C.G.W. and Lofstedt R. (Concannon and Battista 1989; England 1993; Farstad 1996; Linde- Forsberg et al. 1995; Pefia and Linde-Forsberg 2000 a, b) and other extenders and cryopreservation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of new anesthetics, more effective and less toxic, gave veterinarians the possibility to successfully intervene in resolving the most different situations encountered in their activity. This study consisted in monitoring respiratory frequency, cardiac frequency and body temperature in patients anesthetized and then subdued to different surgical interventions. The researches were carried on 20 dogs of different breeds, ages and sexes, diagnosed with different types of diseases, which needed surgical treatment under the effect of anesthesia. There were selected patients in which pain intensity associated with surgical intervention was relatively equal. Anesthesia protocols consisted mainly in the association of two substances: xylazine + ketamine - in 5 cases; medetomidine + ketamine - in 5 cases; acepromazine + ketamine - in 5 cases; propofol - in 5 cases. In case of anesthesia induced by xylazine-ketamine combination, it was observed a slight tendency to bradycardia, respiratory frequency oscillations and the decrease of body temperature (tendency to hypothermia). Medetomidine-ketamine association determined cardiac frequency oscillations (without a particular tendency), an initial increase of respiratory frequency followed by come-back to normal and a slight decrease of body temperature. Using acepromazine-ketamine combination, the studied parameters varied under acceptable limits during anesthesia. Propofol ensured good conditions for surgical interventions, with the observations that the anesthetic effect is short and it requires supplementary safety measures in order to avoid the appearance of respiratory disorders. The selection of anesthetic substances must be done considering patient-related factors, the purpose of anesthesia and the available equipments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]