Search

Objective To report the surgical survival of dams and piglets and follow-up survival and future breeding potential of swine that underwent cesarean section for correction of dystocia. Study design Retrospective study. Animals One hundred ten client-owned, female swine. All swine included in this study were breeding stock for market pigs to be used for exhibition purposes. Methods Medical records of swine that underwent cesarean section at The Ohio State University Hospital for Farm Animals for resolution of dystocia between January of 2013 and July of 2018 were reviewed. Signalment, history, number of piglets per litter, treatments, and surgical procedure were recorded. Follow-up information (survival, complications, and additional pregnancies) was obtained via telephone interview. Results A fetus was not palpable in 77 of 110 (70%) cases at presentation. The median litter size was eight piglets (range, 1-14), with medians of five (range, 0-13) live and one dead (range, 0-11) piglets per litter. Follow-up was available for 52 dams, of which 39 (75%) survived. Complications were recorded in 20 of 52 (38.46%) cases and included incisional seroma formation, lethargy, and anorexia. Twenty-three dams became pregnant and farrowed after the cesarean section, with no reported complication in 13 of these. Conclusion Cesarean section in swine is associated with a good prognosis for recovery from the procedure and a fair to guarded prognosis for future breeding. Clinical significance Cesarean section may be considered for resolution of dystocia in swine. However, owners should be advised that nearly half of sows require assistance in subsequent deliveries.

A 21-month-old intact, male Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) presented for bilateral metacarpophalangeal joint hyperextension. Physical and radiographic evaluation revealed evidence of soft tissue hyperextension with no bony changes. The left metacarpophalangeal joint was fused using two dynamic compression plates on the dorsal aspect of the joint along with a figure-8 tension band on the palmar aspect of the lateral fetlock for additional structural support. Twenty-seven days postoperatively, the patient was able to weightbear on both thoracic limbs. The patient was released with recommendations to have the contralateral limb corrected in the near future. Follow-up communication with the referring veterinarian revealed no known complications with the surgically corrected limb four months postrelease. This report illustrates the adaptation of a commonly reported surgical procedure in equine medicine and supports its use for correction of metacarpophalangeal joint hyperextension in artiodactylids not amenable to long-term medical management.

Results: Calves with CHD had significantly larger VHS values and higher plasma cTnI concentrations (P < .001) compared to control. Creatine kinase activity was not different between the control and CHD groups of calves. Diagnostic cutoffs of VHS and plasma cTnI for discrimination of groups were 8.9 vertebrae and 0.035 ng/mL, respectively. The cTnI concentration in plasma was significantly correlated with VHS (r 2 =0.512, P < .001). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Our results suggest that determination of plasma cTnI concentrations in calves with clinical signs compatible with CHD might prove useful as a guide to quantify cardiac remodeling associated with increased cardiac size.

Objective To describe a cranial arthroscopic approach to the stifle of South American camelids and to report our clinical experience with camelid stifle arthroscopy. Study Design Experimental study and retrospective case series. Animals (1) Cadaveric alpaca hindlimbs (n = 18; 9 alpacas); (2) 1 alpaca and 1 llama Methods Polymethylmethacrylate joint casts (n = 2) were made to define stifle joint dimensions. Cadaveric stifle joints (n = 16) were evaluated arthroscopically to determine arthroscopic portal locations, describe the intraarticular anatomy, and report potential complications. An alpaca and a llama with stifle joint disease had diagnostic arthroscopy. Results Successful entry into the stifle joint was achieved in 16 cadaver limbs. Observed structures were: the suprapatellar pouch, articular surface of the patella, femoral trochlear ridges and groove, cranial aspect of the femoral condyles (n = 16); distal aspect of the cranial and proximal aspect of the caudal cruciate ligaments (14); and cranial aspects of the medial and lateral menisci (11), and cranial meniscotibial and intermeniscal ligaments (8). Stifle arthroscopy allowed for joint evaluation and removal of osteochondral fragments in 1 alpaca and 1 llama with naturally occurring stifle disease. Complications of cadaver or live procedures included minor cartilage scoring (3 stifles) and subcutaneous periarticular fluid accumulation (8 stifles). Conclusions Arthroscopy provides a safe approach for diagnosis and treatment of stifle lesions in South American camelids.