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The number of companion pigs in the US is increasing, as is the frequency with which they present to primary companion care practices. However, pigs are often an understudied species in veterinary curricula, and many students graduate from veterinary school with minimal porcine handling experience. Coupled with the poor peripheral vascular access associated with pigs, this presents a challenge for many new graduates and other primary care veterinarians seeking to improve their knowledge of porcine handling, anatomy, and medical care. Furthermore, much of the available veterinary literature regarding porcine venous access is dated, limited to technical notes, or inaccessible to many primary care veterinarians. This review aims to supplement this lack of knowledge by discussing techniques in restraint, sedation, venipuncture, and catheterization of companion pigs as a reference for veterinarians and researchers alike.

Objective: To determine whether anesthesia type (sedation or general anesthesia) affects kid survival to discharge in caprine cesarean sections (C-sections)., Animals: Retrospective cohort of 99 caprine C-sections (2011-2021)., Procedures: All surgeries were performed via left flank laparotomy in right lateral recumbency. The number of kids alive at presentation, surgery, and discharge was recorded. Kids that were dead on presentation or euthanized intraoperatively were excluded. Goats were classified as "healthy" (American Society of Anesthesiologists status ≤ 2) or "sick" (≥ 3)., Results: Kid survival was significantly higher for C-sections performed under sedation (47/52 [90%]) than for C-sections performed under general anesthesia (16/24 [66%]; P = .004). Relative risk was 1.4 and odds ratio was 4.7., Clinical Relevance: Performing C-sections in sedated goats may improve kid survival rates over those under general anesthesia.

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of lumbosacral intrathecal administration of 2% lidocaine in goats undergoing cesarean sections (C-sections)., Animals: 7 client-owned goats., Procedures: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify records of goats undergoing C-sections between January 2020 and November 2021 with intrathecal administration of lidocaine as the primary method of analgesia. Effect of analgesia, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, quality of surgery (determined based on lack of patient movement), mean surgical time, time to stand, and anesthetic complications were recorded., Results: Intrathecal administration of preservative-free 2% lidocaine (1 mg/kg) at the lumbosacral space with the use of a 20-gauge 3.5-inch (0.9 X 90-mm) spinal needle under aseptic technique achieved effective analgesia in sedated goats by time of skin incision. Adequacy of analgesia was complete (failure to respond to needle-prick of skin or skin incision) in 6 of the 7 goats and moderate in 1 goat. Quality of surgery was adequate in all goats. Mean surgical time was 96 ± 20 minutes, and mean time to stand was 182 ± 61 minutes from the time of intrathecal administration. Complications included ruminal tympany, hypothermia, and partial blockade in 1 goat each., Clinical Relevance: Results indicated that intrathecal administration of lidocaine as described in the present report provided adequate analgesia for C-sections in goats, with minimal complications, and quicker return to hindlimb motor function postoperatively than historically reported for epidurals.

Objective: To report the technique, surgical approach, and postoperative features in horses treated via a 3-dimensional (3D) printed guide-assisted keratoma resection created using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based segmentation., Animals: Five client-owned horses., Study Design: Short case series., Methods: Horses were placed under general anesthesia for imaging (CT and MRI) and underwent a second anesthesia for surgery. Two horses had guides created from CT-based imaging, 3 horses had guides created from MRI. Various sized nonarbored hole saws were used to create accurate and precise portals for keratoma removal. Surgical sites were managed until keratinized granulation tissue had formed and the defect was sealed with an artificial hoof wall patch., Results: All keratomas were successfully removed as a single piece either intact with the hoof wall or easily extracted after the hoof wall portal was created in a surgical time between 20 and 90 min. All CT created guides fitted without issue; MRI-created guides required minor adjustments with a rotary device for proper fit. All cases had minor debridement adjacent to P3 and circumferential lamellar tissue. All horses returned to previous level of performance 2 to 4 months postoperatively., Conclusion: Use of 3D printed guides led to accurate targeting of keratomas with small surgical portals and short surgical times. Due to challenges with MRI-based segmentation, CT is preferred., (© 2022 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Objective: To quantify the translation and angular rotation of the distal sesamoid bone (DSB) using computed tomography (CT) and medical modeling software., Sample: 30 thoracic limbs from equine cadavers., Procedures: Partial (n = 12), full (8), and matched full and subsequently transected (10) thoracic limbs were collected. Bone volume CT images were acquired in three positions: extension (200° metacarpophalangeal angle), neutral (180°), and maximal flexion (110°). Mean translation and angular rotation of each DSB were recorded. Differences were determined with two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's tests for pairwise comparisons; P value was set at < 0.05., Results: Dorsal translation was significant during extension (1.4 ± 0.4 mm full limbs and 1.3 ± 0.2 mm partial limbs, P < 0.001). Distal translation was significant during extension (1.9 ± 0.4 mm full and 1.1 ± 0.4 mm partial) and flexion (5.4 ± 0.7 mm full and 6.22 ± 0.6 mm partial, P < 0.001). Rotation was significant (P < 0.001) about the mediolateral axis during extension (17.1° ± 1.4°) and flexion (2.6° ± 1.3°). Translation and rotation of the DSB were significantly different (P < 0.001) between full and partial limbs., Clinical Relevance: This study provides the first quantification of translation and angular rotation of the DSB within the equine hoof. Partial limbs had significantly reduced movement compared to full limbs, suggesting that transection of flexor tendons alters distal thoracic limb kinematics. Further studies are required to determine if pathologic changes in the podotrochlear apparatus have an impact in clinical lameness outcomes.

Background: Interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) has been shown to improve the comfort of horses diagnosed with overriding dorsal spinous processes (DSP), but its effects on spine mobility are unknown. Objective: To objectively quantify the change in mobility of thoracic vertebrae following ISLD using CT and medical modeling software. Study design: Prospective cadaveric manipulation of seven equine thoracolumbar spines collected from T11-L1. Methods: Spines were collected from T11-L1 with the musculature intact. Flexion and extension phases were achieved with a ratchet device calibrated to 2000N. Bone volume CT scans were performed in resting, flexion, and extension phase preoperatively. Interspinous ligament desmotomy was performed at each intervertebral space ( n = 8), and bone volume CT imaging was repeated for each phase. The spinal sections were individually segmented and imported into medical software for kinematic evaluation. T11 of each phase were superimposed, the distance between each dorsal spinous process, the total length of the spine, and the maximal excursion of the first lumbar vertebra along with angular rotational information were recorded. Results: The mean distance between each dorsal spinous process increased by 5.6 ± 4.9 mm, representing a 24 ± 21% increase in mobility following ISLD. L1 dorsoventral excursion increased by 15.3 ± 11.9 mm, craniocaudal motion increased by 6.9 ± 6.5 mm representing a 47 ± 36.5% and 14.5 ± 13.7% increase, respectively. The rotation of L1 about the mediolateral axis increased by 6.5 ° post-ISLD. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: ISLD increases dorsoventral, craniocaudal, and rotational motion of the equine spine. The computer modeling methodology used here could be used to evaluate multiplanar spinal kinematics between treatments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Biedrzycki and Elane.)

Clinical features and patient outcomes for pet pigs with obstipation are poorly defined. This retrospective study reports the clinical findings from 24 pet (non-production) pigs with obstipation presented to 2 veterinary teaching hospitals. Clinical features of obstipated pet pigs included anorexia or hyporexia in 24 pigs (100%), pain on abdominal palpation in 22 (90%), lethargy in 21 (88%), tachypnea in 19 (79%), vomiting in 14 (58%), and tachycardia in 13 (54%). Frequently observed hematologic and biochemical abnormalities included leukopenia in 36% (8/22) of the pigs, lymphopenia in 75% (17/22), toxic changes in neutrophils in 63% (14/22), hypokalemia in 50% (9/18), and hypoglycemia in 28% (5/18). Diagnostic imaging via radiography and/or computed tomography frequently identified gastric distention and accumulation of ingesta and gas throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Medical treatments included fluid therapy, anti-emetics, oral administration of carbonated beverages, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and systemic antimicrobials. Surgical intervention was performed in 7/29% of pigs. In this study, obstipation in pet pigs carried a fair to favorable prognosis for survival, with 70% of patients surviving to discharge., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)