Patella, the kneecap, is the best known and largest of the sesamoid bones and is present in the quadriceps femoris tendon. Typical patella appears in all extant mammals, with the exception of some marsupials and bats. No description about the white-eared opossum stifle was found in the available literature up to now. Thus, the knee joints of 16 Didelphis albiventris were examined by gross anatomy, histology, radiography and computed tomography images to determine the presence or absence of ossified patella in this animal. The most remarkable observation in white-eared opossum is the absence of a bony patella. The femoral trochlea is shallow, and the lateral gastrocnemius sesamoids are shown up in all opossums. The quadriceps femoris tendon is composed mainly of dense regular connective tissue with a classic fibrocartilage pad on the superficial surface of the tendon. The absence of a true patella seems to be typical for marsupials.

Background: Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) is an oscillatory mechanical stimulus spreading throughout the body and considered a type of physical exercise because of the activation of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neuroendocrine systems. It is a physical exercise modality since it promotes cardiovascular resistance, increase in muscular strength and neurosensitivity, and motor coordination improvement. For use of WBV as an exercise modality for dogs, it is necessary to evaluate the Dopplerfluxometry parameters of the common carotid artery in healthy dogs in order to perform a safe protocol without inducing any cerebral alteration. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of WBV on systolic peak velocity (SPV), resistivity (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of the both common carotid artery among adults and elderly non-athletes healthy dog.Materials, Methods & Results: Fourteen clinically healthy, neutered crossbreed male dogs, non-athlete were divided into two groups of seven dogs, according to the age group: Group 1 (G1)- Adult dogs: age between 12 and 84 months; Group 2 (G2)- Elderly dogs: aged over 84 months. All dogs were submitted to sessions of WBV using the protocol of 30 Hz for 5 min, followed by an increase to 50 Hz for 5 more min and ending with 5 min at 30 Hz, without rest between the variation of the vibration frequency. The systolic peak velocity (SPV), resistivity (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of the common carotid artery were assessed in two time-points: 5 min before the WBV sessions (5PRE) and 1 min after the WBV (1POS). No significant variations in the SPS, RI, and PI of both common carotid artery of the G1 and G2 were identified. The anatomic reference for the left and right common carotid artery was the right and left extern jugulars veins, which were identified by the venous blood vessel characteristics as endothelium type, and single-phase without systolic peaks wave. Discussion: In humans, WBV is indicated to muscle size and tone increase, therefore it is believed that this modality can present a beneficial result in dogs with muscular atrophy associated with orthopedic surgeries and in cases of osteoarthritis. Irreversible brain damage can be caused by a possible hemodynamic alteration in the common carotid arteries resulted from mechanical vibrations. Parkinson’s disease patients and individuals affected by strokes that went under acute sessions of WBV showed handshake reduction and better proprioception, respectively. The beneficial effect was observed in cervix opening in dogs with metritis. The behavior of sitting of the dogs over 30 kg during WBVsessions was associated with paraparesis. This result was present in medium-size non-athletic dogs weighing from 10.1 to 17.9 kg that went through WBV for 5 consecutive days, using the same vibrating platform. No signs of discomfort during a single session of 10 min of WBV (15 and 21 Hz) were observed in healthy adult horses.  Studies using mechanical vibrations on adult healthy dogs did not show significant variation RI of the renal artery. On the other hand, daily use of WBV for 5 days on dogs showed significant enhancement on RI of the femoral artery immediately after it. A single session of WBV (30 and 50 Hz did, for 15 min) do not produce undesirable effects on SPV, RI, and PI of both common carotid arteries in adult and elderly non-athletic healthy dogs.

The white‐eared opossum present a higher roadkill number in Brazil, and the vertebral column is often affected when some type of trauma occurs. Thus, this study describes the osteology and radiology of the vertebral column in white‐eared opossum to serve as a basis for support in the veterinary clinical care, since the casuistry of care of this marsupial has increased every year. Radiographs of the cervical (C), thoracic (T), lumbar (L), sacral (S) and caudal (Cd) segments of the vertebral column were taken in thirty‐five white‐eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris). Furthermore, ten opossums without evident vertebral acquired or congenital abnormalities at the radiographic study were selected for anatomical study. Osteology was correlated with the radiographic images. The use of radiographs allowed the identification of congenital and acquired vertebral changes, as well as the identification of anatomical structures, their distribution and morphology and the number of vertebrae. The vertebral formula varied in the white‐eared opossum. In 27 of 35 white‐eared opossums (77.2%) with normal vertebral morphology, three vertebral formulas were observed: C7/T13/L6/S2 (62.9%), C7/T13/L5/S2 (5.7%) and C7/T13/L7/S2 (8.6%). Most of the specimens presented 27 caudal vertebrae. The anticlinal vertebra was identified as T10 in 77.2% and T11 in 22.8% of opossums. Cervical block vertebra was observed in two animals and sacrocaudal block vertebra in one animal. The haemal arches could be seen from Cd3–Cd4 in 80% and Cd2–Cd3 in 20% of opossums. The white‐eared opossum showed a slender vertebral column with a relatively short thoracic region, a relatively long lumbar region and a highly flexible lumbosacral transition, suggesting that this animal is a fast‐running and agile opossum. Therefore, these findings may serve as a basis for further research and support the veterinary clinical care, since the casuistry of care for this marsupial has increased every year.

Background: Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) consists of mechanical vibration stimuli produced that propagate throughout the body by increasing the gravitational load. The WBV can increase muscle mass in dogs with muscular atrophy. As Whole-body vibration (WBV) can be used as exercise modality with no impact on the joints, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of single session of WBV in hematobiochemical and hemogasometric parameters in adult and elderly healthy dogs. Materials, Methods & Results: Fourteen clinically healthy, neutered crossbreed male dogs, non-athlete were selected. The dogs were divided into two groups of seven dogs, according to the age group: Group I - adult dogs (GI): age between 12.0 and 84.0 months old; Group II - elderly dogs (GII): age above 84.0 months old. All dogs were submitted to a single session WBV by using a vibrating platform that delivered a vortex wave circulation as mechanical vibration. The WBV protocol used was 30 Hz frequency (3.10 mm peak displacement; 11.16 m/s2 peak acceleration; 0.29 m/s velocity), then 50 Hz (3.98 mm peak displacement; 39.75 m/s2 peak acceleration; 0.62 m/s velocity), and lastly 30 Hz (3.10 mm peak displacement; 11.16 m/s2 peak acceleration; 0.29 m/s velocity) for 5-min between de frequencies. The hematobiochemical and hemagasometric parameters were evaluated at 1-min before the WBV session (1PRE), 1-min after the WBV session (1POST), 120-min (120POST) and 24 hours after the WBV session (24hPOST). The dogs accepted well the vibration stimulus, however, elderly dogs weighting above 30 kg were more likely to sit down with increased frequency from 30 to 50 Hz. No variations of food and water intakes and gastrointestinal changes were observed after the WBV session. Hemoglobin values showed significant decrease (P = 0.0312) between 1PRE and 1POST in elderly dogs. A significant decrease (P = 0.0453) was observed in alanine aminotransferase values between 120POST and 14hPOST in adult dogs. Creatinine values had a statically decrease (P = 0.0173) between 1PRE and 24hPOST in adult dogs. However, these values remained within the reference range for dogs. Discussion: According to the literature, there are no studies related to the effects of WBV in haematobiochemical and hemogasometric parameters in adult and elderly dogs. No deleterious effects regarding to a single session of WBV were observed, however harmful effects were observed in human patients. The elderly dogs with body mass above 30 kg tried to sit during the increased frequency from 30 to 50 Hz, which was associated with the pressure exerted in their paws. No significant differences were observed in erythrogram and leukogram parameters except for hemoglobin values. Significant decline was observed in hemoglobin values in adult Beagle dogs; and were associated with hemolysis. The significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase and creatinine values did not have clinical significance. No significant alterations were identified in hemogasometric parameters but slight increase in pH values was observed in horses subjected to a 60 km run, and was associated to the loss of Cl ions in sweat. The single session of WBV by using a vibrating platform that delivered a vortex wave circulation, at 30 and 50 Hz frequencies for 5 min did not induced significant changes in hematobiochemical and hemogasometric parameters in adults and elderly healthy dogs.

Canine lymphoma is one of the most frequent neoplasms in veterinary medicine and it can affect several organs. Ultrasound examination has shown great sensitivity in detecting parenchymal abnormalities even before laboratory tests change, and it is considered an important advent to help staging diseases and to guide material collection. The main objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of ultrasonographic examination canine lymphoma in 70 animals and to propose staging between stages I to V, based on abdominal lesions of dogs with cytological or histopathological diagnosis of lymphoma. In this study, through a modified World Health Organization clinical classification, it could be determined that 28.6% of the animals were within stage I, 1.4% stage II, 41.4% in stage IV and 28.6% stage V and no stage III animals were observed. Despite the great variation of the ultrasonographic appearance of these lesions in lymphoid organs, the involvement of medial iliac lymph nodes was statistically significant and proved to be an important sentinel sign of the presence of lymphoma in these animals. Therefore, abdominal ultrasound imaging is of extreme relevance in clinical routine, as it allows staging abdominal lymphoma, its prognosis, as well as monitoring the treatment stablished.