OBJECTIVE To evaluate cardiopulmonary, sedative, and antinociceptive effects of dexmedetomidine combined with commonly administered opioids in dogs. ANIMALS 8 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES Dogs were sedated by IM administration of each of 7 treatments. Treatments comprised dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg/kg; Dex) and the same dose of dexmedetomidine plus butorphanol (0.15 mg/kg; Dex-But), meperidine (5 mg/kg; Dex-Mep), methadone (0.5 mg/kg; Dex-Meth), morphine (0.5 mg/kg; Dex-Mor), nalbuphine (0.5 mg/kg; Dex-Nal), or tramadol (5 mg/kg; Dex-Tram). Cardiorespiratory and arterial blood gas variables and sedative and antinociceptive scores were measured before drug injection (time 0; baseline) and at 15-minute intervals for 120 minutes. RESULTS Heart rate was reduced at all time points after injection of Dex-But, Dex-Mep, Dex-Meth, and Dex-Mor treatments. There was a significant reduction of mean arterial blood pressure for Dex-But, Dex-Mep, and Dex-Mor treatments at all time points, compared with baseline. There was a significant decrease in respiratory rate, compared with the baseline value, for Dex, Dex-But, Dex-Meth, and Dex-Tram treatments from 15 to 120 minutes. A significant decrease in arterial blood pH was detected from baseline to 120 minutes for all treatments, with differences among Dex, Dex-Mep, and Dex-Mor. Reduction in Pao was greater for the Dex-Mep treatment than for the other treatments. The highest sedation scores were detected for Dex-Mep and Dex-Meth treatments. Antinociceptive effects were superior for Dex-But, Dex-Meth, Dex-Mor, and Dex-Nal treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Drug combinations caused similar cardiorespiratory changes, with greater sedative effects for Dex-Mep and Dex-Meth and superior antinociceptive effects for Dex-But, Dex-Meth, Dex-Mor, and Dex-Nal.

A male Boxer dog aged 2 years and 11 months was referred to the veterinary hospital with a history of a gastrointestinal disorder of two months duration, with apathy, hyporexia, progressive weight loss and visual deficit. Ataxia and vocalization were observed during hospitalization. The animal had been treated previously with antibiotics and immunosuppressive doses of corticoids to control chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The dog died five days later. Gross and microscopic observations indicated systemic cryptococcosis. The alimentary tract, eyes, brain, kidneys, pancreas and lymph nodes were involved.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ocular effects, the feasibility and the quality of retrobulbar block using the inferior temporal technique with different local anesthetics applied with the Tuohy epidural needle in dogs. Eight dogs were included in the experiment and each one was studied four times, with interval of 15 days between the treatments: Lido -2% lidocaine, Ropi -0.75% ropivacaine, Bupi -0.5% racemic bupivacaine and Levo -0.75% levobupivacaine. Except for the ropivacaine, all of the local anesthetics contained epinephrine at 1:200.000. The blocks were performed in the right eyes immediately after anesthetic induction, and the left eyes were not blocked and were used as controls. The intraocular pressure, tear production and corneal sensitivity were evaluated before any procedure (T0), 30 min after premedication (TMPA), 30 min after anesthetic induction (T30), after recovery from anesthesia (TREC), every 60 min up to 360 min and 12 and 24 h after the block. The pupil diameter was evaluated at the same time points, excepted at T0. The maximum pupillary dilatation was observed in Lido group at T120 followed by Ropi at TREC, and Bupi and Levo at T30. All of the anesthetics maintained eye pressure within acceptable levels for normal dogs and significantly reduced tear production. Tear production returned earliest in group Lido, followed by Bupi, Ropi and Levo. The corneal sensitivity returned earliest in group Lido, followed by Ropi, Bupi and Levo. The retrobulbar block using the temporal inferior technique proved to be feasible and safe, although lubrication of the ocular surface is suggested. Key words: Bupivacaine, dogs, levobupivacaine, lidocaine, ropivacaine ResumoO objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos oculares, a exequibilidade e qualidade do bloqueio retrobulbar pela técnica inferior temporal, em cães, com diferentes anestésicos locais empregando-se agulha epidural de Tuohy. Oito cães foram incluídos no experimento e cada um foi estudado quatro vezes, com intervalo de 15 dias entre os tratamentos: Lido -lidocaína a 2%; Ropi -ropivacaína a 0,5%, Bupi -bupivacaína racêmica a 0,5% e Levo -levobupivacaína a 0,75%. Com exceção da ropivacaína, todos os anestésicos continham epinefrina 1:200.000. Os bloqueios foram realizados nos olhos direitos dos animais imediatamente após a indução anestésica, e os olhos esquerdos, não bloqueados, foram utilizados como controle. Avaliou-se a pressão intraocular, a produção lacrimal e a sensibilidade corneal antes de qualquer procedimento (T0), 30 min após a medicação pré-anestésica (TMPA), 30 min após a indução anestésica (T30), após a recuperação da anestesia (TREC), a cada 60 min até 360 min e 12 e 24 h após o bloqueio. O diâmetro pupilar foi avaliado nos mesmos momentos, exceto no T0. A máxima dilatação pupilar foi observada no grupo Lido seguida pelos grupos Ropi, Bupi e Levo. Todos os anestésicos mantiveram a pressão ocular dentro dos níveis normais para cães e reduziram significativamente a produção lacrimal. A produção lacrimal reto...

This study aimed to assess the birefringent properties of corneal stromal collagen fibrils in birds of the orders Falconiformes (diurnal) and Strigiformes (predominantly nocturnal) to compare their supramolecular organizations. Twenty-two corneas of Falconiformes (Caracara plancus, n = 8; Rupornis magnirostris, n = 10; and Falco sparverius, n = 4) and 28 of Strigiformes (Tyto furcata, n = 16; Pseudoscops clamator, n = 6; and Athene cunicularia, n = 6) were processed histotechnically into 8 μm thick sections. Corneal optical retardation values related to the form and intrinsic fractions of the total birefringence of collagen fibrils were measured using a polarized light microscope equipped with phase compensators. In addition, the coherence coefficients that inform the local orientation of the fibrils were calculated through video image analysis. All assessments were conducted both in the anterior and posterior stroma of the cornea. Differences were significant when p < 0.05. The results showed supraorganizational differences between fibrils in the anterior stroma of Falconiformes and Strigiformes. The optical retardation values were greater (p < 0.0001) for Falconiformes, indicating that the corneas of these birds contain more collagen fibrils or more aggregated collagen fibrils. In contrast, the coherence coefficients were higher (p = 0.016) for Strigiformes, indicating that the collagen fibers in these birds are highly aligned and have few undulations. A multivariate data matrix constructed for Euclidean distance calculations showed that the dissimilarity between Falconiformes and Strigiformes corneas, in terms of the supraorganization of stromal collagen fibrils, was 4.56%. In conclusion, it is possible that the supraorganizational differences reported in this study may be sources of variation in the visual quality of Falconiformes and Strigiformes. This study provides the necessary evidence to encourage further research associating corneal optical performance to supramolecular characteristics of corneal stromal collagen.

Orchiectomized bulls have advantages in the meat quality and ease of handling. Chemical castration is an option for surgical castration and the sclerosing agents can be administered into the testicular or epididymis parenchyma. These agents have a lower incidence of complications than surgery, especially when associated with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), which has anti-inflammatory action and increases the absorption of other drugs. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single intratesticular injection of calcium chloride solution associated with DMSO for the chemical sterilization of bulls. Twenty-four young adult bulls were utilized, distributed into 3 groups (G20, G30 and G40, n = 8/group), according to the calcium chloride concentration (20, 30 and 40%), in 10mL volume. Serum concentrations of testosterone, body weight, testicular volume and ecotexture, clinical signs and behavior and were evaluated for 45 days. Thus, the animals were orchiectomized and testicles were assessed histologically. There were no changes in body weight, decreased serum testosterone concentrations (except G30), signs of scrotal sensitivity or changes in behavior over the period. However, there was significant increase in testicular volume, especially on the 2nd and 3rd day after treatment, with values returning to the value initials at 15 days. Testicular adherence and firm consistency were observed during orchiectomy. Ultrasound examination revealed a loss of integrity of the median raphe, with cavity formation and an alteration of the testicular echotexture. In the histological evaluation, coagulation necrosis of seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells was observed, mainly in the medial portion in all groups. Some animals presented total absence of tubular formations in all the studied groups, being the effects of greater intensity in the G40. Additionally, pronounced edema was noted in all groups, especially in G40. Inflammatory infiltrate, fibroplasia and neovascularization were found to be predominantly discrete. Based on the conditions used in this study, we conclude that calcium chloride associated with DMSO can be used as a method of chemical sterilization in bovines.