Infrared thermography analyzes changes in the surface temperature of the skin and has been used in companion animals to identify inflammatory processes, neoplasia, pain, and neuropathies. This study evaluated and compared surgical wound surface temperatures in Nigerian Indigenous Dogs (NID). Nigerian indigenous dogs are a medium-sized breed that weighs between 8 to 30 kg with moderate hair length, and a mesocephalic cranial index. The dogs were randomly allocated into groups A, B, and C for castration, otectomy, and gastrotomy, respectively. The wound surface temperature (WST) in the NID that underwent gastrotomy were significantly higher particularly at 18-48 h compared with Pre and other sampling periods within the group. It was also found that, at 0 h versus 48 h, 18 h versus 48 h, week 1 versus 18h; 24h; 48h; and 72h showed significant (p < 0.05) differences among NID subjected to gastrotomy (group C). However, the WST of NID subjected to castration and otectomy were significantly higher than that of gastrotomy. At 48 and 72 h, and week 1, the WST of NID in otectomy also known as ear cropping (group B) and castration (group A) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of gastrotomy (Group C). Thermography of the surgical wounds aided postoperative wound management in the NID that underwent castration, otectomy and gastrotomy. Hence, the study suggests that guided WST with the aid of infrared thermography could be deployed as a useful tool to aid post operative wound management.

We evaluated the efficacy of castration with bilateral intratesticular injections of Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl2) in ethanol, Olive Oil as well as Burdizzo technique in twenty Sahel bucks. The bucks were randomly distributed into four groups as A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control and were given bilateral intratesticular injection of 1.0 ml of normal saline. Bucks in group B were castrated with Burdizzo, while group C and D were given bilateral intra testicular injection of 1.0 ml of CaCl2 and Olive oil, respectively. The sonograms and semen profiles of the bucks were evaluated.The diameters of the testicles and spermatic cords and the semen parameters were measured in real time after castration at days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 60. The diameters in the Burdizzo, CaCl2‎and Olive oil castrated bucks ‎significantly increased (P < 0.05) on days 7 and was decreased at ‎day 60.‎ Semen motility was absent in the bucks castrated with Cacl2 after day 14. The ‎concentration of spermatozoa also decreased significantly on day 7 in all the Burdizzo, CaCl2‎and ‎Olive oil castrated goats. Sonogram of testes castrated with Cacl2 showed discreet focal ‎hyperechoic, surrounded by ‎hypoechoic areas ‎within the parenchyma due to the CaCl2 deposition. The testes of bucks castrated with olive oil were ‎characterized by a central hypoechoic area ‎surrounded by clearly distinguishable hyperechoic ‎areas within the parenchyma. It was concluded that intratesticular injection with Burdizzo, CaCl2and olive oil resulted in successful castration but CaCl2 injection resulted in earlier azoospermia.

A total of 30 Nigerian indigenous male dogs aged 1-2 years (1.65±0.47) and 11-15kg (13.4±1.27) body weight were used for the study. They were randomly allocated into 6 groups of 5 dogs each. Groups A1, B1 and C1 for intramuscular at 2mg/kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg respectively and Groups A2, B2 and C2 for per-rectal at 2mg//kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg. Haematological values of Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and Differential leucocyte counts (DLC) of Lymphocyte (LYM), Neutrophils (NEU), Monocyte (MON) and Eosinophils (EOS) were determined. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software Version 22.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago. Illinois). General Linear Model (GLM) using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA), to compare the mean of different groups at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% level of significance was used. The PCV, Hb and Rbc values of the dogs castrated were within normal range when compared with specie corresponding values. The PCV value was lowest 38.6±1.9 at 2nd hour 2mg/kg for per rectum and highest of 44.1±1.9 at the 9th hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose. The Hb value was lowest at 12.9±0.5 at 1st hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose and the highest of 15.3±0.8 at 0 hour for intramuscular at 2mg/kg. The Rbc value was lowest at 4.0±1.5 at 4th hour, 2mg/kg for per rectum and the highest of 6.6±0.3 at 7th hour, 2mg/kg. The Total leucocyte count (TLC) values of WBC and DLC also recorded significant differences. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between routes but values remain within normal range of values. This finding shows that the use of Diclofenac as a short term analgesic caused no significant changes on the haematocrit values of dogs when used after castration. This finding has also indicated that short-term use of diclofenac through the per rectum route may be safe and had no deleterious effect on haematological value of Nigerian indigenous male dogs