Background: Cerebral ischaemia results in a rapid and profound depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. This depletion leads to disruption of cellular homeostasis and cell death. Early replenishment of ATP levels might therefore have a neuroprotective effect in the injured brain. We have previously shown that the ATP precursors, D-ribose and adenine (RibAde), restored the reduced ATP levels in rat brain slices to values similar to those measured in the intact rodent brain. The aim of this study was to assess whether RibAde, either alone or in combination with the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol (RibAdeAll; to further increase the availability of ATP precursors), could improve outcome in an in vivo rodent model of transient cerebral ischaemia. Methods: After 60 min occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, and upon reperfusion, rats were administered saline, RibAde, or RibAdeAll for 6 h. Baseline lesion volume was determined by diffusion-weighted MRI prior to reperfusion and final infarct volume determined by T2-weighted MRI at Day 7. Neurological function was assessed at Days 1, 3 and 7. Results: Ischaemic lesion volume decreased between Days 1 and 7: a 50% reduction was observed for the RibAdeAll group, 38% for the RibAde group and 18% in the animals that received saline. Reductions in lesion size in treatment groups were accompanied by a trend for faster functional recovery. Conclusion: These data support the potential use of ribose, adenine and allopurinol in the treatment of cerebral ischaemic injury, especially since all compounds have been used in man.

In February 2013, a flock of 20 pastured ewes was treated with oral closantel. Within 10 days of dosing, one 2-year-old Texel-cross ewe that was approximately three months in lamb was noticed to be spending a prolonged time in recumbency. On the 6th of March, the animal was referred to Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety (SCPAHFS). At admission, the ewe appeared blind, pupils were dilated with a negative menace response and pupillary light reflex bilaterally. Closantel toxicity was suspected. Following admission, this ewe was housed and was stable despite remaining blind. On April 21, a single male lamb was born. This lamb was found to have normal clinical and neurological parameters over five months of observation following birth. On postmortem examination closantel toxicity was confirmed in the ewe while following detailed gross and histological examination of all tissues of the lamb there was no indication of the toxicity suffered by its mother.

This case report describes the pathological findings of multiple congenital cardiac defects in a 2-year-old female Shetland pony with clinical signs of chronic respiratory distress. Persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) type IV, interventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary trunk agenesis, pulmonary arteries arising from the descending aorta, and compensatory right ventricular hypertrophy were observed.

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To investigate owners ability to assign the correct bodyweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) to their dog, and owners ability to interpret wet and dry pet food labels by estimating how much to feed daily.