Twenty-four-hour excretion of urine metabolites was determined in 33 clinically normal Beagles during periods of consumption of a standard diet and when food was withheld. The goal was to determine normal canine values for urine analytes incriminated in the genesis of calcium oxalate uroliths. During periods when dogs consumed food, daily urinary excretion of calcium, uric acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium, and hydrogen ions were significantly (P = 0.0004, 0.0038, O.001, 0.0001, 0.0004, 0.0001, and 0.024, respectively) higher than when food was withheld. Urinary excretion of phosphorus, oxalate, and citrate were not significantly different between samples obtained during periods of food consumption and when food was withheld. Male dogs excreted significantly higher quantities of urine oxalate than females during fed (P = 0.003) and nonfed (P = 0.003) conditions. When food was withheld, urinary uric acid excretion was significantly higher in males than females (P = 0.01). Females excreted significantly more urine calcium than males when food was withheld (P = 0.003). Our results indicated that dietary conditions influence the quantity of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and uric acid excreted in the urine of clinically normal dogs; therefore, dietary conditions should be considered when measuring the concentration of these analytes in urine.

Aminoglycoside nephrotoxicosis (AGNT) was induced in ewes by daily SC administration of gentamicin. Changes in urinary indices of renal function during the development of AGNT are reported. Measurements from timed, volume-measured urine samples were made on days 0, 7, and 8 and included creatinine clearance, total excretion (TE) rates of electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, P) and urine volume. Measurements from free-catch urine samples (without volume measurement) were made daily and included fractional excretion (FE) rate of electrolytes, urine osmolality, and urine-to-serum osmolality and urine-to-serum creatinine ratios. With the onset of AGNT, FE rates of Na, K, Cl, and P increased many fold above baseline values (200 X, 4 to 5 X, 6 to 9 X, and 70 to 95 X, respectively, on days 7 and 8), indicating decreased tubular reabsorption or increased tubular secretion. The increased FE rates were not representative of increases in total electrolyte excretion rates. The total excretion of Na (TE(Na)) was mildly increased, TE(K) was decreased, TE(Cl) was unchanged, and TE(P) was significantly increased on days 7 and 8. Abnormal urinalysis results, glucosuria, and increased FE(P) preceded appreciable increase in serum creatinine concentration. Other abnormal urinary indices of renal function coincided with or followed the increase in serum creatinine concentration. Urinary indices may help characterize renal function associated with the disease state, but did not provide early indication of AGNT.

Urinary indices of renal function and damage were measured in 6 healthy, mature ewes over a 48-hour period. Endogenous creatinine clearance, total and fractional electrolyte excretion rates, protein excretion, urine volume, and urine gamma-glutamyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase activities were measured. Significant variations in the excretion rates of creatinine, electrolytes, and protein were not found between intervals within the 48-hour urine collection period. Total urinary electrolyte excretion rates were significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with fractional electrolyte excretion rates normalized for creatinine concentration; however, coefficient of determination was low.

Healthy mature roosters (n = 10) were given gentamicin (5 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and, 30 days later, another dose IM. Serum concentrations of gentamicin were determined over 60 hours after each drug dosing, using a radioimmunoassay. Using nonlinear least-square regression methods, the combined data of IV and IM treatments were best fitted by a 2-compartment open model. The mean distribution phase half-life was 0.203 +/- 0.075 hours (mean +/- SD) and the terminal half-life was 3.38 +/- 0.62 hours. The volume of the central compartment was 0.0993 +/- 0.0097 L/kg, volume of distribution at steady state was 0.209 +/- 0.013 L/kg, and the total body clearance was 46.5 +/- 7.9 ml/h/kg. Intramuscular absorption was rapid, with a half-life for absorption of 0.281 +/- 0.081 hours. The extent of im absorption was 95 +/- 18%. Maximal serum concentration of 20.68 +/- 2.10 microgram/ml was detected at 0.62 +/- 0.18 hours after the dose. Kinetic calculations predicted that IM injection of gentamicin at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, q 12 h, and 1.5 mg/kg, q 8 h, would provide average steady-state serum concentrations of 6.82 and 3.83 microgram/ml, with minimal steady-state serum concentrations of 1.54 and 1.50 microgram/ml and maximal steady-state serum concentrations of 18.34 and 7.70 microgram/ml, respectively.

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of equine&#xD;lameness and metabolic disorders in endurance horses during an endurance race. Out of 67 horses that participated in the race, 19 horses completed the race successfully without any derangement while 48 horses were eliminated from the race for various disorders. Fifty-three (53.73%) percent of these horses had metabolic disorders and&#xD;17.91% were eliminated due to lameness. The study showed that the highest number of endurance horses that were eliminated were due to metabolic disorders followed by lameness. These findings may assist veterinarians in designing laudable measures in the management and&#xD;conditioning protocols of endurance horses during training and further prevent the morbidity and mortality during endurance races.

The ameliorative effect of salts, ascorbic acid olyphosphate and zinc oxide supplementation on heat stress was studied in adult buffaloes of either sex which were randomly divided into two groups of four animals each. Group I served as control and Group II was supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, ascorbic acid polyphosphate and zinc oxide. All the animals were exposed to two conditions of temperature and humidity: hot-dry and hot-humid in psychrometric chamber for 4 hours daily for 10 days. Blood was collected on days 1, 5 and 10 of treatment. The activities of enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), hormone cortisol and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) binding substances (lipid peroxidation) were estimated in serum. Significant decreasewas observed in activities of serum catalase and SOD. Serum GSH concentration decreased while serum concentrations of TBA binding substances and cortisol significantly increased in both groups which were subjected to heat stress. Dietary supplementation of ascorbate, zinc and electrolytes resulted in further decrease in the enzymes' activities where as the serum GSH increased at par to normal values. Serum concentrations ofTBA binding substances and cortisol were comparatively lower in supplemented group in both types of stress. Thus, supplementation of ascorbate and zinc in addition to electrolytes relieved the animals of oxidative stress.

Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 3 cows from rectal pinch&#xD;samples. Direct smear stained with Acid Fast and Kinyoun stain was used to detect the organism. Subsequent samplings also indicated positive for Cryptosporidiosis, whereby one of the animals died due to dehydration and severe clinical signs of diarrhea. The farm had contaminated water supply where two out of the four ponds were&#xD;positive for Cryptosporidium spp. whereas the municipal water supply was negative. The management of the farm was poor in terms of nutrition and cleanliness which led to Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the cattle compounded by stress factors. The mortality of the adult dairy cattle and calves was also high reaching up to&#xD;40%. The most common cause of death was leg weakness, severe dehydration and pneumonia in calves as a result of severe infections. Cryptosporidiosis is zoonotic and thus needs to be controlled to prevent outbreaks in the human population.

For the determination of efficiency of a new produced in the Republic of Belarus preparation Ehkvikar there was modeled a test with a diaphoresis of guinea pigs by means of their staying in a thermostat at a temperature of 45-50 deg C in course of 30 minutes. Before and after the test there was taken a blood test for its analysis. Results of the experiment showed that together with sudo the animals lost 1-2 % of their body. There was stated the increasing of all blood corpuscles as well as lowering in 1,3-1,47 times of such elements as chlorine, sodium, potassium, and also T lymphocytes and bursa-derived lymphocytes. Application Ehkvikar promoted the stabilization of biochemical and morphological parameters of blood, and also the immune status of laboratory animals. Thus, Ehkvikar preparation promoted the compensation of losses of electrolytes with sudor of guinea pigs and in future can be studied by an example of horses for completion of electrolytes losses in the conditions of increased physical exercises.