BACKGROUND: Abomasal ulcer is a disease of digestive system in ruminants. The clinical signs vary widely depending on the type of abomasal ulcer. The economic losses of this disease include decreased milk yield and mortality. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine the frequency, type of ulcer, pathological, hematological, and electrocardiographic indices in the slaughtered cattle in Sanandaj abattoir. METHODS: A total of 400 cattle were randomly selected with both sexes and 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and ≥4 years of age. They were grouped during three seasons and the abomasal ulcer was evaluated. Blood sample was collected and electrocardiogram was recorded before they were slaughtered. Abomasal lesions were assessed macroscopically and histopathologically in the slaughtered cattle. RESULTS: Out of the 400 abomasom examined, 51 (12.75 %) were affected by abomasal ulcers, all of which were type-1 ulcer. Subtypes 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. 35 cattle (68.7 %) had the types of arrhythmia. The most frequent of them was sinus arrhythmia and sinus tachycardia. Neutrophilia and reduction in MCHC were significantly more than the other hematological indices (p < /em>˂0.05). There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of abomasal ulcers and arrhythmia, gender, age, and season (p < /em>˂0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between electrocardiographic and hematological indices in the affected cattle (p < /em>˂0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed a high prevalence of abomasal ulcer in the studied area. They also indicated that the electrocardiographic and hematological changes could be helpful in the diagnosis of abomasal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, due to widespread usage of anti-pain drugs, more attention is being paid to tramadol, although it has only been recognized  rather recently in veterinary medicine. Therefore, evaluation of its effects on various organs is a principal issue. OBJECTIVES: The aim of present study was to investigate cardiac function change following administration of tramadol using electrocardiography and echocardiography. METHODS: Five healthy dogs aged 3-5 years and weighting 20-26 kg were selected for study. To check the health of animals, clinical and laboratory examinations were performed. Then animals were kept for 2 weeks and vaccination and anti parasite therapy were prescribed for them. This study was conducted in 3 stages and ECG and echocardiography were recorded: before tramadol injection, immediately after injection and one hour after that. Parametric data analysis of variance with repeated measure was conducted using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Along evaluated parameters, only left ventricular volume in end-diastole and end-systole, time interval between the Q wave to aortic valve closure, stroke volume and ejection fraction showed significant difference between the three stages. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, tramadol shows remarkable anti-pain effects with low cardiac side-effects in comparison to other opioid drugs. However, more studies are needed due to the importance of this subject.

OBJECTIVE To assess recording accuracy of right atrial and ventricular depolarization during 12-lead ECG when precordial lead V1 was positioned at each of 5 locations on the thorax of dogs with various thoracic conformations. ANIMALS 60 healthy client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES 20 dogs were allocated to each of 3 groups (brachymorphic, mesomorphic, or dolichomorphic) on the basis of thoracic conformation. Each dog remained unsedated and was positioned in right lateral recumbency for a series of five 12-lead surface ECGs, with V1 located adjacent to the sternum in the fifth intercostal space (ICS; control), at the costochondral junction (CCJ) of the right first ICS (1st-R), at the CCJ of the right third ICS, at the right third ICS where the thorax was the widest, and at the CCJ of the left first ICS. Electrocardiographic variables were compared among the 5 ECG tracings. RESULTS When V1 was at the control location, the P wave was positive for all dogs; however, consistent recording of right atrial and ventricular depolarization (ie, R wave-to-S wave ratio [R/S] < 1) occurred more frequently for brachymorphic dogs (16/20) than for dolichomorphic (7/20) and mesomorphic (6/20) dogs. When V1 was at the 1st-R location, the P wave was negative for most dogs, and R/S was < 1 for the majority of dogs in the brachymorphic (19/20), mesomorphic (17/20), and dolichomorphic (16/20) groups. The median R/S for V1 at the 1st-R location was significantly lower than that for the other 4 V1 locations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that placement of V1 at the 1st-R location provided correct evaluation of right atrial and ventricular depolarization in most dogs regardless of thoracic conformation.