Objective: To measure the effect of warm compress application on tissue temperature in healthy dogs. Animals: 10 healthy mixed-breed dogs. Procedures: Dogs were sedated with hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg, IV) and diazepam (0.25 mg/kg, IV). Three 24-gauge thermocouple needles were inserted to a depth of 0.5 cm (superficial), 1.0 cm (middle), and 1.5 cm (deep) into a shaved, lumbar, epaxial region to measure tissue temperature. Warm (47°C) compresses were applied with gravity dependence for periods of 5, 10, and 20 minutes. Tissue temperature was recorded before compress application and at intervals for up to 80 minutes after application. Control data were collected while dogs received identical sedation but with no warm compress. Results: Mean temperature associated with 5 minutes of heat application at the superficial, middle, and deep depths was significantly increased, compared with the control temperature. Application for 10 minutes significantly increased the temperature at all depths, compared with 5 minutes of application. Mean temperature associated with 20 minutes of application was not different at the superficial or middle depths, compared with 10 minutes of application. Temperature at the deep depth associated with 10 minutes of application was significantly higher, compared with 20 minutes of application, but all temperature increases at this depth were minimal. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that application of a warm compress should be performed for 10 minutes. Changes in temperature at a tissue depth of 1.5 cm were minimal or not detected. The optimal compress temperature to achieve therapeutic benefits was not determined.

A 7-month-old female Shih-tzu dog was presented with intermittent trembling, dyspnea, generalized muscle weakness, and unconsciousness after exercise. No remarkable findings were shown in the complete blood counts and the radiographic examination. On serum biochemical profiles, alkaline phosphatase and creatine phosphokinase were mildly elevated. Based on history takings, physical examination, and neurological findings, presumptive diagnosis was made as a myasthenia gravis (MG).

Objective: To measure the effect of cold compress application on tissue temperature in healthy dogs. Animals: 10 healthy mixed-breed dogs. Procedures: Dogs were sedated with hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg, IV) and diazepam (0.25 mg/kg, IV). Three 24-gauge thermocouple needles were inserted to a depth of 0.5 (superficial), 1.0 (middle), and 1.5 (deep) cm into a shaved, lumbar, epaxial region to measure tissue temperature. Cold (–16.8°C) compresses were applied with gravity dependence for periods of 5, 10, and 20 minutes. Tissue temperature was recorded before compress application and at intervals for up to 80 minutes after application. Control data were collected while dogs received identical sedation but with no cold compress. Results: Mean temperature associated with 5 minutes of application at the superficial depth was significantly decreased, compared with control temperatures. Application for 10 and 20 minutes significantly reduced the temperature at all depths, compared with controls and 5 minutes of application. Twenty minutes of application significantly decreased temperature at only the middle depth, compared with 10 minutes of application. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: With this method of cold treatment, increasing application time from 10 to 20 minutes caused a further significant temperature change at only the middle tissue depth; however, for maximal cooling, the minimum time of application should be 20 minutes. Possible changes in tissue temperature and adverse effects of application > 20 minutes require further evaluation.

Interregional, as well as intraregional (local), distributions of the inhalation-to-perfusion ratio were analyzed in the lungs of 20 prone anesthetized healthy dogs--10 dogs with barrel-shaped thorax (Beagles) and 10 dogs with deep thorax (Greyhound-type dogs)--using 99mTc inhalation-perfusion lung scintigraphy. Dorsoventral and lateral views were analyzed. In both types of dogs, the ratio between the mean inhalation and perfusion values (interregional mismatching factor) decreased from craniad to caudad and the decrease was more sustained in the right than in the left lung. However, the total decrease was less in Greyhound-type dogs than in Beagles (cranial-to-caudal decrease of 14 and 27%, respectively, in the left lung, and 62 and 56%, respectively, in the right lung). The dorsal-to-ventral distribution of interregional mismatching factor was different in the 2 types of dogs. In Beagles, it increased from dorsal to ventral zones by about 50% of the initial dorsal zone value, whereas in Greyhound-type dogs, only a slight dorsal-to-ventral decrease was evident, with the exception of the more ventral zone. Differences in the intraregional mismatching factor (rho) indicated that the intraregional inhalation-to-perfusion inequalities were more pronounced within the caudal regions and within the ventral zones of the lungs in both types of dogs, and in the more cranial zones in the lungs of Beagles. However, the degree of intraregional mismatching was generally lower in Greyhound-type dogs. Thus, the gravitational force is not the dominating determinant of interregional or intraregional inhalation-to-perfusion ratio distributions in the lungs of anesthetized prone dogs. Its influence is modulated by other factors morphologic characteristics, such as the shape and size of the thorax, and body weight of the dog. In particular, the height of the thorax in Greyhound-type dogs could permit the gravitational force to exert a more determinant influence than it does in Beagles.

OBJECTIVE To assess efficiency of gravity filtration to enhance recovery of equine bone marrow elements including stem and progenitor cells. ANIMALS 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Bone marrow aspirates were collected from the fifth sternebral body and filtered by gravitational flow to obtain bone marrow elements. Raw and harvested bone marrow and marrow effluent were evaluated for WBC and platelet counts, automated and cytomorphologic cell differential counts, mesenchymal stem cell CFUs, cell viability, and differentiation capacity. Isolated cells were analyzed for CD90 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigens. RESULTS Mean cell viability of harvested bone marrow was 95.9%. Total WBCs and platelets were efficiently captured on the filter (> 95%), and mean recovery in harvested bone marrow was 30%. Cytologic cell differential counts indicated that the percentage of neutrophils was significantly less and the progenitor cell population was significantly higher and concentrated 1.56-fold in harvested bone marrow, compared with results for raw bone marrow. Flow cytometry and cell culture were used to characterize harvested bone marrow cells as positive for expression of CD90 and negative for MHCI and MHCII, which indicated stem cells with a multipotent phenotype that differentiated into chondrocytes, osteocytes, adipocytes, and tenocytes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gravitational filtration of bone marrow efficiently yielded platelets and cells and produced a progenitor-enriched, leukocyte-reduced product, compared with raw bone marrow.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate canine erythrocyte concentrates (ECs) for the presence of procoagulant phospholipid (PPL), determine whether PPL concentration changes during the course of storage of ECs, and ascertain whether prestorage leukoreduction (removal of leukocytes via gravity filtration) reduces the development of PPL. SAMPLE 10 whole blood units (420 g each) collected from 10 random-source, clinically normal dogs (1 U/dog). PROCEDURES The dogs were randomized to 1 of 2 groups. Of the 10 whole blood units collected, 5 were processed through a standard method, and 5 underwent leukoreduction. Whole blood units were processed to generate ECs, from which aliquots were aseptically collected from each unit weekly for 5 weeks. Supernatants from the concentrates were evaluated for procoagulant activity, which was converted to PPL concentration, by use of an automated assay and by measurement of real-time thrombin generation. RESULTS Supernatants from stored canine ECs contained procoagulant activity as measured by both assays. In general, the PPL concentration gradually increased during the storage period, but leukoreduction reduced the development of increased procoagulant activity over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The presence of PPL in canine ECs may be associated with procoagulant and proinflammatory effects in vivo, which could have adverse consequences for dogs treated with ECs.