This study aimed to characterise the effects of ketosis on milk yield and composition and digestive capacity in transition dairy cows. Seven ketotic and seven healthy cows were housed in individual stalls for six days. Samples of plasma, milk, refused total mixed ration, and faeces were collected, and the blood biochemical parameters, milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and faecal dry matter (FDM) production were determined. Compared with healthy cows, the ketotic cows had significantly higher concentrations of milk fat and citrate, but lower levels of milk protein and lactose. The cows exhibited a need for acid detergent fibre in forage and better digestion of neutral detergent fibre, starch, crude protein, and phosphorus than healthy cows, but more fat and gross energy were excreted in their faeces. Ketotic cows had higher energy-corrected milk yields and lower FDM than healthy cows. Lower feed intake coinciding with the requirement to maintain high milk production is considered to be the cause of ketosis in dairy cows. Ketotic cows exhibited lower dry matter fat digestion.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of orally administered melatonin on the intraocular pressure (IOP) of ophthalmologically normal dogs. ANIMALS 20 ophthalmologically normal dogs (40 eyes). PROCEDURES In a randomized crossover study, each dog received a 7-day regimen of melatonin (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) and a placebo (150 mg of lactose powder in a capsule, PO, q 12 h), with a 7-day washout period between treatment regimens. Rebound tonometry was used to measure the IOP in both eyes of each dog 5 times at 2-hour intervals on days 0 (before administration of the first dose), 2, 4, and 7 (after administration of the last dose) of each treatment period. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of treatment, day, and IOP measurement time within day on IOP. RESULTS Intraocular pressure was not significantly associated with treatment but was associated with day and the interaction between day and IOP measurement time within day. The mean ± SD IOP was 14.26 ± 2.95 and 14.34 ± 2.69 mm Hg for the melatonin and placebo regimens, respectively. Within each treatment period, the mean IOP tended to decrease from day 0 to 7 as well as within each day, which was attributed to the dogs becoming acclimated to the study protocol and natural diurnal variations in IOP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that oral administration of melatonin (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg, q 12 h for 7 d) did not significantly affect the IOP of ophthalmologically normal dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of orally administered raltegravir in cats with experimentally induced ocular and respiratory feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection. ANIMALS 14 healthy 6-month-old unvaccinated specific pathogen–free cats. PROCEDURES On day 0, all cats were experimentally inoculated by topical application of 0.1 mL of a solution containing 106 plaque-forming units of FHV-1 strain FH2CS to the inferior conjunctival fornix of each eye. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either raltegravir (80 mg; n = 7) or lactose (250 mg; vehicle; 7), PO, every 12 hours for 14 days beginning on day 1. Cats were assigned clinical ocular and respiratory disease scores every other day from days 0 to 30. Conjunctival swab specimens were collected for detection of FHV-1 by virus isolation and real-time PCR assay at 3-day intervals from days 0 to 30. Confocal microscopy was performed on days 0 and 10 to assess corneal epithelial leukocyte infiltration. The assessed variables and duration of FHV-1 shedding were compared between the 2 treatment groups. RESULTS Cats in both groups developed moderate to severe conjunctivitis and ulcerative keratitis characteristic of FHV-1 infection. Median duration of FHV-1 shedding was shorter and signs of ocular and respiratory disease were less severe for raltegravir-treated cats than for vehicle-treated cats. However, the mean conjunctival FHV-1 titer and corneal epithelial leukocyte count did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested orally administered raltegravir might be effective for alleviation of ocular and respiratory signs of FHV-1 infection in cats.