Effect of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) on uterine antibacterial activity and immunoglobulin concentrations in mares was studied. In 2 in vitro experiments, 6 mixed-breed mares were ovariectomized, and uterine fluid and blood serum were analyzed. Antibacterial assay methods were used to determine inhibitory effects on Streptococcus zooepidemicus of uterine fluid samples collected on days 3, 5, and 8, and serum obtained on day 8 of treatment. Single radial immunodiffusion methods were used to quantify amounts of IgA and IgG in uterine fluid and serum on days 3, 5, 8, and 14 of treatment. Neither E2 nor P4 increased activity of serum and uterine fluid against S zooepidemicus. Numbers of colony-forming units per milliliter of bacteria were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in control Hanks' balanced salt solution with 1.0% gelatin (HBSSG) than in uterine fluids. Bacterial numbers were significantly (50%) greater in uterine fluids and serum than in HBSSG controls for both treatments. Both fluids, especially serum, supported significantly (P < 0.01) more growth of S zooepidemicus than did HBSSG when incubated for 0, 2, and 4 hours. These findings are in contrast to previous reports of antibacterial activity in the uterus of sexually intact mares undergoing an estrous cycle: great reduction of bacterial count in uterine fluid from mares in diestrus, and significant increases in bacterial numbers in uterine fluid or serum from mares in estrus. Treatment comparisons between serum and uterine fluid IgA and IgG concentrations were not significantly different, although overall IgA concentration in the uterus was higher than concentration in serum. The IgG concentration in uterine fluid was higher in P4- than E2-treated mares. However, IgG concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in uterine fluid on day 8 in P4-treated mares than on day 3 or 5. Results of this study indicate that neither immunoglobulin concentration nor hormone treatment has a direct effec.

The purpose of the study reported here, to investigate the effect of atropine on cardio-respiratory parameters and body temperature in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy with the combination of medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia. Twenty-six adult female intact domestic cats were admitted to Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for routine elective ovariohysterectomy. The animals were divided into two groups by the randomized grouping method before the operation. Trial animals (n=14) received atropine together with medetomidine and ketamine anesthesia. In control animals (n=12) received the same anesthesia without atropine injection. At the end of the operation, animals were moved to the critical care unit and the measurements of vital parameters were performed. Heart, respiration rates, deep rectal temperature and status of anesthesia recovery were recorded after the operation every 10 minutes for 1 hour.There was a group, time, and group x time interaction noted for heart rate. Treatment cats showed greater heart rate during measurement. The mean respiratory rate and deep rectal temperature were in reference ranges for cats and similar for both groups. In both groups significant sedation induced, however, the scores were not statistically significant among groups.In conclusion, atropine is an effective drug preventing decrease of heart rate and patients have shown less undesirable side effects when it is used before the administration of medetomidine in cats that operated for ovariohysterectomy.

Objective—To evaluate the effect of ovariectomy on insulin sensitivity in horses and determine whether the effects of suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis differ before and after ovariectomy. Animals—6 healthy mares. Procedures—The horses underwent an IV glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), an insulin sensitivity test, and a dexamethasone suppression test before and 5 weeks after ovariectomy. Body weight, serum cortisol and plasma ACTH concentrations, serum insulin-to-blood glucose concentration ratios, and changes in blood glucose concentration with time after injection of glucose or insulin were compared before and after ovariectomy. Results—The dexamethasone injection resulted in a decrease in serum cortisol concentration before and after ovariectomy. In all horses, baseline plasma ACTH concentrations were within the reference range before and after ovariectomy. For each mare, results of an IVGTT before and after ovariectomy were considered normal. No significant differences in basal blood glucose concentration or time to reach baseline glucose concentration after an IVGTT were observed. Basal serum insulin concentration and serum insulin-to-blood glucose concentration ratios were not significantly different before or after ovariectomy, nor was the mean time to attain a 50% decrease in blood glucose concentration after insulin injection. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that ovariectomy does not appear to modify dexamethasone response in horses and that it does not modify short-term measures of insulin sensitivity. Findings suggested that horses undergoing ovariectomy are not at higher risk of developing equine metabolic syndrome or hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction and associated morbidity.

Objective—To evaluate the effects of perioperative oral administration of carprofen and meloxicam on concentrations of 3 acute-phase proteins in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Animals—18 healthy adult anestrous female dogs undergoing elective OVH. Procedures—Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group). A placebo treatment, carprofen (2.0 mg/kg), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was orally administered to the dogs of the respective groups. The initial doses were administered 30 minutes before premedication prior to OVH; additional doses were administered once daily for 4 days after surgery. Blood samples were collected 45 minutes before premedication and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after the end of OVH; samples were used for measurement of total WBC and neutrophil counts and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen. Results—Values did not differ significantly among groups for WBC and neutrophil counts, serum concentrations of CRP and ceruloplasmin, and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. Concentrations of all inflammatory markers, except serum ceruloplasmin, increased significantly following OVH, but in a similar manner for each group. No significant changes were detected in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations over time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Perioperative administration of both carprofen and meloxicam did not significantly affect the concentrations of CRP, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in dogs undergoing OVH. Thus, use of carprofen or meloxicam should not affect clinical interpretation of results for these 3 acute-phase proteins.

Objective: To investigate the hemostatic response to surgery and compare the response for ovariohysterectomy with that for ovariectomy and to evaluate the usefulness of thromboelastography on plasma samples. Animals: 42 female dogs. Procedures: Dogs were assigned to undergo ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy. Blood samples were collected immediately before and 1, 6, and 24 hours after surgery and stored at −80°C for subsequent analysis. Plasma samples were subjected to thromboelastography after thawing. In addition, coagulation variables were measured, including concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and protein C; activity of factor VIII; activated partial thromboplastin time; prothrombin time; and thrombin time. The fibrinolytic response was assessed via concentrations of D-dimer, plasminogen, and α-2-antiplasmin (plasmin inhibitor). Results: Substantial hemostatic and fibrinolytic activation was evident after surgery in both groups, as characterized by significantly increased global clot strength and an overall hypercoagulable state at 4 hours after surgery in addition to decreases in von Willebrand factor antigen and factor VIII concentrations and shortened prothrombin and thrombin times. The dogs also typically had activation of the fibrinolytic system, as evidenced by increased postoperative concentrations of D-dimer, plasminogen, and plasmin inhibitor. Differences between the 2 groups could not be detected for any variables. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Elective surgery with limited tissue trauma induced hemostatic activation in dogs, which led to hypercoagulability after surgery. A difference between the ovariohysterectomy and ovariectomy groups was not detected. Thromboelastography can be used on plasma samples and may be useful for evaluating patterns over time.

Objective-To compare the urodynamic and morphologic effects of the administration of estriol alone and in combination with phenylpropanolamine on the lower portion of the urogenital tract in female dogs. Animals-3 sexually intact and 3 spayed female Beagles without urinary incontinence. Procedure-Dogs received estriol (2 mg, PO) once daily for 7 days followed by estriol (2 mg, PO) and phenylpropanolamine (1.5 mg/kg, PO) once daily for 7 days. Urethral pressure profilometry, diuresis cystometry, and vaginourethrography were performed before treatment (day 0) and at days 7 and 14. The maximum urethral pressure (MUP) and closure pressure (MUCP), urethral functional and anatomic profile lengths, integrated pressure (IP), plateau, distance before MUP, maximum meatus pressure, threshold pressure, threshold volume, compliance, urethral length, and vaginal length and width were measured. Results-Before treatment, no urodynamic differences were observed between the 2 groups; however, vaginal length and width were significantly shorter in spayed dogs. Compared with day 0 values, estriol treatment significantly increased MUP, MUCP, and IP values at day 7, but at day 14, this effect decreased despite phenylpropanolamine administration. No morphologic changes from baseline were detected after either treatment in any dog. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Data suggest that estriol mainly acts on the urethral sphincter mechanism by increasing urethral resistance in sexually intact and spayed female dogs without urinary incontinence. Administration of estriol and phenylpropanolamine did not increase the urethral resistance more than estriol alone. The urodynamic effects of estriol in female dogs with urinary incontinence remain to be elucidated.

We performed a study to determine a reference range for serum alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) in dogs by specific immunoassay; to evaluate whether serum alpha 1 AT concentration varied with age, sex, or reproductive status in healthy dogs; and to investigate whether the serum alpha 1 AT concentration in hospitalized dogs differed from that of healthy, nonhospitalized dogs. Serum alpha 1 AT was quantitated by radial gel immunodiffusion for 60 healthy dogs and 311 hospitalized dogs. In healthy dogs, serum alpha 1 AT concentration was 2.33 +/- 0.41 mg/ml (mean +/- SD), yielding a reference range (mean +/- 2 SD) of 1.51 to 3.15 mg/ml. A correlation was not found between serum alpha 1 AT concentration and age in healthy dogs. The serum alpha 1 AT concentration (mean +/- SEM mg/ml) was significantly higher in healthy, sexually intact females (2.64 +/- 0.1) than in healthy, spayed females (2.22 +/- 0.12; P < 0.004); healthy, sexually intact males (2.14 +/- 0.1; P < 0.0006); and healthy, castrated males (2.25 +/- 0.14; P < 0.02). Hospitalized, sexually intact females had a lower serum alpha 1 AT concentration (1.93 +/- 0.07) than healthy, sexually intact females (2.64 +/- 0.1; P < 0.0002). Likewise, the serum alpha 1 AT concentration in hospitalized, sexually intact males (1.92 +/- 0.04) was less than in healthy, sexually intact males (2.14 +/- 0.1; P < 0.04). A difference in alpha 1 AT concentration was not found between healthy and hospitalized, neutered dogs.

Sixteen IgA-deficient German Shepherd Dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth were randomized into 2 groups. One group was fed a chicken-based kibble diet; the other was fed the same diet, but with 1% fructo-oligosaccharides supplemented at the expense of cornstarch. After being exposed to the diets for 46 to 51 days, the group that ate the supplemented diet had significantly (P = 0.04) fewer aerobic/facultative anaerobic bacterial colony-forming units in fluid from the duodenum/proximal part of the jejunum, as well as in the duodenal mucosa. We could not detect significant differences in the species of bacteria found in the intestine of these 2 groups of dogs. We conclude that at least some dietary carbohydrates can affect small intestinal bacterial populations in dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Five healthy adult mares and 1 gelding were given a single dose (15 mg/kg of body weight) of metronidazole per rectum. After manual evacuation of feces from the rectum, a suspension of crushed tablets and water (40 ml) was administered via a 28-F catheter advanced 30 cm into the rectum. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture, and metronidazole concentration was measured serially for the 14 hours after drug administration. Mean serum concentration of metronidazole peaked at 4.5 micrograms/ml, 0.83 hour after administration, and decreased to 0.38 micrograms/ml, 14 hours after administration. Mean elimination rate constant was 0.23/h, and the harmonic mean elimination half-life was 3.04 hours. Further study is necessary to determine a therapeutic dose regimen for metronidazole administered per rectum.

Changes in platelet indices (platelet count and platelet size) and PCV associated with thyroid disease were studied in 7 dogs with hypothyroidism and 21 cats with hyperthyroidism that were admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital. Compared with control (euthyroid) dogs, dogs with hypothyroidism had higher platelet count (P = 0.003), smaller platelet size (P = 0.01), and lower PCV (P = 0.02). Comparison of the group of hyperthyroid cats with a group of similarly aged, clinically normal cats with normal thyroxine values indicated that the group of hyperthyroid cats had significantly (P = 0.03) higher mean platelet size than did control cats, but differences were not found in mean platelet count or PCV. Results of this investigation indicate that the changes in platelet size reported in human beings with thyroid endocrinopathies also are found in animals so-affected. Although the pathogenesis of platelet abnormalities in animals with thyroid derangement is unclear and likely is multifactorial, the observed relation between platelet and erythrocyte production in this group of dogs is consistent with reports of an inverse relation between thrombocytopoiesis and erythropoiesis in iatrogenically hyperthyroid mice and in mice exposed to hypoxia.