Peter Kimeli

A retrospective study on findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya.

Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya. Materials and Methods: Records for 591 dogs were included in this study. The data was obtained from the national screening office, Kenya Veterinary Board, for the period between the years 1998 and 2014. Monthly screening records were assessed and information relating to year of evaluation, breed, sex, age, and hip score captured. Descriptive statistics of hip scores was computed based on year, sex, age, and breed. Results: A total of 591 records from the year 1998 to 2014 were retrieved at the National Screening Centre, the Kenya Veterinary Board. Each record was examined and data pertaining to year of screening, the breed, sex, age of the dogs, and the total hip score were recorded. The highest number of dogs screened for hip dysplasia (HD) was in the year 2009 and the lowest in the year 1998. More females than males were screened for HD and the mean age of all the dogs was 22.9±12.7 months. The most common breeds of dogs screened during the study period were German Shepherd (67.0%), Rottweiler (15.6%), and Labrador Retriever (12.2%). The mean hip score for the 591 dogs was 15.1±10.9 and the median 12.0. The mean hip scores per breed were; German Shepherd (16.3±12.1); Golden Retriever (16.0); Hungarian Vizla (15.0); Labrador Retriever (3.0±6.7); Great Dane (13.3±3.2); Rottweiler (12.2±8.2); Doberman (10.3±4.2); Rhodesian Ridgeback (9.6±3.8); and Boxer (9.3±0.6). Based on the hip score, moderate to severe HD was diagnosed in 16.6% of the dogs, mild HD in 32.7%, Borderline HD in 37.7%, fair HD in 6.9%, and good HD in 6.1%. Conclusion: Canine HD is a common occurrence in Kenya with most dogs suffering mild to border line HD. In addition, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever appear to be the most affected breeds. It is therefore recommended that stringent measures be imposed to dog breeding programs to avoid transmission of this undesirable trait and consequently improve the welfare and the quality of dog breeds in Kenya.

Knowledge and practices of the residents living along the Nairobi river riparian on the use of the contaminated river for farming and its effects on animal reproduction

Residents practising pig farming along the Nairobi River Riparian in Kenyawere interviewed to evaluate theirknowledge and practices on the use of the contaminated riverfor farming and its effects on animal reproduction. Eighty (80) farms were purposively selected and questionnaires administered to the pig owners as respondents.Majority (72.5%) were involved in urban farming as supplementary source of income while the rest had farming as their main occupation. Over a third of them (38.8%) had attained secondary level of education. Over forty percent (42.5%, N=34) respondents used the contaminated river for pig farming. The main reason cited for the use of the river water for farming were that it is a free source and readily available (N=20).The main reproductive effect noted on the male pigs was abdominally testes. The reproductive defect points towards environmental estrogen toxicant within the water of the Nairobi riversuggesting the residents need to be made aware of the potential danger of the use of the contaminated water for farming.

Diffuse Peritonitis Associated With Ventral Hernia In An Adult Doe: Case Report

A case of diffuse fibrino-purulent peritonitis associated with ventral abdominal hernia is reported in an adult non-descript doe. The affected animal was noticed to have developed a swelling on the left ventro- lateral aspect of the abdomen a day after parturition and inappentance two weeks later. Clinical examination revealed dyspnea, dullness and shivering. The rectal temperature was 37.2 o C and respiratory rate 42 breathes per minute. There was a swelling on left ventral abdomen with a palpable ring at its base. Ultrasonography confirmed the presence of intestinal loops in the swelling and hematology revealed severe leukocytosis, lymphopenia and decreased hematocrit. Initial medical management was undertaken for five days before herniorrhaphy. Celiotomy revealed one liter of straw-colored peritoneal fluid, extensive intra-abdominal adhesions and diffuse fibrin formation with multiple pockets of pus. Despite aggressive efforts to manage this condition, the animal died four hours after surgery. Autopsy revealed purulent exudates in the subcutis and abdominal muscles peripheral to the corrected ventral hernia.

Use of brachial plexus blockade and medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anaesthesia for repair of radio-ulna fracture in an adult cheetah (acinonyx jubatus)

BackgroundRegional anaesthetic techniques have been used in combination with systemic analgesics during small animal surgery to provide multimodal analgesia. Brachial plexus nerves block using local anaesthetics provides analgesia of the thoracic limb through desensitization of the nerves that provide sensory and motor innervation. This has been shown to reduce intra-operative anesthetic requirements and provide postoperative pain relief. Decreasing the doses of general anaesthetics allows more stable cardiopulmonary function during anaesthesia and the development of less side effects. The present case reports a successful use of brachial plexus blockade to supplement medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anaesthesia for repair of radio-ulna fracture in an adult cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).Case presentationAn adult male Cheetah weighing about 65 kg was presented with a history of leg carrying lameness of the left forelimb sustained following a car accident a week earlier. Clinical examination under general anaesthesia revealed slight dehydration and a swelling with a wound on the caudo-medial aspect of the left radio-ulna region. Crepitation was present on manipulation and radiography confirmed a complete transverse radio-ulna fracture of the left forelimb, which required open reduction and internal fixation. Brachial plexus blockade using lignocaine hydrochloride was used to supplement medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anaesthesia for the surgical procedure. Isoflurane anaesthesia was maintained at 0.5 - 2.0% throughout the surgical procedure, which was uneventful. Temperature and cardio-pulmonary parameters remained stable intra-operatively. Limb paralysis extended for 5 hours post-operatively, suggesting prolonged anaesthesia.ConclusionTo the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of the use of brachial plexus blockade to supplement general anaesthesia to facilitate forelimb surgery in an adult cheetah. The use of brachial plexus block with a light plane of general anaesthesia proved to be successful. Brachial plexus block had a sparing effect on isoflurane anaesthesia as evidenced by the concentration used for maintenance of anaesthesia and the stability of the cardiopulmonary function. Moreover, absence of autonomic cardiopulmonary reactions to the surgical manipulation may be attributed to the efficacy of brachial plexus block. This anaesthesia protocol is therefore recommended for surgeries of the forelimb in wild cats.