Rafael Oliveira Chaves

Doença vestibular em cães: 81 casos (2006-2013)

Eighty-one cases of vestibular disease in dogs were diagnosed by the neurology service in a veterinary teaching hospital in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Approximately 2/3 of these cases were interpreted as central vestibular disease (CVD) with the remaining cases being considered as peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Pure breed dogs, especially Dachshunds (PVD) and Boxers (CVD) were more affected than mixed breed dogs. The main clinical signs observed in cases of CVD and PVD included head tilt, vestibular ataxia, and ventral or ventrolateral strabismus. Proprioceptive deficits, cranial nerve V-XII dysfunction, and changes in the levels of conscience were observed only in cases of CVD, whereas absence of palpebral reflex occurred only in cases of PVD. Inflammatory or infectious diseases, especially canine distemper and bacterial otitis were the most commonly observed conditions associated with CVD and PVD, respectively. This article establishes the epidemiology (sex, age, and breed) and prevalence of clinical signs related to canine vestibular disease in the Central Rio Grande do Sul State; discusses the use of the clinical findings in the correct diagnosis and differentiation between CVD and PVD; and defines the main specific diseases responsible for the occurrence of CVD and PVD in dogs.

Immobilizer Removable Articulate in Rehabilitation of Dogs Submitted to Tenorrhaphy Patellar

Background: In cases of patellar tendon ruptures, there is a need for primary repair by sutures aiming to restore the extensor mechanism of the knee and prevent degenerative sequelae. Even though the need for temporary immobilization of the joint reconstruction surgeries involving tendons and ligaments, seeks to avoid or minimize the undesirable effects of disuse without any interference at the surgical site. Thus, the objective of this research was to propose a model of joint immobilization adjustable in dogs undergoing patellar tenorrhaphy to allow, in the immediate postoperative period, the achievement of physical therapy modalities without interfering with the healing of the involved structures. Materials, Methods & Results: The dogs were randomly divided into two groups called fixed immobilization or GF (6 dogs) and adjustable or GA (5 dogs) immobilization. Once on plane and restrained in dorsal decubitus, lateral incision was performed on the right knee in dogs GF and GA for total section of the patellar tendon at its insertion 10 mm at the tibial crest. Immediately, it was made with tenorrhaphy modified Kessler suture pattern using monofilament nylon wire no 1, followed by a Wolff point involving modified Kessler suture with the same type of wire. In both groups, the joint was immobilized femorotibiopatelar percutaneous external fixation biplanar at an angle of 110° for 30 days. The groups differed by the material used to connect the percutaneous pins, being employed in the GF acrylic resin, and in GA dogs was made adjustable apparatus which consisted of two stainless steel plates with rounded ends with three equally spaced holes 2.5 mm between them in the central part of the plate and the edge of 6mm, which is joined with the other plate by a nut and bolt and allowing to adjust the desired angle of the device. Were utilized four Steinmann pins 2.5 mm, two in the femur and two tibia, introduced perpendicularly to the bone. The assembled apparatus was encased in percutaneous pins and stuck with stainless steel nuts and lock washers causing immobilization of the knee joint, however adjustable in the period of application of physiotherapy protocol. The results demonstrated a reduction in measures in the period of 30 days, indicating that there was muscle atrophy. At 60 days post-operative values demonstrating increased muscle mass gain probably the bearing of the affected limb to the ground. In this study, was possible to observe that the values at 60 days did not return to the same found preoperatively, and the dogs GF and GA were on average 92.19% of the initial values. As for gait analysis, all dogs GF and GA were grade 5, 1 and 3 of lameness in the preoperative period and after 30 and 60 days after surgery, respectively. Discussion: The joint immobilization in dogs submitted to tenorrhaphy is required, however, the member cannot be used properly, which can lead to sequelae such as muscle atrophy from disuse and especially joint blockage. Currently in human medicine assisted rehabilitation in the immediate post-operative recovery involving the reconstruction of tendons and ligaments, without the need for joint immobilization is required, because patients are instructed to restrict the movements postoperatively. In veterinary medicine, however, it becomes risky this type of conduct, especially the lack of control the movements made by animals, arousing interest in this research to propose joint that could be undone each day to allow implementation of a method of immobilization physiotherapy and at the end of the session, the joint was immobilized again. According to the results, we can conclude that the temporary immobilization with adjustable articulating fixator in dogs submitted to patellar tenorrhaphy allows the use of a physical therapy protocol during the period of immobilization, without interfering with the healing of tendon anastomosis.

Sonda uretral flexível como método alternativo para aferição invasiva da pressão intracraniana em trauma cranioencefálico induzido em coelhos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of flexible urethral catheter as an alternative method for measuring intracranial pressure in rabbits with head trauma induced by 4 F Fogarty catheter (epidural balloon) and compare the data obtained with the conventional method of ventriculostomy catheter. In this study, New Zealand rabbits were randomly distributed into two groups, G1: measuring the ICP with ventriculostomy catheter (n=6) and G2: measuring the ICP with urethral catheter (n=6). Two craniotomies were performed in the right and left parietal region for the implantation of a ventriculostomy catheter and/or flexible urethral catheter and epidural 4 Fr Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter, respectively. MAP, CPP, HR, RF and RT values were measured before and after of the craniotomy. The ICP value was measured after craniotomy, every five minutes during 40 minutes after the balloon was inflated with 0.3 ml with NaCl and further 40 minutes after the balloon was inflated with 0.6 ml. The ICP value increased in both groups; however, the ICP values were lower in the flexible urethral catheter. The flexible urethral catheter can be used as an alternative method to measure ICP values in rabbits with head injury.

Therapeutic Aspects of Dogs with Presumptive Diagnosis of Idiopathic Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterised by recurrent epileptic seizures. Various antiepileptic drugs are used for the management of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Phenobarbital is the drug of choice for long-term treatment in dogs. Although it is well tolerated, phenobarbital can cause liver injury if administered alone or in combination with other drugs. Therefore, the main of this study was to identify dogs with presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy and information about the antiepileptic drugs, the dose and frequency of administration, period of treatment, frequency of the seizure before and after start the treatment, complementary exams and adverse effects. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study were included 21 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. All dogs were examined and having blood taken for blood count, biochemical tests (ALT, AST, AP, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, amylase, lipase, cholesterol and triglycerides), measurement of serum phenobarbital and/or potassium bromide and, some dogs, free T4 by dialysis and canine TSH. In this study, it was observed monotherapy (phenobarbital) in 76.19% (16/21), double therapy (phenobarbital and potassium bromide) in 19.05% (4/21) and triple therapy (phenobarbital, potassium bromide and gabapentin) in 4.76% (1/21) of dogs. The phenobarbital was used as monotherapy with dose between 1.4 and 12 mg kg-1 and the median of serum concentration was 26.41 μg kg-1. There was significant reduction in the frequency of the seizure after start the treatment. There was refractory to antiepileptic drugs in two dogs (9.5%). In blood analysis, there was increase serum activities of AP (23.81%) and ALT (14.20%), decrease total protein (42.29%), hypoalbuminemia (9.5%) and it was not increased AST activities. The main adverse effects were nodularliver damage and hypothyroidism. Discussion: In most cases of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, monotherapy is preferred, because it tends to avoid complications that may arise from drug interactions and may also improve compliance by providing a simple treatment regimen. In this study, the phenobarbital controlled the seizures when used as monotherapy. It is considered success of an antiseizure drug when there is a reduction of seizure frequency by at least 50%, with minimal drug side effects. Approximately 20-30% of dogs with epilepsy do not have satisfactory seizure control or experience intolerable adverse effects with appropriate conventional medical treatment. In this study, there was refractory to antiepileptic drugs in 9.5%, one dog treated with phenobarbital and other with phenobarbital and potassium bromide. The long-term use of phenobarbital causes increase in liver enzymes, ALT and, mainly, ALP, these are attributed to enzymatic induction and to low degree of liver damage. ALT and AP increased the values and this does not necessarily indicate clinically significant liver damage or the need to stop therapy. The risk of liver toxicity appears to be greater with concentrations higher than 35 μg mL-1 or when multiple potentially hepatotoxic drugs are used. Other factors associated to the long-term use of anticonvulsant, such phenobarbital, potassium bromide or both, for the treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs is acute pancreatitis and hypothyroidism. In this study, it was not observed acute pancreatitis, but there were two dogs with hypothyroidism. The long-term use of phenobarbital did not cause significant side effects, even with changes in the biochemical tests.

Meloxicam associado ou não ao tramadol no controle da dor após ovário-histerectomia videoassistida em cadelas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of meloxicam with or without tramadol for pain control after laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy (OVH) by two-portal access. Were selected 14 healthy dogs to perform video-assisted OVHs. The animals were divided randomly into two groups (GM and GMT). The GM group received meloxicam (0.2mg kg-1, s.i.d), whereas the GMT group received the combination of meloxicam (0.2mg kg-1, s.i.d) and tramadol (4mg kg-1, tid), both for two days after surgery. To evaluate the post-surgical pain Melbourne and EVA scales were used, and blood glucose and serum cortisol were measured. There was no statistical difference when evaluating GM and GMT groups and the Melbourne scale or the visual analogue scale VAS. Cortisol measurements did not reach values higher than the reference for the species, while blood glucose levels did not present significant statistical variation throughout the evaluation time or between groups. With these results, we concluded that the use of meloxicam with or without the tramadol at the doses and dosage schedules proposed, is effective to control postoperative pain in bitches that had undergone video-assisted OVH with two-portal access.

Gemistocytic astrocytoma in the spinal cord in a dog: a case report

Relata-se um caso de uma variante rara de astrocitoma na medula cervical, diagnosticado em cadela com sinais neurologicos progressivos, inicialmente assimetricos, de tetraparesia nao ambulatoria, com reflexos segmentares e tonus muscular normais nos quatro membros e ausencia de dor a palpacao da coluna cervical. A mielografia revelou atenuacao da linha de contraste ventral e dorsal na regiao da terceira a quinta vertebra cervical. A necropsia, foi observada massa cilindrica intramedular que se estendia da terceira a sexta vertebra cervical, a qual substituia toda a substância cinzenta da medula espinhal. No estudo histologico, observou-se substituicao da substância por manto de celulas neoplasicas arranjadas frouxamente. As celulas eram grandes e levemente arredondadas. O citoplasma eosinofilico, bem delineado, por vezes formava processos interligando as celulas. O nucleo era excentrico, redondo, oval ou reniforme, e o nucleolo evidente. Logo, as alteracoes microscopicas observadas na medula espinhal cervical foram compativeis com astrocitoma gemistocitico.

Heating produced by therapeutic ultrasound in the presence of a metal plate in the femur of canine cadavers.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o aquecimento gerado pelo ultrassom terapeutico (UST) na placa ossea metalica e estruturas adjacentes apos a fixacao no femur de cadaveres caninos. Foram utilizados dez pares de membros pelvicos, distribuidos igualmente entre os grupos que utilizaram as frequencias de 1 e 3 MHz. Cada frequencia testou as intensidades de 1 e 2 W/cm², sendo que o membro pelvico direito foi definido grupo controle (ausencia da placa ossea metalica) e o membro pelvico esquerdo o grupo teste (presenca da placa ossea metalica). Portanto, os grupos controles foram denominados GCI, com UST na frequencia de 1 MHz e intensidade de 1 W/cm²; GCII, com 1 MHz e 2 W/cm²; GCIII, com frequencia de 3 MHz e intensidade de 1 W/cm²; e GCIV, com 3 MHz e 2 W/cm². Para cada grupo controle, seu respectivo grupo teste foi denominado GTI, GTII, GTIII e GTIV. O UST foi aplicado na face lateral da coxa, utilizando o modo continuo, transdutor de 3,5cm², em uma area de 6,25cm², durante dois minutos. Foram utilizados sensores acoplados a termometros digitais que mediram a temperatura em diferentes locais antes (t0) e apos (t1) a aplicacao do UST. Pode-se verificar que as temperaturas em t1 foram maiores em todos os grupos testados. Os grupos que testaram a frequencia de 3 MHz demonstraram que a temperatura intramuscular foi significativamente maior (P<0,05) na presenca da placa ossea metalica. O ultrassom terapeutico no modo continuo de 1 e 3 MHz e intensidades de 1 e 2 W/cm2durante dois minutos promove o aquecimento da placa ossea metalica e estruturas adjacentes apos a fixacao no femur de cadaveres caninos.