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A 3-year-old male Beagle dog was presented for a physical examination, which revealed a mild stiff neck that was affecting movement. The imaging modalities led to our diagnosis of an asymmetric fusion of the occipital condyle and atlas wing consistent with Atlanto-occipital assimilation (AOA). An incomplete ossification of the atlas and axis, dysplastic dens, and a blocked vertebra were also noted. During a two-year follow-up, the dog showed no other clinical signs or disease progression. To our knowledge, this is the first imaging description of AOA in veterinary medicine. We recommend a careful CT (computed tomography) and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) evaluation in cases of neck pain and cervical myelopathy, and inclusion of AOA among the differential diagnoses, with the awareness that its clinical signs resemble those of other canine diseases.

To describe transscleral ultrasonography as a novel alternative approach for visualising the optic nerve sheath and measuring its diameter and to analyse the linear regressions of the optic nerve sheath diameter value with the weights and morphometric measurements of the globe in dogs. Forty healthy dogs admitted for routine sterilisation were examined. Under general anaesthesia, a B-mode ultrasonography with a linear probe (9-18 MHz) was applied transscleral in the dorso-temporal quadrant. The optic nerve sheath diameter was measured 3 mm behind the caudal aspect of the globe. The morphometric measurements, including the axial globe, lens thickness and vitreous chamber, were estimated by two observers using the direct corneal approach. Univariate and multivariate multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the associations of the independent predictors with dependent variables. The optic nerve sheath diameter intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses revealed interobserver 0.91 (ICC = 0.83-0.95) and intraobserver 0.93 (ICC = 0.87-0.96) reliability. The multiple regression analysis revealed that the optic nerve sheath diameter was associated with the weight (R² = 0.60, P < 0.0001) but not with the axial globe (P = 0.48), the lens thickness (P = 0.73) or the vitreous chamber (P = 0.99). The findings of this study suggest that transscleral ultrasonography may be a valid alternative approach for the optic nerve visualisation and optic nerve sheath diameter measurements with excellent intra- and interobserver repeatability. The optic nerve sheath diameter was associated with the body weight, but not with the morphometric measurements of the globe.

In the last few years, it has become easier to diagnose congenital brain malformations in dog's ante-mortem. This is probably due to the wider availability of advanced diagnostic imaging, in particular computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite this, there is still not much literature available about potential treatments, outcome and overall prognosis with respect to the patient's quality of life. We present three cases of Dandy-Walker malformation in Polish hunting dogs with up to five years follow up including assessment of their quality of life. A nine-week-old Polish hunting dog was presented with progressive signs of ataxia that had developed over the preceding few weeks. MRI revealed a Dandy-Walker malformation. The dog underwent MRI at the ages of 12 and 36 months, and his neurological condition was followed for five years. No other subsequent abnormities were found on further diagnostic tests. The dog showed transient behavioural problems which improved after castration and training. The ataxia seen at first visit improved with time and intensive physiotherapy, and the dog was considered to have a good quality of life in the owner's eyes. A further two cases shared a similar disease course. Dandy-Walker malformation was confirmed with MRI, but diagnostic imaging could not be reported here because the owner did not consent to publication. The Dandy-Walker malformations described in these three Polish hunting dogs had a stable disease course and revealed that dogs suffering from this condition may have a good quality of life, providing no other abnormalities are detected and rehabilitation is performed.

The acquired form of Fanconi syndrome is seldom identified in dogs; those cases that have been reported have been secondary to hepatic copper toxicosis, primary hypoparathyroidism, ingestion of chicken jerky treats, exposure to ethylene glycol, or gentamicin toxicity. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of acquired Fanconi syndrome secondary to Babesia infection or ingestion of cosmetics in dogs. We here report on two dogs presented with a history of marked polyuria, polydipsia, and lethargy. Laboratory examinations showed glucosuria with normoglycaemia and severe urinary loss of amino acids. One dog was infected with Babesia gibsoni and the other dog had a history of cosmetics ingestion. The first dog received treatment for Babesia infection and the second dog received aggressive care to correct metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalances, and other add-on deficiencies. In both dogs, the Fanconi syndrome was successfully managed following the treatment for the underlying causes. In conclusion, both Babesia infection and cosmetics ingestion should be considered as a possible aetiology for transient acquired Fanconi syndrome in canine patients.

A 10-year-old female Papillon and a 1-year-old male Golden Retriever were presented to the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology for a second opinion on an aortic valve stenosis (AS). The aortic flow rate was not as high as it should have been (the aortic flow velocity for case 1 and case 2 was 2.82 m/s and 3.96 m/s, respectively). However, the AS was suspected to be an exacerbating factor in the congestive heart failure, so that a balloon valvuloplasty was conducted. As a result, the congestion and clinical symptoms were much improved in both cases. In conclusion, in cases with an AS, in which afterload is a key factor for the exacerbation of the congestion, a balloon aortic valvuloplasty may reduce the afterload and consequently lead to an improvement in the congestion.

The paper describes a double symmetrical aortic arch in a dog trapping the oesophagus. Thoracotomy was performed in the fourth inter-costal space under general, isoflurane-maintained, anaesthesia. Cutting of the arterial ligament failed to free the oesophagus. Dissection of further vascular structures revealed the left and right aortic arches to be of similar diameter. A vascular clamp was put on the left arch for 10 min, while the patient's cardiovascular parameters were monitored. The lack of significant cardio-respiratory symptoms indicated the necessity of ligating and cutting the left aortic arch. Removal of additional tissue from the region of the cut on the left arch completely released the oesophagus which was continuously monitored by video-oesophagoscopy. The chest was closed according to a standard thoraco-surgical procedure. The cutting of the left aortic arch and the release of the surrounding tissue restored the normal position of the oesophagus. After surgery, the animal was returned to its owners in a very good condition. Control examination showed complete amelioration of clinical symptoms and subsequent normal development of the dog. Intra-operative clamping of the left aortic arch with simultaneous monitoring by oesophagoscopy ensured a positive outcome of the surgery of the intra-operatively diagnosed double aortic arch.

In view of the frequent involvement of endotoxins in the pathogenesis of equine diseases, the present study set out to gain preliminary insight into the challenge caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in donkeys and into the responses of animals to LPS challenge. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the susceptibility and response of donkeys to LPS administration and the first to describe the extent to which donkeys can tolerate a state of endotoxaemia. For this purpose, 18 clinically healthy, native breed donkeys were randomly allocated into three groups of equal size. The first and second groups received E. coli O55:B5 endotoxin at a dose rate of 20 ng/kg (Low dose group), and 5.0 µg/kg (High dose group), respectively, after dilution in 500 ml of 0.9% normal saline, while the third group (Control) received 500 ml of 0.9% isotonic saline solution. Blood samples were drawn from each animal before exposure to LPS and hourly for 6 h subsequently to measure the circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines as well as the cellular response. All animals were clinically monitored throughout the study period. Following LPS exposure, donkeys in both treated groups had quite different temporal patterns of clinical manifestations. The high dose of LPS yielded a statistically significant (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) increase in heart rate, and respiratory rate, as well as hypothermia and poor outcome compared with animals receiving the low dose. The severity of colic was, in general, mild in donkeys receiving the low dose of LPS, while the signs were overt in those receiving the high dose. Donkeys of both treated groups exhibited marked cellular alterations and up-regulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 with a marginal increase in the values of serum amyloid A compared with controls (P < 0.05). The results described herein demonstrate that donkeys can respond to even a physiological dose of E. coli O55:B5 endotoxin, while a high dose can elicit overt clinical alterations and marked inflammatory responses. Further studies with an extended follow-up time are needed to verify and generalise the obtained findings and to evaluate novel medications to minimise the deleterious consequences of endotoxaemia in equine patients.

Individual types of retinal dysplasia - folds, geographic and detached, have different impacts on vision ability. The purpose of this study was to undertake a qualitative and comparative evaluation of retinal activity in the individual types of the retinal dysplasia - folds, geographic and detached. Dogs (n = 24) with an ophthalmoscopic diagnosis of retinal dysplasia (rd) underwent vision testing, ophthalmologic examination and electroretinography. A three-degree scale (mild, moderate and severe) was used to describe the severity of ophthalmoscopic lesions in the rd folds and rd geographic forms. Our findings indicate that retinal folds of mild and moderate severity, and the mild geographic type of the rd, have similar effects on ERG responses, while severe retinal folds give lower ERG responses than moderately advanced geographical rd. This study confirms that electroretinography may generate a more comprehensive view of an altered retinal activity in the course of rd, which is helpful in making decisions on qualifying or excluding a given individual from the breeding program.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occupational radiation exposure levels of veterinary staff during fluoroscopic examination using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). A prospective study was conducted to measure radiation doses in three positioned persons (two restrainers and one observer) using TLDs. The TLDs were placed on the inside and outside of the lead-equivalent protective devices of the panorama mask, thyroid shield, apron and arm shield. The TLDs were placed at five anatomic sites (eye, thyroid, breast, gonad and hand). Radiation exposure was measured in 65 fluoroscopic examinations at 80 kVp and 100 mAs. The doses (mSv) (outside/inside the shield) measured in restrainers A and B and observer C were 3.09/0.59, 3.80/0.65 and 0.63/0.44 in the eye; 2.20/0.73, 1.88/1.10 and 0.79/0.45 in the thyroid; 3.42/0.44, 3.94/2.35 and 0.61/0.34 in the breast; 1.84/0.45, 1.69/0.23 and 0.46/0.36 in the gonad; and 5.56/3.16, 8.29/2.99 and 0.79/0.34 in the hand, respectively. Out of all the lead protection devices, the radiation dose of the hand was the highest in all three participants, with the thyroid radiation dose value being the same as the hand in the observer C. Radiation doses received by the eyes of all three participants were also not negligible. Veterinary workers exposed to radiation through not only radiography but also fluoroscopy should wear protective gear, especially for the eyes.

The poor state of health and increased mortality rate of young roe deer, as reported by South Moravian hunters, caused by the increasing numbers of adult nematodes in the lungs of roe deer prompted us to identify the parasites using a combination of morphological measurements and a phylogenetic SSU rRNA analysis. The study was conducted in a 294 ha game reserve in South Moravia, Czech Republic. Molecular and morphometric techniques were used to identify adult nematodes collected from the respiratory tracts of nine 4-5 months old roe deer in poor health (low body weight of 3-4 kg, poor haircoat quality, and, in some cases, symptoms of diarrhoea). The morphological identification was based on a combination of adult worm characteristics corresponding to Dictyocaulus capreolus. A small subunit rRNA (SSU) partial sequence analysis showed the highest identity scores (99%) corresponding to the sequences of D. capreolus from a roe deer (GenBank: AY168859) from Sweden and the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses resulted in a tree with a high branch support for two groups, with our sequences forming a well-supported clade with D. capreolus and Dictyocaulus sp. ex Capreolus capreolus (FJ589016) and Dictyocaulus sp. ex Rupicapra rupicapra (FJ589019) sequences from Spain. The examined roe deer have shown symptoms of diarrhoea, anorexia, and respiratory tract inflammation indicating that there might be a connection to the clinical importance of the Dictyocaulus infection.

A 7-year-old intact male Rottweiler dog was evaluated for recurrent dysphagia and regurgitation. Physical examination was unremarkable and routine blood works were within normal limits. Computed tomography revealed a defined lesion in the caudal mediastinum arising from the oesophagus. The lesion was excised using intercostal thoracotomy and the histological diagnosis was oesophageal duplication cyst. The dog recovered uneventfully and at a 3-year follow-up no clinical signs were reported. Although extremely rare, oesophageal duplication cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of chronic regurgitation and dysphagia associated with evidence of an oesophageal lesion.

The case of a five-year-old spayed female French Bulldog with a mass in the right third eyelid is described. Ultrasonography and computed tomography were used to identify this pathological lesion and to visualise its morphology and extent. The mass was removed and submitted for histopathological examination. A final diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the nictitans gland was made. In the discussion we compare the presented case with the available literature. Only limited information is published about this pathology.

An intracardiac communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium (Geborde defect) was diagnosed in a 9-year Yorkshire Terrier with a history of chronic exercise intolerance. The history, clinical examination, and diagnostic imaging confirmed the diagnosis and did not reveal evidence of trauma or endocarditis which could lead to this special type of left-to-right shunting. A Gerbode defect is a very rare finding in human beings and animals. In the veterinary literature all reports about this condition were related to thoracic trauma or valvular infection. According to the authors, this would be the first clinical case of congenital Geborde defect in a dog.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the density of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactive nerve fibres in the mucosa of different sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Fibre density was analysed in mucosal specimens from the duodenum, jejunum and descending colon of healthy dogs and patients with inflammatory bowel disease of varying intensity. Nervous fibres were stained in single-cell immunofluorescence assays. The density of CART-immunoreactive fibres was determined using a semi-quantitative approach by counting the number of fibres in the field of view (0.1 mm²). An increase in the density of CART-immunoreactive fibres was observed in dogs with moderate and severe IBD in comparison with healthy subjects. The results suggest that the presence of CART in enteric nerve fibres could play a role in the pathogenesis and development of canine IBD.

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin, one of the active components of the Curcuma longa (turmeric) plant, against food pathogens in a minced meat medium. Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 33150 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 strains were used as food pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the macrodilution method. MIC values for curcumin were found to be 125 µg/ml for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, and 250 µg/ml for S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7. Food pathogens were added to the minced meat at 10⁴ CFU/g (including the control group) and curcumin at doses of 0.5%, 1% and 2% (except the control). The curcumin-supplemented minced meat and control were analysed 0-7 days later. At the end of seven days, it was seen that the 2% dose of curcumin had lowered L. monocytogenes and S. aureus counts by approximately 3 log CFU/g, and E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium counts by approximately 2 log CFU/g; the 1% dose had lowered L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium counts by approximately 2 log CFU/g; and that the 0.5% curcumin dose had lowered L. monocytogenes and S. aureus count by approximately 2 log CFU/g, and E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium count by approximately 1 log CFU/g. Changes in bacterial counts were found to be statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). It was observed that antibacterial effect increased in direct proportion to dose, while sensory approval decreased. In this study, 0.5% and 1% curcumin doses were determined to be sensorily acceptable. It was concluded that, in view of the scientific benefits and antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin, it may be used instead of, or in smaller doses together with preservative additives in foods where colour change is not important.

Foreign bodies that affect airways are a well-recognised problem in small-animal practice. Cats in par­ticular, may be especially at risk of aspiration due to their predatory behaviour. Here, we report a case of an insect as a foreign body, namely a beetle in the tracheal bifurcation of a cat. Radiographs suggested a wide range of possibilities for differential diagnosis, but the presence of a foreign body was initially suspected. A final diagnosis was not pursued by the owner and the cat was euthanised. The presence of a summer chafer was then confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time such a foreign body and radiographic findings are reported in the literature.

A 50-day-old male Maltese puppy was presented with difficulty in defaecation. Based on the clinical signs, and physical and radiographic examinations, including computed tomography, his condition was diagnosed as hypospadias, along with atresia ani and urethrorectal fistula. Hypospadias is a congenital malformation of the urethra that is relatively uncommon in dogs, while atresia ani is a rare congenital anomaly of the rectum and anus. An additional anatomic abnormality that can be associated with atresia ani is a fistula between the urogenital tract and rectum. After appropriate surgical procedures, the puppy recovered and defaecation via the anus was restored.

Shoulder joint disorders are a major cause of forelimb lameness in dogs, and osteochondrosis, degenerative joint disease, and bicipital tenosynovitis are common joint disorders that have been reported in dogs. Many studies have investigated pain management after arthroscopy in human medicine, but reports from veterinary medicine are rare. Ropivacaine is a new amide local anaesthetic drug and a single isomer drug that is used more widely than bupivacaine in human medicine because it has fewer side effects. The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic effect of intra-articular injection of ropivacaine after arthroscopic surgery in dog shoulder joints. To accomplish this, ten dogs were randomly divided into two groups of five who underwent the same anaesthesia protocol and shoulder arthroscopic examination. After shoulder arthroscopy, ropivacaine or 0.9% NaCl was injected into the shoulder joint cavity and the dogs were evaluated at one hour, two hours, four hours, six hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after surgery. The evaluated parameters were heart rate, respiratory rate, lameness score, visual analogue scale and the short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale. Ropivacaine showed a higher analgesic effect than 0.9% NaCl, indicating that it may be useful for pain management following arthroscopic surgery in dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of B-mode, Doppler, acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound exams in the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic benign mammary lesions in bitches. This research was conducted as a prospective secondary observational cohort (2014-2016) study, which included 36 mammary lesions, evaluated physically and by ultrasound (B-mode, Doppler, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse) exams prior to mastectomy and histopathological classification as neoplastic or non-neoplastic lesions. All ultrasonographic parameters studied were compared between histopathological classifications using Fisher's or Student's tests and differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. Out of 36 benign mammary lesions evaluated, 25 were classified as neoplastic and 11 as non-neoplastic. The qualitative and quantitative parameters evaluated using the different ultrasound methods were not effective (P > 0.05) in differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic mammary masses in bitches. Nevertheless, some B-mode variables, such as longitudinal length (P = 0.0292), width/length ratio (P = 0.0001) and width/height ratio (P = 0.0001) showed limited efficacy in the differentiation of mammary lesions types. In conclusion, ultrasonographic evaluation of benign canine mammary lesions did not allow differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues and only a few B-mode variables may aid in the prediction of specific tumour types.

The epidemiological situation regarding the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) population in Europe as well as the presence of predominant IBV strains is well described. The aim of this epidemiological study was to describe the real field situation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as no data are available for the last ten years. The study was also focused on differentiation between field IBV strains and vaccine/vaccine origin IBV strains in different poultry segments including backyard flocks. Between July 2013 and July 2016, cloacal, tracheal and/or visceral swab samples were collected from 145 Czech and Slovak chicken broiler, breeder and layer flocks. The majority of flocks was kept for production purposes, but to enable a more complete picture of the situation in the field backyard flocks with more than 50 birds were also included. As in other cases which were reported worldwide and based on collaboration with x-Ovo laboratories, samples were analysed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect the presence of the RNA of IBV. When positive, approximately 400 base pairs encoding the hypervariable region of the IBV S1 protein were sequenced. Sequencing results, cycle threshold values and vaccination history were used as criteria to try and distinguish vaccine strains from field strains. A significant percentage of all flocks presented clinical signs suggestive of IBV infection. From the total number of samples examined, 16.5% were negative. In 12.4% of the samples that did contain RNA from IBV, the genotype could not be determined. In most cases, this was due to the recovery of RNA quantities below the lower limit of detection of the sequencing PCR. The remaining positive samples predominantly contained RNA from IBV strains that belonged to the 4/91 - 793B - CR88 (44.7%), Massachusetts (30%), D274 - D207 (11.6%) and D388 - QX (8.7%) genotypes. Estimations indicated that approximately 23.9%, 48.4%, 58.3% and 0% of these detections, respectively, were vaccine strains. Infections with types UKR/27/2011, CK/CH/Guandong/Xindadi/0903 and K33/09 were observed sporadically. The results confirm that IBV infections are highly prevalent in Czech and Slovak chickens and that at least seven different IBV types were circulating during the monitored period. This underlines the necessity of providing flocks with a strong and broad protective immunity against IBV.

Ticks are common ectoparasites of animals; they also carry many tick-borne pathogens that are often detrimental for the health of both animals and humans. These parasites have been found in subcutaneous tissue, mainly in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), but the reason for this is unknown. In this study we report the first occurrence of the tick in an unusual location in the subcutaneous tissue of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides. The study was carried out on two adult male raccoon dogs, hunted in Western Poland. After the necropsy, one was found to have a partially decomposed tick, a female Ixodes ricinus, in the groin region.

In this case report, we describe the clinical and radiological features of a calf mandibular symphyseal fracture and evaluate the treatment results. A 1.5-month-old male Holstein weighing 65 kg was presented to the Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University with a history of salivation and anorexia for three days. After clinical and radiographic assessments, a mandibular symphyseal fracture was determined. Stabilisation of the fracture region was achieved using cerclage wire with a continuous wire-loop technique under general anaesthesia. The cerclage wire was removed five weeks post-surgery. The calf was clinically healthy.

Swimmer puppy syndrome is an unusual anomaly that affects dogs within the first few days or months of life. This syndrome is characterised by the inability of the animal to maintain a quadrupedal position primarily using the pelvic limbs. In some cases, the condition may also affect the thoracic limbs. Although the exact pathophysiology of this condition remains uncertain, plausible causes include alterations in the neuromuscular synapse, improper myelination or poor development of peripheral motor neurons, delayed muscle development or ventral horn neuropathy. Here, we describe our results using a modified technique for the treatment of swimmer puppy syndrome, based on immobilisation for a period of one to four weeks with the aid of microporous hypoallergenic tapes, plasters and elastic meshes. Our modified method showed clear evidence of improvements.

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the legal content of animal protection legislation in the Slovak Republic with that of Italian legislation. Firstly, we compare the legal systems in the Slovak Republic and Italy with respect to the animal protection laws, especially criminal law in both countries. This comparison of the two different legislations allows detection of identical or different characteristics in the area of animal protection, which could be used later as an inspiration for lawmakers in both countries.

In this case report, we describe a five-year-old, mixed-breed, neutered male cat weighing 5.7 kg, that was referred to the Near East University Animal Hospital with complaints of dyspnoea, cough and lack of appetite over the preceding two days. Clinical examination revealed marked wheezing during expiration, severe shortness of breath and associated cyanosis. A blood sample was drawn for full blood count, serum biochemical and blood gas analyses. Laterolateral and ventrodorsal radiographic images of the thorax and abdominal region were obtained. A radiopaque foreign body measuring 3 × 9 × 13 mm was detected at the carina of the trachea, aligned in the midst of the fifth-sixth intercostal space. Considering that this foreign body obstructed the tracheal lumen almost completely and had been creating pressure on the tracheal wall for at least two days and also with the aim of preventing potential complications (tracheal rupture, laceration, etc.), after repeated unsuccessful interventions to minimise the time spent under anaesthesia, the object was removed by intercostal thoracotomy. The subject was discharged on the sixth postoperative day and regained its normal state within a short time.

A 7-year-old spayed female Pomeranian dog was evaluated for a 6-month history of intractable coughing and dyspnoea. The cough was unresponsive to antibiotics and a bronchodilator medication prescribed by the previous animal hospital. No abnormalities were identified on the blood work, echocardiography and radiography. However, computed tomography revealed mild bronchiectasia. Based on the history, physical examination and non-specific diagnostic imaging findings, the dog was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. The cough failed to resolve, despite an attempt to manage it with prednisolone, theophylline, codeine and N-acetylcysteine. With the owner's consent, we stopped all previous medications and finally tried the leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast. The cough progressively improved and had mostly resolved four weeks after starting the administration of zafirlukast. The dog remained in complete remission without recurrence for seven months. This case report is the first to describe the successful long-term management of chronic cough with zafirlukast in a dog.

Twenty European shorthair cats with neurological disorders, aged 1-3 years and with body weights of 2.6-4.05 kg, were studied in low-field and high-field magnetic resonance imaging systems. Aims of the study were to evaluate the dilation of lateral ventricles in the examined population of cats with the use of quantitative analysis methods and to identify any differences in the results of low- and high-field magnetic resonance imaging. The average brain height was determined to 27.3 mm, and the average volume of the brain was 10 699.7 mm³. Moderately enlarged ventricles were observed in 16 symptomatic cats. Moderate unilateral enlargement was observed in one cat. Mild ventricular asymmetry was described in four animals. The average difference in ventricular height between measurements obtained in low- and high-field magnetic resonance imaging was 0.37 ± 0.16% and for ventricular volume it was 0.62 ± 0.29%. The magnetic resonance imaging scan did not reveal statistically significant differences in brain height or volume between healthy and cats with ventriculomegaly. The differences in the results of low- and high-field magnetic resonance imaging were not statistically significant. Described findings could facilitate the interpretation of magnetic resonance images in cats with ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus.

The Mongolian squirrel is a murine rodent widely used as an experimental model and kept as a pet. With respect to the significance of the brachial plexus, we aimed to describe the origin and the nerves that constitute it, providing new information about the neuroanatomy of this species. Twenty adult animals were used, which were fixed in a 10% formaldehyde solution at the Applied Animal Morphophysiology Laboratory of the Brazilian Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA). The animals were medially incised with an opening of the thoracic cavity, and then bilateral dissection was carried out. Once the nerves were identified, cotton wool soaked with a 2% hydrogen peroxide solution was added for bleaching and better visualisation of structures. The gerbil brachial plexus derived from ventral roots of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth cervical nerves (C₄-C₈) and the first thoracic root (T₁). The suprascapular nerve was formed from the nerve roots C₄ and C₅; the subscapular and cranial pectoral nerves from C₅ and C₆; the musculocutaneous and axillary nerves from C₅, C₆ and C₇; and the caudal pectoral, radial, median, ulnar, thoracodorsal, lateral thoracic and long thoracic nerves from C₇, C₈ and T₁. This resembles what is described in other rodents, such as the rat and capybara. The gerbil has a pre-fixed plexus conformation.

The aim of EU legislators with respect to experiments on animals was to reduce to an absolute minimum both the number of animals used in experiments and their suffering. This study presents, from a historical point of view, expectations related to the coming into force on 1 January 2014 of Directive 2010/63/EU adopted on 22 September 2010. At the same time, it points out that, in some situations, carrying out experiments on animals in practice is different than in theory. The study calls attention to the issue of mere literal conformity of the Polish law with EU directives, illustrating it with examples and takes a critical view of the omission of veterinarians (Veterinary Inspection) from the supervision of experiments.

Dimethyl sulphoxide has a variety of biological effects that have made it the subject of numerous pharmacological studies. The first dimethyl sulphoxide therapeutic indication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978 was for intravesical instillation in cases of interstitial cystitis. Since then, due to its distinctive properties, it has been the subject of studies in several areas. This review describes indications, adverse effects and contraindications, as takes a critical approach to the main articles addressing the clinical use of dimethyl sulphoxide.