2014 - 83 (1)

In this first paper of a series of two, the origin of the veterinary literature during the Hellenic andRoman periods (Vegetius, 4th century AD) is briefly described. Further on, a survey of the (French)literature is given that might have been available to the first veterinary students, such as the referencebook ‘Le Nouveau Parfait Maréchal’ (first edition, 1741) published by François Alexandre de Garsault.These mostly very expensive books contain splendid and scientifically adequate anatomic descriptionsand illustrations, but knowledge of physiology and pathogenesis was virtually inexistent. Descriptionsof pathological conditions are succinct and often inadequate. Due to the lack of a formal form of veterinaryeducation, traditional handbooks, as we know them nowadays, did not exist before 1750.

In this article, a case of localized steatitis is reported at the level of the perivaginal adipose tissueafter dystocia in a mare. Although the mare initially recovered well postpartum, she died a few dayslater. At the second consultation, a knobby bump was present at both sides of the vaginal wall on vaginalexamination. The intravaginal opening of these bumps was associated with the outflow of pus containingyellow-brown pieces of necrotic adipose tissue. Later on, steatitis at the level of the ligamentaevesicae and a bladder rupture were also observed at necropsy. These disorders probably accelerated theclinical symptoms resulting in shock.Generally, two types of steatitis are differentiated: localized and generalized steatitis. While only onefat depot is affected in the localized form, the disease involves several fat depots in the generalized form.Localized steatitis at the level of the perivaginal adipose tissue has not yet been described in the horse.

 Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common congenital heart disorders in dogs. If thecondition is not corrected, more than half of the affected dogs die within their first year of life. Closureof the PDA by occlusion or ligation is therefore recommended and has a good long-term prognosis. Themain complication of the non-invasive techniques is embolism, whereas bleeding after rupture of theductus or an adjacent blood vessel is the most common problem with ligation.Two cases of PDA are discussed. In the first dog, the PDA was successfully corrected surgically. Inthe second case, however, serious bleeding occurred at several occasions during the surgery due to theexceptional presence of a persistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA). Intraoperative euthanasia was performed.

The objective of the present study was to determine factors that are associated with the birth size ofHolstein calves. A retrospective cross-sectional study was set up, and data of 1594 calf births from fourdairy herds in Belgium and one in Germany were analyzed. Of the variables offered to the offspringbirth weight (BW) model in heifers, calf gender, gestation length, season of calving, age at calving andheart girth, wither height and diagonal length of the dam were retained as significant. The BW wassignificantly lower in heifers that calved at a very old age (25.5 to 37.3 months) (P < 0.001). Calvesborn out of young (20.3 to < 22 months) and old (23.3 to 25.5 months) heifers were lighter than calvesborn out of intermediately aged (22 to < 23.5 months) heifers. Of the variables offered to the offspringBW model in cows, calf gender, season of calving, gestation length, parity, length of the dry periodand the milk production during gestation (MGEST) were significant. For cows having the same heartgirth, the BW of the calves was 0.97 and 1.11 kg higher in cows with low (1,400 to < 5,400 kg) andhigh (6,500 to < 7,200) MGEST, respectively, than in cows with very high MGEST (7,200 to 11,600kg) (P < 0.05). The negative effects of young and older age at calving in heifers and of very highmilk production levels during gestation in cows on the BW of their calves, provide a basis for furtherresearch in nutritional and managerial interventions to improve the long-term health and productivityof the offspring.

 In this case report, an incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in a Dogue de Bordeaux ofeight months old is described. As a puppy, the dog had already been intermittently lame on the rightfront leg. Because of the breed and the clinical and radiographic findings, elbow dysplasia was primarilydiagnosed. However, after computer tomographic examination, an incomplete ossification of thehumeral condyle was found. This condition is less common than elbow dysplasia, and does not alwayscause limping. The dog was treated conservatively because of the mild clinical symptoms, and recoveredspontaneously.The special features of this case include primarily the breed of the dog and his history. Incompleteossification occurs mainly in Spaniels, and lameness is usually not observed in puppies. The evolutionof the disease in this dog is atypical. This dog recovered spontaneously. This condition often causespersistent lameness. In some cases, an incomplete ossification leads to an atraumatic humeral condylefracture.

In this case series, the occurrence and successful treatment of anaphylaxis after the intravenousadministration of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid are described in two dogs under generalanesthesia. Within five to ten minutes after the administration of the antibiotic, a severe hypotensionoccurred in both dogs, accompanied by labial and periorbital swelling and erythema.Therapy consisted of counteracting the cardiovascular effects of anaphylaxis and preventingfurther release of inflammatory mediators. Both dogs recovered uneventfully from the drugrelatedanaphylaxis.