QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE CANINOS COMO REFLEXO DO NÍVEL SOCIOECONÔMICO DOS RESPONSÁVEIS POR ELES EM CANELAS, RS, BRASIL

Para identificar as reais condições de criação de cães no município de Canela, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, e verificar a influência exercida pelo nível cultural e econômico dos responsáveis pelos cães sobre a qualidade de vida dos mesmos foi desenvolvido o inquérito para se reconhecer a qualidade de vida dos cães. Para a avaliação foram adotados parâmetros concretos e mensuráveis, como a alimentação, esquema vacinal e presença de ectoparasitos. Foi observado que correlação direta entre o poder aquisitivo e o nível cultural dos responsáveis pelos cães e a qualidade de vida dos cães, refletido principalmente na alimentação e esquema vacinal. A constatação da influência do nível socioeconômico sobre a qualidade dos cuidados prestados ao cão ficou evidenciada pela busca de rações comerciais, tratamentos com produtos farmacológicos no combate aos ectoparasitos, e uso de vacinas mais baratas, portanto, mais acessíveis a uma maior parcela da população. Foi constatado o trabalho educador dos Médicos Veterinários, com conscientização da população, e entidades de classe, da importância de se adotar uma postura de caráter preventivo com relação à saúde animal, postura mais inteligente, barata e eficiente

Brachial plexus in the Leopardus geoffroyi

Six thoracic limbs from four Leopardus geoffroyi specimens were dissected in order to describe origin and distribution of nerves forming the brachial plexuses. The brachial plexus is a result of connections between ventral branches of the last four cervical nerves (C5, C6, C7 and C8) and the first thoracic nerve (T1). These branches are the origin of the suprascapularis, subscapularis, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves to the intrinsic musculature, and form the brachiocephalicus, thoracodorsal, lateral thoracic, long thoracic, cranial pectoral and caudal pectoral nerves to the extrinsic musculature. The C7 ventral branch is mainly responsible for formation of nerves (70.5%), followed by C8 (47.4%), C6 (29.5%), T1 (19.2%) and C5 (7.7%). From 78 dissected nerves, 65.4% of nerves resulted from a combination of two or three branches, while only 34.6% of nerves originated from a single branch. Through comparison with other carnivoran species, the origin and innervation area of the Geoffroyi's Cat brachial plexus were most similar to those of the domestic cat, particularly among those nerves extended to the intrinsic musculature. The results of this study suggest that nerve block techniques currently used in dogs and cats might be efficient in Geoffroyi's Cat too.Keywords: Animal anatomy; Pampa's biome; Wild carnivores; Wild feline

Morphometry, Topography and Arterial Supply of the Thyroid Gland in Brazilian Shorthair Cats

 Background: Thyroid gland diseases are the most common endocrinopathies in feline practice. Diagnosis and surgical treatment must base on solid anatomical knowledge about the gland size, localization, and blood supply. However, some textbooks provide a general anatomical description of the thyroid gland of domestic carnivores. Thus, specific details of the feline gland are missing. The present study aimed to investigate the dimensions, topography, and arterial supply of the thyroid gland in Brazilian shorthair cats and, therefore, provide additional data to diagnose and treat feline thyroid diseases.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty Brazilian shorthair cats formalin-fixed cadavers (15 male and 15 female) were injected with red-stained latex solution by a canula in the thoracic aorta. The necropsy unit of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro donated the specimens. The study included only adult animals with no history of thyroid disease. After the fixation period, the cadavers were dissected to investigate the measurements (length, width at cranial and caudal poles, and thickness), topography, and in situ arterial supply of the thyroid lobes. The mean measurements of the length, cranial pole width, caudal pole width, and thickness in the right lobe were 19.39 ± 3.10 mm, 5.36 ± 1.40 mm, 3.67 ± 0.93 mm, and 1.30 ± 0.29 mm, respectively; and 20.29 ± 3.35 mm, 4.85 ± 1.58 mm, 3.88 ± 0.91 mm, 1.64 ± 0.65 mm in the left lobe, respectively. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.05) in the comparison of the measures between sexes or antimers (sides). Pearson's linear correlation detected a positive, moderate (r = 0.55), and significant (P < 0.05) correlation between the right and left lobe lengths. In 70% of the cats, both left and right lobes had the cranial poles located at the same level. Typically, the lobes extended between the first to the eighth tracheal ring. However, the cranial pole of some lobes located as cranially as the cricoid cartilage level, and the caudal pole as caudally as the 12th tracheal ring. Fifty-six percent of the cats had a ventrally located isthmus. In all the sampling, one single thyroid artery emerged as a branch of the common carotid artery and provided branches directly to the thyroid lobe, isthmus and the adjacent muscles and esophagus.Discussion: Besides establishing average dimensions of normal thyroid lobes in Brazilian shorthair cats, this study detected no significant difference between the average measurements of right and left lobes. Also, a positive linear correlation between the length and width of the right and left lobes became evident. Therefore, the practitioner must consider suspicious any length asymmetry between right and left thyroid lobes until further endocrine test proves otherwise. Most of the cats had the right and left thyroid lobe positioned at the same transversal level; however, positional asymmetries are not uncommon. Unlike dogs, Brazilian shorthair cats have only a single artery to supply each lobe: the thyroid artery. In a feline thyroidectomy, the surgeon must avoid blindly ligating the thyroid artery since this vessel also provided numerous branches to adjacent muscles and esophagus. In a bilateral thyroidectomy, the ventral region between lobes should be thoroughly inspected for the common presence of an isthmus. Sometimes, the surgeon may need to extend the incision caudally beyond the 12th tracheal ring level to visualize the gland tissue entirely.Keywords: endocrinology, feline anatomy, morphometrics, thyroidectomy

Duplikacija stražnje šuplje vene i bubrežnih vena u brazilske kratkodlake mačke - prikaz slučaja

The caudal vena cava in carnivores is the blood drainage pathway, originating from the pelvis and pelvic limbs, and entering the right atrium. Caudal vena cava duplication has rarely been reported in small animals. This report aims to describe a case of duplicity of the caudal vena cava and renal vein variation in a female feline corpse of a Brazilian shorthaired cat approximately 3 years of age, with the focus on the possible clinical and surgical implications of this anatomical variation. It was subsequently preserved in 10% formalin, and its vascular system was injected with colored S-65 Petrolatex. During the dissection of the abdominal region, the presence of a double caudal vena cava and two renal veins in both kidneys was observed. While uncommon in cats, caudal vena cava duplication should be differentiated from other vascular anomalies when planning surgeries and to avoid misdiagnoses.U mesojeda stražnja šuplja vena odvodi krv iz zdjelice i stražnjih udova u lijevu pretklijetku. Duplikacija stražnje šuplje vene u malih je životinja rijetko opisivana. Cilj ovoga rada jest prikazati duplikaciju stražnje šuplje vene i varijacije bubrežne vene u brazilske kratkodlake mačke, ženke dobi oko tri godine, s naglaskom na njihove moguće kliničke i kirurške značajke. Lešina je pohranjena u 10 %-postotnom formalinu, a u krvožilni je sustav injektiran obojeni S-65 Petrolatex. Tijekom otvaranja trbušne šupljine uočene su dvostruke stražnje šuplje vene i dvije bubrežne vene u oba bubrega. Budući da se dvostruka stražnja šuplja vena rijetko nalazi u mačaka, u planiranju kirurških zahvata treba je razlikovati od drugih krvožilnih anomalija kako bi se izbjegla pogrešna dijagnoza

Morphology of the spermatic cord in Brazilian Bhuj goats

Estudamos em 40 caprinos adultos da raça Bhuj Brasileira os aspectos histológicos do funículo espermático. Observamos que este se acha envolvido por uma cápsula de tecido conjuntivo fibroelástico denso, de espessura variável, pregueada em alguns pontos, e revestida por mesotélio que circunda todo o conjunto vásculo-nervoso, e projeta-se para formar o mesoducto deferente. Em posição subcapsular, verifica- se uma camada de tecido conjuntivo fibroelástico frouxo, de espessura variável, que circunda parcialmente o funículo espermático, isolando nas regiões deferencial e abdeferencial, conjuntos vásculo-nervosos, responsáveis pela nutrição do epidídimo. Na região do mesoducto deferente, o tecido subcapsular acompanhado de tecido adiposo constitui a camada interna deste meso, formando a sua adventícia e abrigando vasos e nervos deferenciais. Na região abdeferencial, pequenos acúmulos de tecido adiposo são vistos de permeio aos vasos e nervos desta região. Entre as artérias, veias e nervos testiculares, bem como entre os vasos das regiões deferencial e abdeferencial, observa-se o tecido conjuntivo denso, intervascular, rico em fibras elásticas, que constitui as adventícias contínuas destes vasos. O arranjo vascular mostra que o segmento da artéria testicular, contido no funículo espermático, apresenta trajeto sinuoso. Estando envolvido pelo plexo venoso pampiniforme, formado por veias testiculares desprovidas de válvulas de calibres variados, apresentando amplas comunicações entre si. As veias responsáveis pela drenagem do epidídimo e ducto deferente estão localizadas em posição subcapsular deferencial e abdeferencial e mostram-se providas de válvulas. O trato das artérias testiculares no funículo espermático apresenta como média e desvio padrão 134,6±38,1cm à direita, e 137,0±33,9cm à esquerda, não existindo diferenças estatisticamente significantes ao nível de 5%, quando comparamos a média do segmento da artéria testicular contida no funículo espermático direito em relação ao esquerdo.Histological aspects of the spermatic cord were studied in 40 Brazilian Bhuj goats. It was seen that the spermatic cord is involved by a thin capsule of compact connective tissue recovered by mesothelium which forms an expansion, the mesodeferens. Under this capsule is a subcapsular layer of variable thickness, formed by loose elastic fiber connective tissue that mixes with deep layer of the mesodeferens and with the adventitia of ductus deferens. Between the testicular artery and testicular veins exists an intervascular compact elastic fiber connective tissue in continuity with the adventitia of spermatic cord vessels. In the abdeferential region of the spermatic cord exists a neurovascular contingent, the vessels of which generally have inferior calibers and similar constitution and arrangement as the testicular artery and veins; the described contingent is related to nutrition of the initial portion of ductus deferens and part of the epididymis head and body. The vascular arrangement shows that the segment of the testicular artery in the spermatic cord has a sinuous disposition and is totally involved by the venous plexus formed by testicular vein valves with irregular outlines, diverse calibers and large connections. The length of the intra spermatic cord segment of the testicular artery has a medium and standard deviation of 134.6±38.1cm on the right and 137±33.9cm on the left. There were no statistical differences between the right and left medium ranges.Agradecimentos.- À CAPES, pelo apoio financeiro, para realização do projeto

Morphometry and skeletopy of kidneys and renal vessels in "ring-tailed coati" (Nasua nasua)

Nasua nasua is a carnivore belonging to the family Procyonidae and is widely distributed throughout South America. The details of its anatomy are fundamental to the application of antomy and understanding of its natural history. This study aimed to measure the average length, width, thickness, and volume of the kidneys; the average length of the renal artery and vein, and to describe the renal and vessel skeletopy in Nasua nasua. For this purpose, 32 kidneys and renal vessels of 16 cadaveric specimens (eight male and eight female) were dissected and measured using a digital caliper. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between the rostrum-sacral length and the renal and vessel variables. The kidneys had a "bean-shaped" aspect with smooth surfaces and were unipapilate. On average, the N. nasua kidneys measured 30 × 16 × 13 mm, with no significant difference between the sexes. The average right renal artery (1.74 ± 0.67 cm) was longer than the left (1.26 ± 0.43 cm), and the right renal vein (1.22 ± 0.34 cm) was shorter than the left renal vein (1.82 ± 0.46 cm) (p < 0.05). One male animal (6.8%) presented with a double right renal vein as an anatomical variation. Both the right and left kidney cranial poles prevailed at the level of the L2 vertebra, assuming a practically symmetrical position. There was a positive and moderate to high correlation between rostrum-sacral length and renal dimensions and renal vessel lengths. The present data may be useful for interpreting the diagnosis of nephropathies that affect renal dimensions in this species and may contribute to the comparative anatomy of carnivorans. Keywords: Neotropical carnivorans; Nephrology; South American coati; Vascularization; Wild carnivore

Influence of age and sex on bone development and athletic career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil – preliminary study

The impact of high-speed exercise on the musculoskeletal system of young racehorses has been extensively discussed because of concerns regarding animal health and welfare. This study investigated the correlation between age, degree of ossification of the distal radial epiphysis, sex, and career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil from 2012 to 2015. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 286 dorsopalmar radiographs of the left radiocarpal region of young horses and their racing performance. Distal radial epiphyseal closure was classified into three degrees: A, B, or C. Performance data included the number of races raced, athletic career length, and the number of races per month. The variables were subjected to regression analysis. At the time of radiographic examination, male horses were significantly older than females, and horses with epiphyseal closure degrees differed with age. Age at first race was 33.08±3.81 months, the average of races raced was 18.32±15.14 races, athletic career duration was 20.37±13.82 months, and the number of races raced per month was 0.93±0.46 races. Age influenced (P>0.001) the distal radial epiphyseal closure on racehorses, but sex did not (P=0.218 for males and P=0.275 for females). An inverse association was observed between age at the first race, the number of races raced per month, and athletic career duration. The frequency of race and the age at the first race influenced athletic career duration. Keywords: Athletic performance; distal radial epiphyseal closure; radiograph