Demodecosis in a dog

Dogs are the most common pet animals worldwide. They sometimes harbour a wide range of parasitic diseases with zoonotic potentials, predisposing humans to health risk. Demodecosis is a parasitic disease that is often seen in young dogs of less than a year, immunodeficient adults and old dogs. Generalized demodecosis when it occurs in a dog may take months and years to treat. Infected animal has persistent puritis due to intense itching from Demodex canis. Such animal often inflicts wounds on the body due to persistent scratching and therefore should not under go aesthetic surgery until demodecosis is completely treated. The constant scratching of the body by the dog could traumatize the surgical site perphaps leading to evisceration and death of the animal if not promptly handled.Keywords: Dog, evisceration, generalized demodecosis, aesthetic surgery.doi: 10.4314/ajcem.v12i3.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs from Umuahia City of Abia State

A total of 210 faecal samples from owned indigenous (puppies and adults) and exotic (puppies and adults) breeds of dogs were collected from the city of Umuahia, Abia state. Samples were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites using faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of the 210 samples examined 10 were negative for helminths eggs and protozoans oocysts. The 10 negative samples were all from exotic breeds with history of deworming. The 9 species found were:Toxocara canis (95%); Uncinaria stenocephala (95%); Dipylidium caninum (90%); Ancylostoma braziliense (90%) Spirocerca lupi (36%); Diphyllobothrium latum (40%); Troglotrema salmincola (64%); Linguatula serrata (36%) and Filaroides osleri (57%) The prevalence of T. canis (95%); Uncinaria stenocephala (95%) and Ancylostoma braziliense (90%) were highest in the dogs. From our data the pattern of the disease was age dependent. Puppies had higher prevalence (100 %) than the adults(57%). Linguatula serrata (36%) and Spirucerca lupi (36%) were found only in the indigenous breed. The general high prevalence of these parasites of public health importance highlights the importance ofthis work which will provide a baseline to enforce policies that will govern dog keeping in Nigeria such as demand for monthly veterinary assistance in deworming of dogs

Serum biochemical and liver enzymes changes in dogs with single and conjunct experimental infections of Trypanosoma brucei and Ancylostoma caninum

The serum biochemical changes that occur in dogs with single and conjunct experimental infections of Trypanosoma brucei and Ancylostoma caninum were studied. Four groups (GPI, GPII, GPIII and GPIV) of five dogs each were used for this study. GPI was the uninfected control while GPII, GPIII and GPIV were infected with A. caninum, T. brucei and conjunct A. caninum/T. brucei, respectively. Results show that the disease was more severe in the conjunct infection than in the single infections. This was apparent from the shorter prepatent period of T. brucei infection (four to six days) in GPIV (conjunct) when compared with six to nine days in GPIII (T. brucei alone). Infection with A. caninum also showed a shorter patency period of 13 days in GPIV when compared with 19 days in GPII (A. caninum alone). Significant decrease (P < 0.05) in total protein occurred in all the infected groups due to hypoalbumineamia. There was a transient rise followed by a sustained decline in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in all the infected groups. Total bilirubin and creatinine recorded a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the infected groups, except in GPII where the creatinine level was unaffected. The liver enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed significant increase in the infected groups, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). These biochemical changes were in all cases more profound in the conjunct infection, and could thus be ancillary to diagnosis and useful in prognosis during natural infections.Keywords: Trpanosoma brucei, Ancylostoma caninum, total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 618-62

Dystocia and Foetal Mummification in A West African Dwarf Doe (A Case Report)

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:32 (4) 357-36

Review Paper Heart Failure in Small Animals - Advances in Clinical Case Management

The rationale for the use of drugs and supportive therapy in the management of heart diseases (HDs) and heart failure (HF), is discussed in the light of contemporary concepts. The in-adequacy of the age-long therapy of heart failure with oxygen supplementation, cardiac glycosides, rest and the withholding of salt in food is explained. The weaknesses of certain agents in the management of HF, particularly their inability to halt or reverse pre-existing pathologies, is also briefly discussed. The irreversible nature and the eventual fatal termination from HF has been attributed to sub-cellular changes or remodelling in the intracellular organelles and extra-cellular tissues of the heart, the blood vessels and possibly other internal organs under the influence of nor-adrenaline, angiotensin II, serotonin, aldosterone, growth hormones and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). In addition, some of these agents downgrade or alter the functions of bradykinin, nitric acid and natriuretic peptides - hormones essential for normal cardio-vascular functions. Some of the newer drugs currently used in the management of HF tend to attenuate the progression of the intra- and extra-cellular changes associated with HF. Others either halt or actually reverse them. Although they do not prevent the eventual fatalities from HF, they tend to prolong the survival periods between the diagnosis of HF and death from it, an outcome which in some circumstances could be of immense importance or benefit.Key words:     Management, Heart Failure, Small Animals