Acelerometria em cães com ruptura de ligamento cruzado cranial submetidos à estabilização extracapsular

A ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (RLCCr) é umas das afecções ortopédicas mais comuns em cães e é responsável por gerar claudicação, instabilidade e dor na articulação do joelho. A correção cirúrgica é recomendada como tratamento ideal, assim como a avaliação pós-operatória é fundamental para acompanhar o resultado da cirurgia. Usualmente as avaliações realizadas são no ambiente hospitalar e pouco se sabe sobre a recuperação do cão no ambiente domiciliar. O controle da dor e o retorno da função podem ser acompanhados de melhora nos níveis de atividade física. A mensuração da atividade física no ambiente domiciliar dos cães com acelerômetro é a forma objetiva que mais vem crescendo na medicina veterinária. Dessa forma, o objetivo do estudo foi quantificar através do uso do acelerômetro os níveis de atividade física de cães com RLCCr antes e após a cirurgia de estabilização extracapsular. Foram avaliados 17 cães, com ruptura unilateral de ligamento cruzado cranial e monitorados através do acelerômetro em quatro momentos: antes, um, três e seis meses após a correção cirúrgica da RLCCr. Em todos os períodos os cães passaram por avaliações clínicas e funcionais e foram aplicados questionários (avaliação subjetiva da atividade física e Breve Inventário de Dor Canina) aos tutores. Os resultados do pré-operatório (controle) foram comparados com os do pós-operatório. Durante o pós-operatório, os cães apresentaram melhora significativa nos escores de claudicação, escore de dor, na descrição da dor e da função e na impressão geral do Breve Inventário de Dor Canina. Já a atividade física mensurada através do acelerômetro não apresentou alterações significativas durante o período de avaliação e se manteve a mesma para todas as variáveis (atividades sedentária, leve a moderada, vigorosa, leve a moderada somada a vigorosa e atividade total). Apesar da recuperação clínica dos cães ter sido evidente até os seis meses pós-correção da RLCCr, não há alteração objetiva dos níveis de atividade física mensurados através do acelerômetro no mesmo período.The rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs and is responsible for causing lameness, instability and pain in the knee joint. Surgical correction is recommended as the ideal treatment, as well as postoperative evaluation is essential to monitor the result of the surgery. Usually, the evaluations performed are in the hospital environment and little is known about the recovery of the dog in the home environment. Pain control and function return can be accompanied by an improvement in physical activity levels. Measuring physical activity in the home environment of dogs with an accelerometer is the objective form that has been growing the most in veterinary medicine. Thus, the objective of the study was to quantify the levels of physical activity of dogs with RCCL using the accelerometer before and after extracapsular stabilization surgery. Seventeen dogs with unilateral rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament were evaluated and monitored through the accelerometer in four moments: before, one, three and six months after the surgical correction of the RCCL. In all periods, dogs underwent clinical and functional assessments of the limb and questionnaires (subjective assessment of physical activity and a Canine Brief Pain Inventory) were applied to tutors. The results of the preoperative (control) were compared with those of the postoperative. During the postoperative period, dogs showed significant improvement in claudication scores, pain scores, in the description of pain and function and in the general impression of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory. The physical activity measured by the accelerometer did not present significant changes during the evaluation period and remained the same for all variables (sedentary, mild to moderate, vigorous, mild to moderate plus vigorous activity and total activity). Although the clinical recovery of the dogs was evident up to six months after the correction of RCCL, there is no objective alteration in the levels of physical activity measured by the accelerometer in the same period

Can the training regimen influence night time physical activity in racehorses?

Physical activity has been widely investigated in horses to elucidate locomotion characteristics and behavior. However, research in real environment of training stables is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of training regimen on night time physical activity of racehorses. Physical activities of twenty animals were monitored during the night time using accelerometers. The animals were compared in terms of training regimen: horses subjected to training on continual days, and horses subjected to training on intermittent days; age and sex were also considered. The variables analyzed were: counts per minute, percentage of time in (sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous) physical activity. Statistical analysis was performed by the PROCGLM procedure (ANOVA) and the means were calculated by Tukey’s test. The training regimen impacts the physical activity of thoroughbreds. The mean counts per minute showed a higher physical activity in the intermittent trained animals in relation with continuously trained animals. The continuously trained animals presented a greater percentage of time in sedentary physical activity than those intermittent trained. However, intermittently trained horses spent a larger percentage of time in moderate and vigorous physical activity, in comparison with continuously trained animals. In conclusion, racehorses subject to training on continual days have lower physical activity in the night time than those that train on intermittent days

Efeitos da castração sobre o ganho de peso e a atividade física em cadelas

A castração de cães é um procedimento eletivo frequentemente realizado, e a sua prática tem sido associada com a queda nos níveis de atividade física e com ganho de peso. A grande maioria das pesquisas que envolvem a atividade física é realizada através de questionários que fornecem dados aceitáveis, porém subjetivos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar de forma quantitativa, através do uso do acelerômetro, os níveis de atividade física e o ganho de peso de cadelas antes e após a castração. Foram utilizadas 21 cadelas e monitoradas através do acelerômetro em quatro momentos: antes, um mês, três meses e seis meses após a ovariossalpingohisterectomia. Os cães também foram avaliados quanto ao ambiente, peso, escore de condição corporal e porte. Não houve redução estatisticamente significativa dos níveis de atividade física após a castração. Ao fim dos seis meses de pós-operatório as atividades sedentária, leve a moderada e vigorosa permaneceram iguais àquelas anteriores à castração. O ambiente não influenciou o comportamento dos animais, pois apresentaram níveis de atividade muito semelhantes. Cadelas com sobrepeso tiveram maior variação de atividade em relação a cadelas de peso ideal e cadelas de porte grande maior variação em relação aquelas de porte médio e pequeno. Houve significativo ganho de peso de 8,75% ao fim dos seis meses de estudo, independente do ambiente, escore corporal e porte. Foi possível relacionar à variação da atividade vigorosa e leve moderada somada a vigorosa com o ganho de peso. Assim, conclui-se que até seis meses após a castração os animais não alteram os níveis de atividade física, mas apresentam significativo ganho de peso no mesmo período.Neutering dogs is an elective procedure often performed, and its practice has been associated with the declined levels of physical activity and weight gain. The very majority of research involving physical activity is conducted through questionnaires that provide acceptable data, however those data are subjective. This study aimed to analyze quantitatively the physical activity and the weight gain in bitches before and after castration throughout accelerometer. Twenty one monitored bitches by accelerometer were evaluated in four stages: before, one month, three months and six months after ovariosalpingohysterectomy. The dogs were also evaluated in regards for the environment, weight, body condition score and size. There was no statistically significant reduction in levels of physical activity after castration. At the end of the six months post-operative sedentary, mild to moderate and vigorous activities remained the same as pre-castration versions. The environment did not influence the behavior of animals, since the activity levels remained very similar. Bitches overweight had a higher variation of activity in relation to bitches of ideal weight and large sized dogs greater variation regarding those medium and small-sized. There was significant weight gain of 8,75% at the end of the six months of study, regardless of the environment, body condition and size. It was possible to relate the variation of vigorous activity and mild to moderate added to vigorous activity with weight gain. Thus, it is concluded that up to six months after castration animals do not change the physical activity levels, but they present significant weight gain in the same period

Efeitos da castração sobre o ganho de peso e a atividade física em cadelas

A castração de cães é um procedimento eletivo frequentemente realizado, e a sua prática tem sido associada com a queda nos níveis de atividade física e com ganho de peso. A grande maioria das pesquisas que envolvem a atividade física é realizada através de questionários que fornecem dados aceitáveis, porém subjetivos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar de forma quantitativa, através do uso do acelerômetro, os níveis de atividade física e o ganho de peso de cadelas antes e após a castração. Foram utilizadas 21 cadelas e monitoradas através do acelerômetro em quatro momentos: antes, um mês, três meses e seis meses após a ovariossalpingohisterectomia. Os cães também foram avaliados quanto ao ambiente, peso, escore de condição corporal e porte. Não houve redução estatisticamente significativa dos níveis de atividade física após a castração. Ao fim dos seis meses de pós-operatório as atividades sedentária, leve a moderada e vigorosa permaneceram iguais àquelas anteriores à castração. O ambiente não influenciou o comportamento dos animais, pois apresentaram níveis de atividade muito semelhantes. Cadelas com sobrepeso tiveram maior variação de atividade em relação a cadelas de peso ideal e cadelas de porte grande maior variação em relação aquelas de porte médio e pequeno. Houve significativo ganho de peso de 8,75% ao fim dos seis meses de estudo, independente do ambiente, escore corporal e porte. Foi possível relacionar à variação da atividade vigorosa e leve moderada somada a vigorosa com o ganho de peso. Assim, conclui-se que até seis meses após a castração os animais não alteram os níveis de atividade física, mas apresentam significativo ganho de peso no mesmo período.Neutering dogs is an elective procedure often performed, and its practice has been associated with the declined levels of physical activity and weight gain. The very majority of research involving physical activity is conducted through questionnaires that provide acceptable data, however those data are subjective. This study aimed to analyze quantitatively the physical activity and the weight gain in bitches before and after castration throughout accelerometer. Twenty one monitored bitches by accelerometer were evaluated in four stages: before, one month, three months and six months after ovariosalpingohysterectomy. The dogs were also evaluated in regards for the environment, weight, body condition score and size. There was no statistically significant reduction in levels of physical activity after castration. At the end of the six months post-operative sedentary, mild to moderate and vigorous activities remained the same as pre-castration versions. The environment did not influence the behavior of animals, since the activity levels remained very similar. Bitches overweight had a higher variation of activity in relation to bitches of ideal weight and large sized dogs greater variation regarding those medium and small-sized. There was significant weight gain of 8,75% at the end of the six months of study, regardless of the environment, body condition and size. It was possible to relate the variation of vigorous activity and mild to moderate added to vigorous activity with weight gain. Thus, it is concluded that up to six months after castration animals do not change the physical activity levels, but they present significant weight gain in the same period

Feline prostatic carcinoma

Background: Prostatic cancer is a rare condition in cats but should be included as a differential diagnosis whenever middleaged cats present lower urinary tract signs, such as dysuria and hematuria. Abdominal ultrasound can indicate the disease, but fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathology are necessary to establish the neoplastic origin and the therapeutic plan. Because of the limited data, no standard-of-care treatment or prognostic information exists in cats with prostate carcinoma. This report describes the clinical signs, diagnosis and surgical approach in a case of prostatic carcinoma in a cat. Case: A 6-year-old, intact male, domestic short-haired cat was presented with a 3-day history of dysuria, hematuria, inappetence, constipation, lethargy and prostration. On physical examination, the cat was in a very poor general condition and abdominal palpation revealed firm mass located caudally to the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder presented high repletion degree, while the large bowel was distended and presented soft faecal content. Blood count, serum biochemistry and urinalysis showed neutrophilic leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia and high creatinine level, and severe hematuria, respectively. Abdominal ultrasound showed a mass located in the prostatic area with hypoechogenic and slightly heterogeneous parenchyma, measuring 3.3 x 3.0 cm. Echo-guided trans-abdominal fine-needle aspiration of the prostate was performed. Microscopically, the cells were round with basophilic cytoplasm, and had round to ovoid nuclei, dense chromatin and prominent nucleoli. Some cells were binucleated and mild anisocytosis and marked anisokaryosis were documented. These findings were compatible with malignant prostatic neoplasia. After initial clinical stabilization, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy for tumor resection. Cystotomy followed by pubic osteotomy was performed to access the tumor. Urethral anastomosis was necessary due to adherence of the neoplasm to adjacent structures. However, the patient died during the immediate postoperative period. No complications related to surgery were observed at necropsy. Tissue specimens were collected and stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Prostatic carcinoma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry tests using streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method, and primary antibodies against vimentin, cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and 7. Discussion: Prostatic neoplams are rare in cats and clinical signs are suggestive of lower urinary tract disease, such as dysuria and/or hematuria, associated with tenesmus. Abdominal or rectal palpation seems to be essential to detect the prostatic enlargement. Ultrasound imaging was more sensitive than radiography, since it brings more information about structure, size, form and prostatic internal architecture. The patient’s serum creatinine value above the normal range for cats indicated partial urethral obstruction, due to neoplastic concentric growth. Echo-guided trans-abdominal fine needle aspiration cytology was an effective method to confirm neoplastic etiology. The advanced stage of the disease and poor clinical condition probably contributed to death at the immediate postoperative period, even though the surgical technique seemed to be appropriate as demonstrated at necropsy. Also, the immunohistochemistry tests allowed to confirm the diagnosis and excluded the main differential diagnoses, such as urothelial carcinoma and prostatic sarcomatoid carcinoma

Feline prostatic carcinoma

Background: Prostatic cancer is a rare condition in cats but should be included as a differential diagnosis whenever middleaged cats present lower urinary tract signs, such as dysuria and hematuria. Abdominal ultrasound can indicate the disease, but fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathology are necessary to establish the neoplastic origin and the therapeutic plan. Because of the limited data, no standard-of-care treatment or prognostic information exists in cats with prostate carcinoma. This report describes the clinical signs, diagnosis and surgical approach in a case of prostatic carcinoma in a cat. Case: A 6-year-old, intact male, domestic short-haired cat was presented with a 3-day history of dysuria, hematuria, inappetence, constipation, lethargy and prostration. On physical examination, the cat was in a very poor general condition and abdominal palpation revealed firm mass located caudally to the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder presented high repletion degree, while the large bowel was distended and presented soft faecal content. Blood count, serum biochemistry and urinalysis showed neutrophilic leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia and high creatinine level, and severe hematuria, respectively. Abdominal ultrasound showed a mass located in the prostatic area with hypoechogenic and slightly heterogeneous parenchyma, measuring 3.3 x 3.0 cm. Echo-guided trans-abdominal fine-needle aspiration of the prostate was performed. Microscopically, the cells were round with basophilic cytoplasm, and had round to ovoid nuclei, dense chromatin and prominent nucleoli. Some cells were binucleated and mild anisocytosis and marked anisokaryosis were documented. These findings were compatible with malignant prostatic neoplasia. After initial clinical stabilization, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy for tumor resection. Cystotomy followed by pubic osteotomy was performed to access the tumor. Urethral anastomosis was necessary due to adherence of the neoplasm to adjacent structures. However, the patient died during the immediate postoperative period. No complications related to surgery were observed at necropsy. Tissue specimens were collected and stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Prostatic carcinoma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry tests using streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method, and primary antibodies against vimentin, cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and 7. Discussion: Prostatic neoplams are rare in cats and clinical signs are suggestive of lower urinary tract disease, such as dysuria and/or hematuria, associated with tenesmus. Abdominal or rectal palpation seems to be essential to detect the prostatic enlargement. Ultrasound imaging was more sensitive than radiography, since it brings more information about structure, size, form and prostatic internal architecture. The patient’s serum creatinine value above the normal range for cats indicated partial urethral obstruction, due to neoplastic concentric growth. Echo-guided trans-abdominal fine needle aspiration cytology was an effective method to confirm neoplastic etiology. The advanced stage of the disease and poor clinical condition probably contributed to death at the immediate postoperative period, even though the surgical technique seemed to be appropriate as demonstrated at necropsy. Also, the immunohistochemistry tests allowed to confirm the diagnosis and excluded the main differential diagnoses, such as urothelial carcinoma and prostatic sarcomatoid carcinoma

Uretrostomia pré-púbica videoassistida em um felino com estenose uretral

Urethrostomy is a surgical technique used in cases of partial or total obstruction of the urethra, and the laparoscopic approach may be a treatment option. Due to the scarcity of studies involving the technique, this paper reports the case of laparoscopic-assisted pre-pubic urethrostomy (hybrid laparoscopic) in a cat with urethral stricture. A five-years-old cat presenting recurrent feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) had undergone to perineal urethrostomy two years and nine months ago. After this procedure, the patient underwent another four corrective surgeries without success. Laboratory tests (blood count and biochemical) and image diagnosis were realized. The patient was subjected to laparoscopic-assisted pre-pubic urethrostomy and it was achieved therapeutic success and adequate patient quality of life. It is concluded that this technique is feasible and safe in cats, making it a possible choice of surgical treatment for urethral stricture.A uretrostomia é técnica cirúrgica utilizada em casos de obstrução parcial ou total da uretra, e na abordagem laparoscópica pode ser uma opção de tratamento. Devido à escassez de estudos envolvendo essa técnica, este trabalho relata o caso de uretrostomia pré-púbica videoassistida (laparoscópica híbrida) em um felino com estenose uretral. O paciente de cinco anos de idade apresentando histórico de doença do trato urinário inferior dos felinos (DTUIF) recorrente, havia sido submetido a uretrostomia perineal há dois anos e nove meses. Depois desse procedimento, o paciente passou por mais quatro cirurgias corretivas sem sucesso. Após realização de exames laboratoriais (hemograma e bioquímicos) e de imagem, o animal foi submetido a uretrostomia pré-púbica laparoscópica híbrida, obtendo-se sucesso terapêutico e possibilitando ao paciente adequada qualidade de vida. Conclui-se que esta técnica é viável e segura em gatos, tornando-a uma possível escolha de tratamento cirúrgico para estenose uretral