Inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane in a black jaguar (Panthera onca) for surgical repair of a fractured mandible

A black jaguar (Panthera onca) was anesthetized with a combination of medetomidine, ketamine and isoflurane in oxygen for radiological examination and surgical repair of a fractured mandible. Since a non-domesticated cat is potentially dangerous, induction of anesthesia was performed by intramuscular injection using a mechanical squeeze cage. The cardiopulmonary parameters during anesthesia remained within normal ranges; only a small increase in the respiration rate was recorded 75 minutes after intubation. This hyperventilation was treated with buprenorphine (for additional analgesia) and an increased inspiratory fraction of isoflurane. Recovery was rather slow after 165 minutes of general anesthesia, so atipamezole was administered. Ten minutes after the intramuscular injection of atipamezole, the animal started to recover. Meloxicam and buprenorphine were used for post-operative analgesia

Anaesthetic management of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion using an Amplatz canine duct occluder (ACDO) in a dog

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common diagnosed congenital disease in dogs that usually causes heart failure and death unless corrected at a young age. A 2.5-year-old female intact Coton de Tuléar was referred and diagnosed with a left to right shunt PDA. Closure of the PDA was performed via a minimally invasive approach by means of an Amplatz canine duct occluder device. In this case report, we describe a successful anaesthetic protocol that included premedication using a combination of acepromazine and methadone, induction with propofol and midazolam and maintenance with isoflurane in oxygen, as well as a lidocaine constant rate constant rate infusion for intraoperative analgesic and cardiovascular support. This protocol provided excellent intraoperative cardiopulmonary stability and a smooth and rapid recovery

Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis using negative pressure wound therapy in a puppy

A two-month-old German shepherd dog was presented with anorexia, lethargy and left hind limb lameness associated with swelling of the thigh. Clinical findings combined with cytology led to the presumptive diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis (NF). Extensive debridement was performed and silver-foam-based negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied. During the first 48 hours, a negative pressure of -75 mmHg was used. Evaluation of the wound demonstrated no progression of necrosis and a moderate amount of granulation tissue formation. A new dress- ing was placed and a second 48-hour cycle of NPWT was initiated at -125 mmHg. At removal, a healthy wound bed was observed and surgical closure was performed. The prompt implementation of NPWT following surgical debridement led to accelerated wound healing without progression of necrosis in this case of canine NF. Negative pressure wound therapy could become an integral part of the management strategy of canine NF, improving the prognosis of this life-threatening disease

Anesthetic and analgesic management of a skunk (Mephitis mephitis) undergoing a laminectomy for cauda equina compression

A 6-year-old, male striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) weighing 5.9 kg was anesthetized for diagnostic imaging procedures and subsequently for a laminectomy at level L6/S1 as treatment of lumbosacral stenosis. On both occasions, anesthesia was induced by a face mask using 5% isoflurane in oxygen. After endotracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. When necessary, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was instituted. For the surgical intervention, analgesia was provided with pre-operative carprofen, perioperative intravenous infusion of fentanyl and postoperative buprenorphine. The constant rate infusion of fentanyl provided a sufficient level of analgesia and reduced the amount of isoflurane needed. Hypoxemia occurred at the end of surgery and was successfully treated using a vital capacity manoeuvre. The recovery from both anesthetic procedures was smooth and uneventful and the surgical intervention was successful. Three weeks after surgery the skunk was able to move the pelvic limbs voluntarily

Pulmonary edema as a postoperative complication in two obese patients (a horse and a dog)

In this case series, the development and successful treatment of pulmonary edema are described in two obese animals (a horse and a dog) in the postoperative period. This rare but severe complication is normally fairly easy to diagnose, but the cause is usually multifactorial and difficult to determine. Potentially contributing factors are discussed. Both animals responded successfully to therapy and were discharged without further incidents

An heuristic filtering tool to identify phenotype-associated genetic variants applied to human intellectual disability and canine coat colors

Background: Identification of one or several disease causing variant(s) from the large collection of variants present in an individual is often achieved by the sequential use of heuristic filters. The recent development of whole exome sequencing enrichment designs for several non-model species created the need for a species-independent, fast and versatile analysis tool, capable of tackling a wide variety of standard and more complex inheritance models. With this aim, we developed "Mendelian", an R-package that can be used for heuristic variant filtering. Results: The R-package Mendelian offers fast and convenient filters to analyze putative variants for both recessive and dominant models of inheritance, with variable degrees of penetrance and detectance. Analysis of trios is supported. Filtering against variant databases and annotation of variants is also included. This package is not species specific and supports parallel computation. We validated this package by reanalyzing data from a whole exome sequencing experiment on intellectual disability in humans. In a second example, we identified the mutations responsible for coat color in the dog. This is the first example of whole exome sequencing without prior mapping in the dog. Conclusion: We developed an R-package that enables the identification of disease-causing variants from the long list of variants called in sequencing experiments. The software and a detailed manual are available at https://github.com/BartBroeckx/Mendelian

General anesthesia for the surgical repair of a tarsometatarsal fracture in a Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

A Harris's Hawk was referred for severe lameness of the left pelvic limb. Clinical examination and radiography revealed an open transverse diaphyseal fracture in the proximal third of the tarsometatarsal bone. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen after premedication with buprenorphine intramuscularly. Closed reduction and stabilization using a Type IIa external skeletal fixation device was performed during anesthesia lasting 70 minutes. Recovery was fast, uneventful and complete 15 minutes after isoflurane was stopped. Meloxicam (0.5mg/kg bid) was administered as analgesic and and marbofloxacine (15mg/kg bid) as antibiotic therapy during the post-operative period

Two cases of feline pyothorax : medical versus surgical treatment and associated challenges

Pyothorax is a rare disease in cats. Underlying causes and treatment recommendations vary greatly between cases. In this case series, the management of two challenging cases of feline pyothorax is discussed. In the first case, a nine-year-old female spayed European shorthair cat with pyothorax caused by Bacteroides fragilis is described. At the time of presentation, she was diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus as well. The pyothorax was succesfully managed medically. Unfortunately, the cat relapsed after three months and the owner elected euthanasia. The second case involved a ten-year-old male castrated British shorthair cat with identification of filamentous bacteria on pleural fluid cytology. This cat underwent surgical intervention because thoracic drainage was very difficult. Eventually, he recovered well and did not relapse up to two months postoperatively. The challenges in the decision process and treatment complications are discussed