Diagnostic imaging of the canine stifle

C

Dysplastic elbow diseases in dogs

Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a term used to describe the most common causes of elbow lameness. The term refers to ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented coronoid process (FCP), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and elbow incongruity, according to the International Elbow Working Group (IEWG). All conditions are polygenetic and multifactorial diseases that often occur in young, popular breeds. Elbow incongruity has been suggested as a causative factor in most of these pathologies. The aim of this review was to describe the etiology and clinical appearance on radiography, computed tomography (CT) and arthroscopy, together with their treatment options and prognosis.Elleboogdysplasie is een term die de meest voorkomende oorzaken van elleboogmanken groepeert. Volgens de International Elbow Working Group (IEWG) omvat deze groep losse processus anconeus (LPA), losse processus coronoideus (LPC), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) en elleboogincongruentie. Iedere aandoening is polygenetisch en multifactorieel en komt vaak voor bij jonge, populaire hondenrassen. Elleboogincongruentie wordt bovendien genoemd als een oorzakelijke factor bij de meeste van deze aandoeningen. Het doel van dit artikel is een overzicht te geven van de etiologie, van het klinisch beeld op radiografie, computer tomografie (CT) en artroscopie, en van de behandelingsopties en de prognose na de behandeling van de verschillende aandoeningen

Geographical distribution of the selenium status of herbivores in South Africa

Available information on the selenium (Se) status of grazing herbivores in South Africa is reviewed and collated in the form of a geographical distribution map. Marginal to acute Se deficiencies have been reported to occur in the Midlands region and in mountainous areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province and in the southern coastal region of the Western Cape province. These areas receive a high annual rainfall and the soils are predominantly acid. The Se status of livestock in the highland sourveld areas of the Gauteng, northern Free State and Mpumalanga provinces is varied. Selenium intake appears to be adequate in most areas although localised cases of deficiencies occur. Substantial air and water pollution occurs in some of these areas, and the presence of Se antagonists could increase the incidence of Se deficiency in future. Limited data indicates that vegetation in the arid regions of South Africa provides Se sufficient to meet the requirements of grazing herbivores. Subterranean water from a number of locations contains Se at concentrations higher than the norm for safe drinking water, the impact of which has not yet been established. There are large areas of South Africa for which little or no information on the Se status of grazing animals exist, and further investigations are required. (South African Journal of Animal Science, 2001, 31(1): 1-8

A glance at achievements of SASAS and animal scientists in southern Africa over more than 50 years

With the congress theme of ‘Golden Innovations for Sustainable Animal Agriculture’, it would be opportune to look not only at innovations with present and future potential, but at those ‘golden innovations’ that have been achieved and established over more than five decades. Many of these innovations still form the basis of many aspects of present-day sustainable animal agriculture in southern Africa. This brief review covers three areas, namely the history of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS), achievements of animal scientists, mainly in the earlier years of the Society, and the coming of age of professionalism in the animal science profession. The South African Society of Animal Production (SASAP) was founded on 28 April 1961 in Pretoria. The name was later changed to the South African Society for Animal Science. The theme of the first congress of SASAP was ‘Efficiency in Production’, a theme that is still relevant. In 1971 the South African Journal of Animal Science (SAJAS) was initiated, and by 2017 the 47th volume has been published. A large amount of knowledge that is applicable to local conditions has accumulated and should be drawn upon to avoid ‘reinventing the wheel’. In the 1950s to 1970s, Professor Jan Bonsma developed the concept of functional efficiency of cattle and principles that focused on adaptability and sustainability. Extensive research was conducted on the feeding of urea and phosphorus to grazing livestock, leading to the practice of urea-containing rumen-stimulating winter supplementation of ruminants. South Africa was considered a world leader in the field of supplementary feeding practices. South Africa has a proud history in the discipline of animal genetics and the practical application of breeding principles to enhance livestock productivity, and is in the forefront with studies on the genomics of livestock in southern Africa. SASAS was instrumental in establishing the professional status of animal scientists in South Africa. The vision is that an animal scientist should be identified as the expert in his/her field and the best qualified person to advise on matters such as animal breeding, nutrition and general management of livestock. SASAS council also acts as a mouthpiece for and custodian of animal scientists. The society protects the interests of animal scientists, is pro-active in promoting animal science, and acts as a watchdog over the professional activities of members.Keywords: Animal production, history, professional animal scientis

Physiotherapy in small animal medicine

The benefits of physiotherapy have been extensively demonstrated in human medicine. Although physiotherapy has been performed in veterinary medicine for already several decades, it is only very recently that scientific research on this subject is increasing. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the different veterinary physiotherapeutic assessment and treatment techniques and possibilities, and correlate them to the data in the veterinary literature

The influence of molybdenum and sulphur on sheep receiving high levels of copper and broiler litter in their rations

No Abstrac

The selenium status of grazing herbivores in different regions of Southern Africa

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 145-146