The aim of this study was to determine the course of the median nerve and its adjacent structures in the carpal canals of 8 healthy dogs by using high-frequency transducers. Before performing ultrasonography, the transverse and posteroanterior diameters as well as the perimeter of the carpus were measured at just proximal to the side of the carpal pad. The anatomical structures were then determined at two levels of the carpal canal, which were named the proximal and distal levels, on the transverse sonograms. The cross-sectional areas, perimeters and the transverse and posteroanterior diameters of the median nerve were measured at these levels. Although all the measurements were larger at the proximal level, significant differences between the proximal and distal levels were determined for the cross-sectional area, the perimeter and the transverse diameter of the median nerve. On the transverse sonogram, the deep digital flexor tendon was seen in almost the center of the carpal canal like a comma shape and also it had a small concavity on the caudal side. The superficial digital flexor tendon was seen as an ovoid shape on the transverse sonograms and it was located nearly at the posterior side of the carpal canal. Both tendons were seen as intermediate-grade echogenic structures. The median artery was located inside of the concavity of the deep digital flexor tendon. Also, the median nerve was seen at the posteromedial side of the median artery. As a result of this study, the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve ranged between 1.01-2.68 mm2 at the proximal level and between 0.93-1.91 mm2 at the distal level.
Animals ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology ; Forelimb/*innervation ; Ultrasonography/*veterinary

Morphological characteristics of Mesocestoides lineatus tetrathyridia collected from Chinese snakes and their adults recovered from experimental animals were studied. The tetrathyridia were detected mainly in the mesentery of 2 snake species, Agkistrodon saxatilis (25%) and Elaphe schrenckii (20%). They were 1.73 by 1.02 mm in average size and had an invaginated scolex with 4 suckers. Adult tapeworms were recovered from 2 hamsters and 1 dog, which were orally infected with 5-10 larvae each. Adults from hamsters were about 32 cm long and those from a dog were about 58 cm long. The scolex was 0.56 mm in average width with 4 suckers of 0.17 by 0.15 mm in average size. Mature proglottids measured 0.29 by 0.91 mm (av.). Ovaries and vitellaria bilobed and located in the posterior portion of proglottids. The cirrus sac was oval-shaped and located median. Testes were follicular, distributed in both lateral fields of proglottids, and 41-52 in number per proglottid. Gravid proglottids were 1.84 by 1.39 mm (av.) with a characteristic paruterine organ. Eggs were 35 by 27 microm in average size with a hexacanth embryo. These morphological characteristics of adult worms were identical with those of M. lineatus reported previously. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the tetrathyridia detected in 2 species of Chinese snakes are the metacestodes of M. lineatus, and 2 snake species, A. saxatilis and E. schrenckii, play the role of intermediate hosts.
Animals ; Cestode Infections/*parasitology ; Cricetinae ; Dogs ; Larva ; Mesocestoides/anatomy & histology/*classification/isolation & purification ; Snakes/*parasitology

Sixty clinically normal German shepherd dogs, 31 males and 29 females, ranging in age from 1 and 5 years and with a body weight ranging from 22 to 37.2 kg, were examined by the two-dimensional mode, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography. In Doppler mode, the mitral valve flows were obtained, where the aim was to determine the velocity peaks and ratios of the E and A waves and the mitral E wave deceleration time. The velocity peaks were obtained for the tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves. On the left ventricular outflow tract flow, the time velocity integral and aortic cross-sectional area was used to calculate the cardiac output. A statistically significant correlation with the body weight was found for the systolic left atrial and diastolic aortic diameter on twodimensional mode. On M-mode, there was a significant correlation between the body weight and the systolic left atrium and diastolic aortic dimension, systolic and diastolic left ventricular, septal and posterior wall dimensions. Doppler echocardiography showed that there was no significant correlation between the body weight and the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves flows. These results demonstrate that it is important to know the normal echocardiographic values for German shepherd dogs because there are some characteristics peculiar to this particular breed. The data obtained is expected to be helpful for studies on small animal cardiology.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Dogs/*physiology ; Echocardiography/*veterinary ; Female ; Heart/anatomy&histology/*physiology ; Male ; Sex Characteristics

Electroretinography (ERG) is a well-established diagnostic procedure for objectively evaluating retinal function. In this study, ERG in beagle dogs, which are a popular experimental animal, was performed to determine the normal range of ERG variables and assess differences between the left and right eyes. ERG findings including rod, combined rod-cone, single-flash cone, and 30-Hz flicker responses were recorded with an LED-electrode in 43 sedated beagle dogs. The subjects were divided into young (< 1 year old), adult (1~5 years old), and senile animals (> or = 6 years old). Normal ERG ranges were obtained. Significant differences in b-wave amplitude along with b/a ratio of the combined rod-cone response were found between the young and adult animals as well as young and senile dogs. No significant differences were observed between the left and right eyes. ERG variables in beagle dogs differed by age due to age-related retinal changes. Thus, we propose that normal ERG ranges should be determined according to age in each clinic and laboratory using its own equipment because each institution usually has different systems or protocols for ERG testing.
Aging ; Animals ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology ; Electrodes/veterinary ; Electroretinography/methods/*veterinary ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVETo test the accuracy of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) imaging system for evaluating left ventricular mass (LVM) in phantom and excised canine heart.

METHODSTen left ventricular (LV) wall phantoms made of two rubber-bursas, ten excised canine hearts underwent RT3DE and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). In RT3DE "full volume" imaging, the myocardial volume was measured using 2, 4, 8, and 16-plane method with the analysis software of RT3DE. Mass was then calculated by multiplying the resulting myocardial volume by specific density of myocardial tissue. In 2DE the masses were measured by area-length method. The true LV wall phantom mass was measured by water displacement and the canine LVM was weighed by anatomy, which served as a reference standard. We compared RT3DE or 2DE with true mass.

RESULTSIn LV wall phantoms, RT3DE correlated with true masses strongly (r = 0.813-0.994) and weakly correlated between 2DE and true masses (r = 0.628). In excised canine hearts, there is an excellent correlation between RT3DE and true masses (r = 0.764-0.991), while 2DE value showed a lesser correlation (r = 0.514). There are no difference between RT-3DE and true masses (P > 0.05) but different between 2DE and true masses (P < 0.05). In different planes, there was no difference between 8-plane and 16-plane (P > 0.05) but different between 8-plane and 2, 4-plane (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRT3DE can accurately quantify LVM and provide a new tool to evaluate LV function. For LVM by RT3DE, 8-plane measurement method is the best choice for accuracy and convenience.

Animals ; Dogs ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; Heart Ventricles ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Phantoms, Imaging

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a new palatoplasty with persistent elastic distraction osteogenesis.

METHODSTwenty mongrel dog aged in 6 month were divided into two groups: the control (n = 10) and the experimental group (n = 10). The cleft palate model was made surgically in experimental dogs. The hard palate clefts were repaired with persistent elastic distraction osteogenesis. Then the animals were observed for an additional 12 weeks before sacrifice. Direct measurements was taken on dry skulls of the dogs and the data were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSFor all experimental dogs, the clefts were closed after gradual distraction. No relapse and airway blocking occurred in observational period. There were no significant differences in the variables of facial length, height and width between the two groups (P > 0.05). The length of horizontal portion of hard palate in experimental group was significantly longer than that in the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere was no complication and disturbance on maxillofacial structure in repairing cleft palate with persistent elastic distraction osteogenesis. It is an effective and safe technique for repairing cleft palate in animal model.

Animals ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Dogs ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Palate ; surgery

The height, width, and cross-sectional area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord along with the area ratio of spinal cord to vertebral canal in the cervical vertebra were evaluated in images obtained using computed tomography (CT). Measurements were taken at the cranial, middle, and caudal point of each cervical vertebra in eight clinically normal small breed dogs (two shih tzu, two miniature schnauzers, and four mixed breed), 10 beagles, and four German shepherds. CT myelography facilitated the delineation of the epidural space, subarachnoid space, and spinal cord except at the caudal portion of the 7th cervical vertebra. The spinal cord had a tendency to have a clear ventral border in the middle portion of the vertebral canal and lateral borders near both end plates. The height, width, and area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord in the cervical vertebra were increased as the size of dog increased. However, the ratio of the spinal cord area to vertebral canal area in the small dogs was higher than that of the larger dogs. Results of the present study could provide basic and quantitative information for CT evaluation of pathologic lesions in the cervical vertebra and spinal cord.
Animals ; Body Size ; Cervical Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Reference Values ; Spinal Canal/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Spinal Cord/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*veterinary

Animals ; Bile Ducts ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Dogs ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Microcirculation ; anatomy & histology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of alendronate on the structural properties of trabecular bone.

METHODSAlendronate was administered at a daily p.o. dose of 0.5 mg/kg over a 12-week period in hound dogs (n = 8 for both the control and treated group), and the structural indices of the lumbar vertebral (L1 and L2) trabecular bone were assessed directly from 3-D images.

RESULTSTreatment with alendronate increased bone volume fraction by 9.5% and 7.7% in L1 and L2 respectively. Trabecular thickness significantly increased after alendronate treatment, whereas trabecular separation remained constant. The degree of anisotropy for the alendronate-treated group was decreased compared with that of the control group. Bone surface to volume ratio declined significantly in the alendronate-treated group, whereas alendronate induced a higher bone surface density.

CONCLUSIONAlendronate increased the structural properties of canine trabecular bone after short-term treatment at a dose of 0.5 mg x k(-1) x day(-1).

Alendronate ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anisotropy ; Biometry ; methods ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Dogs ; Female ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects

This study evaluated pulsed TDI variables including the isovolumic time interval and duration of the major wave in a population of large healthy dogs. Longitudinal myocardial motion at the septal mitral annulus was evaluated with pulsed TDI in 45 healthy adult dogs. Maximal myocardial velocities, isovolumic time intervals, and duration of the myocardial waves were measured. The correlation between time intervals and velocity variables was also investigated. The mean maximal systolic velocity was 6.92 +/- 1.78 cm/sec, the mean early diastolic velocity (Em) was 6.58 +/- 1.81 cm/sec, the mean late diastolic velocity (Am) was 5.10 +/- 2.00 cm/sec, the mean isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) was 53.61 +/- 95.13 msec, and the mean isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was 26.74 +/- 57.24 msec. The early diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E)/Em ratio was 10.94 +/- 3.27 while the Em/Am ratio was 1.40 +/- 0.40. There was a negative correlation between Am duration and Am amplitude, and a positive correlation between the IVRT and Em/Am ratio (p < 0.05). The normal LV parameter using pulsed TDI method could be used as the reference range for identifying myocardial dysfunction in dogs.
Animals ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Mitral Valve/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed/methods/*veterinary