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The treatment of segmental bone defects is a challenging problem for both human and veterinary medicine. Various biomaterials have successfully been used to treat these defects. Numerous recent in vitro studies have shown the potential of treating bone tissues using poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HAp) nanofibres, which are fabricated using electrospinning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using a bone scaffold of PLGA/HAp nanofibres to repair critical-sized segmental bone defects in a canine model. The experimental bone defects were created in a 15 mm-long region of the radius. The area of the defect in each of 10 Beagle dogs was treated with a transplant of PLGA/HAp nanofibres in gelatin. The control group consisted of five Beagle dogs with similar defect sites that were not treated. Radiological and histological examinations were used to monitor the response of PLGA/HAp nanofibre-treated canine bone. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to evaluate bone mass parameters 18 weeks after treatment in the experimental bone defect group. Our radiological and histological results showed that the PLGA/HAp nanofibre is biodegradable in the defect sites and replaces new bone tissue. Micro-CT showed that bone mass parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the critical-sized segmental bone defects of PLGA/HAp nanofibre-treated animals as compared to those of untreated animals. Based on these results, we conclude that PLGA/HAp nanofibres may be used as a bone scaffold biomaterial in canines.

The purpose of this prospective double blind clinical study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of meloxicam with/without a buprenorphine patch for pain management after ovariohysterectomy in cats. Cats were randomly divided into two groups: ten cats were treated with meloxicam s.c. after ovariohysterectomy (Group A), and eight cats were treated with s.c. meloxicam and a 20 µg/h buprenorphine transdermal patch (Group B). For patch treatment, the cat’s hair was clipped on the left side in the thoracic area. Pain scores were assessed at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 30 h post-ovariohysterectomy extubation. To evaluate postoperative pain, 4A-VET pain scale and visual analogue scale pain scores were used. In addition, blood was collected from all cats to determine the cortisol levels at –2 h and at 0.5, 4, 6 and 24 h after extubation. The 4A-VET scores for Group B were significantly lower at 1, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 30 h than the scores for Group A. The visual analogue scale pain scores for Group B were significantly lower at 4, 6, 24 and 30 h than the scores for Group A. Serum cortisol concentrations were not significantly different between Groups A and B at any of the measured intervals. There was a significant positive correlation between postoperative visual analogue scale and 4A-VET pain scores in both groups. Our results should be subject to careful interpretation as the study was limited by its small sample size and by observer subjectivity.

An intact male, six-month-old Hanwoo bull calf (native Korean beef breed) was presented to the Animal Medical Centre, Chonbuk National University because the owner had noticed a conjunctival and corneal abnormality in the left eye (OS). On ophthalmic examination, a small, elevated and skin-like mass lesion, containing hair was found on the ventronasal cornea and the conjunctiva of the third eyelid. In the light of its characteristic appearance, the lesion was classified clinically as a corneal dermoid. Under general anaesthesia, superficial lamellar keratectomy and conjunctivectomy was performed to remove the abnormal tissue. As the owner could not apply topical medications regularly, a drug-filled osmotic pump (Alzet; Alza, Palo Alto, CA) was implanted subconjunctivally under the upper eyelid and connected to a catheter at the lateral limbus. The catheter was fixed to the conjunctiva with 3-0 polyglactin 910 (Vicryl®; Ethicon, Johnson and Johnson, Somerville, USA) and a partial temporary tarsorrhaphy was placed. In order to determine the efficacy of medication delivery, a sample of aqueous humour was collected via aqueocentesis from the anterior chamber at two weeks and four weeks after implantation of the pump. The presence and concentration of ciprofloxacin was determined via mass spectroscopy. Aqueous concentration of ciprofloxacin was 0.093 µg/ml at two weeks and 0.107 µg/ml at four weeks. The calf healed without incident and returned to normal function six weeks following the procedure.

In this study, we fabricated Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HAp) nanofibres using electrospinning and evaluated their potential use for bone repair applications. Analysis confirmed that the PLGA nanofibres were similar to the natural extracellular matrix and included HAp particles. Further, gelatin augmented the adhesion of electrospun nanofibres in the cell adhesion test. Therefore, electrospun PLGA/HAp nanofibres together with gelatin can be utilised for bone repair applications.

In March 2010, a 3.5-month-old Korean native calf was anatomized and two nematode worms were detected in the thoracic cavity. The worms were identified and classified by light and scanning electron microscopy on the basis of features at the anterior and posterior parts of the worms. The worms were female Setaria digitata and Setaria marshalli and numerous eggs which contained microfilaria were detected in the uterus of both species. The body lengths of the S. digitata and S. marshalli were 78 mm and 117 mm, respectively. Mosquitoes act as the vector for Setaria nematodes but these are inactivated in winter in Korea. Therefore, we concluded that this case represented setariasis with congenital infection occurring during the summer prenatal stage of life.

This study was performed to make a surgical model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the dog. Experimental medial patellar luxation (MPL) was surgically produced in the left stifle (index) of 24 skeletally mature mixed small breed dogs (age two to six years and weight 2.8 to 9 kg). The animals were randomly allocated in 2 groups; sham group (n = 12), where the right stifle was sham operated and control group (n = 12) with intact right stifle. Physical and radiographic examinations of both stifles were performed at 1.5 months intervals over a one-year experimental period. One dog was euthanatized every three months, and both stifles were explored, gross examination was performed and tissue samples from the articular cartilage, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and synovium were collected for histomorphology. The clinical signs of OA were obvious in the experimental dogs by 12 weeks of surgical induction of MPL, which was also evidenced in the histopathology of the joint tissues and electron microscopy of the articular cartilage. The radiographic changes of OA were not obvious until remarkable degenerative changes became abvious six months postoperatively. Surgically induced MPL can be a successful tool for experimental induction of OA in dogs.

The study compared the bone response to xenogenic screws and metallic screws of a similar design in a canine femur. The xenogenic bone screws and metallic bone screws were inserted into the femur diaphyses of dogs. Radiological and histological responses to the xenogenic bone screws were determined in canine bone and micro-computed tomography evaluation of bone mass and bone density parameter was performed 36 weeks after fixation of the xenogenic and metallic bone screws. There was no osteolysis and foreign body reaction associated with either bone screw. The radiological and histological results showed that the xenogenic bone screws formed a bony rim around the screws and facilitated incorporation of host bone. By micro-computed tomography, the bone volume was observed to be significantly (P < 0.01) increased at the screw-bone interface surface of xenogenic screws, compared to metallic screws. The bone mineral density of the metallic screw-bone interface was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of the xenogenic bone screw. The advantages of the clinical application of the xenogenic bone screw are the possibility of its resorption and incorporation. Therefore, additional surgery to remove the screw is not required.

The therapeutic effect of Chitosan-oligosaccharide (COS) on calf diarrhoea was investigated in Korean native (Hanwoo) calves (n = 86). The calves were divided into two groups; the untreated/control (n = 40) having routine diet only and the treated group (n = 46) receiving COS (50 ml/day) in addition to the routine diet for five days. Blood samples from each animal were collected before and after five days treatment and were subjected to complete blood count (CBC), chemistry screening (CS) and plasma protein assay (PPA). The in vitro efficacy of COS against the most common causal agents of calf diarrhoea (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) was evaluated. Among the CBC parameters a significantly higher total red blood cell count (tRBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were noticed in the untreated group. In the CS parameters higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and total bilirubin (TBL), and lower glucose were found in the untreated group. Significantly higher levels of albumin and α-globulin along with lower γ-globulin were noted in the untreated group. Among the treated group 41 (out of 46) calves recovered completely from diarrhoea and in the untreated group five calves (out of 40) spontaneously recovered after five days, revealing that the COS has a good therapeutic effect on diarrhoea in calves. The COS was found to effectively inhibit bacterial growth and pathogenicity up to 1:64 and 1:256 dilutions in the case of S. typhimurium and E. coli respectively. The results of this study revealed that the levels of different parameters of CBC (tRBC, Hb, PCV), CS (BUN, creatinine, TBL) and PPA (albumin, α-globulin, γ-globulin) profiles can reflect the severity of diarrhoea and dehydration and that COS can be successfully used for the clinical management of diarrhoea in Hanwoo calves.

Five intact male group-raised Tosa dogs were diagnosed with transmissible venereal tumours. Surgical removal with electrocautery and a cryogun was conducted because the owner wanted to maintain the fertility of the dogs. The dogs were followed up for 12 months. The surgical wounds were completely healed by five to six weeks. The dogs remained fertile without complications or recurrences. To maintain fertility in dogs suffering from transmissible venereal tumours, the combination of an electrocautery and a cryogun is suggested.

A two-month-old male 40 kg Korean native calf was referred to the Chonbuk Animal Medical Centre, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University because of prolonged diarrhoea, depression, and anorexia lasting three weeks. On physical examination, abdominal distension presented in the right flank and a percussion sound was audible. A round-shaped lesion was observed in the area of the large intestine on computed tomography and ultrasonography, and a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception was made. A surgical operation was decided upon immediately to correct the intussusception. An infarct lesion was found during surgery, and the lesion was observed on the intussuscepted intestines including the cecum, ileum, and colon. The area of intussusception was excised, and an anastomosis was performed. Despite intensive and supportive care, the patient died one day after the surgery due to poor general condition. An ileocecocolic intussusception is an uncommon case compared within other intestinal intussusceptions. Most affected calves have a history of severe diarrhoea and the prognosis is guarded due to poor general condition. Good survival can be expected if patients are diagnosed quickly.