Abstract:  All leptospirosis microscopic agglutination test titers for the Leptospira serovars icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, grippotyphosa, bratislava, hardjo, and pomona conducted on 1,260 blood samples from dogs at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between March 1996 and March 2001 were evaluated. Low titers (1:100 to 1:400) were predominantly L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola, which represented […]

Objective:  To determine the prevalence of systemic hypertension in cats with diabetes mellitus and establish ranges for echocardiographic variables in diabetic cats. Design:  Prospective study. Animals:  14 cats with diabetes mellitus and 19 healthy control cats. Procedure: Systolic blood pressure was measured indirectly with a noninvasive Doppler technique. Ophthalmic and echocardiographic examinations were performed, and […]

Abstract:  A new jejunostomy tube placement technique is described and compared to traditional methods. The interlocking box technique was compared to a simple purse-string with jejunopexy and an inverting serosal tunnel (Witzel technique) with jejunopexy. Procedures performed in fresh canine cadavers were fluid pressure tested following tube removal. Mean+/-standard deviation (SD) intraluminal pressure necessary to […]

Abstract:  Tracheostomy is an important tool for managing critically ill patients or patientswith upper airway obstructions. Surgical techniques for temporary tracheostomy includetransverse flap; transverse (horizontal), vertical, and inverted ventral wall flaps; and percuta-neous (Seldinger) procedures. Serious complications can be prevented if practitioners applytheir knowledge of tracheal anatomy, physiology, and wound healing and follow proper surgi-cal […]

Objective: To assess the accuracy of current antemortem and postmortem techniques for determining tracheal luminal stenosis. Animals: 15 dogs. Procedure: Percentage of tracheal luminal stenosis (PTLS) was determined by 6 methods, using measurements obtained by radiography, tracheoscopy, and necropsy after selected tracheostomy techniques were performed. To calculate PTLS, dorsoventral tracheal diameter was measured from preoperative […]