Hyperbaric treatment in veterinary practice.

The use of oxygen at high levels for treatment in animals is another innovative way to relieve animals of certain conditions such as hasten wound healing,pancreatitis,arthritis e.t.c. The principle of use is that increased air pressure raises plasma-oxygen concentration thus allowing oxygen to diffuse into tissues at distances three to four times further and thus promotes healing. Hyperbaric treatment reverses tissue hypoxia, eliminates edema by vasoconstriction, stimulates neovascularization and reduces re-perfusion injury by enhancing the activity of oxygen scavengers. It increases white-blood-cell killing activity thus having antibacterial function. The treatment time usually ranges from 45 minutes to two hours, with two to three treatments a day for about five to 10 days are given for most patients but with a minimum four hours interval between each treatment. Some patients also benefit from follow-up treatments after discharge from the hospital to ensure a healthy status. A study has shown accelerated neurological recovery with hyperbaric therapy and improved survival rate in dogs after 15 minutes of complete global cerebral ischemia (Takahashi et al., "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates neurologic recovery after 15-minute complete global cerebral ischemia in dogs," Crit. Care Med. 1992 Nov; 20(11) 1588-94). Hyperbaric Veterinary medicine are originators of the hyperbaric small- animal veterinary hyperbaric chamber, which they have used to treat for various conditions such as burns,envenomation,diskospondylitis, gastrointestinal bleeding,wounds from dog bites,peritonitis,radiation healing and kidney issues. The pictures below show a dog with rattle snake bite before and after treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Unbelievable ? but very possible. This is a paradigm shift,see more

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The body needs oxygen to function obviously for without breath there is no life.The body gets the required oxygen from the atmosphere mainly from the photosynthesis process of plants. The normal uptake of oxygen can be disturbed in disease conditions such as in chronic obstructive respiratory disease, asthmatic attacks, heart failure ,sleep apnea and pneumonia. The deprivation of tissues and muscles of adequate oxygen can lead to certain conditions such as cancers ,which recent research shows they thrieve in areas of low oxygen tension. When the immune system suffers from a lack of oxygen,the body has to work much harder to combat opportunistic bacteria, parasitic infections, and colds as well as flu. People with low oxygen in their systems usually show any of these signs or a combination of some of them 1)bronchial problems. 2) high acid in stomach/poor digestion. 3) irritability. 4) irrational behavior/depression. 5) memory loss. 6 )muscle aches and pains. 7 ) circulation problems. 8) fatigue, and general body weakness. How will you know if you are oxygen starved or if your cells are longing for more oxygen? then use this free tool to stay on top.See The oxygen is usually supplied through breathing tubes and pipes. Physicians are taking the use of oxygen to another level by using it at high temperatures to treat wounds and severe infections.The hyperbaric therapy is the term used to describe the use of oxygen at high levels to teat wounds and infection and it has found a place in veterinary practice.

Diarrhoea in goats.

Diarrhoea is usually a sign of an underlying condition,its not a disease on its own. Diarrhoea is usually from infectious or non infectious origin,but whatever the cause the consequences are severe and usually fatal in young animals if untreated. The common causes of diarrhoea in goats are worms,coccidia,E.coli ,salmonella, viruses and nutritional factors and the treatment is based on identifying the root cause and treating accordingly.The goats are usually weak, with inappetence,fever and pasty feces. The color,component and odor of the feces also defer depending on the cause of the diarrhoea. Prevention is usually by good bio security protocols such as cleaning pens regularly,proper waste management , keep farm rodent-proof, isolation of new animals to farm before mixing with old stock and the preventive protocols such as deworming,and provision of uncontaminated feed. Treatment is based on the cause of the diarrhoea and also using the follow steps ; 1) separate the sick ones from the others. 2) give fluid to replace lost electrolyte. 3) use of kaolin.

White muscle disease in goats.

This is common in rapidly growing heavily muscled kids usually from does on a ration deficient in selenium or vitamin E or a combination of both . The kids are usually weak because they have poor suckling reflex,the gait is unsteady as there is stiffness ,exhibited by arched back. The kids often unable to use the hind limbs as disease progresses as it has sprawled out appearance , other signs are respiratory distress often leading to death. Prevention is basically providing a balanced ration with minerals and supplements,while treatment will be by provision of selenium and vitamin E.

New status for the mesentery.

Researchers have muted an idea that a part of the digestive system should be upgraded to an organ status. The mesentery according to a new medical journal report, a connective tissue that winds around our digestive organs, holding them in place isn’t a fragmented structure as once thought, but actually one contiguous structure. “The anatomic description that had been laid down over 100 years of anatomy was incorrect. This organ is far from fragmented and complex,” said study author J. Calvin Coffey, from the University of Limerick, Ireland, in a press statement. “It is simply one continuous structure,” winding from the small intestine down to the rectum. Medically speaking, an organ is self-contained and has a very specific vital job – think brain, kidneys and heart. Many, but not all, organs have a distinct functional unit, the study authors wrote in the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal. But there are still many questions about how the mesentery functions. “The functional unit of the mesentery is unknown, and whether a distinctive cell type is primarily responsible for its functionality should be investigated,” they said. continue

Hand-foot-mouth disease.

The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection, caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirus genus (group). This group of viruses includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses. 

Coxsackievirus is the most common cause of HFMD. HFMD is typically a benign and self-limiting disease, and most common in young children.It is spread to others by close personal contact, coughing or sneezing or by contact with contaminated objects and surfaces 

 The signs are fever, oral lesions and rash on the hands, feet and buttocks. The oral lesions consist of rapidly-ulcerating vesicles on the buccal mucosa, tongue, palate and gums. The rash consists of papulovesicular lesions on the palms, fingers and soles, which generally persist for seven to 10 days, and maculopapular lesions on the buttocks. 

 The spread can be difficult to curtail in schools, closely knitted living communities and day-cares, although it is not all cases are serious, the infection can cause significant pain while eating, walking and writing. more

Canada reports first human case of H3N2v influenza.

On Dec. 16, WHO was notified of a confirmed human case of influenza A(H3N2) variant virus in Canada. The case developed respiratory infection symptoms on Oct. 24, was hospitalized on Nov. 8 with the diagnosis of pneumonia, and has recovered, according to the Influenza at the Human-Animal Interface Report. The exact location in Canada was not listed in the report. This is the first human case of A/Indiana/08/2011-like H3N2v influenza virus infection reported to WHO from Canada. Human infection with influenza A(H3N2)v viruses detected elsewhere have typically resulted in mild disease, although some have been hospitalized and at least one A(H3N2)v associated death has been reported. The case has confirmed exposure to ill swine on a farm. Animal health and epidemiological investigations are ongoing. Partial sequence analysis of all 8 gene segments of the virus isolated from the case indicates they are closely related to influenza A(H3N2) swine influenza viruses currently circulating in swine in North America. Influenza A(H1N2) and A(H3N2) viruses circulate in swine populations in many regions of the world. Depending on geographic location, the genetic characteristics of these viruses differ. Most human cases are exposed to the swine influenza viruses through contact with infected swine or contaminated environments. Human infection tends to result in mild clinical illness, although some cases have been hospitalized with more severe disease and one fatal case has been reported. Since these viruses continue to be detected in swine populations, further human cases can be expected. source