The in vitro and in vivo effects of Actmin^® (immunoactivator) on the prevention of immunosuppression by anesthesia and surgery were studied in dogs. In in vitro studies, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were obtained from 16 dogs. PBL in group II (halothane treated group) were exposed to halothane for 20 minutes, whereas those in group I (halothane untreated group) were not exposed. Actmin, concanavalin A (Con A), or interleukin-2 (IL-2) was directly added to the PBL of both groups to compare the immunoactivation effect. In in vivo studies, the preventive effects on immunosuppression after surgery were evaluated through changes in lymphoproliferative responses by Con A, phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA), and lipopolysaccaride (LPS) using 10 clinical cases. They were divided into the following two groups after surgery under general anesthesia. Five dogs in group B were administered Actmin (0.2 ml/kg, b.i.d.) orally after surgery for nine days. Five dogs in group A were not administered Actmin. Proliferative responses of group II were lower than those of group I at 3 day culture under the addition of Actmin. These responses of Actmin-added group were higher to those of Con A or IL-2-added group at 3 and 7 day culture. The stimulation index of Actmin-added group at 7 day culture was higher than that of the same group at 3 day culture. In vivo, significant suppression in lympho-proliferation was observed after surgery in Actmin-unadded group. On the contrary, dogs that received oral administration of Actmin gave nonsuppressive proliferation to mitogen after surgery. These results suggest that Actmin produces higher immunoactivation compared with Con A and IL-2 and prevents immunosuppression after anesthesia and surgery in dogs.

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This report describes a case of cystic calculosis in a two-year-old male thoroughbred horse presented to the Hidaka Yearling Training Farm. The patient had a history of pollakiuria and slight hematuria following exercise. However, a rectal examination of the bladder revealed no apparent abnormalities. Three months later, a cystic calculus with the approximate size of a ping-pong ball was easily palpated in the bladder via rectal examination and subsequently confirmed by endoscopic examination. Laparocystotomy was then performed following inhalation anesthesia in dorsal recumbency. The skin was incised on the right paramedian side of the penis, and the bladder was isolated and elevated to the skin incision.
The calculi were exfoliated by hand from the urinary mucosa and removed. Surgery was completed within 4 hours and the animal recovered uneventfully. However, 46 days following surgery, rectal palpation revealed calculus of approximately 15 mm in diameter. This was subsequently removed using urethral endoscopy with a basket type forceps.
In retrospect, a muscle relaxant may be beneficial during laparocystotomy because the bladder was difficult to elevate, making it difficult to remove all small size calculi. Endoscopy with a basket type forceps was a safe, easy and effective method for removal of small diameter calculi from the bladder.

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Blood flow sound by using the ultrasound doppler sphygmomanometer in anesthetized dogs was evaluated on its usefulness to estimate peripheral circulation as well as blood pressure. Blood pressure by this unit was well correlated to that measured by invasive procedure. When the systolic blood pressure of the dog decreased to approximately 70 mmHg, the blood flow sound was not recorded. And when the blood pressure was within these ranges, the strength of blood flow sound seemed to be well correlated to the blood pressure. However, when the dog was in an unstable condition such as in the recovery phase, these parameters were not necessarily correlated. On the contrary, pattern of the blood flow sound was changed even when the blood pressure measured by the invasive procedure was stable. This fact may suggest the peripheral blood flow was changed during the long term anesthesia/surgery, thus the possibility of estimation of peripheral blood flow by monitoring blood flow sound may be indicated.

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A 10-years-old male mongrel dog showing severe dyspnea and dysphagia due to the malignant tumor around pharynx underwent permanent tracheostomy and percutaneous gastrostomy with tylectomy as a palliative therapy.
After the operation, frequent aspiration of the tracheal discharge through the created tracheostoma was necessary for a week. However the discharge was markedly reduced thereafter, thus the patient could be managed by the owner. Radiation therapy was performed after conditions of the patient were stabilized, and frequent anesthesia for irradiation by xylazine and ketamine was also carried out in safety. The patient could eat from his mouth, however after the regrowth of the tumor at approximately a month postoperation, the owner gave the nutritional fluid via the catheter set at stomach. The patient died because of metastasis to the lung at 122 days postoperation, and by which time, the patient could live without severe respiration distress or malnutrition.

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Thirteen cases with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) presented in 3 years were reviewed. The disease appeared to be more frequent in males than in females. The onset of clinical signs including limping on a rear leg was at 6 to 8 months old. Major radiographic findings observed in most cases were widening of the joint space and decreased density of the femoral head and neck, which preceded approximately 1 to 2 months before the onset of clinical signs. The secondary degenerative joint disease appeared to occur 2 months after the onset of clinical signs.

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