Acupuntura no tratamento de discopatias intervertebrais em cães

The intervertebral disc disease is considered a major neurological disorder involving the spinal cord, being a disease commonly seen in dogs in clinical practice of small animals. The pathophysiology of most discopathies have not been fully elucidated, but it is known that the symptoms observed will depend on the severity of spinal cord compression and location of spinal injury, ranging from localized pain to complete paralysis. Through a detailed clinical examination and laboratory tests, we choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient, which can be conservative, through the use of anti-inflammatories, analgesics and acupuncture or surgical, through decompression techniques. Acupuncture, therapeutic method of ancient Chinese medicine, uses the stimulation of specific points on the body in order to balance the body's physiological. The action mechanism of acupuncture in discopathies has not been fully elucidated, but its analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory and restoration of sensory and motor function are known, showing results as good as surgical therapy

Subluxação atlantoaxial canina

The atlantoaxial subluxation or luxation is an instability of this articulation that produces excessive flexion of this joint causing the cranial aspect of the axis to rotate dorsally into the vertebral channel with subsequent spinal cord compression. This disorder is most commonly found in young small breed dogs. The diagnosis of this disease is done by survey radiographs, where there is a larger distance between the atlas dorsal arch and the axis spinal process characterize the atlantoaxial subluxation. Surgical stabilization is the treatment of choice and multiple implants show the best results to stabilize the atlantoaxial joint. The main complications are sudden death or implant failure. The sudden death happens because of cardiorespiratory arrest and it is most likely caused by brainstem iatrogenic trauma. However, a larger study comparing different surgical stabilization techniques should be performed to evaluate relative success rates in dogs that have the same initial neurologic status

Hipotireoidismo em cães: aspectos gerais

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in dogs caused by insufficient production and secretion of thyroid hormones. Most affected dogs have primary hypothyroidism that results from lymphocytic thyroiditis, idiopathic thyroid atrophy, or more rarely, neoplastic destruction. Secondary hypothyroidism resulting from inadequate secretion of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone –TSH) from the pituitary gland is less commonly recognized. Tertiary hypothyroidism resulting from a deficiency of hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has not been documented in dogs. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs is made on the basis of clinical findings, results of routine laboratory and thyroid gland function tests and response to thyroid hormone replacement. Unfortunately, these tests have high sensitivity, but low specificity, for use in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone supplementation is indicated for the treatment of confirmed hypothyroidism and for the diagnoses of the disease through clinical response to trial therapy

Fístula infraorbitária associada à doença periodontal em cães

Veterinary Dentistry has grown considerably in recent years. This growth, associated to increase of knowledge among pet owners regarding responsible ownership of their pets, resulted in growing concern about the oral health of the animals that already can be observed at veterinary clinics. Among the oral diseases in dogs, infraorbital fistula, so called carnassial” fistula, is a periapical osteolytic lesion of the fourth premolar (4 SPM), often associated with periodontal disease. In its early stages, is characterized clinically by a swelling in the region of the jawbone before the formation of the fistula and leakage of a liquid serosanguineous or purulent secretion. Because of these clinical features, it is often misdiagnosed as a skin condition unrelated to the teeth. It is very important to obtain intraoral radiographs to confirm the diagnosis for performing the most appropriate treatment, according to the cause of the injury

Utilização da acupuntura no tratamento de cães com discopatia intervertebral

The intervertebral disc diseases have a high casuistic in clinical routines veterinary among dogs. These conditions can cause pain, paresis or paralysis of limbs depending on the degree of injury. Clinical signs are not limited to the intervertebral disc, other anatomical parts are included. In conventional medicine, treatment may be surgical or clinical, by the use of corticosteroids with muscle relaxants. Acupuncture was an alternative to treating these diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Although there are few studies for the treatment of discopathies, acupuncture triggers the release of substances such as dynorphins, beta-endorphins and serotonin, among others; that act inhibiting somatic and visceral pain. Electroacupuncture is used to potentiate the effects of acupuncture. It can be performed with different frequencies according to the clinical evolution. However there are different opinions related to the greater efficacy in relation to acupuncture. The restraint and monitoring of the treated animal are important factors for its recovery. The association between acupuncture and conventional treatment (surgical or clinical) achieved better results than acupuncture alone. This proves that acupuncture can be considered an option in order to minimize the complications of surgery or assist in patient recovery