X-ray fluoroscopy is an imaging examination method that uses X-rays to create a series of moving images of the part of the body being examined. The X-ray machine is freely movable thanks to a C-shaped arm (= C-arm), allowing the body part or organ to be viewed from all angles in real time on the monitor.
Fluoroscopy is used during surgery on fractures (broken bones), blood vessels, or the heart. Contrast agents can also be used to visualize dynamic processes such as heart valve movements or swallowing.
As with X-rays (see corresponding article), appropriate protective measures must be taken, such as wearing protective clothing to minimize radiation exposure.
Everyone has probably heard the term "mangy dog" before. But what exactly is mange? Mange is a contagious skin disease in dogs caused by various types of mites. Classic mange in dogs is caused by the Sarcoptes mite (scabies mite). However, there are other types of mites that cause similar skin changes.
A melanoma is a tumor that develops from the pigment cells of the skin, known as melanocytes. The tumor produces cells that contain melanin, the dark pigment in the skin. If the tumor is benign, it is referred to as a melanoma; if it is malignant, it is referred to as a melanosarcoma. In human medicine, melanomas are commonly referred to as "black skin cancer."
Cryptorchidism refers to the absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum of a stallion. It is a relatively common developmental disorder in horses and can occur in all horse breeds. These stallions are also colloquially referred to as "Klopp-, Spitz- or Urhengste" (clop, pointed or original stallions). Since the majority of cryptorchid stallions are infertile, this condition also has economic significance in relation to horse breeding.
Horse influenza, similar to influenza in humans, is a highly contagious viral disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Its classic progression makes it easy to distinguish from other respiratory diseases. With the exception of New Zealand and Australia, it occurs worldwide. It is the most common viral respiratory disease in horses. Despite almost universal vaccination, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur.
Cats communicate through various channels. Their behavior, body language, vocalizations, and scent markings, which are largely invisible to humans, speak volumes. But how can "cat language" be translated into "human language"?
Have you ever wondered whether your dog can see the magnificent colors that nature sometimes presents us with? Have you ever thought about how your dog sees you and how it perceives its environment with its eyes?
Narcolepsy is a pathological sleep disorder in which animals initially appear to be dozing, but then suddenly fall asleep and sometimes collapse without support. In most cases, this sleep disorder is associated with a loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
Wobbler syndrome describes a complex of symptoms caused by nerve damage in the cervical spine. The often typical ataxic (irregular) gait of affected animals gave the disease its name, as the English word "to wobble" means to sway or stagger. It occurs particularly often in Dobermans and Great Danes, but other large breeds of dog can also be affected. Male dogs are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.
Dourine is a worldwide, notifiable horse disease that is transmitted through mating. It is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and is almost always fatal. It occurs mainly in Asia, North and South Africa. Thanks to appropriate control measures, the disease is now considered to have been eradicated in Australia, North America and Central Europe.
If your horse suddenly looks like it has run through hundreds of stinging nettles or been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes, it could be hives, also known as urticaria. Triggered by certain stimuli, this excessive reaction of the immune system causes hundreds of small, round, raised swellings, known as wheals, to form on the horse's skin. In most cases, this rash disappears quickly once the cause has been treated.
If feed components or foreign bodies become stuck in the horse's esophagus, the surrounding muscles cramp up and a blockage occurs. Due to the risk of pneumonia caused by inhaling feed residues (aspiration pneumonia), a blockage is always a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Despite its somewhat misleading name (hematoma = bruise), this very rare disease in horses is not a simple bruise, but a slowly growing tumor originating in the ethmoid bone or paranasal sinuses that can cause severe bleeding. Ethmoid hematoma can occur in horses of any age, but is most common in horses between 8 and 15 years of age.
