To compare the therapeutic approach of surgical specialists, sports medicine and rehabilitation specialists, and veterinarians with rehabilitation certification when treating bicipital tendon disease or tenosynovitis in dogs and to combine this information with existing research to develop a treatment algorithm that provides a framework for treating bicipital tenosynovitis. 223 respondents to an internet survey of board-certified veterinary surgeons, board-certified sports medicine and rehabilitation therapists, and veterinarians with rehabilitation certification. The survey was promoted via multiple listservs, specialist college newsletters, and private relevant social media sites. Answers were compiled and submitted for statistical analysis. Compared to rehabilitation therapists (RTh), surgeons placed less value on the stabilizing function of the biceps tendon and its role in preventing other shoulder morbidities. Similarly, compared to RTh, surgeons were more inclined to select surgery as the primary therapeutic approach and attributed a less optimistic prognosis to conservative therapy outcomes. There were multiple differences between surgeons and RTh in executing a conservative therapy program, with RTh more likely to recommend therapeutic exercise, extracorporeal shockwave, regenerative medicine, therapeutic ultrasound, exercise restriction, photobiomodulation, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. RTh were less likely to prescribe NSAIDS or inject corticosteroids. Despite the above noted differences, there were also multiple areas of agreement. Consensus agreement, combined with existing research, was used to create a treatment algorithm suggesting how to best address multiple manifestations of bicipital tendinopathy. Such guidelines can be considered to direct therapeutic strategies for this common condition.

Hamsters are a solitary species, originating from south east Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Since their introduction to the United States of America in 1938, they have grown in popularity as pets. When in the veterinary environment, their temperature and clinical signs should be monitored regularly and the correct diet should be provided. Owners should be advised of the signs and symptoms to look out for to ensure rapid and proper veterinary treatment.

Congenital laryngeal paralysis (CLP) is an inherited disorder that affects the ability of the dog to exercise and precludes it from functioning as a working sled dog. Though CLP is known to occur in Alaskan sled dogs (ASDs) since 1986, the genetic mutation underlying the disease has not been reported. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified a 708 kb region on CFA 18 harboring 226 SNPs to be significantly associated with CLP. The significant SNPs explained 47.06% of the heritability of CLP. We narrowed the region to 431 kb through autozygosity mapping and found 18 of the 20 cases to be homozygous for the risk haplotype. Whole genome sequencing of two cases and a control ASD, and comparison with the genome of 657 dogs from various breeds, confirmed the homozygous status of the risk haplotype to be unique to the CLP cases. Most of the dogs that were homozygous for the risk allele had blue eyes. Gene annotation and a gene-based association study showed that the risk haplotype encompasses genes implicated in developmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Pathway analysis showed enrichment of glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans biosynthesis, which play a key role in repairing damaged nerves. In conclusion, our results suggest an important role for the identified candidate region in CLP.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a very sensitive crop to water stress and timely irrigation water management improves tuber yield and quality. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate soil water dynamics under potato crops across their root zone and (2) estimate potato crop evapotranspiration (ETa) under sprinkler irrigation on the sandy loam soil. The field experiment was conducted during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons at the Navajo Farms within the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, Farmington, NM. Two irrigation scheduling methods were evaluated as FAO-56 approach evapotranspiration-based scheduling and soil moisture sensing irrigation scheduling. Sentek capacitance soil moisture probe was used across four commercial potato fields in each year after calibration to the soil texture just after installation. Crop Evapotranspiration values estimated by the water balance method and the two-step approach were compared to the satellite-based models used in OpenET. The results showed that the potato’s effective rooting zone is the upper 40 cm soil layer. Potato plants extracted more than 50% of total water from the upper 15 cm of the soil profile and about 85% from the upper 40 cm of the soil profile. Little water amount was extracted from the 40–60 cm soil water. Potato crop seasonal evapotranspiration averaged 580 to 645 mm in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The Two-step approach ETa values of 795.5 and 832.7 mm in 2018 and 2019, respectively, were higher than the soil water balance estimated ETa. The satellite modeled ETa varied with field and years and ranged from 437 to 759 mm and averaged 570.4 mm for the 2016–2020 period. Soil moisture probe-based irrigation scheduling improved irrigation water management and the irrigation water use of potatoes in the semiarid climate.

Rabbits have been a popular domesticated pet for many years, with 2% of adults owning a rabbit and over 900 000 estimated to be owned within the UK alone, however, few people understand the requirements of rabbits for a happy, healthy life. They are often hospitalised for dietary issues (dental problems and gut stasis) and appetite change; providing the correct nutritional needs can be difficult, and the success of nutritional supplementation depends on the feeding route, frequency of feedings, and the quality of the diet fed.

Weather conditions in the southwestern United States are variable and influence crop growing periods with late spring and early fall frosts which significantly impact cropping seasons. With the development of new maize hybrids, grain yield, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency can be substantially impacted by planting density and planting date. Thus, the optimum plant density and planting date for maximum grain yield must be determined for local conditions. Field experiments were conducted at NMSU Agricultural Science Center in Farmington to evaluate six plant densities (54,700; 64,600; 74,600, 88,000; 101,700; and 120,100 pph) under seven planting dates (from April 23 to June 5 in 2019 and from April 21 to June 10 in 2020) to determine the planting window and the optimum density. Plots were sprinkler irrigated and crop management was similar across all planting dates during the two growing seasons. The results showed that crop height and leaf area index varied with plant density and planting date. Grain yield also varied with plant density and planting date. The highest grain yield (16.8 Mg ha−1) was observed under the density 101,700 pph which showed statistically similar yield as the density 88,000 pph and the first planting trended to provide the best grain yield in 2019. In 2020, the highest grain yield (17Mg ha−1) was obtained under the density 88,000 pph on May 18 planting date. Plant density 88,000 pph was revealed as the optimum density that maximized grain yield and WUE and maize planting after May 25 is not recommended.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of heart failure in the dog. Primary DCM is often a disease of exclusion, but inherited genetic breed dispositions have been reported. Secondary causes of DCM include toxins, nutritional deficiency, systemic and infectious disease. The number of dogs diagnosed with DCM has increased significantly in the last 20 years, and has been linked to the rise in popularity of boutique, exotic and grain-free, legume-rich diets. Veterinary cardiologists raised concerns as DCM was being reported in atypical breeds. Subsequently, the United States Food and Drug Agency released a statement in 2018 warning pet owners of the risks of grain-free and novel protein diets. It is assumed that the problem also occurs in the UK because these diets are popular here also. Contrary to primary causes of DCM, dogs have improved clinically and on echocardiograph when their diet has been changed and/or supplemented. No clear cause has yet been identified between these diets and DCM, but the potential reasons seem to be multifactorial and limited by a lack of understanding of the bioavailability, digestibility and metabolism of the novel proteins and legume-rich diets.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops to farmers and ranchers in the USA. Plants potential yield quality and its persistence are some of the key traits breeders have targeted to improve crop productivity and adaptation. The objective of this study was to evaluate different sets of alfalfa cultivars under fall and spring plantings for forage yield stability. Field experiments were conducted under sprinkler irrigation at New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Farmington to evaluate forage yield of 18, 18, 22, 24, 24, 22, and 22 selected alfalfa cultivars planted in fall 2001, spring 2004, fall 2005, fall 2007, fall 2009, spring 2012, and fall 2014, respectively. The selected alfalfa cultivars were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The long-term 2001–2018 average annual forage yield of fall planted alfalfa was 21.70 Mg/ha, while the average annual forage yield of the spring planted alfalfa was 19.14 Mg/ha. Forage yield was consistent throughout years with negligible variations. Moderately dormant (FD 5) alfalfa cultivars slightly yielded higher than semidormant (FD 6, 7) cultivars, which showed the lowest forage yield from all the experiments (include the FD grouping means across tests with the LSD). Overall, annual forage yield decreased with fall dormancy rate (FD) at the rate of 0.34 Mg ha−1/FDR. Dormant and moderately dormant alfalfa cultivars should be of first choice in northwestern New Mexico and regions with similar pedoclimatic conditions.

To determine the location and periarticular shoulder-muscle-abnormalities detected via orthopedic examinations and ultrasonography in ultra-endurance Alaskan sled-dogs, returned from an ultra-endurance sled-dog-race prior to finishing it. Prospective clinical study. Sixty-four dogs (128 shoulders). Dogs were classified based on clinical evidence of shoulder pain (SP versus control). Orthopedic examination findings, shoulder-abduction-angles (SAA; before- and during-anesthesia), and ultrasonographic findings were recorded. Relationships between orthopedic and ultrasonographic abnormalities were compared. Pain was elicited on 55/128 shoulders; 73 shoulders were pain-free. The most common painful structures included the biceps-tendon (BT; 30%), triceps-muscle (28%), and infraspinatus-muscle (25%). SAA ranged between 25° and 75° among groups, including pain-free shoulders in dogs without lameness. SAA was greater when dogs were anesthetized (46.3° ± 14.0° vs. 47.8° ± 12.0°; p = .03), especially in SP (mean increase of 3.49° ± 8.85°) compared to control (0.03° ± 7.71°, p = .009). Overall, 103 ultrasonographic abnormalities were detected (SP: 44; control: 59). The most common ultrasonographic abnormality was fluid surrounding the biceps tendon, similarly distributed between groups (SP: 39/44; control: 57/59). Most chronic ultrasonographic abnormalities affected the BT (15/103 abnormalities). No associations were detected between ultrasonographic abnormalities and clinical findings. Shoulder abduction varied greatly and reached up to 75° in normal joints. Ultrasonographic shoulder-muscle abnormalities were common but did not seem associated with clinical findings. Interpretation of shoulder abduction warrants caution, and the presence of fluid around the BT may reflect a physiologic adaptation to racing, rather than a pathologic change in ultra-endurance Alaskan sled-dogs.