SURGICAL AND POSTOPERATIVE TREATMENT OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE IN A MOUNTAIN COATI (NASUELLA OLIVACEA) USING BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT AND PHYSICAL THERAPY.

A captive 8-yr-old female mountain coati, Nasuella olivacea, presented with intermittent paresis of the pelvic limbs. The coati was anesthetized for radiographs, which showed mineralized discs in the thoracolumbar region. After 3 mo of daily prednisone, its condition further declined. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed extradural disc herniation, spinal cord compression, and requirement for a left-sided hemilaminectomy. Postoperatively, the coati received prednisolone, gabapentin, tramadol, and clavamox. An established history of positive reinforcement training allowed caretakers to implement physical therapy walks and novel exercises designed for its condition. The coati showed improvement with appropriate proprioceptive positioning and improved balance. Intervertebral disc disease is common in dogs and cats, and although physical therapy is routinely implemented in recovering neurologic patients of those species, it is relatively new in zoologic medicine. This report highlights the benefits of behavioral management in postoperative management of nondomestic species.

Minimally invasive hysterectomy in Coatis ( Nasua nasua ) / Histerectomia minimamente invasiva em Quatis (Nasua nasua)

Some wildlife species, such as coatis, have a high degree of adaptability to adverse conditions, such as fragmented urban forests, increasingly common on the world stage. The increase in the number of these mesopredators causes drastic changes in the communities of smaller predators, interferes with reproductive success of trees, as well as becoming a form of exchange between domestic and wild areas, favoring the transmission of zoonosis and increasing the occurrence of attacks to animals or people. This report describes the use of minimally invasive hysterectomy in two individuals of the species Nasua nasua, which can be accomplished through the use of hook technique, commonly used to castrate dogs and cats. The small incision and healing speed of incised tissues are fundamental in wild life management since the postoperative care is limited by the behavior of these animals. This technique proved to be effective and can greatly reduce the morbidity of this procedure in coatis.(AU)

Algumas espécies selvagens, como os quatis, possuem alto grau de adaptabilidade a condições adversas, como as de florestas urbanas fragmentadas, cada vez mais comuns no cenário mundial. O aumento do número destes mesopredadores causa alterações drásticas nas comunidades de pequenos predadores, interfere no sucesso reprodutivo de árvores, além de se tornar uma forma de intercâmbio entre áreas domésticas e selvagens, facilitando a veiculação de zoonoses e aumentando a ocorrência de ataques a animais ou pessoas. O presente relato descreve a utilização da histerectomia minimamente invasiva em dois indivíduos da espécie Nasua nasua, que pode ser realizada por meio da utilização da técnica do gancho, comumente utilizada para a castração de cães e gatos. A incisão reduzida e a rapidez da cicatrização dos tecidos incisados são fundamentais no manejo de espécies selvagens, visto que os cuidados pós-operatórios são limitados pelo comportamento desses animais. Esta técnica mostrou-se eficaz e pode reduzir sobremaneira a morbidade desse procedimento em quatis.(AU)