ABSTRACT
Captured free-ranging North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were immobilized for the placement of intra-abdominal radio transmitters in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Twenty-four otters were induced with dexmedetomidine (0.03 mg/kg, IM), butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, IM), and midazolam (0.15 mg/kg, IM) combined in one syringe. The otters were maintained on isoflurane during the surgical procedure. Heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation were recorded every 5 min for the duration of the procedures. The otters were reversed with atipamezole (0.3-2 mg/kg, IM), naltrexone (0.6 mg/kg, IM), and flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg, IM). Rapid and smooth induction was seen, with lateral recumbency reached within 6.2 ± 5.6 min. Episodes of resedation were seen in four otters that received 0.3 mg/kg atipamezole so the dose was increased to 1 mg/kg, and no further resedation events were noted. Two fatal complications occurred secondary to suspected respiratory arrest during recovery. This drug protocol provided a smooth and rapid induction in free-ranging river otters, but further research is required to determine the safety of this protocol for river otters in both zoo and free-ranging situations.
Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology , Butorphanol/pharmacology , Dexmedetomidine/pharmacology , Hypnotics and Sedatives/pharmacology , Midazolam/pharmacology , Otters/physiology , Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage , Anesthesia/veterinary , Animals , Animals, Wild , Butorphanol/administration & dosage , Dexmedetomidine/administration & dosage , Female , Hypnotics and Sedatives/administration & dosage , Male , Midazolam/administration & dosageABSTRACT
A 15-year-old female cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) undergoing long term management for hepatopathy died and underwent necropsy. Microscopic findings were consistent with chronic liver disease characterized by distorted hepatic architecture, fibrosis and biliary proliferation. The additional finding of large intranuclear inclusion bodies within hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelium prompted diagnostic next generation sequencing. The assembled sequences isolated from pooled kidney and liver were related to siadenoviruses. The genus Siadenovirus, within the family Adenoviridae, includes several species of viruses that pathogenically infect avian species including hemorrhagic enteritis virus of turkeys and marble spleen virus of pheasants. Siadenoviruses have previously been reported in seven psittacine species: a plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala), an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba) budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates), an eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius), a scarlet chested parrot (Neophema splendida), a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), and a red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae). This report describes a novel siadenovirus in a cockatiel that is highly identical to budgerigar adenovirus 1 and distinct from PsAdV-2 in cockatiels. We report the clinical pathologic, gross, and histopathologic findings in a cockatiel with chronic hepatitis and a novel siadenovirus, PsAdV-5. The sequencing data is presented with a phylogenetic analysis.
Subject(s)
Adenoviridae Infections/veterinary , Bird Diseases/virology , Cockatoos , Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/virology , Siadenovirus/classification , Siadenovirus/isolation & purification , Adenoviridae Infections/virology , Animals , Bird Diseases/pathology , Female , Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/pathology , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Histocytochemistry , Kidney Tubules/pathology , Kidney Tubules/virology , Liver/pathology , Liver/virology , Phylogeny , Sequence Homology , Siadenovirus/geneticsABSTRACT
Neurologic disease is a common presentation of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with infectious, neoplastic, and traumatic etiologies documented. Adrenocortical neoplasia is also well documented in domestic ferrets, with metastatic lesions rarely described. This case report describes an abnormal presentation of adrenocortical adenocarcinoma with myxoid differentiation and subsequent metastasis to the spinal cord and vertebral bodies, resulting in hind limb paraplegia in an adult spayed female ferret.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE Toevaluate effects of gabapentin on activity levels and owner-perceived mobility impairment and quality of life (QOL) in osteoarthritic geriatric cats. DESIGN Blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover-design study. ANIMALS 20 osteoarthritic cats (≥ 10 years old). PROCEDURES Cats received gabapentin (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb]) or placebo treatment, PO, every 12 hours for 2 weeks, followed by the alternate treatment (with no washout period). Activity was assessed with a collar-mounted accelerometer. A client-specific outcome measure (CSOM) questionnaire was used weekly to collect owner assessments of 3 selected activities in which their cats had impaired mobility; QOL ratings (worse, the same, or improved) following crossover to each treatment and for the overall study period were collected at the end of the investigation. Activity counts, CSOM and QOL data, and deterioration in impaired activities (ie, decrease of ≥ 2 points in CSOM scores) associated with treatment crossover were assessed statistically. Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS Gabapentin administration was associated with significantly lower mean daily activity counts (48,333 vs 39,038 counts/d) and significantly greater odds (approx 3-fold change) of CSOM ratings indicating improvement in impaired activities, compared with results for the placebo treatment. A greater proportion of cats had deterioration in impaired activities after the crossover from gabapentin to placebo than when the opposite occurred, but the proportion of cats with worsened QOL did not differ between sequences. Adverse events were noted for 10 cats (9 that completed the study) during gabapentin treatment (sedation, ataxia, weakness, and muscle tremors) and 1 cat during placebo treatment (lethargy). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gabapentin treatment was associated with improvement in owner-identified impaired activities of osteoarthritic cats. Activity levels were lower than those during placebo treatment, and sedation was the most common adverse effect.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal , Cat Diseases , Gabapentin , Osteoarthritis , Ownership , Animals , Cats , Female , Humans , Male , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Cat Diseases/psychology , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Gabapentin/therapeutic use , Geriatrics , Osteoarthritis/drug therapy , Osteoarthritis/veterinary , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A 2-year-old, 3.8-kg male Rhode Island red rooster was examined for lameness and progressive swelling of the right foot of several month's duration. Radiographs of the right foot demonstrated soft tissue swelling and a smoothly marginated periosteal reaction evident of inflammation affecting the bones. Results of a complete blood count showed a moderate leukocytosis and an elevated total protein concentration. Systemic antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy was started, but the bird had not improved at recheck examination. After intravenous catheterization of the medial metatarsal vein and placing a tourniquet at the femoral-tibiotarsal joint of the right leg, regional limb perfusion with amikacin and flunixin meglumine was performed. Dimensions of both feet were measured with digital calipers, and surface temperatures of the feet were measured with an infrared thermometer. The rooster had improved activity level with decrease in lameness and measurable decrease in swelling of the right foot. Regional limb perfusion with intravenous antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a viable treatment modality in avian species for suspected distal limb infection and cellulitis. This technique has potential valuable implications for a variety of avian species. Fluid support should be provided if using nephrotoxic drugs.
Subject(s)
Amikacin/therapeutic use , Chickens , Injections, Intravenous/veterinary , Poultry Diseases/drug therapy , Amikacin/administration & dosage , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Clonixin/administration & dosage , Clonixin/analogs & derivatives , Clonixin/therapeutic use , Hindlimb , Injections, Intravenous/methods , Male , TourniquetsABSTRACT
A juvenile, male crested pekin duck ( Anas platyrhynchos f dom) was presented for neurologic signs suggestive of cerebellar disease. Physical examination revealed microphthalmia, erratic head movements, and ataxia. Computed tomography scan of the head and neck regions revealed 2 full-thickness skull-bone defects within the caudal portion of the cranium. The cerebellum appeared to be ventrally compressed by a homogeneous, triangular, fluid-attenuating region (0-10 Hounsfield units). A craniectomy was performed, and a presumed peripheral cerebral cyst was removed with suction and gentle dissection. No postoperative complications occurred, and the patient showed clinical improvement for 5 months after surgery. However, after 5 months, the owners elected euthanasia because of poor prognosis after finding the duck minimally responsive in a water enclosure. At necropsy, a thin-walled, epithelial structure was present in meninges and was adhered to the skull at the presumed surgical site.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/congenital , Central Nervous System Cysts/veterinary , Craniotomy/veterinary , Ducks , Animals , Bird Diseases/pathology , Bird Diseases/surgery , Central Nervous System Cysts/congenital , Central Nervous System Cysts/pathology , Central Nervous System Cysts/surgery , MaleABSTRACT
Gabapentin (1-[aminomethyl] cyclohexane acetic acid) is a γ-aminobutyric acid analogue that has been shown to be efficacious for neuropathic pain control in humans. Plasma gabapentin concentrations >2 µg/ml are considered effective in treating epilepsy in humans and are suggested to provide analgesia for neuropathic pain. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin suspension (11 mg/kg) in great horned owls ( Bubo virginianus ). Plasma gabapentin concentrations were determined in six healthy birds for 48 hr using high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Plasma gabapentin concentrations were estimated by noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The harmonic mean (±SD) maximum concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax), and elimination half-life (tv2λZ) for gabapentin (11 mg/kg) were 6.17±0.83 µg/ml, 51.43±5.66 min, and 264.60±69.35 min, respectively. In this study, plasma gabapentin concentrations were maintained above 2 µg/ml for 528 min (8.8 hr), suggesting that gabapentin administered orally every 8 hr may be appropriate in great horned owls.