Today I worked on a Giant Horned Lizard. These are large spined lizards that are known for eating ants and squirting blood from their eyes as a means of defense. This animal came up in a stupor-like condition. It had also lost a significant amount of weight. The initial treatment involved giving subcutaneous fluids to improve its hydration. Subcutaneous fluids, abbreviated SQ, can be easily given to animals that have redundant skin; many species don't have a lot of extra skin for SQ access. Lizards can be given SQ fluids, although they tend to have limited space and inflexible skin. Additionally, lizards and snakes have scales, scutes and armor making injections more challenging. SQ injections should be made between scutes and scales if possible, and sometimes in multiple sites. When SQ injections are not feasible, injections can be made directly into the abdominal region; this is call an intracoelomic injection and is analogous to an intraperitoneal injection in mammals. 

Today I worked on a Fossa. These carnivores are indigenous to Madagascar; they are best described as a dog-like cat. Fossas are closely related to viverids (civets and binturong), hyeanidids (hyenas) and herpestids (mongoose) and are the largest carnivore found in Madagascar. Physical characteristics include a brown coat, long tail, cat-like pupillary eye slits and a body weight of about 6-8kg (14-18lbs). Today's Fossa was immobilized and evaluated for inappetence. An IV catheter was placed in the left cephalic vein. This vessel normally sits on the anterior surface of the front limb, however in this species, as with many bear species, lies much more medial than expected. Lactated Ringers were given at 100ml/hr. Skull radiographs showed fractures of the mandibular canine teeth; they required temporary root canals. A hole is drilled into the pulp cavity of the tooth. Nerve and vascular material is removed from the inside of the tooth and filled with a composite material. A 'light curing' composite is used which is durable and easy to instill. Root canals are not uncommon in species that break or wear down tooth surfaces; this ensures that the aesthetics of the tooth are maintained. The Fossa was recovered without complication.

Today I worked on a Lowland Anoa: the Anoa is classified as endangered in its native Indonesia. These small bovids are similar but much smaller than the black and white dairy cows we are accustomed to seeing. They are also called miniature water buffalo. All bovids are characterized by having a multi-chambered stomach which is used to digest plant material. Bovids are often seen chewing and re-chewing their food, a process called rumination; for this reason, we also call these animals ruminants. Rumination requires the need for a lot of water making the ruminant susceptible to fluid aspiration during anesthesia. Aspiration occurs when fluid in the stomach is regurgitated and leaked into the lungs. The consequences of aspiration can be life threatening as digesta can contain large amounts of bacteria. The multi-chambered stomach in ruminants is large but is predominantly on the left side of the body (as with most mammals including humans), therefore placing a ruminant on its right side is one strategy to reduce pressure on the stomach and the potential for aspiration. The Anoa today had a routine exam, hoof trim, dental exam and assorted prophylactic injections. The procedure was uneventful and recovery was ideal.

Today I worked on a Schmidt's Spot Nosed Guenon. They are known for their very characteristic white spot on the front of their nose. In their native Africa, they are also known as red tailed monkeys, for their, you guessed it, beautiful long red tail. Anesthetic induction was facilitated with a ketamine and midazolam injection mixture; isoflurane was used to maintain surgical level anesthesia. An intravenous catheter was placed in the posterior saphenous vein. This vein is located on the back side of the calf muscle, running from top to bottom down the center of the leg. In primates, this vein is easily accessible and fairly robust; in the event that the catheter must be maintained for an extended period of time, the leg can be bandaged in such a way to secure the catheter from being disrupted by the patient. IV flow rates can generally be estimated to be about 10ml per kilogram of patient body weight. IV catheters provide secure venous access in the event of an anesthetic emergency, or as a means to counteract the hypotensive effects of general anesthesia.

Today I worked on an Allen's Swamp Monkey. These old world monkeys, also called guenons, are found in Central Africa and spend a lot of time foraging for fruits, plants and bugs in swampy areas. Today's patient was given a preventative medicine exam which included whole body radiographs, blood work and routine vaccinations. In addition, she received a MGA implant. Melengestrol acetate (MGA) is a birth control method often used in wildlife. MGA is implanted under the skin and affords long term birth control rather than daily medications typical in human females. In primates, MGA implants are generally placed under the skin in the intrascapular region; this area tends to prevent over grooming and trauma to the incision area as primates tend to be more prone to this type of behavior. The implant, about the size of pencil eraser, can be easily placed with a minimal surgical incision. Birth control is one method of managing captive populations of animals and assuring the genetic diversity within a species is maintained.

Today I worked on a Baja Pronghorn. This was the same antelope that I worked on several weeks ago. Today it presented with lameness of one of its back feet. Normally ungulates like Pronghorn, walk on their toe tips; when ligaments break down or get injured in this area, these animals will tend to knuckle down and pop their toes up leaving them to walk on their palms or heals. In baby hoofed animals this condition is a result of loose or underdeveloped ligaments and is usually corrected with leg bandages or casts to stabilize the limb. In some animals the cause can be the result of trauma or an injury to the nerves in the leg. The largest nerve in the rear limb is the sciatic nerve. This nerve leaves the spine and travels around the femoral head, dives deep into the muscles of the leg and continues down the leg along the length of the femur. Damage to the sciatic nerve can be temporary, as is the condition called sciatica in humans, or more serious leading to paresis of the limb. In veterinary medicine, one of the biggest concerns with giving intramuscular injections in the rear limbs is inadvertent injury to the sciatic nerve. Care should always be taken when injecting into the rear limbs for this reason. In general, injections should be made perpendicular to the muscle body, and well away from the path of the sciatic nerve. We took radiographs of the Pronghorn to ensure there were no fractures to the limb, followed by a fiberglass cast to help stabilize the limb while it heals.
 

 

Today I worked on an African Spoonbill. These aquatic birds have a very characteristic 'spoon' shaped bill that is used for foraging and sifting for small aquatic creatures in the shallow water. This bird had an injured hallux that was radiographed and repaired. Tha hallux is analogus to the thumb of other animals including man. The orientation and shape of birds toes relates to the function of the feet and the environment in which the bird lives. Aquatic birds have webbed feet for swimming or long slender feet for wading and walking on aquatic plants. Raptors (birds of prey) have 3 forward toes with the hallux in the back; these birds use the hallux to help grasp its prey item. Some birds have very small hallux digits that have little function as with the dewclaws of dogs and cats. Just as in dogs and cats, the digits of birds are counted from the thumb to the pinkie, the thumb being digit 1. A bird, such as the spoonbill, has a hallux (digit 1) and 3 additional forward facing toes. The next time you count the number of toes of an animal, don't forget the hallux or dewclaw.

Today I worked on a Bornean Binturong. This 7kg (15 pound) viverrid, also known as a bear-cat, is made up of catlike and bearlike features. Viverrids include civets and genets which are very cat like. Binturongs are nocturnal, arboreal and omnivorous with a long bushy prehensile tail. The scheduled procedure was a castration or neuter in which the testicles are surgically removed. This is compared to a vasectomy, where the testicles are left intact, but the pipes are disconnected. Surgical induction included ketamine, dexmedetomidine, midazolam and butorphanol; anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. A 22gauge IV catheter was placed in the cephalic vein and fluids where administered during surgery. Pain relief was managed with meloxicam, a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Recovery was uneventful. Here is a photo of an adult Binturong, the kid I worked on today is pictured with me in my 'about me' profile.

Today I worked on a Pesquet's Parrot. These medium/large sized psittacines weigh just under 1kg or about 2 pounds. Pesquet's Parrots are not your typical parrot as they have a much longer beak and head. Also called the vulturine parrot, these birds have a distinct vulture head shape with black featherless facial skin. Parrots in general can be very noisy when restrained; they are also equipped with a formidable beak capable of breaking open seeds and fingers! Parrot restraint involves immobilization of the head (the weapon), while containing the wings and feet. Parrots have somewhat delicate skin tissue on their heads making effective restraint difficult without injury to this tissue. Another factor with any bird restraint is being careful not to limit the movement of the chest. Birds lack a diaphragm, which in mammals is used to drive respiration. Birds must use movements of the chest to facilitate respiration. In larger species of birds such as the Pesquet's Parrot, I like to use an ice cream cone hold where one hand contains the feet, tips of the wings and tail, and the other hand holds that vulturine head.
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