Ins and Outs of Bunny Rabbit Treatment and CareAugust 3, 2015Originally published in the July 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Love this article? Then subscribe today! If a rabbit hasn’t had something going in one end and out the other in as little as half a day, it’s time to get the patient in for a visit right away, said Nicole Wyre, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (avian). “They should be eating and pooping all the day,” said Dr. Wyre, who specializes in exotics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital. “If it’s been more than six to eight hours, it’s an emergency.” This may be a sign of gastrointestinal stasis and a signal that treatment is urgently needed, Wyre added. She and other veterinarians who specialize in treating rabbits said “eating and pooping” are easy and critical signs that general practitioners can cue in on. Sari Kanfer, DVM, owner of Exotic Animal Care Center in Pasadena, Calif., noted that GI stasis can range from mild cases, in which the GI tract slows down, to severe, when there is an intestinal blockage and the rabbit is hypothermic and in shock. “The cause may be stress, any …
SPONSORED CONTENTYour Parasite Protection Recommendation, SimplifiedManaging parasite prevention doesn’t have to be complicated. Discover a single solution that protects against multiple threats. + Learn More
What You Need to Know About RatsJune 5, 2015Originally published in the June 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News Exotics veterinarians who regularly handle rats say there are a few common ailments that general practitioners should be on the lookout for. Skin ectoparasites (mites and lice), mammary tumors, pneumonia and upper respiratory infections are the four most common issues that Matthew S. Johnston, VMD, Dipl. ABVP (Avian), has come across in his rat patients. Specialists like Dr. Johnston, an associate professor of avian, exotic, and zoological medicine at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, say general practitioners who have rat patients should get used to seeing and dealing with these common problems. La'Toya Latney, DVM, head of exotics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital, warned that aggressive diseases seem to be commonplace among rats of all ages. “It’s pretty common for us to see respiratory diseases in them across all ages,” Dr. Latney said, adding that the bacteria Mycoplasma pulmonis is often the cause of serious secondary respiratory infections in rats. Latney, a consultant at the Brandywine Zoo in Delaware, also said rat owners tend to complain of ocular discharge, nasal discharge and sneezing. Often these pet owners indicate that their rat’s eyes or nose are bleeding. …
Why You Should Add Guinea Pigs to Your PracticeMay 1, 2015Tia Greenberg, DVM, chief of medicine at Westminster Veterinary Group in Westminster, Calif., said there are a few must-knows and telltale signs she recommends that practitioners keep in mind. Dr. Greenberg said most people take their guinea pigs to the veterinarian for things like appetite loss, diarrhea, scratching, hair loss or a general wellness exam. “Most veterinarians should be familiar with the basic husbandry of these animals and their common conditions, such as dental disease, skin problems, vitamin-C deficiency, gastrointestinal problems and respiratory problems,” Greenberg said. Many practitioners who specialize in treating guinea pigs keyed in on vitamin C as something to keep an eye on. Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C and require 10 to 30 mg/kg daily to prevent scurvy, according to Guinea Lynx, an online medical care guide for guinea pigs. Neurologic signs secondary to vitamin-C deficiency are a list-topper for Susan Kelleher, DVM, star of “Dr. K’s Animal ER” on the Nat Geo Wild cable channel. Also on her list: decreased appetite, skin problems and respiratory tract infections. Decreased appetite, or not eating at all, can be due to dental problems or systemic illness, said Kelleher, who owns Broward Avian and Exotic Animal …
Why You Should Bring in FerretsMarch 4, 2015Originally published in the February 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News The males are known as hobs, females are jills and a group of them is known as a business. Did you also know they love to perform the “weasel war dance”? These are just a few factoids exotic veterinary practitioners wish general practitioners knew about ferrets. Estimates of the number of ferrets owned in the U.S. vary widely. But as of a 2011 survey, the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 748,000 are owned. Only a handful of veterinarians have experience in treating them medically. Exotics experts said that most veterinary students get minimal instruction on ferrets, specifically, but practitioners shouldn’t shy away from taking an interest in accepting these playful, curious creatures as patients. Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal and Feline Practices), in Saco, Maine, has been treating ferrets for 20 years. “I love their ‘can’t get me down’ attitudes. There is nothing in the world that can make me smile faster than a 'war-dancing’ ferret,” she said, referring to the frenzied series of sideways hops they perform when excited and playful. “They are also interesting challenges from a medical perspective, and really make …
For Kangaroo Health, WesternU Springs Into ActionOctober 17, 2014It’s not every day that a kangaroo shows up at a Southern California veterinary clinic. Western University of Health Sciences admitted two marsupials Oct. 8 upon the request of alumnus Brad Ahrens, DVM, who works part time for an animal talent agency. The two red kangaroos, named Lenny and Captain, required neuter surgery for safety reasons. Male red kangaroos can reach 200 pounds in the wild. “You need to neuter them while they’re still young,” Dr. Ahrens said. “Otherwise they grow up to be really big and can become aggressive.” Lenny and Captain, ages 2 and 3, came from Birds & Animals Unlimited, an Acton, Calif., company that supplies animals for film and television work and for shows at Universal Studios Hollywood. The company lacks a surgery suite, so Ahrens used his connections to get Lenny and Captain into the WesternU Pet Wellness Center in Pomona. The surgeries were conducted by Professor Maria Fahie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, with help from Ahrens and associate professor David Clark, DVM. Veterinary students used to handling dogs and cats were introduced to a totally different animal. “Getting faculty and students engaged in learning on species they wouldn’t normally see while providing …
U.K. Vets Remove Cataracts in Asian BearSeptember 22, 2014 The veterinary charity Animal Health Trust successfully performed cataract surgery on a moon bear that was rescued from the wild in Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa province. The juvenile bear, named James, had learned to live and play in virtual darkness, according to Animals Asia, which hosted the surgery at its Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. Animals Asia is a group dedicated to fighting the harvesting of bear bile, an ingredient used in traditional Chinese medicine, and to other animal welfare causes. Ophthalmologists from the U.K.-based Animal Health Trust found a cataract in James’ left eye and a hypermature cataract in the right eye, which the veterinarians feared was permanently useless because it showed little to no reaction to light. The recent surgery should completely restore vision in the left eye and partially in the right, the veterinarians said. “It is very difficult for us to estimate how much James can see with his right eye, because blind bears will use their keen sense of smell and hearing to move around,” said Animals Asia senior veterinarian Joost Philippa, DVM, Ph.D. “Even with cataracts in both eyes it was sometimes difficult to notice that James could …
Hooked On Bunnies: An Exotics Business PlanJanuary 22, 2014 When it comes to opening a practice, many veterinarians opt either to buy an existing one or start fresh, building from the ground up. Each requires significant funds and each can lead straight to the bank to discuss financing options. Sari Kanfer, DVM, took a different approach. Two years ago she launched Exotic Animal Care Center by renting space in an existing Exotic Animal Care Center is nestled in Animal Emergency Clinic of Pasadena, giving Dr. Kanfer access to two exam rooms, cages, an X-ray machine, washer and dryer, anesthesia and other equipment. The veterinarian who owns the facility had previously rented the space to a veterinary ophthalmologist. Before opening her practice in March 2010, Dr. Kanfer worked at a veterinary hospital that cared for dogs, cats and exotics. She focused most of her time on exotics and when her clientele continued to increase—reaching nearly 90 percent of her work load—she knew it was time to move on. Kanfer’s case load at Exotic Animal Care Center comprises mostly rabbits, but she also treats guinea pigs, chinchillas, lizards, turtles, goats, pot-bellied pigs, raccoons and foxes. Kanfer’s associate, Tiffany Margolin, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, is a bird specialist, …
What You May Not Know About Hamster Scent GlandsMarch 16, 2012 Microbiologist Elizabeth Johnson, a fourth-year student of veterinary medicine and surgery at Glasgow University School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland, said her love for furry little creatures, including hamsters, has led to an unexpected discovery. "They are not generally very well understood by owners and even by some vets," she said. Johnson estimates she's had 60 to 70 pet hamsters throughout her life. About Scent Glands Owners and veterinarians should be aware of hamsters' scent glands' normal appearance and odor, Johnson said. Even practitioners who treat exotics on a regular basis often admit not knowing much about hamsters, and perhaps most perplexing are hamsters' scent glands. Melissa A. Kling, DVM, of Macon, Ga., is secretary of the Assn. of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and has treated exotic pets for 20 years. Dr. Kling says hamsters' scent glands are also known as flank glands or hip spots. "The scent glands are more prominent in males than females. When the male is excited, it will lick its scent glands until the entire area is wet. It will also scratch and rub itself as if the area is irritated." In addition to differences between the sexes, …
Trauma And Disease Threaten Ferret Eyes And LivesApril 17, 2009 Mark Burgess, DVM, who practices in Beaverton, Oregon remembers a ferret that was brought into his clinic with both eyes hanging out of its head. "The owners had closed the recliner and not realized that their ferret had its head stuck in there. This popped out both of the ferret's eyes, and the ferret became instantly blind," Dr. Burgess said. The ferret's eyes were swollen and damaged, so the best thing that could be done for it was to remove its eyes and close the area up. "The ferret's hair eventually grew back in and today it looks like it was just born without eyes," Burgess said. "It runs around like normal and does fine." That particular case was rather unusual the way it happened, Burgess said. But eye traumas in general are fairly common occurrences in his practice. "Ferrets are very inquisitive and can get hurt when they're snooping around. Or their eyes might become scratched when two ferrets are rough-housing with each other, or they could have a run-in with a cat," Burgess said. A veterinarian at an exotics practice is also likely to have to treat ferret injuries. …
Too Much Vitamin C Worsens Guinea Pig ArthritisApril 17, 2009 High doses of vitamin C increased the severity of spontaneous knee osteoarthritis in guinea pigs, according to a recent study by Duke University Medical Centers. The finding contradicts earlier short-term studies in guinea pigs and an epidemiologic study in humans that suggested vitamin C and its antioxidant properties might protect against osteoarthritis, said Virginia Kraus, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center. "It's possible that brief exposure to high levels of vitamin C offers antioxidant effects with a minimum of side effects, while prolonged exposure results in deleterious effects," she said. The researchers fed the guinea pigs low (3 mg per day), medium (30 mg per day) and high (150 mg) doses of vitamin C over eight months. At the end of that period, they found the high dose guinea pigs developed more cartilage damage and had more bony spurs form in their knees than the other groups. In studying the spurs, the researchers found a protein that leads to spur formation and can be activated by vitamin C. Their conclusion, pending additional study in humans, is that people should not supplement their dietary vitamin C levels above the recommended daily …
