Round Up Those Pet X-raysApril 3, 2013Entries are now being accepted for the eighth year of Veterinary Practice News' “They Ate What?” x-ray contest, once again sponsored by Sound-Eklin of Carlsbad, Calif. The contest highlights the dietary indiscretions committed by veterinary clients' dogs, cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, cows and horses. “We're looking forward to sharing in our readers' varied X-ray experiences again this year,” said Marilyn Iturri, editor of the magazine. Entry deadline is June 30. Winners will be announced in the September 2013 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Two digital single-lens reflex cameras will be awarded as prizes. Over the past seven years, the improvement in quality of radiographs submitted to the contest is readily apparent. “The growth of digital radiography has been obvious in the entries," Iturri said. “The subjects have always been interesting, but the clarity and detail that come with digital technology have made them striking.” Entries don't have to have been made by the newer technology, but they must be submitted by email. So at the very least practitioners will need to take digital photos of their qualifying films. Email radiographs to VPNeditor@luminamedia.com. The submitter must include his or her name, the clinic …
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A Bird’s-eye View Of An Avian Specialist: Larry Nemetz, DVMOctober 22, 2012 Larry Nemetz, DVM, has turned his dream clinic into reality after about 20 years in practice. Today he sees only birds, after working in general practice and later with exotics and birds. He opened The BIRD Clinic in 1987, at first keeping night and weekend office hours there and working at other clinics during the day to stay afloat financially while he built his avian practice. Over the years, Dr. Nemetz made note of the things he didn’t like about office layouts and work flow. He spent five years planning and designing his new practice, inspired by the explosion of medical technology and wanting to turn those tools to the betterment of his patients. His 2,100-square-foot clinic in Orange, Calif., represents an investment of nearly $2.4 million, counting the land, the building and the practice but counting no equipment except his digital radiography system. It opened in 2007. Nemetz’s surgical suite alone houses $250,000 worth of equipment, including videorecording setups, endoscopy and electrosurgery units – “In birds, no one uses scalpels anymore.” Still, a simple household appliance is one of his most important tools. “The Dust Buster is the key to all …
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, …
Small-Animal Practices Not Immune To Antimicrobial ConcernDecember 29, 2010 Though study results vary, researchers looking into methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in human and animal medicine say the incidence of colonization is high. Veterinary researchers postulate that animals can be carriers of the bacteria and transfer it to humans, but it is much more likely for the animal to become colonized by a human carrier than the latter. Scientists report that every bacterium has resistance capabilities and that determining which animal a resistant strain will show up in is impossible. Statistics are lacking, and there’s not a specific region, breed or healthy person known to be more affected than another. This lack of information calls for vigilance from the veterinary industry, as it has become a target when looking to pin blame on why antibiotic resistance is occurring. “The American Veterinary Medical Association created the judicious use guidelines, in part to ensure current and future availability of veterinary antimicrobials,” says Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, assistant director in the Scientific Activities Division of the AVMA. “We are bringing veterinary expertise to the table in the antimicrobial discussion for the benefit of people and animals.” Veterinarians in small-animal practices should keep up with federal discussions regarding the therapeutic …
Nutritional Problems In ReptilesApril 17, 2009 Without a doubt, health problems arising from an inadequate diet are one of the major concerns in herpetological medicine. The key to managing nutritionally related diseases is to be familiar with the natural history of specific species. In ectothermic animals the metabolic processes governing digestion are dependent on environmental factors, mainly temperature. If these environmental factors are not optimal, even a perfectly balanced meal could go to waste because of inadequate digestion. The class reptilia can roughly be divided into three nutritional groups: herbivores, omnivores and carnivores. Each of the groups has their own set of typical problems with different manifestations. Knowing to which nutritional category the affected species belongs, will help establish the differential diagnosis. Discussion of the following diseases will be organized according to the nutritional group of reptiles in which the disease is most likely to be seen. However, any disease may be found in nearly any species. Generally, the diseases related to nutrition can be roughly divided into two groups: either caused by a deficiency or a toxic overdose of a certain nutrient. Anorexia, Starvation Anorexia is probably one of the most common presentations of an affected reptile to the clinician. In …
Fireflies Toxic To Exotic PetsApril 17, 2009 Fireflies might prove a fatal snack to exotic reptiles, according to a health alert released by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). Veterinarians should alert pet owners and advise them to take steps to prevent both the intentional or accidental ingestion of these common insects, the center reported. Based on a handful of reports from reptile owners, symptoms of poisoning quickly follow a lizard's ingestion of fireflies. These symptoms include head shaking, oral gaping, unsuccessful attempts at regurgitation and a darkening in color. The symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion, and death might follow within the hour. Death is thought to be a result of heart malfunction. "A single firefly would have a very high probability of resulting in death," says Dr. Steve Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and director of the APCC. The warning is being issued to amphibian and bird owners as well. In addition to the lizard cases, fatal poisonings in tree frogs have been documented. In another instance, a bird that ingested a firefly regurgitated it but did not die, says Hansen. The health alert is based on about a half-dozen …
Dentistry Quarterly: Challenges In Pocket Pet DentistyApril 17, 2009 When dealing with oral cavities in a typical small animal clinic, most practitioners handle dogs and cats with fairly similar problems. Add other small mammals to that mix, and the difference in the structure and function of the pocket pets' oral cavity and teeth brings new challenges. Functions of Dentition With dogs and cats, both modified carnivores, the oral cavity has a wide opening and the teeth are brachyodont, with short crowns, distinct roots that mature with root closure and a set length. In herbivores, including many small mammals, the oral cavity has a small oral opening, helpful in keeping the vegetation in the mouth during chewing and grinding. To compensate for the regular attrition of the teeth caused by chewing roughage, the teeth must continue to erupt, in order to maintain a constant height in the mouth. In horses, the constant wear is offset by a continued eruption of the tooth. Since the roots of equine teeth close like those of dogs and cats, the remainder of the tooth is considered to be a long crown; some of it "submerged" under the gumline, and the rest is exposed crown. This radicular hypsodont structure results in a …
When To Intervene In Reptile ParturitionApril 17, 2009 With the continued popularity of green iguanas (Iguana iguana), bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and water dragons (Physignathus cocincinus), as well as interest in the smaller lizards, such as geckos and anoles, veterinarians are being called upon more often to provide accurate husbandry, nutrition and behavioral information to clients. As veterinarians, we should be able to perform a complete physical examination, appropriate diagnostic tests and advise owners about correct care, as well as be knowledgeable about their medical conditions. It is heartening to know so many owners are taking good care of their pet lizards. While this is very good news for the reptiles, it does create a whole new set of medical issues for both herp veterinarians and owners. Healthy adult lizards may become reproductively active, even without the presence of a conspecific male. This seems to be the biggest problem in mature, female green iguanas, although any healthy lizard may go through a reproductive cycle under the right conditions. One of the most common reptile reproductive problems is dystocia. Reptile Sexual Maturity Lizards reach sexual maturity based on size, more than chronological age. Factors such as nutrition, preventative veterinary care and physiological stress will …
Fluorescent Feathers Critical To Budgie MatingApril 17, 2009 Kathryn Arnold of the University of Glasgow led a research team that found the fluorescent yellow feathers on budgies' heads play a vital role in attracting mates. The team found male and female budgerigars preferred brighter plumage when choosing a mate, after using odorless sunscreen to dim fluorescent feathers' on some of the birds that were studied. When the birds were exposed to the same sex, the level of fluorescence did not distract from social interaction. The researchers concluded that fluorescence contributes to attracting sexual partners. Arnold's findings may apply to other birds, as she has examined more than 60 species and discovered most of the feathers that were found to be fluorescent are used in courtship displays. Arnold's findings were published in the January 4 issue of Science.
Avian Anatomy Aids Endoscopic ProceduresApril 17, 2009 Birds' unique anatomy and physiology make them perfect candidates for endoscopy. They have air sacs in addition to lungs but they don't have diaphragms. Mammals must have carbon dioxide pumped into their peritoneal cavities in order to more easily identify organs through endoscopy. This is not required, nor advised, in avian species, because of the natural inflation of the air sacs. Equipment and Care Many types of equipment are used to visualize birds' internal organs. Otoscopes with small cones designed for canine and feline ear canals have been employed; however, these provide a low level of light, poor magnification and are not recommended. A tubular endoscope that utilizes an otoscope/ophthalmoscope base may be upgraded with a halogen light source. Endoscopes designed for human medicine have played a role in avian medicine. However, the best systems have been designed specifically for the needs of avian and exotic animal veterinarians. For most general practices, a 2.7 mm rigid endoscope between 170 and 190 mm long is probably the most useful. This telescope can be used for birds weighing between 55 and 4,000 grams. A 1.9 mm diameter telescope is the smallest device used in small birds (less than …
