Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine最新文献

Background

Scapular luxation is a rare condition observed in dogs and cats. It occurs following disruption of the muscles attaching the scapula to the thoracic wall (trapezius, rhomboideus, and serratus ventralis muscles) leading to dorsal displacement of the scapula. Surgical stabilization requires reattachment of the affected muscle and fixation of the scapula to the thoracic wall. Sutures are passed around a rib and through holes made on the dorsal margin of the scapula to secure the scapula on the thoracic wall. This technique is reported to result in a good to excellent outcome.

Case description

A scapular luxation was diagnosed in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) presenting with a 180° internal rotation of the right scapula and associated forelimb following rupture of the serratus ventralis muscle. The scapula was not dorsally displaced on the thoracic wall. Following orthopaedic reduction, the luxation was surgically stabilized as described in the dog and cat. The functional result was excellent with persistent resolution of lameness during the 5-month follow-up period.

Conclusions

Surgical correction of a scapular luxation in a ferret led to an excellent outcome.

Significant relevance

Scapular luxation should be included in the differential diagnosis of forelimb lameness in the ferret. Surgical correction is feasible and may result in an excellent long-term outcome.

Background

This study aimed to develop and validate a pain assessment scale for guinea pigs to be performed in clinics by veterinarians. The scale was established using pre-existing pain scales from other species and was based on signs expressed by guinea pigs in pain already identified in the literature. The scale consists of 14 descriptors grouped into 4 categories: appearance, functional, physiological, and behavioral. Each item on the scale was assigned a score based on the observation and handling of the animals. The total score obtained ranged from 0 to 26, with more intense pain scoring higher.

Methods

Fifty-eight adult guinea pigs presenting at the authors' Teaching Hospital between March 2021 and November 2022 were assessed. Guinea pigs were filmed during their consultation and an information sheet was completed. The information sheet provided details on the animals' appetite, fecal production, and behavior at home. The videos and corresponding information sheets were then reviewed to attribute a pain score to each animal. The pain scores were measured twice by a same observer 1 month apart to assess repeatability and by a second observer to assess reproducibility. The validity was assessed by correlating the pain scores given by the novel scale with scores using a numerical rating scale (NRS) as a gold standard method.

Results

The initial Cronbach's alpha obtained was 0.77, which was satisfactory. However, it highlighted that items concerning pruritus and spasmodic movements should be deleted to strengthen internal consistency. Then, Lin's coefficient and Bland and Altman's graphical method highlighted that the scale had an almost strong repeatability and intra-operator reproducibility. Moreover, the correlation between pain intensities obtained with the novel scale and the scores given using NRS was correct (Kappa = 0.72). The specificity was 87.5%, but the sensitivity of the scale was 52.0%. Each item's repeatability and reproducibility were assessed to identify items that would benefit from added clarification.

Conclusion

Our work is the first step in establishing a pain scale in guinea pigs. However, it should not yet be used in a clinical context. Indeed, the scale was not good at detecting pain when a guinea pig was actually painful. Further studies, including improvement of certain items and testing a larger sample of animals, are ongoing.

Background

Emydomyces testavorans is an emerging fungus associated with shell lesions in aquatic chelonians. At this time, reporting has focused on species of conservation concern including the northwestern pond turtle (Actinomyces marmorata) and aquatic chelonians in conservation programs or managed collections, however, little attention has been focused on the occurrence of E. testavorans infection in companion chelonians.

Methods

Swabs of the plastron and carapace of client owned companion chelonians (n = 64) presenting to a teaching hospital were collected and assayed for E. testavorans via qPCR. Categorical information including signalment, and the presence or absence of clinical shell and cutaneous lesions was collected.

Results

Three of 64 (4.7%, 95% confidence interval 1.6%–12.9%) companion chelonians had positive ET qPCR results with quantities of 150.93, 372.30 and 11,469 target copies per reaction. The 3 positive shell swabs were all from red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). One of the 3 positive chelonians had grossly apparent shell lesions, while the others did not.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

E. testavorans DNA is detectable in companion chelonians both with and without externally appreciable shell lesions. Veterinarians working with aquatic companion chelonians, particularly red-eared sliders, should be aware of this important differential and consider diagnostic testing for E. testavorans in suspicious cases.

Diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can be challenging in ferrets. Physiological creatinine values are lower than in dogs and cats and marked elevations may only be detected in advanced disease. In canine and feline patients, specific staging, and treatment guidelines are available, based on serum creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels, presence of proteinuria, and blood pressure measurement. No such guidelines exist for ferrets, and there is a lack of data concerning certain laboratory parameters. Blood and urine samples were taken from 60 clinically healthy pet ferrets to establish species-specific reference intervals for serum SDMA and urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPC ratio). Liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used for determination of serum SDMA, a colorimetric spectrophotometric method for urinary protein and an enzymatic method for urine creatinine. The calculated reference interval for serum SDMA (2.78–7.66 µg/dL) was found to be lower than in dogs and cats, while the UPC ratio is similar to dogs (<0.5).

A scoping search of the literature review found 30 clinical or clinical research articles on spontaneous mammary neoplasms in guinea pigs between 1908 and 2023. Despite the many reports, only 4 described tumor biological behavior and/or the presence of metastases. This retrospective study collected data on the tumors found in guinea pigs' mammary/inguinal regions. Both mammary and mesenchymal (lipomatous) neoplasms were seen. Survival time after diagnosis of a neoplasm was evaluated. For mammary neoplasms, risk factors, such as age and sex, and prognostic factors, such as neoplasm malignancy and the effect of surgery on survival, were investigated. Medical records of guinea pigs with mammary/inguinal neoplasms between 2006 and 2022 from 3 Parisian veterinary referral hospitals and 1 French diagnostic pathology laboratory were reviewed. Eighty-five (77%) guinea pigs had mammary neoplasms, and 25 (23%) had lipomatous neoplasms. A logistic regression model highlighted that males have significantly increased odds of malignant mammary neoplasms than females, while females (85%) are often found to have benign mammary neoplasms. Malignancy was significantly associated with aging. Older animals had greater odds of having malignant neoplasms than young animals. The mean age at diagnosis for mammary/inguinal lipomas was 3.0 years, while a benign mammary neoplasm was 3.1 years, and a malignant mammary neoplasm was 4.2 years. The survival prognosis was not influenced by the histopathological diagnosis of malignant versus benign neoplasm or the surgical technique (mastectomy vs lumpectomy) to treat the mammary neoplasm. The median survival time after diagnosis of a mammary neoplasm was 1.2 years, and for an inguinal lipoma was 3.0 years. Twenty-three percent of neoplasms in the mammary/inguinal region are lipomatous. Male guinea pigs usually have a malignant mammary neoplasm, while females mostly have a benign one. Malignancy is typically seen in older animals. In this dataset, survival time was unaffected by malignant versus benign neoplasm diagnosis or surgical treatment. The survival analysis results should be considered with caution in light of the small sample size.

Background

The diagnosis and surgical treatment of migrating foreign bodies in the central nervous system has previously been reported in dogs and cats. A clinical presentation of this disease process in a rabbit has not been previously described in the veterinary literature.

Case description

A 1.5-year-old, male castrated, mixed breed rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented for hyporexia, lethargy, and reluctance to move. Survey radiographs revealed a linear, metal opaque structure extending from the caudal oral cavity, through the spinal canal, to the caudodorsal soft tissues of cervical vertebra 1 (C1). The top differential, due to the shape and size of the object, was a sewing needle, which was supported using computed tomography. Fluoroscopy was used to triangulate the location of the metal object. Once located, it was extracted through a 2 cm dorsolateral incision near C1, and confirmed to be a standard sewing needle. Four hours after recovery from anesthesia, the rabbit was semi-comatose. The modified Glasgow coma scale score (MGCS; 12/18), mentation, and physical examination parameters prompted administration of mannitol, and mentation and MGCS (14/18) subsequently improved. The rabbit was discharged 3 days later with bright and alert mentation, appropriate ambulatory abilities, and minor neurologic abnormalities.

Conclusions and case relevance

This is the first documented case of successful diagnosis, surgical removal, and medical treatment of an ingested foreign metal object penetrating the spinal cord in a pet rabbit. It is also the first documented report of mannitol use in a non-anesthetized pet rabbit whose traumatic central nervous system injury was not experimentally induced.