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BACKGROUND With the rapid expansion of pet animal populations worldwide, pet‐related zoonotic diseases are becoming an important issue in public health. Hong Kong (HK), located in southern China, is one of the most crowded urban centres in the world. The population of pets, especially exotic pets, in HK has grown significantly in recent decades, potentially elevating the risk of pet‐related zoonotic diseases. However, no studies have been conducted to explore the knowledge of HK public towards pet‐related zoonotic diseases and animal husbandry practices. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the level of awareness among the HK public of pet‐related zoonotic diseases and their understanding of proper animal husbandry practices. METHODS The study was carried out in HK from June–August 2019 using both online and paper versions of a questionnaire. A total of 362 completed questionnaires (74.3% return rate) were collected and the responses analysed. RESULTS Sixty percent of the participants were current or past pet owners or planned on becoming pet owners in the coming 2 years, irrespective of their income or size of their living space. Among the participants, pet owners (including those who planned pet ownership) had a relatively higher level of awareness of pet‐related zoonotic disease. However, the overall awareness of zoonotic diseases among both pet and non‐pet owners was low with a knowledge score of, A survey of the Hong Kong (HK) public was conducted to determine the level of knowledge of zoonoses and pet care. The survey revealed limitations in awareness of zoonotic diseases and pet husbandry. This combined with small living spaces shared with pets indicates a potential risk of zoonotic disease transmission.

Images containing both animals and humans (two-shot images) are popular across social media and zoo advertising. However, these images, even when taken in ethical and conservation settings, have the potential for misinterpretation and may inadvertently promote the illegal wildlife trade, exotic pet trade or photo-prop industries. We examined whether zoo visitors' (n = 531) attitudes and stated Willingness to Donate (WTD) altered depending on whether they viewed a two-shot image set in a photo-prop setting (typically associated with negative welfare) or in a zoo or wild setting. All images, including photo-prop, were generally viewed positively regardless of context. Zoo-based images received a greater number of comments relating to concern for the animal's environment or welfare compared to other images, although numbers were still relatively low. This indicates a lack of awareness about the photo-prop industry and misconceptions about modern welfare practices in zoos, thus reflecting a need for improved education in these areas. Two-shot images in zoo settings elicited significantly higher stated WTD than images in wild or photo-prop settings or when an animal was pictured alone. Suggesting zoo-based images may be more effective for conservation campaigns than traditional images of an animal in its environment. Furthermore, images featuring a uniformed keeper plus an animal do not appear to increasing desire for pet ownership, indicating that they can be used in zoo advertising with minimal negative consequences.

Most veterinary professionals in companion animal practice will be familiar with and experienced in performing euthanasia in cats and dogs, but often less so with exotic pet species. This article aims to equip the clinician with an approach to performing humane, compassionate euthanasia in such species, keeping animal welfare paramount.

Invertebrate animals comprise more than 95% of the animal kingdom's species and approximately 40 separate phyla. Yet, invertebrates are an artificial taxon, in which all members simply possess a single negative trait: they lack a vertebral column (backbone). In fact, some invertebrates are more closely related to vertebrates than to their "fellow" invertebrates. For the purpose of this veterinary article, we have elected to review a handful of important groups: Coelenterates, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Chelicerates, Crustaceans, Insects, and Echinoderms. We have primarily included behaviors that may have an impact on clinical case outcome, or be of interest to the veterinary clinician.

Amphibians represent a diverse group of animals with highly varied behaviors depending on their anatomy, physiology, and ecological niche. Behavioral and welfare issues in amphibians are frequent in captive settings and warrant evaluation. Welfare criteria and clinical diagnostic assays when combined with a comprehension of the natural history of a species are useful tools to improve both the well-being of the individual animal and the population. Correction of environmental factors that affect behavior and, secondarily, survival and reproduction is important in captivity and for the conservation of wild populations.

Information on water requirement of small mammals is sparse and the assessment of daily water consumption is an important aspect of the veterinary practice in exotic pet nutrition. Water and feed daily intake are interlaced, that way the water to feed ratio is a meaningful indication. However, various factors such as ambient temperature or the uptake of substances to be eliminated via the kidney (i.e. calcium) must be taken into account when estimation of water consumption is carried out. Moreover, behavioural abnormalities could affect water consumption, like in the case of water uptake as a substitute action. Adequate water supply for small mammals is indispensable for health reasons (prophylaxis of urolithiasis) and consequences relevant to animal welfare. For this purpose, data from different trials enrolling no. 5 Flemish Belgian (FB) and no. 5 New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits, no. 10 dwarf rabbits, no. 7 guinea pigs and no. 7 chinchilla, were obtained to assess water intake according to feed rationing. Water balance following feed rationing was seen to differ across the species of small mammals considered in these trials. The comparative approach pointed to species-dependent water intake behaviour. Due to the species-related high variation in water uptake, it is not possible to give general recommendations for water supply of small mammals. In addition, water uptake is also influenced by the water content of the food, absolute dry matter uptake and food composition. Nevertheless, an additional supply of drinking water is recommended for all species, since unsatisfactory water supply reduces dry matter intake and may lead to energy undersupply.

My first visit to an exotic animal auction, Lolli Brothers in Macon, Missouri, is seared into my memory. I freely walked through a maze of open-air pens filled with zebras, ostrich, miniature donke...

Alongside exotic reptiles, amphibians, such as toads, frogs, salamanders, and newts, are nowadays considered popular pets worldwide. As reported for other exotic pet animals, amphibians are known to harbor numerous gastrointestinal parasites. Nonetheless, very little data are available on captive amphibian parasitic diseases. In this study, we applied direct saline fecal smears (DSFS) to examine in total 161 stool samples from 41 different amphibian species belonging to the orders Anura and Caudata. In addition, carbolfuchsin-smear (CFS) staining (n = 74 samples) was used to detect amphibian Cryptosporidium oocysts. Also, complete dissections of deceased amphibians (n = 107) were performed to specify parasite infections and to address parasite-associated pathogenicity. Overall, examined amphibian fecal samples contained 12 different parasite taxa. The order Rhabditida with the species Rhabdias spp. and Strongyloides spp. were the most prevalent nematode species (19.3%), followed by flagellated protozoans (8.7%), Amphibiocapillaria spp./Neocapillaria spp. (7.5%), Oswaldocruzia spp. (4.3%), Blastocystis spp. (3.1%), Cosmocerca spp. (3.1%), oxyurids (Pharyngonoidae) (3.1%), spirurids (1.2%), un-sporulated coccidian oocysts (0.6%), Tritrichomonas spp. (0.6%), Karotomorpha spp. (0.6%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (0.6%). One CFS-stained fecal sample (1.4%) was positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Within dissected amphibians, 31 (48.4%) of the anurans and 11 (26.2%) of the salamanders were infected with gastrointestinal parasites. One cutaneous Pseudocapillaroides xenopi infection was diagnosed in an adult African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Etiologically, 17 (15.9%) of them died due to severe parasitic and/or bacterial infections (e.g., Chryseobacterium indologenes, Citrobacter freudii, Sphingobacterium multivorum, Klebsiella pneumoniae). High prevalence and pathological findings of several clinical amphibian parasitoses call for more detailed investigation on gastrointestinal parasite-derived molecular mechanisms associated with detrimental lesions or even death.

For thousands of years people have been raising pets, helping someone out in the household, someone not wanting to feel lonely, and someone trying to learn to worry about someone else. Any animal will love, be attached to its owner, if it will be cared for, cared for and create comfortable living conditions. And reptiles are no exception. In the modern world, it is increasingly possible to meet exotic animals as a pet. Although the percentage of owners of these animals is not large, about 5-7%, it grows every year. These exotic types of pets are both fearful and curious. When planting any reptile, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of its nutrition, its size, and conditions of existence, although most species are considered to be easy to maintain, not demanding in nutrition. When buying a reptile, you should remember that the first step is to create the best living conditions for her. If it is not possible to provide this right away, then it is necessary to wait for the right moment in order to get an exotic pet, since this neglect to create the necessary conditions can lead to suffering of the animal, even in death, including. However, not many reptiles are able to coexist with humans. The most popular among such animals in this list are reptiles such as: snakes, lizards, turtles. As already mentioned one of the most important points for animals is to create comfortable conditions for their keeping. This list of conditions includes the choice of the required size of terrarium, filler, creation of the necessary microclimate with proper lighting. For cold-blooded reptiles, the most important are the two aspects: temperature control and the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Failure to follow these conditions can lead to various illnesses of the pet, so they should be carefully monitored. This article provides information about a device that can create the necessary conditions for the comfortable existence of reptiles at home. In the course of the work, the analysis of the devices available in the modern market for the solution of the given task was carried out, and the problem of impossibility of installing several devices that would properly interact with each other and working depending on the given priority was identified. Also, it is difficult for the user to properly analyze the instrument indicators, to make the right decision on how to improve the microclimate when the parameters do not meet the desired ones. Concluding from the above mentioned problems, it was decided to create a device that provides temperature analysis and its control, by the method of switching on / off the incandescent lamp and fan, in the warm zone, as well as the temperature analysis in the cold zone. In addition, the device performs the function of checking the UV lamps, since without this lamp the animal is at risk of deformation of bone tissue and the absorption of food. To simplify reptile care, the unit performs daytime and nothing mode functions.

An osteoma is an infrequent tumor documented in avian species. An adult female Peach-Faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) with a history of previous trauma was examined due to the presence of bilateral hard and yellowish-white masses in the radio-cubital humerus junction. Histopathological dermal examination revealed a non-neoplastic process of mesenchymal origin, characterized by the formation of well-differentiated trabecular bone, multiple areas of medullary bone and loose connective tissue and coagulation of the necrosis foci. Based on the histological findings and the medical history, the masses were diagnosed as bilateral secondary osteoma cutis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathology with an acute course in this exotic pet bird. The previous trauma could be the initiating cause.

Radiography and ultrasonography are the most used techniques in veterinary clinical practice, due to organizational, managerial and, mostly, economic reasons. However, in the last decades, Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and, to a lesser extent, Nuclear Medicine (MN) are increasingly used. As we said in the previous article, all the Diagnostic Imaging techniques are actually "indispensable" in Veterinary Medicine, where many patients do not show any symptoms.This second part describes Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance (MRI) and Nuclear Medicine techniques in Veterinary Medicine are described.

The expansion of the worldwide pet trade has increased the invasion risks from not only exotic pet animals, but also live feeder organisms for predatory pet animals. Here, we report the first field record of a tropical live feeder cockroach, Blaptica dubia (Serville, 1838), in the central part of Japan. This widely traded feeder insect may be able to colonize temperate zones because they were estimated to survive through two winters in Japan at temperatures close to the upper limits of their critical thermal minimum. Further field observations are needed to understand the behavior of this species in the wild and predict the risk of invasion in temperate zones.

Reptiles and amphibians are becoming increasingly more common in the exotic pet trade and as such veterinary care is also rising. Parasitic infections can pose a serious threat to pet reptiles and amphibians and are a common finding in these exotic pets. The purpose of the present study was to determine the species composition of parasites among reptiles and amphibians entering the pet industry. Excreta were collected from 283 reptiles and amphibians (181 geckos, 23 chameleons, 21 frogs, 16 tortoises, 11 snakes, 1 caiman, and 31 other lizard species), representing 58 different species. Samples were collected from animals being sold at exotic pet shows in Texas, USA, where breeders from throughout the United States gathered to showcase their exotic pets. Excreta samples were tested using double centrifugation flotation with Sheather's sucrose solution. Endoparasites were identified in 51.9% of samples. The most prevalent helminth parasite among reptiles and amphibians were Pharyngodonidae (44.5%) nematodes. Oocysts of coccidians such as Isospora, Eimeria, and Choleoeimeria, and cysts of the ciliate Nyctotherus were also identified. The prevalence rates of endoparasites among animal groups ranged from 0 to 87.5%. The highest prevalence of infection was found in Testudines (87.5%), followed by Chamaeleonidae (87%), other lizards (76.7%), Amphibia (71.4%), Serpentes (63.6%), and then Gekkonidae (55.2%). No endoparasites were detected in the one Crocodylia sampled. Our results show that parasitic infections, many of which can cause clinical disease and mortality, are common in exotic reptiles and amphibians being sold or traded as pets in the United States, underlining the need for veterinary care and routine diagnostic screening for parasitic infections.

Medical devices are defined as implantable if they are intended to remain in the body after the procedure. In veterinary medicine, use of such devices is marginal but may find some indications. Use in exotic pet medicine is even more challenging due to size restriction and the limited data available. This review focuses on the esophageal and tracheal stent in the case of stricture, ureteral stent and subcutaneous ureteral bypass in the case of ureteral obstruction, permanent urinary diversion in the case of bladder atony, and pacemaker in the case of severe arrythmias. Comparative aspects are developed.

Surgery can be challenging in exotic pets owing to their small size and blood volume, and their increased anesthetic risk compared with small animals. Various devices are available to facilitate suturing, cutting, and hemostasis in the human and veterinary fields. These surgical equipment improve the simplicity, rapidity, and effectiveness of surgery. Vessel-sealing devices, radiosurgery, lasers, and ultrasound devices are commonly used because of their ease of use and increase in surgical efficiency. Other surgical devices are available (eg, stapling devices) but are not discussed in this article.

Diagnostic imaging relies on interpretation of interactions between the body tissue and various energies, such as x-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic or nuclear energies, to differentiate normal from abnormal tissues. Major technological improvements regarding emission and detection of the energetic waves, as well as reconstruction and interpretation of the images, have occurred. These advances made possible visualization of smaller structures, quantitative evaluation of functional processes, and development of unique imaging-guided procedures. This article reviews the technological advances that allowed development of cone beam computed tomography, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, which all could have applications in exotic pet medicine.

Reducing the frequency of drug administration in the treatment of exotic pets is advantageous because it may decrease handling frequency and thus potential stress and injury risk for the animal, increase owner compliance with the prescribed treatment, and decrease need for general anesthesia in patients that cannot be handled safely. Increasing efficient drug plasma concentration using sustained-released delivery systems is an appealing solution. Potential candidates that could provide a promising solution have been investigated in exotic pets. In this article, the technologies that are the closest to being integrated in exotic pet medicine are reviewed: osmotic pumps, nanoparticles, and hydrogels.

Author(s): Lockwood, JL; Welbourne, DJ; Romagosa, CM; Cassey, P; Mandrak, NE; Strecker, A; Leung, B; Stringham, OC; Udell, B; Episcopio-Sturgeon, DJ; Tlusty, MF; Sinclair, J; Springborn, MR; Pienaar, EF; Rhyne, AL; Keller, R | Abstract: The annual trade in exotic vertebrates as pets is a multi-billion-dollar global business. Thousands of species, and tens of millions of individual animals, are shipped both internationally and within countries to satisfy this demand. Most research on the exotic pet trade has focused on its contribution to native biodiversity loss and disease spread. Here, we synthesize information across taxa and research disciplines to document the exotic pet trade's contribution to vertebrate biological invasions. We show recent and substantial worldwide growth in the number of non-native animal populations introduced via this invasion pathway, which demonstrates a strong potential to increase the number of invasive animals in the future. Key to addressing the invasion threat of exotic pets is learning more about the socioeconomic forces that drive the massive growth in the exotic pet market and the socioecological factors that underlie pet release by owners. These factors likely vary according to cultural pet-keeping traditions across regions and whether purchases were legal or illegal. These gaps in our understanding of the exotic pet trade must be addressed in order to implement effective policy solutions.

There are many pathways by which invasive species are introduced and become established, with the exotic pet trade becoming an increasingly important route. The abandonment of pets is a growing problem, which has been recognized widely and that has provoked some legislative responses. We developed an approach to deal with the abandonment issue that is more comprehensive than existing frameworks. We analyzed a substantial data set on exotic fish, crayfish and herptiles in northeastern Spain to illustrate the approach and its rationale. Spanish legislation mirroring the recently enforced European Strategy to control invasive species was introduced in 2011, and we analyzed information from 2009 to 2018 to assess the effectiveness of the legislation. The 2011 legislation was intended to ban the sale of a prioritized list of invasive species in retailers, which aimed to reduce the release of exotic species into recipient ecosystems. We did not see any prohibited species for sale in retailers after 2011. However, 60,753 exotic animals from 4 classes, 10 orders, 47 families and 139 species were recorded in Barcelona and elsewhere in northeastern Spain, including 134 species other than the 5 prioritized invasive species. We found little evidence of a change in exotic pet releases into urban lakes after 2011. Invasive terrapins (Trachemys spp.) were captured in urban lakes and were the most prevalent taxon in a herptile rescue centre with increased numbers after 2011. We advocate a four-tier approach to deal more effectively with the pet-abandonment issue, which includes: (1) better understanding of uncertainties in the listing of potentially invasive species; (2) allowing would-be owners to seek accreditation (through training); (3) pit-tagging to ensure that animals can be associated with registered owners, including species now prohibited but that had been traded for decades; and (4) ensuring that adults of low-cost, small-size-at-purchase species are present at the point-of-sale to ‘warn against’ the consequences of impulsive purchases.

Mustelids’ bite : anatomical, ethological and pathological data. Mustelids live in almost all land-based ecosystems, on plains, in the mountains, in deserts or on the coast. Each one of them has specificities. However their bite is powerful compared to their small size which makes their restraint a dangerous threat. The scientific literature on the topic is summed up in this article. The anatomical study of mustelids’ skulls shows us why their teeth and musculoskeletal system can cause severe wounds. In regard to their several feeding behaviors, major variations exist despite their common jaw-closing strength. Understanding their behavior allows us appraise the part of the bite within their species or with their environment. As some mustelids are closed to humans, foreseeing handling accidents is necessarily through understanding their behavior, their living spaces shifts and captivity, though there is a clear difference between pet mustelids that can learn on biting and wild mustelids that should not change their behavior. Once biting happened, first trauma is taken over so as to minimize the injury extent. Then infectious side should be considered. On one hand, commensal microorganisms and especially Pasteurella should be treated. On the other hand, regarding to the kind and geographic origin of the mustelid that bite, other public health infectious risks should be considered (rabies, mycobacteriosis, streptobacillosis, tetanus …)., Les mustélidés peuplent la quasi-intégralité des écosystèmes terrestres mondiaux. Vivant dans des milieux très variés allant des plaines aux montagnes, des déserts aux littoraux, ils foisonnent de particularités. Leur morsure toujours forte, surtout rapportée à leur taille modeste, rend potentiellement dangereuse leur manipulation. Ses caractéristiques sont décrites à la lumière de la littérature scientifique disponible. L’anatomie crânienne nous apprend en quoi leur dentition et leur charpente musculo-squelettique sont capables d’infliger de sévères lésions : par-delà une puissance d’adduction commune, de grandes différences sont observées selon les espèces étudiées, en relation notamment avec leurs régimes alimentaires variés allant du carnivore strict au plus opportuniste. La compréhension de leur comportement de morsure nous permet de mieux appréhender son rôle dans l’interaction de ces animaux non seulement avec leur environnement mais aussi avec leurs semblables. Il s’agit d’une étape fondamentale pour la prévention des accidents consécutifs à leur manipulation, particulièrement pour ceux, très proches de l’Homme, dont les comportements peuvent être modifiés par leur milieu de vie ou leur captivité. Il faut en effet bien distinguer le cas des mustélidés «de compagnie» pour lesquels existe un véritable travail d’apprentissage, de celui de la faune sauvage sur laquelle peu de modifications comportementales sont souhaitées. La morsure peut malencontreusement survenir et il faut traiter pour limiter l’étendue de la lésion. Par la suite, les blessures doivent être considérées sous l’angle infectiologique. D’une part, la contamination par la flore commensale (en particulier le genre Pasteurella) doit être correctement traitée. D’autre part, selon l’origine du mustélidé mordeur et la région géographique, il convient de considérer au cas par cas les dangers associés à la santé publique (rage, mycobactérioses, streptobacillose, tétanos,…)., Cabrit Nicolas. La morsure des mustélidés : données sur l’anatomie, l’éthologie et la pathologie. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 172, 2019. pp. 192-201.

The British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) held a 3-day conference in October. A wide variety of topics were covered, with sessions on avian influenza; mycobacteriosis; exotic pet welfare; wildlife health, including surveillance, rehabilitation and other topics; large zoo mammals, small zoo mammals, zoo birds; zoo amphibians and reptiles; exotic pet medicine, diagnostics, surgery and welfare; and zoo, wildlife and exotic pet nursing; plus a student careers session.

Background There has been increasing concern expressed about the welfare of exotic pets worldwide. For the purposes of this article, an exotic pet is considered to be a non-domesticated species, where there are knowledge gaps on good practice (minimum standards of care), veterinary diagnostics and treatments. The categories of exotic pets included in this study were: small mammals ( 20 kg), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and ferrets were excluded from the study. An online survey of pet owning staff at University College Dublin was conducted between July and August 2020 to provide the first empirical data for Ireland. In this pilot study (the first in this thematic series) we aim to characterise exotic pet ownership, the challenges and benefits of keeping exotic pets, and access to veterinary services from the pet owner’s perspective. Results Using an online survey this pilot study gathered evidence from 83 domestic and 32 exotic pet owners within the staff (n = ~ 3600 FTE) at University College Dublin, the largest third level institution in Ireland. The prevalence of exotic pet ownership was determined to be 34.4 % of households with more than 10 % of pet owning households owning only exotic pets. Fish (n = 15), reptiles (n = 13) and birds (n = 8) were the most common types of exotic pets. Thirty-four per cent of exotic pet owners never sought veterinary services, the most common reasons were due to lack of local veterinary specialists (n = 10) and good owner knowledge (n = 8). However identifying appropriate guidance on the animals’ needs was a common challenge for exotic pet owners (n = 13). A reasonable monthly cost of caring for an exotic ranged from €20–180, depending on the species. Conclusions This pilot study contains important implications for veterinary education to support the veterinary community with providing services to the exotic pet owning community. Policy issues with exotic pet ownership also need to be considered and further research into the proposed strategies to support the health and welfare of exotic pets should be carried out such as the introduction of white lists and guidelines on responsible pet ownership.

Wildlife crime is increasingly recognized as a growing threat to wildlife species. It can take many forms, from illegal wild capture, trading, and selling online for the exotic pet trade, to harvesting protected species for traditional medicine and ornamental products, to poaching for various reasons. Investigations into these illicit activities are often nonexistent or inferior at best, as many wildlife officials, game wardens, conservation professionals, and veterinarians do not have an adequate background in crime investigation or any familiarity with forensic science and its applicability to wildlife, environmental, or conservation violations. Additionally, wildlife crime scenes present unique challenges and thus may not resemble the preconceptions of crime scenes as portrayed in movies and on television, resulting in confusion for investigators. A lack of awareness and training may: compromise an investigation; destroy a crime scene; render evidence or items of importance unrecognizable; and may ultimately allow the perpetrator(s) to escape justice. It is vitally important that all participants involved be aware of the proper procedures and actions to employ in order to avoid such mistakes, as all actions taken by participants at a suspected crime scene will have either a positive or negative impact on the outcome of the investigation. The goal of this chapter is to present an overview of wildlife crime scene investigation, issues, and problems with this discipline, general considerations and principles of crime scene management that are common to all crime scenes, and some specific actions and evidence that are distinct for crimes involving animals.

Problem behaviors are a leading cause of relinquishment in pet psittacines. Exotic animal practitioners with a good understanding of diagnosis and treatment of common psittacine behavior issues are in a position to enhance the welfare of these birds and their caregivers. Reduced-stress veterinary appointments also lead to less fear and better behavior diagnoses and treatment plans. Every treatment plan focuses on physical and social enrichment, along with behavior modification to treat the motivation behind the diagnosed problem. This article describes how to conduct an appointment that provides the best opportunity for an accurate behavior diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

Objectives Venomous and nonvenomous snakes are found throughout the United States. Two families of venomous snakes are indigenous to this country: the Viperidae, or pit vipers (rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads), and the Elapidae (three species of coral snakes and a sea snake). Bites from captive nonindigenous venomous snakes such as cobras also may present at medical facilities, given the interest in exotic pet ownership in the United States. Even "dry," nonenvenomating snakebites and those from nonvenomous snakes can result in puncture wounds that require medical evaluation. This article presents updated national estimates of snakebite injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs). Methods Data on nonfatal snakebite injuries were abstracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (2001-2015). Variables included age, sex, body part affected, cause, disposition, and treatment month. The snake species were coded based on narrative comments. Estimates were weighted and analyzed with SAS 9.4. Data on fatal snakebites were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (1999-2017). Results From 2001-2015, an estimated 137,800 snakebite injuries were treated in US EDs (crude rate: 3.0 individuals per 100,000 population). The majority of patients were male (70.7%; crude rate 4.4/100,000 population). Arms/hands (46.8%) and legs/feet (46.1%) were the primary body parts injured. The majority of patients were treated and released (67.1%); however, nearly 30% were hospitalized or transferred to another hospital. Two-thirds of the cases involved a nonvenomous or unknown snake (67.7%). Among venomous encounters, 70.3% involved a rattlesnake. For fatal snakebites, an average of 6 deaths per year was reported (range 2-12). Conclusions Although rare, nonfatal snakebites in this study resulted in an estimated average of 9192 annual visits to EDs (roughly 1 visit per hour) and an average of 6 fatal snakebites per year. Epidemiologic data on snakebite injuries provide healthcare providers, public health officials, and veterinarians with information on populations at risk for snakebites, species of snakes likely to be encountered, and guidance for prevention efforts.

The exploitation of threatened exotic species via social media challenges efforts to regulate the exotic pet trade and consequently threatens species conservation. To investigate how such content is perceived by the global community, sentiment analysis techniques were employed to explore variations in attitudes expressed through text and emoji usage in public comments associated with 346 popular YouTube® videos starring exotic wild cats or primates in captive or domestic situations. Although a negative trend in mean text sentiment was observed in 2015 for primates, an otherwise consistent positive mean sentiment text and emoji score through time was revealed in response to both exotic wild cat and primate videos, implying the societal normalisation and acceptance of exotic pets. These findings highlight the urgency for effective YouTube® policy changes and content management to promote public education and conservation awareness, whilst extinguishing false legitimisation and potential demand for the exotic pet trade.

The exploitation of threatened exotic species via social media challenges efforts to regulate the exotic pet trade and consequently threatens species conservation. To investigate how such content is perceived by the global community, mixed model sentiment analysis techniques were employed to explore variations in attitudes expressed through text and emoji usage in public comments associated with 346 popular YouTube® videos starring exotic wild cats or primates in ‘free handling’ situations. Negative interactions between wild cats and primates with other species were found to be associated with both text and emoji median sentiment reduction, however were still accompanied by a median emoji sentiment above zero. Additionally, although a negative trend in median text sentiment was observed in 2015 for primates, an otherwise consistent positive median text and emoji sentiment score through time across all IUCN Red List categories was revealed in response to both exotic wild cat and primate videos, further implying the societal normalisation and acceptance of exotic pets. These findings highlight the urgency for effective YouTube® policy changes and content management to promote public education and conservation awareness, whilst extinguishing false legitimisation and demand for the exotic pet trade.

Background With exotic pet species commonplace in the UK, owners are increasingly seeking veterinary advice regarding the health and welfare of their small mammals and reptiles. This study aimed to assess the confidence of veterinarians in the UK in treating and diagnosing rabbits, guinea pigs, small mammals and reptiles. Methods A 41-question survey was promoted via social media, including on interest groups focused specifically at veterinary professionals. A total of 131 practising veterinarians in the UK completed the questionnaire. Results Frequency of presentation of exotic pets to a practice had a significant effect (P

Taking into account that most of the known living organisms are parasites and that they exert a strong influence on the functioning of ecosystems, we can consider parasitism as a successful strategy for life. Because of the harm that parasites can inflict on man and domesticated animals, which can be expressed as economic loss, many parasites become pests. In natural ecosystems, parasites contribute to the prevention of continuous exponential growth of populations and, therefore, they also need to be conserved. The exotic pet trade may result in translocation of exotic species together with their microparasites and macroparasites, potentiating a risk of transmission of exotic diseases to native fauna and to humans. Within this context we need to increase our knowledge of parasites and parasitic diseases of wildlife. Prevention seems to be the choice for managing parasite exposure. This may be achieved through educational programs that refocused on discouraging people to import exotic pets, together with stronger legislative measures to control wildlife trade.

The ball python (Python regius) is the single most exported live CITES-listed species from Africa, with a large proportion of snakes being sourced from Togo, West Africa, officially via a system reported nationally as “ranching”. This study represents the first in-depth review of ball python hunting being carried out by rural communities in Togo for nearly 15 years. Our approach, focused at the bottom of the trade chain, permitted extensive detailed data to be collected from hunters, and provides a unique insight into the practices, drivers and impacts associated with this type of large-scale commercial wildlife trade activity. We show that ball python hunting remains an economically valuable endeavour for these rural hunters. However, it also highlights a number of potential legal, conservation and animal welfare issues associated with the current hunting practices being carried out in Togo (and neighbouring range States) to supply the snake farms and ultimately the international exotic pet trade. Our findings suggest that the methods applied on the ground do not accurately reflect those being reported to national authorities and international regulatory mechanisms such as CITES. This irregular, if not illegal, trade may also be unsustainable, as suggested by hunters reporting that there are fewer ball pythons in the wild than there were five years previously. We recommend that additional scientific investigation (focusing on the size and status of the wild population), better management, and enforcement of regulations, are required to ensure that ball python populations are managed in a sustainable, legal and traceable way.

Overharvesting and trade in amphibian populations is one of the causes of their global decline. Online trade not only encourages the exploitation of an increasing number of rare and endangered amphibian species from all over the world but also influences the spread of invasive species. The aim of our research was to investigate the amphibian pet trade conducted in online stores and portals in Poland and determine its potential impact on native species. Between November 2013 and October 2014, we regularly (on a monthly basis) checked sale offers on the websites of the 18 biggest pet shops in the country specialised in exotic animals, on a nationwide auction portal and on three exotic pet fan portals. During the study, we reported 486 offers of 112 amphibian species in online stores and on portals. Most of the offers involved one of the four families of amphibians: poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae), tree frogs (Hylidae), true toads (Bufonidae) and true salamanders (Salamandridae). Our data show increased interest in amphibians as pets in Poland. At least half of the offered species are possible hosts for the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. However, only one species, the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802), appears to be a potential invasive species. To summarise, the species offered in Poland that are characterised as threatened are predominantly those that are relatively easy to breed and that are popular as pets. Further studies are required to investigate the real threat to wild amphibian populations caused by the pet trade

Exotic pets are essentially animals that are non-native to a region and/or nondomesticated. The trade in and keeping of exotic pets has been frequently criticized for the commonly inhumane and harmful practices that are associated with supply and keeping, including animal welfare, species conservation, invasiveness, and public health and safety. Relatedly, a growing issue is that of unwanted exotic pets handed to animal care centers due to their overly demanding requirements and the confiscation of animals suffering from abuse. Mis-selling exotic species as "easy to keep" or "beginner" animals is widely regarded to be a major common and problematic factor. Efforts, after pet acquisition, to educate sellers and keepers to improve animal welfare and public health issues have proven unproductive. We propose that a system is required that facilitates decision-making at the interface between sale and purchase sectors and that uses clear evidence-based labeling. We review current options for developing such a pet labeling scheme and recommend a novel approach based on the EMODE ("easy," "moderate," "difficult," or "extreme") pet suitability assessment tool to provide a preventative educational approach to alleviating the multifactorial issues of concern.

Treatment options for animals with cancer are rapidly expanding, including in exotic animal medicine. Limited information is available about treatment effects in exotic pet species beyond individual case reports. Most cancer treatment protocols in exotic animals are extrapolated from those described in humans, dogs, and cats. This review provides an update on cancer treatment in exotic animal species. The Exotic Species Cancer Research Alliance accumulates clinical cases in a central location with standardized clinical information, with resources to help clinicians find and enter their cases for the collective good of exotic clinicians and their patients.

Simple Summary Very few studies have investigated veterinary perception of reptiles kept as pets. Using 5-point Likert scale questions, this study assessed opinions of veterinary students in Croatia about pet turtles, lizards and snakes, and their welfare, including student self-reported knowledge about pet reptiles. Most of the students’ responses were neutral from the very beginning to the end of their study, emphasising the need for introducing additional veterinary education on pet reptiles, with implications for the welfare of these pets, health and safety of humans and other animals, and environmental protection. Abstract Exotic pet medicine is rapidly evolving, with reptiles becoming increasingly popular pet animals. Yet, there are only a few literature reports on veterinary perception of reptiles kept as pets. The aim of the study was to assess opinions and knowledge of the Croatian veterinarians-to-be about pet reptiles and their welfare. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the academic year 2019–2020 and included students of all six years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate study at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb. First-year students were surveyed twice, before and after having attended the compulsory course on animal welfare. Questionnaire statements were 5-point Likert scale questions, requiring the students to express their opinions about turtles, lizards and snakes as pets, issues related to their welfare, risks they pose to the health and safety of humans, other animals and the environment, and their self-reported knowledge about pet reptiles. Although expressing higher opinions after having attended the course on animal welfare, first-year student responses remained neutral to most of the statements. Such a trend continued until the end of the study. Student responses revealed that they were uncertain about their knowledge of reptiles as pets, considering different educational areas observed. Study results emphasised the need of alterations in veterinary curriculum and additional student education in reptile medicine. The results obtained have broad implications involving not only the welfare of pet reptiles in clinical practice and elsewhere but also the health and safety of humans and other animals, as well as environmental protection.

Considerable scientific, politic and economic attention has been directed to biological invasions. Multiple pathways serve to introduce species to new environments and the release or escape of pets are among the most important sources for species invasions. Risk assessments help to identify species that are likely to become invasive and to set up preventive measures. Weighing the relative importance of ecological and human factors driving the establishment success of abandoned pets, we here present a new methodological guideline to help prioritising management activities for frequently traded pet reptiles. Climate match scores between the different distribution ranges as well as traits and niche axes shared by native and non-native species were assessed. Moreover, we tested for discrepancies in niche breadth between native and non-native ranges and estimated the ability of species to coexist with humans. Potentially moderate to high establishment success in most species was linked to appropriate climate match scores, broader niches with restrained human impacts and high similarities in reproductive traits with the native herpetofauna. Providing baseline information on the invasion potential of pet reptiles, this assessment calls for trade regulations and, to an even greater degree, for large scale education campaigns to prevent the establishment of non-native populations.

The global wildlife trade is a growing threat to biodiversity, species conservation and animal welfare. A major driver is consumer demand for exotic pets, and there have been calls for information campaigns to combat this. We created a novel, online survey to assess whether such campaigns could be effective. Our website “matched’ individuals with an exotic pet, and asked them to rate how likely they were to purchase one. We manipulated the information shown about each pet, giving either a “control” statement, describing the species’ diet, or one of four types of “treatment” statement describing zoonotic disease, animal welfare, legal or species conservation consequences. Respondents shown disease or legality information had a 39% reduced probability of selecting higher purchase likelihoods. Information on welfare and conservation impacts did not significantly lower purchase likelihoods. Information campaigns may reduce demand for exotic pets, particularly if focused on zoonotic disease and legal consequences.

Although pet rabbits are becoming increasingly popular in the United States of America (USA), very little is known about their status in captivity or their effect on the veterinary field. A questionnaire containing 26 questions was submitted online to rabbit owners through a volunteer-based nonprofit organization in the USA (House Rabbit Society [HRS]). A total of 959 owners answered the survey, with most respondents being located within the USA. The study aimed to evaluate pet rabbit owners׳ self-reported perceptions and experiences regarding varying aspects of rabbit husbandry (e.g., health status and nutrition), as well as how much they spend on veterinary care, food, and toys. The results of this study suggest that a segment of pet rabbits can be considered similar to dogs and cats with respect to the economics of veterinary care. The survey data also revealed that a large population of rabbit owners do not currently own a cat or a dog, and therefore might represent a potential new market for a veterinary clinic looking to expand their caseload. This is the largest survey on a specific segment of pet rabbit ownership reported to date.

The wildlife pet trade is a billion dollar transnational business that has devastating effects on global biodiversity. Australian parrots are highly sought by overseas collectors due to their uniqueness, however, the characteristics of this demand are poorly understood. We used trade reports to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Trade Database to analyse spatial and temporal trends in live commercial trade of Australian endemic parrots. We also investigated whether the volume of trade is influenced by variables related to species availability and popularity in Australia, and ease of captive breeding. We collected information on over 20,000 transactions for the period 1975–2014. Between the years 2000 and 2005 the volume of trade sharply declined, possibly due to the effect of international bird trade bans as a response to the avian influenza crisis. Australia has a minimal role in the trade of its own endemic parrots, even before the passing of the Australian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 that banned the export of native wildlife. Key international exporters are Netherlands (25.8% of all exports) and Belgium (17.5%), and captive breeding is the major source. The USA (7.5% of all imports) and Japan (7.3%) are key importers, and Netherlands, USA and South Africa are also major intermediaries. Species that have larger Australian distributions, and species abundant in Australian private and public captivity, are traded internationally in higher volumes. International trade in Australian endemic parrots is an example of an exotic pet market that is sustainably supplied by overseas captive breeding, while native populations are effectively protected by genuine national trade bans.

The exotic pet trade may be the principal mechanism for the establishment of invasive reptile species. The escape or deliberate release of captive reptiles has resulted in the establishment of many species globally. In Australia, exposure to this entry pathway has been limited due to long-term legislation preventing the importation and keeping of exotic reptiles by private keepers. Despite this, the corn snake Elaphe guttata is still illegally maintained in many private collections, resulting in occasional reports of released or escaped specimens. We recorded 79 free-ranging corn snakes captured by three wildlife organizations between 2002 and 2014 in the greater Sydney region, Australia. There was an increasing encounter rate over time, suggesting that this is a growing problem and may result in the establishment and spread of this species into Australia. Corn snakes were recorded throughout the Sydney region. No snake clusters were found and this suggests that populations may not have become es...

Although most research about the use of technological advances for wound healing was performed in laboratory animals but oriented to human medicine, recent technological advances allowed its application not only to small animals but also to exotic pets. This article reviews the literature available about some of these techniques (negative wound pressure therapy, photobiomodulation [laser therapy], electrical stimulation therapy, therapeutic ultrasonography, hyperbaric oxygen therapy), and other advances in wound management (skin expanders, xenografts, and bioengineered autologous skin substitutes) in exotic pet species.

In recent years, there has been a dramatic change in how information can be disseminated in the scientific world. This is especially true for health care in general, and exotic pet practice hardly makes an exception. From the constant growth of online repositories that archives scholarly articles such as PubMed, to the creation of hashtags specific for health care that can be followed by millions of persons, we need to understand that communication is changing and that the proper use of modern technologies may result in an unprecedented era for knowledge retrieval and dissemination.

Even when performed by skilled operators, locating the nerves can be challenging in small exotic pets; in such cases, the use of an electrical nerve stimulator may be useful to confirm the correct identification of the target nerve. Exotic animal anesthesia and analgesia have dramatically progressed over the past decade and continue to do so as more research and technologies develop. Technological advancements such as airway devices, endoscopic intubation techniques, positive intermittent pressure ventilators, and invasive and noninvasive blood pressure monitors have played a significant role in improving patient safety and the anesthetic outcomes of exotic animals.

The aim of this article is to review some of the technological advances in endoscopy and endosurgery. The article focuses on a few key areas relevant to exotic pets, including advances in urolith management, visualization, and laparoscopic surgery.

This article reviews the use of the smartphone in exotic pet medicine. The mobile app is the most instinctive use of the smartphone; however, there are very limited software dedicated to the exotic pet specifically. With an adapter, the smartphone can be attached to a regular endoscope and acts as a small endoscopic unit. Additional devices, such as infrared thermography or ultrasound, can be connected to the smartphone through the micro-USB port. The medical use of the smartphone is still in its infancy in veterinary medicine but can bring several solutions to the exotic pet practitioner and improve point-of-care evaluation.

Lay summary: A review that compares changes in body mass, glucocorticoid and sympathetic responses, and reproductive and immune function, in wild animals recently introduced into captivity to their wild counterparts. Conclusion is that captivity can be a powerful chronic stressor that may be possible to mitigate, but the impact is highly species-specific., Wild animals are brought into captivity for many reasons—conservation, research, agriculture and the exotic pet trade. While the physical needs of animals are met in captivity, the conditions of confinement and exposure to humans can result in physiological stress. The stress response consists of the suite of hormonal and physiological reactions to help an animal survive potentially harmful stimuli. The adrenomedullary response results in increased heart rate and muscle tone (among other effects); elevated glucocorticoid (GC) hormones help to direct resources towards immediate survival. While these responses are adaptive, overexposure to stress can cause physiological problems, such as weight loss, changes to the immune system and decreased reproductive capacity. Many people who work with wild animals in captivity assume that they will eventually adjust to their new circumstances. However, captivity may have long-term or permanent impacts on physiology if the stress response is chronically activated. We reviewed the literature on the effects of introduction to captivity in wild-caught individuals on the physiological systems impacted by stress, particularly weight changes, GC regulation, adrenomedullary regulation and the immune and reproductive systems. This paper did not review studies on captive-born animals. Adjustment to captivity has been reported for some physiological systems in some species. However, for many species, permanent alterations to physiology may occur with captivity. For example, captive animals may have elevated GCs and/or reduced reproductive capacity compared to free-living animals even after months in captivity. Full adjustment to captivity may occur only in some species, and may be dependent on time of year or other variables. We discuss some of the methods that can be used to reduce chronic captivity stress.

Orthopedic diseases are a common problem in exotic pets. Diagnostic imaging modalities are more accessible and available in exotic animal veterinary medicine; the higher standards of care of the veterinary profession have progressed toward an increased offer of advanced imaging modalities. The literature on the use of diagnostic imaging modalities in orthopedic disease of exotic pets is scarce. This article discusses when to use the different diagnostic imaging techniques and reviews the imaging findings usually found in the most common orthopedic diseases in small mammal, avian, and reptile exotic pet species using different imaging modalities, especially radiography and computed tomography.

celik, baran/0000-0001-9122-0284; SIGIRCI, BELGI DIREN/0000-0001-7153-7428; Ikiz, Serkan/0000-0001-6502-0780; SIGIRCI, BELGI DIREN/0000-0001-7153-7428 WOS:000462735900002 Exotic pet animal ownership is on the rise all over the world. Regardless of being companion animals which are important subjects in veterinary medicine, they also play a role in the transmission of diseases to other animals and human beings. Therefore, veterinarians are expected to have the knowledge and good practice in exotic pet medicine. This survey was performed among small animal practitioners with the aim of identifying their self-evaluation of competency and knowledge about the exotic pet medicine in Istanbul. As a data collection tool, a three-part questionnaire developed by the researchers was used in the current study. The first part of the survey covered demographic variables of respondents; the second part consisted of 6 questions, which examine the self-evaluation of small animal practitioners on competency and knowledge about the exotic pet medicine practice. The third part consisted of 8 Likert type questions about the husbandry, transmission, prevention, diagnosis and therapy of the diseases for the four different exotic pets including fish, turtle, other reptiles and bird. The results showed that approximately 80% of the respondents consider that exotic pet disease is essential regarding veterinary medicine. Thirty-five percent of the veterinarian said that they were not sure about "what is an exotic pet disease" while, 53% of them responded that question, as they did not have any knowledge about the exotic pet diseases. For the 91.4% of the clinics investigated, the exotic animals as a patient were 1-10% or less than 1% of all the patients. It has shown that 42.4%, 32%, 16.9%, and 8.7% of the exotic pets' species examined were birds, turtles, the other reptiles, and 8.7% fish, respectively. Ninety percent of the veterinarians consider that they did not get enough education about the exotic pet animal practice during their undergraduate study at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul. It has been determined that more than half of the participants (65%) were considered themselves as having adequate knowledge of the husbandry, transmission, prevention, diagnosis and therapy of the diseases of the birds. However, they did not have enough experience about turtle, other reptiles and fish. As a conclusion, the results indicated the importance of education, specialisation and practice on potential exotic pet species. Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul UniversityIstanbul University [BEK-2016-21151] This research was supported by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University (Project number BEK-2016-21151).