Search

A 2.5‐year‐old, 2.9 kg, neutered, male domestic rabbit presented for sudden onset of sneezing and wheezing of 2‐day duration. Upon physical examination, there was mild dyspnoea characterised by mild to moderate increased inspiratory effort and audible wheeze, without evidence of ocular or nasal discharge. An aggressive expansile lytic mass lesion of the right caudal maxilla extending into the zygomatic arch was identified on skull radiographs. Computed tomography confirmed a large heterogeneously contrast enhancing soft tissue mass associated with the lytic lesion, likely originating from the right alveolar bulla, extending into the zygomatic arch. Histopathological diagnosis was osteosarcoma with areas of osteogenic and fibroblastic patterns. Diseases of the nasal cavity are common in rabbits; while infectious rhinitis remains the most common diagnosis, increasing number of cases of neoplasms involving the maxilla and nasal cavity should remind clinicians to include it in the differential diagnosis list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilobular tumor of the bone is a rarely described neoplasia in the ferret. A 2-yr-old, male neutered ferret was presented for an oral swelling. On physical examination, a firm swelling was noted surrounding the base of tooth 409 with no discharge. The remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable. Differential diagnoses included oral neoplasia or abscess. A biopsy was recommended with possible extraction of the affected tooth. Medical management was initiated and a biopsy was scheduled. In surgery, the mass was determined to be firm. The initial biopsy results indicated a chondrosarcoma. A partial hemimandibulectomy was successfully performed without complications. The final histopathology report showed a multilobular tumor of bone. At 8 months postoperative and at the time of writing, no recurrence had been noted. This case reports an unusual presentation of a mandibular swelling in a ferret. Although rare, a multilobular tumor of bone should be considered as a differential for mandibular swelling in ferrets. Surgical intervention may be a viable treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Decision making in veterinary medicine can be extremely difficult. Often, different choices can have vastly different costs, complications, and outcomes associated with them. Bayesian inference and decision analysis are two tools that, when combined, can help clinicians and pet owners decide on the preferred course of action. In this retrospective case study, we describe a lethargic ferret that is no longer eating. We solicited opinions from three expert veterinarians who were not involved with the case on what the diagnosis could be before and after a series of diagnostic tests. We also asked the original clinical team to estimate how valuable different clinical outcomes were. By combining these data, we were able to assess if the original clinical team was right to take the animal to surgery. We also discuss some of the pitfalls of not using Bayesian inference in diagnosis, some cognitive biases that may have played a role in the case management decisions, and the wider usefulness of decision-analysis methods to help foster shared decision making between client and veterinarian. Bayesian inference and decision analysis can be used to identify the most probable differential diagnosis and use those probabilities to identify the best choice of diagnostic or treatment among several alternatives. In this retrospective case analysis, we surveyed three experts on the prior probability of several differential diagnoses, given the signalment and history of a ferret presenting for lethargy and anorexia, and the conditional probability of different clinical findings (physical, bloodwork, imaging, etc.), given a diagnosis. Using these data and utility estimates provided by other clinicians, we constructed a decision tree to retrospectively identify the optimal treatment choice between exploratory laparotomy and medical management. We identified medical management as the optimal choice, in contrast to the original clinical team which performed an exploratory laparotomy. We discuss the potential cognitive biases of the original clinical team. We also discuss the strengths, e.g., shared decision making, and limitations of a Bayesian decision analysis in the veterinary clinic. Bayesian decision analysis can be a useful tool for retrospective case analysis and prospective decision making, especially for deciding on invasive interventions or end-of-life care. The dissimilarity of expert-derived probability estimates makes Bayesian decision analysis somewhat challenging to apply, particularly in wide-ranging specialties like zoological medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elective altering in small mammals is a routine surgery in many exotic companion animal practices. Two techniques, the flank approach (FA), and ventral midline approach (VMA) have been well described in the literature. Flank approach and VMA are utilized for ovariectomy (with or without partial hysterectomy) and ovariohysterectomy respectively. The objective of this study is to compare complication rates between these two approaches as well as identify predictors for adverse events post operatively. A retrospective analysis was performed at a single private practice to compare postoperative complication rates and potential influence of patient related variables for the two approaches for elective reproductive altering in female rats. A total of 457 female rats were included in this study. Elective altering was performed via FA in 396 rats and via VMA in 61 rats. Medical records were reviewed and data analyzed for complications accounting for patient age, weight, and surgeon expertise. Reported complications were grouped by incision-related, mortality within 48 hours postoperatively, and postoperative pathologic findings. To test for normality of continuous data, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used. Binary logistic regression was then performed to identify predictors of adverse events. Complications were noted in 22 of 396 rats (5.6%, 95% CI: 2–6%) undergoing FA and in (9.8%, 95% CI: 3–9.9%) undergoing VMA (difference in proportion: (6.0%, 95% CI: 4.3–8.7%). Pathologic findings were present in 3 of 396 (0.8%, 95% CI: 0.3–2.2%) in the FA group accounting for uterine disease and representing risk of remaining reproductive tissue through this approach. The VMA group had 1 of 61 (1.6%, 95% CI: 0–8.7%) pathologic findings (difference in proportion: 0.1%, 95% CI: 0–0.2%). Through binary outcome analysis via logistic regression, surgeon expertise, patient age, and weight failed to predict complications for both approaches and was not statistically significant. Surgeons should be aware of the advantages and complications of either technique when choosing a surgical approach for female elective altering in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus syndrome: A disease that mimics congenital toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus infection. Diseases of the central nervous system caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and other arenaviruses. Onsite investigation at a mail-order hatchery following a multistate salmonella illness outbreak linked to live poultry-United States, 2018. Salmonella illness outbreaks linked to backyard poultry purchasing during the COVID-19 pandemic: United States, 2020. [Extracted from the article]

Nannizziopsis guarroi is a highly pathogenic fungal organism affecting various lizard species which often manifests as cutaneous disease. Pulmonary involvement with Nannizziopsis infections has rarely been reported in reptiles. An 8-year-old, female green iguana was presented for clinical evaluation following a chronic history of upper and lower respiratory tract signs and fistula formation in the right maxilla communicating with the oral cavity. Pulmonary infiltrates were noted on serial computed tomography scans and repeated baseline bloodwork was unremarkable. Based on a poor response to chronic antibiotic therapy, rigid pulmonoscopy was elected. The lung parenchyma contained multifocal clusters of yellow-brown ovoid masses. Biopsy of the lesions revealed granulomas with intralesional fungal hyphae. Fungal culture had no growth but panfungal PCR identified the organism Nannizziopsis guarroi. The iguana failed to completely recover postprocedure and died despite further supportive care. Computed tomography helped determine the extent of pulmonary pathology but pulmonoscopy, lung biopsy and molecular diagnostic methods were ultimately required to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Nannizziopsis fungal pneumonia should be considered a differential diagnosis in squamates with respiratory clinical signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen cases of client-owned female guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) involved urethrolith removal directly from the urinary orifice or urethra with the aid of a lightweight self-retaining retractor ring with elastic stays. The procedure was performed in fifteen guinea pigs and repeated once due to reoccurrence of urolith formation. Urethrolithiasis was diagnosed by direct palpation of the urethrolith, and in all but one case confirmed radiographically. Uroliths were removed whole or in sections after direct visualization with the help of the retractor. Only minor complications associated with the procedure were observed and most patients survived to discharge. This is the first case series to describe the use of a self-retaining retractor to facilitate simple nonsurgical removal of urethroliths in female guinea pigs. This procedure is rapid, minimally invasive, technically simple, and cost effective in female guinea pigs with uroliths in the urinary orifice or distal urethra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneously occurring ocular neoplasia is rarely reported in rabbits. This case series presents four cases of rabbits diagnosed with iridociliary tumors, which have not been previously reported in this species. Major pathological findings include epithelial tumors affecting the anterior uvea with variable pigmentation and basement membrane formation. Follow‐up information was only available for two cases, but neither showed evidence of metastasis, suggesting that the prognosis for these tumors in rabbits, as in other species, may be very good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the importance of client communication in cognitive dysfunction treatment in canine patients. Topics discussed include understanding cognitive dysfunction and its effects on their pet; involvement of client education that includes increased anxiety, nutrition and nutraceuticals, and drug therapy; and financial estimation of disease diagnosis.

Abstract: Tracheostomy is a routine procedure used in human medicine to maintain a patent airway in cases of severe tracheal trauma, neoplasia, congenital abnormalities, or disease processes requiring long-term mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy has been documented in veterinary medicine, including a single case in a prairie dog. However, use of this procedure in birds had not been previously described. The following report describes similar permanent tracheostomy procedures in two parrots, with slightly differing outcomes, and illustrates that tracheostomy can be considered in avian patients with nonresolving obstructive tracheal disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]