ABSTRACT
Xanthogranulomatosis is an inflammatory lesion characterized by lipid-containing macrophages, extracellular lipid, hemorrhage, and necrosis. We describe disseminated intracoelomic xanthogranulomatosis in 5 eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus) and 2 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). Postmortem, clinicopathologic, and historical case material was reviewed. Ages ranged from 3 to 24 years; there were 5 males and 2 females. Table food was included in the diet of 3/5 cases, and animal products were included in 2/3 cases. Common clinicopathologic abnormalities included leukocytosis (4/5 cases) and elevated concentrations of bile acids (3/4 cases) and cholesterol within 6 months prior to death (2/4 cases). At postmortem examination, all 7 birds had grossly visible, irregular, soft, tan to yellow, amorphous plaques distributed on the surfaces of the viscera and body wall. Histologic evaluation and oil red O stain revealed xanthogranulomatous inflammation with phagocytized and extracellular lipid, necrosis, cholesterol clefts, fibrosis, and mineralization. Infectious agents were not identified with special stains in all cases. Concurrent hepatobiliary disease was present in 6/7 cases, and 6/7 had lipid accumulation within the parenchyma of various visceral organs. Five cases had atherosclerosis of great vessels. We describe a unique form of disseminated coelomic xanthogranulomatosis in 2 psittacine species. This condition should be recognized as a differential diagnosis in cases of disseminated coelomic mass formation and coelomic distension in psittacine birds, particularly in eclectus parrots and budgerigars.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases , Melopsittacus , Parrots , Animals , Bird Diseases/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , MaleABSTRACT
For dogs in research facilities, every effort is made to meet the challenge of providing for their exercise needs and environmental enrichment. Another important factor in maintaining their health may be overlooked, however. It is rare that routine dental care and evaluation is provided or that any effort is made to maintain good oral health.
Subject(s)
Dental Plaque/prevention & control , Dental Prophylaxis/veterinary , Laboratory Animal Science/methods , Periodontal Diseases/prevention & control , Preventive Dentistry/methods , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Animals, Laboratory , Dental Prophylaxis/methods , DogsABSTRACT
Urinary tract catheterization of the rat may be required for a variety of clinical and experimental reasons. The external urinary orifice is easily visualized and rests anterior to the vaginal opening, making urinary tract catheterization easier in the female rat than in other species. This column describes a technique for short-term urethral catheterization in the adult female rat.
Subject(s)
Rats , Urinary Catheterization/veterinary , Anesthesia/methods , Anesthetics, Inhalation/administration & dosage , Anesthetics, Intravenous/administration & dosage , Animals , Female , Isoflurane/administration & dosage , Pentobarbital/administration & dosage , Propofol/administration & dosage , Urinary Catheterization/instrumentation , Urinary Catheterization/methodsABSTRACT
Cystotomy is a surgical incision into the urinary bladder, which may be required for removal of calculi, diagnosis of tumors or refractory urinary tract infections, or repair of ectopic ureters and ruptured bladders. This column describes the indications and techniques for cystotomy in the rabbit.
Subject(s)
Cystotomy/methods , Rabbits/surgery , Urolithiasis/veterinary , Animals , Urolithiasis/etiology , Urolithiasis/surgeryABSTRACT
Urethral catheterization of the female guinea pig has potential diagnostic, therapeutic and research applications. Urethral catheter placement in the female guinea pig is relatively easy to carry out and has fewer potential complications than does catheter placement in male guinea pigs.
Subject(s)
Guinea Pigs , Urethra/anatomy & histology , Urinary Catheterization/veterinary , Animals , Female , Urinary Catheterization/adverse effects , Urinary Catheterization/methodsABSTRACT
Male ferrets are used in various biomedical research studies and generally thrive in laboratory conditions. Urethral obstruction can occur in male ferrets of all ages, and urethral catheterization may be needed to relieve the obstruction. This column describes urinary catheter selection, placement and monitoring in the male ferret.
Subject(s)
Catheters/veterinary , Urethral Obstruction/veterinary , Urinary Catheterization/veterinary , Animals , Ferrets , Male , Prognosis , Treatment Outcome , Urethral Obstruction/pathology , Urethral Obstruction/surgery , Urinary Catheterization/instrumentation , Urinary Catheterization/methodsABSTRACT
Frogs in the research setting may require administration of test compounds or of medications (if they are ill). Various routes of administration can be used in frogs, including parenteral, enteral, transdermal and oral. This column discusses clinical techniques for restraint and oral administration of medication, food or test compounds in frogs.
Subject(s)
Administration, Oral , Restraint, Physical , Animal Feed , Animals , Enteral Nutrition/methods , Enteral Nutrition/veterinary , Ranidae , Surgical InstrumentsABSTRACT
Snakes are used in various investigations of the effects of their venom on human physiology. Blood sampling is frequently an important part of these investigations. The heart is the most commonly used venipuncture site in snakes because it yields a reasonably large sample. This column describes cardiocentesis for blood sample collection in the snake.
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Blood Specimen Collection/veterinary , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/veterinary , Punctures/veterinary , Snakes/physiology , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Blood Specimen Collection/methods , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/methods , Punctures/methodsABSTRACT
Ear (aural) hematomas occur when blood vessels in the pinna rupture secondary to trauma or excessive head shaking. Blood fills the space between the skin and the cartilage, causing pain and potential deformity of the ear. In this column, I discuss surgical treatment of aural hematomas in the dog.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/surgery , Ear Auricle/blood supply , Ear Diseases/veterinary , Hematoma/veterinary , Surgery, Veterinary/methods , Animals , Biopsy, Fine-Needle/veterinary , Dog Diseases/etiology , Dogs , Ear Diseases/pathology , Ear Diseases/surgery , Hematoma/pathology , Hematoma/surgery , Otitis Externa/complications , Otitis Externa/surgery , Otitis Externa/veterinaryABSTRACT
Environmental enrichment must be provided for the various animal species that are housed in laboratory animal facilities. Wheatgrass can be used as a natural form of enrichment that requires minimal preparation and effort. Wheatgrass is appropriate enrichment for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and birds.
Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Animals, Laboratory , Poaceae , Animal Husbandry/methods , Animal Husbandry/standards , Animals , Housing, Animal/standardsABSTRACT
If a rabbit is ill or will be undergoing certain types of surgery, it may need to be fed using a nasogastric tube. Nasogastric intubation is easy and is an effective means of delivering nutrition and fluids when other feeding methods are not feasible. This column describes how to place a nasogastric tube in a rabbit.
Subject(s)
Intubation, Gastrointestinal/veterinary , Laboratory Animal Science/methods , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Intubation, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Intubation, Gastrointestinal/instrumentation , Intubation, Gastrointestinal/methods , RabbitsABSTRACT
Exercise and exploration are important to the health and happiness of guinea pigs. Laboratory housing does not always provide the space necessary for such opportunities. This article presents an inexpensive, versatile option for an enclosed exercise area for the laboratory guinea pig.
Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Guinea Pigs/physiology , Housing, Animal , Physical Conditioning, Animal/methods , Animals , Animals, Laboratory/physiology , Guinea Pigs/psychologyABSTRACT
Rabbit incisor teeth are open-rooted and, in healthy animals, grow continuously. Incisor adjustments are often necessary to maintain the health and well-being of rabbits with incisor malocclusion. This column will describe some techniques used to manage incisor malocclusion in the rabbit.
Subject(s)
Animal Husbandry , Incisor/surgery , Laboratory Animal Science/methods , Malocclusion/veterinary , Rabbits/surgery , Surgery, Oral , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Incisor/diagnostic imaging , Incisor/growth & development , Malocclusion/diagnostic imaging , Malocclusion/surgery , Rabbits/physiology , Radiography , Veterinary Medicine/instrumentationABSTRACT
This column discusses the use of novel dietary supplements as environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits. The purpose of enrichment is to encourage behaviors that are appropriate for a particular species and that satisfy an animal's physical and psychological needs.
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Behavior, Animal , Food , Animal Welfare , AnimalsABSTRACT
Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be a valuable diagnostic tool. This column describes cerebellomedullary CSF collection in the dog.
Subject(s)
Cerebrospinal Fluid , Dogs/cerebrospinal fluid , Neurosurgical Procedures/veterinary , Animals , Dogs/surgery , Neurosurgical Procedures/methods , Specimen Handling/methods , Specimen Handling/veterinaryABSTRACT
Dental examination should be included in all physical examinations of rabbits because they have continuously growing teeth and are predisposed to dental disease. This column describes the procedure and equipment used for oral examination in rabbits.
Subject(s)
Diagnosis, Oral , Oral Health , Rabbits , Tooth Diseases/diagnosis , Tooth Diseases/veterinary , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Veterinary Medicine/instrumentationABSTRACT
Force-feeding or syringe-feeding is a necessary skill in the care and maintenance of small herbivores. The ability to supply dietary energy to a rabbit, chinchilla or guinea pig is as important as the ability to administer medication. Anyone involved in the care of small herbivores must be comfortable with and accustomed to the process of restraint and administration of force-fed supplementation.
Subject(s)
Animal Husbandry/methods , Animals, Laboratory , Chinchilla , Enteral Nutrition/veterinary , Laboratory Animal Science/methods , Animals , Energy Intake , Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects , Enteral Nutrition/instrumentation , Enteral Nutrition/methods , Guinea Pigs , RabbitsABSTRACT
Pododermatitis is a painful inflammation of the footpads. This column describes appropriate treatment for pododermatitis in guinea pigs.
Subject(s)
Foot Ulcer/veterinary , Rodent Diseases/pathology , Staphylococcal Infections/veterinary , Veterinary Medicine/methods , Animals , Animals, Laboratory , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Foot Ulcer/microbiology , Foot Ulcer/pathology , Guinea Pigs , Lasers , Phototherapy/methods , Phototherapy/veterinary , Rodent Diseases/microbiology , Rodent Diseases/therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/pathology , Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Staphylococcus aureus/pathogenicity , Wound Healing , Wounds, Penetrating/microbiology , Wounds, Penetrating/pathology , Wounds, Penetrating/therapyABSTRACT
Normal rat posture results in proximity of the scrotum to bedding and feces, which predisposes rats to postoperative complications if castration is done using standard scrotal and prescrotal approaches. This column describes a ventral abdominal approach for castration in the rat.