ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe on-site veterinary medical care for working dogs and horses deployed for the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Tampa, Fla, August 24 to 30, 2012. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SAMPLE: 130 dogs and 45 horses. PROCEDURES: Data collected included breed, age, history, task assignment, reason for evaluation, and physical examination findings. A patient encounter report was recorded each time an animal was seen by veterinary staff for a physical evaluation. RESULTS: 46 of the 130 (35%) dogs and all 45 (100%) horses underwent at least 1 on-site veterinary evaluation, for a total of 478 patient encounters. The most common reason for an on-site veterinary evaluation was a wellness check (446 patient encounters). On the basis of veterinary recommendations, 1 dog and 4 horses were removed from continued service for the duration of the event. In addition, 1 dog and 1 horse were removed from active service for 12 to 24 hours but allowed to return to service for the duration of the event following a veterinary reevaluation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that working dogs and horses deployed for large planned events face different health concerns, compared with concerns previously reported for animals deployed following disasters. Pre-event planning and training of handlers and riders may have helped reduce the number of health concerns, particularly health concerns related to high heat.
Subject(s)
Animal Welfare , Dogs , Horses , Politics , Security Measures/organization & administration , Veterinary Medicine , Animals , Anniversaries and Special Events , Florida , Law Enforcement , Public Health Administration , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An 18-year old captive male lemur (Varecia rubra) housed in a breeding situation presented for lethargy and anorexia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Physical exam revealed urethral obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral plugs secondary to semen collection are common in lemurs. Here, we report the first case of naturally occurring urethral copulatory plug in a ruffed lemur.
Subject(s)
Animals, Zoo , Lemuridae , Urethral Obstruction/veterinary , Animals , Copulation , Male , Treatment Outcome , Urethral Obstruction/etiology , Urethral Obstruction/therapy , Urinary Catheters/veterinaryABSTRACT
Coatis (Nasua spp.), gregarious, omnivorous carnivores that range in forests from the southwestern USA to south America, dispatch millipedes by rolling them on the ground using rapid, alternating movements of their forepaws. Prey rolling of millipedes is thought to stimulate the depletion of their defensive secretions and to wipe off secretions before millipedes are consumed. We report that prey-rolling behavior in Nasua spp. is elicited by 1,4-benzoquinone; 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone; and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, the chief components of the defensive secretions of julidan, spirobolidan, and spirostreptidan millipedes. Chemicals elaborated for defense sometimes evolutionarily "backfire," providing cues to predators on the presence or identity of prey. The elicitation of prey-rolling behavior in Nasua spp. by benzoquinones illustrates this effect for millipedes (and possibly other arthropods) that defensively discharge these compounds.
