Diagnosis and treatment of a congenital portosystemic shunt in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A 3-year-old female neutered ferret presented with progressive weight loss was diagnosed with portosystemic shunting based on increased fasting bile acids, rectal ammonia tolerance testing and advanced imaging. Ammonia reference values were determined in 16 healthy ferrets. A congenital extrahepatic spleno-caval shunt was visualised with ultrasonography and CT angiography of the abdomen. Complete surgical shunt closure by suture ligation was performed, without clinical improvement after surgery. Euthanasia was elected 4 months postoperatively because the clinical condition deteriorated. This is a case report of advanced diagnostics and surgical treatment of a congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a ferret, demonstrating rectal ammonia tolerance testing and imaging as feasible techniques for the diagnosis.

Non-invasive blood pressure measurement in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) using high definition oscillometry.

This study was conducted to validate the use of high definition oscillometry (HDO) for non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements in ferrets and to establish reference ranges for NIBP in minimally sedated, healthy, young adult ferrets (<4years of age). The bias, limits of agreement and correlation for HDO compared to direct arterial blood pressure (DABP) measurement were established in 14 anaesthetised ferrets. Measurements were performed at the forelimb, hind limb and tail under hypo- (<110mmHg), normo- (110-170mmHg) and hypertensive (>170mmHg) conditions. Although HDO correlated well with DABP (r>0.90), it showed significant proportional bias, whereby HDO generally underestimated DABP with hyper- and normotensive conditions, and overestimated DABP with hypotensive conditions. Measurements obtained from the hind limb showed higher bias than those obtained from the tail or forelimb (P<0.001). Based on the above, and for practical reasons, the tail was selected as the preferred site of cuff placement in ferrets. Subsequently, a cross-over study was performed in 10 ferrets to establish the minimum dose of butorphanol and midazolam needed to successfully obtain NIBP in 100% of cases. Using this dose (0.2mg/kg IM, each), reference intervals for NIBP from 63 healthy, young adult ferrets were established at 95-155mmHg (systolic), 69-109mmHg (mean) and 51-87mmHg (diastolic) arterial pressures.

Prepuce and partial penile amputation for treatment of preputial gland neoplasia in two ferrets.

Preputial tumours in ferrets are frequently malignant and therefore warrant prompt investigation. As many cases do not respond favourably to surgery, even in combination with radiation therapy, wide surgical resection has been recommended. Such a procedure may necessitate partial or total penile resection but outcomes have thus far not been well described. The current case series describes two ferrets in which surgical resection, including penile amputation, was performed using 10 and 5 mm margins, respectively. In the first case, no recurrence of preputial gland adenocarcinoma was noted for 32 months postsurgery, whereas multiple attempts at surgery and radiation therapy were unsuccessful in the second. These cases suggest that margins of at least 1 cm may help achieve a better outcome. Penile amputation for the treatment of preputial tumours appears to be well tolerated by ferrets, as demonstrated by these cases.

Use of a GnRH agonist implant as alternative for surgical neutering in pet ferrets.

In the current study, the duration of effectiveness, owner satisfaction and side effects of a gonadotrophin releasing hormone-agonist (deslorelin) implant were investigated during a two-year follow-up study in which 61 male and 69 female entire pet ferrets were given a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant as alternative to surgical neutering. In 27 participating non-oestrous jills, a double-blind placebo controlled study was performed to investigate whether a single low dose of medroxyprogesterone (2 mg orally) four days preceding placement of the implant could prevent oestrus induction. The duration of effectiveness of the implant ranged from 301 days to over 1339 days (mean 1012±38 days), with no sex difference present. Over 90 per cent of owners were pleased with the effects of the implant. Minor local side effects were noted in less than 20 per cent of ferrets, which all resolved within a week without treatment. Oestrus was induced in 77 per cent of jills receiving medroxyprogesterone and 50 per cent of jills receiving the placebo, indicating that administration of a low-dose progestogen cannot prevent postimplant oestrus. Based on the minimum duration of effectiveness, it is advised to place a new implant on a yearly basis to guarantee continuous gonadal suppression, although biannual replacement may be sufficient in the majority of ferrets.

Pharmacokinetics of paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus): influence of pharmaceutical formulation and length of dosing.

Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, may be beneficial in the treatment of behavioural disorders in pet birds. The lack of pharmacokinetic data and clinical trials currently limits the use of this drug in clinical avian practice. This paper evaluates the pharmacokinetic properties and potential side effects of single and repeated dosing of paroxetine in Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus). Paroxetine pharmacokinetics were studied after single i.v. and single oral dosing, and after repeated oral administration during 1 month. Plasma paroxetine concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. No undesirable side effects were observed during the study. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a quick distribution and rapid elimination after i.v. administration. Oral administration of paroxetine HCl dissolved in water resulted in a relatively slow absorption (T(max)=5.9±2.6 h) and a low bioavailability (31±15%). Repeated administration resulted in higher rate of absorption, most likely due to a saturation of the cytochrome P450-mediated first-pass metabolism. This study shows that oral administration of paroxetine HCl (4 mg/kg twice daily) in parrots results in plasma concentrations within the therapeutic range recommended for the treatment of depressions in humans. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of this dosage regimen in parrots with behavioural disorders.

Maintenance of core body temperature in anaesthetised pigeons (Columba livia domestica): a comparison of two thermal devices.

Active thermal devices are used to prevent hypothermia during anaesthetic procedures. Two thermal devices, one conductive and one convective, were compared for their effect on maintenance of core body temperature (CBT) during 1h of general anaesthesia in pigeons (Columba livia domestica). In a randomised crossover trial, CBT decreased significantly less with the conductive device than when the convective device was used (2.5 ± 0.7°C and 3.8 ± 0.9°C, respectively; P<0.01). Moreover, CBT was maintained above a clinically acceptable level of 38.3°C in 82% of pigeons when the conductive device was selected, compared to 14% of pigeons with the convective device. The use of the conductive device is therefore recommended in preference to the convective device when performing anaesthetic procedures in birds.

Upper respiratory tract infection caused by Cryptosporidium baileyi in three mixed-bred falcons (Falco rusticolus x Falco cherrug).

Three mixed-bred raptors (Falco rusticolus x Falco cherrug) from a German falcon breeder were presented with a history of respiratory distress. In one bird a laryngeal stridor was noted, and oral examination revealed an epiglottal swelling. In the other two birds, nasal discharge and sneezing were the main clinical symptoms. Nasal flushing samples and biopsies were collected for pathologic, bacteriologic, and parasitologic examination. Results confirmed a cryptosporidial infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA analysis identified the causative agent to be Cryptosporidium baileyi. No cryptosporidia were detected in fecal samples, indicating the infection was confined to the respiratory system. Analysis of prey animals (pigeons, quail) failed to identify the source of infection. Treatment was initiated with paromomycin in all three birds, whereas in two birds an additional therapy with azithromycin was given. However, no clinical improvement was seen after several weeks of treatment, and the birds either died or were euthanatized. To the authors' knowledge, these are the first confirmed cases of disease caused by cryptosporidia in the order of Falconiformes.

Partial purification and characterization of ferritin from the liver and intestinal mucosa of chickens, turtledoves and mynahs.

Ferritin is the iron-storage protein responsible for sequestering excess iron, to be stored in a safe way in the liver or to be shed with the intestinal epithelial cells. The properties of ferritin in iron-overload-susceptible birds have not been elucidated. Furthermore, there is only scarce information on mucosal ferritin, with no information at all in avian species. Here we have studied the liver and proximal intestine ferritins of iron-overload-susceptible (Indian hill mynahs, common mynahs) and non-susceptible (turtledoves, chicken) bird species. A brief purification process preceded native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and staining the gels for protein and iron. Protein amounts and iron-binding characteristics of ferritin were measured and ferritin saturation levels were calculated. Although ferritin protein amounts did not differ significantly, liver and mucosal ferritins of sensitive bird species incorporated much more iron, leading to high saturation levels. Significantly higher ferritin iron content and saturation were observed in the liver of both mynah species and in the intestinal ferritin of Indian hill mynahs when compared with the non-susceptible species. Ferritin appears not to play a major role in the regulation of iron absorption, implicating other phases in iron transport to be more important in the onset and process of iron overload in birds.