Rickets in two hand-reared polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs.

Two polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs born at the Denver Zoological Gardens were abandoned by a primiparous mother. Lethargic and extremely chilled, the cubs were transported to the zoo hospital for intensive care and hand rearing. Both cubs developed rickets. Dietary changes were instituted, and both cubs completely recovered with the exception of a bowed right femur (genu varum) in the female cub.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi).

A 4.5-yr-old female blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi) was radiographed following the appearance of lameness and swelling of the right front fetlock. Radiographic interpretation at that time was osteoarthritis caused by periosteal proliferation of the right metacarpus with periarticular osteophytes surrounding the fetlock. No treatment was initiated. Gradual abdominal enlargement over several months was interpreted as evidence of pregnancy. Six months after the initial lameness complaint, the blesbok suddenly collapsed and was unable to stand. Physical examination revealed a large firm mass occupying most of the abdomen that was found to be inoperable. Following exploratory laporotomy, the blesbok was euthanized. At necropsy, the mass weighed 17 kg. It had probably caused the animal's collapse. Histologically, the bony lesions of the right metacarpus, seen radiographically at the previous examination, were consistent with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and may have been a sequela of the intra-abdominal mass.