Lumbar myelography in a crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus)

Background: The Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a nocturnal mammal and lives in savannah, but loss of their natural habitat makes increase cases of traffic accidents on the roads. A growing number of wildlife are treated in veterinary hospitals, but we have some limitation about the correct interpretation of the diagnostic test, specially because, even the tests were not described. Myelography is a radiographic technique indicated for compressive lesions of the spinal cord that are not seen on plain radiographs. The present report aims to describe, for the first time, a lumbar myelogram performed in a paraplegic crab-eating raccoon after it suffer a traffic trauma. Case: A free living adult, 8-kg, female raccoon was presenting acute paraplegia and swelling in the region of the left humerus was referred at veterinary hospital. The patient was alert and aggressive, good body score and no signs of active bleeding. The animal temper did not allow approaching it; therefore, physical and neurological examinations were not feasible. The raccoon was tranquilized (1.6 mL of nilperidol® intramuscular), anesthetized (propofol, dose-effect intravenous) and tracheal intubation to provide oxygen and the patient was monitored continuously, followed by referred for radiology service. The simple radiograph showed a complete transverse fracture in the humerus and compression [...](AU)

Lumbar myelography in a crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus)

Background: The Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a nocturnal mammal and lives in savannah, but loss of their natural habitat makes increase cases of traffic accidents on the roads. A growing number of wildlife are treated in veterinary hospitals, but we have some limitation about the correct interpretation of the diagnostic test, specially because, even the tests were not described. Myelography is a radiographic technique indicated for compressive lesions of the spinal cord that are not seen on plain radiographs. The present report aims to describe, for the first time, a lumbar myelogram performed in a paraplegic crab-eating raccoon after it suffer a traffic trauma. Case: A free living adult, 8-kg, female raccoon was presenting acute paraplegia and swelling in the region of the left humerus was referred at veterinary hospital. The patient was alert and aggressive, good body score and no signs of active bleeding. The animal temper did not allow approaching it; therefore, physical and neurological examinations were not feasible. The raccoon was tranquilized (1.6 mL of nilperidol® intramuscular), anesthetized (propofol, dose-effect intravenous) and tracheal intubation to provide oxygen and the patient was monitored continuously, followed by referred for radiology service. The simple radiograph showed a complete transverse fracture in the humerus and compression [...]

Utilização de biocelulose bacteriana (acetobacter xylinum) na reparação de feridas cutâneas em animais selvagens / Bacterial cellulose (acetobacter xylinum) used for cutaneous wound healing in wild animals

Animais selvagens chegam rotineiramente aos hospitais veterinários com feridas por trauma ou queimadura. Por serem de difícil manipulação, necessitam de contenções químicas para executar simples curativos, prejudicando desta forma o tratamento. A maioria dos protocolos para feridas exige que curativos sejam feitos pelo menos duas vezes ao dia. Na busca por tratamentos alternativos com menos frequência de curativos e consequentemente menos contenções, a biocelulose bacteriana (Acetobacter xylinum) foi utilizada em três diferentes apresentações:biocelulose seca, biocelulose úmida e biocelulose seca com própolis. Nesse trabalho são relatados os resultados do uso deste método em quatro animais: dois tamanduás-bandeira (Myrmecophaga trydactyla), um bugio preto (Aloutta caraya) e uma arara canindé (Ara ararauna). Nestes quatro animais foi possível reduzir a frequência de curativos e contenções, e a cicatrização ocorreu em períodosatisfatório. Os animais permitiram a presença da membrana, e não tentaramremovê-la. Foi observado também que as feridas se mantiveram úmidas e semcontaminação aparente, com intensa neovascularização e granulação. Na maioria dos casos, a biocelulose somente se desprendeu quando a ferida estavapraticamente reepitelizada. Dessa maneira a membrana representa uma nova alternativa no tratamento de feridas cutâneas em animais selvagens .

Wild animals routinely arrive at veterinarian hospitals with burn ortrauma wounds. Because these animals are difficult to handle, they require chemical restraints even for simple dressings, damaging the treatment. Most protocols for wound require that dressings are put up at least twice a day. In search for alternative treatments with less frequent dressing and consequently less restraints, bacterial biocellulose (Acetobacter xylinum) was used and tested in the following three presentations: dry biocellulose, wet biocelulose and dry biocellulose with propolis. In this paper it is reported the results of the use of this method in four animals: two giant anteater (Myrmecophaga trydactyla) a black owler monkey (Aloutta caraya) and ablue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna). In these four animals it was possible toreduce the frequency of dressings and restraints, and the healing occurred in asatisfactory period. The animals permit the biocellulose on the skin and don't scratch the spot during the healing period. It was also observed that the wounds were kept moist and without apparent bacterial contamination, with intense neovascularization and granulation. In most cases the biocellulose only came off when the wound was practically reepithelized. So these material represent a new alternative for the treatment of cutaneous injury .

Use of a standard operative laparoscope for ventriculus foreign body removal in a Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)

Background: Cases of ventricular foreign bodies are common in some species of birds. Moreover, ventricular impactions may develop depending on the type of the material ingested. The diagnosis is based on physical examination, radiography, endoscopy and surgical exploration. The choice of the treatment basically depends on the nature of the foreign body. Endoscopy is a less invasive approach that can be used in some situations, in some species. The benefits of endoscopic approaches are wide, as traditional approaches are more invasive and inflict a higher postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, the correct endoscope technique never been described. This study reports a case of a foreign body in a toucan's ventriculus, removed using a standard operative laparoscope/nephroscope. Case: A young Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) was referred to the Veterinary Hospital (São Paulo State University - FCAV/UNESP) by the State Environmental Guard. Survey radiographs indicated a foreign body in the ventriculus. The physical exam revealed apathy, but the bird was responsive to handling. The patient was pinioned. Based on the size of the foreign body, the endoscope retrieval was the first treatment option. The patient was fasted for 6 hours and anesthetized with isoflurane. The rigid endoscope/laparoscope with working channel was carefully passed through the esophagus, into the ventriculus. This view was impaired by a large amount of fibrin and gastroesophageal mucus, which was rinsed with normal saline and aspirated through the operating channel. There was marked hyperemia on the ventriculus mucosa and a large amount of fibrin and gastroesophageal mucus. The foreign body was retrieved using a standard 10-mm 0° rigid laparoscope/nephroscope with working channel, and a 42 cm long, 5-mm atraumatic laparoscopic Babcock forceps by gentile traction and axial rotation. The overall intervention time was 24 min, since mask induction until foreign body retrieve. The patient recovered with no complications in the early postoperative period and convalesced completely and uneventfully following 2 days. Discussion: The operative rigid endoscope allowed for both visualization of the oral cavity, esophagus, proventriculus and ventriculus and foreign body removal, through the working channel, demonstrating the potential benefits and feasibility of such approach in birds. Nevertheless, up to date, endoscopy have been used in toucans only for sex determination. The current report demonstrated the effectiveness of endoscopy in order to avoid the risk of death due to a surgical approach. Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are common indication for endoscopic approach. If the foreign body is present in the crop, it is easily removed with the use of an endoscope and grasper forceps, or by ingluviotomy. Even though the foreign body passes into the proventriculus or ventriculus, rigid endoscopy may still be the best treatment option. The 30º Trendelenburg positioning was crucial for the complete success of the procedure, not only for avoiding the risk of fluid aspiration, but also for improving the access to the ventriculus.