Establishing a working definition for veterinary care desert.

Objective: To develop a formal definition of veterinary care deserts as guidance for veterinary and animal welfare professionals to easily identify areas with limited access to veterinary care that can be targeted with expansion or implementation of programs and services.

Sample: 52 sources relating to veterinary care and 55 sources relating to human resource deserts were reviewed for themes and parameters relating to resource desert definitions and barriers to care. Of these, 37 veterinary and 42 human sources were included to inform the themes and parameters for our definition.

Evaluation of subcutaneous administration of alfaxalone-midazolam and dexmedetomidine-midazolam for sedation of ball pythons .

Objective: To evaluate SC administration of alfaxalone-midazolam and dexmedetomidine-midazolam for sedation of ball pythons

Animals: 12 healthy juvenile ball pythons.

Procedures: In a randomized crossover study, each snake was administered a combination of alfaxalone (5 mg/kg [2.3 mg/lb]) and midazolam (0.

Antinociceptive efficacy and respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine in ball pythons (Python regius).

OBJECTIVE To determine antinociceptive efficacy, behavioral patterns, and respiratory effects associated with dexmedetomidine administration in ball pythons (Python regius). ANIMALS 12 ball pythons. PROCEDURES Antinociception was assessed by applying an infrared heat stimulus to the cranioventral surface of snakes during 2 experiments.