Pathology in Practice.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Biochemical Effects of Routine Gonadectomy on Blood of Domestic Ferrets ().

We studied domestic ferrets () to evaluate the physiologic effects of routine surgery. Standard plasma biochemistry panels and H-NMR spectroscopy of heparinized whole blood were performed on samples taken 24 h prior to and immediately after surgery from female and male ferrets undergoing routine gonadectomy. Increases in plasma glucose, phosphorus, potassium, and creatine kinase concentrations associated with the duration of surgery were identified on plasma biochemistry panels.

The Use of Alfaxalone in Quaker Parrots ().

Alfaxalone is a neurosteroid anesthetic that acts on gamma-aminobutyric acid alpha-receptors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of alfaxalone (Alfaxan CD). Due to observed hyperexcitability in the subject animals when alfaxalone was the only drug used during the initial trials, premedication with midazolam was also evaluated during the final study Ten adult Quaker parrots () were assigned to 3 groups: 1) low-dose alfaxalone 10 mg/kg (LD), 2) high-dose alfaxalone 25 mg/kg (HD), and 3) alfaxalone 10 mg/ kg with midazolam 1 mg/kg premedication (AM), administered intramuscularly.

Effective mydriasis in juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) following topical administration of rocuronium bromide and 10% phenylephrine.

Objective: To determine the combined mydriatic effects of topical rocuronium bromide and phenylephrine in juvenile loggerhead turtles and identify any adverse effects associated with treatment.

Animals Studied: Eleven juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta).

Procedures: Four 20 μL drops of rocuronium bromide and four 20 μL drops of 10% phenylephrine were placed into the right eye at 2-minute intervals of 5 turtles, while the same volume of saline was administered to six control turtles.

Hematological parameters in largemouth bass ( with formalin-preservation: comparison between wild tournament-caught and captive-raised fish.

Background: Largemouth bass () are an economically important freshwater fish species that have been investigated for both the short and long-term effects of stress, secondary to angling. Limited data has been published on the hematological parameters of this species and blood sample stability is a notable limitation of hematologic field studies. A relatively novel technique using 10% neutral buffered formalin preserves heparinized whole blood and maintains blood cell stability beyond one month in striped bass.

Microbial integrity of preservative-free alfaxalone in a multiple-use system for two storage conditions and three handling techniques.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the microbial integrity of preservative-free cyclodextrin-based alfaxalone in a multiple-use system. SAMPLE 22 vials of preservative-free alfaxalone. PROCEDURES 2 storage conditions (room temperature, 22°C; refrigerated temperature, 4°C) and 3 handling techniques (closed system transfer device, nonclosed dispensing pin, and manufacturer-supplied vial stopper) comprised 6 treatment groups (3 replicates/group).

The use of computed tomography to diagnose chronic shoulder arthritis in an American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos).

An American white pelican was presented with a complete left wing droop and no abnormal findings on conventional radiography. Computed tomography was used to diagnose chronic shoulder arthritis as a sequela to a suspected traumatic compressive fracture. This is the first case report to describe use of computed tomography to evaluate the avian shoulder joint.