Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and esophageal-proventricular junction in a yellow-naped parrot.

A 57-y-old male yellow-naped parrot () was presented because of lethargy, inappetence, and weight loss. Hematology and serum biochemistry were unremarkable, and imaging revealed a mass in the distal esophagus at the coelomic inlet. The luminal diameter of the esophagus was reduced in this area, and passage of ingesta was limited.

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF A TARSAL LUXATION IN A RED KANGAROO ().

Joint luxations commonly occur in animals secondary to traumatic injury. Because of the unique hind-limb anatomy of macropods, surgical stabilization of orthopedic injuries is considered challenging, and reports of successful management are limited. A 4-yr-old male neutered red kangaroo () presented with a dorsolateral luxation of the left tibiotarsal joint.

MAST CELL NEOPLASIA IN THE GREEN IGUANA, .

This case series is the first description of mast cell neoplasia in green iguanas, . All iguanas were adults. Six were females, and four were males.

Intranasal butorphanol and midazolam administered prior to intramuscular alfaxalone provides safe and effective sedation in Quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus).

Objective: To evaluate 2 doses of alfaxalone on cardiopulmonary parameters, temperature, sedation, endotracheal intubation, the incidence of muscle tremors, and radiographic positioning in Quaker parrots previously administered intranasal midazolam and butorphanol.

Animals: 10 healthy adult Quaker parrots (male = 5; female = 5).

Procedures: A randomized, masked, crossover study was conducted where birds received midazolam (2 mg/kg) and butorphanol (2 mg/kg) intranasally 15 minutes prior to a low- or high-dose of intramuscular alfaxalone: 2 mg/kg (LDA) or 5 mg/kg (HDA), respectively.

BIOMARKERS OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE IN CHEETAHS ().

Gastrointestinal disease is a common clinical problem in captive cheetahs (). It is reported that gastritis affects the vast majority of the captive population of cheetahs. Pancreatitis and acute and chronic enteritis have also been reported.

Uveal Malignant Melanoma in a Hybrid Macaw Parrot ( × ).

An adult male green-winged () × military () hybrid macaw of unknown age was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of left periocular swelling, blepharospasm, and ocular discharge. Complete ophthalmic examination and B mode ocular ultrasonography were performed to evaluate the affected eye. Ocular examination revealed a blind left globe with exophthalmos, periocular swelling, diffuse corneal edema, and severe anterior fibrinous uveitis obscuring visualization of the intraocular structures.

Update on Avian Bornavirus and Proventricular Dilatation Disease: Diagnostics, Pathology, Prevalence, and Control.

Avian bornavirus (ABV) is a neurotropic virus that can cause gastrointestinal and/or neurologic signs of disease in birds. The disease process is called proventricular dilatation disease (PDD). The characteristic lesions observed in birds include encephalitis and gross dilatation of the proventriculus.

Normative ocular data for juvenile and adult Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

Objective: To obtain normative ocular data for Japanese quail as they mature from juveniles to adults.

Animals Studied: Twenty-six captive Japanese quail comprising thirteen males and thirteen females, free of ocular disease, were included in the study.

Procedures: Ophthalmic reference values were measured in both eyes at 1 and 5 months of age.

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.

Follicular choristoma in the third eyelid of an eclectus parrot ().

Case Description: A 1-year-old male eclectus parrot () with a 3- to 4-month history of blepharospasm in the right eye was referred to a veterinary medical teaching hospital for further evaluation. Conventional medical treatments had been ineffective. The referring avian specialist had plucked a suspected ectopic feather from the right eye 6 weeks prior to the referral evaluation.

The Pathology of Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome.

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) is a leading cause of neurologic disease in African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs; Atelerix albiventris). This study describes the signalment, clinical signs, gross, microscopic, and ultrastructural lesions of WHS in a cohort of 12 pet APHs. Microscopically, lesions consisted of status spongiosus of the white matter, typically bilateral and symmetrical, with myelin degeneration and loss that was accompanied by neuronal/axonal degeneration plus reactive microgliosis and mild, focal astrocytosis and astrogliosis.

GRANULOMATOUS FILARIAL ENCEPHALOMYELITIS CAUSED BY CHANDLERELLA QUISCALI IN A NORTHERN CRESTED CARACARA (CARACARA CHERIWAY).

A northern crested caracara (Caracara cheriway) was presented after being found nonambulatory in a field. On physical examination, the bird had severe hind-limb paresis. The bird did not improve after 10 days of hospitalization and was euthanized.

Spontaneous multicentric soft tissue sarcoma in a captive African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris): case report and literature review.

This report describes the clinical, macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of a spontaneous multicentric extraskeletal sarcoma in an adult male African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). It also provides a succinct up-to-date review on neoplasia in this species. On autopsy examination, main gross findings included a moderately demarcated cranial mass and a multilobulated, caudal intra-abdominal mass.

Oncology of Reptiles: Diseases, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Based on necropsy review, neoplasia in reptiles has a comparable frequency to that of mammals and birds. Reptile neoplasia is now more frequently diagnosed in clinical practice based on increased use of advanced diagnostic techniques and improvements in reptilian husbandry allowing greater longevity of these species. This article reviews the current literature on neoplasia in reptiles, and focuses on advanced diagnostics and therapeutic options for reptilian patientssuffering neoplastic disease.

Blood Biochemical Values of Wild Scarlet Macaw ( Ara macao macao) Nestlings and Adults.

Blood biochemical values are useful as indicators of disease in veterinary practice and for health assessments of free-ranging animal populations. We analyzed blood biochemical values for free-living nestling and adult scarlet macaws ( Ara macao macao) in southeastern Peru with an Abaxis VetScan VS2 portable analyzer with Avian/Reptilian Profile Plus rotors. The resulting data were used to create provisional age-independent reference intervals for this instrument for wild scarlet macaw nestlings, calculate blood biochemical ranges for this instrument for wild adults, and examine age-related trends in nestlings.

Impact of Delayed Analysis in Avian Blood Biochemical Values Measured With the Abaxis VetScan VS2.

For biochemical analysis with a point-of-care biochemical analyzer, standard procedure is to analyze the sample as rapidly as possible (<1 hour) after venipuncture to minimize any changes in analyte concentrations that might occur over time. However, under some circumstances, such as when collecting blood at remote field sites, a longer delay may be unavoidable. This study evaluates the effect of delayed analysis time under unrefrigerated conditions on avian (psittacine) biochemical analyte concentrations obtained with the VetScan VS2 using Avian/Reptilian Profile Plus rotors.

Echocardiographic and radiographic findings in a cohort of healthy adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

Objectives: To describe characteristics of echocardiography and cranial coelomic radiography in a cohort of iguanas.

Animals: Twenty apparently healthy adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana) from a reptile sanctuary.

Methods: Physical examination, radiography, two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography were performed to assess cardiac structures and function, and any related normal or abnormal findings were recorded.

Avian bornavirus and proventricular dilatation disease: diagnostics, pathology, prevalence, and control.

Avian bornavirus (ABV) has been shown the cause of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. Many healthy birds are infected with ABV, and the development of PDD in such cases is unpredictable. As a result, the detection of ABV in a sick bird is not confirmation that it is suffering from PDD.

Positive reinforcement training facilitates the voluntary participation of laboratory macaws with veterinary procedures.

Psittacine birds are challenging laboratory subjects, as they are typically long-lived, very social, highly intelligent, and easily stressed. The benefits of positive reinforcement techniques in animal management have been well documented for mammalian species; however, there are few publications on such programs for birds. To demonstrate the practicality of positive reinforcement training of laboratory birds to cooperate with research procedures involving direct manipulation of individuals, 9 adult macaws (Ara species; 5 individuals and 2 pairs) were trained in 10-minute sessions, twice a day for 8 weeks.