Behavior Problem or Problem Behavior?

When humans decide to live with another species, certain considerations must be made: the first being that this other species has a repertoire of species-specific and species-normal behaviors, some of which may be annoying or objectionable to the humans. Many cat behaviors are understood but many still are not. Five of the common problem behaviors in cats are house soiling, scratching, climbing and jumping up on things, howling, and hunting.

Selected Emerging Infectious Diseases of Squamata: An Update.

This article details emerging infectious diseases that have devastating impacts on captive and wild squamates. Treatment advances have been attempted for Cryptosporidium infections in squamates. Gram-positive bacteria, Devriesea agamarum and Austwickia chelonae, are contributing to severe disease in captive and now in wild reptiles, some critically endangered.

Effects of laser power, wavelength, coat length, and coat color on tissue penetration using photobiomodulation in healthy dogs.

Photobiomodulation is an accepted regenerative medicine treatment modality used to stimulate tissue repair, mediate inflammation, and improve mobility in humans and animals. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of laser power and wavelength, coat length and color, and shaving on photon delivery by therapeutic laser in dogs. Forty-seven dogs of various breeds and coat colors (17 black, 15 brown, and 15 white) and with varying coat lengths were assessed with 2 commercially available veterinary lasers.

Suspected acute pancreatitis in a dog following honeybee envenomation.

This report details an unusual clinical presentation of suspected acute pancreatitis that occurred after honeybee envenomation in a dog. A 13-year-old spayed female dog was presented for further evaluation of vomiting 3 days after honeybee envenomation. Abdominal ultrasound, fine-needle aspirate cytology, and blood analysis were used to establish the diagnosis.

Internet survey of feeding, dietary supplement, and rehabilitative medical management use in flyball dogs.

A survey was designed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of feeding, dietary supplement use, and rehabilitative management use in flyball dogs. The survey was completed by 394 respondents. There were 12.

Canine Models of Inherited Musculoskeletal and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Mouse models of human disease remain the bread and butter of modern biology and therapeutic discovery. Nonetheless, more often than not mouse models do not reproduce the pathophysiology of the human conditions they are designed to mimic. Naturally occurring large animal models have predominantly been found in companion animals or livestock because of their emotional or economic value to modern society and, unlike mice, often recapitulate the human disease state.

Development and validation of 2 probe-hybridization quantitative PCR assays for rapid detection of a pathogenic species in captive psittacines.

Avian coxiellosis is an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality among captive psittacines, and the utility of a rapid detection test using easily obtained samples is paramount in a clinical setting. New sequences were obtained from 3 genes: , and . We developed probe-hybridization quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays using and genes.

Functional Consequences of PDK4 Deficiency in Doberman Pinscher Fibroblasts.

A splice site mutation in the canine pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) gene has been shown to be associated with the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Doberman Pinchers (DPs). Subsequent studies have successfully demonstrated the use of dermal fibroblasts isolated from DPs as models for PDK4 deficiency and have shown activation of the intrinsic (mitochondrial mediated) apoptosis pathway in these cells under starvation conditions. For this study, we sought to further explore the functional consequences of PDK4 deficiency in DP fibroblasts representing PDK4, PDK4, and PDK4 genotypes.

Testosterone modulates renal ammonia metabolism.

There are substantial sex differences in renal structure and ammonia metabolism that correlate with differences in expression of proteins involved in ammonia generation and transport. This study determined the role of testis-derived testosterone in these differences. We studied 4-mo-old male C57BL/6 mice 4 and 8 wk after either bilateral orchiectomy (ORCH) or sham-operated control surgery and determined the effect of testosterone replacement to reverse the effects of ORCH.

A Novel Species Associated With Disseminated Granulomatous Inflammation in a Captive Eastern Hellbender ().

The genus is composed of ubiquitous, pigmented, saprotrophic fungi and includes both terrestrial and waterborne species. Though species are generally considered opportunistic pathogens, exophialosis can be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in aquatic and semi-aquatic species. Over a 6-year period, a captive 32-year-old male eastern hellbender (), was treated for recurring, slow growing, ventral midline cutaneous masses.

Pharmacokinetics of platinum and safety evaluation of carboplatin-impregnated calcium sulfate hemihydrate beads after implantation in healthy cats.

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of platinum (Pt) and safety of carboplatin-impregnated calcium sulfate hemihydrate (C-I CSH) beads after implantation in healthy cats.

Study Design: In vivo experimental study.

Animals: Six healthy adult cats.

PREVALENCE OF BOX TURTLE ADENOVIRUS IN EASTERN BOX TURTLES () PRESENTED TO A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER IN VIRGINIA, USA.

Eastern box turtles () are a native North American species with a declining population trend that may be attributable to habitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and disease. Adenoviral infections can cause significant morbidity and mortality in captive reptile populations. Adenoviruses have been documented in box turtles, but their occurrence and impact in wild populations are unknown.

Mechanism of action of the erector spinae plane block: distribution of dye in a porcine model.

This study aimed to describe the anatomical distribution of dye injected in the erector spinae plane (ESP) in a porcine living model, which could aid to reveal factors potentially relevant to the unexplained clinical effects of the ESP block. Six pigs received 0.6 mL/kg of 0.

Investigation of burnout syndrome and job-related risk factors in veterinary technicians in specialty teaching hospitals: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate veterinary technician burnout and associations with frequency of self-reported medical error, resilience, and depression and job-related risk factors.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study using an anonymous survey conducted between November 2017 and June 2018.

Setting: Four referral teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada.

Gastrointestinal Disease Associated with Non- Species in Six Birds.

A non- species was identified in 6 birds exhibiting clinical signs associated with gastrointestinal disease. The clinical disease signs noted in these 6 birds included diarrhea, regurgitation, and melena, and were considered concurrent or identified secondary to other comorbidities. was identified in a yellow-naped Amazon parrot (), a ring-necked dove (), a blue-and-gold macaw (), and 2 cockatiels ().

Does do not resuscitate (DNR) always mean DNR? Exploring DNR orders in small animal veterinary medicine.

This study investigated the use of and adherence to do not resuscitate (DNR) orders in small animal veterinary medicine. A link to a survey of respondent characteristics and clinical scenarios in which interpretation of the DNR order was questionable was distributed by e-mail to veterinarians in specialty and general practice, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students on veterinary e-mail lists in North America and Europe. Complete responses were obtained from 648 individuals, including 493 veterinarians, 58 veterinary technicians, and 97 veterinary students.

Internet Survey of Participant Demographics and Risk Factors for Injury in Flyball Dogs.

Injury risk in canine sprinting sports, such as greyhound racing and agility, have been previously documented through various surveys. Flyball, another sprinting canine sport with similar athletic requirements to agility, has yet to be assessed for factors associated with injury. The aim of this study was to determine injury prevalence and assess for risk factors for injury in flyball dogs.

Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Safety Assessment with Use of CBD-Rich Hemp Nutraceutical in Healthy Dogs and Cats.

The use of CBD-rich hemp products is becoming popular among pet owners with no long-term safety data related to consumption in adult dogs and cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the single-dose oral pharmacokinetics of CBD, and to provide a preliminary assessment of safety and adverse effects during 12-week administration using a hemp-based product in healthy dogs and cats. Eight of each species were provided a 2 mg/kg total CBD concentration orally twice daily for 12 weeks with screening of single-dose pharmacokinetics in six of each species.

Cochleotoxicity and acute kidney injury secondary to parenteral gentamicin administration in a dog.

A 5-year-old neutered male Labrador retriever dog was presented on referral for anuric acute kidney injury (AKI) presumed secondary to parenteral gentamicin administration. Initial management of AKI included a high dose of furosemide for 16 hours which may have contributed to the renal and cochlear damage. The dog received a total of 8 intermittent hemodialysis sessions during hospitalization.

FATAL RANAVIRUS INFECTION IN A GROUP OF ZOO-HOUSED MELLER'S CHAMELEONS ().

A group of five juvenile Meller's chameleons () experienced 100% mortality over a period of 1 mo due to ranavirus infection. The index case was found dead without premonitory signs. The three subsequent cases presented with nonspecific clinical signs (lethargy, decreased appetite, ocular discharge) and were ultimately euthanatized.

A DESCRIPTION OF ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN TWO SPECIES OF FLYING FOXES ( AND ).

Blood pressure assessment is valuable during management of chronic conditions with increased risk of developing hypertension and as a standard practice for anesthetic monitoring. Normal arterial blood pressure values have not been well described in megachiropteran species. Following anesthetic induction and maintenance with isoflurane in oxygen, arterial blood pressure was obtained from the posterior tibial artery of eight large flying foxes () and six variable flying foxes (), two with structural cardiac disease and four in good clinically health.

The effect of four different freezing conditions and time in frozen storage on the concentration of commonly measured growth factors and enzymes in equine platelet-rich plasma over six months.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a therapeutic biologic that is used for treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies in equine athletes. Due to the expense of PRP kits, and the volumes obtained, freezing aliquots for future dosing is common. Aliquots of PRP are also commonly frozen for later analysis of growth factor concentrations in in vitro research.

Differences in acidosis-stimulated renal ammonia metabolism in the male and female kidney.

Renal ammonia excretion is a critical component of acid-base homeostasis, and changes in ammonia excretion are the predominant component of increased net acid excretion in response to metabolic acidosis. We recently reported substantial sex-dependent differences in basal ammonia metabolism that correlate with sex-dependent differences in renal structure and expression of key proteins involved in ammonia metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sex on the renal ammonia response to an exogenous acid load.