Manual of Exotic Pet Practice

555 Pages·2009·31.79 MB·English

by  Mark Mitchell

11830 Westline Industrial Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
MANUAL OF EXOTIC PET PRACTICE ISBN: 978-1-4160-0119-5
Copyright © 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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Notice
Knowledge and best practice in this fi eld are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our
knowledge, changes in practice, treatment and drug therapy may become necessary or appropriate. Readers are
advised to check the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer
of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and duration
of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of the practitioner, relying on their own
experience and knowledge of the patient, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages and the best treatment for
each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions. To the fullest extent of the law, neither
the Publisher nor the Authors assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising
out of or related to any use of the material contained in this book.
The Publisher
Library of Congress Control Number: 2007925165
Vice President and Publisher: Linda Duncan
Publisher: Penny Rudolph
Developmental Editor: Shelly Stringer
Publishing Services Manager: Pat Joiner-Myers
Senior Project Manager: Gena Magouirk
Design Direction: Julia Dummitt
Printed in China.
Last digit is the print number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contributors
Maya Bewig, DVM Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD
Associate Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine
Grey Wolf Veterinary Hospital Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine
Sequim, Washington, USA College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois
Wildlife
Urbana, Illinois, USA
History of Exotic Pets
Deborah Carboni, DVM, MS
Preparing Your Hospital for Exotic Pets
Ontario Veterinary College
Invertebrates
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Ornamental Fish
Marsupials Snakes
Chelonians
Rabbits
M. Camille Harris, DVM, MS, BS
Chinchillas
PhD Student (Ecology of Infectious Diseases)
Wildlife
Department of Biological Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia, USA Natalie Mylniczenko, DVM, MS
Associate Veterinarian
Hamsters and Gerbils
Chicago Zoological Society
Brookfi eld Zoo
J. Jill Heatley, DVM, MS, Dip. ABVP (Avian) Brookfi eld, Illinois, USA
Clinical Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine
Amphibians
Department of Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University Javier Nevarez, DVM, PhD
College Station, Texas, USA Assistant Professor, Zoological Medicine
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Hamsters and Gerbils
School of Veterinary Medicine
Hedgehogs
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Megan Kirchgessner, DVM
Crocodilians
Clinical Veterinarian
Lizards
New England Wildlife Center
South Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Shannon M. Riggs, DVM
Chelonians
Staff Veterinarian
International Bird Rescue and Research Center
Stephen M. Miller, DVM Fairfi eld, California, USA
General Curator
Guinea Pigs
North Carolina Zoo
Chinchillas
Asheboro, North Carolina, USA
Ornamental Fish
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vi MANUAL OF EXOTIC PET PRACTICE
Thomas N. Tully, Jr., DVM, MS, Dip. ABVP (Avian), Tiffany M. Wolf, DVM
ECAMS Clinical Veterinarian
Professor, Zoological Medicine The Minnesota Zoo
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA
School of Veterinary Medicine
Ferrets
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Trevor Zachariah, DVM, MS
Birds
Veterinary Resident
Marsupials
Chicago Zoological and Aquatic Animal Residency Program
Mice and Rats
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Kristine M. Vennen, DVM
Invertebrates
Clinical Veterinarian
Loftin Veterinary Clinic
Youngsville, Louisana, USA
Rabbits
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Preface
Exotic companion animals are increasingly being recognized from an expanded information base that the editors and
as a signifi cant area of interest within veterinary medicine. For authors have compiled this text.
decades, veterinarians have been asked to consult on cases This textbook is one of the fi rst of its kind to include sec-
involving ornamental fi sh, rabbits, small rodents, birds, rep- tions on all of the major exotic animal groups. As the editors
tiles, or even an occasional spider or hermit crab. Many veteri- of this text, we felt that there was a strong need for a general
narians have found it diffi cult to treat and consult on these exotic pet textbook that could be used by veterinarians to
cases because of a lack of published information; many are manage any exotic animal that came their way. There is a large
forced to make recommendations that are based on subjective percentage of the veterinary profession practicing small or
or anecdotal information. Fortunately, the practice of exotic mixed animal veterinary medicine that has a small to moderate
pet medicine has made great strides in the past two decades. caseload of exotic pets. It is for this group of veterinarians that
Although there remains much work to be done, the current this text was written. There are certainly other excellent text-
knowledge base regarding nontraditional pets has been books that go into extensive detail on the needs of each group
improved through scientifi c discovery and communication of exotic pet animals and would certainly be benefi cial to the
among veterinarians. Historically, much of the exotic pet veterinary practitioner. Unfortunately, to purchase each text-
literature was based on an understanding of what was done book on its own would require a signifi cant monetary invest-
with domestic species. Today, veterinarians have many more ment. Although initially intended as a general reference for
resources for information on the species mentioned in this those individuals looking for a general exotic pet text, this text
book, including several peer-reviewed journals publishing will become an important reference for those individuals with
exotic animal–specifi c articles that provide a scientifi c founda- more exotic pet experience.
tion to better treat and manage these species in captivity. It is
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Acknowledgments
We wish to thank each of the authors for their contributions to our publisher, Elsevier, for providing us an opportunity
to this text. Because of the spectrum of coverage this text pro- to bring to fruition a textbook that will provide an invaluable
vides, it would be diffi cult, if not impossible, to complete such resource to so many in our profession. Our primary contact
a textbook without their contributions. We would also like to at Elsevier, Ms. Shelly Stringer, was most helpful with keeping
thank Ms. Verna Serra for her invaluable administrative assis- us on track and guiding this much-needed book to
tance during the preparation of this text. We are also grateful completion.
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Dedication
In life, it is important to fi nd that which inspires Id edicate this book with love to my parents, Donna
you. For me, my inspiration comes from my wife, and Thomas N. Tully, Sr. Their guidance and
Lorrie, and daughter, Mary Yansheng. Lorrie and support have been invaluable assets to my professional
Mary, it is your love that serves as my source of development. I wish to extend a heartfelt thank-you
energy and ensures that I can succeed at whatever to my wife, Susie, and two daughters, Claudia and
endeavor I pursue. I love you both. To my coeditor, Fiona, for their day-to-day patience and inspiration. To
Thomas N. Tully, thank you for your mentorship, my coeditor, Mark Mitchell, thank you for being the
friendship, and guidance during my tenure at LSU. best colleague, friend, and offi ce mate one could ask
You will always be my chief. (MAM) for over the past 10 years. (TNT)
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