Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Tissues to be placed in 10 % formalin. Please save 2 sets of tissues.qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqSkin: full thickness of abdominal skin.Skeletal muscle: medial thigh, with sciatic nerve.Tongue: Cross section near tip including both mucosal surfaces.TracheaThyroid/parathyroidThymus: representative section.Lungs: section from several lobes including a major bronchus.Heart: Longitudinal section including atrium, ventricle and valves form both right and left heart.Include large vessels.AortaSalivary glandGastrointestinal tract: 2-3 cm long section of esophagus, stomach (cardia, antrum, pylorus),duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, omentum. Open carefully along the long axis.Lymph nodes: Cervical, bronchial, and mesenteric with a transverse cut.Liver: Sections from several lobes with capsule and gall bladder.Adrenal: Incise transversely.Female reproductive tract: Entire uterus and ovaries with longitudinal cut into lumen. Entire testiswith transverse cut, entire prostate with transverse cut. This should be sent to Dr. Linda Munson.Pancreas: Representative sections from 2 areas.Spleen: Cross sections including capsule.Kidneys: Section from both kidneys (cortex, medulla, and pelvis).Urinary bladder/ureter/urethra: Cross section of bladder, 2-cm sections of ureters, cross section ofurethra.Eyes: leave intact.Brain, include cerebrum and cerebellum: Sliced longitudinally along the midline.Pituitary gland: Bisect gland including dura, if possible. Otherwise submit entire gland to localpathologist.Long bone: Submit ½ of femur.Mammary glandDiaphragmSpinal cord: 1-cm section from cervical cord.Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Health Care-30-
Diseases of the Asian small-clawed otterUroliths and dental problems were the most commonly reported diseases of the Asian small-clawedotter in a survey conducted by the SSP in 1997-1998. Other problems frequently encounteredincluded abscesses, (usually due to intraspecies aggression), lameness (often self-limiting), andoccasional vomiting and diarrhea. A couple of institutions reported fur pulling, which appeared to berelated to the environmental stress of overcrowding. Non-specific dermatitis was also reported fromtwo institutions. Other health problems listed infrequently in the survey included spinal disease,intussusception, pyothorax, salmonellosis, corneal ulcer, ruptured cruciate ligament, and diabetes.Urolithiasis:Urolithiasis is a prevalent disease in the captive population of Asian small clawed otters with theincidence being as high as 66 % (Calle, 1988). The most common component of uroliths in this speciesis calcium oxalate, however urate calculi have also been reported. Most of these calculi are sterilehowever there are exceptions. Calculi are most frequently located in the kidneys; however, someanimals develop cystic calculi as well. Rarely does an otter have cystic calculi without also havingkidney stones. Many small-clawed otters will develop calculi by 2 years of age, and most are affectedby 4 or 5 years Both males and females are affected. The calculi generally do not cause clinical signs ofdisease in the early stages and radiographs are required to diagnose the condition. Small renal calculican usually be seen on radiographs before they are visible by ultrasound. In most cases thecalculi get progressively larger as the animal matures. Larger renal calculi diminish urine flow andhistopathologic changes occur in the renal parenchyma, getting more severe with age. Older animalswith large renaliths may have elevated serum BUN and creatinine serum levels. Cystic calculi maycause hematuria and dysuria, but many animals with cystic calculi remain asymptomatic. Rarely do thecalculi cause a complete blockage of the urinary tract.Treatment:No successful treatment for this disease has yet been identified. Lithotripsy has been attempted in onecase with little success. Cystic calculi can be successfully removed by surgery, but often reoccur. Afew veterinarians have removed some larger renaliths surgically from the renal pelvis. This maytemporarily alleviate some of the symptoms, although, as with cystic calculi, the stones often reoccur.Recommendations:Radiograph all small-clawed otters beginning at six month of age to check for calculi. After that,annual examinations and radiographs should be performed. The number and size of the calculi presentin the left kidney, the right kidney, and the urinary bladder should be recorded.All otters with urolithiasis should have a complete medical work-up performed including CBC,chemistries, urinalysis, and an aerobic and anaerobic culture of the urine. Bacterial infections should betreated according to the results of cultures and sensitivities. Follow-up cultures should be performedperiodically to assure infections have been eliminated. Cystic calculi should be removed surgically toAsian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Health Care-31-
Page 2 and 3: IntroductionStatus……………
Page 4 and 5: Enrichment……………………
Page 6 and 7: Status of Asian OttersThe Red List
Page 9 and 10: NUTRITION AND DIETMike Maslanka and
Page 11 and 12: included a wide variety of fish (ca
Page 13 and 14: As mentioned previously, several ba
Page 15 and 16: Newborn and/or weakened cubs should
Page 17 and 18: chitin addition, special prescripti
Page 19 and 20: Table 1.3.Analyzed nutrient content
Page 21 and 22: NutrientGroundHorsemeatNebraskaFeli
Page 23 and 24: Asian Small- Clawed Otter Husbandry
Page 25 and 26: Appendix 1.2. Manufacturer Contacts
Page 27 and 28: AudubonBermuda AquariumBirmingham Z
Page 31 and 32: Health CareKristine R. Petrini, DVM
Page 33 and 34: ISIS normal reference values for Ao
Page 35 and 36: • Serum should be banked.• Urin
Page 37 and 38: 5 mg/kg SC or POPreshipment examina
Page 39 and 40: Injectable anesthetic agents can be
Page 41: • Serum, (antemortem or postmorte
Page 45 and 46: procedure can help minimize bacteri
Page 47 and 48: Concurrent infection with calicivir
Page 49 and 50: Dracunculus insignis ("Guinea worm"
Page 51 and 52: eeding season. The alopecia most co
Page 53 and 54: Laboratory Studies: (List bacterial
Page 55 and 56: GROSS EXAMINATIONGeneral Condition:
Page 57 and 58: Nervous and Sensory Systems: (Brain
Page 59 and 60: Copulatory bouts occur on land and
Page 61 and 62: Asian Small Clawed Otter (Aonyx cin
Page 63 and 64: HousingOtters are land animals that
Page 65 and 66: The holding area should include:A p
Page 67: EnrichmentCage FurnitureArtificial
Page 71 and 72: plays a very active role in rearing
Page 73 and 74: Action Plan for Asian OttersPat Fos
Page 75 and 76: Hairy-Nosed Otter--(Lutra sumatrana
Page 77 and 78: 4. Environmental and other factors
Page 79 and 80: 1. The otter species probably disap
Page 81 and 82: IndonesiaSpecies PresentAsian small
Page 83 and 84: 1. Analyses of dead otters and of t
Page 85 and 86: 2. People kill otters because of su
Page 87 and 88: Legal StatusOtters have been on the
Page 89 and 90: 4. Disturbance by human settlement.
Page 91 and 92: Legal StatusNo information availabl
Page 93 and 94:
Species PresentEurasian otterStatus
Page 95 and 96:
Health:-Do you perform regular rout
Page 97 and 98:
-Do you regularly weigh your animal
Page 99 and 100:
Vegetables-Apple __________________
Page 101 and 102:
-Are there any diagnosed nutritiona
Page 103 and 104:
-What is the breeding season for yo
Page 105 and 106:
-Have you observed any indication o
Page 107 and 108:
-How often and how much of the wate
Page 109 and 110:
Behavior and Social Organization:-W
Page 111 and 112:
Foster-Turley, P. 1992. Conservatio
show all

Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?