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[...]it may be challenging to differentiate if the changes observed are due to pain or are a side effect of the anaesthetic or analgesic drug(s) administered during the perioperative and postoperative periods. [...]based on the findings of Benato and colleagues, it appears that most veterinary surgeons in the UK do not currently use pain scales in rabbits, with only 10 per cent of respondents reporting using the grimace scale to assess pain in rabbits.1 What you need to know Rabbits are a prey species and so tend to mask signs of pain. [...]recognising pain in rabbits remains more challenging for vets than recognising pain in dogs or cats. [...]no similar survey has been performed in the USA. [...]the currently preferred dosages of meloxicam prescribed for rabbits by US veterinary surgeons is unknown. [...]Benato and colleagues’ insightful study clearly shows that veterinary surgeons’ confidence in recognising and assessing pain in rabbits has improved over the past two decades.

The use of procedural sedation in birds has become a routine practice in veterinary medicine during the past 10 years, with a corresponding increase in avian sedation research. Sedation is most often used in a clinical setting for birds to facilitate examination and/or diagnostic sample collection, splint application, grooming, and minor surgical procedures. Sedation provides several benefits over manual restraint or general anesthesia when performing clinical procedures. This review provides an overview of current studies on avian sedation and discusses common indications, protocols, and adverse effects of sedation in avian patients.

This clinical report describes the use of stifle disarticulation in 2 avian patients as an alternative to transfemoral limb amputation. A northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was presented for soft tissue swelling and a traumatic fracture of the third digit of the left limb, with secondary bacterial infection and necrosis. A 25-year-old cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was diagnosed with distal extremity necrosis after a nonunion of a closed tibiotarsal fracture. In both cases amputation was recommended due to the poor prognosis for healing and because both birds were poor surgical candidates for traditional methods of amputation due to patient size or age. Therefore, stifle disarticulation surgery for amputation of the pelvic limb was performed successfully in both cases and recovery was unremarkable. The outcomes of these 2 cases suggest that stifle disarticulation may be used as an alternative to transfemoral amputation in birds where prolonged surgery, anesthesia, or patient size precludes traditional amputation techniques.

Urethral catheterization of the male guinea pig has potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and research applications. Urethral catheter placement requires an understanding of the unique anatomy of the lower urinary tract in order to avoid iatrogenic injury to the urethra and to ensure successful catheterization.

The green-naped lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus haematodus) is a small, brightly colored psittacine that is one of many subspecies of the rainbow lorikeet popular in captivity. Overall, the rainbow lorikeet population is declining but the wide range of subspecies means the population is classified as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The goal of this study was to establish normal hematologic and plasma biochemical analyte reference intervals for juvenile green-naped lorikeets. Hematology and plasma biochemistry variables were determined for 102 clinically healthy, captive-born, juvenile (2–6 mo) green-naped lorikeets house at a single institution. This study is the first report for hematologic and plasma biochemical values for any Trichoglossus species.

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure with minimal adverse effects in mammals. To provide a retrospective evaluation of amlodipine use in psittacine birds, medical records were reviewed for all avian patients prescribed amlodipine for treatment for the presumptive diagnosis of hypertension, based on clinical signs and indirect blood pressure measurements. Five birds were treated with amlodipine between 2010 and 2018. The median age was 33 years (range, 22–37 years) and 3/5 birds presented for ataxia or seizures. The median indirect systolic blood pressure at diagnosis was 243 mm Hg (range, 200–275 mm Hg). In 3/5 birds, amlodipine was the only drug prescribed, whereas, in 2/5 birds, enalapril was also prescribed in addition to amlodipine. In addition to the prescription of enalapril, blood pressure measurements were obtained indirectly, which are variables to be considered in this report. The initial median dose of amlodipine prescribed was 0.4 mg/kg (range, 0.1–0.4 mg/kg) PO q24h. In 3/5 birds, amlodipine administration was increased either in dose or frequency. Median follow-up time was 25 months (range, 2–55 months) after the initiation of amlodipine treatment. Owners in all 5 cases reported improvement of clinical signs by a median time of 2 months (range, 1–15 months). Three of 5 birds (60%) demonstrated a decreasing trend in blood pressure during the first 6 months after treatment with amlodipine was started (average, ≥20% decrease). Prospective, controlled studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of amlodipine in psittacine birds.

Blue poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus) are commonly maintained in zoological institutions and are becoming popular in the pet trade industry. Sedation or light anesthesia is required for safe and effective handling of this species. In this study, the sedative effects of subcutaneously administered alfaxalone–midazolam–dexmedetomidine (AMD) (20, 40, 5 mg/kg, respectively) and ketamine–midazolam–dexmedetomidine (KMD) (100, 40, 5 mg/kg, respectively) were compared in a prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study in juvenile blue poison dart frogs (n = 10). Both protocols were partially reversed 45 min after administration of either protocol with subcutaneously administered flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg) and atipamezole (50 mg/kg). Heart rate, pulmonic respiratory rate, various reflexes, and behavioral parameters were monitored after drug administration. Both protocols resulted in rapid loss of righting reflex [median (range): AMD, 5 min (5–5 min); KMD, 5 min (5–10 min)]. Time to complete recovery was similar with both protocols (mean ± SD: AMD, 97.5 ± 11.4 min; KMD, 96.5 ± 25.4 min). The AMD protocol resulted in pulmonic respiratory depression, whereas no significant difference in heart rate was found between the two protocols. All frogs were observed eating within 24 hr of chemical restraint. Gastric prolapses occurred in four frogs (AMD 3, KMD 1) that were easily reduced with a cotton-tip application. No other adverse reactions were observed. The results of this study provide two different subcutaneous chemical restraint protocols in juvenile blue poison dart frogs.

Lateral body wall herniation with involvement of the oviduct was diagnosed in a female nanday conure (Aratinga nenday) and a female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus). A history of chronic egg laying and chronic reproductive activity was reported in both cases. A subcutaneous mass in the area of the caudal left lateral body wall was present in both birds. Diagnostic imaging (ultrasonography, computed tomography) and cytologic examination lead to the diagnosis of left lateral body wall herniation with involvement of the oviduct. In the conure, a developing egg was contained within the herniated oviduct. Both cases were successfully treated by salpingohysterectomy and surgical correction of the hernal ring. Lateral body wall herniation with oviductal involvement in birds has not previously been reported and should be considered as a differential for birds presenting with masses originating from the lateral body wall.