Behavior of pet animals

Severe mistakes in pet keeping are often the result of ignorance. Many animals suffer from the care of their owners. Industry provides food in the proper composition, but the importance of the cage's interior, its size and the number of animals of the same species kept in it is often neglected. The key to a better understanding of pets is the knowledge of the ecological environment of their species. Fish, amphibia and reptiles are capable of simple acts of learning, but their potential of adaptation to their environment is determined mainly genetically, which can be observed best during the phase of their youth. Most members of these animal groups are born with a perfect behaviour program. Thus aquaria and terraria should as far as possible correspond to the needs and requirements of the species in question to its ecological niche. An aquarium should be a model of the animals' biotope. The effect of the conditions under which a pet is kept on its wellbeing is discussed in detail for the budgerigar and the guinea pig. Experiments with budgerigars showing that too small cages and the missing company of animals of the same species lead to abnormal behaviour are described. Guinea pigs live in packs. The fact how important the group and its social organization is for the individual guinea pig is documented by experimentally verified data. Furthermore the effect of the guinea pig's ontogeny under experimental conditions on the structure of a pack is discussed. Already small changes in the size of the cage or in its interior encourage the guinea pig's exploration behaviour and its mobility.     

Atopy in pet animals

The pathomechanism of canine and feline atopy has not been totally defined. Immunotherapy has been shown to be effective. The diagnosis of canine and feline atopy is still fraught with complications. Several new drugs may be useful in the treatment of canine and feline atopy.     

Common diseases of pet animals in West Africa

Summary A brief review of the major disease of exotic pet animals in West Africa is presented, based on experience, mainly in Nigeria, with pet animals imported from Europe. The conditions mentioned are: ticks and tickborne diseases, rabies, distemper, feline panleukopenia, trypanosomiasis, hookworm and tumbu-fly infections. The control measures before departure are emphasized.     

Common diseases of pet animals in West Africa

Summary

A brief review of the major disease of exotic pet animals in West Africa is presented, based on experience, mainly in Nigeria, with pet animals imported from Europe. The conditions mentioned are: ticks and tickborne diseases, rabies, distemper, feline panleukopenia, trypanosomiasis, hookworm and tumbu‐fly infections. The control measures before departure are emphasized.     

Housing situation of small animals in Swiss pet shops

This study investigates the situation regarding housing of small animals in Swiss pet shops. Data of 92 pet shops were collected with a questionnaire. On average 813 fish, 52.5 invertebrates, 32.2 small mammals, 26.9 birds, 8.9 reptiles and 2.7 amphibians were offered for sale per pet shop. Small mammals, birds and reptiles were mainly obtained from Swiss breeders, while fish and amphibians were almost exclusively purchased from foreign providers. The housing systems which were sold differed from those in which the animals were kept in the shop. This may be misleading to the future pet owners and may lead to faulty husbandry. Animals on reserve were often kept in different housing systems than those in the pet shop. Sick animals were usually treated or killed by the pet shop owners. The killing methods varied between the various species.     

Antibiotic prophylaxis in veterinary cancer chemotherapy: A review and recommendations

Bacterial infection following cancer chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in human and veterinary patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is controversial in the human oncology field, as any decreased incidence in bacterial infections is countered by patient adverse effects and increased antimicrobial resistance. Comprehensive guidelines exist to aid human oncologists in prescribing antimicrobial prophylaxis but similar recommendations are not available in veterinary literature. As the veterinarian's role in antimicrobial stewardship is increasingly emphasized, it is vital that veterinary oncologists implement appropriate antimicrobial use. By considering the available human and veterinary literature we present an overview of current clinical practices and are able to suggest recommendations for prophylactic antimicrobial use in veterinary cancer chemotherapy patients.     

Assessment of animal welfare aspects in extreme breeds of pet animals

In a review based on literature searches animal welfare related characteristics in extreme breed types of small mammals, ornamental birds, reptiles and ornamental fish are summarized. Animal welfare aspects are assessed and measures for improvement are described.     

Diseases in pet degus: a retrospective study in 300 animals

Introduction : Degus are commonly used as laboratory animals; however, over the past few years, they have become increasingly popular as pets. Objectives : The aim of this article was to present disease prevalence in 300 pet degus divided in two age groups (under and above two years). Methods : Medical records of degus (Octodon degus), which were presented to the author’s clinic in the period from January 2007 to December 2009, were reviewed. Results : The most common diseases in degus were (1) acquired dental disease (60·0%) with significantly higher prevalence in older animals (P<0.001), (2) skin alopecia due to fur chewing (13·33%) and (3) lens cataracts (13·33%). Other common disorders included traumatic injuries to soft tissues (bite wounds and tail slip), traumatic fractures and dietary diarrhoea. Reproductive disorders were most commonly associated with dystocia and pathological changes in the post‐natal period. Only 38 degus in a total of 300 animals were healthy. Clinical Significance : This is the first study to describe the disease prevalence in two age groups of pet degus. The majority of diseases were caused by improper diet, self‐mutilation and improper handling; as such client education is necessary to avoid such a high disease prevalence.     

The owner of the pet with cancer

Cancer is an emotionally charged disease. During treatment, it is not uncommon for pet owners to engage veterinarians in frank discussions and emotional confrontations based on their fears and anxieties about cancer. Pet loss counseling skills are invaluable when dealing with clients after the death of their companion animal. Incorporating pet loss counseling into a veterinary practice is pragmatic as well as compassionate because clients who feel that they have received good emotional care in addition to medical care return to the veterinarian with new pets and recommend the practice to others.     

Importation of wild and pet animals at Frankfurt-on-Main airport as an example

In 2000 more than 14,000 consignments of live animals have been checked at the border inspection post at Frankfurt am Main airport, most of them consignments of tropical fish, reptiles and animals for laboratory research. The import of wild or pet animals which could transmit notifiable or human pathogen diseases from third countries into the European Community has been rising continuously during the last years. Various national and community precautions have been taken to avoid the danger of importation of such diseases into the community. A risk analysis on EC-level concerning the transmission of diseases by reptiles, ornamental fish or other pet animals is still overdue.     

Viral diarrhea of young animals: A review

A brief presentation is given of the enteric viral infections of young animals. The general characteristics of rotaviruses, coronaviruses and parvoviruses are reported, and the different aspects of the diseases associated with these viruses are discussed. Certain suggestions are made regarding the prevention of these diseases.     

Comparison of Campylobacter carriage rates in diarrheic and healthy pet animals.

To explore the clinical significance of campylobacter infections for dogs and cats we compared intestinal carriage rates for Campylobacter sp. between animals with gastroenteritis and healthy controls. We cultured fecal specimens of 405 diarrheic dogs and 203 cats as well as 71 asymptomatic dogs and 35 cats using a selective medium in addition to filtration on a non-selective blood agar plate. We identified 224 campylobacter isolates using conventional phenotypic tests and DNA hybridization. There were 112 isolates, of C. upsaliensis, 43 C. jejuni and 69 other Campylobacter sp. For cats, there was no association between campylobacter carriage and disease, irrespective of the animals age. For dogs older than 12 months there was also no difference in campylobacter carriage rates between diarrheic and healthy animals. However, in younger dogs 44% of animals with diarrhea shed campylobacters in their feces, more than twice the rate in asymptomatic controls (21%), a significant difference. C. jejuni and C. upsaliensis contributed equally to this association between diarrhea and campylobacter prevalence. The parallel use of two culture methods enabled us to show that the recovery of Campylobacter sp. by filtration may be less than optimal and that filtering is probably unsuitable as a reference method for culturing C. upsaliensis. Finally we found that almost half of the campylobacter isolates from cats belong to a phenotypically homogeneous group of strains closely resembling C. upsaliensis but hybridizing only weakly with C. upsaliensis DNA.     

Potential for pet animals to harbour methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus when residing with human MRSA patients

Colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may be persistent in people and is horizontally transmissible. The scientific literature suggests that domestic pets may also participate in cross-transmission of MRSA within households. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage by pets residing in households with an MRSA-infected person. From 66 households in which an MRSA-infected patient resided, we screened 47 dogs and 52 cats using a swab protocol. Isolates from pets and humans were genotyped using two techniques and compared for concordance. Human participants completed a 22-question survey of demographic and epidemiologic data relevant to staphylococcal transmission. Eleven of 99 pets (11.5%) representing 9 (13.6%) of households were MRSA-positive, but in only six of these households were the human and animal-source strains genetically concordant. Human infection by strain USA 100 was significantly associated with pet carriage [OR = 11.4 (95% CI 1.7, 76.9); P = 0.013]. Yet, for each day of delay in sampling the pet after the person's MRSA diagnosis, the odds of isolating any type of MRSA from the pet decreased by 13.9% [(95% CI 2.6, 23.8); P = 0.017)]. It may be concluded that pets can harbour pandemic strains of MRSA while residing in a household with an infected person. However, the source of MRSA to the pet cannot always be attributed to the human patient. Moreover, the rapid attrition of the odds of obtaining a positive culture from pets over time suggests that MRSA carriage may be fleeting.     

Obesity in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): A narrative review

IntroductionObesity reduces both the longevity and the quality of life of pet animals. For pet rabbits, there is a dearth of research focusing on obesity. This paper provides an overview of the available information on obesity in rabbits and discusses approaches to its prevention and treatment.MethodThe prevalence of being overweight/obesity in pet rabbits varies from 5.9% to 35%, depending on study origin and assessment method. Six potential risk factors for rabbit obesity are identified, namely age, breed, sex and neutered status, diet, housing, and owner characteristics.ConclusionObesity in rabbits has myriad consequences, including osteoarthritis, pododermatitis, hepatic lipidosis, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and increased risk of postanesthetic complications. Obesity in pet rabbits can be practically diagnosed with body condition scoring, but validation is needed. Prevention of obesity should be prioritized before treatment, but both involve facilitating more exercise, limiting concentrated calorie intake, and offering plenty of hay to pet rabbits.     

Zoonoses transmitted by mouse and rat maintained as laboratory or pet animals

Large numbers of mice (Mus spp.) and rats (Rattus spp.) are maintained for scientific reasons and as pet animals in Germany. While laboratory animals are monitored for pathogenic agents, the hygienic status of pet animals is usually completely unknown. Despite great efforts, zoonotic infections were reported even in laboratory settings, e.g. with Hantavirus (Seoul virus), Streptobacillus moniliformis, and Trichphyton mentagrophytes. However, in current reports, zoonotic infections were transmitted by mice and rats maintained as pet animals. This includes infections by Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Leptospira interrogans, Streptobacillus moniliformis, Salmonella enterica, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Ornithonyssus bacoti. Furthermore, entero-hepatic Helicobacter spp. of rats and mice are currently discussed to be involved in the etiology of hepatobiliary diseases. Pasteurella spp. of mice and rats do not present a risk for human disease comparable to those species that are transmitted by dogs or cats and might induce serious disease after bites. Altogether, this article lists potential zoonotic agents that were detected in mice and rats and are present in Germany, as well as agents that were reportedly transmitted by mice and rats maintained as laboratory or pet rodents.     

Appropriate handling of pet rabbits: a literature review

Many rabbits show fear behaviours when lifted off the ground. Estimates from owner surveys suggest that around 60% of pet rabbits struggle when lifted and fear‐related aggression is common. This article integrates information from both laboratory and pet rabbit studies to formulate a list of recommendations for appropriate handling of rabbits. Reduction of the frequency of the stressor can be achieved by educating owners on alternative management practices to reduce the need to carry their rabbits. However, in some situations, it is unavoidable that a rabbit is lifted. Amelioration of the stress in these instances can be achieved by a 2 pronged strategy. First, the population of rabbits can be made more resilient to infrequent stressors by selectively breeding for confident rabbits and by better socialisation of unweaned kits, and, where possible, training of individual animals to permit handling. Secondly, any unavoidable lifting can be made less stressful by educating veterinary staff in appropriate methods of holding rabbits during both consultations and inpatient care. Better understanding of appropriate interactions with rabbits will improve welfare.