Comparison of body temperature using digital, infrared, and tympanic thermometry in healthy ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Evaluation of three doses of oral trazodone and their impact on handling, activity, and physiological parameters in rabbits: a prospective, blinded, randomized cross-over study

No study has determined the minimal effective dose of trazodone required to induce behavioral changes and its safety profile in rabbits. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the minimal effective dose of trazodone to improve compliance to handling, and to evaluate associated changes in motor activity, physiological and arterial blood gas parameters. Eight intact female New Zealand White rabbits (2-month-old; 1.66 ± 0.12 kg) were included in this prospective, blinded, randomized cross-over study. After a 10-day acclimation, rabbits randomly received placebo or trazodone 10, 20 or 30 mg/kg orally (PLAC, TRAZ10, TRAZ20, TRAZ30) with a 1-week wash-out period. Compliance scoring (dynamic interactive visual analog scale; DIVAS), activity levels measured with accelerometry (T0-T600), physiological parameters (temperature, heart, and respiratory rates), and arterial blood gas parameters (up to T240) were evaluated. Compliance scores, accelerometry, physiological and arterial blood gas parameters and hypoxemia prevalence (PaO2 <60 mmHg) were analyzed using linear mixed models and Chi-squared tests, respectively (P<0.05). When compared with PLAC, DIVAS scores were significantly higher at T80-120, T40-120 and T120-200 in TRAZ10, TRAZ20 and TRAZ30 post-administration, respectively. When compared with baseline, DIVAS scores were significantly higher from T80-160, T40-240 and T80-200 in TRAZ10, TRAZ20 and TRAZ30, respectively. All other parameters were not significantly different. In TRAZ30, hypoxemia was observed in 2/8 rabbits (P=0.104). In conclusion, oral trazodone improved rabbit compliance at all studied dosages, especially 20 mg/kg improved rabbit compliance without decreasing motor activity or causing hypoxemia.

Temperature Monitoring and Thermal Support in Exotic Animal Critical Care

Body temperature measurement is one of the most important parameters to assess the health of a patient. In small exotic mammals, rectal temperature is obtained via a similar process as in dogs or cats, with a few specific differences. In reptiles and birds, measurement of body temperature can provide important information, albeit its accuracy may be limited. In most animals, temperature should be taken at the beginning of the examination to not artificially elevate the temperature during the physical exam. Heat support is typically indicated any time a patient's temperature is below the accepted core temperature range and cooling may be indicated whenever a patient's temperature exceeds a critical point.

Infectious droplet exposure is an inefficient route for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the ferret model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans, has a wide host range, naturally infecting felids, canids, cervids, rodents and mustelids. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is universally accepted to occur via contact with contaminated secretions from the respiratory epithelium, either directly or indirectly. Transmission via droplet nuclei, generated from a cough or sneeze, has also been reported in several human and experimental animal scenarios. However, the role of droplet transmission at the human-animal interface remains to be fully elucidated. Here, the ferret infection model was used to investigate the routes of infection for the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (B.1.351). Ferrets were exposed to droplets containing infectious SARS-CoV-2, ranging between 4 and 106 µm in diameter, simulating larger droplets produced by a cough from an infected person. Following exposure, viral RNA was detected on the fur of ferrets, and was deposited onto environmental surfaces, as well as the fur of ferrets placed in direct contact; SARS-CoV-2 remained infectious on the fur for at least 48 h. Low levels of viral RNA were detected in the nasal washes early post-exposure, yet none of the directly exposed, or direct-contact ferrets, became robustly infected or seroconverted to SARS-CoV-2. In comparison, ferrets intranasally inoculated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant became robustly infected, shedding viral RNA and infectious virus from the nasal cavity, with transmission to 75 % of naive ferrets placed in direct contact. These data suggest that larger infectious droplet nuclei and contaminated fur play minor roles in SARS-CoV-2 transmission among mustelids and potentially other companion animals.

Superficial Heating Evaluation by Thermographic Imaging before and after Tecar Therapy in Six Dogs Submitted to a Rehabilitation Protocol: A Pilot Study

Thermography is a non-invasive diagnostic method commonly used to monitor changes of the body surface temperature potentially induced by different conditions such as fever, inflammation, trauma, or changes of tissue perfusion. Capacitive-resistive diathermy therapy (such as energy transfer capacitive and resistive-Tecar) is commonly used in rehabilitation due to its diathemic effect secondary to blood circulation increase that could accelerate the healing process. The aim of this study was to monitor by thermal camera the diathermic effects induced by Tecar on the surface of the region of application. The investigation was conducted on six dogs referred for Tecar therapy to treat muscle contractures (three dogs) or osteoarthritis (three dogs). Eleven anatomical treated regions were recorded. Thermographic images and relative measurements were obtained by each region immediately before (T0), at conclusion (T1), and sixty seconds after the Tecar application (T2). Data were recorded and statistically analyzed. A comparison of temperature differences (maximum, minimum and mean values) between T0 and T1, T0 and T2, and T1 and T2 was performed by ANOVA test with Bonferroni post hoc (p ≤ 0.05). Statistically significant differences were detected for mean temperature between T0 (32.42 ± 1.57 °C) and T1 (33.36 ± 1.17 °C) (p = 0.040) and between T1 and T2 (32.83 ± 1.31 °C) (p = 0.031). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the mean temperature at T0 and T2, demonstrating that superficial diathermic effect exhausted within 60 s.