Laurie J. Gage

• DVM, Dipl ACZM
• Self Employed

United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported 167 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 (SCV2) in 13 zoo and aquarium species at 45 different zoos, aquariums, and sanctuaries in the United States. Testing was largely based on clinical signs and species' susceptibility; the full range of species suscep...

In 2014, Safari West and the Safari West Wildlife Foundation (Santa Rosa, CA) hosted “The Inaugural AZVT (Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians) Focus Group: The Art and Science of Hand-Rearing”, a symposium that was attended by 80 zoo professionals from around the globe. With the initial focus on carnivores and hoofstock, twenty international...

Ocular disease is one of the most common medical problems observed in captive pinnipeds, with a disproprtionally higher prevelence when compared with similar eye problems in their wild counterparts, or other captive mammalian species. Possible causes, both studied and anecdotal, are one or a combination of factors including persistent or periodic e...

While many advances have been made in husbandry practices, nutrition, medicine, and life support system designs for marine mammals, a large percentage of captive pinnipeds still suffer from ocular conditions such as corneal disease, premature cataracts, and lens luxations (1,2,3). (Figures 1 and 2) Recent studies have identified a number of causati...

A preliminary assessment of mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns in the killer whale (Orcinus orca) was conducted using 10 captive North Atlantic killer whales from the southeastern coast of Iceland, a captive-born offspring of one of these whales, and 9 North Pacific killer whales. No restriction pattern variation was seen among these whales, us...

This chapter provides an overview of the causes of neonatal elephant mortality, including stillbirths and dystocias, congenital abnormalities, viral diseases, maternal rejection and aggression, trauma, infectious diseases and sepsis, and gastrointestinal disorders. Means of improving survivability of elephant calves and future research is discussed...

A mother and female calf humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pair were observed at an atypical location, 72 nmi inland in the Port of Sacramento, California, on 16 May 2007. Sequencing of mtDNA from a skin biopsy showed the cow to be an E1 haplotype, which is common in the California feeding population. Both animals had lacerations, suggesting...

This chapter contains section titled: Natural HistoryRecord KeepingCriteria for InterventionFormulasWhat to Feed InitiallyNursing TechniquesTube FeedingFrequency of FeedingAmounts to FeedExpected Weight GainHousingImmune Status and Special NeedsTime to WeaningTips for Weaning from Formula to Solid FoodCommon Medical ProblemsRelease: Captive Versus...

Half Title Title Copyright Contents Contributors Preface Acknowledgments

Introduction Causes Of Osteomyelitis Prevention Of Osteomyelitis Treatment

IntroductionBiopsyCultureCytologyElectrocardiograms (ECGS)Fecal ExaminationHematologyLaparoscopyRadiologySchirmer Tear TestSerum Biochemistry AnalysisSerodiagnostic TestsTemperature, Pulse, and Respiration (TPR)Thermal Imaging (Thermography)Tuberculin TestingUltrasonographyUrinalysisVirus IsolationWeightIntroductionRadiographic EquipmentSafety Cons...

This book provides a detailed guide to hand-rearing techniques for many common avian species. Each species-specific chapter provides valuable information on appropriate intervention, housing, feeding, and care. This volume brings together approaches and techniques used in the care of a wide variety of avian species.

Rehabilitation of stranded cetaceans is receiving increasing attention and involves considerable financial and personnel resources, although the survival rate appears to be low. To evaluate rehabilitation success, we examined 25 years (1977 to 2002) of data on live-stranded odontocetes (n = 70) from northern California that were rescued for rehabil...

This chapter provides an overview of radiographic techniques, equipment, and safety to obtain diagnostic images of the elephant foot and limb.

A captive adult female American badger (Taxidea taxus) suffered periodic episodes of agitation and self-mutilation over the course of its lifetime. Initially environmental enrichment curtailed the aberrant behavior; however, intensifying clinical signs periodically required the use of diazepam for amelioration of the problem. When diazepam treatmen...

Three horses with clinical signs compatible with pleural effusion were examined with diagnostic ultrasound. In one of the three horses, confirmed septic pleural effusion was monitored with ultrasound during a successful treatment regimen. Eficacy of thoracentesis and detection of recurrence of fluid were readily determined. In the second horse, dia...

A 9-yr-old, female Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) developed severe pruritus in June 1993. During the next 8 yr, the camel exhibited annual episodes of pruritus and epiphora, generally beginning in June and subsiding in October of each year. These signs could usually be controlled with topical agents and fly repellents, although pruritus flare-...

This chapter provides an overview of pinniped anatomy, physiology, special housing requirements, restraint, handling, anesthesia, diagnostics, hematology, diseases, nutritional disorders, reproduction and preventive medicine

Oxidative metabolic burst activity by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) heterophils and Holstein cattle (Bos taurus) neutrophils was indirectly evaluated by measuring the oxidation of nonfluorescent intracellular 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) to fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) with flow cytometry. The results were recorded as mean cha...

This is the first report of a rapid technique for the isolation of elephant heterophils form ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated whole blood using hetastarch sedimentation and Percoll discontinuous gradient centrifugation modified from equine neutrophil isolation techniques (Sedgwick et al. 1986; Pycock 1987). Heterophil purity...

A 40-yr-old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) developed cellulitis and became lame in her left front leg. A draining tract behind the lateral nail of her left front foot was discovered. This lesion was treated by aggressive irrigation using a variety of disinfectant solutions. Radiographically, there was degeneration and fragmentation of the...

Personnel at The Marine Mammal Center (The Center) treated 1,446 stranded marine mammals recovered from the central and northern California (USA) coast from 1984 through 1990, including California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), northern fur seal...

A new serotype of calicivirus was isolated from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with severe vesicular disease. Neutralizing antibodies were found in 27 of 82 (32.9%) serum samples from California sea lions and in 15 of 146 (10.3%) serum samples from Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) tested. The seropositive animals were widely di...

Between May and December 1984, an epizootic of leptospirosis in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) occurred along the west coast of the United States from Monterey County, Calif, northward to Seattle, Wash. Clinical signs observed were severe depression, excessive thirst, and tucked-up posturing, with associated leukocytosis and increase...