Exotic Animal Management - Essay Example

Task 2 Vaccines are the preventive medicines composed of killed or inactivated microbes capable of causing certain diseases or their purified products. They are generally used as preventive measures and to improve immunity against a particular disease. When these infectious organisms attack, vaccines trigger immune response by recognizing proteins produced by the invader and attack them. Vaccination of dogs is an important issue from the point of their health and public health. The vaccination protocol is not universal and depends on doctor’s professional judgement and dog’s health background. To administer the most appropriate vaccine(s) at the relevant stage of life, new vaccination protocols for dogs have been designed which includes core vaccines, non-core (optional) vaccines, and not recommended vaccines (only for dogs at high risk). Core vaccines include canine distemper virus (CDV), adenovirus (CAV-2), parvovirus (CPV-2), and rabies. Non-core vaccines consists of Leptospira bacterin (non-core due to 3 month immunity, and low efficacy), Bordatella bronchispetica (kennel cough, non-core due to controversy about efficacy of current vaccine), Lyme disease (only for dogs at high risk), Giardia (only for dogs at very high risk). Not recommended vaccines composed of Corona virus n, Lyme disease for dogs not at high risk, Giardia for dogs not at high risk. Each vaccination protocol is divided into three parts: core (A, B, C), and non-core (D, E, F). The veterinary doctor can select individualized one of the core and non-core dog vaccination program. Program A – Minimal Approach consists of primary immunization once at 12 weeks or older of all core vaccines. Rabies vaccination at year one, then revaccination should be done every 3 years. CPV-2 and CDV should be checked for positive titers. Program B – Moderate Approach consists of CPV-2 and CDV for 6-9 weeks puppies and puppies between 12 to 15 weeks, Rabies, CPV-2, CDV, and CAV-2 should be given. Booster dose of Rabies, CPV-2, CDV, and CAV-2 should be delivered at one year (a). Rabies vaccination at year one, then revaccination should be done every 3 years. Every 3-5 years after (a): CPV-2, CDV and CAV-2 should be given. In Program C – Maximal Approach, between 6-9 weeks CPV-2, CDV, between 9-11 weeks CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2, and between 12-14 weeks Rabies, CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2 should be given. Revaccination schedule (a) is followed by CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2, Rabies after every three years. In Program D – Minimal Approach non-core vaccines are not given. In Program E – Moderate Approach, between 6-9 weeks, 1 dose of intranasal B. bronchiseptica, between 12 weeks Leptospira bacterin, and between 14-15 weeks Leptospira bacterin are stated. Annual revaccination of Leptospira bacterin, intranasal B. bronchispetica should be done. Under Program F – Maximal Approach, between 6-14 weeks 2 doses of intranasal B. bronchiseptica, between 6-8 weeks, 2 doses Giardia vaccine, and between 9-11 weeks, Leptospira bacterin, 2 doses of Lyme disease vaccine, and 2 doses of Giardia vaccine should be given. Between 12-14 weeks, 2 doses of Leptospira bacterin and 2 doses of Lyme disease vaccine are recommended. Intranasal B. bronchiseptica and Leptospira bacterian is revaccinated annually. Annual booster dose of Lyme disease is advised just before tick season. (Schultz, 2000, Proceeding of the NAVC, 2005). The booster dose of multi-component vaccines is not necessary at intervals more often than every 2 to 4 weeks in a puppy program. An early onset of vaccination program started at 6 to 9 weeks restricts the use of booster doses to maximum three doses of vaccine. Minimum recommended age of puppy for the last booster dose is 12 to 14 weeks of age. Canines in humane shelters, commercial kennels, or other highly vulnerable areas are advised for higher number of doses (around 6). Pet dogs in a single or multi-dog household are not prone to many disorders, therefore revaccination after every 2 weeks is not at all required. If chances of an important disease like CPV-2 are more, then monovalent CPV-2 vaccine is preferred over multi-component product due to multicomponent’s side effects (Schultz, 2000). The side effects might include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immuno-suppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, long-term infected carrier states, local development of tumors, etc. (AVMA policy, 2009). The measurement of serum vaccine antibody titers is useful for deciding revaccination schedule. It titer is positive revaccination is not necessary. Immunosystem affected individuals should use minimal vaccinations protocol. When the effects of vaccines on the canine immune system are studied, it has been found that interactions between canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus type 1 or canine adenovirus type 2 inhibits lymphocyte responsiveness (Phillips et al., 2009). Antitoxin is toxin antibody separated from highly vaccinated animal. The administration of antitoxin leads to immediate but temporary passive immunity. Tetanus Antitoxin is administered to protect from tetanus infection when the animal has deep wound. Tetanus toxoid is vaccinated for healthy domestic animals to acquire an active immunity for prevention against tetanus (Lawhead & Baker, 2003, p.167). Task 3 Calcium is vital nutrient for strong bones and normal nerve function. Lack of adequate sunlight, improper diet lack in calcium supplementation and cool environment are the most common causes of metabolic bone disease (MBD) in iguanas. Iquanas generally feed on leaves, buds and flowers which are rich sources of calcium. Adequate sunlight is necessary to produce vitamin D3 and this vitamin is required for calcium absorbtion. If iguana could not get full-spectrum light, calcium digested can not be absorbed through the intestine. And, also the iguana’s kidneys and liver would not able to convert calcium into a usable form. Oxalate containing feed can interfere with the absorption of dietary calcium leading to metabolic bone disease (Himes, 2006). The physical symptoms of MBD include faded green color, reduced alertness, tend to rest with their jaws against the floor and might become fussy eaters. Clinical manifestations include enlarged joint areas with rubbery and flexible jaws. As the disease progresses, upper lip deviates and incidences of overbite occur. Kinked, twisted or crescent-shaped spines are observed in resting position in advanced state of the disease. The leg and tail paralysis might occur in late stage of the disease. They might look younger and fluffy due to fluid accumulation. The clinical diagnosis with X-ray display pale, translucent bones due to unavailability of calcium (Hines, 2006). The treatment strategies include calcium rich diet fortified with vitamin D-3, exposure to lots of natural sunshine containing ultraviolet light, and temperature controlled cages. Calcium diet includes green beans, collard, squash, alfalfa, moistened rabbit pellets, mustard and turnip greens, escarole, dandelions, figs, cantaloupe and berries, beet greens, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, spinach, water crest, leeks, Swiss chard, papaya and prickly pear etc. Calcium tablets can be powdered and added to diet. Exposure to at least three hours of direct sunshine a day is helpful to produce vitamin D3. The iguana should able to access cage temperature maintained between 86f to 98F with the aid of ceramic heat lamp and space heater (Hines, 2006). References Proceeding of the NAVC, Small Animal - Immunology , North American Veterinary Conference, Jan. 8-12, 2005, Orlando, Florida. http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2005/SAE/189.pdf?LA=1 Schultz, R.D. (5 May 2000). Considerations In Designing Effective And Safe Vaccination Programs For Dogs. Recent Advances in Canine Infectious Diseases, Carmichael L.E. (Ed.) Publisher: International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org) American Veterinary Medical Association (2009). AVMA policy, Vaccination Principles. Retreived from: http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/vaccination_principles.asp Phillips, T. R., Jensen, J. L., Rubino, M. J., Yang, W. C. and Schultz R. D. (1989) Effects of vaccines on the canine immune system. Can J Vet Res. 53(2): 154–160. Lawhead, J. B. & Baker M. (2003). Introduction to veterinary science Edition: illustrated, Published by Cengage Learning. Hines, Ron. (2006). Metabolic Bone Disease In Iguanas. 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