Mitzy Mauthe von Degerfeld

Ceratophrys cranwelli, commonly known as the Cranwell’s horned frog or Pacman frog, is an amphibian species native to South America. This species has gained interest both as a pet among hobbyists and as a subject of scientific inquiry in veterinary medicine. A two-year-old pet male albino Ceratophrys cranwelli was presented exhibiting lethargy, weight loss, and anorexia, persisting for two months. Clinical examination revealed a fracture localized to the proximal third of the left femur accompanied by an osteolytic process. The patient was discharged with a treatment regimen for suspected secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism and an ulcerative skin lesion. Nevertheless, due to the progressive deterioration of the left thigh, amputation of the affected limb was proposed and performed at the coxofemoral joint. Histopathological analysis of the excised mass revealed an atypical mesenchymal mass consistent with a fibromyxochondroma. The surgical procedure was conducted under anesthesia induced by a combination of alfaxalone, ketamine, medetomidine, and butorphanol, with postoperative treatment consisting of enrofloxacin, meloxicam, and butorphanol. The patient showed good post-surgical recovery, exhibiting normal physiological and behavioral activities. This report highlights the management and the diagnostic challenges of a progressive limb lesion in a Ceratophrys cranwelli, offering insights into potential therapeutic approaches for similar cases in amphibians.

A non-invasive method of drug delivery, intranasal atomization, has shown positive results in human medicine and in some animal species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intranasal atomization, compared to intramuscular administration, of a mix of anesthetic drugs in pet rabbits. In total, 104 mixed-breed pet rabbits, undergoing various types of surgery, received a combination of ketamine, medetomidine, and butorphanol (20, 0.4, and 0.2 mg/kg) by intranasal atomization using a Mucosal Atomization Device (Group MAD) or intramuscular administration (Group IM). When required, isoflurane was dispensed through a face mask. At the end of the procedures, atipamezole was administered using the same routes in the respective Groups. There were no differences in time to loss of righting reflex between the groups, while differences were found for the need for isoflurane (higher in Group MAD) and recovery time, occurring earlier in Group MAD. The results suggest that intranasal atomization of a combination of ketamine, medetomidine, and butorphanol produces a lighter depth of anesthesia in pet rabbits, compared to intramuscular administration. Intranasal atomization can be performed to administer sedative and anesthetic drugs, avoiding the algic stimulus related to the intramuscular inoculation of drugs.