@article{knutson_petritz_sadar_cohen_schachterle_chen_2022, title={Diagnosis and management of nasopharyngeal stenosis in four guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)}, volume={40}, ISSN={["1931-6283"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2021.10.006}, DOI={10.1053/j.jepm.2021.10.006}, abstractNote={Respiratory disease is common in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). As obligate nasal breathers, disease of the upper airway can result in significant dyspnea. Nasopharyngeal stenosis is defined as a luminal narrowing of the nasopharynx, which extends from the choana to the caudal margin of the soft palate. This condition can be acquired or congenital and has been diagnosed in other species. However, nasopharyngeal stenosis has not been previously described in guinea pigs. Four guinea pigs were presented with chronic, recurrent upper respiratory signs including stertor, oculonasal discharge, tachypnea, and dyspnea. All four animals had signs suggestive of upper respiratory tract disease on examination. Nasopharyngeal stenosis was identified at the rostral aspect of the nasopharynx at the level of the choana via computed tomography (CT) in all cases. Otitis media was also present in three of the four cases. Antibiotic therapy was instituted for all animals. Two of the four guinea pigs were treated with prednisolone and two were treated with meloxicam to control associated inflammation. One animal died 2 months after diagnosis due to complications from severe otitis media. One individual was euthanized due to progressive disease after a year and a half of treatment. One guinea pig was lost to follow up after 6 months. The remaining guinea pig was alive at the time this case series was written (11 months after initial diagnosis) but continues to have signs of upper airway disease. Nasopharyngeal stenosis is an important differential diagnosis for persistent upper respiratory signs in guinea pigs. CT was diagnostic in all cases, identifying nasopharyngeal stenosis at the level of the choana, and allowed identification of comorbidities (otitis media and rhinitis). Medical management resulted in survival times from 2 months to a year and a half following diagnosis. Further investigation into minimally invasive interventions such as balloon dilation and stent placement are warranted for future cases.}, journal={JOURNAL OF EXOTIC PET MEDICINE}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Knutson, Kyra A. and Petritz, Olivia A. and Sadar, Miranda J. and Cohen, Eli B. and Schachterle, Karen and Chen, Sue}, year={2022}, month={Jan}, pages={21–28} } @article{knutson_petritz_thomson_robertson_balko_2022, title={Effects of Intramuscular Alfaxalone and Midazolam Compared With Midazolam and Butorphanol in Rhode Island Red Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1938-2871"]}, DOI={10.1647/20-00087}, abstractNote={Abstract: Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) often undergo veterinary procedures requiring sedation; however, there is little published research evaluating the efficacy of sedation protocols in this species. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of intramuscular alfaxalone and midazolam compared with intramuscular butorphanol and midazolam in chickens. In a complete crossover study, 11 healthy adult hens were randomly administered midazolam 2.5 mg/kg IM combined with either alfaxalone 15 mg/kg IM (AM, n = 11) or butorphanol 3 mg/kg IM (BM, n = 11), with a 35-day washout period between groups. Time to first effects, recumbency, standing, and recovery were recorded. Physiologic parameters and sedation scores were recorded every 5 minutes by 2 blinded investigators. Fifteen minutes after injection, positioning for sham whole body radiographs was attempted. At 30 minutes, flumazenil 0.05 mg/kg IM was administered to all hens. Peak total sedation score was significantly higher for AM compared with BM (P < 0.001). Mean ± SD or median (range) time to initial effects, recumbency, standing, and recovery in AM and BM were 1.9 ± 0.6 and 2.6 ± 0.9 (P = 0.02), 3.5 (1.6–7.6) and 4.8 (2.2–13.0) (P = 0.10), 40.3 (28.0–77.8) and 33.2 (5.2–41.3) (P = 0.15), and 71.2 (45.7–202.3) and 39.9 (35.9–45.9) minutes (P = 0.05), respectively. Radiographic positioning was successful in 6 of 11 (54.5%) and 0 of 11 (0%) birds in the AM and BM groups at 15 minutes, respectively. Heart and respiratory rates remained within acceptable clinical limits for all birds. Intramuscular AM resulted in significantly faster onset of sedative effects, significantly longer duration of recumbency, significantly higher peak sedation, and improved success of radiographic positioning compared with intramuscular BM. Intramuscular AM produces clinically effective sedation in chickens without clinically significant cardiorespiratory effects.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF AVIAN MEDICINE AND SURGERY}, author={Knutson, Kyra A. and Petritz, Olivia A. and Thomson, Andrea and Robertson, James and Balko, Julie A.}, year={2022}, month={Sep}, pages={287–294} } @article{knutson_petritz_thomson_balko_2022, title={Intramuscular Alfaxalone-Butorphanol-Midazolam Compared with Ketamine-Butorphanol- Midazolam in New Zealand White Rabbits}, volume={61}, ISSN={["1559-6109"]}, DOI={10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000038}, abstractNote={Rabbits are a common companion animal and research subject and frequently require sedation to facilitate procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of intramuscular butorphanol and midazolam combined with either alfaxalone or ketamine in rabbits. In a complete crossover study, healthy New Zealand white rabbits (n = 9; age, 6 mo) randomly received midazolam (1 mg/kg IM) and butorphanol (1 mg/kg IM) combined with either alfaxalone (2 mg/kg IM; ABM) or ketamine (5 mg/kg IM; KBM). Time to first effects, recumbency, and standing (recovery) were recorded. Every 5 min during recumbency, an investigator who was blind to treatment group collected serial physiologic parameters and sedation scores. At 5 min after rabbits became recumbent, manipulations were performed to mimic 2-view radiography and a cephalic intravenous catheter was placed. At 30 min after drug injection, flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg IM) was administered for reversal. Food consumption and fecal output were measured for 3 d after each study day. Time to standing and duration of recumbency differed significantly between groups. The median (range) of the total sedation score for ABM was 10 (8 to 10) and for KBM was 10 (6 to 10). Sham radiographs were successful in all rabbits in both groups. Physiologic parameters were not significantly different between groups over time. At 24 h after drug treatment, KBM-treated rabbits showed reduced food intake and both groups showed reduced fecal output. Total sedation scores decreased significantly over time in KBM rabbits ( P < 0.001) but not in ABM rabbits (P = 1). The duration of recumbency was significantly longer in ABM rabbits than in KBM rabbits. Both protocols produced sufficient sedation for radiograph acquisition without clinically significant adverse effects.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Knutson, Kyra A. and Petritz, Olivia A. and Thomson, Andrea E. and Balko, Julie A.}, year={2022}, month={Sep}, pages={475–481} } @article{handberg_gaudette_knutson_nelson_ozawa_2022, title={MRI findings associated with clinical presentation and histopathology in a Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2052-6121"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.517}, DOI={10.1002/vrc2.517}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS}, author={Handberg, Elizabeth and Gaudette, Chris and Knutson, Kyra and Nelson, Nathan and Ozawa, Sarah}, year={2022}, month={Oct} }