Other Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

The Hoof Inside Out: A Comprehensive Investigation About The Shoe Configuration Effects On The Behavior Of The Equine Hoof, Rita Aoun

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The equine hoof is a unique organ in biology that has intricate elastic properties. From simple protection to therapeutic and corrective measures, horseshoes are widely used in the equine industry. Various types of shoeing have been designed and used based on their unique targeted functions following hoof care. Shoes can modify the gait of the horse, affect the alignment of the distal joints, and alter stress and strains on specific hoof regions. The objective of this dissertation is to provide an overview of the available research on the existing methodology and literature on the effects of shoeing on equine gait …

Public Perception Of Service, Therapy, And Emotional Support Animals In A College Setting, Elizabeth Demarse

Honors College Theses

The use of service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs continues to increase, they are likewise becoming more common on college campuses. However, outside of a 2017 survey into the general population, there is little data into the public’s ability to define these animals and their roles or how negative press affects trust in the legitimacy of these animals. Additionally, no research has been done into how this affects college students despite college campuses frequently being a location where assistance animal ownership is brought into question. An anonymous survey was conducted and distributed online to students at Murray State …

Gauging Clientele Knowledge On Alternative Methods Of Payment For Veterinary Services In Relation To Client Satisfaction, Olivia Hritzkowin

Honors College Theses

The following study focuses on the knowledge that veterinary clients possess surrounding alternative methods of payment for veterinary services and its relation to overall client satisfaction, as well as the prevalence of mental health crisis in veterinary professionals as it relates to client satisfaction. An in-depth analysis of online articles and journals was compared to the results of a survey of pet owners and veterinary professionals to obtain results for the study. The results of the analysis of online resources revealed that many pet owners are stressed about paying for veterinary care for their animal and that most are unprepared …

Veterinary Access Barriers Experienced By Urban Versus Rural Clients: A Case Study In Middle America, Molly Andreasen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The comparison of urban versus rural clientele as to their access to veterinary care and preferences regarding veterinary services has received little research attention. A better understanding of client perspectives is critical for ongoing efforts to provide more equitable availability of veterinary services across varying demographic areas. In this study, I directly assess differences in access to veterinary services based on client perspectives from both rural and urban locales across Nebraska, USA, a state almost directly in the middle of America. It was expected that rural clients would experience more barriers to veterinary access in general and with respect to …

The Mental Health Epidemic In Veterinary Medicine: An Analysis Of Burnout In The Veterinary Field, Hannah Eckstein

Undergraduate Theses

The Mayo Clinic describes burnout as a specific type of stress that involves a state of physical or emotional exhaustion. This exhaustion can lead to a lowered sense of accomplishment and negative personal identity. Despite burnout not being an actual diagnosis, many researchers believe there are several mental health components that contribute to burnout, such as depression and anxiety. Several factors are known to contribute to specifically work-related burnout, including lack of control, work-life imbalance, lack of social support, and extremes of the activity. All of the above factors relate to the veterinary field. In one study, 6.8% of male …

Assessing The Nutritional Value Of Dubia Roaches (Blaptica Dubia) As A Feeder Insect In Reptiles, Elise Barras

LSU Master's Theses

Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) have emerged on the market as a high protein and low-fat alternative to other feeder insects for captive reptiles. However, much like other insects, dubia roaches naturally have an inverse calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio. Offering insects to reptiles that are deficient in calcium can lead to nutritional disease (e.g., nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism). For dubia roaches to be a valuable feeder insect, their Ca:P ratio must be corrected. Several studies have assessed their nutritional composition, but no studies have manipulated the calcium content of these insects. Using a high calcium (8.3% calcium, dry matter) …

Cell-Specific Role Of Il4rα Signaling In Allergic Asthma, Ishita Choudhary

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

IL-4 and IL-13 play a critical role in allergic asthma pathogenesis via their common receptor, i.e., interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL4Rα). However, the cell type-specific role of IL4Rα-mediated signaling in allergic asthma has remained unclear. We hypothesized that the role of IL4Rα signaling in allergic asthma is cell-type specific. To test our hypothesis, we challenged myeloid cell-specific IL4Rα-deficient (LysMcre^+/+/IL4Rα^fl/fl), myeloid cell-specific IL4Rα-sufficient (LysMcre^+/+/IL4Rα^wt/wt), airway epithelial cell-specific IL4Rα-deficient (CCSP-Cre⁺/IL4Rα^fl/fl), and airway epithelial cell-specific IL4Rα-sufficient (CCSP-Cre^-/IL4Rα^fl/fl) mice with either mixed allergens (MA) or normal saline three …

Effect Of Furosemide Administration On Plasma Analytes And Urine Enzyme Excretion In Two Reptilian Species, Kathryn Metcalf

LSU Master's Theses

Renal disease is a common ailment of captive reptiles that is often closely linked to chronic, subclinical states of dehydration. Currently, the diagnosis of renal disease in reptiles is poorly characterized and often relies on invasive diagnostic techniques (e.g., renal biopsy) for definitive diagnosis. A potential outlet for the further characterization of renal dysfunction in reptiles is the induction of dehydration by furosemide therapy. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that is commonly used in mammalian patients for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The utility of furosemide in reptiles is poorly characterized, however, both experimental and clinical utility of this …

"Barriers Between Client Education/Communication And Exotic Animal Husbandry", Caileigh M. Linton

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to quantify the knowledge gap between clientele and veterinary staff about exotic animal husbandry corresponding to housing and diet specifically. With the rise of social media platforms and influencers, the spread of misinformation and stigma revolving around the mistrust of veterinary staff has created strife between clients and veterinary professionals. Misinformation influences pet owners to implement aspects of care into their pets lives that may be unnecessary or harmful. Consequently, as veterinary professionals attempt to educate their clients they are not always trusting of the information being provided to them. This can lead to …

Corticosterone Measurement In A Cryptosporidium-Positive Population Of Louisiana Pine Snakes (Pituophis Ruthveni), Corinne Mayer

LSU Master's Theses

Louisiana pine snakes (Pituophis ruthveni) are one of the rarest snake species in North America, and federally classified as “threatened” (United States Fish and Wildlife, 2018). Recent establishment of sustainable captive breeding populations combined with decades of field research by conservation biologists has led to several advancements in our knowledge of this species; however, further investigations into health parameters and the physiology of this species are needed to optimize management of captive populations.

One recent investigation highlighted the difficulties in reliably differentiating the sexes in P. ruthveni using traditional tail probing techniques (Katz et al., 2020). Prior to …

Secondary Traumatic Stress Is An Occupational Hazard For Pet Hospice Support Staff: Psychoeducational Support Groups Provide The Cure, Kari Hayden

DSW Capstone Projects

There are three separate yet interrelated products presented in this final capstone product. The completed product is focused on pet hospice veterinary support staff and the need for an evidence-based social work intervention to combat secondary traumatic stress. This capstone uses the andragogical approach to adult learning theory as the foundation to construct a psychoeducational peer support group specific to this population. Implications for clinical social work in veterinary medicine are presented within this project.

The first scholarly product presented is the Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The SLR utilizes a scoping review process in an attempt to locate prior research …

Exploring How Maternal Phosphorus Status Affects Calf Growth And Performance, Elizabeth Lafferty

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study will focus on how maternal phosphorus status of beef heifers affects the growth and performance of their calves. Heifers have been offered free-choice mineral with either 0 or 4% supplemental phosphorus from 30 days after weaning until calving. A study by H. Hilfiker, a University of Arkansas honors student, investigated the effects of these treatments from 30 days after weaning until 60 days after the breeding season when heifers were confirmed to be bred or open. For this developing heifer project 64 crossbred Angus heifers were assigned randomly into 8 groups (8 heifers/ group) before assigning each group …

Suicide Risk And School Related Stressors In Veterinary Students, Deanna Nicole Arnold

Honors College Theses

Compared to the general population of the United States, veterinarians are at an increasingly higher risk for suicide. This is commonly associated with stressful work environments, long work hours, poor work-life balance, client demands and complaints, and large amounts of euthanasia procedures. While many studies have been performed to confirm the above statements, few to no studies have been done on students currently enrolled in veterinary school to assess their mental health. This study will survey graduate school students in this field and will evaluate their mental health state and risk factors towards suicide. Through comparing the results of this …

Dirofilaria Immitis Prevalence In Canis Latrans In Kentucky, Melanie Ann Brandon

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) was found in forty-two (42) of the two hundred seventy-five (275) Canis latrans (coyote) necropsied in the state of Kentucky from November 27, 2019 through March 3, 2021. Thirty-five (35) of the positive cases were from western Kentucky region with the other seven spread across the state. With this group of coyotes, one hundred fifty-eight (158) were male and the other one hundred six-teen (116) were female. The estimated age ranged from a pup to senior dogs. A little over forty percent of the dogs were obtained through coyote/predator tournaments; the remaining were acquired from pest …

Use Of Diatomaceous Earth And Copper Oxide Wire Particles To Control Gastrointestinal Nematodes In Lambs, Olivia Jones

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) urges alternatives to control gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) are more efficacious when used with other dewormers and little is known on efficacy of diatomaceous earth (DE) to control gastrointestinal parasites. The objective was to examine the effects of DE and COWP on GIN control. Katahdin lambs (n = 32; ~150 d of age; 25.0 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly assigned to receive: 1) DE fed at an estimated 2% dry matter intake (with the assumption of moderate consumption of bermudagrass forage and provided supplement), 2) 1g COWP, 3) both 2% DE and …

Environmental Factors' Effects On Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis) Infant Populations And Health, Jenny Mcfarland

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Ecosystem factors, both biotic and abiotic, impact all animal species. Temperature, rainfall, daylight, windspeed, mast production, competition and predation are integral to the ecosystem and thus affect the survival and overall wellbeing of the population. Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) infant intakes at Ohio Wildlife Center followed a pattern of more infants in the fall than in the spring, differing from the usual observation that more infants are born in the spring. Ecosystem factors were compared to monthly and annual intakes to see what influenced intake date, admittance condition and survivability rate of the Eastern gray squirrel infants. The results …

In Vitro Analysis Of Equine Platelet Rich Plasma And In Vivo Effect Of Cytokines After Repeated Intra-Articular Injections In Osteoarthritic Joints, Carlos Aguilar Miranda

LSU Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION- The use of biologic therapies like platelet rich plasma (PRP) has a potential benefit for the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses. However, key parts of it are still unknown. The objective is to evaluate the degree of platelet activation achieved when in contact with exogenous activators. As well as the long-term effect in the anabolism and catabolism of cytokines involved in equine osteoarthritis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS-In one in vitro study PRP was collected from 6-horses using a commercially available kit. Platelets were exposed to PBS as negative control or to varying concentrations of CaCl2. Activation was determined via cell …

Examining Traumatic Bone Fracture Healing Versus Surgical Osteotomies In Canines And Resulting Rates Of Infection, Grace Gsellman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The development of osteomyelitis after surgical osteotomies and fracture repair in canines can propose serious health risks, ultimately leading to additional intervention from veterinarians that can become costly for pet owners and effect prognosis for the patient. Preventive measures are currently implemented during surgery and postoperatively. However, infection rates still range from 3.0% to 7.9% (Clark et al., 2018). By examining traumatic bone fracture healing versus surgical osteotomies in canines through the collection of both clinical and radiographic medical records, our primary objective was to further understand the physiological mechanism by which osteomyelitis develops. Limitations related to the collection of …

Geospatial Analysis Of Rickettsial Species, Amy Frank

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rickettsia species are obligate intracellular, arthropod-borne bacteria with a potential to cause multiple diseases including Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Fleas, mites, and ticks serve as vectors for Rickettsia, but ticks are the primary vector of interest. RMSF and other rickettsial diseases have continued to gain importance in both human and veterinary medicine as RMSF is the most common tick-borne disease within the United States according to the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research Center. A statewide citizen science project was utilized to determine the prevalence of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia in Arkansas. This project yielded results in 64 …

Assessing The Nutritional Value Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) Used For Reptile Foods, Kimberly L. Boykin

LSU Master's Theses

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae have been studied extensively in animal feed production, but there is limited research for non-production species, such as reptiles, despite their popularity as a calcium-rich feeder insect. The goals of this thesis were to determine the nutritive value of BSF larvae for a lizard species and as an ingredient in a diet formulated for snakes.

BSF larvae are deficient in fat soluble vitamins (A, D, and E). Using vitamin A as a test nutrient, several factors were identified that affect the success and consistency of gut loading. Based on the results, the following gut loading …

Can Assisted Reproductive Technologies Help Conserve 300 Million Years Of Evolution? A First Attempt At Developing These Technologies For Male Reptiles, Sean M. Perry

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Biodiversity loss is the most critical environmental problem threatening ecosystem, animal, and human health today. Increases in extinction rates have been observed over the past 50 years, with reptile losses occurring twelve times faster than traditional extinction rates. This demonstrated biodiversity loss is secondary to climate change, habitat destruction, infectious disease, invasive species, poaching, and unsustainable trade. Approximately 20% of all reptiles are threatened with extinction and population declines are approaching rates similar to the current amphibian extinction crisis. Preventing the extinction of reptiles will require humans to acknowledge these losses and develop plans to preserve these evolutionary sentinel species. …

Evaluation Of A Nutraceutical Flex Choice For Anti-Arthritic Efficacy And Safety In Moderately Osteoarthritic Dogs, Rachael E. Webber

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Arthritis is a very common chronic debilitating disease in people and dogs alike. It does not discriminate based on species, and one in five dogs suffer from osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and anti-arthritic efficacy of a nutraceutical, Flex Choice, in moderately arthritic canines. Five moderately arthritic canines that weighed between 40-65 pounds were selected for this study. Moderate arthritis was considered a ranking of 4-6 on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being no/minimal pain and 10 being severe and constant pain. All five canines were orally administered one Flex Choice soft chew …

Alternative Techniques For Alfaxalone Anesthesia Induction In Dogs And Cats, Angie Lagos

LSU Master's Theses

Alfaxalone is a neuroactive synthetic steroid (Brewster & Bodor, 1990) that produces anesthetic induction with dose- and speed-dependent cardiorespiratory depression in dogs and cats (Chiu et al. 2016; Warne et al., 2015). At clinical doses in unpremedicated dogs (2 mg kg^-1) and cats (5 mg kg^-1), alfaxalone induces a mild decrease in systemic vascular resistance, systemic blood pressure (Muir et al., 2009; Muir et al., 2008), apnea, hypoventilation, and hypoxemia (Muir et al. 2009; Muir et al., 2008). The cardiorespiratory side effects from alfaxalone induction could be prevented by reducing the total dose of alfaxalone necessary …

The Unspoken Psychological Issues With Lesson Horses And How We Need To Address Them, Casey Clark

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Every day all over the world horses provide much needed therapy and treatment to people in need. They provide physical, emotional, and mental training and healing. Humans depend on them for so much and we have a moral and ethical obligation to be good stewards of our equine companions. This close proximity can take a toll on horses physically and psychologically even in the realm of experienced equine professionals. So many times though it is the small lesson facility that sees hundreds of people each year and makes a profound difference in people’s lives. This can be at a 4-H …

The Use Of Papain And Benzyl Isothiocyanate As Anthelmintics For Equine Strongyles, Abigail Maxey

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Seeds of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae) are a promising source of investigation for a novel anthelmintic to treat equine strongyle infestation. Strongyles are small redworms that attach to the intestinal wall in the equine. They can cause colic, poor hair coat, poor body condition, and, in severe cases, death. The objective of this study was to determine if benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and papain, two compounds found in papaya seeds, could be used to prevent migration of third stage cyathostome larvae (L3) in vitro using larval migration inhibition assays. The assays involved incubating larvae in solution, followed by larval migration through …

Uterine Artery Rupture, An Angiopathy Of The Reproductive System Of The Mare: Occurrence And Potential Effects, Ana G. Toro Mayorga

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

The intent of this research was to identify if the degenerative changes within arteries in the endometrium (endometrial angiopathies) correlate with degenerative changes in the uterine arteries and can be used as a predictor of increased risk for uterine artery rupture (UAR). With this objective specimens from 20 mares that died from uterine artery rupture and 21 control mares that died from unrelated causes were obtained from cases submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) over a two-year period. Postmortem specimens of each mare were collected from the left and right uterine arteries at the origin, bifurcation, …

Evaluation Of Wing Fractures On Survival And Re-Release, Katherine O'Neill

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Occupational Hazards And Radiation Safety In Veterinary Practice Including Zoo Veterinary Practice In Australia, Joseph S. Jeyaretnam

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis contains reviews and research on the occupational hazards of zoo veterinary practitioners in Australia. Although occupational hazards have long been recognised in the veterinary profession, little information is available on the number and magnitude of injuries to veterinarians in Australia, the United Kingdom or the United States. Apart from anecdotal accounts and some limited data, most of the available information is on occupational zoonoses, generally well recognized by veterinarians. Other occupational hazards to which veterinarians are exposed have received scant attention. The veterinary practitioner in a zoo environment has to treat a range of captive wild species which …