Neurologic examination of healthy adult African pygmy hedgehogs ( Atelerix albiventris)

Berg, Collin C.; Doss, Grayson A.; Guevar, Julien (2021). Neurologic examination of healthy adult African pygmy hedgehogs ( Atelerix albiventris). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 258(9), pp. 971-976. American Veterinary Medical Association 10.2460/javma.258.9.971

[img] Text
_Journal_of_the_American_Veterinary_Medical_Association__Neurologic_examination_of_healthy_adult_African_pygmy_hedgehogs__Atelerix_albiventris_.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (261kB)

Abstract

Objective: To describe a modified approach to neurologic examination of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris).

Animals: 12 adult hedgehogs (7 males and 5 females).

Procedures: Aspects of the standard neurologic examination of dogs and cats were evaluated for use with awake hedgehogs, and modified approaches to evaluating their normal behavior and mentation, select cranial nerves and refexes, and gait were then identified. Behavioral analysis and gait analysis were performed by using video recordings of hedgehogs in a novel environment. Performability and repeatability of all feasible aspects of the neurologic examination were assessed.

Results: Most aspects of the standard neurologic examination could be successfully performed, with repeatable results. However, certain aspects, especially those evaluating the pelvic limbs, were more difficult to perform successfully or were less repeatable. All hedgehogs lacked a menace response but displayed a contraction of the frontodorsalis muscle. Facial sensation testing was unreliable.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: The entire standard neurologic examination could not be performed in hedgehogs. However, many aspects could be performed, and together they provided baseline data for neurologic examination of this species.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > DKV - Clinical Neurology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > Small Animal Clinic > Small Animal Clinic, Surgery
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > Small Animal Clinic

UniBE Contributor:

Guevar, Julien Jean

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0003-1488

Publisher:

American Veterinary Medical Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Manuel Roland Schmidli

Date Deposited:

11 Feb 2022 07:52

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 16:05

Publisher DOI:

10.2460/javma.258.9.971

PubMed ID:

33856861

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/164750

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/164750

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback