The relationship between physical injury, body condition and stress-related hormone concentrations in freeranging giraffes
A physiological stress response can be triggered by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, but minimal information is available about the physiological stress response related to pain in wildlife. Recently established techniques now allow the non-invasive measurement of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations to monitor the physiological stress response in giraffe. We examined the […]
Spinal cord injury during recovery from anaesthesia in a giraffe
ANAESTHESIA of giraffes carries particular risks of morbidity and mortality as a result of the physical characteristics of a large, longlegged, long-necked animal with a heavy head; death is reported in approximately one in 10 cases (Benbow and Lyon 2001, Bush and others 2002, Flach and others 2002). Mortality may relate to physical damage or […]
Subependymal glioneuronal hamartoma in the mesencephalic aqueduct of a giraffe
A 1-day-old male giraffe calf (Giraffa camelopardalis) was submitted for necropsy examination after sustaining postnatal head trauma from the cow. In addition to the expected findings of severe cerebral edema and epidural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, there also was present an incidental finding of a subependymal glioneuronal aqueductal hamartoma. Reports of this type of congenital lesion […]
Osseous cyst-like lesions in a 15 year old Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardis rothschildi)
Osseous cyst-like lesions (OCLLs) are commonly reported in equines (Watkins, 1999).They are uncommon in ruminants (Tyron and Farrow, 1999) and have never been documented in a giraffe. The aetiopathogenesis of OCLLs has not yet been conclusively determined. Currently there are two hypotheses; defective endochondral ossification or, that cyst development follows mechanical trauma in joints with […]