Case report: Surgical closure of a facial defect in an African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) utilizing a transpositional skin flap
Veterinary intervention in zoological species can be complicated by species-specific social dynamics. African wild dogs are a pack species and removal or separation of an individual may disrupt established pack hierarchy resulting in conspecific aggression. Therefore, medical interventions that opti...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1470528/full |
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| Summary: | Veterinary intervention in zoological species can be complicated by species-specific social dynamics. African wild dogs are a pack species and removal or separation of an individual may disrupt established pack hierarchy resulting in conspecific aggression. Therefore, medical interventions that optimize a quick return to health are ideal to minimize the duration of absence from the pack. These principles were utilized for a three-year-old male intact zoo-housed African wild dog (AWD) that presented with an episode of severe, acute, right-sided facial swelling. Swelling initially responded to medical management, however 6 days later the facial swelling worsened. The AWD was anesthetized and required extensive debridement of necrotic tissue. The absence of deep bacteria on histopathologic evaluation and a negative bacterial culture was suggestive of envenomation. The resultant open wound was managed every other day with debridement and topical manuka honey covered with a tie-over bandage. Each wound therapy treatment required general anesthesia but resulted in a healthy granulation tissue bed 9 days following initial debridement. Rather than proceeding with second intention healing and continued bandage changes, a transpositional skin flap surgical procedure was performed and enabled full closure of the large skin defect with complete tissue apposition and a good cosmetic outcome. The surgery reduced the number of anesthetic events and time that would have been required for second intention healing of the defect, which enabled a more rapid and ultimately successful reintegration of this individual into the pack without any perceived changes to the hierarchical structure. |
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| ISSN: | 2297-1769 |