Drug prescription pattern in exotic pet and wildlife animal practice: a retrospective study in a Spanish veterinary teaching hospital from 2018 to 2022

Abstract

Exotic companion animals have had an important role in our society since ancient times. Preserving animal health is necessary to do a responsible use of veterinary medicines. This study aimed to describe the prescription patterns of drugs in exotic pets and wildlife animals attending the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of León (HVULE). A retrospective study was carried out between 2018 and 2022. Birds were the largest group of exotic animals attending the HVULE. Visits were related to emergency reasons and for musculoskeletal disorders. One-third of the animals were eventually euthanised. Regarding pharmacological treatments, the most frequently active ingredients used were pentobarbital, isoflurane, meloxicam, and within antibiotics, marbofloxacin (category B in the classification of European Medicines Agency).

Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Potential of Bacterial Species from Captive Birds of Prey—Consequences of Falconry for Public Health

“…Despite pet ownership being common worldwide, with almost half of European households possessing at least one companion animal, 15.7% of which are birds (the largest group of exotic animals in Europe), awareness of the risks that such close contact with family members pose, especially to immunocompromised people, is not always taken seriously [ 73 , 74 ]. One study demonstrated that even some medical professionals are not aware of the zoonotic risks associated with keeping a pet bird, neglecting important and common zoonotic events, such as the previously mentioned salmonellosis and psittacosis [ 73 ].…”