M A M M A L   C A S E S Case Report: Use of HEALx Soother Plus in Postoperative Treatment of a Dental-related Abscess in a Pet Rabbit Vittorio Capello, DVM, Dipl ECZM (Small Mammal), Dipl ABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal) This abscess was treated with debridement and marsupialization, resulting in a large defect. While culture and sensitivity results were pending, no systemic antibiotics were administered. The rabbit was sent home with instructions for the owners to flush the lesion and apply HEALx Soother Plus twice daily. Frequent rechecks confirmed healing of the soft tissues. Complete healing and fur regrowth were achieved in less than 3 weeks using only HEALx Soother Plus. Chinchilla Case Report: Use of HEALx Soother Plus in a Non-healing Wound* A 2-year-old chinchilla presented on May 12 with a 2 x 4 cm ulcerated area extending through the skin and subcutis to the muscle layer in the right inguinal region. Surgery was performed and the tissue was resected, a 3 layer closure with 4-0 PDS was performed and the tissue was submitted for histopathology. The chinchilla was placed on enrofloxacin twice daily and meloxicam. The wound reopened the following day and was cleaned, debrided, and resutured; an Elizabethan collar was also applied. Three days post-surgery, due to decreased stool production, the chinchilla was placed on Cisapride and Critical Care as a supplement to the diet. On May 22, the incision partially opened, and had purulent discharge. Trimethoprim-Sulfa was added to the treatment at 30 mg/kg twice daily. On May 23, the wound had completely reopened and the chinchilla was anesthetized.    The wound was debrided and closed and a body wrap was applied. In the evening, the chinchilla had chewed the bandage and reopened the wound. At this time, the owners had elected for humane euthanasia. We offered the owners to admit the chinchilla for a trial with Soother Plus alone on a clinical trial basis. Antibiotics were continued until May 27 when the trial could begin. On May 27 all oral medications were discontinued and Soother Plus was used 4 times daily liberally to entire wound. Due to pain concerns, butorphonal was given twice daily until June 5. On June 5, all oral medications were discontinued and Soother Plus was used alone 3 times daily. Rabbit Case Report: Use of HEALx Soother Plus in a Pododermatitis Case Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM A rabbit was found in a dumpster in appalling condition. Its foot pads exhibited severe dermatitis due to poor hygiene and contact with feces and urine. Deep tissues and tendons had been affected, and the prognosis was very poor. The treatment was long and difficult, but without the help of HEALx the rabbit would likely have been euthanized. The rabbit was given enrofloxacin for the first 10 days and HEALx Sunshine Factor (0.3 ml PO q24h). HEALx Soother Plus Cream was administered topically to the wounds. After the first 2 weeks, the rabbit was given 10 more days of enrofloxacin and the HEALx Sunshine Factor (0.3 ml PO every other day) until the wounds had healed. After treatment with Soother Plus and Sunshine Factor, the rabbit’s foot pads are now healed. The combination of HEALx Soother Plus cream and HEALx Sunshine Factor along with good cleaning practices has enabled us to achieve healing in extreme dermatologic cases such as this. The Use of HEALx Booster for Hamster with Skin Lesions Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM Before - Day 0 Day 10 Before - Day 0 Day 10 A hamster presented with poor coat quality and irritated skin, probably due to a poor diet. HEALx Booster was added to its diet (1 Tbs/0.5 kg food). The skin issue had resolved and new hair started growing back on Day 10. The Use of HEALx Soother Plus for Rabbit with a Wound Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM Before - Day 0 Before - Day 0   Day 10 Day 10 A 10-year-old female rabbit presented with clinical signs of arthritis in the back bone and pelvis and a wound. It was dragging its rear legs and laying on its side throughout the day. We recommended a change in the bedding material to a dry bedding material and HEALx Soother Plus cream was applied twice on the wound. The Use of HEALx Soother Plus in a Rabbit with Bumblefoot Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM Before - Day 0 Before - Day 0 Before - Day 0 Day 28 Day 28 Day 28 A rabbit presented with a case of bumblefoot likely caused from contact with urine and/or a wet surface. The feet were cleaned and HEALx Soother Plus cream was applied. The owner was advised to change the substrate to a dry material or towels to be changed daily and to mix Sunshine Factor (1 Tbs/kg of pellets) with the animal’s food. Soother Plus cream was applied twice a day for 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, the skin looks healthier and the hair has started to regrow. The Use of HEALx Sunshine Factor in White-lipped Deer with Poor Quality Coat Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM Before Day 0 A white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) had poor coat and skin quality. HEALx Sunshine Factor was added to its diet (20 ml/animal q24h). Not only is the deer looking much better, but it has also gained weight and is more active. The Sunshine Factor was continued for daily maintenance. The Use of HEALx Booster in the Resolution of an Upper Respiratory Infection in a Rat Renata Schneider, DVM A young domestic male rat weighing 32 g presented. There were no significant findings on physical examination. After a quarantine period of 30 days it was sent to the domestics ward pending adoption. Approximately 6 weeks later, the rat showed clinical signs of an upper respiratory infection. A treatment protocol of doxycycline and enrofloxacin was instituted. The rat was nebulized daily with a saline, Mucomyst, aminophyline and gentamicin mixture. The rat also started oral treatment with HEALx Booster (0.04 ml PO q24h). On recheck 3 weeks later there were no more clinical signs and the medications were discontinued; however, Booster (0.1 ml PO q24h) was continued for 1 more week. The Booster was discontinued at that time, and the rat was clinically clear of infection. It was adopted into a home 2 weeks later, and the new owner reported no further problems. Two months later the rat was neutered and did well under anesthesia with a smooth recovery. Its weight was 240 g. The Use of HEALx Booster and Soother Spray in a Leopard with a Severe Bite Wound Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM Before After Skin Dissection After - Day 80 A circus leopard was presented on an emergency basis for a bite wound affecting the perianal region. The tail had been completely chewed off by a tiger in the neighboring cage, and muscles were so exposed that insufficient skin was available to close the wound completely. Fecal material had infected the area. All of the dead tissue was removed. The exposed muscles were cleaned and the skin was dissected so it could be stretched to cover as much of the lesion as possible. HEALx Soother Spray was mixed with enrofloxacin and applied q2h throughout the first week and then q8h while the animal was recovering. The mixture was refrigerated between treatments. HEALx Booster (8 ml) was mixed with chopped quail meat and administered daily for 3 weeks. The animal was in so much pain that it refused to eat for the first 2 days. An antibiotic was injected daily, but no other medications were used. The lesions healed, and after only 17 days a thin layer of skin covered the exposed muscle tissues. After 5 weeks hair began to grow back along the edges. The Use of HEALx Soother Plus for Postoperative Management of Extensive Osteomyelitis of the Mandible Following Periapical Infection in a Mini Lop Rabbit Vittorio Capello, DVM, Dipl ECZM (Small Mammal), Dipl ABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal) A 3-year-old female mini lop rabbit was presented for anorexia. The physical exam revealed the presence of a huge lump ventrolateral to the body of the left mandible. Pre-surgery Fig 1. Intraoral inspection and skull radiographs demonstrated a severe periapical infection and extensive osteomyelitis of the body of the mandible. The owners declined computed tomography for detailed definition of diagnosis and prognosis, and exploratory surgery was performed. Surgery  Fig  2. Excision of the abscess, extraction of the diseased teeth and thorough debridement of the osteomyelitic bone was performed as routine. The osteomyelitic cavity was very wide and deep, surrounded by a round, thick periosteal reaction. The rostral end of the mandible is under the drape at the bottom left of the image. Surgery  Fig 3. Extensive marsupialization was attempted, even if prognosis was very guarded. Day 0  Fig 4. HEALx Soother Plus® was administered topically twice a day. The rabbit was discharged on antibiotic and analgesic treatment. Assisted feeding was not necessary because the rabbit ate on her own since the very first day after surgery. Frequent rechecks for cleaning of the surgical site were scheduled every other day. Day 7 Fig 5. Follow-up 7 days after surgery. Abundant granulating tissue around the osteomyelitic sequestrum (the diseased teeth) was already present. The black area on the left is necrotic bony tissue from the periosteal reaction. Day 12 Fig 6. Follow-up 12 days after surgery. The oral/extraoral fistula was almost completely healed, and the defect was filling. The black bone was debrided step by step, and the cream-like color is the appearance of fibrin before debridement. Day 15 Fig 7. Follow-up 15 days after surgery. The deep ulceration was reducing in size. Day 21 Fig 8. Follow-up 21 days after surgery. The black necrotic bone was almost completely debrided, and the ulceration was significantly reduced in size. Day 28 Fig 9. Follow-up 28 days after surgery. Day 35  Fig 10. Follow-up 5 weeks after surgery. Day 42 Fig 11. Follow-up 6 weeks after surgery. Control radiographs are pending.