You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed...

The Future of Exotic & Zoo Animal MedicineJeleen Briscoe, VMD’02, DABVP (Avian)

Veterinary Medical OfficerUSDA/APHIS Animal Care Program

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

-- Antoine de Saint ExupèryThe Little Prince

Penn InternPenn Dermatology ResidentCornell Comparative GastroenterologyPennVet FacultyFirst staff vet at Philly ZooExecutive Director, AAZV & ARAV & AAVNEditor, JZWMPresident & Chairman, WAWVAnimal Policy Committee, NAIBBoard of Directors, ECI

Nicest guy in the WORLDDr. Amand

•Jane Goodall

•National Zoo

•Dr. Don Stremme

• Drs. Latney and Wyre Kareoke

• Dr. McDermott Ribbon Dance

• Just pretend there never was a Keynote

• Jeleen Briscoe

Alternatives to Dr. Amand

Top 10 Ways You Know You are Hopelessly

Destined to Become an Exotics Veterinarian

10. Over 60% of your Facebook pics are of you and some

strange animal

9. You pick a bottle of wine based

on whether or not there are non-domestic animals on the label

8. You can doodle your

favorite exotic animal in

under 30 seconds

7. Your hands and arms are

covered with scars, each of

which has a really cool story that your friends make

you repeat at parties

6. You think baby beardies are WAY more heart-melting than

kittens

5. When someone *ks you

what kind of pet(s) you have,

you say “Do you want the Latin or common nam0?”

Psittacula krameri

Oryctolagus cuniculiMustela putorius furo

Carrasius auratus

Pogona vitticepsPython regius

4. You come cl3e to tears of joy and belonging when you FINALLY

have that first vet school lecture on

exotics or wildlife

3. When the exam questions from

said 5otics lecture were confusing or unfair, your cl*smat0 blame you

2. You have convinced yourself that ramen noodles actually make a

nutritionally sound food staple

since you survived on them to afford that little stint at Aquavet/Sea

World/Bronx Zoo/Baltimore Aquarium

And the Number 1 Way That You Know You

are Hopelessly Destined to Become an Exotics Veterinarian

is...

1. Somewhere, deep within the confines of your parents’

house, there 8 the perfectly

pr0erved carcass of at le*t

one speci0 of reptile

So you wanna be a zoo vet?Dr. Scott Larsen

Dr. Ray

Wack

What 8 different about seeing exotics?

18

The Veterinary Triangle...and Exotics

19

Veterinarian

ClientPatient

Society The Law

The InternetThe Pet Store

The Wild Counterpart

Bird Talk Magazine

wildernessclassroom.com

CITES I

CITES II< 3,000

????

Which rabbit is critical?

Which patient is a risk for an immuno-compromised owner?

Psittacosis Salmonella

Grant S et al. EID 1999

What 8 fun about seeing

exotics?

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

What 8 DIFFICULT about seeing

exotics?

Positive: Everyday 8 different

Negative: Everyday 8 different

Know Your Limits

The Veterinary Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Relief of animal suffering

The Veterinary Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Conservation of animal resources

The Veterinary Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics

The Veterinary Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.COntinual improvement

State of the NationWhat Should Be vs. What Is

White OAK 2000

Minimal RequirementsZoological Medicine

Veterinary School Graduates

Biological Features Husbandry Requirements

Common species

Practice basic clinical medicine

Hands onHumane & Safe restraint

Physical Examination

Local & Global impact of Zoonoses

Herd management preventative medicine

epidemiology

current environmental issues

EthicsWelfare

11/28 = 39%

What Is: Vet Schools with Exotics Faculty

8 avian internships

14 exotic/wildlife internships

4 avian residencies

7 exotic/wildlife/zoological residencies

What Is: Post-Gradute Exotics Opportunities

Exotic Interns vs Small Animal

22 v. 134

Exotic residents vs Sx + ER + Med

11 v. 112

• Cornell

• Kansas City Zoo

• Lincoln Park

• National Zoo

• NC State

• OKU

• MSU

• St. Louis Zoo

• The Wilds

• Toronto Zoo

• UC Davis

• UGA

• UF

• Montreal U

• UTN

• Madison-Wisc

• Zurich U

• WCS

• IZAAR

• Cleveland Metroparks

ZOO Interns:ACZM ResidencY Spots7:20

What Is: Post-Gradute Exotics Opportunities

AVMA 200782 million cats and 72 million dogs

119

2 1 0.8 0.6 0.5Birds Rabbits Hamsters

Ferrets

Fish TurtlesGuinea

Pigs

What Is: How many exotic pets are there?

in millions

1991-1996: Exotic Pet Ownership

65%

Klaphake EA et al. JAMS 2002Smith EK et al. JAVMA 1998

What Is: Why do they come to see you?

MeaN Expenditure per Avian Visit:

$9

What in9uenc0 exotic pet Ownership?

2 Year Old Male CockatielClosed simple Transverse Fracture of the Tibi0tarsusEmergency visit + pain meds + anesthesia + tape split placement

October 19, 2011

“No person shall by any means acquire a dangerous exotic animal”

“Dangerous exotic animal means...large cat, nonhuman primate, constricting snake, venomous snake, any other animal designated by chief in rules…”

October 22, 2011

HR 511

Federal Python bill

HR 4089SPORTSMAN Heritage Act

HR 669Non-Native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act

animal Rights vs animal WElfare

Jeleen’s Top 10 Secrets to Becoming an Exotics

Veterinarian

67

10. OWN the thought that even if you only see

ONE non-domesticated animal in your

lifetime, you are a conservationist

9. Don’t focus too early: your inner

James Herriot will come in handy

someday

“If you can wrestle a cow, you can

wrestle a hippo”

Dr. Shane Boylan

8. Honesty 8 the b0t policy:

don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.”

7. Don’t do th8 in a vacuum: Never stop reading, learning, and talking

to friends

6. Live a Strategic life

5. Get a hobby and revel in it

and your family. Your job will be there in the morning.

4. Reassess on a regular b*8

How’s that working for you?

3. :ink SATISFACTION not

work-life balance

2. Use social-networking sit0 strategically

1. Be nice to everyone. Let

your joy shine through.

The future of zoos?

:e Future of Exotic and Zoo Medicine?