Editorial

I

t is my pleasure to present the articles in this issue
of Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine. This
issue is devoted to providing the readership with

an update on avian, small mammal, and reptilian an-
esthesia and analgesia. The surge in interest in pain
management in veterinary medicine, particularly in
dogs and cats, has provided the impetus for developing
interest in this area in avian and exotic pet medicine.

The reader will find clinically useful and current

information on the diagnosis and treatment of pain
in rabbits and ferrets presented by Dr. Matt Johnson.
Dr. Karen Machin provides a review of our current
knowledge and suggestions for the recognition and
treatment of pain in birds. The area of recognition
and treatment of pain in reptiles is in its infancy and
continues to be particularly challenging to the clini-
cian. Dr. Craig Mosley provides a review of our cur-
rent knowledge in this area and presents very useful
information for veterinarians involved in the treat-
ment of pain in reptiles.

The practice of anesthesia in avian and exotic pets

is an area of continuing interest as practitioners are
called on to anesthetize the animals on a daily basis.
A comprehensive review of the current techniques
used in the anesthesia and perioperative support of
birds is presented by Drs. Gunkel and Lafortune.
Approaches to reptilian anesthesia are included in
Dr. Mosley’s article. Essential to a reduction in the
risk of morbidity or mortality associated with anes-
thesia is appropriate monitoring. Dr. Nevarez pro-
vides a practical review of the current monitoring
modalities that can be applied during the anesthesia
of birds and exotic pets.

All of the articles in this issue present both a

review of the current published information in the
area and information gleaned from the authors’ ex-
tensive clinical experience. Reviewing these articles,
it becomes clear that while the body of knowledge
related to anesthesia and analgesia in avian and
exotic pet animals continues to expand, practitioners
rely on the shared experience of others for clinically
applicable information. Thus, I urge practitioners to
place themselves in forums that allow the dissemina-
tion of knowledge gained from their own clinical ex-
perience. Electronic discussion lists are excellent fo-
rums for sharing or gathering this type of information.

Clearly, much knowledge concerning avian and

exotic pet anesthesia and analgesia remains to be
gathered. The acquisition of such knowledge needs
the aggressive support of funding agencies. With the
continued acquisition of evidence-based knowledge
and the sharing of our clinical experience, the areas
of anesthesia and analgesia in exotic pet and avian
medicine and surgery will continue to afford the
animals placed in our stewardship the deserved ben-
efit of an excellent standard of care.

Glenn R Pettifer, DVM, DVSc, ACVA
Guest Editor

© 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1055-937X/05/1404-$30.00
doi:10.1053/j.saep.2005.09.001

Vol 14, No 4 • October 2005

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