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APPENDIX B

Medical Recommendations for Minah:

Next 60 days (September and October 2001)

• Start Minah on systemic antibiotics to treat the cystitis and prevent further infection of her inflamed urinary bladder. It was recommended that Minah be placed on systemic Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS) therapy at the following dosage administered orally in fruit twice daily:

• Repeat Urinalysis (UA) and complete blood count (CBC) weekly for the next 30 days to document clinical improvement in Minah’s cystitis. Renal function should be evaluated via BUN and creatinine levels in CBC.

• If no improvement in clinical signs, CBC or UA, then perform urine culture and sensitivity to reevaluate antibiotic choice for cystitis therapy.

• Monitor Minah closely for any abnormal vaginal discharge or changes in urination habits or urine character (ie. change in urination frequency, straining, hemorrhage, purulent discharge, etc.).

• Provide Minah with a minimum of 60 days rest from any breeding activity even if signs of estrus resume.

• Monitor Minah’s body weight and do not place Minah in a breeding situation until she has reached her desirable body weight (this can be determined by comparison to previous body weight measurements).

• Monitor food intake and reevaluate diet as deemed appropriate.

 

After October 2001

• Repeat ultrasound exam of reproductive tract and bladder after the 60 day rest period.

• Acquire ultrasound capability and develop schedule of ultrasound combined with biweekly serum progesterone evaluations to characterize Minah’s ovarian activity.

• Enhance efforts to increase body condition of Minah. Steve Romo has already contacted Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld to get a detailed recommendation of appropriate diet for Sungai Dusun’s captive rhinos. Specifically, the pelleted ration needs to be evaluated and modified to meet nutritional demands of this specialized browser based on current understanding. As we await diet evaluation, hand-feeding of browse and pelleted diet should be considered a priority.

• Once cyclic activity and breeding resumes with Minah, post-breeding ultrasound monitoring should commence as outlined in Appendix A (A Proposed Model for Reproductive Monitoring in Sumatran Rhino)

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