SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)
Fecal consistency is routinely used as an indicator of gastrointestinal health and diet suitability in zoo animals. The underlying processes in ungulate fecal consistency are not often investigated. The authors assessed multiple factors on fecal consistency scores in six adult zoo moose (Alces alces...
Published in: | Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
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American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 |
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ftbioone:10.1638/2022-0033 2023-07-30T03:55:46+02:00 SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss world 2023-01-05 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 en eng American Association of Zoo Veterinarians doi:10.1638/2022-0033 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 Text 2023 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 2023-07-09T10:54:38Z Fecal consistency is routinely used as an indicator of gastrointestinal health and diet suitability in zoo animals. The underlying processes in ungulate fecal consistency are not often investigated. The authors assessed multiple factors on fecal consistency scores in six adult zoo moose (Alces alces) retrospectively for a 3-yr period. All animals were regularly tested for gastrointestinal parasites and received antiparasitics when noted. Neither the provision of dietary browse nor number of visitors had a significant effect. Seasonally varying intake of the staple pelleted diet was the main explanatory factor, with an additional effect from environmental temperature or season. Higher intakes and higher temperatures were linked to less well-formed feces. The authors hypothesize that during the summer hyperphagia to replete body reserves, the water re-absorption function of the large intestine apparently becomes overtaxed. Heat stress may have an additional, intake-independent effect. Although monitoring fecal consistency is a part of good health surveillance, physiologic seasonal effects, as reported here, need to be taken into consideration when interpreting the observations. Text Alces alces BioOne Online Journals Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 53 4 |
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description |
Fecal consistency is routinely used as an indicator of gastrointestinal health and diet suitability in zoo animals. The underlying processes in ungulate fecal consistency are not often investigated. The authors assessed multiple factors on fecal consistency scores in six adult zoo moose (Alces alces) retrospectively for a 3-yr period. All animals were regularly tested for gastrointestinal parasites and received antiparasitics when noted. Neither the provision of dietary browse nor number of visitors had a significant effect. Seasonally varying intake of the staple pelleted diet was the main explanatory factor, with an additional effect from environmental temperature or season. Higher intakes and higher temperatures were linked to less well-formed feces. The authors hypothesize that during the summer hyperphagia to replete body reserves, the water re-absorption function of the large intestine apparently becomes overtaxed. Heat stress may have an additional, intake-independent effect. Although monitoring fecal consistency is a part of good health surveillance, physiologic seasonal effects, as reported here, need to be taken into consideration when interpreting the observations. |
author2 |
Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss |
format |
Text |
author |
Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss |
spellingShingle |
Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
author_facet |
Alexandria A. Armeni Rachel Thompson Trista Fischer Marcus Clauss |
author_sort |
Alexandria A. Armeni |
title |
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
title_short |
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
title_full |
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
title_fullStr |
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
title_full_unstemmed |
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION OF FECAL CONSISTENCY IN ZOO-HOUSED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) |
title_sort |
seasonal fluctuation of fecal consistency in zoo-housed moose (alces alces) |
publisher |
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 |
op_coverage |
world |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1638/2022-0033 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0033 |
container_title |
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
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53 |
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4 |
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1772821466013761536 |