2026-01-12 – Weekly Veterinarian News : Which primate is venomous?

Last week’s discussions in our veterinarian community covered a broad range of topics. Members exchanged insights on how autoimmunity affects vaccine responses in dogs and debated pain management options for small parrots. There was also significant interest in strategies for preparing reptiles and rabbits for heatwaves, as well as methods to support dogs during holiday gatherings. These conversations highlighted the community’s commitment to enhancing animal care across various species.


This Week’s Hot Topics

When a cat picks kale
A lively discussion emerged around a curious feline behavior—cats choosing to munch on kale. This thread explores why some cats are drawn to unusual plant-based snacks.
Read more here

Open-access veterinary histopath image banks
Colleagues shared resources on open-access image banks for veterinary histopathology, a valuable tool for diagnostics and education.
Read more here

Which primate is actually venomous
A fascinating discussion about venomous primates shed light on some lesser-known species and their unique defense mechanisms.
Read more here

Grapiprant or carprofen for chronic OA
Veterinarians debated the pros and cons of using Grapiprant versus Carprofen for managing chronic osteoarthritis in pets.
Read more here

The bearded dragon who outsmarted my syringe
An entertaining account of a clever bearded dragon resisting medication, sparking a conversation about innovative administration techniques.
Read more here

Helping dogs during holiday gatherings
Members discussed strategies to reduce stress for dogs during festive gatherings, ensuring a happier holiday season for pets and owners alike.
Read more here

Autoimmunity blunting vaccine responses in dogs
This topic delves into how autoimmune conditions in dogs can impact the efficacy of their vaccinations, a crucial consideration for practitioners.
Read more here

Heatwave prep for reptiles and rabbits
With warmer weather approaching, members shared tips on keeping reptiles and rabbits safe during heatwaves, highlighting environmental considerations.
Read more here

Pain control for small parrots
The challenges of managing pain in small parrots were discussed, with veterinarians offering practical advice and treatment options.
Read more here

Rabbits can’t vomit — name another species
This thread invited members to explore other animals with similar physiological traits, leading to an engaging exchange of information.
Read more here


Thank you for staying engaged with our community. Your contributions make this forum a valuable resource for all. Until next week, take care and continue the great work.

It’s the “slow loris” — cute but spicy. If there’s any chance your clinic could see a confiscated loris, train staff to avoid the brachial gland exudate and keep epinephrine ready for bite exposures; rare for GP clinics, but key for rehab settings. Anyone willing to share a bite-response protocol you’ve used in exotics?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠‍​‍⁠‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍⁠‌⁠​​‌​‌​‌‍⁠‌‌​​‍‌‍​⁠‌‌​‍‌⁠​‍‌​⁠⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠​​‌​‌​​⁠‌​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

And agree with @bryant_hill54, and one thing that’s helped us: we keep a sealed “loris kit” by the exotics cart — face shield, double nitrile gloves, and a laminated bite/anaphylaxis protocol with the local tox line — so nobody reaches in bare-handed during triage. Small caveat: we avoid towels that wick saliva; rigid shields or kennels work better — anyone have a good intake checklist?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​​‌‌‌​‌‌⁠⁠​‍⁠‌​⁠‌‌‌​‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌‌​‍‌⁠‍​‌⁠‍‌​⁠‌⁠‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‍‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

, one thing I don’t see mentioned: because the loris secretion includes a Fel d 1–like allergen, we flag staff with significant cat allergies and keep them off any loris contact; it’s a 2-minute check at the weekly huddle. We also tape a tiny ‘epi doses + airway steps’ card to the exotics cart and prioritize copious irrigation and a tetanus check over any bite debridement — curious if @Guide has seen in-clinic anaphylaxis from a loris bite, but this setup’s kept us out of trouble.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌‍‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌⁠‍‌‌‌​‍​⁠​‌‌‍⁠‌‌​‌‍‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍​‌‍⁠‌‌​​‍​⁠‌‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​