Alligator patient diagnosed with ear infection
Brooke, a 376-pound, very popular resident of St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park for nearly 20 years, came to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospitals on July 25 for a thorough work-up to evaluate the possible cause of unusual behavior he has been exhibiting in the lagoon where he lives.
According to the park’s reptile curator, Jim Darlington, Brooke — an alligator named for the Brookfield Zoo, where he came from originally — has displayed intermittent head-rolling in the lagoon. While Brooke was at UF, Dr. Bridget Walker, a UF zoological medicine resident, performed a blood draw to obtain a sample for analysis. Brooke then received X-rays of his lungs and a CT scan of his head during his stay here. The X-rays were needed in addition to CT images because Brooke was too large to perform a complete CT scan of his body.
Our zoological medicine service team determined that Brooke had an ear infection and he returned home to the Alligator Farm later that day.
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- This alligator, named Brooke, is owned by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and came to the UF Veterinary Hospital for a full diagnostic work-up on July 25. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- This alligator, named Brooke, is owned by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and came to the UF Veterinary Hospital for a full diagnostic work-up on July 25. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- Dr. Bridget Walker obtains a blood sample using the venous spinal sinus, located on the top of Brooke’s head. Jim Darlington, reptile curator at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, assists. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- Dr. Bridget Walker hands off a sample to Kara Prater, CVT, for processing in the lab. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- The zoological medicine team prepares to move Brooke from a padded stall in UF’s Large Animal Hospital to the radiology area. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- Brooke is positioned by the team in large animal radiology to take images of his lungs. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- Brooke is positioned in the CT scanner for imaging of his head. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
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- Brooke is positioned in the CT scanner for imaging of his head. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
July-August 2023
Faculty member honored with 2023 Excellence Award for Assistant Professors
The award is a campus-wide achievement and top honor for junior faculty.
Event reunites formerly critically ill patients with UF veterinary teams involved in their recovery
About a dozen dogs that survived critical illness after treatment at UF were reunited with their care teams during a Celebration of Life event held Aug. 12.
Emergency specialist faculty member receives inaugural Michael Schaer Professorship
The professorship provides perpetual support for a clinical faculty member associated with the department of small animal clinical sciences who works with the UF Small Animal Hospital’s emergency and critical care service.
Alligator patient diagnosed with ear infection
The alligator came to UF on July 25 for a full diagnostic work-up after exhibiting abnormal behavior.
Veterinary neurology specialist to lead department of small animal clinical sciences
Dr. Charles Vite’s appointment is effective Oct. 1.
UF veterinary oncology program gets boost via the Ann and Lawrence G. Laiks Canine Cancer Fund
At UF, the fund will be used to support special collaborative canine cancer research with the UF Health Cancer Center.
Genomics researcher named associate dean at the college
Dr. Janet Robishaw began her appointment as associate dean for research and graduate studies on Aug. 15.
...also in this issue
People
- Graduates receive M.S., Ph.D. degrees
- Emergency specialist faculty member receives inaugural Michael Schaer Professorship
- A new CRISPR-based diagnostic test to detect tilapia lake virus
News
- In the news
- Veterinary neurology specialist to lead department of small animal clinical sciences
- Genomics researcher named associate dean at the college
Around the College
- A message from our dean
- Faculty member honored with 2023 Excellence Award for Assistant Professors
- Event reunites formerly critically ill patients with UF veterinary teams involved in their recovery
- Alligator patient diagnosed with ear infection
- UF veterinary oncology program gets boost via the Ann and Lawrence G. Laiks Canine Cancer Fund
