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Reproductive medicine
Vet Clin Exot Anim 5 (2002) ix–x
Preface
Reproductive medicine
Brian L. Speer, DVM, ABVP-Avian, ECAMS Guest Editor
I guess I truly am a farmer at heart. My past experiences are filled with working experience on the dairy farm as a milker, on a preconditioning feedlot as a part of the treatment crew, and as a veterinary student working as a part of the mobile mastitis crew. Little did I know that these experiences would contribute so immensely to my personal philosophy, veterinary approach and clinical success as a species specialist in avian medicine. Indeed, my cows have ‘‘grown feathers’’, but the basic tenants of sound reproductive medicine that I learned from those cows has very much remained with me. At the dairy farm, my employer told me the very first day on the job: ‘‘If you don’t know my cows, you don’t milk my cows’’. I have never forgotten those words. The health and productivity of his cows depended on my knowledge of his cows, his economic stability depended on it, and he was very clear that he expected nothing less. In reproductive medicine, if you truly know the patient before you, you will be most optimally positioned to make a difference. Knowledge and familiarity is the key to success, both at the farm as well as in veterinary practice. It truly is a great pleasure to have been presented with the honor to edit this collection of articles on the subject of reproductive medicine. Reproductive medicine, and its application towards the individual animal as well as their populations continues to grow as an area of interest and need in non-domestic animal husbandry. As time progresses, continued removal of large numbers of non-domestic animals for the pet trade from the wild is becoming less popular and less common, and this trend needs to continue even more so. In conjunction with this trend, however, there needs to be an 1094-9194/02/$ - see front matter Ó 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. PII: S 1 0 9 4 - 9 1 9 4 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 5 - 4
x
B.L. Speer / Vet Clin Exot Anim 5 (2002) ix–x
increase in the interest, the science and the true ‘‘art’’ of captive production and reproductive medicine. Within this issue, you will find a mixture of discussions, ranging in their focus on detailed reproductive science, captive propagation technique, and the actual medicine of a wide variety of species. Not all of reproductive medicine however, is focused on production. Indeed, with companion or pet animals, methods to control reproduction and to diagnose and address reproductive disease are an important component of the picture. Through their range and spectrum of subject material, the contributing authors will expose you to current thoughts and techniques pertinent to their subject material of expertise. Each and every one of these articles, individually and collectively, help define the current state of knowledge, and in addition contribute to the body of knowledge of their subjects. Together, these contributors have brought you back to the farm, and offer you their knowledge and familiarity with which you can make a clinical difference for your patients. For their hard efforts and their expertise, the contributing authors of this chapter deserve a very sincere thank-you. Brian L. Speer, DVM Diplomate, ABVP–Avian Diplomate, ECAMS–Avian Medicine and Surgery Oakley Veterinary Medical Center 3807 Main Street Oakley, California 94561
Preface
Reproductive medicine
Brian L. Speer, DVM, ABVP-Avian, ECAMS Guest Editor
I guess I truly am a farmer at heart. My past experiences are filled with working experience on the dairy farm as a milker, on a preconditioning feedlot as a part of the treatment crew, and as a veterinary student working as a part of the mobile mastitis crew. Little did I know that these experiences would contribute so immensely to my personal philosophy, veterinary approach and clinical success as a species specialist in avian medicine. Indeed, my cows have ‘‘grown feathers’’, but the basic tenants of sound reproductive medicine that I learned from those cows has very much remained with me. At the dairy farm, my employer told me the very first day on the job: ‘‘If you don’t know my cows, you don’t milk my cows’’. I have never forgotten those words. The health and productivity of his cows depended on my knowledge of his cows, his economic stability depended on it, and he was very clear that he expected nothing less. In reproductive medicine, if you truly know the patient before you, you will be most optimally positioned to make a difference. Knowledge and familiarity is the key to success, both at the farm as well as in veterinary practice. It truly is a great pleasure to have been presented with the honor to edit this collection of articles on the subject of reproductive medicine. Reproductive medicine, and its application towards the individual animal as well as their populations continues to grow as an area of interest and need in non-domestic animal husbandry. As time progresses, continued removal of large numbers of non-domestic animals for the pet trade from the wild is becoming less popular and less common, and this trend needs to continue even more so. In conjunction with this trend, however, there needs to be an 1094-9194/02/$ - see front matter Ó 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. PII: S 1 0 9 4 - 9 1 9 4 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 5 - 4
x
B.L. Speer / Vet Clin Exot Anim 5 (2002) ix–x
increase in the interest, the science and the true ‘‘art’’ of captive production and reproductive medicine. Within this issue, you will find a mixture of discussions, ranging in their focus on detailed reproductive science, captive propagation technique, and the actual medicine of a wide variety of species. Not all of reproductive medicine however, is focused on production. Indeed, with companion or pet animals, methods to control reproduction and to diagnose and address reproductive disease are an important component of the picture. Through their range and spectrum of subject material, the contributing authors will expose you to current thoughts and techniques pertinent to their subject material of expertise. Each and every one of these articles, individually and collectively, help define the current state of knowledge, and in addition contribute to the body of knowledge of their subjects. Together, these contributors have brought you back to the farm, and offer you their knowledge and familiarity with which you can make a clinical difference for your patients. For their hard efforts and their expertise, the contributing authors of this chapter deserve a very sincere thank-you. Brian L. Speer, DVM Diplomate, ABVP–Avian Diplomate, ECAMS–Avian Medicine and Surgery Oakley Veterinary Medical Center 3807 Main Street Oakley, California 94561