The use of analgesics in the management of an orthopaedic disorder in a captive-bred male barbirusa Babirusa babyrussa

The increasing number of captive babirusa Babyrousa babyrousa found to be d eveloping orthopaedic disorders has led to a greater awareness of the need to gather information related to the available therapies currently in use. One such animal was a captive-bred male babirusa, kept at the Jersey Wildli fe Preservation Trust, with a history of chronic joint pain. A variety of t reatments, which included topical laser therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflamma tories, corticosteroids and homoeopathy were tried on this animal. In this paper, the efficacy of the various treatments is discussed and recommendati ons are made towards improving the current practices of managing orthopaedi c disease in babirusa.