Veterinary Aspects of the Field Examination of the Brazilian Jaguarundi/ Gato Mourisco/Gato da Mata (case #103jagdi01)

When I was ending my penultimate year at Vets' School last year, I became aware that I was reaching the end of the course's theoretical content and that in a few short weeks I would be starting my clinical rotations.  Thus I would be expected to know all the theory of the previous four years.

I asked one of my most forward-looking professors what preparatory reading I should be doing, and he recommended the opening chapter of Ettinger.

One of the things I took from this reading was that the clinical examination begins as soon as I see the patient, which is at a distance.

Some time ago I obtained access to the Environmental Military Police's holding facility for wildlife in trouble.  Last week I examined a Jaguarundi, a fast little cat that comes in a variety of colours.

My first impression was that both animals that I was seeing in the pen were healthy.  As a conservation veterinary surgeon you learn your craft fast. When I see an animal now - and I have been observing animals all my life - I have a certain way of thinking about what I see.  As a field naturalist your biggest concern is getting an accurate identification. As a veterinarian this is of - how can I put this?  Not secondary concern, not to me, anayway, because I am dealing with some elusive species out here, but I have to be able to assess the animal clinically.

So you find yourself thinking in terms of the animal's bodily systems:  its skin, coat (mirror as to the animal's health), locomotion, movement, breathing, pulse, eyes, ears, paws, in fact, every part of its body, internally andexternally.

The animal below, which I examined last week, had a dark brown pelage (fur).  According to Emmons (1997), this is indicative of an animal from a rainforest habitat, as opposed to dry forest, cerrado or wetland (the Pantanal, locally).

I have never examined a more easy-to-handle wild animal.

Its heart rate was wonderfully regular; its breathing problem-free.

This one, I am delighted to say, seemed to be in rude health, and is due to be released next week. Good luck to her.  I named her Liane, a cat from the wild, after Mike Tomkies' Scottish Wildcat.

Magalhaes (1992) provides some solid natural history information. She says the species is usually found in pairs, and avoids open fields.

Eisenberg and Redford (1999) report that, even within the same population, a variety of coat colours can be seen.

Eisenberg, J. F. and Redford, K. H. (1999).  Mammals of the Neotropics: The Central Neotropics. Vol 3. Ecuador, Peru. Bolivia. Brazil. The University of Chicago Press, London.

Ettinger, S. T. and Feldman, E. C. (2005). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine.Diseases of the Dog and Cat.  Sixth Ed. Elsevier, Inc.

Emmons, L.H. (1997). Neotropical Rainforest Animals. A Field Guide, Second Edition. The University of Chicago Press, London.

Magalhaes, N. W. de (1992). Conheça o Pantanal. Terragraph, São Paulo.

An adult female Jaguarundi, Gato Mourisco, Herpailurus yaguarundi, in captivity in Brazil's Mato Grosso State, Central Western Brazil.  Photo: Dr John Beaumont..