Abstract
A 13-yr-old female binturong (Arctictis binturong) was anesthetized for examination due to a 1-wk history of decreased appetite. The animal was found to be thin, have hypercalcemia (calcium 12.2 mg/dl), and a mass present on ultrasound in the right kidney. No metastases were found. Review of records at the institution revealed that the animal’s dam and sire had both died from disseminated renal carcinoma. Renal neoplasia has been previously reported in binturongs.1,2 A nephrectomy was performed to remove the abnormal right kidney. Gross examination revealed a 2 x 3 x 3-cm firm, tan mass at the caudal pole and histopathology confirmed a renal adenocarcinoma. One week after surgery the animal’s appetite and behavior returned to normal. Two weeks later, treatment with toceranib phosphate,a a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, was initiated. Overall, the animal tolerated the medication well, except for a 1-wk period of decreased appetite after initiation of the medication. Four months after initial diagnosis, the animal’s appetite declined and the feces became loose. Metastases to the lungs were present on radiographs and the animal was humanely euthanized. Necropsy revealed disseminated adenocarcinoma throughout the lungs and remaining kidney. To the authors’ knowledge this case is the first report of the use of toceranib phosphate in an exotic species. The benefit of this oral medication was that it was a non-invasive treatment modality. Although the treatment was minimally successful in this case, it was well tolerated by the animal with minimal side effects and likely improved its quality of life.
Endnote
a. Palladia, Zoetis Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Dose varied between 1.4 or 2 mg/kg PO once on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Departments of Small Animal Surgery and Oncology at Michigan State University for their assistance on this case. We would also like to thank the keepers at Potter Park Zoo for their devoted care of this animal.
Literature Cited
1. Childs-Sanford SE, Peters RM, Morrisey JK, Alcaraz A. Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in a binturong (Arctictis binturong). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2005;36:308–312.
2. Klaphake E, Shoieb A, Ramsay E, Schumacher J, Craig L. Renal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pancreatic islet cell carcinoma in a binturong (Arctictis binturong). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2005;36:127–130.