Introduction

Puma concolor is the wild feline with biggest distribution on the American continent and are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and poaching of their wild prey base. Road kills are the principal cause of mortality and heavily travelled roads are a major barrier to cougar movements and dispersal. Until now, tomography features in this species have been bit reported in the literature.

Objectives

In order to provide reference images and values for tomography interpretation, the objective of this study was the tomographic description of the lacrimal bone fracture of a cougar.

Methods

A traumatized adult cougar was presented to our veterinary hospital to be evaluated. As necessary procedure, the animal was submitted to chemical contention for radiographic examination of the head, thorax, limbs and column. After, tomography scan of head was performed to rule out cerebral hematoma with the animal under general anesthesia and positioned in ventral recumbency, using helical equipment SHIMADZU® SCT-7800TC with 2 x 2 mm plans.

Results

On radiographic images was noticed fracture on left humerus and femur and bronchopneumopathy. Lesions on skull by radiographic was not observed. Tomography image showed oblique complete fracture on left lacrimal bone with slight separation of fractured edges. In addition, presence of gaseous content on retrobulbar space associated to rostrolateral displacement of ocular globe (image 1). The cerebral parenchyma did not present significance changes.

Conclusions

We can conclude by this auxiliary method an excellent specificity and sensitivity to fractures in head bones due to superposition of the structures and anatomical differences with domestic felines.