DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Navel Infection in Bears:

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Bacterial Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names
  • Omphalitis
  • Navel ill
Disease Agents Various bacteria.
Infectious Agent(s) --
Non-infectious Agent(s) --
Physical Agent(s) --
General Description
  • Reported in young hand-reared bears. (B16.9.w9, B64.26.w5)
  • Common in hand-reared bears that have not received colostrum from their mothers. (B16.9.w9, B64.26.w5, J23.9.w4)
  • A slight navel infection developed in two hand-reared Ursus arctos - Brown bear cubs during their first week. (J23.9.w3)
  • Inflammation of the navel, which may occur in parent-reared cubs due to excessive licking or infection. (D247.6.w6)
Further Information
Treatment
  • Two hand-reared Ursus arctos - Brown bear cubs were given 0.5 mL procaine penicillin each and in one cub the infected area was lanced. This treated the cubs successfully. (J23.9.w3)
  • In parent-reared cubs, inflammation of the navel, which may occur due to excessive licking, or infection, should be treated only if absolutely necessary. (D247.6.w6)
Prevention
  • Homologous ursid serum (if available), 10 to 12 mL administered subcutaneously, may provide temporary immunity. (B16.9.w9, B64.26.w5)
  • A Ursus maritimus - Polar bear cub was given 9.0 mL of banked frozen polar bear serum subcutaneously then a further 9.0 mL orally over three feeds. (B338.24.w24)
    • Based on recent information for dogs, 22.0 mL/kg should be given (have 10-15 mL banked serum ready per cub), subcutaneously; oral administration can be used but absorption after 12 hours is minimal.  (B338.24.w24)
  • Single dose of long-acting broad spectrum antibiotic given as soon as possible (B16.9.w9, J23.9.w4) e.g. intramuscular dose of 75,000 units of benzathine penicillin G. (B64.26.w5)
  • Topical application of 0.5% chlorhexidine solution every six hours for the first 72 hours. (B338.24.w24)
    • This is preferable to iodine; it has a wider bacterial spectrum than iodine solutions, and is less caustic to tissues. (B338.24.w24)
    • Topical application of 2 % tincture of iodine to the umbilicus has been recommended. (B16.9.w9, B64.26.w5, J23.11.w3) Note: there is the potential for entrapment of bacteria in the stump if iodine solutions are used. (B338.24.w24)
Associated Techniques
Host taxa groups /species Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Host species with further information available are listed below:

(List does not contain all other species groups affected by this infectious agent)

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