Critical care for a hypothermic and hypoglycemic white rhinoceros (ceratotherium simum simum) calf

Abstract

Abstract: A 3-day-old, 57.3-kg, male white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) neonate presented laterally recumbent with comatose mentation, cold extremities, and severe hypothermia, hypoxemia, and hypoglycemia. Critical care support was initiated with aggressive fluid and warming support as well as dextrose and oxygen supplementation. After initial stabilization, additional complications arose in subsequent weeks including intermittent diarrhea, dry skin with loss of epidermal layers, urticaria on the head, and superficial wounds on the face, ears, feet, and penis. There is a lack of critical care information for rhinoceros calves. However, due to similarities to other Perissodactylids, some general guidelines for critical equid neonatal care were implemented. The calf was hand-raised until weaning and is now a subadult white rhinoceros with no abnormalities.