external laboratory results did not
show any cause for the diarrhoea.
The faecal floatation and occult blood
evaluations were both negative. Only
normal bacterial intestinal flora was
cultured aerobically, anaerobic culture
was negative and no salmonella was
cultured.
Figure 3: Note the lack of perineal staining at the second assessment
This case was interesting as diarrhoea
in free ranging white rhino is rarely
reported in the literature. No definitive
diagnosis was able to be made and
we were unable to ascertain the
primary cause. However, we were able
to rule out some of the differential
diagnoses such as parasitism following
the laboratory testing. Anecdotal information gained
during this case was that diarrhoea in free ranging
white rhino was rare but when present it was
often severe and frequently fatal. The fact that the
diarrhoea resolved in this rhino calf without treatment
questions this information. Could it be possible that
young rhino still learning the grazing “menu” of an
area could be getting nutritional diarrhoeas without
being noted?
This case suggests that early intervention, which can
be risky, is not always necessary, especially if there are
few other clinical signs.
References
Figure 4: Firmer faeces passed during assessment
to showed signs of improvement. She remained bright
and active and the faeces gradually began firming up.
Unfortunately a period of bad weather then forced
the calf and her mother into an area of dense thicket
and no visual assessment was able to be made for
a number of days. Upon their re-emergence the
diarrhoea appeared to have spontaneously resolved
and the calf appeared to be back to full health. The
Penzhorn, B. L., et al. 1994. Parasties of African rhinos:
a