Kurt Sladky
Department of Surgical Sciences
Office: 3270B
Education
- 2011-Present Clinical Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine, Special Species Health
- 2006-2011 Clinical Assistant Professor, Zoological Medicine, Special Species Health
- 2005 Diplomate, American College of Zoological Medicine
- 2001-2006 Clinical Instructor, Zoological Medicine, Special Species Health
- 1997-2000 Residency in Zoological Medicine, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
- 1993 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine
- 1988 M.S., Psychology (Animal Behavior), University of Wisconsin
- 1981 B.S., Meat and Animal Science, University of Wisconsin
Research
I have 2 current research areas of interest:
- My clinical research encompasses comparative nondomestic animal analgesia/anesthesia, with an emphasis on analgesic efficacy in reptiles, amphibians, fish and avian species, and anesthetic efficacy in nonhuman primates.
- From a theoretical perspective, I am interested in the evolution of nociception, from invertebrates to mammals.
- My broader research interests include conservation medicine and the interface between wildlife, domestic animal, and human health and disease. Within this context, my focus is anthropogenic influences on infectious and noninfectious diseases affecting free-ranging wildlife species, and the consequences on ecosystem, animal, and human health.
Responsibilities
- Clinical responsibilities include: medical and surgical management of pet nondomestic, zoo, and wildlife species
- Teaching responsibilities include: 1) fourth year veterinary students clinical rotation in Special Species Health and nondomestic animals anesthesia didactic; 2) third year students Special Species Medicine; 3) coordinator for upper level undergraduate course, Diseases of Wildlife; 4) I also teach a variety of single lectures: Zootoxicology, parasitology of nondomestic pets, avian radiology, and ethics of maintaining elephants in captivity.
- Advisor, University of Wisconsin Global Health Initiative, Advisor
- Wildlife Data Integration Network (WDIN) Team: Megan Hines (Technical Manager), Cris March (Content Manager), Victoria Szewczyk (Administrative Manager), Kurt Sladky (Project Manager)
- Member, Master’s of Public Health Advisory Committee, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Clinical Interests
My clinical focus is Zoological Medicine, which encompasses 3 broad animal areas: zoo and aquaria, free-ranging wildlife, and nondomestic pets. I am Section Head of the Special Species Health Service, and I oversee Resident and student training in Zoological Medicine.
Recent Publications
Baker T, Baker B, Johnson SM, Sladky KK. Comparative analgesic efficacy of morphine and butorphanol in koi (Cyprinus carpio) undergoing gonadectomy. JAVMA (in press).
Kinney ME, Cole GA, Vaughan C, Sladky KK. Physiologic parameters and serum biochemistry values in free-ranging Hoffmann’s two-toed (Choloepus hoffmanni) and brown-throated three-toed (Bradypus variegates) sloths immobilized using dexmedetomidine and ketamine. J Zoo Wildl Med (in p
Mans C, Guzman DMS, Lahner L, Paul-Murphy J, Sladky KK. Intranasal midazolam induces conscious sedation and attenuates the acute stress response in manually restrained Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 26(3): 130-139, 2012.
Sladky KK, Mans C. Clinical analgesia of reptiles. J Exot Pet Med. 21(2):158-167, 2012.
Baker, BB, Sladky, KK, Johnson SM. Tramadol produces long-lasting analgesia with only mild respiratory depression in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). JAVMA 238(2): 220-227, 2011.