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Zoological medicine > Avian > Flashcards

Avian Flashcards

1
Q

how are birds important to the ecosystem?

A

they keep it in balance by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, scavenging carcasses, and recycling nutrients back into the earth

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2
Q

bird class

A

aves

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3
Q

what are their feathers evolved from?

A

their feathers are modified scales
evolved from meat eating dinosaurs called theropods

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4
Q

psittacines

A

hookbills
parrots, budgies, etc

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5
Q

passerines

A

canaries, finches, toucans, mynahs

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6
Q

piciformes

A

woodpeckers

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7
Q

columbiformes

A

pigeons/doves

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8
Q

galliformes

A

poultry

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9
Q

anseriformes

A

waterfowl
geese, swans, ducks

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10
Q

falconiformes

A

hawk-like birds
raptors/birds of prey: falcons, hawks, owls, eagles

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11
Q

ratites

A

flightless birds in multiple orders and families
ostriches and emu
ratite: Latin word for raft, refers to shape of their keel-less sternum

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12
Q

sphenisciformes

A

flightless birds that aren’t ratities
penguins: lack flat breastbone and have strong wings for swimming

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13
Q

Australia origin birds

A

psittacines: 200 species
no more native to US left
domestic breeding, hand raised birds are recommended, inbreeding seen since not native to US anymore so no new blood for a while
parakeet: small parrot
parakeets, cockatiels, eclectus, cockatoo, rainbow lory

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14
Q

1993 law about exotic birds

A

law was passed in 1993 that prevented importing of wild caught birds to the US

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15
Q

eclectus parrot colors

A

have sexual dimorphism
males usually green and females are red and purple

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16
Q

sexual dimorphism

A

color varies between male and female

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17
Q

Central/South America origin birds

A

parrots/parakeets, macaws, conures
macaws: blue and gold, different species are multicolored and have long tails, largest parrots
conures: variety of colors, medium sized birds with long tails, love to screech

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18
Q

parrot/parakeet types

A

Amazon: many species, primary color green, short tails, good talkers and pets
Quaker

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19
Q

macaw types

A

Hyacinth: longest of all and most expensive

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20
Q

Africa origin birds

A

lovebird: Peach face lovebird is slightly larger than parakeet
African gray: Timnah - red tail, congo- orange longer tail
African gray most intelligent

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21
Q

adaptations to flight

A

light but strong skeleton, variable number of cervical vertebrae while most of the spine is fused for stability in flight, flapping of entire wing occurs primarily through actions of the highly developed pectoral chest muscles that attach to keel bone

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22
Q

pectoral girdle

A

clavicle, coracoid, scapula
coracoid bone: acts as a strut in flight (resists skeleton compression)

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23
Q

pneumatic bones

A

hollow bones
air filled spaces that are sometimes connected to air sacs
not in all birds but more extensive in large birds
femur, humerus, some vertebrae, skull

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24
Q

where should IO catheters be placed?

A

not in pneumatic bones because fluid could go to lungs
place in distal ulna or proximal tibia

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25
remiges
flight feathers asymmetrical which affects airflow and provides some of lifting and thrusting force required for flight
26
primary flight feathers
first 10 located at tip of the wing
27
secondary flight feathers
second 10 located closer to body, attach to forearm portion of wing and provide lift
28
contour or coverts part of flight feathers
4 or 5 layers found on body reduce drag produced by wind resistance during flight
29
what are feathers made of?
keratin
30
how do birds keep their feathers groomed?
through preening
31
down feathers
specialized feathers that insulate by trapping air between each feather to reduce heat loss
32
pin feather
blood feather
33
apteri
featherless tract pigeons don't have
34
rachis
feather shaft
35
alula
like thumb, prevents stalling when breaking in flight
36
molting
once feathers are grown in they can't be repaired if worn/damaged since each feather occupies a single feather follicle, the feathers need to be removed or fall out to stimulate new feather growth molting: shedding of old feathers to make way for new ones occurs gradually, bilaterally, and in a symmetrical sequence creates need for protein for feather development, can be stressful takes 6 weeks for new feathers to grow in
37
factors that influence molting time
changing of seasons/day length, temperature, food availability, general health/reproductive state
38
when do wild birds usually molt?
spring and fall they continuously replace old/lost feathers between seasons
39
stress bars
darker pigmented areas that represent disruption in growth sign of stress: weaning, nutritional problems, illness
40
wing trimming
don't trim pin feathers!! ingrowing pin feather or blood feather is fragile and should be protected doesn't stop bird from flying but slows them down so they land softly usual practice: trim both wings high up under coverts and cut 5 or 6 primaries, leaving 1 or 2 outer feathers use small scissors or suture scissors on small birds or bandage scissors on large birds if pin feathers: leave 1 feather on each side for protection if too many pin feathers: wait for molting first trim every month or 2 depending on bird
41
what happens to the keratin sheath when a new feather grows in?
the keratin sheath on the grown in feather will fall off or be picked off by the bird
42
cere
fleshy pad on base of beck contains nares on some species
43
infraorbital sinus
1 big sinus since the skull is pneumatic difficult to drain so can trap particles and become the site of respiratory issues/abscesses can perform sinus flushes either with saline or can administer antibiotics into sinus
44
what do birds have instead of an abdominal cavity?
a coelomic cavity because they don't have a diaphragm
45
bird respiratory system characteristics
very large trachea, higher lung surface area, have air sacs that store and warm air air can go from trachea to lungs as well as air sacs to lungs so oxygen exchange occurs during inspiration and expiration air sacs connected to hollow interior of bones 8-9 air sacs lungs are non-expandable
46
circuit of breathing
1. inspiration: air goes through trachea to posterior air sacs 2. expiration: caudal air sacs to lungs 3. inspiration: lungs to anterior or cranial air sacs 4. expiration: air sacs out of body 2 full breaths needed to complete the circuit
47
GI system characteristics
short length so decreased volume esophagus on right side of neck
48
crop
dilation of esophagus so bird can store food sits at thoracic inlet absent in some species
49
proventriculus
"true stomach"
50
ventriculus
aka gizzard mechanical breakdown of food
51
gizzard
aka ventriculus most wild birds need grit to break down food in stomach, but not pets - we can cause blockage
52
casting
seen in raptors mechanism to eliminate indigestible components, pellet contains skin, feathers, fur and bones - formed in the ventriculus and vomited out
53
cloaca
termination for digestive and urogenital system - vent external opening, eliminate urine and feces
54
normal eyes
free of discharge, shouldn't be sunken, have nictating membranes can do hydration test on upper eyelid
55
bristle feathers
eyelashes
56
striated muscle in eye
when nervous will constrict pupils
57
normal ears
short external opening caudal to eyes have ear coverts which is a feather cover ear should be free of debris
58
beak trims
can become overgrown so trim beak grinding before sleep is normal
59
oral cavity
have syrinx instead of larynx: voice box choana: v-shaped opening in hard palate connecting oropharynx and nasal cavity (internal nares), closes during swallowing papillae should be sharp (next to glottis): moves food into esophagus have dry tongue
60
oral plaques
seen in vitamin A deficiency, trichomoniasis parasite, overgrowth of yeast: candidasis ("canker") in pigeons and doves
61
what is a common parasite that can be seen in the trachea?
Syngamus trachea (gape worm) type of roundworm worms bright red when alive from sucking on the host's blood low numbers tolerated, high numbers cause respiratory signs (coughing, gaping, weight loss)
62
uropygial gland
"preen gland" with wick feather preen gland: located at base of tail, has small tuft of "greasy" feathers; absent from some species; impactions, infections, neoplasia common wick feathers: feathers on preen gland, material released contains waterproofing oil, can live without
63
sexing
used to do laparoscopic identification but now can do zoogen test with small amount of blood from feathers
64
bird reproduction basics
most are monogamous eggs laid on successive days is a clutch clutches are separated by no egg days clutch size is individual to bird: can be 2-100 eggs
65
bird testes
bean shaped bodies located against backbone at front of kidney size not constant and become larger when birds are actively mating, left testes usually larger
66
how do birds reproduce?
sperm enter through cloaca into oviduct most species have only 1 functional ovary (usually left) ovary follicles each contain an ovum/yolk release of ovum from follicle ---> yolk moves into oviduct which produces albumen, shell membranes, and shell around yolk uterus part of oviduct known as shell gland: produces shell with calcium carbonate that is absorbed from diet
67
egg binding
seen in cockatiels, finches, canaries, budgies causes dystocia and blood in feces
68
chronic egg laying
serious, nutritional deficiency if owners take eggs away - bird becomes exhausted and causes osteoporosis
69
husbandry
bigger cage better (longer width than height) allow exercise, self-expression, entertainment make sure caging and perch materials are non-toxic perch should be a size where bird can wrap feet around it need regular misting/baths beware of predators, alcohol, tobacco, lead/zinc, salt, onion, avocado, pistachio, windows/mirrors, other animals, fans, chemicals, burning cooking oil/butter, paint fumes dishes should be made of sturdy, non-toxic material that is easy to clean
70
nutrition
majority of birds suffer from malnutrition and vitamin A/calcium deficiency all seed diet is bad; low in calcium, vitamin A, and protein seed okay as treats vitamin supplements okay for high stress (sick) birds if seed eater but don't give on a pelleted diet give varied diet/washed veggies different prepared diets available by species
71
hallux
1st digit
72
retriles
tail feathers
73
illness
hide signs of illness visual exam: tail bobbing (slight normal, pronounced not normal), breathing silent with little effort?, perching?, cage appearance?, droppings?, feathers? signs: sleepy, droopy eyed, wobbling, droopy wings, fluffed feathers (way to conserve energy and heat, usually requires immediate attention)
74
slurry
oatmeal, baby food, nutri-Cal and warm water
75
parts of bird droppings
formed fecal (usually green in seed eaters from bile since seeds don't have color), off-white urate crystal portion, and liquid urine portion
76
restraint
watch stress level!! if mouth breathing: put back in cage, too stressed capture in sealed room, turn off lights if it escapes use towel to reduce fear of hands, get control of head, pin back wings, watch pressure on keel
77
specific things to know based on classification for restraint
ratites: may try to kick with long sharp inner claw galliformes: watch spurs and beaks; restrain legs, then abdomen, place large bird under arm anseriformes: will pinch with bill raptors: use gloves - talons are dangerous, ball up gauze in talons and wrap with vet wrap for extended procedures herons: dangerous beaks
78
anesthesia induction
use mask and isoflurane can be intubated after anesthetized no cuff because they have tracheal rings have very visible glottis: no epiglottis and non-rigid trachea use flexible tubes in long necked birds
79
phelbotomy
parrots: usually use right jugular (bigger); find area of no feathers (aptyrea), wet with alcohol, hold off, can easily see vein other veins that can be used: medial metatarsal vein or basilic/cutaneous ulnar vein ("wing vein", "brachial vein") can do hydration check on vein can't do function tests like BUN or creatinine but can do uric acid and bile acid tests
80
radiology
anesthetize first can use masking tape to position wings taped behind bird for lateral rads
81
feather picking
medical/nutritional causes: all seed diet, sexual dominance/frustration, feather/skin disease, skin parasites, viruses, internal parasites if medical causes ruled out could be psychological: environment stress, type and location of cage, noisy/too quiet, large temperature fluctuations, decreased humidity leading to itchy skin, presence of other animals, other birds competing for attention, changes in owner habits
82
behavior issues
regurgitation is normal part of courtship behavior and may do it to show love for owner (very common in budgies and lovebirds) accidentally rewarding bad behavior by laughing cage aggression

Zoological medicine (13 decks)

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