Avian Flashcards
What is imping?
Traditional falconry technique of replacing damaged feathers using another feather as a graft
What are the causes of overgrown claws?
Perch design- should be variable diameter, rough surface
Diet- high protein or malnutrition
What is the body temperature of birds?
40-42 degrees celsius
How is temperature loss exacerbated during surgery on birds?
Small bodies- high surface area to weight ratio
Feathers plucked from large areas of body
Skin getting wet
Coeliotomies
How can temperature loss be reduced during avian surgery?
Warm fluids to body temperature
Monitor with cloacal thermometer
Keep room temperature 22-25 degrees
Heat mats/lamps/hot air/heated sandbags
What resp rate should anaesthetised birds be maintained at?
Normal or 10-20/min in birds not breathing by themselves, or 2/min in birds breathing spontaneously
How much oxygen should be delivered to a bird under GA?
500ml/kg/min
What are the most commonly used analgesics in birds?
Meloxicam and butorphanol
List the common pathogens seen during crop washes.
Trichomonas gallinae
Candidiasis
Macrorhabdus ornithogaster
Which antibiotic would be used to treat mycoplasmosis in chickens?
Tylosin (licensed)
What are the clinical signs of mycoplasmosis in poultry?
Nasal discharge
Foamy eyes
Swollen eyelids + sinuses
Sneezing/gasping
What is the causative agent of crop stasis in chickens?
Candida albicans
How may crop impactions be treated in chickens?
Soften with liquid paraffin and gentle massage with head held down. If severe, consider GA + ingluviotomy
How is coccidiosis treated in chickens?
Toltrazuril (but eggs can’t be used)
What are the clinical signs of tapeworm infection in chickens?
Gasping/’snicking’ with neck extended
What is the treatment for nematode infection in the chicken?
Flubendazole
What are the clinical signs of Dermanyssus gallinae infestation?
RED MITES- chickens
Lethargy + anaemia -> death
What are the clinical signs of Ornithonyssus silvarum?
CHICKENS- Dirty moist patches on feathers
How are Cnemidocoptes mutans treated in chickens?
Ivermectin (scaly leg mites)
how are Cnemidocoptes gallinae treated in chickens?
Fipronil (depluming mites)
What is the cause of bumblefoot in chickens?
ULCERATIVE PODODERMATITIS
Staph infection secondary to bruising (from jumping off perches too high)
What are the clinical signs of Marek’s disease in chickens?
Wing drop
Leg paralysos
Immunosuppression
Dyspnoea and dilation of crop if vagal n affected
What is the pathogenesis of Marek’s disease?
Lymphoid tumours + demyelination of peripheral nerves.
Why should pelleted food only be 50% max of birds’ diet?
Risk of nutrient excess
Doesn’t permit natural behaviours
Which supplements are required by aquatic birds feeding on frozen fish?
Thiamine (vit B)
Vit E
What is the pathology of hypovitaminosis A?
Squamous metaplasia of epithelial membranes
What are the clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A?
White plaques in mouth Recurrent bacterial infection Chronic sinusitis Rhinoliths Atrophy of choanal papillae
What are the clinical signs of iodine deficiency?
Regurgitation
Change of voice
Inspiratory noises
What are the clinical signs of hypocalcaemia?
Soft eggs
Reproductive complications
Bone deformities
Chronic twitching
How can hypocalcaemia be treated?
Appropriate levels of Ca/UV light.
Reduce photoperiod/give GnRH agonists to chronic layers
What are the consequences of feeding a high energy diet?
Obesity
Lipomas
Xanthomas (accum of cholesterol crystals at tip of wing)
Atherosclorisis
What are the clinical signs of calcium excess?
Kidney damage
Gout
Define haemosiderosis.
Deposition of iron without pathological tissue change
Define haemochromatosis.
Deposition of iron with pathological tissue change
What are the clinical signs of iron excess in birds?
Ascites
Dyspnoea
Abdominal distension
How is iron excess treated?
Avoid vit C + A
Phlebotomy (1% BW every week for months)
Deferoxamine
What are the clinical signs of aspergillosis in birds?
Chronic disease forms granulomas in resp system:
- wt loss
- voice changes
- dyspnoea
What are the treatment options for aspergillosis?
Amphotericin B antifungal- intralesional treatment
Endoscopic granuloma removal
1-2m medical treatment w/ oral/nebulised antifungals
What are the clinical signs of candidiasis?
Regurgitation V+ Distended slow-emptying crop Beak necrosis White plaques in oral cavity
How is candidiasis treated in birds?
Nyastin direct application
What is the cause of avian gastric yeast?
Macrorhabdus ornithogaster
What are the clinical signs of avian gastric yeast?
Wasting
Lethargy
Passage of undigested food
What is the causative agent of avian chlamydiosis?
Chlamydia psittaci
How is avian chlamydiosis treated?
Doxycycline fo 4-6 weeks inj/oral
What are the clinical signs of psittacine beak and feather disease?
CHRONIC = feather loss/deformity, hyperketatosis, oral ulcers, overgrowth of beak, immunosuppression ACUTE = depression, D+, dystrophic feathers (young birds, 1st feather formation)
Describe the clinical signs of pox virus in birds.
- CUTANEOUS = nodular lesions + scabs on face
- DIPTHERITIC = lesions on mm, resp disease
- SEPTICAEMIC
What is the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PVDD)?
Avian bornavirus
What are the clinical signs of PVDD?
Dilatation of GIT Increased GIT transit time Weight loss Abnorm faeces Lethargy Neuro signs
List the 2 types of gout seen in birds.
ARTICULAR: deposition of uric acid crystals in JOINTS
VISCERAL: deposition of uric acid crystals on SEROSAL SURFACE of organs
What is the cause of gout?
Consequence of kidney problems or increased dietary protein.
How is gout treated in birds?
Allopurinol- reduces uric acid levels in blood.
How is heavy metal poisoning treated in birds?
Chelation with injectable CaEDTA or penicillamine
Supportive treatment
What are the causes of chronic egg laying in birds?
Overstimulation of breeding behaviour by another bird/object/person
Over feeding and artificial photoperiods
What are the clinical signs of egg binding in birds?
Dyspnoea Hindlimb weakness Lethargy Abnormal faeces Wide non-perching stance Swollen lower coelem
