Avian And Exotic Flashcards
In birds, dysfunction of which body system is most likely to cause green urates?
Hepatic. Green, bile-stained urates may be observed in feces during liver disease. Birds lack biliverdin reductase and form biliverdin instead of bilirubin as the primary breakdown product of heme
What is the cause of “slobbers” in chinchillas?
Molar malocclusion
At what age are guinea pigs sexually mature?
2 months in females, 3 months in males
How long should a ferret be fasted prior to elective surgery?
6 hours is more than sufficient to empty the gastrointestinal tract
Why is heparin the preferred anticoagulant in birds and reptiles as opposed to EDTA?
The blood from some birds and reptiles hemolyzes when collected in EDTA
What is the average litter size for guinea pigs?
2-4 (a range of 1-13 young has been reported)
Which clinical signs might make you suspect that a snake has mites?
Cutaneous-pruritic or nonpruritic dermatitis, dysecdysis
Systemic-anorexia, failure to thrive, dehydration, persistent soaking in water
Which fungus is found in the droppings of starlings and has been associated with systemic mycotic infection in dogs and humans?
Histoplasma capsulatum
What are the differential diagnoses for a soft shell in a pet turtle?
Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism Bacterial infection Fungal infection Trauma Normal-softshell turtles-Apalone spp
If not restrained carefully, rabbits can kick and sustain a spinal fracture. At which vertebra does this typically occur?
Seven lumbar vertebrae
This gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog is used in medical treatment of adrenocortical disease in the ferret.
Leuprolide acetate
What external parasite would be the most likely cause of intense pruritis and dorsal truncal alopecia in the guinea pig?
Mites (mange), notably Trixacarus caviae in the guinea pig
If you are trimming a budgerigar’s beak and find that it bleeds easily, what is the most likely underlying disorder?
Nutritional imbalance. With poor nutrition, the vessels grow closer to the tip and bleed more profusely. Also brudgerigars and other parrots do not normally require beak trimming
Can an intraosseous catheter be placed in a bird’s ulna, or would doing so cause fluids to be administered into the respiratory system?
The ulna can be used in birds for placement of an intraosseous catheter, as its cavity contains marrow, not air sac
What is the most common type of diarrhea in chinchillas?
Inappropriate feeding
The presence of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in respiratory and conjunctival epithelium is pathognomic for which disease in chickens?
Infectious laryngotracheitis
What is the most common cause of dyschezia and hematochezia in young ferrets?
Coccidiosis
Besides mosquito bites, name 2 other routes of transmission of West Nile virus in birds
Consumption of infected animals
Ingestion of infected mosquitos
Close contact between birds
Why may excessive handling of fish lead to heavier external infections with pathogens and possible life threatening ulcerations on the skin?
Excessive handling disrupts the mucous layer of the epidermis which protects it from the environment
What is the most common cause of dyschezia and hematochezia in young ferrets?
Coccidiosis
What is the most common cause of diarrhea in chinchillas?
Inappropriate feeding
The presence of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in respiratory and conjunctival epithelium is pathognomic for which disease in chickens?
infectious larygnotracheitis
How long should a ferret be fasted prior to elective surgery?
6 hours is more than sufficient to empty the GI tract
what is the normal gestation period for ferrets?
40-42 days
Which tendon may be cut in order to pinion a bird (prevent it from flying)?
extensor carpi radialis tendon
which serum biochemical parameter is the best indicator of renal disease in birds?
uric acid
it is the end product of nitrogen catabolism in birds
other causes of hyperuricemia include ovulation and postprandial
what is the most common cause of diabetes mellitus in ferrets?
iatrogenic
usually secondary to pancreatectomy to treat insulinoma
How many nipples do guinea pigs have?
2
How is ringtail-a condition characterized by annular constrictions on the tail of rats-prevented?
by ensuring the ambient humidity is always at least 50%
This oral tumor in prairie dogs may be associated with maloccluded incisors and dyspnea
Odontoma