Avian Critical Care and Supportive Care Techniques Flashcards
Triage
The process of identifying quickly those patients who have life-threatening conditions and require immediate attention, as opposed to those who can wait
Birds to see ASAP
Fluffed and ruffled posture
Weakness and partially closed eyes
Respiratory signs: pronounced dyspnea, prolonged panting or gasping for air, change in breathing or abnormal respiratory sounds, tail bobbing
Bleeding or injury
Lack of normal response to stimuli and incoordination
Marked abdominal distention and prolapse
Anorexia
Evalutation and Triage:
Keep hands off first
observe bird, cage, and contents before considering restraint
Oxygen nad heat
Obtain history
quick physical exam
Dyspnea
Clinical Signs
Excessive sternal motion
Open-mouth breathing
Extended neck
Tachypnea
Head bob, tail bob
Wings extended away from the body
What not to do with a dyspnic bird
do NOT restrain birds that appear dyspneic or extremely weak
Dyspnea
Treatment
Oxygen cage
Air sac tube: alternative to endotracheal intubation, for emergencies, foreign body, granuloma, neoplasia
Air Sac Tube Procedure
Make a skin insicion on the lateral aspect of the bird behind the last rib.
Will hear a pop sound and that is how you know you are in the air sac
Insert tube (Red rubber)
Suture to the bird so they do not remove it.
Can be used to give oxygen or anesthesia.
Hemorrhage
Damaged Nails - break and wil bleed a lot.
Blood feathers
skin wounds
Other Trauma: fractures, shot
Hemorrhage
Treatment
Silver nitrate sticks
Would powder, flour
Sustained pressure
Super glue (surgical)
Sutures
Pull the blood feather: Hemostats to clamp the base of the feather, pull straight out, should stop the bleeding
Bite wounds - antibiotics
Seizures
Causes
Hypocalcemia - african grey parrots
Hypoglycemia - neonates, raptors
Epilepsy
Others - infectious, toxins)
Physical Diagnosis
Restraint
When catching up a bird, the first goal is to restrain the talons and head
Method varies with species and conditions
Ensure safety of handlers, medical staff, and patient
Sternum must be unrestricted
The handler should monitir the bird’s status
Avoid laying the bird on its back
Body weight
Diagnostics
Options
Blood work - CBC, Chemistry
Imaging - Radiographs, CT
Parasitology
Toxicology
Others
General Supportive Care
Clean, quiet, dark environment
Minimize stress
Hospital cage
Oxygen
Heat (70% RH)
85-90 degrees for adults
94 degrees for babies
Low perches or no perches
Easily Accessible food
Fluid Therapy
Assessing Dehydration
History
Turgor / refill of wing vein
Sunken eyes
Tacky mucous membranes
Skin tent and sliding
PCV, TP, BUN
Estimating Fluid Requirements
Estimated dehydration % x body weight (g) = fluid deficit
5-10% dehydration = 50-100 ml/kg fluid deficit
Deficit is generally replaced over 12-24 horus with maintenance fluids
Maintenance fluid = 50ml/kg/day
