Avian Derm Flashcards
Level 1 diagnostics
Microscopic for ectoparasites
Fecal for endoparasites
Fecal gram stain
Feather pulp cytology
Level 2 diagnostics
Skin/feather pulp c/s
Skin/feather fungal culture
Chemistry panel
PCR for beak and feather disease
Level 3 diagnostics
Exhaustive history
Biopsy
Radiographs
Thyroid hormone levels/TSH stimulation test
Psittacine beak and feather disease
Viral circovirus
Malformed/misshaped feathers
Brittle changes in beak/nails
Bacterial infections can present secondarily
Parrot pox virus
Polyoma virus
Causes poor feathering, lesions on unfeathered skin
- papules
- vesicles
- pustules
- crusts
Parrot pox path
Spikes in cases during summer due to mosquito bites causing damage to skin - spreads to open wounds
Parrot pox vaccine
Vaccine can be used across genius and species
Can treat systemically or topically as well
Bacterial infections
S. Aureus is common in birds
Pruritus, pustules, feather loss, inflammed follicles
Origin is often linked to behavior or obsessive grooming
Pododermatitis
Bumble foot - chronic inflammation and infection due to bad conditions and husbandry
Infections of S. Aureus, E. Coli, candida are common
Dermatomycoses
Various fungal infections
Can infect turbinates in beak - treat systemically but prognosis might not be great
Parasitic - mange
Knemidocoptic mange
Causes brittle porous, misshapen beak, crusty proliferation
Burrow in skin/legs - very pruritic
Treat with ivermectin or permethrin
Giardia
Causes the bird to be incredibly itchy with greasy side feathers
Behavioral issues with birds
Feather pulling - head is fully feathered, body is naked ish
- can be signs of liver failure
Change the environment and test from there
Blood feathers
Arterial supply to feathers
If feathers break close to arterial supply, blood can squirt out of broken feather
Feather needs to be plucked to stop bleeding
Toxic drugs to birds
Bishops cap
Gentamicin - causes erythema
Photosensitivity
Nutritional issues in birds
Fatty liver disease - too much fat in diet, can lead to seperation of feather follicle tracts, abnormal wear of beak/nails, elevated liver values
Genetic issues in birds
Feather follicular cysts - common on wings
Unusual feathers/lack of feathers
Neoplasia in birds
Birds >5 years old - think cancer due to inbreeding
Problems with Management of birds
Can be due to lack of baths
Lack of adequate environmental stimulation (bored)
Inappropriate cage size/health
Proper perch material
