Avian & Exotic Flashcards
Which disease is commonly known as ‘‘lumps’’ in guinea pigs?
Cervical lymphadenitis
This parasite causes a thick, red-brown crusting of the external ear canal of rabbits.
Psoroptes cuniculi
Endogenous hypercholesterolemia and cessation of egg production are characteristic signs of which disorder in poultry?
Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS)
Which normal structure of the tibiofibular bone of many frogs is routinely mistaken for an oblique fracture?
The nutrient foramen
The term dysecdysis refers to which problem noted commonly in reptiles?
Difficult or abnormal shedding of the skin
Avocado toxicosis in birds typically affects which organ systems?
Respiratory (pulmonary edema) and cardiovascular (hydropericardium)
Diazoxide is used singly or in combination with prednisone to medically manage which neoplastic condition in ferrets?
Insulinoma (both drugs help to raise blood glucose levels)
Anting or self-anointing is normal behavior of hedgehogs characterized by:
Application of frothy saliva to their spines
Relapsing fever, chills, vomiting, myalgia, and lymphadenopathy in a human are the hallmark signs of rat bite fever. Which infectious organisms are the cause?
Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus are the causative organisms of rat bite fever.
Which common disease of reptiles results from prolonged deficiency of dietary calcium or vitamin D3?
Nutritional metabolic bone disease (also known as rickets or hypovitaminosis D)
Impression smears of an ulcerated skin nodule on a koi reveal intracellular acid-fast bacilli. What disease is suspected?
Piscine mycobacteriosis (also known as fish tuberculosis or fish tank granuloma)
What is the cere, and what is its normal color in budgerigars?
The area around the dorsalmost part of the bill/beak. It is normally blue in male budgies and brownish-pink in female budgies; in this species, changes in cere color suggest gonadal tumors.
Name 3 endocrine causes of hair loss in ferrets.
1) Hyperadrenocorticism
2) Hypoestrogenism
3) Testicular neoplasia - associated neoplasia
4) Breeding season alopecia
Other (Physiologic) differential diagnoses include shedding, and telogen defluxion.
These families of antibiotics can cause a fatal enteritis in rabbits by disrupting normal gut flora.
Penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides
How many chambers are there in the hearts of snakes and lizards, and which chambers are they?
Three: Right atrium, left atrium, and single ventricle
Name 3 clinical signs of crop stasis or ‘‘sour crop’’.
Regurgitation, delayed crop emptying, a sour odor, inappetence, dehydration, anorexia, and listlessness
Which of the following antibiotics should NOT be used in rodents?
A) Enrofloxacin
B) Streptomycin
C) Chloramphenicol
B) Streptomycin
What is the most common subcutaneous tumor in the rat?
Fibroadenoma of the mammary glands
The right adrenal gland in the ferret is closely associated with which large vessel?
Caudal vena cava
Which common disease of captive turtles is typically associated with blepharedema, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and nasal and ocular discharge?
Hypovitaminosis A
What is the gestation length of the rabbit?
30-32 days
Newly hatched chicks with ‘‘clubbed down’’ (failure of feathers to rupture their sheaths), chicks with curled toe paralysis, and reduced egg production in hens are all signs of deficiency of which vitamin in poultry?
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency
Which biochemical abnormality would likely be seen in a sugar glider with hindlimb paralysis secondary to nutritional osteodystrophy (metabolic bone disease)?
Hypocalcemia (and hypoproteinemia). A sugar glider is a small marsupial with a light brown coat and large brown eyes, native to Australia.
Which two sites can be used for intraosseous catheter placement on a bird?
Distal ulna and proximal tibiotarsus
Regurgitation, progressive weight loss and finding whole seeds in the feces of your pet parrot are the typical signs of which avian disease?
Proventricular dilation disease
Which infectious disease of rabbits can leas to cataract formation after in utero infection?
Encephalitozoonosis
What is the medical indication for feeding a rabbit pineapple juice, and what is the major drawback of such treatment?
It contains papain, which helps to break apart trichobezoars. However, the underlying problem (gastric hypomotility) is not helped and may be harmed from gastritis induced by the pineapple juice.
Birds eating less than ______ of their regular diet should be hospitalized and force fed. Choose one:
A) 35%
B) 55%
C) 75%
C) 75%
When performing a celiotomy on a lizard, you make a paramedian incision to avoid this structure.
Ventral abdominal vein
Birds that eat seeds exclusively often suffer from which vitamin deficiency?
Hypovitaminosis A
_________________ should be worn by the clinician when handling amphibians to protect their (the amphibian’s) sensitive skin.
Powderless vinyl or plastic gloves
In ferrets, which is larger: the female or the male? By how much?
The male is approximately twice as large as the female. Body weight of intact make ferrets ranges from 1-2 kg and females from 0.6-1 kg.
Which common cause of diarrhea do owners of ferrets often refer to as ‘‘green slime disease’’?
Epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE)
Which disease of ferrets typically causes hypoglycemia, seizures, collapse, weakness, and muscle fasciculations?
Insulinoma
What is the anatomical term for the bilobed, oil-producing gland located on the dorsal base of the tail in most psittacines?
Uropygial (preen) gland
What is the drug of choice for the treatment of Chlamydophila psittaci infection in the avian patient?
Doxycycline
Which avian respiratory structures communicate with the lungs, serve as bellows, and provide airflow to the lung during both inspiration and expiration?
Air sacs
What is the treatment of choice (chelator) for birds with lead toxicosis?
Calcium disodium EDTA
Rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease is caused by which type of virus?
Calicivirus
70% of the rabbits in an outdoor breeding facility die acutely, and necropsy reveals blood-tinged nasal discharge, pulmonary edema, and multifocal ecchymoses. What is the most likely etiology?
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (Family Caliciviridae, Genus Lagovirus)
In snakes, the cloaca receives the products of which of the following?
A) Urinary and digestive systems
B) Urinary and reproductive systems
C) Urinary, digestive and reproductive systems
C) Urinary, digestive and reproductive systems
What is the parasiticide of choice for treatment of Knemidokoptes infestation in the avian patient?
Ivermectin
What is the most common cause of dysuria in neutered male ferrets?
Urogenital cystic disease (paraurethral cysts)
Which parvovirus causes chronic, progressive weight loss in ferrets?
Aleutian disease virus
Which zoonotic disease should be considered when a bird presents with non-specific clinical signs (green urates, ocular discharge and depression) and the owner has ‘‘flu-like’’ symptoms?
Psittacosis - Chlamydophila psittaci infection
The erythrocyte lifespan in birds is approximately how many days?
35 days
Tuberculosis can be seen in fish maintained in tropical fish tanks. Can this condition in fish affect humans?
Yes, tuberculosis in fish is caused by Mycobacterium marinum, which can cause fish tank granuloma in humans.
Fish lack bone marrow to serve as a hematopoietic organ. Which 2 organs in fish serve as the major sites for hematopoiesis?
The anterior kidney and the spleen
What is the most likely cause for a budgerigar presenting with an overgrown beak with a characteristic honeycomb pattern?
Knemidocoptes spp. mite intestation
What is the ‘‘dive response’’ in birds and what should you do if you encounter it when inducing a bird under general anesthesia?
A physiological stress response in some birds, causing apnea and bradycardia typically during mask induction with anesthetic gas. Management: Turn off the anesthetic gas, remove the mask, and provide oxygen until recovery.
Ichthyophthirius, commonly known as ‘‘Ick’’, is a protozoan parasite that affects the skin of fish. Which of its 2 life stages is most amenable to treatment and why?
The tomite stage is a free swimming stage in the water and is vulnerable to treatment. Conversely, the trophozoite (feeding) stages cannot be treated well because they are within the epidermis.
Where is the accepted location for placement of microchips in psittacines?
The left pectoral muscle
Evaluation of which muscle group in birds during the physical examination is used for determining body condition?
Pectoral muscles
In ferrets, how many fetuses must be present to induce parturition?
At least 3
You have a ferret requiring a blood transfusion. Even though the patient is stable, you do not perform blood typing or crossmatching. Why?
Ferrets lack detectable blood groups.
Post-mortem exam of a turkey with a history of anorexia, depression, and sulfur-yellow droppings shows pathognomonic focal, round, pale liver lesions. What is the diagnosis?
Histomoniasis (‘‘Blackhead’’), caused by the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis
This bacterium is the major component of chronic respiratory disease in rats.
Mycoplasma pulmonis
A paralyzed chicken is euthanized, and necropsy reveals thickening of the sciatic nerve. Which infectious disease is most likely?
Marek’s disease (oncogenic herpesviral disease)
Which pocket pet cannot synthesize vitamin C and therefore requires supplementation?
Guinea pig
The mouse is the primary reservoir for this zoonotic cause of aseptic meningitis.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
Tyzzer’s disease is a common cause of diarrhea and mortality in many rodents. It is caused y which bacterium?
Clostridium piliforme
What is the normal litter size for ferrets?
8-10 kits
The most common parasite of the rabbit gastrointestinal tract and a common cause of illness in this species is:
Coccidia, specifically Eimeria
Splenomegaly in a ferret prompts you to perform a splenic aspiration. You know the two most common findings on cytologic examination in ferrets with splenomegaly are:
Extramedullary hematopoiesis and lymphoma
Which types of hormones are increased in adrenal gland disease in the ferret?
Estrogens and androgens; Cortisol levels are rarely increased in ferrets with adrenocortical disease
Which type of urolith is most common in the ferret, and what is the cause of urolith formation?
Struvite urolith. In ferrets, sterile (notably diet-associated) struvite uroliths are more common than infection-associated struvite uroliths.
Which of the following etiologies for cardiac diseases is least likely to be seen in ferrets in North America:
A) Heartworm disease
B) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
C) Dilated cardiomyopathy
D) Congenital valvular disease
D) Congenital valvular disease
An overweight adult rabbit has hematuria, stranguria and urine scald. The rabbit’s diet consists of free-choice pellets and alfalfa hay. What is the most likely cause of the rabbit’s clinical signs?
Calcium oxalate uroliths
When examining the perineum of a spayed female ferret, you notice vulvar enlargement. This is consistent with which 2 disorders?
1) Adrenal disease (Much more common)
2) Ovarian remnant
'’Snuffles’’, otitis interna, and subcutaneous abscesses in rabbits are most commonly caused by which infectious organism?
Pasteurella multocida
What is the most common cause of acute hindlimb paralysis in the rabbit?
Vertebral fracture/luxation
For what reason should you not rely on photographs alone for identifying pet ferrets?
Ferrets may lose or change their mask configuration from season to season and from year to year!!
What is the most common skin tumor of guinea pigs?
Trichoepithelioma
If you wanted to test the fasting blood glucose level of a ferret, how long should the ferret be fasted?
3 hours. Because of the short gastrointestinal transit time in this species, fasting for longer than 3 hours is not necessary.
What is the main route of transmission of canary pox?
Bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes and red mites
When obtaining a blood sample via venipuncture, no more than ___% of a bird’s body weight should be collected.
1%
Which organism causes fowl typhoid? Which organism causes fowl cholera?
Fowl typhoid: Salmonella gallinarum
Fowl cholera: Pasteurella multocida
Which compound can be intermittently excreted in rabbit urine and is often mistaken for hematuria?
Porphyrin
Are most mammary neoplasms in mice and gerbils benign or malignant?
Malignant (in contrast to rats and hamsters, where most are benign)
Ferrets experience a normal seasonal change in body fat. In intact animals, the weight change is most dramatic. The weight difference may be as great as:
A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 40%
D) 70%
C) 40%
Chronic dental disease is known to lead to which infectious complication in rabbits?
Abscessation
Ferrets should be vaccinated against which 2 diseases?
Canine distemper and rabies
Female ferrets are induced ovulators. If not induced to ovulate, which hormonal level may remain elevated for months, and how could this be hazardous to the animal’s health?
In the absence of ovulation, serum estrogen levels remain high, which can cause bone marrow aplasia/aplastic anemia.
Which other 2 body systems besides the central nervous system may be affected in encephalitozoonosis in rabbits?
Renal and ophthalmic
The most common physical exam abnormality in ferrets with adrenocortical disease is:
Alopecia
Ferrets should be fed a diet high in which two dietary components?
Fat and protein
This cause of hematuria is the most common neoplasm of female rabbits.
Uterine adenocarcinoma
Circovirus infection in pet birds can cause which clinical disease?
Psittacine beak and feather disease
Candidiasis in birds is a yeast infection that most commonly affects which organ system?
Gastrointestinal tract
Should the shaft of the feathers of a healthy bird on a good diet be stiff or flexible if bent?
They should flex, not break, and spring back to a normal position when released.
Can castration reduce the incidence of interindividual aggression in male iguanas?
Yes (male iguanas do have testes), if performed prior to the breeding season
Blackhead disease in turkeys is transmitted by which nematode paratenic host?
Heterakis gallinarum
Temperate zone reptiles regularly undergo brumation. What is this?
Hibernation. For brumation, they require cooler than normal environmental temperatures (typically for 2-3 months continuously) and no feeding.
Which is the skin color most likely to indicate systemic illness in an iguana - green, dark grey or rust?
Rust. Green is normal before exposure to sunlight for thermoregulation, and darker, grey tones are normal when absorbing sunlight.
You are presented with a turtle that is swimming unevenly on the lateral plane. Which condition should be considered as your top differential diagnosis?
Pneumonia (with a consolidated lung). A unilateral mass (abscess) or asymmetric gas accumulation (bloating) can result in similar signs.
What are the common clinical signs of cheyletiellosis in rabbits?
Pruritus, alopecia, dry to oily seborrhea with crusts and erythema
Snake longevity: how long might a captive python be expected to live?
A) 1-5 years
B) 5-10 years
C) 10-25 years
D) 25-50 years
E) 50-90 years
D) 25-50 years
The record for a ball python is 47 years, with earlier mortality expected depending on environment, nutrition, and reproductive (and other) stresses.
Which of these 3 signs is considered a cardinal sign of subcutaneous abscesses in reptiles?
A) Erythema
B) Heat
C) Fever
D) None of these
D) None of these
In marked contrast to abscesses in mammals, abscesses in reptiles usually show none of these signs.
Which sensory compromise may adversely affect a snake that has lost its tongue (e.g. trauma or infection)?
It may not feed due to loss of olfaction.
In reptiles, what is the most common location of uroliths (urinary bladder vs. kidneys) and what is the typical mineral composition?
Urinary bladder (virtually never renal); urate salts (virtually 100%)
