Avian Hematology Flashcards
What is the average blood volume of birds
10% of body weight
How much blood can safely be removed from a bird
1% of the bird’s body weight
What are the typical venous sites in birds
Right jugular vein is best
Metatarsal vein
Wing- basilic vein- along the humerus on the ventral aspect of the wing
What is the last resort for avian blood draw if nothing else works
toenail clip
Describe the blood sample handling procedure in birds
Use gentle suction
remove needle before putting in vacutainer
best to make a blood smear immediately
What anticoagulants are typically used with birds
Lithium heparin- sometimes used- but make smear right away
EDTA can be used
Heparinized capillary tube
What is the normal pcv for birds
35-55%
Describe the RBC of birds
RBCs are oval cells with a central nucleus that stains dark blue with pink cytoplasm
Describe the reticulocytes of birds
begin as round cells that have a medium blue nucleus and light blue cytoplasm (polychromasia)
What is a normal amount of polychromasia for birds to have
1-5%
How long is the lifespan of the rbc in the bird
average is 50 days
What is a heterophil
the avian equivalent of the mammalian neutrophil
bilobed or trilobed nucleus that stains dark blue
Granules are rod shaped- stain eosinophilic
Can birds have a left shift?
Yes
Describe monocytes in birds
large and have a horseshoe shaped nucleus
How do you do a WBC/rbc count in birds
You use a unopette that stains eosinophils.
