Avian Medicine

Question 1

Most common infection in a penguin

Answer 1

aspergillosis

Question 2

feathers are organized in tracts called

Answer 2

apteria

Question 3

good sites for blood collection

Answer 3

jugular vein, wing vein/ulnar vein

Question 4

What is preening

Answer 4

utilizing uropygial gland located dorsally to tail base to oil and zip barbules of feathers together
allows for waterproofing and protection

Question 5

an ungroomed bird is

Answer 5

a sick bird

Question 6

a mature feather is an ______ feather

Answer 6

empty

Question 7

What are stress bars

Answer 7

stress shown in feathers as damage during the state of growth, this is likely location of feather breakage

Question 8

Primary feathers

Answer 8

originate from carpus distally, most outside

start counting on most distal feather counting inwards (1o–>1)

Question 9

secondary feathers

Answer 9

originate along length of radius/ulna

Question 10

tertiary feathers

Answer 10

continue in from secondaries

Question 11

Why is ulna larger in birds?

Answer 11

ulna is larger in birds because radius doesn’t need to do any weight bearing and ulna supports the feathers

Question 12

Pneumatized bones

Answer 12

strong but brittle, are hollow bones with trabeculae

Question 13

T/f: can put intraosseous catheter in ulna

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

Atlanto-occipital joint

Answer 14

single occipital condyle allows for better rotation of neck

Question 15

cervical vertebrae

Answer 15

10-12+ depending on species

Question 16

Notarium

Answer 16

fused thoracic vertebrae

Question 17

synsacrum

Answer 17

ileum, ischium and pubis are fused

Question 18

What separates the notarium and synsacrum?

Answer 18

a loose vertebrae

Question 19

Sternum of bird

Answer 19

keel

Question 20

what muscles do you assess body condition with

Answer 20

pectoral muscles (and the keel)

Question 21

3 bones of the shoulder

Answer 21

Clavicle (furcula): “wishbone”
Coracoid: large supportive bone for shoulder, connects to keel
Scapula: located dorsally - long and extending 1/3 of way down lateral to vertebrae

Question 22

T/F you can do a blood draw from medial metatarsal vein

Answer 22

true

Question 23

T/F: humerus and femur are both pneumatic bones

Answer 23

true

Question 24

Nares

Answer 24

sit on top of the cere (growing part of beak)

Question 25

Choana

Answer 25

connects oral cavity w/ respiratory system
palatine fissure
birds don’t have soft palate

Question 26

Trachea

Answer 26

no epiglottis
complete tracheal rings
endoscopy - bifurcation most important to note, foreign bodies can lodge here, should not have opacities

Question 27

Syrinx

Answer 27

no vocal cords, but use this to make sounds

below bifurcation of trachea, foreign bodies like to get stuck here

Question 28

Bronchus

Answer 28

para-bronchi visible in xray

Question 29

Lungs

Answer 29

rigid, very little elasticity
tightly adhered to ribs
parabronchi - tiny holes, similar to honeycomb (reticular pattern)

Question 30

air sacs

Answer 30

do not play direct role in gas exchange
store extra air
allow continuous stream of air to pass through lungs in one way flow
connect to pneumatic bones and remove excess heat as birds breath
clear, transparent membrane (plastic bags)

Question 31

Respiratory physiology

Answer 31

lack diaphragm
movement of sternum and ribs provide mechanical force for inspiratory and expiratory movements
unidirectional flow through lungs
Inspiration: most air goes to caudal airsac but some through lungs
sacs expand during inspiration and contract during expiration
gas exchange occurs as air passes through lungs on inspiration and expiration
there is no functional residual volume, air must be constantly flowing

Question 32

Anesthesia induction

Answer 32

vapor wand - need clear plastic bag that you place animal inside , get long tube to inject isoflurane then start vaporizing it, manually pump iso
mask induction - start at higher percent (5%), move down because then you can get a stressed bird down easily

Question 33

anesthesia maintenance

Answer 33

NO CUFF on tube or don’t inflate cuff
too tight = pressure necrosis
tape to lower mandible

Question 34

Monitoring anesthesia

Answer 34

heat source, pulse ox, temp probe, esophageal stethoscope, doppler
even if bird breathing normal, provide PPV 2-4 times per min - be getle

Question 35

Recovery from anesthesia

Answer 35

stop isoflurane, continue O2 a few mins, hold bird upright

if giving butorphanol, give prior to induction because lasts long and keeps bird down a long time

Question 36

Air sac canulation

Answer 36

perforate caudal thoracic or abdominal air sac and put tracheal tube in

gives air to animal that isn’t breathing well

Question 37

how many air sacs to birds have

Answer 37

9