Bird Repro and Feather diseases Flashcards
T/F: over bonding of parrots with humans can lead to chronic reproductive stimulation
True
Try to pair-bond with owner
Can led to territorial cage aggression
Exaggerated hormonal behaviour
Indulged with stroking or cuddling
What factors can predispose birds to reproductive disorders?
Environmental
- long photoperiod
- perceived nest area (cage)
Food availability
- high fat food in abundance
Behaviour
- pair bond with human
What are some reproductive tract diseases of birds?
Excessive egg laying Egg binding and dystocia Egg yolk peritonitis Hypocalcemia Pathologic fractures Oviductal and cloacal prolapses
How can you tell females and male cockatiels apart?
Females have light bars on flight feathers, males do not
Be careful — young birds can have these band patterns
What is the pearl mutation?
Female sex-linked colour
What do you call prolonged transit of an egg through the oviduct?
Egg binding
Where does the egg spend the most time?
Shell gland (uterus)
Egg binding and dystocia can have what causes?
Over laying
Poor dietary calcium (seeds)
Oversized or poorly shelled eggs
Uterine inertia
Poor musculature
How will you make a diagnosis of egg binding and dystocia?
Hx - can have propose of egg and oviduct
Palpation
Radiographs - miss sharpen eggs or multiple eggs
Ultrasounds -should be able to see normal egg layers or ovarian tumors (appears mottled)
How do you treat egg binding?
Meds first: calcium, fluid, heat, pain meds
Sedated extraction — ovocentesis to collapse egg
Surgery: hysterectomy (ovary is attached to the aorta and is not removed)
Prevent more laying: Leuprolide (lupron)
Clinical signs associated with testicular hyperplasia?
Pain
Lameness
Leg chewing
Seasonal changes in some sp
Can increase weight significantly in some sp
What is the MOA of leuprolide?
GnRH agonsits — upreguates FSH to pituitary
Surge of hormone — negative feedback to repro tract
Duration of effect is 2.5-3weeks
What are the uses of leuprolide?
Egg laying, testicular masses, ovarian cysts and tumors
What is the only skin glad in the bird?
Uropygial (preen)
What are common causes of poor feathering?
Trauma from environment
Cage-mate trauma
Feather growth interruption
Poor preening habits
T/F: baby birds that look scruffy have disease
False
Scruffy baby birds are normal but if you see this in an adult, look for disease
What is a stress bar?
Interruption in growth of a feather from stressful event
T/F: unpreened feathers, stress bars,and trauma are common in juvenile birds
True
How does a blood feather appear?
There will be a hollow quill that the feather grows into
He shaft of a blood feather is purple or pink
What can lead to poor preening?
Hand raised babies
Over-zealous mates
Stressful environment
What medical problems can lead to poor feathering?
Nutritional disorders: vit A
Endocrine problems (T4)
Parasites: lice and mites
Infections (rare): PBFD- circovirus
What changes can you see in a bird with a poor diet?
Poor integumentary
Lacking B carotine which is pro- Vit A
Deficiency results in squamous metaplasia, hyperkeratosis, and pigmentary changes
Chronically: can have issues anywhere that there is epithelium (GI, kidney, etc)
T/F: fruits are a good source of vit A
False
Vegetables and green fruits are a better source
What are the mites found in birds?
Dermanyssus gallinae - chicken mite or red mite
Knemidocopes - scales face and leg mite
