Birds Flashcards
Why do birds often present just before they die?
The masking phenomenon
-Mask symptoms until physically can’t anymore
Since birds often present with limited physical signs, what can you use to determine if, or what, is wrong?
Diagnostic tests
What 4 biochemical parameters aren’t useful in interpreting liver function birds?
ALT
Alkaline phosphatase
Bilirubin
Albumin
What biochemistry parameters do you look at for hepatocellular rupture?
AST
CK
GLDH
What biochemistry parameters do you look at for cholestasis?
GGT
What biochemistry parameters do you look at for liver function?
Bile acids
Total protein
What 2 biochemical parameters aren’t useful in determining kidney function?
Creatinine
Phosphorus
What 4 biochemical parameters are important in determining reproductive function?
Calcium
Total protein
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
What 3 things cause hyperglycaemia in birds?
Can be normal
Stress
Diabetes mellitus
-can only be determined after serial tests
What 3 things can cause hypoglycaemia in birds?
Anorexia
Sepsis
Testing delay
How can you increase the accuracy of serology tests?
Serial or parallel testing
What are the 3 components of a bird blood count?
Erythrocytes - nucleated
Leucocytes
Thrombocytes - don’t have platelets
What is the PCV of parrots?
40-55%
When can you see primary polycythaemia? (Inc. Hgb conc.)
Bone marrow dysplasia
Are RBC numbers higher or lower than in mammals?
Lower
-They are bigger in birds so don’t need as many
What 5 things can affect the total red blood cell number?
Age Sex Environment Hormonal influences Hypoxia
What do bird erythrocytes look like?
Elliptical
Central oval nucleus
What pathway is the major one responsible for blood clotting?
Extrinsic pathway
What will be elevated in a biochemistry test if there has been a significant loss of renal tubules?
Uric acid
What are 5 clinical signs that a bird is sick?
Sunken eyes Mucoid saliva Decreased capillary refill Wrinkling/tenting of skin Decreased urinary output
How do you deliver fluid therapy to a sick bird? -amounts, not the route
10% body weight daily for 3 days
Then reduce to 5-7.5% daily
-Divide the daily total requirement into 2 or 3 doses
What 4 routes of administration of fluids can you use?
Oral
Sub-cutaneous
Intra-venous
Intra-osseus
What are 3 clinical signs of hypothermia?
Feathers fluffed
Lethargic and sleeping a lot
Unable to remain on perch
At what temperature should you heat a cage to treat hypothermia?
30-32 degrees
What are the 5 clinical signs of catabolism in a sick bird?
Food untouched Faeces Urates small Weight loss 'Going light'- loosing muscle
What are 3 ways you can treat catabolism in a sick bird?
Place food and water in easy accessible areas and offer favourite foods
Crop gavage with hand rearing formula
Oesophagostomy tubes
What are 5 clinical signs of respiratory compromise in a sick bird?
Open mouth breathing Increased respiratory effort Audible respiratory noise Cyanosis Collapse
How do you treat a bird with respiratory compromise?
Acute- Check for tracheal obstruction Air sac catheter Chronic- Oxygen therapy
What are the 2 types of pain in birds?
Acute pain-
Fight or flight response
Chronic pain-
Conservation-withdrawal response
What 3 things do you do to treat pain in a bird?
Remove source of pain
Calm the bird
Drugs
What drugs can you use as analgesia in birds?
Opioids- Butorphanol Morphine Tramadol NSAIDS- Meloxicam
What is special about the bird’s response to blood loss?
Can withstand greater amount of blood loss
Don’t have autonomic response that contributes to haemorrhagic shock
Ability to mobilise large numbers of immature erythrocytes
What is wrong with feeding birds high seed diets?
High in fat, carbohydrates and phosphorus
But low in protein, vitamins, calcium and other minerals
What 7 diseases can be a result from feeding high seed diets?
Hypovitaminosis A Hepatic lipidosis Diabetes mellitus Cardiovascular disease Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism Skin and feather dystrophies Immunosuppression
What does hypovitaminosis A result in?
Hyperkeratinisation of the epithelial cells -
Upper respiratory tract
Upper GIT
Ureters
-Predisposes these sites to 2ndry infections or dysfunction
What type of cardiovascular disease can be cause by high seed diets?
Atherosclerosis
What species of chlamydia is of most importance?
Chlamydia psittaci
Has 5 serovars
How is chlamydia classified?
Gram negative
Non-motile
Obligate intracellular
What are clinical signs of psittacosis?
Respiratory- Conjunctivitis Dyspnoea Sneezing with purulent discharge Gastrointestinal/hepati- Diarrhoea Biliverdinuria 'Sick bird look' Other- Poor feathering Neurological signs Polyuria Infertility
How is psittacosis transmitted?
Ingestion or inhalation Maybe egg transmission Incubation period 4days to 2years Shedding starts 72hours after infection Infection can be latent Short immunity after infection
Where are inclusion bodies usually found in cases of psittacosis?
Serosal membranes
Liver
Spleen
Affected air sacs
What 3 tests are usually used to help diagnose chlamydiosis?
PCR
Immunocomb test for IgG
Ancillary testing - total white cell count
What 3 antibiotics can be used to treat chlamydiosis?
Tetracyclines
Enrofloxacin
Azithromycin
What can you use to disinfect surfaces from chlamydiosis?
Heat
Quaternary ammonium products
70% ethanol
3% hydrogen peroxide
What are the clinical signs in people of psittacosis?
Flu like symptoms- Fever, chills Pneumonia Headache Weakness, fatigue Myalgia Chest pain Anorexia Nausea, vomiting
What are the two forms of psittacine beak and feather disease?
Acute and chronic
What are the clinical signs and features of acute beak and feather disease?
Juveniles around weaning Lethargy Fluffed Anorexic Pancytopaenia and non-regenerative anaemia Severe hepatic necrosis Feather lesions
What are the clinical signs and features of chronic beak and feather disease?
Progressive replacement with dystrophic feathers
May loose tail feathers and primary flight feathers
May have untidy plumage
Colour changes
Beak lesions in cockatoos
Immunosuppresion
How is beak and feather disease transmitted?
Shed in faeces, crop secretions and feather dust
Possible vertical transmission
Incubation of 21-25 days
How can you diagnose beak and feather disease?
Basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in feather follicles
Feathers and skin with multifocal to diffuse necrosis
Beak has hyperkeratosis
Thymus and bursa atrophy
How do you treat a bird with beak and feather disease?
Avian interferon possibly if before clinical signs
Supportive care
Most infected birds die within 2 years from immunosuppression complications
What 3 things can you do to treat cloacal prolapse?
Correct behaviour
Ventoplasty
Cloacopexy
What bird does phallic prolapse occur in, and what is the treatment?
Waterfowl Treatment- Sexual rest NSAID's Antibiotics Temporary ventoplasty Amputation
What ovarian problem can present as dyspnoeic?
Ovarian cysts
-Space occupying lesion
What oviductal problems can birds get?
Salphingitis
Metritis
Yolk peritonitis
What are the predisposing factors to egg binding?
Very young or very old
Malnutrition and obesity
Excessive egg production
Lack of physical fitness
What are the 6 aetiologies of egg binding?
Oviductal muscle dysfunction Calcium deficiency Myositis Concurrent salpingitis or metritis Systemic problems
What are some of the clinical signs of egg binding?
Excessive straining Penguin-like posture Dyspnoea Collapse Coelomic distension
How do you diagnose a bird with egg binding?
History of egg-laying Clinical signs Coelomic palpation Coelomic radiography Coelomic ultrasound
What can you inject into a bird that has egg binding to help the process?
Calcium gluconate every 3-6 hours
If still nothing - intra-cloacal PGE2 gel
What 3 fractures can you use a Y bandage for?
Humeral
Antebrachial
Carpal
What 2 fractures can you use a figure 8 bandage for?
Antebrachial
Carpal
-NOT humeral
What leg joint can’t you immobilise without surgery?
Coxo-femoral
What are the 3 phases of behavioural analysis?
A - Antecedent
B- Behaviour
C - Consequences
What percentage of the day in a wild bird is used by foraging and social behaviours?
80% foraging
20% Social
-Captive is opposite
What 4 things makes a bird anaesthetic different?
Anatomy
Metabolism
Tendency to loose heat quickly
Usually chronically ill
How long should you fast a bird before anaesthesia?
3-4 hours
If necessary remove crop contents
How long can it take for profound hypothermia to occur in an anaesthetised bird?
20 minutes
What things should you do to prepare a bird for anaesthesia?
Weigh Fast Assess respiration from a distance Palpate crop and abdomen Measure PCV, TPP and blood glucose Maybe pre-emptive analgesia
How do you induce small birds and waterfowl/large birds for anaesthesia?
Small birds-
Wrap loosely and mask induce
Water/large birds-
Induce via IV from catheter
When should you intubate a bird during anaesthesia?
Longer procedure
Compromised patient
Rare or valuable
