Blood sampling in small mammals and exotic species Flashcards
What percentage of circulating blood can you safely take from a rabbit
circulatory volume= 55-70ml/kg
can take 10%
what blood tubes do you use for bio/haem in rabbits
Haem- EDTA
Biochem- serum
glucose- fluoride oxalate
T/F rabbit blood is slow to clot
False- clots quickly
list the locations you can use for rabbit venipuncture
jugular
cephalic
saphenous
marginal ear vein
What do you need to consider when taking blood sample from rabbit marginal ear vein
Pinna necrosis if poor/rough technique, but smaller area effected compared to artery.
describe how to take blood sample from rabbit jugular
similar o in cat
dewlap can get in way
restraint may inhibit respiration
what can using poor/ rough technique when taking jugular blood sample in rabbit result in
can cause blindness in ipsilateral eye
what percentage of blood volume should you take rom guinea pig
1% BW rule
Limit blood sample size if anaemic or in circulatory shock.
where should you use for venipuncture in guinea pigs
cephalic vein
cranial vena cava most useful for large blood draws- CARE
what is different about guinea pig cephalic vein
more lateral
how much blood can you take in
Rat, Mouse Gerbil & Hamster
1% BW rule
60-70 ml/kg
list the locations you can use to get blood from in
Rat, Mouse Gerbil & Hamster
lateral tail vein
lateral saphenous vein
cranial vena cava
list the locations to get a blood sample from ferrets
jugular (more lateral compared to cats)
cranial vena cava
list the locations to get a blood sample from in hedgehogs
cranial vena cava
jugular vein
femoral vein
T/F need GA to get blood sample from hedgehogs
True
what considerations do you need to make when performing cranial vena cava method in small mammals
in some species (e.g. guinea pig, hedgehog) the heart lies close to sample site
anaesthesia is essential
list 3 reasons why can taking a blood sample from reptiles be hard
most veins are not visible
lymphatic system closely associated - possible contamination of blood samples
low blood pressure and blood draws slowely
what can happen when using EDTA with reptile blood
haemolyse reptile red blood cells.
what is the anticoagulant of choice in reptiles
lithium heparin
describe how to perform blood sample in lizard using ventral coccygeal vein
Entry approximately 1/3rd down the tail to avoid hemipenes and anal glands
Ventral or lateral approach may be used
what is the most useful vein to take blood sample from in lizards
ventral coccygeal vein
why do you need to be careful taking blood sample from ventral tail vein in some species
tail autotomy in some species especially Geckos
General anaesthesia helps prevent the problem
List 3 locations you can take a blood sample from in lizards
ventral coccygeal vein
ventral abdominal vein
jugular vein
list the sites you can use for blood sampling snakes
ventral coccygeal vein
heart
palatine veins
describe how to take blood sample from heart in snakes
GA
locate heart visually with US or doppler
Stabilise heart between finger and thumb
Needle entry ventral midline at a 30 degree angle in a cranial direction
list the locations you can take a blood sample from in chelonians
jugular vein
sub-carapacial vein
dorsal coccygeal vein
describe how to take jugular sample in chelonians
Along line from dorsal ear scale to shoulder
Tends to be superficial
describe how to take Sub-Carapacial Vein sample in chelonians
Entry point craniodorsal midline where skin joins carapace
Aim for point at junction of 1st & 2nd vertebral scute on midline
What is different about rabbit erythrocytes
Anisocytosis and polychromasia is a common, normal finding
what is the normal heterophil: lymphocyte ratio in rabbits
1:1
what will you see in response to stress/ disease in rabbits
The total white cell count rarely increases, instead the neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio changes
what is a Kurloff cell
produced by the thymus under oestrogen stimulation. Resembles lymphocyte with round to oval inclusions
seen in guinea pigs
T/F ferret WBC generally low
True
how long does it take for erythrocyte losses to be replaced in reptiles
4 months
what is different about reptile erythrocytes
they are nucleated
what is the predominate cell type in reptiles
heterophils
what happens to heterophil levels through out the year
increase in summer, decrease during hibernation
what are heterophils
equivalent to mammalian neutrophils
List 4 things that can cause lymphopenia in reptiles
malnutrition
stress
immunosuppression
poor husbandry
List 4 reasons for lymphocytosis in reptiles
inflammation
parasitic and viral disease
wound healing
ecdysis
what species are azurophils found in
reptiles- more common in snakes
List 2 things that can cause Monocytosis & Azurophilia
inflammation
granulomatous disease
what is the cell you will see most on snake blood smear
azurophils
List 3 things we need to consider when taking blood sample from birds
Veins are generally very superficial.
Veins are very fragile and prone to haematoma formation.
Post-sampling haemorrhage and haematoma formation is potentially life-threatening.
How much blood volume can you take from bird
up to 10%
if in poor health= less
what blood tubes do you use in birds
haem- Lithium heparin
biochem- lith heparin
why do you need to be careful when restraining birds
if hold thorax to hard then they can’t breath
how to reduce the risk of haematomas in birds
GA
releives stress to bird and lowers BP
List the 3 locations we can use for blood sampling in birds
jugular
ulnar/basilic vein
medial metatarsal vein
describe how o restrain birds
Secure head between 1st and 2nd fingers of left hand, use thumb to raise vein
what are the risks of using ulnar/ basilic vein in birds
Potential to fracture wing if performed conscious.
Haematomas are common and can be severe.
List the primary lymphoid organs in a bird
Birsa of Fabricius
Thymus
List the secondary lymphoid organs in birds
spleen
intestinal lymphoid tissue
bone marrow
where is the Bursa of Fabricius located
Unique to birds
is a dorsal diverticulum in the proctodeum (the third, distal-most chamber of the avian cloaca)
What is different about avian erythrocytes
they are nucleated
Describe avian thrombocytes
nucleated
phagocytic functions
clotting function weaker compared to mammals
Do birds have neutrophils or heterophils
Heterophils- function similar to mammalian neutrophils
