Cardiorespiratory disease Flashcards
Normal rabbit radiographic findings
- the thoracic cavity is small in comparison with the abdominal cavity
- the heart occupies a relatively large volume of the thoracic cavity
- ^ means that minor lung pathology can have big consequences clinically
- the small cranial lung lobes are not seen in as much detail as the caudal lobes
- the aorta and caudal vena cava should be visible
- the pulmonary vessels can be seen within the lungs
Clinical signs of respiratory dz in small mammals
- lethargy
- poor coat
- anorexia
- audible clicking
- sneezing
- ocular discharge (e.g. porphyrin)
- nasal discharge
- dyspnoea/ abdo heaving
- head tilt if middle ear involved
- open mouth breathing
- often see minimal, non-specific signs
Clinical signs of respiratory dz in reptiles
- lethargy
- anorexia
- weight loss
- difficulty breathing
- open mouth breathing
- wheezes or crackles
- ocular and/or nasal discharge
- stomatitis
Clinical signs of respiratory dz in birds
- lethargy
- anorexia
- ‘fluffed up’
- crusting around nares
- periorbital swelling
- dyspnoea or ‘tail bobbing’
- voice change
- tachypnoea
Degree of disease when you see signs of respiratory dz in birds (& why)
- very bad
- they hide symptoms well
- also their respiratory tract is very effective so if a bird is struggling to breathe there is a lot of damage
- they can go downhill very quickly
Common causes of respiratory dz in small mammals
- URT bacterial infections
- LRT bacterial infections
- viruses (respiratory or systemic)
- fungal infections
- parasitic (e.g. lungworm [ferrets])
- husbandry (allergy, dust, poor ventilation, stress, poor diet)
- dental disease
- circulatory causes
- trauma
- space occupying lesions
- foreign bodies
What can URT bacterial infections in small mammals & reptiles cause?
- rhinitis
- also affects structures outside of there respiratory tract, e.g. conjunctivitis, nasolacrimal duct infections, otitis media
- dental disease is often related to URT dz in small mammals
What can LRT bacterial infections in small mammals & reptiles cause?
- tracheitis
- bronchitis
- pneumonia
Examples of fungal infections in small mammals
- Aspergillosis – more likely if outdoor pets
Examples of circulatory causes of respiratory disease in small mammals
- heart disease (pulmonary oedema)
- arteriosclerosis
Examples of trauma causing respiratory dz in small mammals
- lung contusion
Examples of space occupying lesions causing respiratory dz in small mammals?
- abscesses
- tumours
What small mammals spp is Mycoplasma typically seen in?
- rats
- hence why LRT disease e.g. pneumonia, is often seen in rats
- can be passed onto other animals very easily
Common respiratory pathogens in Guinea Pigs
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Chlamydophila caviae
- Adenovirus
Common respiratory pathogens in rabbits
- Pasteurella multocida
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
Common respiratory pathogens in rats and mice
- Mycoplasma pulmonic
- Pasteurella pneumotropica
- Strep pneumoniae
- Sendai virus (mice)
Common respiratory viruses in reptiles (species examples)
- Herpes virus: tortoises
- adenovirus: lizards
- ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV): snakes
Common causes of respiratory dz in reptiles
- URT bacterial infections
- LRT bacterial infections
- viruses
- fungal infections
- parasitic (e.g. lungworm [snakes], Rhabdias, Ascarids)
- husbandry (high or low temperature, high humidity levels, stress, poor ventilation)
- dental disease
- circulatory causes
- trauma
- space occupying lesions
- foreign bodies
Examples of fungal infections in reptiles
- candida
- aspergillosis
What dental dz can lead to stomatitis in reptiles?
- periodontal dz