Definitions Flashcards
Accipiter
Genus and common name of a type of diurnal raptors (true hawks)
Altricial
Bird hatched in helpless condition, usually naked, eyes closed, cared for by parents in nest
Anemia
Deficiency of RBC, presents as weakness and pale mucous membranes
Antiseptics
Chemical agent applied to living tissue to prevent growth of microorganisms
Apnea
Cessation of breathing
Aspirate
Inhale fluid into bronchi and lungs
Ataxia
Incoordination or lack of controlled movements
Autecology
Natural history of a species, or ecology of an individual or breeding pair
BAR
Bright, alert, responsive
BID
2x daily, every 12 hrs
aka: q 12 hr
“Brancher”
Young bird not fully fledged, out of nest and hopping on branches
Brood
Birds hatched from a single clutch of eggs
Bumblefoot
Foot abscess seen in raptors and other birds.
Proper term: pododermatitis
Buteo
Genus and common name of a diurnal raptor (aka buzzards)
Canid
of the Canidae family (wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs)
Candidiasis
Infection by fungi of the genus Candida. Aka thrush
Carrying capacity
Estimate of the population size of a species that can be supported by a specified area of a stable habitat
Cast
Undigested parts of prey (hair, bones, claws, teeth) eaten by raptors, which are regurgitated in the form of a pellet
Cere
Fleshy base of the upper mandible of some birds (raptors, pigeons)
Cestodes
Flatworm parasite (tapeworms are cestodes)
Comminuted fracture
Bone is splintered in more than 2 places
Conspecifics
Other individuals of the same species
Coprophagy
Eating their own feces. This is normal in rabbits and some rodents.
Crop
Enlargement of the esophagus in the neck area of some birds to temporarily store food
Cyanotic
Blue/purple colour of mucus membranes due to low O2 levels
Disinfectants
chemical agents applied on inanimate objects to kill pathogens
Dispersal
Movement of an individual animal from birth place to the site of first breeding (not necessarily a migration)
Ectoparasite
Parasite found on the outside of the body (flea, lice)
Edema
Swelling or thickening from fluid leaking from blood vessels
Endoparasite
Internal parasites (most types of worms)
Emancipated
Very thin, starved
Enteric
Pertaining to intestines or GI tract
Epizootic
Disease that spreads rapidly and effects many animals
Fledgling
Baby bird that has matured sufficiently to leave the nest but still may not be able to fly
Gavage
Force feeding through a flexible tube placed down the esophagus
Germicide
Broad term applied to chemical agents that kill microorganisms
Gizzard
Muscular portion of a birds stomach; specialized for grinding food, ventriculus
Habituation
Animal learns not to respond to stimuli that is frequently exposed to without any particular consequence
Hacking
Gradually returning the animal to the wild (usually involves making food available to newly-released animals). Aka soft release.
HBC
Hit by car
Hypovolemic
Abnormally low blood volume or circulating fluid volume
Immunosupppression
T and/or B clones of lymphocytes are depleted/suppressed in their reactivity, expansion or differentiation.
Imping
Repairing damaged feathers using undamaged feathers from another bird
Innervation
supply of nervous energy or of stimulation sent to a part
Kcal
Aka kilocalorie and Calorie.
Equivalent to 1000 calories (Kcals are used on food labels)
Keel
The protruding part of a birds breastbone where a the large flight muscles attach
Lagomorph
Members of the order Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares)
Milwaukee protocol
Experimental course of treatment of a rabies infection in a human
Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis
Finch eye
A bacterial disease affecting the birds eye. Possibly spread by contaminated food, contact with infected birds, or contact with eye secretions on feeders
Nestling
a baby bird too young to leave the nest, still depends on parents and is unable to maintain its body temperature without parents
Parenteral
delivery of medications by routes other than oral (subcutaneous, IM or IV)
Paresis
Severe weakness or partial paralysis of a limb
Pellet
Roundish mass of bone and fur egested by raptors
PCV
Packed cell volume. Volume of RBCs in blood
Passerine
birds of the Order Passeriformes (sparrow-shaped). Also known as song birds
Photoperiod
Proportion of hours of light to hours of darkness in a daily cycle
Plumage
Entire feathery covering of a bird
POTZ
preferred optimal temperature zone.
Temp required for reptiles to metabolize food and drugs, and do other normal functions
Precocial
Birds that leave the nest soon after hatching, usually have strong legs, open eyes, and are more responsive to environment (quail, ducks, killdeer)
Preening
use of bill or beak to clean and align feathers
Proventriculus
Portion of a bird stomach that partially digests food before it moves to the gizzard (ventriculus)
QAR
Quiet, responsive, alert
QID
4x daily, every 6hrs
AKA q 6 hrs
Radiograph
X-ray
Raptor
Animal with taloned (raptorial) feet that are used to kill prey
Refeeding syndrome
characterized by electrolyte and mineral imbalances; occurs when nutrients are introduced prematurely to an emaciated patient
Roost
Sleep.
Rumen
One part of a 4 compartment stomach to digest plant food like grass
Septicemia
Invasion and replication of bacteria in blood
Shock
Collapse of circulatory function due to severe blood loss, toxins, etc
SID
once daily, every 24hrs.
AKA q 24 hrs
Sterilization
Process of complete destruction of all forms of microbial life
Talons
Specialized claws of a raptor
Thiamine
Vitamin B1
Should be supplemented in birds that eat dead fish
TID
three times daily, every 8 hrs
AKA q 8 hrs
Trematodes
Parasitic flatwork with suckers (aka fluke)
Trichomoniasis
Disease of the upper GI in birds caused by the protozoan Trichomonas gallinae; aka frounce or canker
Uropygial gland
Oil gland above the base of the tail in most birds
Zoonoses / zoonotic
Disease that can be spread between animals and humans.
