Exam # 3 Flashcards
What are the associations surrounding Turmeric in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?
- Curcuminoids are phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti neoplastic
- Few studies in companion animals, none conclusive (Comblain et al. 2017)
Psittacines: What birds are more commonly affected by obesity? What are the multisystemic problems? What is the treatment?
Amazons, budgerigars, and Quakers most commonly affected
Multisystemic Problems:
hepatic lipidosis, lipomas xanthomas, arthritis, atherosclerosis, etc
Controlled weight loss/diet modification/exercise (flight –in a safe area)
What other nutritional related diseases can you see in hedgehogs ? Are they common? How are they managed? What causes them How can you detect them
• Diarrhea may be the result of infectious disease, but also can be associated
with some commercial diets or inappropriate foods such as milk
• Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant
• Hepatic lipidosis is relatively common especially in sick overweight
hedgehogs
• Diagnosis is supported by testing for hepatic enzymes, plasma bilirubin, and bile
acids
What are the 3 main disorders seen in chicks deficient in vitamin E?
The three main disorders seen in chicks deficient in vitamin E are encephalomalacia, exudative diathesis (=accumulations of blood plasma under the skin), and muscular dystrophy
How can you manage ferret obesity?
- Meal feeding is preferred to ad-lib
feeding and allows for intake restriction
and adjustment (will go into more
depth in dogs/cats)
• Eliminating/reducing high fat treats
could be sufficient in some cases
• Encouraging play and activity may be
helpful too
• Area should be ‘ferret-proofed’
What occurs in manganese deficiency? What is the prevention?
- Similar to calcium and phosphorus deficiencies, manganese deficiency may result in joint disease and thin egg-shell
- A manganese-deficient breeder diet can result in chondrodystrophy in chick embryos
- Chicks would have short wings and legs
- Prevention: diet should include sufficient manganese
What are Rhamphastids? What should you feed them? What are they very susceptible to?
Highly specialized beak
Fruits and commercial low-iron formula
Related to woodpeckers (Order Piciformes, family Rhamphastidae)
Highly susceptible to hemochromatosis
What are the signs of rickets in birds? How can you prevent rickets?
- Young broilers and turkey poults can exhibit lameness at ~10–14 days of age
- Rickets is not a failure in the initiation of bone mineralization. But an impairment of the early maturation of this process.
- Young birds have limited ability to digest saturated fats
- Undigested compounds can complex with calcium to form insoluble soaps leading to an induced deficiency of
calcium and low absorption of vitamin D3
25(OH)D is more bioavailable and is now popular in us in lieu of vitamin D3
- There is often an enlargement of the ends of the long bones, with a widening of the epiphyseal plate
- Prevention- vitamin D3 supplementation
- A diet with sufficient fat to facilitate fat soluble vitamin absorption
What is a broods lifecycle? When do young workers emerge? How can bees shut off brood?
Bees can’t ‘shut off’ brood / except by eating it. Remember the brood life cycle:
- 3 days as an egg
- 6 days as a larvae
- Young workers emerge on day 21
What occurred in dogs who ate raw turkey necks?
• Associated dogs who ate raw turkey necks, developed acute polyradioculoneutitis in dogs.
What fat sources can change the fatty acid composition of the egg yolk in birds?
Use of certain fat sources such as fish meal, flaxseed, corn and various oils can change the fatty acid composition in the egg yolk
What are GMOs? What are the concerns with GMOs in pet food? What is the reality?
• Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are
thought to have been modified in ways where
their benefits are for production, which comes at
the expense of nutritive value • No substantial nutritional difference between
GMO and non-GMO
Do bees defecate in the hive? Where do they old their wastes? What happens if food is not clean or if they could not take a cleansing flight?
Bees do not defecate in the hive.
They must hold waste in their rectums.
If food is not clean (i.e high ash content), or they cannot take a cleansing flight, bees can have issues.
What can you see in undernourished reptiles? Overnourished? What can be factors contributing to weight loss or gain?
- Undernourished reptiles may be cachectic, with poor body condition and palpable ribs, vertebral processes and pelvic bones
- Over-nourished reptiles will become overweight or obese
• Juveniles may grow too fast and develop orthopedic disease
- Lack of space for physical activity can be an important factor in unwanted weight gain
• Make sure tank size is adequate
What can cause vitamin A deficiency in birds?
Causes:
- vitamin A deficiency can result when the level in the diet is inadequate or the vitamin added to the diet is oxidized by rancid fat in
the diet
- Vitamin A deficiency may also occur as a result of neomycin, a common antimicrobial that reduces its absorption
- Inadequate fat content would also cause vitamin A deficiency
What is important about carnivourus reptile feeding? What is prefered in terms of diet preparation? Why is frozen preferred over live prey?
• The nutritional value of the prey changes as it ages
- The calcium content of a pinky mouse is much lower than an adult mouse
• Killed, frozen mammalian prey is preferred over live prey - Less risk of parasites
- Less risk for trauma
• Chicks should also be frozen and heated to reduce risk of salmonella
What do guinea pigs lack naturally and what do they need supplemented?
• Lack L‐gulonolactone oxidase
• Cannot convert glucose to vitamin C and
require dietary vitamin C
What is crazy chick disease?
Chicks with neuro signs. This results from hemorrhage and edema within
the granular layers of the cerebellum
What can be used to encourage feeding during hotter months? What about scratch feed?
- Crumbled diets can be used to encourage feed intake during hotter months.
- Scratch feed should not be considered a complete feed for any type of bird
- It should only be thrown out as an occasional treat
What are the associations surrounding Ginger in pet food? Is there any published data? Any known risks?
- For stomach pain, anti emetic
- No published data on efficacy for pain
- Few studies suggest anti-emetic effect 25 mg/kg PO (Sharmaa et al 1997)
- Strong flavor
What is the treatment of secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism in birds?
Diet correction
Calcium +/- Vitamin D supplementation
Cage restriction
Fractures require external coaptation
What has been proven about enzymes in dog food and the need for supplementation?
◦ EPI -> only time enzyme supplement is needed.
What supplements are used in bees? What is important to remember?
Some (lemongrass oil) can act as feed stimulants.
- No evidence for other claims
- Bees have very sensitive digestion
- Bees are sensitive to scents
- especially oils that build in the wax.
What are the causes of CKD in reptiles?
• Common causes include
Chronic dehydration/contaminated water
Vitamin D toxicity
Vitamin A deficiency
NSAIDs in dehydrated reptile (meloxicam)
Medications injected in the caudal body (renal portal system)
What is the interest in raw diet?
People thing dogs are mini wolves, they are not. They also are concerned for the loss of enzymes during cooking. Some vets support it which is wild.
How can we tell if our colony has enough food?
We are evaluating the food needs for the next month.
• What will the bees needs be?
• What will the weather be like?
• What food is available in my area?
Very common beginner mistake – Not think about what will happen over the next few weeks
What fish are carbohydrates important for? What do they do? What sources contain carbohydrates? What is converted to? What kind of fish may not do well with a high carb diet?
Important in omnivores
No requirement for them, but provide energy
Sources: grain, cereal
Just like other species- excess energy is converted to lipid and stored
Carnivores may not do well with a high carbohydrate diet • Like cats, they have low hepatic glucokinase enzyme
what is the ratio to mix syrup?
1: 1 standard for growth
2: 1 fall feeding.
What determines a fish’s nutritional requirements?
- Species differences
- Carnivore, omnivore and herbivore
- Life stages?
- Fry→juvenile→adult→broodstock
- Feeding preferences
- Floating / sinking / slow sinking / live / size
What can calcium and phosphorus deficiency cause?
Calcium and phosphorus deficiency can cause:
- developmental and reproductive disease
- During growth, a deficiency in either mineral would cause poor skeletal maturation and mineralization
- Poor calcium intake would result in poor shell quality in a laying hen
- This would cause depletion of skeletal calcium stores as well ‘cage layer fatigue’
- Low calcium can also result in ‘egg binding’
What kind of feed should meat type birds receive? What will this improve? What about diet for starting broilers? What about egg laying birds?
- Feed for all meat-type birds will be pelleted
- This results in 4% improvement in feed efficiency - Diets for starting broilers will be a “crumble”
- Feed for egg-laying birds most often comes as a mash (no pelleting process)
What is the recommended guinea pig diet?
Feed hay ad-lib
• Hay is important for GI motility, normal
GI microflora, normal occlusion
• Alfalfa/legume hay in juveniles (high in
protein, calcium)
• Grass hay in adults
• Formulated high quality pellets
(additional vitamins and minerals)= 1
Tbsp/g.pig/day
• Vitamin C supplement- minimum 2
mg/g.pig/day
• Vegetables and fruit
(peppers, parsley, kiwi,
cabbage)
What should you avoid for carnivous reptiles that eat fish based diets?
- Wild caught fish for risk of parasites
- High fat fish for vitamin E depletion
- Some fish contain thiaminase which breaks down vitamin B1 and can lead to a deficiency [sardines, herring, carp, mackerel, and anchovy may all contain thiaminase]
- Crayfish are not recommended because they may harbor the bacterium (Beneckia chitonvora) which has been implicated in shell disease in turtles
What are the protein sources for birds? What is needed for complete protein in birds. What may need to be supplemented in avian diets?
- Protein can come from plants or animal protein (such as protein
meals) - Several plant proteins are needed to provide a complete protein (legume + grain may come close)
- Lysine and methionine may be deficient but are available as a supplement
What quantity of water is needed for guinea pigs? What is the ideal waterers and feeders for guinea pigs?
10‐40 ml of water per 100 g body
weight • Automatic waterers better than sipper
bottles
• Pre‐masticated food spit into sipper
bottle, causing clogs
• Raised, mounted feeders are preferred
• Prevent overturning
What is the cause of curled toe disease/ or curly toe paralysis? Who is more susceptible?
- This is the result of riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency
- Chickens are more susceptible to this compared to other birds
What is a vitamin A deficiency in reptiles? What are the clinical signs? What can you see in red eared sliders?
- Vitamin A deficiency often occurs in reptiles (lizards and tortoises) fed an un-supplemented diet with vegetables, fruit and insects with low vitamin A or beta carotene content
- Clinical signs typically include squamous metaplasia which results in conjunctivitis, respiratory disease, and stomatitis
- In red ear sliders, respiratory disease may make them swim lopsided
What occurs in carnivore fish if there is high carbohydrate intake?
What is important in a nutritional assessment of a reptile? Why?
• History- what is the diet that is provided?
- How often it is provided Bowls, cleanliness
• Reproductive status-
- Nutritional needs for reproductively active reptiles are higher: females need energy for development of ovarian follicles, oviductal eggs and embryos and require calcium for egg laying
- Male snakes may refuse food during courtship and copulation or during times that seasonally correlate with these activities
- Females may not accept food while gravid
• Health status-
- Sick reptiles may feed differently and may have different requirements
What honeybees need a lot of carbohydrates?
Foragers
What is a sign of dehydration in reptiles ?
Enophthalmos ( corneal abrasion?)
What is the prognosis of secondart nutritional hyperparathyroidism in pisttacines?
- Fair to good if detected early and corrected
- Some deformities will be permanent
- Spinal fractures and paralysis denote grave prognosis
What is the treatment of ferret insulinomas?
In an emergency- glucose or corn syrup on the gums can stabilize blood sugar
• This is not a good option long term- high blood glucose stimulate of additional insulin secretion
• Long term treatment
• High protein high fat food (‘duck’ or ‘dook’
soup recipes) can be used temporarily • Food should be available at all times • Ferrets should be encouraged to eat every 2-4
hours/ food available 24 hours/day
• Surgical treatment/glucocorticoids
What is important to remember about flowers?
Flowers are not created equal. Some flowers are good for pollen, some good for nectar, some for both.
What is the issue with feeding a bird seed only diet? (Psittacines)
Most seeds in bird diets are:
High in Fat Low Calcium, iron, copper, manganese, iodine Low Vitamin A, C, D3, B
Low in protein and specific amino acids (lysine, methionine)
Sometimes high in phosphorous
Millet: high in starch
Peanuts: high in fat and potential foraflatoxicosis
How yan you diagnosis secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism?
Examination and palpation
CBC, Plasma biochemistries, ionized calcium (Low Ca++ in chem) (increased ionized calcium)
Radiographs to evaluate general bone density -Fractures, bone deformities, poor bone density
In an emergency how can I administer calcium?What about in chronic situations?
In emergency: Calcium gluconate 100 mg/kg IM (dilute in 0.9% saline or injectable water)
For chronic hypocalcemia: in addition to dietary changes, calcium glubionate up to 100 mg/kg PO SID for most species
Is this larvae healthy/ receiving enough protein? How could you tell?
Bad- Little royal jelly visible
What is important about queen nutrition in honey bees?
Queen’s pheromones elicit feeding and care from workers.
Queen nutrition is really a sign of worker/colony nutrition.
What occurs with calcium deficiency and egg binding? When would this situation become urgent?
During reproductive activity- calcium demands are highly increased
Serum total calcium increases in a reproductive hen to levels that can exceed 15 mg/ dl.
Diet that does not provide enough calcium may predispose the bird for shell abnormalities and egg binding
- Can become emergent with egg rupture.
What is a toxic vegetable in birds and what can it cause?
Avocados are toxic, can cause dyspnea and respiratory distress.
What is important about feeding a carnivorus reptile? What are preferences to note with certain species?
- Reptiles are attracted to prey by smell, movement and temperature
• This can be a challenge transitioning to frozen prey
- Thaw frozen prey quickly to prevent bacterial growth (‘intestinal bloom’)
• This is usually best done in a bath with hot water
- Some snakes can be ‘finicky’
- For example, ball pythons prefer gerbilles that are their ‘natural’ prey
- Sometimes ‘animating’ the prey can help increase interest
What are common beekeeper mistakes?
- Underestimating the amount of feed bees need
- Underestimating the time needed to take the feed in and
dry it
What is critical in maintenence of an aquatic reptiles? How can their excrement effect their environment? What testing may have to be done frequently?
- Aquatic reptiles are not at risk of dehydration usually, but water quality is critical
- Bacterial cultures may be a part of the routine water quality assessment
- Aquatic turtles secrete ammonia that can change water pH and support bacterial growth
What other major symptom is typical in hypervitaminosis A? What is the treatment?
Pododermatitis
Treatment:
▪ Correct dietary deficiencies and convert to pelleted diet
▪ Offer foods high in beta carotenes (dark-leafy greens and yellow-orange veggies)
▪ Parenteral supplementation carries risk of iatrogenic hypervitaminosis
Why is tube feeding important in birds?
Tube feeding provides:
Nutritional support
Caloric intake
Avoid if bird is too weak or is in shock, stabilize first with fluids Daily weights
If more than 5% weight loss in a day
Volume: depends on size of bird
How should you offer water to ferrets? What percentage of their diet is treats? What are acceptable treats, human food, ect?
- Water should be always available in spill-proof bowls or sipping bottles
- Treat should be limited to 10% of the diet
- Commercial high protein treats, human foods (meat, egg) are acceptable
What is likely causing the pododermatitis seen in this picture?
Hypervitaminosis A
What is important to remember about a physical exam of herbivorous mammals?
Prey species- pay attention to signs of distress
• Start exam by observation from a distance • BCS, bodyweight should be evaluated every time • Care must be given to gentle abdominal palpation • Oral evaluation
What is the concern with ferret obesity? What are the causes? Are males or females normally larger with more adipose tissue?
Ferret obesity is increasingly recognized as an important nutritional disease
• Some weight gain is seasonal
• Males are typically larger and have more
adipose tissue compared with females
• Many ferret owners feed ad-libitum and mix
commercial pelleted diet with canned cat
food, and other treat items
• Excessive administration of high fat
supplements, such as Ferretone (8-in-1,
Spectrum Brands, Inc. Islandia, NY)
What other nutritional diseases can sugar gliders have?
• Sugar gliders are also at risk of
becoming obese due to excess caloric
intake and lack of exercise
• They are also prone to hepatitis
associated with iron storage disease if
fed too much high iron foods such as
meat and some leafy vegetables
What is a rat? What can they be used for?
A good representative of most murine
species
• Used as pet, research animal
What changes the amount of saliva during eating? What is the crop?
- The amount of saliva differs between species according
to diet (less in fish eating birds, more in birds that eat grain/seed) - The crop is an enlargement of the esophagus, cranial to
the thoracic inlet (not present in gulls, penguins) - The crop can be palpated in a physical exam
- The crop can become impacted with dry food in a
dehydrated bird
What can be seen about nutritional status during physical exam of a bird?
- Visual inspection can suggest fat deposition
along the pectoral region - Body condition score in birds is best appreciated by assessing the musculature and
fat coverage in the pectoral region - Crop palpation: is important to make sure there is no impaction or stasis of food in the crop.
- Visual inspection of the plumage can also suggest malnutrition. For example, this bird should be bright green and not dark
- The oropharynx should be inspected Most birds would have a choanal slit and choanal papilae
- The overall skin, feet, and feathers may all be indicators of malnutrition
What animal is the general structure of the GI tract in reptiles similar to? Where does enzymatic digestion begin? What is the reptile stomach divided into?
- The general structure of the GI tract in reptiles is generally similar to birds
- Enzymatic digestion (pepsin) may begin in the distal esophagus
- Reptile stomachs are divided to fundus and pyloric parts
- The fundus is the muscular part, similar to gizzard in birds
- The pyloric part secretes acid and enzymes
How will foragers find the scouted locations?
Foragers will find the scouted location using information learned during the dance, visual cues, and scent (from nectar offered by dancers and foot pheromones on flowers.
What are clinical signs of reptile kidney disease?
- Clinical signs are often non-specific: lethargy, dehydration, inappetence, poor BCS
- May have bad odor, tail tip necrosis
- May be constipated due to kidney enlargement
- Gout tophi may be present
- With chronic dehydration- urate uroliths may also occur
In some cases- MBD
- Vitamin D activation include the activity of renal 1-alpha hydroxylase. Without this- MBD may ensue
What is important about food stores of both protein and carbohydrates?
- Protein – There should ALWAYS be excess pollen/ bread stored
Carbs – incoming nectar
What requires an enormous amount of nectar in the summer?
Wax production
How much you feed will depends on?
• Time of year
• Age/strength of colony
• Weather • Comb building needs
• Amount of brood
• ETC.
You can only tell by looking at the hive, the plants, and the weather. Experience!!!
What is a seconodary issue that would arise from vitamin A deficiency? What is the treamtent?
- Bacterial infections may be secondary complications in these animals
• Usually this would progress to poor hydration, weightloss
Treatment: Correct diet, provide additional vitamin A by mouth or by injection oral administration of vitamin A (200 to 300 IU/kg body weight)
Be careful with injection of over supplementat
Is there a correlation between water intake and food intake? What is a few ways to ensure the bird drinks?
Don’t forget the water!
- There’s a direct correlation between amount of water consumed and amount feed consumed
- If a chicken stops drinking it will stop eating soon after
- Water should be kept at appropriate
temperature and freshness
- Always provide at least two or three additional drinkers in excess of the estimated water consumption
What is the treatment for CKD in reptiles?
- Correct husbandry: ensure adequate intake of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D
- Improve hydration: soaking, humidity, water supply, SQ fluids if needed
• Reducehighphosphorusfooditemsandsupplements
- For example, in insectivore reptiles make sure to gutload the feeders with high calcium supplements, otherwise they are low Ca:P ratio
Are ferrets normally intact when sold? What family do they belong to?
• In the US, ferrets are typically sold after
being spayed or neutered and descended by the breeding facility before they are 6
weeks of age
• Few private breeders exist (limited genetic
pool)
• Ferrets belong to the Mustelidae family that
also includes mink, weasels, badgers, etc
What is important about rabbit teeth? What kind of teeth? How do they maintain them?
• Continuously growing incisors,
molars and premolars
• Rabbits have two sets of incisors (peg
teeth) • Require roughage for gnawing and
mastication to wear teeth
What can foraging be used for? How can you have foraging occur?
- Foraging can be used as enrichment and can improve
the performance of many avian species including chickens - Foraging can be achieved by allowing to have free
access to a natural environment or to with foraging
tools or toys
What nutritional deficiency can cause lesions like this?
Hypovitaminosis A
When can dehydration be seen in reptiles? What are the consequences?
- Dehydration is common, especially in sick reptiles
- Water intake is important to allow for normal uric acid secretion in terrestrial species and urea in aquatic species
- Chronic dehydration may cause long term complications including kidney disease and urolithiasis
what are hedgehogs? What do they prefer in terms of climate? What variations are there? What kind of stomach do they have and can they vomit?
• Most common species of domesticated
hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog
• Hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed
Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the Algerian Hedgehog (A. algirus)
• Smaller than the European hedgehog
• Domesticated species prefer a warm climate (above 70 °F) and do not naturally hibernate
• Several color mutations exist (albino, pinto) • They are omnivores with a simple stomach • Vomiting reflex present
How should you wean an adult bird off a diet seed?
Address and correct the patient’s health status first
Slow and progressive
Various options:
Cold turkey
Habituation
Feeding times
What urinary disease occurs in rabbits and guinea pigs?
• Urolithiasis is a common presentation
in rabbits and guinea pigs
• The etiology is not completely
understood, but likely involves diet
and body condition
• The vast majority of uroliths in
rabbits and guinea pigs are calcium
carbonate in composition
What is cagelayer fatigue? Who is it seen in? How can it be preventted?
- Can result in neurological signs due to hypocalcemia or even spinal fractures due to poor bone mineralization
- The condition is rarely seen in floor-housed birds, suggesting that reduced activity within the cage is a predisposing factor
- Diets must provide adequate quantities of calcium and phosphorus to prevent deficiencies
- Providing calcium carbonate or limestone can help as it will remain in the gizzard and slow-release calcium
What nutritional related disease is common in hedgehogs? How is it managed? What causes it? What is the prognosis?
- Dilated cardiomyopathy is common in hedgehogs
- Etiology is unclear-genetic? Nutritional?
- Possible benefit to providing taurine and carnitine supplementation
- Medical management with pimobendin, furosemide
- Prognosis is poor
How much honey can a colony of bees use in a year? How many acres will they forage?
A colony of bees can use over
400 lbs of honey per year.
• Requires thousands of floral
visits
• They will forage over 20,000
acres (3 mile radius from
hive)
- Estimate 1 acre in constant
bloom supports one colony.
Can vegan/ vegetarian diets be done successfully?
Dogs - Can be done, commercially done and home cooked. Vegan much more difficult, recommend diets that has undergone feeding trials. Need to account tof digestibility and bioavailability.
- Example Purina HA - Growth
Cats - Can be done- in THEORY as long as you can synthetically produce essential nutrients. More essential nutrients required are from meats. No commercial diets currently. Possible serious deficiencies Taurine, B1, Methionine
How do you diagnose Metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
• MDB diagnosis is based on physical exam findings and imaging
- Ionized calcium: limited data, not simple to analyze (should be analyzed immediately)
Also- reference ranges may not exist in all species
- In a study evaluating healthy green iguanas, the mean ionized calcium concentration in blood was 1.47 (0.105 mmol/L), with no significant variation by gender or age
- Markedly low ionized calcium may be an indication of MBD
What commercial diets are good for rabbits to prevent GI stasis?
- There are several commercial diets that can be used to provide assisted nutrition to herbivores
- These consists of blends of chopped hay that can be mixed with water and provided through a catheter-tip syringe
- Choose a diet that provides the longest fiber possible with consideration to the animal’s size and route of feeding
- very fine powdered fiber is less likely to stimulate gastrointestinal motility
- Fine fiber particles may enter the cecum and undergo fermentation instead of reaching the colon, where longer fiber promotes motility
Brands: Oxbow Critical Care, Oxbow Animal Health, Murdock, NE, USA; Emeraid Herbivore, Lafeber’s, Cornell, IL, USA
What is a sign of hypovitaminosis A?
Conjunctivitis
What is the treatment and prevention for hemochromaosis?
TREATMENT &
PREVENTION
Serial Phlebotomy
Iron Chelators
Low iron diet (<100 ppm)
Avoid Citrus fruits
Add Tannins to diet
What is ferret urolithiasis? What diet can cause this? What occurs with the metabolism of plant proteins?
• Ferret fed diets high in plant-based proteins, such as yellow corn, are at risk to develop struvite urolithiasis (magnesium ammonium phosphate)
• For example, low quality dog or cat
food
• Metabolism of plant proteins produces
more alkaline urine than the typical acidic
urine of ferrets
• Struvite uroliths develop in alkaline pH
• Usually, these struvite uroliths are sterile
and not due to an infection (unlike in
dogs, like cats)
What is vulnerable to nutrient leaching? How long do vitamins C, B12 Choline and pantothenic acid dissipate in water? How must it be provided?
- Water soluble vitamins vulnerable to nutrient leaching
- Vitamin C, B12, choline and pantothenic acid dissipate in 30 seconds of feed hitting water
- Need to be provided in a protected form
Is there a breed association with DCM from grain free diets? What about the diets themselves?
- Golden Retriever’s, mixed breeds, labradors, great dane and pitbulls had the highest # of DCM reported but it was found in both large and small breeds.
- Association with Dry food being primary formulation fed for large number of cases.
- Variety of companies and manufacturers were implicated.
What are nectarivorous birds? What should you feed them? What is important about their stool quality ? What is an important part of their upkeep?
Lories and lorikeets (Loriinae)
Many commercial diets, formulas, solutions
Messy diet, messy feces (not diarrhea)
Need to keep clean (bacterial contamination, yeast infections)
How do you interpret diet history for herbivores?
herbivores:
- Is the diet of adequate freshness
- Is there sufficient calcium?
- Does the diet provide enough protein?
- Does the diet provide sufficient vitamin A or vitamin A precursors ?
- Is there sufficient insoluble fiber?
How do bees get food?
Scouting – bees will scout to find good sources of food within a ~ 5km range.
What are the clinical signs and diagnosis of hemochomatosis?
CLINICAL SIGNS
Liver failure, ascites, dyspnea
DIAGNOSIS
High suspicion from signalment, history, and physical Radiographs/Ultrasound
- Liver Biopsy is definitive
What are medicated feeds for fish? What are they susceptible? What complications can they have?
Medicated feeds
- Some feeds are mixed with antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitic medications
- May be used to treat diseases; however, it is an opening for misuse
- Some medicated feeds can also increase the fish weight and increase growth rate
- On the other hand, this can contribute to antimicrobial resistance
How does diet effect fish coloring? Why?
- Some fish can utilize diet to change coloring
- There are more than 600 types of carotenoids.
- There are two broad classifications of carotenoids: carotenes and xanthophylls:
- xanthophylls contain oxygen
- carotenes are hydrocarbons and do not contain oxygen.
- Absorb different wavelengths of light during plant’s photosynthesis process
- xanthophylls are more yellow
- carotenes are orange
- Many fish have chromatophore cells that can utilize these compounds to change color
What is kidney disease in reptiles? Who is more prone to it? What does it result from? What species is it more common in?
- Common in older reptiles, reptiles with poor diet or reptiles with inadequate husbandry
- Especiallylizards,chameleons,tortoises
- Chronic kidney disease is insidious, results from poor diet, chronic dehydration
- Acute kidney injury can occur due to toxins, severe dehydration, infection Can occur in any age
What is occuring in this picture?
Hepatic lipidosis
What accounts for the cause of up to 75 % of all medical problems in birds?
Up to 75% of all medical problem in pet birds have a
nutritional background
What must you do to insectivorous reptiles diets to ensure it is comeplete and balanced? What is a way you can make sure they are receiving correct nutrition?
- Make sure the prey provides a complete and balanced nutrition
- Invertebrate prey may be dusted with a calcium vitamin D powder
- Although dusting is not always the best way to provide nutrients
- May cause excess or deficiency, or reduce palatability
- The chitin exoskeleton is low in calcium
- Also recommend to ‘gut- load’ [prefeed the prey so its nutritional value is increased]
What determines the rate of digestion for reptiles? How long does it take a boa constrictor to digest the skeleton of a rodent?
- The rate of digestion for reptiles may vary depending on temperature, hydration, food type, and meal size
- It takes 120 hours for a boa constrictor to digest the skeleton of a rodent
What is the importance of temperature in fish habitats?
The optimal temperature is that when the fish energy efficiency is highest, and more energy can be invested in growth
• Appetite is high
• 25-30 °C for tropical fish
• There is about 2.5 times increase in growth rate for every 10 °C
What are the feeding guidelines for rabbits?
- Grass hay – ad libitum in adult rabbits
• Juvenile rabbits may benefit from alfalfa/legume hay
• Formulated pellets – 1/4 c per 3 kg body
weight
• “Treats” – vegetables, limited fruit ( avoid high sugar)
• Water ad libitum via bowl or sipper bottle
• High water consumption of 120 ml/kg
what is the benefit of complete feeding?
Complete feed does not require additional supplements - Easiest and simplest method of feeding
- Downside: Usually a bit more expensive, so can be mixed with grain (v/v) to reduce cost
- Its important to feed the animals according to their
respective life stage
- A laying hen mash is too high in calcium for a growing bird
as it can cause orthopedic disease
What is a dearth? What can be a consequence?
- Scarcity or lack of nutrients
- If bees cannot find enough flowers, they will rob resources from other hives.
- Especially weak ones
- Significant cause of disease spread.
What is the most common form of MBD in reptiles? When is it diagnosed? What causes the condition typically?
- Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism is the most common form of MBD
- It is usually diagnosed in young/juvenile reptiles
This condition usually stems from poor husbandry:
- Poor diet with low calcium or vitamin D3 (or both)
- Low UV light exposure
- Stress (overcrowding for example)
Why is nutrition variable between backyard flocks and large scale commercial facilities?
- Nutrition for small flocks and backyard poultry tends to be
more variable than nutrition for egg laying hens or meat
birds in a large-scale production setting - Diet can affect the health of the bird or affect productivity
- When animals are used for production, feed is a major
expense of the overall investment
What can adult honeybees eat?
Carbohydrates
• Protein
• Amino Acids
• Lipids
• Micronutrients
What are protein sources for fish?
Protein sources
- Mixtures of animal and vegetable protein can provide a good balance of essential amino acids
- Fish meal- can also be used as a highly digestible protein source
- Temperature affects protein digestion, therefore protein requirements can change at varying temperatures
What is the largest component of poultry diets? What is it provided by? What fibers are included? What is the concern with excessive fiber?
Carbohydrates. It is usually provided by grains.
Includes fibers such as cellulose which is indigestible by the bird but can support gi health.
Excessive fiber can decrease digestibility and decrease production
What determins energy requirements for reptiles? What are they?
Energy requirements
• Reptiles are poikilothermic
- There is no energy investment in maintaining body temperature. Therefore, energy requirements are relatively lower than mammals and birds (less than 50% of an mammal of the same size)
- Ambient temperature affects metabolic rate, activity and digestion
- Cold temperature will reduce appetite, food intake and can even dangerously slow digestion
- A temperature gradient would help the reptile find an optimal temperature
What is the issue with hive beetles?
Hive beetles can grow and destroy hive if too much protein powder/ protein is left for bees to eat
What kind of sugar should be used for simple syrups? Which should not?
Do not use sugar in the raw. Bees cannot use them well because of high ash content. Otherwise they do not care which one to use.
What diagnostics can be run on reptiles to assess their health? What is important to remember about diagnostic labs?
Reptiles may not show signs of illness on physical examination • Diagnostic tests can help identify early signs of illness
• Its important to use a laboratory that is experienced with processing reptile blood
- Hematocrit tends to be lower • RBCs are fragile
- Quick analysis is best
What other conditions can occur due to raw diets? Who is most at risk?
- Risk for toxo, brucella- both may cause severe adverse effects
- Puppies more sensitive
- Treat with Abs only if clinical disease is present. However may increase shedding of salmonella.
What are the benefits of feeding pellets or crumbles vs. Mash? What is the cons?
Pros:
- Feed is compacted in pellet form
- the bird is able to consume and metabolize a greater amount of feed
- Pelleted feeds are a complete unit of feed
- Birds are unable to pick out different ingredients
- This form of feed also makes it possible for producers to formulate high-energy, high-protein diets that aid in maximizing the amount of
feed used to produce a pound of meat
- Some mash feeds are extremely dusty and difficult to handle
Cons:
Added cost to conversion of mash to crumble/ pellet
How do you do a physical exam and assess nutritional status?
Start the physical exam from a distance, before you disturb the patient
• Review all body systems of the patient
• Pay attention to anything that could indicate nutritional factor
• For example, opacities in the cornea, conjunctivitis, respiratory signs could be related to vitamin A deficiency
• Orthopedic disease, bone deformity could be a sign of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D deficiency
• Mucus membranes should be pink and moist, not pale or yellow (except bearded dragons) and not tacky
What can be given to acidify urine in ferrets? Alkalize?
Acidify: Methionine
Alkalize: Potassium citrate
What is IBD in ferrets? Is it common? What is the most common presentation? How can it be managed?
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is relatively common in ferrets
• Similar to other species, the etiology of this condition is unknown
• On histology, most common presentation is
lymphoplasamcytic infiltrates
• Some ferrets respond well to diet change, and some ‘limited ingredient’ commercial diets are commercially
available
• Some ferrets would benefit from added fiber
• This appears to be very idiosyncratic
• Best to try a small amount of fiber and evaluate the response
How could ingredients be implicated in issues with Grain free diets and DCM?
- Dogs can produce taurine from methionine and cysteine
- If a company calculated the protein % as total, rather than animal protein this could mean that much protein is vegetable protein
- Legumes are high in protein, but relatively low in methionine and cysteine
- In addition- legumes have several antinutritive compounds:
- Phytates
- Glycoproteins
- Phytosterols
- Phenols
- These reduce digestibility, but are usually destroyed in cooking
Is this larvae healthy/ receiving enough protein? How could you tell?
Good = Larvae floating in royal jelly
What can be seen in an iodine deficiency? What bird is classic for presenting with this? How would it be diagnosed? What is the suggested therapy/ treatment?
▪ Classic disease of budgerigars
▪ Swelling in clavicular region, voice changes, dyspnea, and regurgitation
▪ Diagnosis via history, physical exam, and response to therapy
▪ CT scan would be diagnostic for enlarged thyroid
▪ Therapy is oral iodine supplementation
What is the digestive anatomy and function in fish?
- The length of the digestive system of the fish is highly variable
- Stomach tends to be larger in carnivores
- Species with a more vegetarian diet, have a more complex system and a longer intestine
What are the clinical signs of metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
• Mandible may be swollen, soft Cheilitis
Stomatitis Gingivitis
Fractures in long bones and spinal fractures
Lethargy
Constipation/ cloacal prolapse/diarrhea
How do you diagnosis birds with hepatic lipidosis?
DIAGNOSIS Serum liver enzymes and bile acids
Radiographs/ultrasound
Liver biopsy/aspirate (with pathology review)
What are the clinical signs of hypervitaminosis A?
CLINICAL SIGNS
▪ Sinusitis/upper respiratory disease
▪ Recurring bacterial infections
▪ Blunted choanal papillae
▪ White nodular plaques in the oral cavity
▪ Hyperkeratosis of skin
▪ Gout and renal failure if ureters affected
▪ Decreased reproductive success
What is a sign of dehydration or hypovitaminosis A?
Dysecdysis ( incomoplete shed)
What is tibial dyschondroplasia? Where is it seen? What is its cause? What are the clinical signs? How can it be prevented?
- A disease that is characterized by an abnormal cartilage mass in the proximal head of the tibiotarsus
- Likely genetic + nutritional background
- Mostly in fast growers
- Signs can occur early but more usually are not initially seen until 14–25 days of age
Signs: Pain, Decreased ambulation, Stiff gait
Prevention: Can be preventable by slowing down growth rate and a balanced diet with respect to calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3
