Exotic Practice and Zoonosis Flashcards
what animals are classed as exotic pets?
small furries (rabbits and guinea pigs)
birds
reptiles
amphibians
fish
what animals must be treated by all veterinary surgeons?
obligation to offer first aid treatment to any animal presented at the surgery
what animals are most practices happy to see?
rabbits and guinea pigs
budgies and cockitiels
small rodents
what animals may be occasionally seen in exotic practice?
tortoises
ferrets
chinchillas
what animals will most practices choose to refer?
lizards and snakes
parrots
birds of prey
fish
when can a vet be classed as an exotic specialist?
if they have a diploma or are a recognised fellow
what sort of exotic vets are there?
some practices have one vet that is interested in one or more exotic species
specialist exotic practices with 24hr on call specialists and nurses
what are the difficulties of having one vet at the practice with exotic interest/experience?
difficulty if out of hours, on call and holidays
what is the issue with specialist exotic practices?
expensive
how long is needed to perform an adequate exotic consult?
at least 20 mins, preferably 30
why do exotic procedures need to be so long?
Thorough history is vital and may be time consuming
Often need to do diagnostic procedures i.e. faecal samples
May need to consult literature
what can make an exotic case run more smoothly?
Good management of the exotic case at reception can make things run much more smoothly.
what role can reception have in exotic consults?
Find out the species of animal to be seen.
Advise on transport of animal
Request feacal samples
Advise owner to bring in food, supplements and photos of environment.
Pre consult questionnaire
how should rabbits and rodents be transported?
secure box or carrier
how should reptiles be transported?
secure box or carrier
provide heating (e.g. hot water bottle or plug in heat mat)
how will snakes be transported?
pillow case or duvet cover
how should birds be transported to the practice?
cage is best, avoid cardboard box as cannot see what the bird is doing and they are difficult to remove
how are birds of prey transported?
travel box or on hand
how should fish be transported?
double bag in a waterproof box
ensure air in the top to allow gas exchange
bring second bag of water
where should birds be housed?
heated tank (30 degrees)
where should reptiles be housed?
vivarium or tortoise table that can provide light and heat
where should rabbits be housed?
away from predators below 22 degrees
what is crucial about all exotic housing?
secure as they are good at escaping
what else needs to be included in exotic housing?
water
food
toys
what equipment is needed when seeing exotic patients?
- Good Microscope
- Crop tubes / stomach tubes
- Fine surgical instruments
- Ventilator, endoscopy, magnification all useful
how should the consult room be set up for exotic
- Secure area. No open doors/windows/air-vents
- Containers for examining small animals
- Sensitive scales
what must happen to rooms after exotic animals have been in?
through disinfection
fogging?
what disinfectant is best for use after exotics have been on the ward?
QAC
when do exotic animals tend to present with illness?
late on when they are already ill
how quickly do birds deteriorate?
Birds will deteriorate quickly – any sick bird should be treated as an emergency
how long does it take reptiles to deteriorate and recover?
Reptiles deteriorate slowly – but will take long time to recover
what is involved in the first aid of exotics?
- ABC – Airway, breathing, circulation.
- Stop and haemorrhage
- Warmth for Birds (30oC) and reptiles (POTZ)
- Oxygen supplementation if needed (Not reptiles)
- Rehydration
- Pain relief
- Antibiosis
why should reptiles not be given oxygen?
may actually stop them from breathing
what zoonoses are seen in reptiles?
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- ?Cryptosporidia
- Pentastomids
what zoonoses are seen in birds?
- Chlamydophila
- Salmonella
- Mycobacteria
- Avian infuenza
what zoonoses are seen in small mammals?
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
- Salmonella
- Streptobacillus moniliformis – rat bite fever
- Dermatophytosis (ringworm)
- Encephalitozoon Cuniculi
what zoonosis are seen in fish?
- Mycobacterium marinum
what species carry salmonella?
potentially carried by a range but reptiles are of particular concern
what does salmonella cause in humans?
GI upsets but can lead to septecemia
how is salmonella transmitted to humans?
shed in faeces - only stopped by antibiotics for a short period
what sort of bacteria is Chlamydophila ?
intracellular
what animals is Chlamydophila carried by?
a range of bird especially pigeons and small parrots
how is Chlamydophila transmitted?
bodily secretions, faeces, feather dust, sneezing.
what will Chlamydophila affected birds present with?
systemic disease signs: lethargy, anorexia, and ruffled feathers
Other symptoms include ocular or nasal discharge, diarrhoea, and excretion of green urates (liver disease)
can be symptomless carrier and shed periodically
what does Chlamydophila cause in humans?
severe flu like symptoms (Fever, muscle and joint pains, non- productive cough, tight chest). If left untreated may be fatal.
can be treated with antibiotics
how is Chlamydophila tested for?
- Pooled Feacal sample or Swab (Conjunctiva, choana (top of mouth) and cloaca) for DNA PCR,
- Antibody blood test.
how can Chlamydophila be treated?
antibiotics in birds (doxycycline) and humans but infection difficult to clear in birds
how can Chlamydophila be prevented from passing to humans?
- Wash hands well after handling, don’t kiss/ take food from bird’s mouth.
- Don’t eat with the bird present.
- Quarantine new birds, testing does not guarantee disease free.
- May be advisable to wear masks when handling an infected bird.
what is fish tuberculosis known as?
Mycobacterium spp
what are the symptoms of Mycobacterium spp?
- Local non healing ulcers
- Reduced appetite, weight loss, body deformities
what does Mycobacterium spp cause in humans?
Cause localised lesions
how can Mycobacterium spp be prevented in humans?
- If open wounds - then cover with a waterproof bandage and gloves
- Wash hands well
- Do not wash nets and equipment in sinks intended for human use
what type of infection is Dermatophytosis (ringworm)?
fungal infection
how is Dermatophytosis (ringworm) spread?
contact
how can Dermatophytosis (ringworm) be prevented?
- Wear gloves if suspected.
- Wash hands well after handling (Especially Hedgehogs)
what does Dermatophytosis (ringworm) cause?
Causes scaly itchy patches often but not always circular in appearance
how is euthanasia of most exotic species performed?
gaseous anaesthesia and then injection
how is euthanasia performed in exotic mammals?
IV or into liver/kidney
how is euthanasia performed in rabbits?
ear vein
how is euthanasia performed in rodents and ferrets?
cranial vena cava
how is euthanasia performed in reptiles?
IV and then pith (damage brain with probe /needle)
how is euthanasia performed in snakes?
intracardiac or into liver
how is euthanasia performed in lizards?
tail vein or cranial vena cava in small species
how is euthanasia performed in chelonia?
jugular or subcarapacial sinus
how is euthanasia performed in birds?
Gaseous anaesthesia then intravenous jugular or tibiotarsal vein in larger birds. Can inject into liver.
how is euthanasia performed in fish?
Anaesthesia (MS222 or phenoxyethanol) followed by pentobarbitone injection or severing spinal cord behind gill cover. Owner can use oil of cloves to anesthetise if needed at home.
what is a zoonosis?
infectious disease which has jumped form non human animal to humans, may be bacterial, viral or parasitic
what are the symptoms of salmonella in animals?
Don’t usually cause illness
What are the symptoms of salmonella in humans?
Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever
Can lead to fatal illness if young or immuno compromised
how is Chlamydophila transmitted to humans?
Inhaling of respiratory secretions or contaminated dust from the droppings or feathers of infected birds.
