Exotic Respiratory Disease Flashcards
Where do you auscultate the lungs on a bird?
Dorsal aspect of bird
Clinical signs of respiratory disease in small mammals
Middle ear/vestibular signs
Lethargy
Poor coat
Anorexia
Dyspnoea
Audible clicking
Sneezing
Ocular changes
Nasal discharge
Mandibular asymmetry
Open mouth breathing = VERY BAD
what is the significance of nasal discharge in rabbits?
They are obligate nasal breathers so if the nose is blocked they can die
Clinical signs of respiratory disease in reptiles
Commonly lethargy and anorexia
Weight loss
Usually present as normal
Dyspnoea
Open mouth breathing
Wheezes/crackles
Ocular and/or nasal discharge
Stomatitis
Clinical signs of respiratory disease in birds
Lethargy
Anorexia
‘fluffed up’
Crusty nares
periorbital swelling
Dyspnoea/tail bobbing
Voice change
Tachypnoea
Open mouth breathing
Very good at hiding clinical signs so when obvious it is usually severe
Most common causes of respiratory signs in small mammals
URT bacterial infections
LRT bacterial infections
Dental disease
* Not ferrets
* Roots located close under nasal cavity
Husbandry issues
* Allergy
* Dust
* Poor ventilation
Common infections in guinea pigs
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Chlamydophila caviae
Adenovirus
Common infections in rabbits
Pasteurella multocida
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Common infections in rats/mice
Mycoplasma
pasteurella
Strep pneumoniae
Sendai virus
Other causes of respiratory signs in small mammals
Viruses
Fungal infections (Aspergillosis)
Parasites (lungowmr)
Circulatory causes
* Heart disease
* Arteriosclerosis
Trauma
Abscesses/tumours
Foreign bodies
Most common causes of respiratory signs in reptiles
URT bacterial infection
Viruses
* Herpesvirus/mycoplasma in chelonians
* Adenovirus in lizards
* Ophidian paramyxovirus in snakes
Husbandry issues
* High/low temp
* High humidity
* Poor ventilation
Space occupying lesions
* Abcesses
* Tumours
* Coelomic effusions
Other causes of respiratory signs in reptiles
LRT bacterial infections
Fungal
* Aspergillosis & Candida
* Parasitic
* Lungworm
* Rhabdias
* Ascarids
Dental disease
Trauma
Circulatory is uncommon
Most common differential in Birds
LRT bacterial infections (due to no cough response)
* Airsacculitis
Husbandry issues
* Allergy
* Stress
* Low humidity
* Poor hygiene/ventillation
* Hypervitaminosis A (if just fed seeds
Fungal infections (often 2ndry)
* Aspergillosis
Space occupying lesions
Other causes of respiratory signs in birds
Viruses
* Infectious laryngotracheitis in chickens
Parasites
Circulatory causes
* Pulmonary oedema
What is the PLACE rule?
Antibiotics NOT SAFE for small mammals
Pencillins (except g)
Lincosamides
Aminoglycosides
Cephalosporins
Erythromycin
Medications For Treating Small Mammals (Always Safe)
Metronidazole
Fluroquinolones
Tetracyclines
Sulfonamides
Macrolides (not erythromycin)
Sampling techniques
Rabbits
* Deep nasal swab
* Nasolacrimal duct
Birds
* Nasal flush
Reptiles
* Lesion/oral swab
* Choana
Overall Treatment Plan
- stabilise patient
- Supportive treatment
- Specific treatment
- stabilise patient
Oxygen
Fluids and supportive nutrition
- supportive treatment
Nebulisation
Bronchodilator
Mucolytic
Anti-inflammatory
- Specific treatment options
○ Antibiotics
○ Frusemide (loop diuretic)
○ Acyclovir (antiviral)
○ Antifungals
○ Antiparasitics
○ Husbandry changes
○ Surgery
Specific small animal treatment
Open mouth breathing is an emergency
Supportive feeding important
Regular nebulisation with bronchodilator
Mucolytic in food
NSAIDs
Avoid steroids if possible
CAREFUL with antibiotics
Specific reptile treatment
If malnourished you can use injectable vitamins
F10 nebulisation can be useful
* Especially with fungal infections
Heat AND good nebulisation
Specific bird treatment
OXYGEN - high demand
Fluids and corp feeding
Nebulisation
LRT disease requires longer treatment (often multimodal)
LRT signs may not be respiratory (Coelomic cavity)
