Exotics 1: approach to the exotic patient Flashcards
LOS
- Recognizing common exotics species seen in practice;
- Have a basic knowledge on those species’ anatomy, physiology and behavior;
- Recognizing that each species has particular needs in terms of husbandry/diet;
- Taking a good clinical history;
- How to safely approach and restrain different exotic species;
- How to perform a clinical exam in different exotic species
What is the most common exotics patients seen?
- 3rd most common pet in UK = rabbit
- Rodents - guinea pigs, rats, hamster, chinchillas
- Ferrets
- Reptiles - bearded dragons most common, leopard gecko
- tortoise spp
- corn snake
- budies
- chickens
What are the most common fish seen in practice?
Goldfish, Koi carps
about rabbits
- 3rd most common pet
- Number 1 patient in any exotic practics
- Lagomorphs – not rodent - Dentition = Continuously growing incisors and cheek teeth
- Strict herbivores = Need high fibre diet
- Caecotrophy
- Specialized dentition, continuously growing
- Hind-gut (caecal) fermentation
- Huge variety of breeds: differ in haircoat, External ear anatomy , Body size
- Lifespan 8-10 y
- Social, should live in bonded pairs
Ferrets, about
- Carnivore (hypercarnivore) – v high protein diet
- Domesticated from wild polecats (Mustela putorius)
- Sexual dimorphism (males are larger)
- Females are seasonal induced ovulators – otherwise stay in season
o Need to be mated in order to ovulate
o Is the jill doesn’t ovulate, she’ll continue to produce oestrogen and stay in season until mated
o If not mated will succumb to aplastic anaemia and die - Lifespan 6-8 y
- Some variety of color morphs (sable, albino, etc)
Guinea pigs about
- Rodents
o Split into 2 main groups based on dentition:
Hystricomorph
myomorph - Strict herbivores
- Hystricomorphs:
o Dentition and masticatory muscles
o All teeth continuously growing - Hind gut fermentation (caecum)
- Also do caecotrophy
- Lifespan 5-6 y Some variety of hair colour, length (hairless varieties as well)
- Very social, should live in groups
Chinchillas about
- Hystricomorph
- Rodents
- Strict herbivores
- All teeth continuously growing
- Adapted to cold, dry environments
- Hind gut fermentation
- Very dense haircoat
- Lifespan 8-10 y (likely more 13/15yo)
- Some variation in hair colour
Rats about
- Rodents
- Myomorphs:
o Differences in dentition and masticatory muscles
o Only incisors grow continuously NOT cheek teeth - Omnivores
- Require relatively dry, well ventilated environments
o If not subjected to healthy conitions - Very social, should live in same-sex groups
- Environmental enrichment + social interaction
- Lifespan 2-3y 1-2 years is geriatric already
Hamsters about
- Myomorph
- Rodents
- Omnivores
- 3 common species kept as pets:
o Syrian – most common and largest
o Roborovski
o Russian - Should live separately - solitary
- Frequently kept as a kid’s first pet
- Lifespan 1-2 y
Bearded dragon about (Pogona vitticeps)
- Most common reptile
- Medium size lizards (400-700g)
- Omnivores when young, to herbivores as they mature
- Terrestrial/dry environment:
o Basking T = 33-40C
o Lower end T = 27C
o UV-B exposure essential (bulb)
As is to pretty much all reptiles - Usually kept separately
- Some variation in color
- Lifespan 8-12y
What is failure to send skin?
Dysecdysis
Lepoard gecko about
(Eublepharis macularius)
- Small lizards (60-100g)
- Insectivores
- Terrestrial/dry environment:
o T = 22 – 33C
o UV-B exposure advised
o Hiding places w/ high humidity to allow normal shedding - Usually kept separately
- Huge variation in color/pattern
- Lifespan 10-12y
Most common species tortoise kept
o Greek (Testudo graeca)
o Hermann’s (T. hermanni)
o Horsfield’s (Agrionemys horsfieldii)
tortoise about
- All strict herbivores
- Small to medium sized
- Terrestrial temperate to dry environment:
o T = 24 – 38C
o UV-B exposure essential - Very long lifespans (up to 80y)
- Some individuals routinely hibernate
- Can be kept in groups or single
o Not strictly social species but can be kept in groups
Corn snake about
o Most common snake seen
o Small to medium size snakes
o Strict carnivores (rodent prey)
o Terrestrial environment:
o T = 21 – 30C
o UV-B exposure?
Debate. He advises it
o Lifespan 15-20y
o Should be kept single
o Huge variety of colour morphs
Budgie about
o Probably most commonly kept pet bird
o In the wild, (native Australian) feeds on a variety of seeds:
o Balanced seed mixes
o Pellets
o Very social and easy to breed – kept in groups or pairs
o Appropriate cage size/design
o Environmental enrichment
o ◦ Perches
o ◦ Toys
o ◦ Bathing
o Variation in size/plumage
o Lifespan 7-15 y
o RHS = wild type
African grey about
o Most commonly kept parrot species
o Medium size (350-500g)
o Feeds on variety of fruits, seeds and berries
o Pellets
o Mix vegetables/fruit
o Calcium supplements + UV-B exposure as higher Ca demands
o Appropriate cage size (large)/design
o Environmental enrichment
o Perches
o Toys
o Bathing
o Social interactions with other African greys or O
o Lifespan 20-30 y
What is POTZ?
Each species has a POTZ – Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone = min and max for normal behaviour and activity
Should have a temp gradient in enclosure
especially reptiles
How important is UV light for reptiles?
v important
UV-A – important for behaviour
UV-B – vitamin D/calcium metabolism
Specially important for:
* Reptiles
* Amphibians
* Some birds – e.g. AG parrots
* Some mammals – e.g. marmosets
Bulbs need replacing every 12-18 months
UV radiation lost/filtered through glass, plastic, mesh
What to ask when taking Hx
Follows the same steps or logic as with any species:
* What brings that animal in today?
* Are they eating, drinking and passing faeces/urine as usually?
* Any changes?
* How is their appetite?
o Selecting some food?
* Any previous health problems?
* Any current medications?
* History of vaccinations, neutering and other preventive health treatments?
* Any other concerns?
Also, get detailed information regarding husbandry!
Important to triage – some patients are a lot worse than what the owners think. May require critical care
What specific/ adapted equipment do you need?
- Digital scales
- Different size plastic boxes Variety of towels Otoscope
- Doppler probe
- Metallic probes sex snakes
- Sample collection:
◦ Swabs, microscope slides, blood tubes, collection pots, etc
Chinchilla holding
Can shed clumps of hair or tail if roughly handled
Care in handling fur or tail slip. Don’t want this to happen while you are handing!!
Gerbils and Degas can slip their tails too + lizards
CE exotic mammals
- Weight
- Rectal temperature – not well tolerated. Only in selected patients: rabbit and guinea pig unwell. Not others
a. Lose temp rapidly if not well - Check skin and haircoat
- Check eyes, nostrils and ears Ferrets and rabbits might need otoscopy
- Oral exam: often have to flush mouth
a. MM + CRT
b. DENTAL
c. Ferrets – check for gingivitis, tartar +/- damaged teeth
d. Rabbits + hystricomorph Rodents – check incisors + molars (with otosocope)
e. Myomorph Rodents – check incisors - Ocular - ulcers
- Chest auscultation HR/RR – can be challenging in smaller patients! heart murmurs, abnormal lung sounds, muffled heart sounds, etc.
- Abdominal exam
a. Gut sounds in Rabbits + Hystricomorph Rodents Masses, organ enlargement, pain, etc.
b. Should be noisy
c. If silent/ quiet = abnormal - BCS – no defined scales fully established
- Examine movements and gait
- Specific exams: Ophthalmological Neurological
- Check perineal – blood staining, can have v traumatic injuries
How many people per snake?
1 person per m
CE birds
- Weight
- Inspect dropping on cage/carrier
- Assess BCS – palpate pectoral muscles
- Check plumage – change in coloration, feather quality and moult
- Check eyes, nostrils and any swellings on face (= periorbital sinuses)
- Check beak and mucus membranes
- Palpate crop
- Auscultate – HR, caudal abdominal air sacs
- Palpate coelomic cavity – distention, masses, etc
- Check cloaca +/- preen gland
