Exotics Flashcards
1
Q
Nasolacrimal Puncta in Rabbits
A
- they only have 1!
- it is ventral
2
Q
Ulcerative Pododermatitis in Rabbits
A
- Ulcerative pododermatitis, or ‘sore hocks’, is a condition in rabbits characterized by ulcerated, infected areas of skin on the caudal aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus (rear limbs).
- It can also occur on the weight bearing surface of the metacarpus (front limb), though this is not as common
- Can be a result of nervous behavior and “thumping”
3
Q
A 4-year old male castrated ferret presents for stranguria. On physical exam there is alopecia over the base of the tail and the ferret is pruritic. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A
- Adrenal Disease
- prostatitis/paraprostatic cysts, secondary to adrenal disease. Common signs of adrenal disease include bilaterally symmetric alopecia, pruritus, vulvar enlargement in females, and prostatitis/cystitis in males
4
Q
Which flea adulticide (Tx) is toxic to rabbits?
A
FIPRONIL
(frontline)
5
Q
What is the most common site of vertebral fracture in rabbits?
A
- The most common site of fracture is L7
- Fractures in the caudal lumbar region frequently occur when rabbits are not handled properly or are stimulated to jump around excessively.
- Fractures are much more common than luxations, disc extrusions, or emboli
6
Q
What is the causative agent of what is commonly known as “Ich” in fish?
A
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
a protozoan ectoparasite
- Most of the anti-ich chemicals contain formaldehyde, malachite green, copper sulfate, a combination of formaldehyde and malachite green, or a combination of copper sulfate and malachite green.
- The infected fish can be moved to a quarantine tank in order to avoid treating healthy fish, and less chemical is needed in a smaller tank.
- Other methods, such as adding salt, increasing water temperature, and changing the water are also used by fish hobbyists to treat ich infection in an aquarium.
7
Q
Common tumors of the ferret
(4)
A
- MCT’s
- Lymphoma
- Insulinoma
- Adrenal Tumor
8
Q
Number of Chambers in a Snakes Heart?
Fish?
Birds?
A
3!
- All reptiles have 3 chambered hearts except for crocodilians which have 4 chambers.
- Reptiles have 2 atria and a single ventricle with an incomplete septum.
- Fish have 2 chambered hearts.
- Amphibians and reptiles have 3 chambers.
- Birds and mammals have 4 chambered hearts
9
Q
You visit a fish hatchery and need to perform anesthesia on a fish to remove a foreign body. Which of these agents is approved for use in fish and what additional rules apply to its use?
A
- Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS 222) - There is a 21 day withdrawal period before the fish can be consumed by humans
- Also known as Finquel, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is the only FDA approved agent for fish anesthesia.
10
Q
“Snuffles” in Rabbits
A
- Snuffles is a term used to describe the symptoms of runny eyes, runny nose and sneezing in rabbits.
- The cause of these symptoms is often a chronic bacterial infection in the tear ducts and nasal sinuses
- Pasteurella is a common cause of infectious disease in rabbits and is the causative agent of “snuffles”.
- The upper respiratory syndrome is the most common presentation for Pasteurella in rabbits, but it can affect many other systems and can cause enzootic pneumonia, otitis media/interna, conjunctivitis, meningitis, encephalitis, reproductive tract infections, abscesses, and septicemia
11
Q
Inclusion Body Disease
(IBD)
in Snakes
A
- Ultimately fatal, inclusion body disease (IBD) is a transmissible and progressive disease first described several decades ago.
- IBD is the most commonly diagnosed disease suspected to originate with a virus in captive boid (boas and pythons) snakes.
- No treatments or vaccines are available
- The exact cause of inclusion body disease is not known, but a retrovirus is strongly suspected.
- Additionally, it seems as though the snake mite, Ophionyssus natricus is associated with the transmission.
12
Q
Proliferative enteritits in Hamsters
A
- Lawsonia intracellularis is thought to play a key role in this disease, which carries a grave prognosis.
- present with “wet tail”
- lethargy and dehydration
- Proliferative ileitis is a serious infectious disease of hamsters and usually results in high morbidity and mortality.
13
Q
A pet rabbit presents to you for mild dermatitis. On physical exam, you note a scaly dermatosis with areas of thinning on the dorsum. What is the most likely etiology?
A
- Cheyletiella
- This is the fur mite of rabbits and typically causes clinical signs as described in this question
14
Q
A 3 1/2 year old castrated male ferret presents for episodes of lethargy. He has also been intermittently dragging the pelvic limbs. Which of these choices is a likely cause of these signs in this ferret?
A
Insulinoma
- This condition is common in ferrets and would cause bouts of lethargy.
- Intermittent pelvic limb weakness is another manifestation of systemic weakness secondary to hypoglycemia
15
Q
Most common neoplasia of female rabbits?
A
Uterine adenocarcinoma
- up to 80% incidence among intact females of certain species.
- Because of this, all female rabbits that are not breeders should be spayed.
- The most common signs of uterine ACA are hematuria, anorexia, depression, dysuria, and milk production
16
Q
porphyrinuria
A
normal red or orange pigment in the urine of some rabbits
17
Q
Which of the following drugs is toxic to tortoises and turtles but not necessarily other reptiles?
A
Ivermectin
Ivermectin is highly toxic in turtles and causes paresis, paralysis, and death at low doses due to an ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
18
Q
Ferret Distemper and rabies vax
(3)
A
- Vaccinate for rabies at 16 weeks of age, booster at one year and then annually.
- Vaccine-induced distemper and death have occurred in domestic ferrets given modified-live canine cell culture multivalent vaccines licensed for use in domestic dogs.
- Vaccinate for canine distemper using a ferret approved vaccine at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, booster at one year and then annually.
19
Q
Classic “Red leg syndrome” in frogs is a result of ___________
A
- Red-leg syndrome is a serious condition in amphibians that is caused by septicaemia.
- The most common causative organism is Aeromonas hydrophila, but infection with other Aeromonas spp. and Gram-negative organisms such as Pseudomonas and Proteus spp. can also result in the disease
- The condition occurs with poor husbandry, trauma, or immunocompromise
21
Q
What antibiotic is contraindicated for use in guinea pigs?
A
Streptomycin
- Guinea pigs are particularly sensitive to many antibiotics including penicillin, ampicillin, bacitracin, lincomycin, vancomycin, erythromycin, and clindamycin.
- Streptomycin can be directly toxic and result in death and therefore should never be used in this species.
- In rodents, three of the antibiotics used most commonly are Enrofloxacin, Chloramphenicol and TMS. These antibiotics are the most commonly used because hamsters, guinea pigs, and other rodents are prone to developing enterotoxemia from many other antibiotics that disturb their normal intestinal microflora
24
Q
A turtle presents with a history of lethargy, anorexia, and swelling of the ears. What is the treatment of choice?
A
- Lance tympanic membranes to drain material and begin supplementation of vitamin A
- Accumulations in the ear due to squamous metaplasia and secondary infection can result from vitamin A deficiency.
- The best thing to do is start systemic antibiotics, drain the ears, and provide appropriate nutrition
- Turtles that are fed iceberg lettuce, an all-meat diet, or a poor-quality commercial diet are most likely to develop hypovitaminosis A.
25
Q
Entamoeba spp
A
- Entamoeba invadens is a protozoal organism that causes severe gastrointestinal signs and death in snakes.
- Turtles act as carriers for the protozoa but are clinically unaffected.
- Diagnosis is based on identification of trophozoites or cysts in fecal smears or histologic sections.
- Metronidazole is the treatment of choice.
- Turtles and snakes should not be housed together
26
Q
Dromedary
A
Somali Camel
27
Q
Trypanosoma evansi
A
- causes a slow wasting disease in camels
- Trypanosoma evansi may have originated in Africa, evolving from brucei when camels entered the tsetse belt south of the Sahara, and the disease spread through camel herds as a result of transmission by biting flies.
- Trypanosoma evansi is transmitted mechanically by haematophagous biting flies
29
Q
Infectious Stomatitis in reptiles
A
- Infectious stomatitis occurs commonly in lizards, turtles, and snakes.
- Aeromonas and Pseudomonas spp are commonly isolated from the lesions.
- Clinical signs include petechiation and caseous material build up within the mouth.
- Treatment is aimed at debridement and antibiotics.
34
Q
Pinworm infections in Mice
A
- heavy parasite loads may lead to rectal prolapse.
- Pinworms (Syphacia obvelata and Aspicularis tetraptera) in mice inhabit the cecum.
- Most infections are subclinical and treatment involves administration of piperazine sulfate.
- Ivermectin may be used as well.
35
Q
Most common cause of D+ in adult camels in the USA?
A
WHIPWORM
- Ivermectin, which is so commonly used, is not typically effective against whipworms which have developed a resistance over time.
- Panacur is the most effective and safe dewormer for whipworms in camels
36
Q
Bordatella in Guinea Pigs
A
- Bordetella bronchiseptica causes severe respiratory disease in guinea pigs and it has been associated with stillbirths, abortions, infertility and infections of the reproductive system and tympanic bullae.
- Infected pet guinea pigs can eliminate the bacteria, become asymptomatic carriers or develop the disease
- dont house with rabbits: Risk of transmission of Bordetella from rabbits to guinea pigs
37
Q
Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease of Chelonians
(SCUD)
A
- The original causative agent was identified as the bacterium Escherichia freundii and the disease was referred to as Escherichiosis
- SCUD in turtles causes pitted scutes that slough with underlying purulent exudate.
- Petechia on the skin and liver necrosis also commonly occur.
- Prevention is aimed at good husbandry, and chloramphenicol is the treatment of choice.
- This syndrome, which most often affects turtles in the families Trionychidae and Emydidae, is no longer attributed to a single bacterial species. T
- oday, SCUD is viewed more as a syndrome with many bacteria such as Citrobacterfreundii, Serratiaanolium, Beneckeachitonovora and other gram negative bacteria acting together with poor husbandry, poor water quality, abrasions and invertebrate predation to culminate in SCUD.
- This infection develops into irregular, caseated, crateriform ulcers on the plastron, carapace and skin.
- From this stage, the infection can become septicemic, causing multifocal hepatic and other visceral organ necrosis, hemolysis, limb paralysis, loss of digits or claws, cutaneousvasodilation and hemorrhage.
- The animal presents with signs of lethargy, anorexia, reduced muscle tone, cutaneous ulcerations or death. Erythrocytes may be vacuolated and contain numerous bacteria
