Exotics: Approaching the Exotic Patient Flashcards

1
Q
  1. What order are rabbits in?
  2. What type of diet do rabbits have?
  3. What is there life span?
A
  1. Lagomorphs
  2. Strict herbivores- caecotrophy
  3. 8-10 years

Social- bonded pairs

Hind-gut fermentation
Social- bonded pairs

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2
Q
  1. What type of diet does a ferret have?
  2. Ferrets are dimorphism- what does this mean?
  3. What type of ovulators are ferrets?
  4. What is their lifespan?
A
  1. Carnivore
  2. Males are larger
  3. Seasonal induced ovulators
  4. 6-8 years
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3
Q
  1. What order are guinea pigs?
  2. What diet do ginea pigs have?
  3. What sub-order are guinea pigs and why?
  4. What is their lifespan?
A
  1. Rodents
  2. Strict herbivores
  3. Hystricomorphs- dentition and masicatory muscles, all teeth continuously growin
  4. 5-6 years

Social- should be in groups

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4
Q
  1. What order and sub-order are chinchillas
  2. What diet?
  3. What environment are they adapted to?
  4. What is their life span?
A
  1. Hystricomorph rodents
  2. Strict herbivores
  3. Cold, dry environments
  4. 8-10 years
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5
Q
  1. What order and sub-order are rats?
  2. What type of diet do rats have?
  3. What is their normal environment?
  4. Life span?
A
  1. Myomorph rodents- differences in dentition and masticatory muscles, only incisors grow continuously
  2. Omnivores
  3. Relatively dry, well ventilated
  4. 2-3 years

Social- same-sex groups

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5
Q
  1. What order and sub-order are rats?
  2. What type of diet do rats have?
  3. What is their normal environment?
  4. Life span?
A
  1. Myomorph rodents- differences in dentition and masticatory muscles, only incisors grow continuously
  2. Omnivores
  3. Relatively dry, well ventilated
  4. 2-3 years

Social- same-sex groups

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6
Q
  1. What order are hamsters?
  2. What diet do they have?
  3. What are the three common kept species?
  4. Lifespan?
A
  1. Myomorph rodents
  2. Omnivores
  3. Syrian, roborovski, russian
  4. 1-2 years

Solitary

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7
Q
  1. What is the common name for Pogona vitticeps?
  2. What is there normal weight range?
  3. What type of diet do they have?
  4. What environment do they require?
  5. Life span?
A
  1. Bearded dragon
  2. 400-700g
  3. Omnivores to herbivores as they mature
  4. Terrestrial/dry
  5. 8-12 years
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8
Q
  1. What is a bearded dragons basking temperature?
  2. What is a bearded dragons low end temperature?
  3. What light is essential?
A
  1. Basking 33-40 degrees
  2. Low end 27 degrees
  3. UV-B
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9
Q
  1. What is the normal weight range for a leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)?
  2. Diet?
  3. What is their required temp range?
  4. What else is required for environment?
  5. life span?
A
  1. 60-100g
  2. Insectivores
  3. 22-33 degrees
  4. Hiding places with high humidity
  5. 10-12 years
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10
Q
  1. What species of tortoises are comonly kept?
  2. What diet do they have?
  3. What is their terrestial environment?
  4. Life span?
A
  1. Greek, Hermann’s, Horsfields
  2. Strict herbivores
  3. 24-38 degrees
  4. 80 years
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11
Q
  1. What are cornsnakes fed?
  2. What is their terrestrial environment?
  3. Life span?
A
  1. Strict carnivores- rodent prey
  2. 21- 30 degrees
  3. 15-20 years
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12
Q
  1. What is the common name for the Melopsittacus undulatus?
  2. What are the pets fed?
  3. What environmental enrichment is recomended?
  4. What is their lifespan?
A
  1. Budgie
  2. Balanced seed mixes, Pellets, Some greens
  3. Perches, toys, bathing
  4. 7-15 years
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13
Q
  1. What is the common name for Psittacus erithacus?
  2. What is their normal size?
  3. What are they fed?
  4. What is their lifespan?
A
  1. African grey
  2. 350-500g
  3. Pellets, mix veg/fuit, calcium supp?
  4. 20-30 years
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14
Q
  1. What is the common name for Gallus domesticus?
  2. What is their diet?
  3. What is their lifespan?
  4. How should their groups be kept?

ex battery

A
  1. Domestic chicken
  2. Commercial pellets, some grains/vet + insects, gritt
  3. 5-12 years
  4. Kept in all female groups ± 1 male
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15
Q

Describe general considerations for reptile/amphibian husbandry?

A
  • Enclosure design and size
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • UV-B exposure
  • Substrate
  • Decoration
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16
Q

What are considerations for exotic mammals husbandry?

A
  • Cage size/SA
  • Temperature
  • Bedding material
  • Hiding places
  • Ventilation
  • Toys and environment enrichment
  • Excercise
  • Social interactions
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17
Q

What husbandry needs to be considered for invertebrates?

A
  • Enclosure size
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Substrate
18
Q

What husbandry should be considered for fish?

A
  • Tank size
  • Temperature
  • Water pH/hardness
  • Water chemistry
  • Decoration/hiding places
  • Lighting
  • Tank population
18
Q

What husbandry should be considered for birds?

A
  • Cage size and orientation
  • Location
  • Excercise
  • Temperature
  • Perches
  • Toys and environment
  • Drinking/bathing bowls
  • Social interaction
  • UV-B?
19
Q

What is POTZ?
What can the different sources be?

A

Preferred optimal temperature zone
Min- Max temp

Sources- ceramic bulbs, infared, combined, heat mats

Heat stones not recomended

19
Q

What is POTZ?
What can the different sources be?

A

Preferred optimal temperature zone
Min- Max temp

Sources- ceramic bulbs, infared, combined, heat mats

Heat stones not recomended

20
Q

What is UV-A and UV-B important for?
How often do bulbs need replacing?

A
  • UV-A important for behaviour
  • UV-B- vitamin D/calcium metabolism

Especially for: reptiles, amphibians, some birds, some mammals

Bulbs need replacing every 12-18 months

21
Q

What measures humidity?
What photoperiod should be given?

A

Hygrometer- humidity
Photoperiod depends on species- 12/12 usually

22
Q

What do herbivores, omnivores and carnivores eat?
What supplements may be required?

A
  • Herbivore- can vary between rich to mostly fruits
  • Omnivore- ratio veg: animals (can change throuought life)
  • Carnivore- invetebrate vs vertebrate prey

Supplements- Calcium, Vitamins, other nutrients (amino acids, iodine)

23
Q

What extra history is required for exotic animals?

A

Detailed information regarding husbandry

24
Q

What adaptations are needed for an exotic consult room?

A
  • Escape proof
  • No cats/dogs
  • Possibility to turn off/dim lights
  • Avoid extreme temperatures
  • Anti-slip floor and table
25
Q

What specialised equipment may be needed for exotics?

A
  • Digital scales
  • Different size plastic boxes
  • Variety of towels
  • Otoscope
  • Doppler probe
  • Metallic probes
  • Sample collection: swabs, slides, blood tubes, collection pots
26
Q

What should be done before handling the patient?

A

Visual inspection
* General demeanour
* Signs of dyspnoea
* Signs of trauma, bleeding
* Obvious external lesions

Some of above require immediate supportive care

Especially important in birds, rabbits and rodents

26
Q

What should be done before handling the patient?

A

Visual inspection
* General demeanour
* Signs of dyspnoea
* Signs of trauma, bleeding
* Obvious external lesions

Some of above require immediate supportive care

Especially important in birds, rabbits and rodents

27
Q
  1. What concerns are there when holding rabbits?
  2. What should never be done?
  3. What can be used for difficult patients?
A
  1. Self trauma when kicking, bites/scratches
  2. Never- hold by ears, hold on back (trancing), let hindlimbs kick
  3. Towel, sedation
28
Q

Is there any significance when handling the following species?
1. Guninea pigs
2. Chinchillas
3. Rats
4. Other small rodents

A
  1. Freeze- rarely bite
  2. Can do fur/tail slip if rough
  3. Usually easy for short period- seldom bite
  4. Hamsters- bite frequently, gerbils slip tails, restrain with towels
29
Q

What are the two approaches to handling ferrets?

A
  • Restrain by axillary area
  • Restrain by neck area

Can distract with fish oil

30
Q

What is checked during a clinical exam of exotic mammals?

A
  1. Weight
  2. Rectal temp- only some patients will allow
  3. Check skin and hair
  4. Check eyes, nostril and ears
  5. Oral exam
    MM colour and CRT
    Ferrets- gingivitis, tartar ± damaged teeth
    Rabbits/hysticomorphs- incisors and molars
    Myomorph- incisors
  6. Chest auscultation- challening
  7. Abdominal exam- gut sounds in hystricomorphs, masses, perineum
  8. BCS- no established scale
  9. Examine movements and gait
  10. Specific- opthalamological, neurological
31
Q

What should be considered for chelonians handling?

A

Tortoises
* Seldom bite
* Careful of trapping fingers between the shell
* Difficult to examine
* Consider sedation specially for large

Terrapins/aquatic turtles
* Usually more agressive
* Restrain by the caudal part of shell

32
Q

What is important for handling lizards?

A
  • All species can bite/scratch
  • Iguanas can whip with tails
  • Restrain most by neck with limbs against body
  • Towels for larger species
  • Some species can shed tails- inguinid lizard and geckos
  • Can shed scales- geckos
  • Delicate skin- geckos
33
Q

What is important for handling snakes?

A
  • All species can bite
  • Some species can empty clocal glands
  • Restrain by neck area
  • 1m of snake = 1 staff
  • Prevent from coiling round arms
  • Do not handle venemous species
34
Q

What is assessed for clinical exam of reptiles?

A
  1. Weight
  2. Examine skin
    general- retained shed, wounds, lumps
    Chelonians- shell strength, discolouration
  3. Oral examination- MMs, teeth, saliva thickness
  4. HR- doppler
  5. Coelomic palpation
  6. Cloacal probing- check for obstruction, eggs, sexing
35
Q

How should small passerines be handled?
(budgies)

A
  • Restrain by neck region
  • Keep wings folded
  • Do not compress chest area
36
Q

How are psittacines handled?

A
  • Care for bites
  • Use an appropirate size of towels
  • Some individuals may benefit from sedation
37
Q

How should birds of prey be handled?

A
  • Prioritise control of legs and talons
  • With other hand control neck area
  • Use towels or gauntlets
  • Falconry birds are used to being hanldes
  • Use hood or towel to cover head
38
Q

How are waterfowl/aquatic birds handled?

A

Small to medium ducks
* Keep wings folded, might accidentaly scratch
Large geese and swans
* Restrain the neck
* Keep wings folded
* Prone to capture myopathy
Aquatic/marine birds
* Usually beak to peck
* Restrain neck
* Careful with ventilation and overheating

39
Q

What is assessed for a clinical exam of a bird?

A
  1. Weight
  2. Inspect dropping on cage/carrier
  3. Assess BCS- palpate pectorals
  4. Check plumage- change in colour, feather quality and moult
  5. Eyes, nostrils, swellings
  6. Beak and MMs
  7. Palpate crop
  8. Auscultate- HR, caudal abdomial air sacs
  9. Palpate coelomic cavity- distention, masses
  10. Check cloaca ± preen gland