Externships Flashcards
age range for ferret heart disease
greater than 3.5 years
signs of adrenal disease in ferrets
straining to urinate ir defecate lethargy alopecia comedones of the tail unexpressible bladder vulur and mammary enlargement
pattern of alopecia in ferrets with adrenal disease
tail, dorsum, ventrum, head, and legs. These signs are pathognomonic
treatment of adrenal disease in ferrets
leuprolide acetate to amelioate sighns at 100 mcg. fetter in the semimenbranosis. This is repeated every 30 days
surgical excision in the best course of action.
If a ferret with adrenal disease is blocked due to secondary prostamegaly, what is the specific drug to do?
casodex (bicaltamide). this blocks testosterone and will help faster than lupron, Dosage is 5 mg/Kg SID
Supportive care for a bird thats sick
Fluid rate
25ml/KgSQ BID
when gavage feeding a bird:
2.5- 3.0 cc per 100 grams of BW
General care for a sick bird
fluids gavage feeding heated cage perching should be kept low oxygen cagerate is 2L/hr
what are signs of dyspnea in a sick bird
open beaked breathing increased abdominal effort tail bob tachypnea cyanosis
what are the minimum treatment options of a dysneicavian
get weight
oxygenate
terbutaline
Give IM abx
teflon toxicosis
peracutepulmonary edema, hemorrhage
treat with terbutaling, NSAID, oxygen,supportive care, antibiotic prophylaxis
avacado toxicosis
flush crop if its before 4 hrs
activated charcoal
oxygen
support
broken blood feather
full gently in the direction of growth
can suture skin if needed
broken beak tip
note blood in the oral cavity
apply pressure
AgNO3
analgesia
treatment of dog and cat attacks
piperacillin (150 mg/Kg) TID
Baytril (15 mg/Kg) SQ in fluids BID
TMS (30 mg/Kg IM or PO BID
assessment of head trauma
wet the feathers of the head
check aural openings (any blood is bad)
mannitol if there are CNS signs
supportive care with no heat
lead toxicity
signs: lethargy, seizures, tremors, pelvic limb paresis,
chocolate milk droppings
Treatment with CaEDTA (35 mg/Kg IM BID for 5 days) then repeat PRN
this treatment is the same for Zinc Toxicity
other causes of seizures
Hypocalcemia- african greys, diet issues. Treat with Ca gluconate 100 mg/Kg IM or SQ
idiopathic of cockatiels-treat with diazepam at 0.5 mg/Kg IV or IM
ddx for pelvic limb paresis
trauma (wet the back to look at the spine)
Abdominomegaly-egg binding, renal or gonadal tumors
infectious- aspergillois, Avian Borna virus
dystocias
Hx- strai2- ning, lethargy, weakness, poor diet
PE- dilated or flaccid cloaca. Palpable egg
Dx- radiographs
TX
1- Ca, Vit A/D/E, fluids, heat, humidity
2- oxytocin- dialate the vaginal sphicter first. 5IU/Kg IM
3- assist delivery with lots of lubricant/percloacal ovocentesis
4- hospitilize for 24 hours. ascess renal function, urates, bleeding, spesis
send home for antibiotics and observation
cloacal prolapse
flush and clense
shrink edematous tissue using topical 50% dextrose
lubricate and gently remocve the edd and reduce prolapsed tissue. NO PURSE String.
renal disease in avians
signs: tophi in joints. Uni or bilateral paresis, increased uric acids
treat with SQ diuresis at 75 mL/Kg/day
allopurinol to block uric acids at 8-10 mg/kg PO BID
colchicine at 0.04 mg/kg PO S-BID
reguritation and crop stasis
crop swab
aspirate fluids back
GI foreign body in avians spp
metamucin in water through a feeding tube
chelation
surgery
if Its in the crop then remove as soon as possible if lessthan 20 minutes. If there is fluid, aspirate back and milk the FB into the mouth and remove. This can be done under anesthesia if needed.
early herbivore enterotoxemias
Fairly alert, normal, but with diarrhea and a temperature of less than 100F (chinchillas less than 99). High carb diet, lethargy. there may be very mild lethargy and pallor
CBC/CHEM- normal liver values can rule out liver torsion
radiographs
treatment with LRS at 100 to 150 mL/Kg per day divided TID, buprenex- 0.03 mg/Kg BID, 0.01-0.05 mg/Kg. Prokinetics like cisapride or metoclopramide0.5 mg/kg PO or SQ B-Syringe-feeding (Critical Care Herbivore- rabbits- 12-24cc QID, chin or GP 6-12cc QID)
*Antibiotics (metronidazole @ 10 mg/kg, chloramphenical at 50 mg/kg, or in rabbits only Procaine penicillin G- 70,000 IU/kg SQ q48 hr)
*Toxin chelation (cholestyramine- mix 1 packet to 40mL tap water, syringe-feed rabbits 12cc , chin or GP 6cc S-BID)
Heat therapy until T > 100. (Monitor closely, these species are susceptible to heat stress!)
prognosis is guarded as decompensation is fatal)
enterotoxemic shock in small herbivores
Weak, lethargic, pale and/or increased respiratory effort with T < 100
Can be rapidly fatal
Signalment
Any small herbivore, any age, either sex
History
Same history as GI stasis and enterotoxemia
Physical Examination
Temperature <100 (axillary +1 degree is acceptable to avoid stress or injury)
Chinchillas <99
Abdominal palpation same as GI stasis
Lethargy or pallor may occur (adrenaline won’t mask for very long)
Incr. respiratory effort
Diagnostics- BP <40 mm Hg
No additional! Stabilize patient!
Treatment
IVC will be invaluable here. If IV access cannot be obtained without undue stress to patient, give warmed SQ fluids (LRS @ 100 mL/kg) and place on heat, +/- cover with warm blanket. As fluid is absorbed, consider reattempt IVC; intraosseus in femur is also acceptable (as in puppies)
1) Crystalloids- 10-15 mL/kg IV
Hetastarch- 15 mL/kg IV over 15 min.
Recheck BP. If <40 mm Hg, repeat. If still <40mm Hg, go to step 2.
If >40 mm Hg, go to step 3.
2) Hypertonic Saline- 3 mL/kg over 10 minutes
Hetastarch- 3 mL/kg IV over 15 min.
Crystalloids- 4 mL/kg/hr IV
Recheck BP. If <40 mm Hg, rule-out hypoglycemia or heart disease (rads) If >40 mm Hg, go to step 3.
3) Warm aggressively including IV crystalloids until BP > 90 mm Hg
If BP drops below 40 mm Hg, return to step 1.
Once stable, administer treatments as per enterotoxemia. Treatments may need to be given slowly due to stress. **Therefore, first treatment should be toxin chelation (cholestyramine- mix 1 packet to 40mL tap water, syringe-feed 12cc S-BID, chin and GP 6cc S-BID) CBC/chem. and possibly rads may be warranted if patient is stable. Additional diagnostics should be deferred.
Prognosis
Guarded-grave unless recovers completely and quickly following above treatment.
signalment and history for ferret diarrhea
Signalment: ferrets <1 year old more likely to be infectious (non-Helicobacter) or GI FB
ferrets > 1 year more likely to be Helicobacter or GI FB
diarrhea will be reported as being soft or seedy, green or malena, vomiting, nausea, gagging , pytalaism pawing and mouth, pain, anorexia, hsitory of eating something
PE of a ferret with diarrhea
: +/- debilitated (dehydration by CRT, lethargy), abd. Palpation may have focal thickening/discomfort (incr. suspicion for GI FB), or just generalized SI thickening, gas, fluid. Abd. LN enlargement can occur (not pathognomonic for LSA).
ddx for diarrhea in a ferret
Helicobacter gastroenteritis +/- ulcerative gastritis, GI FB (including trichobezoars), LSA, IBD, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, ECE (epizootic catarrhal enteritis)- usually older ferret exposed to new or young ferret, proliferative bowel disease (younger), metabolic derangement
treatment of diarrhea in a ferret
ATH if debilitated, many times tx for Helicobacter with further work-up if young or poor response to tx.
Amoxicillin – 20 mg/kg PO BID
Metronidazole- 15-20 mg/kg PO BID
Sucralfate- 100 mg/kg PO B-TID 20 min. before meals or meds.
Famotidine- 0.5 mg/kg PO/SQ/IV S-BID
gastrointestinal tract stasis is an emergency in small herbivores. What is the history?
Can be acute (<24 hours) or chronic (2-7 days)
Inappetance, anorexia, or normal appetite (usually early)
Small, dry, sparse droppings
May have dysphagia
Emotional stress (travel, owner away, construction or new pet or family member in home)
Physiological stress (underlying disease, typically dental, infectious, renal, hepatic, or cardiac, or heavy metal toxicity)
Dietary issues (low fiber or high protein or high carbohydrate diet)
Physical examination of a colicky small herbivore
Temperature >100 (axillary +1 degree is acceptable to avoid stress or injury) Chinchilla >99
Abdominal palpation may or may not reveal:
Splint, vocalizations
Full firm stomach
Tympany (stomach or cecum)
Empty cecum
Liquidy or gassy cecum
Lack of feces in colon
Decreased borborygmus (almost always decreased or absent unless very early in process)
diagnostics of a small herbivore thats colicky
CBC/chem.- normal liver enzymes can help rule-out life-threatening liver torsion
E. cuniculi titer- ideal to always check, but especially when nothing in history or PE suggests underlying problem
Lead level- particularly for known chewers allowed loose in homes >35 years old.
(Has been seen in pets from “certified lead free” homes in our area)
Imaging- Radiographs- ideal to always check, but especially important in severely debilitated (if not outweighed by risk of stress), severely painful, if PE is equivocal, or if looking for radiographic signs of underlying disease. U/S- recommended especially if liver torsion or FB suspected.
treatment and prognosis of small herbivore enterotoxemia
Rehydration (SQ fluids- Maintenance is LRS @ 100-150 mL/kg per day, divided TID)
Analgesia (buprenex- 0.03 mg/kg BID) (range 0.01-0.05 mg/kg)
Prokinetics (cisapride when available, metoclopramide 0.5 mg/kg PO or SQ B-TID)
Syringe-feeding (Critical Care Herbivore- rabbits 12-24cc QID, chin or GP 6-12cc QID)
Prognosis
Good if not debilitated, not too painful and no underlying disease; unfortunately, decompensation due to any of these can be rapid and fatal.
