Hospitalisation and Nursing of Birds Flashcards
what are the main factors to remember for good parrot husbandry?
best perches are natural branches from non-toxic trees
regular bathing/misting important
12 hour day/night cycle - cover/move cage if required
UV light important for synthesis of vitamin D (esp african greys)
enrichment important - foraging for food
rotate variety of toys - safe destructible items
what’s wrong with seed-based diets?
high in fat and calories
deficient in vitamins and minerals (A, D3. B12, E, K, calcium, iodine)
poor calcium:phosphorous ratio
deficient in essential amino acids (methionine, lysine) and pigments, fibre, omega 3 fatty acids
what are the safety concerns associated with seed-based diets?
can be contaminated with fungal spores (Aspergillus) or aflatoxins
why isn’t coating the seeds with supplement valuable?
seeds are dehusked when consumed by the bird
what is the most common cause of disease and reduced lifespan in pet birds?
malnutrition
what does calcium/vitamin D deficiency in birds lead to?
nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (metabolic bone disease)
hypocalcaemia (seizures in african greys)
thin shelled eggs, dystocia (egg binding)
how is metabolic bone disease diagnosed?
radiography (pathological fractures, long bone deformity)
serum ionised calcium
how is metabolic bone disease treated?
calcium/vit D supplementation e.g. calcium borogluconate
correct diet
UVB lighting
in which species is obesity common?
amazons
budgies
cockatiels
what can obesity in birds lead to?
hepatic lipidosis - respiratory compromise, diarrhoea
atherosclerosis - can cause aortic rupture and sudden death
lipomas (common in budgies)
what does hypovitaminosis A lead o?
diarrhoea
poor feather/skin quality
squamous metaplasia of epithelial surfaces
secondary bacterial/fungal infections
rhinoliths, blunted choanal papillae, salivary gland abscesses
how can you covert a seed junkie onto pellets?
mix pellets with seeds and gradually reduce percentage of seeds
limit time seeds offered
place pellets on mirror
disguise pellets e.g. peanut butter
offer from owners plate
hospitalise bird
which species are more prone to feather-damaging behaviour?
african greys, cockatoos (more intelligent species)
female birds
do wild birds display feather damaging behaviour?
no - condition of captivity (important welfare issue)
what is the aetiology of feather damaging behaviour?
difficult to determine - often multifactorial
often presented at a late/chronic stage
how do you manage feather damaging behaviour?
first rule out medical causes using appropriate diagnostic tests
implement environmental/husbandry improvements (foraging)
primarily behavioural in some cases - address
often difficult to treat - client compliance/commitment essential
manage expectations - complete resolution may never be achieved
what environmental improvements can be made to manage feather damaging behaviour?
diet change to pellets
increase humidity - spray daily, encourage to bathe, humidifier
allow max 12 hours light
UVB light provision
improve ventilation/no smoking
decrease stress- cage in secure location
how can we encourage foraging in birds?
increase size of pellets/food items
cut food items into exciting/new shapes, offer different colours/textures/tastes
spread out daily ration of food across multiple bowls in different locations
stuff corrugated cardboard with food items that the bird has to peel apart to remove the items
artificial grass matt on cage bottom and scatter food across
commercial puzzle toys
which disease processes can be linked with feather damaging behaviour?
infections toxins organ disease (inc heart/arterial) nutritional imbalances excessive hormonal stimulation reproductive disease
why do sick birds need to be seen immediately?
birds are very good at hiding signs of illness - often in critical condition by the time symptoms are displayed
what are some of the signs of illness in birds?
fluffed up, depressed, sleepy
change in water/food intake - anorexia, polyphagia, vomiting/regurgitation
change in behaviour/activity
change of perching height/on floor
tail bobbing, open mouthed breathing
sneezing, voice change, periocular swelling
discharge (ears, eyes, nares, oral cavity, cloaca, uropygial gland)
wings hanging down abnormally, wide legged stance
straining, coelomic swelling
change in droppings (quantity, colour, consistency)
what are the handling considerations for birds?
make sure windows and doors closed and extractor fans off
support body and keep wings under control
don’t restrict sternal movements - birds have no diaphragm and could suffocate
use separate towel/cloth for each bird and gloves only for raptors (not parrots)
what are the considerations for restraining parrots?
restrain head and neck first in a towel to avoid a nasty bite
what can be done to help catch smaller birds?
dim the lights
which part of the body should be restrained first in birds of prey?
feet
what are the considerations for a bird clinical exam?
systematic approach important - start at head
may need to be stabilised before thorough exam
consider GA if bird wild/stressed/very ill
diagnostics important
get everything ready before bird is handled
always get a weight
assess body condition
how can you assess body condition?
palpate pectoral muscle mass
subcutaneous fat deposits
what are the considerations for hospitalising birds?
quiet, away from predators
more secure if high up (unless ground-dwelling species)
appropriate perches/substrate
food/water dish easily accessible from perch
pond-water for waterfowl; baths for other species
tail guard for raptors
what is the purpose of a tail guard?
prevent tail getting scuffed and soiled
what are the hospitalisation considerations for sick birds?
keep warm 30° - radiant heat best
offer normal/familiar diet
high metabolic rate - quickly use up energy reserves
will not eat in the dark
weight daily (same time each day)
record-keeping very important!
what safety considerations need to be made with sick birds?
treat sick birds first but infectious birds last
hygiene and biosecurity important
zoonotic considerations e.g. Chlamydia psittaci
don’t keep sick birds in same air space as other birds OR wild birds with pet birds
how does metabolic rate affect medication admin?
high metabolic rate in birds requires increased doses and frequency compared to mammals
can you give bird medications in water?
no - not reliable, may result in bird not drinking
can you give birds medication in food?
not reliable, crop tubing/direct administration preferable
what routes of administration of medication are available in birds?
oral - crop tubing
injectable
flushing nares/sinuses useful for upper respiratory tract infections
nebulisation useful for lower respiratory tract infections
what route of admin should be avoided in birds?
topical - will affect feather structure, may be ingested as bird preens
why do we crop feed birds?
to provide nutritional support for sick birds
what size tube should be used for crop feeding?
largest possible - reduces chances of accidentally placing it into the trachea
what materials can crop tubing be?
rubber plastic metal
which type of tube should be used for crop feeding parrots?
metal
or with gag to prevent biting through tube if plastic/rubber
how do you insert a crop feeding tube?
extend neck and pass tube into left side of mouth, over tongue and into oesophagus
palpate right side base of neck to confirm tube in crop (feel separate trachea)
how often should you crop feed a bird?
every 2-8 hours depending on species
what temperature should crop fluids/food be at?
38-40°C
what can be crop fed?
hand-rearing formula emeraid hills a/d ground up waterfowl pellets critical care formula fluids
what injections sites are used in birds?
subcut
IM
IV
IO
why can’t you give birds intracoelomic fluids?
due to air sac system
which sites are used for subcut injection?
inguinal fold
interscapular region
which sites are used for IM injection?
distal third pectoral muscles (avoids pectoral artery)
legs
which sites are used for IV injection?
jugular veins
basilic veins
metatarsal veins
which sites are used for IO injection?
ulna
tibiotarsus
why aren’t the humerus or femur used for IO injection?
often pneumatised and connected to the air sac system
how is the wing kept immobilised during IO injection?
with a figure 8 bandage
what are the fluid therapy maintenance requirements for birds?
50-100ml/kg/day (higher for passerines)
what fluid is used for fluid therapy in birds?
lactated ringers appropriate for most species
how can you assess dehydration in sick birds?
assume all sick birds 5-10% dehydrated
i.e. 50-100ml per kg
what should the fluid therapy schedule be in birds?
give maintenance + 1/2 deficit on day one
give maintenance + rest of deficit over days 2-3
how much fluids should be given orally/subcut/IV?
oral = 10ml/kg
subcut = 20ml/kg (inguinal fold)
IV = 10-20ml/kg bolus OR 10ml/kg/hr infusion
can you crop tube fluids?
yes as long as bird can hold up own head and has no significant GI disease which could affect absorption
what diagnostic procedures are available for birds?
radiography biochemistry, haematology PCR, serology culture cytology e.g. crop wash/ aspirates, faecal faecal parasitology endoscopy, biopsy post-mortem exams
why isn’t ultrasonography used in birds?
air sac system prevents diagnostic images
unless bird has coelomic fluid
what are the standard radiography views?
right lateral
ventrodorsal
can radiography be done conscious?
no, must be under GA
how do you position a bird for a right lateral radiograph?
tape wings out of the way and tape legs caudally/one forward and one backwards
how do you position a bird for a VD radiograph?
wings and legs extended and taped
how many views are taken for radiography?
2 views at 90°
what is barium contrast used for?
barium contrast radiographs useful for GI tract and investigation of coelomic masses (15-20ml/kg)
what can endoscopy be used for?
visualising trachea, upper GI tract, cloaca
sexing monomorphic species
looking at lungs, air sacs, kidneys, gonads, GI tract, spleen, liver - can be biopsied
which veins can be used for blood collection?
right jugular - featherless tract overlies this region
basilic vein - media elbow
median metatarsal vein - larger birds
why must caution be taken when collecting blood from the basilic (deep ulnar) vein?
prone to haematoma formation - pressure must be applied for some time after venepuncture
how much blood can safely be collected?
1% body weight in healthy bird, less if sick
which type of tube should be used for blood sampling?
heparin or EDTA in most species
some species will lyse in EDTA (not species seen in practice)
why are automated cell counts unreliable?
avian erythrocytes are nucleated - manual method required to determine white cell count and differential
why might sinus flushing be performed?
for treatment or for diagnostic samples (e.g. cytology, culture and sensitivity)
how can sinus flushing be performed?
via nares (upside down) or via needle into sinus (GA)
what can happen if a new feather is damaged before the blood supply retracts?
if blood feather damaged before this may bleed profusely
how are new feather supported?
by old feathers
when is wing clipping indicated? why?
rarely indicated, never in young parrots
can lead to sternal injury from crash landing, psychological problems, feather plucking
bird may be still be able to glide/fly away
when can wing clipping be useful?
temporarily useful while training dominant/aggressive bird
how should wing clipping be performed?
alway leave 2-3 distal primaries to provide protection when new feathers moult through
cut so that ends are underneath covert feathers and not sticking out
cut as few as possible, never cut a blood feather
how should nail clipping be performed?
with a dremmel
or nail clippers with care
extra care with black nails - cannot see quick
where should a microchip be inserted?
distal third pectoral muscles to avoid pectoral artery
direct microchip downwards, tissue glue to close skin
how is euthanasia performed?
best done under gaseous GA
give IV into jugular, wing vein or medial metatarsal
can inject into liver if unable to access a vein
