Introduction to raptors Flashcards
Define Falconry
keeping of falcons (or other prey birds) and training them to hunt wild animals (sport)
What Law in the UK applies to birds of prey ?
- Illegal to take raptors from wild without license except if receiving tx from vet or allowed person
- Licensing by Defra
IS a license needed to own or fly captive-bred birds of prey ?
NO
What act protects wild birds?
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Give examples of HAwks
Goshawks, Sparrowhawk
Give examples of Falcons
Peregrin Falcon , Saker, Merlin, Kestrel
Give examples of Buzzards
Common buzzard, harris hawk
What two basic systems for husbandry?
- Tethered on blocks or perches
- Aviaries
What are two perch types?
1.Bow
2. Block
What type of perch surfaces?
- Astroturf
- Nylon rope
- NAtural materials
Describe Diet for raptors
- Entire carcass and then regurgitate the bones and feather/fur
- Do not feed pure muscle (not a balanced diet)
- feeding the same each day will not be balanced
- Ca:P ratio is important
- Fresh water for bathing and drinking
What flying ‘furniture’ is there?
- Aylmeri/ Anklet
- Jesse
- Swivel
FLight weight?
ideal weight for flying (lowest weight that allows optimal performance)
What can cast mean?
- the method to hold a bird for examination
- To regurgitate a pellet
- Two or more birds flown together
What does Cast off mean?
released from the fist
Casting ?
indigestible part of the diet
Foot / footing?
when a bird strikes with its feet
Imping?
Replacement of damaged feathers, gluing a new tip onto a broken feather (allows precision in flying)
Define Mutes
droppings/ faeces
Define Manned (to man)
a bird that has been tamed and is used to humans
Define Mews
building that a bird is kept/trained in
Define Hood
leather ap that overs a birds face, used to calm birds
Describe how to safely handle a bird of prey?
- Always cast a bird of prey to examine it
- If the bird is used to a hood always hood first to reduce stress
- Always watch FEET not beak!
How to Cast bird?
- Using towel grasp from behind around wings/body
- Wrap in towel and ideally cover head
- DO NOT RESTRICT BREATHING
- Hold legs
List common conditions of raptors?
» Aspergillosis » Enteritis » Coccidiosis » Capillaria » Lead Poisoning » Crop Stasis » Frost Bite » Wing tip oedema » Pododermatisis » Blunt Trauma » Fractures
aspergillosis in birds - describe
- Fungal spores in environment
- Individual birds susceptible
- FOund in moulds within soil, feed and hay
What does aspergillosis cause?
- Fungal pneumonia, air sacculitis and granulomas
- Acute and chronic forms
What signs of Aspergillosis
- weight loss
- Lethargy
- Bhvr change/ poor performance
- Voice change (acute EMERGENCY)
How to Diagnose Aspergillosis ?
- Bloods
- PCR blood test
- Radiographs
- Endoscopy
culture
cytology
histopath
Tx for Aspergillosis
- Surgery (endoscopy) to remove plaques
- Nebulisation
- Medical (voriconazole)
- Hygiene (antifungals ..)
What is the main clinical sign of Enteritis?
Abnormal mutes
but also V+ or regurg, melena or undigested food in the faeces and anorexia
Causes of enteritis?
- bacterial
- Viral
- Fungal
- Endoparasites
- Toxicity
- other
How severe is acute enteritis?
EMERGENCY - need supportive care/ fluids
What kind of work up to do for enteritis?
Faecal parasitology, haematology, biochemistry, imaging with a crop wash/ culture
What does white plaques in mouth mean? (DDX? )
Capilaria, Trichomonas, candida, pox virus
Capillaria Characteristics
- Most common nematode in raptors
CLS: hea shaking, white/ yellow plaques in mouth, D+, weight loss, lethargy
Dx: faecal parasitology
Tx: fenbendazole
Trichomonas - what is it & how do they get it
- Protozoa affecting mouth, oesophagus and crop
- Common in birds of prey eating pigeons
- TO prevent always freeze pigeons before defrosting and feeding
CLS, Dx, Tx Trichomonas?
CLS: white/ yellow plaques in mouth and head flicking
Dx: moving flagella and microscopic exam of plaques with saline
Tx: metronidazole or carnidazole
How do birds of prey get lead poisoning ?
exposure = eating shot wildlife (lead pellets)
CLS LEad poisoning?
Lethargy, anaemia, GI signs, neuro signs
Diagnosis of lead poisoning ?
- Bloods - nonregen anaemia, liver and kidney damage
- Xray - radio-opaque lead particles in GIT tract
- Blood lead levels to confirm toxicity
Treatment for Lead poisoning ?
- REMOVE LEAD (small particles pass through 4-5d, bigger particles endoscope or surgery)
- Calcium EDTA chelating drug
- Supportive care
Causes of crop stasis?
- Crop infection
- Inappropriate food
- Dehydration
- Low body condition
- Over full crop/ over gorging
Presentation of crop stasis?
Patient may appear bright with a distended crop or collapsed and in shock (toxaemia)
What should u do for crop stasis?
always, remove content of the crop first of all, even though GA is risky
Tx for crop stasis?
Ingluviotomy, antifungal, antibiotics, supportive care
Crop stasis - when should u feed bird?
Never feed a bird of prey is a cast has not yet been regurgitated = risk of GIT obstruction
What is WTONS?
Wing tip Oedema and Necrosis Syndrome
What is WTONS caused by? Signs ?
- Reduced blood flow to wing tips- unknown cause
- Feather loss, oedema and necrotic tissue at the tip of wings
Tx , Dx, Prevention?
Tx: vascular stimulants (isoxsuprine)
Dx: Radiograph - carpus bone involvement ?
Prevention: keep birds warm and dry
Head Trauma signs?
Always do ophtalmic exam with found wild birds fo prey
Describe ophtalmic exam for head trauma?
» No tapetum lucidum (no reflection of light).
» Pecten - function is to supply blood to the retina.
» Always check for ocular hemorrhage.
» If sight is poor (suggesting complete detachment of the pecten)
prognosis is poor.
Pododermatitis - clinical grades?
What causes of pododermatitis in birds of prey?
- Injury
- Self injury
- Incorrect perch/ perch covering
- Poor perch hygiene
- Obesity
- hypovitaminosis A
What organisms are commonly involved in pododermatitis?
Staphs, E.coli, Proteus, candida
Type 1 treatment for pododermatitis?
- Balanced diet
- Clean environment
- Cover perches
- Handle and fly more/ free loft
Type 2-3 Tx for pododermatitis?
- C& S
- Oral antibiotics
- F10 barrier cream (fungal and bacteria)
Type 4-5 Tx , same as type 2-3 PLUS?
- surgery to debride and shell out puss/ necrotic core
- Dressings
What fractures are common?
Tibiotarsal and wing fractures due to trauma are common (hybrid fixation best)
What Fracture repair methods ?
- Cage rest only
- External stabilisation (if bone too small for internal stabilisation)
- Internal fixation (IM pins)
- ‘Hybrid’ fixation (IM pins with external skeletal fixators
Describe blood sampling in rapotrs?
- Jugular vein preferred site
- Brachial wing vein can be used
- Medial metatarsal vein great but CARE with feet
What fluids for emergency care?
- IV fluids - if collapsed can do 10ml/kg/min bolus
- IO fluids - Sterile insertion - Distal ulnar or proximal tibia 10ml/kh/hr
- Crop tube fluids (12ml/kg) if owl use a stomach tube 8ml/kg
What other emergency care?
- Analgesia - NSAIDs, butorphanol, buprenorphine
- Intubate or air sac cannula if not breathing
- Crop or stomach tube nutrients/ fluids (12ml/kg)
Oral medication
via crop/ stomach tube or inject / insert medication into meat/carcass feeds - use flexible tube to feed
Muscle injections
Caudal third of pectoral muscles
Avoid leg muscles due to RENAL PORTAL SYSTEM
S/C injection?
poor absorption rate
Why should you avoid muscular injections?
irritable substances & can affect flight/ performance
