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VMS4007 > NTCA medicine - Birds > Flashcards

NTCA medicine - Birds Flashcards

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1
Q

General considerations/ approach

A

+ Husbandry will not be covered in this lecture
+ Fairly similar needs for each species
+ Longer consult needed
+ Take detailed husbandry history
+ Adequate equipment in practice
+ Only pet birds covered in this lecture
+ Mainly psittacines
+ Most common species are focused on

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2
Q

Describe chronic malnutrition?

A
  • usually due to a seed diet
  • Can lead to deficiencies esp vitA & C & Ca
  • Seed diets also cause obesity & hepatic lipidosis (coelomic distention, dyspnoea)
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3
Q

Dx & Tx of chronic malnutrition?

A
  • Dx: enlarged hepatic silhouette and artherosclerosis on Xray
  • Tx: gradually transition to pellected diet, supplements, fluids, milk thistle
    -Px: adequate diet, husbandry
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4
Q

Describe hypovit A?

A

+ Usually caused by seed diet
+ Can lead to immunosuppression, poor feathering,
squamous metaplasia of the epithelium and
keratinisation of mucous membranes - blunted
choanal papillae
+ Thus can predispose to various infections and
respiratory disease

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5
Q

Dx/ Tx of hypovit A?

A

+ Diagnosis usually based on clinical signs
+ Treatment – transition to appropriate diet/start
supplementation first

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6
Q

Hypocalcaemia?

A

+ Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
+ Hypocalcaemia is common in African Greys with
seizures and tremors seen
+ Susceptible to pathological fractures, dystocia,
abnormal eggs

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7
Q

Dx, Tx, Px of HypoCa?

A

+ Diagnosis: radiographs, blood levels of calcium
or based on history
+ Treatment: supplementation, adequate diet,
provide UV-B lighting
+ Prevention: as above

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8
Q

Resp anatomy of birds?

A

+ Glottis at base of tongue – most large parrot
species easy to intubate
+ Choanal slit at roof of mouth
+ Trachea – complete rings of cartilage
+ Syrinx – vocal organ at bifurcation of trachea
+ Semi-rigid lungs and air sacs acting as
bellows
+ No diaphragm
+ Pneumatic bones

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9
Q

Why do we see resp dx?

A

+ Often husbandry related
+ Hypovitaminosis A will predispose
+ Opportunistic infections
+ Rhinoliths and sinusitis

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10
Q

Describe rhinoliths & sinusitis?

A

+ Sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge, sinus
swellings
+ Removal of rhinolith, culture and cytology, nasal
flushing plus bloods and x-rays, aspiration and
lavage
+ Treatment usually antibiotics, anti-inflammatories

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11
Q

What other things can cause dyspnoea in birds?

A

+ Organomegaly, eggs, ascites, obesity, coelomitis,
cardiac disease

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12
Q

What toxins cause rep dx ?

A

Toxins eg Teflon from a pan
+Releases toxins when heated that cause pulmonary oedema
+Often acute death
+Diagnosis based on history, clinical presentation, radiographs
+Supp tx: oxygen, steroids, antibiotics

Aerosol sprays, plug-ins, smoking

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13
Q

What zoonotic infectiosu agent can cause resp dx in birds?

A

Chlamydiosis -> Chlamydia psittaci

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14
Q

CLS of Chlamydiosis?

A

conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, dyspnoea,
lethargy, anorexia, diarrhoea, green faeces

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15
Q

Dx of Chlamydia psittaci

A

+ Imaging – hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, air sacculitis.
+ Lecucocytosis with monoctyosis on haematology,
elevated liver values on biochemistry
+ PCR on pooled faecal sample but intermittent
shedding, also conjunctival, choanal and cloacal swab
+ Serology (ELISA) for antibody levels using commercial kit eg Immunocomb

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16
Q

Tx for of Chlamydiosis?

A

Supportive, doxycycline up to 6 weeks

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17
Q

What fungal cause of Resp dx?

A

Aspergillosis (ubiquitous in environment so ususally if immunosuppressed)

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18
Q

Signs of Aspergillosis?

A

+ Dyspnoea, wheezing, change of voice due to fungal
granuloma on syrinx, lethargy, exercise intolerance, weight
loss
+ Can cause tracheal obstruction which will require air sac
tube

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19
Q

Dx of Aspergillosis?

A

+ Diagnosis: may see plaques on radiography but
endoscopy better placed, either tracheal or via air sacs,
samples can be collected
+ Blood sample will usually show heterophilia

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20
Q

Tx for resp aspergillus?

A

anti fungals and supportive

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21
Q

What GI dx in birds?

A
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Avian gastric yeast
  • Candida
  • Heavy metal tox
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22
Q

Describe Trichomoniasis?

A

+ Protozoa common in budgies
+ Causes vomiting, weight loss, thickened
white plaques in mouth
+ Diagnosis: microscopy of swab from lesion or
crop wash
+ Treatment: metronidazole orally

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23
Q

Describe Avian gastric yeast?

A

+ Macrorhabdus orthogaster – large rodshaped gram-positive yeast
+ Weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy
+ Cytology of vomit, crop contents or faeces
+ Treatment with oral amphotericin B but will
continue to shed

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24
Q

describe candida?

A

+ Malnutrition, overuse of antibiotics, poor
husbandry, crop stasis
+White oral lesions, inappetence, regurgitation
+Swab for cytology and culture
+ Anti-fungals such as nystatin

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25
Describe heavy metal tox?
+Regurgitation with matting of head feathers, vomiting, diarrhoea with blood, weakness, neurological signs, polyuria/polydipsia
26
What derm dx in birds?
PBFD (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)
27
What is PBFD caused by?
y a circovirus and affects skin, feathers, immune system
28
Describe two forms of PBFD?
+ Acute form – juvenile birds, feather abnormalities and immunosuppression with high mortality + Chronic form – progressive deformed feathers, loss of beak powder (becomes shiny), colour changes
29
What is affected by PBFD?
THE HEAD! - birds cannot pluck own feathers on head
30
Dx of PBFD?
PCR on feather pulp or blood
31
Where does circovirus live?
in environment and shed in feather dander plus can have carriers
32
Preveniton of PBFD?
quarantine new birds, F10 disinfection
33
What common ectoP of bird?
+Knemidokoptes pilae
34
Describe +Knemidokoptes pilae
+Burrowing mite +Common in budgies +Scaly leg/scaly face and beak, hyperkeratosis +Diagnosis by clinical signs and skin scrape, can visualise via microscopy +Treatment with ivermectin +Prevention with good hygiene
35
What is Feather destructive bhvr?
+ Need to differentiate from disease related so full diagnostics needed + Stress, boredom, inappropriate diet + Chew and damage feathers + Environmental enrichment and husbandry changes + Some may need behavioural modification drugs
36
Describe Superficial Chronic ulcerative Dermatitis (SCUD)
+Bacterial infection often incited by selfmutilation +Culture and cytology plus full work-up as for FDB +Topical treatment with antiseptic, pain relief, collar while healing takes place +Sometimes needs surgical debridement
37
What neuro dx is caused by avian bornavirus?
+Proventricular Dilatation Disease
38
Describe +Proventricular Dilatation Disease
+Weight loss, undigested faeces, regurgitation, ataxia, seizures +PCR on choanal and cloacal swabs or biopsy of proventriculus, also serology +Treatment – prokinetic drugs, some success with celocoxib, analgesia +Progressive, high mortality
39
Describe how heavy metal tox can cause neuro dx?
+ Zinc and lead from galvanized cages, paint, metal toys
40
Signs of heavy metal tox?
+ GI signs especially regurgitation, weakness, neurological signs, polyuria/polydipsia
41
Dx and tx of heavy metal neuro dx?
+ Diagnosis by radiography and heavy metal blood levels + Treatment with calcium EDTA or penicillamine with supportive care
42
What is arguably the msot common reprod dx in birds?
Egg binding
43
What can cause egg bind?
Hypocalcaemia, obesity, salpingitis, weakness, abnormal egg
44
Signs & diagnosis of egg bind?
Signs: unproductive straining, distended coelom, tachypnoea + Diagnosis via x-rays or endoscopy, sometimes palpation
45
Tx of Egg bind?
+ Treament: oxygen as likely dyspnoeic, stabilize + If egg visible via vent, can aspirate and apply gentle pressure to collapse and remove manually + Provide calcium and oxytocin + If not visible, surgical removal via salpingotomy or salpingectomy
46
Why do we get Chronic egg laying?
Caused by excessive stimulation, long day length, poor nutrition
47
How to manage Chronic egg laying?
+ Do not remove eggs until lost interest + Husbandry changes: move cage around, reduce day length + Medical or surgical: deslorelin implants, salpingectomy + Prevention: appropriate husbandry
48
What causes Egg yolk coelomitis?
+ Can be caused by ruptured oviduct, neoplasia, salpingitis, ectopic ovulation + Can be sterile or septic
49
CLS & Dx of Egg yolk coelomitis?
+ Clinical signs: enlarged coelom, dyspnoea, lethargy, anorexia, recent egg laying + Diagnosis: toxic heterophilia, loss of detail on radiography, ultrasound, coelomocentesis
50
Tx of Egg yolk coelomitis?
+ Medical treatment: antibiotics, NSAIDs + Surgical treatment: removal of yolk material
51
What urtinary dx do birds get?
- Renal dx - Renal neoplasia
52
Describe Renal dx in birds?
+Can be caused by dehydration, infectious diseases, drugs, heavy metals +Polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia, lethargy +Urinalysis not routine as urine is excreted with faeces +Diagnosis via uric acid levels on biochemistry or endoscopic/surgical renal biopsy +Treat inciting cause and fluids
53
What is gout?
+ Failure to excrete uric acid due to compromised renal function + Therefore builds up in joints and visceral organs
54
What leads to gout?
+ Chronic end stage renal disease, chronic dehydration, infectious agents, high protein diet, neoplasia
55
Signs of gout and Dx?
+ Lameness, swollen feet, difficulty perching or flying + Diagnosis: uric acid levels on bloods, aspiration of swellings under GA will show urate crystals on microscopy
56
Tx for gout?
+ Treatment: fluids and allopurinol, treat primary cause, analgesia + If visceral – poor prognosis. Less common in small psittacines + Non-specific signs, anorexia, lethargy + Diagnosed as increased radiopacity on x-rays
57
Prevention of Gout?
adequate water intake, avoid nephrotoxic drugs
58
What main trauma areas in birds?
- Blood feather - Cat bites - Fractures
59
Detail Blood feather
+ Growing feathers, haemorrhage + Apply corn starch, remove with haemostats
60
Detail Cat bites?
+ Usually infected with Pasteurella multocida, can lead to rapid septicaemia + Clean wounds thoroughly under GA + Analgesia and antibiotic – my preference is oral sulphonamides
61
Detail Fractures?
+ Little soft tissue coverage over bones, tibiotarsal most common + Supportive care, analgesia, tape splint + Amputation or surgical repair in larger birds
62
What neoplasia do birds get?
- Lipoma - Renal & testicular tumours - Xanthomas
63
Lipoma?
+ Obese birds + Usually on neck and sternum + Diagnosis via FNA, biopsy + Surgical removal – care as often vascular
64
Renal & testicular tumours?
+ Can cause unilateral lameness due to compression of nerves + Common in budgies
65
Xanthomas?
+ Cholesterol deposits in form of mass + Benign + Common in cockatiels + Surgical removal, weight reduction
66
What to do if collapsed bird?
+Hypothermic, hypoglycaemic, dehydrated, dyspnoeic +Warmth and fluids, ideally incubator, oxygen +Then offer food, if refuses – crop feed critical care +Once stable perform diagnostics
67
If overgrown beak?
dremel under GA
68
Diabetes in birds?
+ Common in budgies + PUPD, polyphagia, weight loss + Hypoglycaemia, elevated fructosamine and low insulin on bloods, glucosuria + Insulin therapy not very successful + Diet modification + Prevention – adequate diet
69
How to blood sample in birds?
+ 1% of body weight can be safely taken in a healthy bird + Send to a lab with an exotics service + Usually under general anaesthesia + Right jugular vein + Also medial metatarsal vein and basilic vein + Veins fragile + Place into heparin tube
70
How to do imaging in birds?
+ Always under general anaesthesia + Lateral and ventrodorsal whole body radiographs + CT becoming more available + Ultrasound can be used but less frequently
71
What preventative healthcare in birds?
+ Husbandry + As mentioned throughout lecture, many of these diseases are caused by inappropriate husbandry + Encourage clients to attend health checks which include review of husbandry + Diet + UV lighting + Encourage natural behaviour

VMS4007 (27 decks)

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