NTCA medicine - Birds Flashcards
General considerations/ approach
+ 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
Describe chronic malnutrition?
- usually due to a seed diet
- Can lead to deficiencies esp vitA & C & Ca
- Seed diets also cause obesity & hepatic lipidosis (coelomic distention, dyspnoea)
Dx & Tx of chronic malnutrition?
- Dx: enlarged hepatic silhouette and artherosclerosis on Xray
- Tx: gradually transition to pellected diet, supplements, fluids, milk thistle
-Px: adequate diet, husbandry
Describe hypovit 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
Dx/ Tx of hypovit A?
+ Diagnosis usually based on clinical signs
+ Treatment – transition to appropriate diet/start
supplementation first
Hypocalcaemia?
+ Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
+ Hypocalcaemia is common in African Greys with
seizures and tremors seen
+ Susceptible to pathological fractures, dystocia,
abnormal eggs
Dx, Tx, Px of HypoCa?
+ Diagnosis: radiographs, blood levels of calcium
or based on history
+ Treatment: supplementation, adequate diet,
provide UV-B lighting
+ Prevention: as above
Resp anatomy of birds?
+ 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
Why do we see resp dx?
+ Often husbandry related
+ Hypovitaminosis A will predispose
+ Opportunistic infections
+ Rhinoliths and sinusitis
Describe rhinoliths & sinusitis?
+ 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
What other things can cause dyspnoea in birds?
+ Organomegaly, eggs, ascites, obesity, coelomitis,
cardiac disease
What toxins cause rep dx ?
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
What zoonotic infectiosu agent can cause resp dx in birds?
Chlamydiosis -> Chlamydia psittaci
CLS of Chlamydiosis?
conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, dyspnoea,
lethargy, anorexia, diarrhoea, green faeces
Dx of Chlamydia psittaci
+ 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
Tx for of Chlamydiosis?
Supportive, doxycycline up to 6 weeks
What fungal cause of Resp dx?
Aspergillosis (ubiquitous in environment so ususally if immunosuppressed)
Signs of Aspergillosis?
+ 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
Dx of Aspergillosis?
+ 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
Tx for resp aspergillus?
anti fungals and supportive
What GI dx in birds?
- Trichomoniasis
- Avian gastric yeast
- Candida
- Heavy metal tox
Describe Trichomoniasis?
+ 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
Describe Avian gastric yeast?
+ 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
describe candida?
+ Malnutrition, overuse of antibiotics, poor
husbandry, crop stasis
+White oral lesions, inappetence, regurgitation
+Swab for cytology and culture
+ Anti-fungals such as nystatin
Describe heavy metal tox?
+Regurgitation with matting of head feathers,
vomiting, diarrhoea with blood, weakness,
neurological signs, polyuria/polydipsia
What derm dx in birds?
PBFD (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)
What is PBFD caused by?
y a circovirus and affects skin, feathers, immune
system
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
What is affected by PBFD?
THE HEAD! - birds cannot pluck own feathers on head
Dx of PBFD?
PCR on feather pulp or blood
Where does circovirus live?
in environment and shed in feather dander plus can have carriers
Preveniton of PBFD?
quarantine new birds, F10 disinfection
What common ectoP of bird?
+Knemidokoptes pilae
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
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
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
What neuro dx is caused by avian bornavirus?
+Proventricular Dilatation Disease
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
Describe how heavy metal tox can cause neuro dx?
+ Zinc and lead from galvanized cages, paint,
metal toys
Signs of heavy metal tox?
+ GI signs especially regurgitation, weakness,
neurological signs, polyuria/polydipsia
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
What is arguably the msot common reprod dx in birds?
Egg binding
What can cause egg bind?
Hypocalcaemia, obesity, salpingitis, weakness,
abnormal egg
Signs & diagnosis of egg bind?
Signs: unproductive straining, distended coelom,
tachypnoea
+ Diagnosis via x-rays or endoscopy, sometimes
palpation
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
Why do we get Chronic egg laying?
Caused by excessive stimulation, long day
length, poor nutrition
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
What causes Egg yolk coelomitis?
+ Can be caused by ruptured oviduct,
neoplasia, salpingitis, ectopic ovulation
+ Can be sterile or septic
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
Tx of Egg yolk coelomitis?
+ Medical treatment: antibiotics, NSAIDs
+ Surgical treatment: removal of yolk material
What urtinary dx do birds get?
- Renal dx
- Renal neoplasia
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
What is gout?
+ Failure to excrete uric acid due to compromised renal function
+ Therefore builds up in joints and visceral organs
What leads to gout?
+ Chronic end stage renal disease, chronic dehydration, infectious agents, high protein diet,
neoplasia
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
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
Prevention of Gout?
adequate water intake, avoid nephrotoxic drugs
What main trauma areas in birds?
- Blood feather
- Cat bites
- Fractures
Detail Blood feather
+ Growing feathers, haemorrhage
+ Apply corn starch, remove with haemostats
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
Detail Fractures?
+ Little soft tissue coverage over bones,
tibiotarsal most common
+ Supportive care, analgesia, tape splint
+ Amputation or surgical repair in larger
birds
What neoplasia do birds get?
- Lipoma
- Renal & testicular tumours
- Xanthomas
Lipoma?
+ Obese birds
+ Usually on neck and sternum
+ Diagnosis via FNA, biopsy
+ Surgical removal – care as often vascular
Renal & testicular tumours?
+ Can cause unilateral lameness due to compression of nerves
+ Common in budgies
Xanthomas?
+ Cholesterol deposits in form of mass
+ Benign
+ Common in cockatiels
+ Surgical removal, weight reduction
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
If overgrown beak?
dremel under GA
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
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
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
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
