overview of pet bird Flashcards
play a major role in pet bird wellness programs.
Nutrition and behavior
what are those entails in Preventing disease
- providing a proper diet,
- an appropriate size cage and perches,
- proper sanitation, and
- environmental enrichment (ie, toys, foraging opportunities, social interaction).
oxygen deprivation can occur during?
restraint, treatment, or diagnostic sampling.
are more common in birds without recent exposure to potentially infectious birds
Chronic malnutrition and secondary infections
is a major cause of subclinical disease in birds, which often becomes clinical when a secondary infection occurs.
Malnutrition
a sign of increased respiratory effort in birds
the tail bobbing up and down
The normal resting respiratory rate for pet birds
- in smaller birds (<300 g)
- larger birds (400–1,000 g)
- from 30−60 beats/min
* 15–30 beats/min
Overgrown beak and nails can indicate
husbandry, nutrition, or liver disease.
Excessive wear of the plantar surface of the feet can indicate
inadequate perching or poor nutrition.
Excessive wear or callous unilaterally may indicate a problem with the contralateral foot.
in birds,Body condition can be determined by
palpating the pectoral muscles.
- keel scoring system
- Severely obese birds deposit fat over the neck, thighs, and abdominal cavity.
a large parrot will have a heart rate of
> 250 beats/min when restrained.
The basic types of wing trims are
1) Removing 4–7 of the distal primary flight feathers from both wings, below the level of the coverts
2. Leaving 1–4 distal primary feathers and removing the remainder of the primaries from both wings
3. ) Removing a variable number of primary feathers from just one wing.
these are the excellent ways to remove excess keratin that can accumulate on the lateral surfaces of the beak.
!. Sanding tools
2. Concrete (cement) perches
In previous decades,were used to identify the location of parrots at which they were quarantined.
open-rolled steel bands
*Now most birds areleg banded(using closed bands) as chicks for individual identification.
these are rolled, steel quarantine bands are extremely strong and require removal by a full-size bolt cutter with sharp edges.
- open (gap present)
* closed aluminum bands placed on young, captive-raised birds must be stabilized to prevent twisting while being cut.
is replacing or augmenting banding as a means of identification
Microchipping
- is in the left pectoral muscles
- it is riskier in smaller birds.
- has resulted in bleeding and death.
in birds Blood is usually collected from?
- right jugular vein, which is larger than the left
- basilic (wing) vein - prone to hematoma
- medial metatarsal vein - medium to large psittacine birds, seabirds, and poultry
* Coating a syringe with an anticoagulant before collection may be helpful in smaller species
Uric acid may be increased in
- severe renal disease or with articular gout.
2. Severe dehydration
injections are used for fluid administration, some vaccinations, and many routine medications such as antibiotics.
*may be as effective as IM injections for most medications, without the associated muscle necrosis.
. SC injections
*Insulin syringes (50 U or 0.5 mL) with 27-gauge needles are invaluable for accurate dosing
are often used in birds. To maximize their absorption and minimize discomfort
SC fluids - should be warmed to 102°–106°F
*Sites of administration are the lateral flank, the inguinal web, and the back.
occasionally indicated in birds.
. IV injections
*administered IV are some antibiotics, amphotericin B, chemotherapeutic drugs, contrast media, and fluids
IM injections are given into the
- pectoral muscles in most pet birds;
- leg muscles - raptors
- muscle fibers of birds are more vascular and tightly packed —->muscle necrosis and inadvertent IV injection
Indwelling catheterscan be placed in the?
jugular, basilic, or medial metatarsal veins for constant-rate infusions or intermittent fluid administration.
Intraosseous (IO) catheters can be inserted, generally in the
proximal tibiotarsal bone or distal ulna.
*hypodermic needle may be used (usually 25-gauge for initial entry, followed by a second 22-gauge needle sutured in place), or a spinal needle with stylet for large birds.
*Without a stylet or second needle, a bone plug may obstruct the needle.
*
catheters are often preferable for longterm fluid therapy
IO catheters
*via IO catheters can be painful to the bird, especially after 1–2 days.
how many ml of fluids cn be admin in adult birds?
30 mL/kg can be administered tid-qid.
*Baby birds will hold ~10% of their body weight per feeding (100 mL/kg).
is sometimes desirable for diagnostic or treatment procedures to reduce stress and minimize fear.
Sedation
is a safe and effective sedation protocol in most pet
Midazolam -at 0.5–1 mg/kg, IM, or 1–2 mg/kg intranasally (IN)
*flumazenil(0.02–0.1 mg/kg, IM or IN -reverse the effects.
this is given when birds is thought to be in pain or discomfort?
- butorphanol(0.5–3 mg/kg, IM or IN
* may be given alone or withmidazolam.
often require the higher dosage (2–3 mg/kg) ofbutorphanol
Amazon parrots
- raptors require the lower dosage (0.5 mg/kg).
- Isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia _by face mask can also be used alone or in conjunction with sedation
common in clinically ill birds.
Delayed crop emptying
*Endotracheal tubes should be uncuffed, because the absence of a tracheal ligament increases the risk of tracheal necrosis if a cuff is overinflated
fast birds how many hours before admin of anesthesia
of 4–6 hr are typical.
*the crop should be palpated for the presence of food or fluid before anesthesia.
The normal body temperature of most psittacines is
103°–106°F (39°–41°C).
example of altricial, hatched birds?
- without feathers, with eyes closed, and helpless.
* Parrots, doves, and finches
e.g of born precocial,with down feathers, open eyes, and the ability to walk and feed themselves at hatching.
Poultry, ratites, and waterfowl
are completely dependent on the parent birds for warmth and food; they also lack a functional immune system and are more susceptible to disease.
Psittacine neonates
Disadvantages of hand raising can include
*stunting and an increase in husbandry-related diseases such as crop stasis or aspiration pneumonia.
The health of a chick depends on what factors
the health of the parents, genetics, the incubation process, nutrition (type of food, temperature, and consistency), environment (humidity, warmth, and cleanliness), and exposure to infectious diseases.
temperature guidelines are for newly hatched psittacine chicks?
*92°–94°F; unfeathered chicks, 90°–92°F; pin-feathered chicks, 85°–90°F; and fully-feathered and weaned chicks, 75°–80°F.
should be fed to chicks >2 days old (more dilute formula for newly hatched), with the environmental temperature between 102°–106°F.
*A diet of 25%–30% solids
characteristics of Healthy chicks
- have yellowish pink skin, and feathers first appear on the head, wing, and tail.
- Abnormal feather growth or delayed or abnormal opening of eyes can be a sign of stunting.
a lucent areas across the vane of the feathers
indicate a period of stress when that portion of the feather was forming
Stress bars
- common during weaning,
- A large number of stress bars may indicate an underlying illness or condition.
indication of hypovitaminosis A or chronic respiratory disease.
blunting of the choanal papilla
have a normally distended abdomen because of an enlarged proventriculus and ventriculus from being fed large amounts of formula.
Nestlings
Pediatric Diseases of Pet Birds
most common causes of respiratory disease in hand-fed psittacine birds.
Aspiration Pneumonia
*occurs as birds begin to wean.
clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia
increased respiration, respiratory distress, poor feeding response, and depression.
DX. based on history and physical examination findings.
*tx oxygen therapy, nebulization, antibiotics, antifungals, warmth, supplemental fluids, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Prognosis is guarded.
Bacterial Disease
The normal gut microflora in chicks
gram-positive bacteria.
*presence of large numbers of gram-negative bacteria or budding yeast indicates infection
Bacterial infections can occur from multiple sources: such as?
unsanitary environment, inappropriate storage of formula, and use of unclean feeding utensils.
CS for bacterial dse
*crop stasis, poor feeding response, regurgitation, depression, and dehydration.
*dx on clinical signs and results of a fecal or crop Gram stain, CBC (leukocytosis, monocytosis), and culture and sensitivity testing
*Tx is with antibiotics and supportive care
prophylactic treatment with an antifungal drug such asnystatinorfluconazole
can be present in low numbers in a healthy chick but may proliferate in the presence of antibiotic treatment
- most common fungal infection in young birds and can result in thickening of the crop mucosa,
- described as “Turkish towel in appearance.”
Candida albicans
CS:of Candida albicans
crop stasis, poor feeding response, and depression.
- lesions or plaques in the oral cavity. Intestinal or gastric candidiasis can result in malabsorption.
- Dx is with fecal or crop cytology revealing large numbers of budding yeasts
The most common viral diseases in psittacine chicks are ?
polyoma virus,
avian bornavirus,
proventricular dilatation disease and circovirus, and
psittacine beak and feather disease
tx for foreignbody body
require an ingluviotomy to gain access to the mucosal surface and lumen of the crop, proventriculus, or ventriculus.
*Removal of a foreign body, such as a feeding tube, is the most common indication for this procedure in pediatric birds.
in this Mild cases may result in red and inflamed skin in the area of the crop.
*
Crop Burns
- Second- and third-degree burns will be acutely inflamed and blistered and may lead to tissue necrosis and fistula formation.
- In subacute cases -food draining from a fistula through the crop wall and skin
tx or Crop Burns
*Surgical repair debriding devitalized tissues, separating the crop wall from overlying skin, and closing the two layers separately
it - occurs from improper hand-feeding technique, either with the syringe tip or a rigid feeding tube.
Esophageal and Pharyngeal Trauma
*leads to tissue trauma, cellulitis, and distribution of food into subcutaneous tissues.
t/f
in neonates than in adult birds, so some degree of hepatomegaly is normal in chicks.
true
Characteristics of neonates with hepatic lipidosis
- usually still being hand fed, often with a commercial formula to which the owners have added peanut butter, oil, or some other high-fat food, and
2) they are usually heavy for their age and exhibit severe respiratory distress.
best first step for hepatic lipidosis
Cool oxygenation
*have virtually no air sac capacity
are the general nutritional changes required for hepatic lipidosis
- addinglactulosetothe formula
- reducing the quantity of crop food per feeding,
- adjusting the content of the formula
- Parenteral fluid supplementation - hyperthermic bird hydrated
CS of Failure to Thrive
Stunted chicks are thin, and the head is disproportionately large.
Toes, wings, and hips are thin; eye and ear openings may be delayed.
The skin may be dry and without adequate subcutaneous fat.
Abnormal feather patterns (swirls) may develop on the head of a stunted chick
is a catch-all for deformities of the legs in young birds?
*are laxities of the ligaments of the stifle and/or angular deformities of the femur, tibiotarsus, and tarsometatarsus
splayleg
*risk factors include nutritional deficiencies and insufficient support or substrate in the enclosure.
TX for Splayleg or Rotational Leg Deformity
- external coaptation - are most successful when the bird is young.
- Placing the chick in a deep enclosure with a suspensory device or cloth that allows leg to be directed vertically
- taping the legs together in a “hobble” may be corrective if implemented early.
develop because of disruption of the cruciate and /or collateral ligaments
- Stifle subluxation
* Surgery (osteotomy and external skeletal fixator) may be used for rotational deformities.
commonly occurs in several birds from the same clutch and is seen most commonly in cockatoos.
- Mandibular prognathism
- correct by pulling the beak upward and out for several minutes, several times a day.
- older chicks -require a prosthetic
- Trans-sinus pinning is a more recent and more reliable method of correction but carries some risk.
is a lateral deviation of the upper or lower beak.
caused by improper incubation temperature or genetic
Scissor beak
*manually placing a counter force on the beak for several minutes 2–3 times daily.
- fairly common in neonates,, affecting more than one digit,
Constricted Toe Syndrome
most common inEclectusparrots and macaws,
usually in chicks housed in environments with inadequate humidity.
tx for Constricted Toe Syndrome
*detected early, debriding the annular band and applying a moist dressing
- more severe cases, small longitudinal incisions on the medial and lateral surfaces of the affected toe to allow for swelling and promote circulation.
- If circulation loss is severe and necrosis is apparent, amputation may be necessary.
usually involves the lateral or fourth toe, which points forward instead of backward.
*Malposition
easily corrected by taping the toe in a normal position.
*In young birds, the foot can be bandaged with the toe pointing backward in the normal position for several days
*Older chicks may need prolonged bandaging.
commonly seen in cockatiels and is often observed in clutch mates
- The condition is usually bilateral.
- The eyelids, if present, are generally normal in conformation but greatly reduced in length, leading to small to nonexistent palpebral fissures
Cryptophthalmia (Eyelid Atresia)
it is performed to Extend the palpebral fissure
conjunctival eversion
the causative agent of a Lockjaw”:
Bordetella avium
- most commonly in cockatiels.
- Prognosis is guarded to grave.
Bacterial invasion of Bordetella avium from the sinuses progresses to
the skeletal muscle of the mandible, resulting in a myositis and “lockjaw
seen most commonly in African grey parrots
*
- Choanal Atresia
* the communication between the nares, infraorbital sinus, and the choana is incomplete or absent
CS of Choanal Atresia
*increased mucus accumulation and infection in the nares and sinuses. Blunted choanal papilla may be detected on oral examination.
dx and tx of Choanal Atresia
- endoscopic exam
- by creating an opening in the choana through the nares with an intramedullary pin.
- red rubber feeding tube is then threaded through the nares, out the choana, and back behind the head of the bird and is left in place for 2–3 wk.
are most common and can lead to systemic disease
GI and respiratory infections
Normal bacterial flora of companion birds includes:
Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, nonhemolyticStreptococcus, Micrococcusspp, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
The most commonly reported pathogens in birds are
gram-negative bacteria
(Klebsiella,Pseudomonas,Aeromonas,Enterobacter,Proteus, andCitrobacterspp,Escherichia coli, andSerratia marcescens).
possible septicemia agents in birds attacked by pet cats or rats.
Pasteurellaspp
common intracellular bacterial pathogens.
MycobacteriumandChlamydia
The most common gram-positive bacterial pathogens are
S.aureus, S.intermedius,Clostridium,Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and otherStaphylococcusspp
*Methicillin-resistantS aureus(MRSA) is rare but has been documented
have been implicated in chronic sinusitis, often found in cockatiels. This organism is difficult to culture, and the true incidence is unknown
Mycoplasmaspp
responsible for several dermatologic conditions in psittacine birds.
Staphylococci and streptococci (especially hemolytic strains) andBacillusspp
are often isolated from lesions of pododermatitis (bumblefoot) in many avian species.
Staphylococci
are common secondary invaders of damaged cloacal tissue in birds with cloacal prolapse or papillomatosis
Clostridial organisms
*A Gram stain or anaerobic culture is necessary to identify these organisms
is used to identify normal flora, yeast, and spore-forming bacteria
A Gram stain
*Culture is needed to identify specific organisms and their sensitivity to antibiotics.
Sample sites for culture and cytology
choanal slit, sinus, cloaca, wounds, conjunctiva, internal organs (via ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates, endoscopic examination, or surgery), and blood
obligate intracellular bacterium) - infect all companion birds but is especially common in cockatiels, budgerigars, and parrots
- Chlamydia psittaci
- Zoonotic
- Incubation period - 3 days to several weeks
organism is excreted in the feces and in nasal and ocular discharge of infected birds
*these organism can remain infectious in organic debris for >1 mo.
Chlamydia psittaci
CS of Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis, Ornithosis)
ocular, nasal, or conjunctival irritation and discharge; anorexia; dyspnea; depression; dehydration; polyuria; biliverdinuria; and diarrhea.
in this dse Clinically ill birds may have a leukocytosis, monocytosis, and increased AST and bile acid concentrations
*hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or air sacculitis.
Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis, Ornithosis)
tx for Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis, Ornithosis)
Doxycycline; treatment for 45 days
- Dietary calcium reduced
- Doxycyclineinjectable - 75–100 mg/kg every 5–7 days for 6 wk
chronic progressive disease affecting the liver and GI tract
Avian Mycobacteriosis
*most commonly infected are brotogeris parakeets and Amazon parrots
CA of Avian Mycobacteriosis
Mycobacterium aviumandM genavense.
Mycobacterium intracellulare,M bovis, andM tuberculosisare less commonly reported
CS of Mycobacteriosis in a cockatiel
showing diffuse swelling of the conjunctiva and eyelids.
Gross lesions of internal organs in psittacines with mycobacteriosis
Liver of a cockatiel -showing moderate diffuse enlargement with multifocal to coalescing yellow e tan foci.
(b) Spleen - showing diffuse and marked enlargement with multifocal to coalescing tan nodules.
(c) Small intestine of a moustached parakeet-showing an irregular mucosa with prominent villi giving a ‘shaggy’ appearance.
(d) Heart of a double yellow- headed Amazon - showing a pale tan-coloured irregular mass at the base of the heart
in Avian Mycobacteriosis dx reveal?
- have a significant leukocytosis with a monocytosis.
* hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Granulomas may occur
DX in Avian Mycobacteriosis
DX: acid-fast staining, culture, and/or DNA probe of a biopsy specimen. Biopsy of the liver, intestines, spleen, or a suspected mass is recommended; however, PCR testing of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of the liver may be diagnostic
Use of multiple antibiotics (typically three) is recommended in this dse?
*Avian Mycobacteriosis
because mycobacterial organisms are prone to developing antibiotic resistance
antibiotics for Avian Mycobacteriosis
*for zoonotic risk, especially in immunocompromised people.
rifabutin(45 mg/kg),
clarithromycin(60–85 mg/kg),
ethambutol(30 mg/kg), and enrofloxacin (20–30 mg/kg). All combinations are used daily
are common in companion birds.they are a secondary infection in an already ill or immunocompromised bird.
Fungal diseases
The most common fungal diseases are:
respiratory tract infections caused byAspergillusspp and
GI tract infections caused byCandidaspp.
is an unusual fungus that affects the GI tract and occurs most commonly in small pet birds (budgerigars, lovebirds, finches, parrotlets, and cockatiels).
Macrorhabdus
a common fungal disease seen in pet birds
Candidiasis
*CA: opportunistic yeastCandida albicans, which commonly affects the GI tract.
the most common isolates Mycotic spp of birds
*found and may be refractory to treatment.
C albicans - affects unweaned chicks.
C tropicalis,C parapsilosis,C glabrata, andHansenulaspp
Candidiasis most commonly affects
unweaned chicks.
Those on broad-spectrum antibiotics are most at risk.
Neonatal cockatiels are considered most susceptible.
Clinical signs of Candidiasis in juvenile birds
include anorexia, crop stasis, white plaques in the oral cavity, regurgitation, and weight loss.
* in adults - mild weight loss, lethargy, and dull plumage