Pet Birds Flashcards
What sex gets the Pearl mutation?
Female
What do you call an interruptuon in feather growth due to stressful events? In what birds are they normal/expected?
Stress bars
Normal in BABY/juvenile birds
How do you treat mites in birds?
Ivermectin
T/F: During molting birds drop feathers randomly.
False, occurs in a pattern
What infectious disease causes poor feathering?
PBFD (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease) [circovirus]
Rare
T/F: During shelling, the full circulating calcium in withdrawn by the uterus every 15 minutes.
True
What drug can you use to treat testicular masses/hyperplasia as well as ovian cysts and tumors?
Leuprolide Acetate (Lupron)
Also for Ferret adrenal disease
What is a bird’s only gland?
Uropygial/ preen gland
How do you treat egg-binding?
First meds: Calcium fluids, heat, pain meds
2nd try sedated extration/ ovocentesis (per cloaca)
Last resort= surgery (hysterectomy)
To prevent more laying give Leuprolide (Lupron)
T/F: All bird lice bite.
True
Sup with this guy?
Retained feather sheaths (maybe he doesn’t have a cage buddy to help him preen)
What does hypovitaminosis A do to the integument?
Causes squamous metaplasia
Hyperkeratosis (beak, feet)
How many oviducts/ovaries do birds have and what’s the location?
One
Left side
T/F: Birds do not have mast cells nor histamine.
True
Over-stimulation of a male bird can cause testicular ______. This can present with pain, lameness and __________.
Hyperplasia
Leg chewing
What is the first step for a bird who is severely self-mutilating to prevent further damage?
Collar / bandage
Is PBFD a disease of young or old birds?
Young
Fatal
Where in the bird does the egg spend the most time?
Shell gland/uterus
What antipsychotic drug can you use in a bird with behavioral issues?
Haloperidol
Works immediatly
Which is male and which is female? What type of bird are these?
Females have patterns on wings (left)
Careful when sexing a juvenile!
Cockatiels
T/F: Most feather pluckers damage feathers and mutilate skin.
False, most do not mutilate skin
What can over-bonding lead to in parrots?
Chronic reproductive stimulation
(Excessive egg laying -> binding, dystocia, yolk peritonitis, hypocalcemia…)
What can a lack of beta carotene cause in red and organge birds?
Loss of feather pigmentation
In small birds, such as budgerigars, cockatiels, and love birds, there is an association between feather plucking and what disease?
Giardia
What is the most important adrenal disease that causes poor feathering?
Hypothyroidism
T/F: Imprinted birds try to pair-bond with their owner, resulting in exaggerated hormonal behaviors.
True
