Pet Birds COPY

Question 1

Topic: Pet Bird Toxicities

Describe the toxic principles for each of the following:
1. Chicken
2. Cheese
3. Avocado
4. Blueberries
5. Hot Peppers

Answer 1

A toxin, known as persin, is a phytochemical found in the Guatemalan type of avocado which causes myocardial necrosis in the budgerigar, parrot and possibly other pet bird species.

Blueberries and peppers (even “hot” peppers) are not toxic to psittacines.

Chicken and cheese are high in fats and are not appropriate to feed parrots, but there is no toxicity associated with them.

Question 2

A cockatiel presents with a large yellow-orange mass on the tip of its wing and also on its breast. You perform a fine needle aspirate and cytology reveals macrophagic inflammation with multi-nucleated giant cells and cholesterol clefts. What is your diagnosis? What is the etiology? What species are most commonly affected?

Answer 2

A xanthoma is a benign growth composed of lipids and cholesterol accumulations and is most prevalent in cockatiels, budgies and cockatoos. They are typically non-aggressive, but at times can become locally invasive causing irritation and self-mutilation of the site. The etiology is unknown but a high fat diet and inactivity may contribute.

Question 3

Topic: Aspergillosis

1. Name the etiologic agent.
2. What species are commonly affected?
3. How is it transmitted?
4. What are the clinical signs?
5. How is it diagnosed?
6. How is it treated?

Answer 3

1. his is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.
2. It is common among raptors, penguins, and waterfowl but not psittacines except under poor husbandry, stress, or immunodeficiency.
3. Transmission is by inhalation of spores.
4. There may be a history of respiratory signs (acute or chronic).
5. A. Post-mortem: Fungal plaques on the air sacs and thickening of the air sacs.
   B. Antemortem diagnosis can be made by transtracheal wash with culture and cytology.
6. Treatment is with antifungals such as amphotericin B or -azole antifungal agents.

Question 4

Why is ultrasounding birds typically unrewarding?

Answer 4

Ultrasounding birds is unrewarding due to their air sacs which do not allow visualization of coelomic structures.

Question 5

Topic: Derm

1. Define a feather cyst. Where are they commonly found?
2. Describe the pathogenesis.
3. How is it treated?

Answer 5

Feather cysts are the avian equivalent of an ingrown hair. A growing feather is unable to protrude through the skin and curls within the follicle. Since feathers are much larger than hairs, cysts can be quite large and painful. They commonly are found in the primary feathers of the wing. The cysts contain keratinized feather material that can be expressed or excised but commonly recur. Treatment of choice is surgical removal of the involved feather follicle.

Question 6

Topic: Feather Picking

1. List the causes of feather picking.

Answer 6

1. BPA Is Infectious 2 Endocrine Systems

B - Behavior
P - Pain response (arthritis, growing feather, feather cyst; pain is localized in these cases)
A - Aggression from conspecifics (e.g. breeding season)

I - Improper husbandry (diet lacking essential FAs, low humidity)
I - Infectious (Dermatitis, hypersensitivity reactions, parasites, psittacine beak and feather disease)
E - Hypothyroidism (ACTH stim to diagnose)

Question 7

Topic: Egg binding

Answer 7

Egg binding = failure of egg to pass through oviduct at a normal rate
* Dystocia = egg causing obstruction
* Common dystocia locations
◦ Caudal uterus
◦ Vagina
◦ Junction of vagina and cloaca
* Predisposing factors
* Multifactorial:
- Muscle dysfunction, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, infection, systemic disease, damage to the uterus from previous egg, malformed egg

C/S: depression, lethargy, unwillingness to fly, wide based stance, straining, fluffed at botom of enclosure, tail bob

dx: PE, diagnostic imaging

Treatment
1. Correct metabolic disturbances
A. Stabilize patient
B. Fluid therapy
a. +/- Antibiotic therapy
C. Keep prolapsed tissue lubricated
2. Egg removal
A. Warm, humid, quiet environment
B. Calcium supplementation
C. Oxytocin
D. Prostaglandin (Lutylase, PGE2 Propodyl gel, Misoprostol)
E. Manual manipulation
a. Ovocentesis
F. If all else fails –> Salpingotomy or Salpingohysterectomy

Question 8

Topic: Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease

1. What is the signalment & etiology?
2. What are the c/s?
3. How is this diagnosed?
4. How is this treated?
5. What is the prognosis?
6. How is it transmitted?

Answer 8

1. Psittacines, esp. cockatoo; Circovirus
2. A. Progressive feather loss (down feathers first, then flight and
   contour feathers)
   B. Beak necrosis with chronicity
   C. Immune suppression
3. PCR on blood/ feces/ swabs/ feathers
4. None, supportive care
5. Poor; usually progressive and fatal; Circovirus infects pulp of new, growing feathers
6. Vertical and horizontal transmission

Question 9

Topic: Proventricular Dilatation Disease

1. What is the etiology and signalment?
2. What are the c/s?
3. How is this diagnosed?
4. How is this treated?
5. What is the prognosis?
6. How is it transmitted?

Answer 9

1. Bornavirus;Any psittacine species, rare in small species
2. Birds can be asymptomatic for years
   A. Progressive loss of weight and condition
   B. Pass undigested food/seeds in feces
   C. Regurgitation common +/- diarrhea, secondary infections
3. A. Live bird: Radiology, fluoroscopy, crop biopsy
   B. Dead bird:Necropsy reveals enlarged proventriculus,
   lymphoid infiltrates in GI nerve ganglia
4. Provide easily digestible food, Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), Isolation/biosecurity
5. Prognosis poor for those with clinical signs
6. Fecal-oral transmission; Causes lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates around autonomic nerve ganglia in the walls of GI tract, especially proventriculus and crop, +/- brain –> paralysis and dilation of the proventriculus and maldigestion