Poultry & Aviary Birds Flashcards

Question

What is urolithiasis? Consequences? Usually affects? Cause?

Answer 1

\* Obstruction of one or both ureters by uroliths \* Often leads to atrophy of kidney, subsequent hypertrophy of unaffected kidney, and renal and/or visceral gout if both kidneys compromised \* Usually seen in adult laying hens but also occasionally in younger birds \* Cause is unknown but Infectious Bronchitis Virus is suspect, Excess dietary Ca and mycotoxicosis

Answer 2

\* Infectious bronchitis virus- some strains are more nephrotropic than others \* Infectious bursal disease \* Avian nephritis virus (astrovirus- enterovirus)-- associated with nephrosis and visceral gout, lesions include degeneration/ necrosis of tubular epithelium, heterophils, and lymphocyte infiltration, interstitial nephritis and fibrosis \* Polyomaviruses in budgies- causes inclusion bodies (e.g. proteins typically represent sites of viral multiplication) in glomeruli and/or epithelial cells lining convoluted tubules

Answer 3

\* Septicaemic diseases that localize in the kidneys \* Ascending infections of the ureter- pyelonephritis- cage layer hens (trauma to cloaca due to vent pecking) \* extension from abdominal air sac disease- fungal nephritins

Answer 4

\* renal cocciodiosis in geese and little penguins \* Short-tailed shearwater (mutton birds)-- limey disease- causes focal pale areas in kidneys due to urate retention

Answer 5

\* Flukes within ureter such as Renicola spp or within renal veins e.g. Schistosome (Austrobilhazia spp etc) causing granulomatous inflammation of ureter (ureteritis), possibly leading to obstruction

Answer 6

Adenocarcinoma middle aged to older budgerigars (3-4 years old or more)--\> pressure on sciatic nerve plexus--\> paresis/ paralysis

Answer 7

Most species left ovary and left oviduct are active, right ovary and oviduct are vestigial

Answer 8

\* Environmental factors \* Exposure to light- increasing photoperiod, minimum photoperiod below which ovary is inactive \* Moisture, nest availability, etc. \* Blood Ca level-- higher during active egg production, reduction below level will result in ovarian inactivity

Answer 9

\* Seasonal during winter \* Or adverse conditions such as nutritional stress or disease stress

Answer 10

\* rupture of the yolk follicle--\> "yolk peritonitis" \* relatively bland condition unless yolk is contaminated with infectious agent OR if free yolk grow microorganisms over time \* if so can cause peritonitis \*\* worst case yolk embolism leading to brain infarction

Answer 11

\* Ovules released from ovary that fail to be inducted into oviduct \* can be free within the peritoneal cavity without problem.... or can be caseous adherent to peritoneum causing peritonitis-- more severe inflammation

Answer 12

\* shelled or non-shelled occasionally found free within the peritoneal cavity implying rupture in oviduct-- may be associated with obstruction of oviduct \* Egg peritonitis can result from severe salpingitis

Answer 13

\* Usually caused by bacterial infection of ovary, localization in ovary from septicaemia e.g. from Salmonella pullorum, S. enteritidis, Pasteurella multocida

Answer 14

\* Ovarian adenocarcinomas- metastasize, invade peritoneal lymphatics--\> blockage--\> ascites--\> distended abdomen. \* Oviductal adenocarcinoma \* Lymphosarcomatous neoplasms or oviductal adenocarcinomas that metastasized to ovary \* Marek's disease \* Lymphoid leucosis

Answer 15

\* often caused by Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV)

Answer 16

\* effects epithelium of oviduct and result in abnormalities of albumen, internal egg quality, eggshell thickness/ quality, pigmentation or lack of \* Causes: nutrition e.g. inadequate Ca, Toxic effects e.g. chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, IBV

Answer 17

\* Caused by EDS viruses, haemagglutinating adenovirus, IBV, Newcastle disease virus, heat stress (common in AUS), acute toxicities e.g. sulphonamides \* Viruses commonly associated with waterfowl \* Transmission: vertical, lateral between flocks, spread from ducks/geese (domestic or wild) or via drinking water contamination by such birds \* Signs: loss of egg shell strength/ pigmentation, slightly depressed 1-2 days, protective antibody but flock without previous antibody sudden fall in production

Answer 18

\* Display, insulation, waterproofing, protection, sensory function, flight

Answer 19

Injections or procedures, must stay away from them

Answer 20

\* Natural - cyclic (annual or biennial) - continuous \*\* all dependent on species (e.g. Penguins lose them all at once and stay in the nest for a long period of time) \* Induced-- when they regrow their feathers which takes a month-- can use the same beds

Answer 21

Transmission: vertical and horizontal \* Treatment: destroy the flock \* Diagnosis: histopath (biopsy with feather follicle in formalin) or PCR (PICK UP THE NEWER STUMPY FEATHERS)

Answer 22

Ivermectin on the skin-- be careful not to overdo it as it can be fatal + remedicate in 2-3 weeks time (could also use Malathion wash/ dip)

Answer 23

\* dermatitis, anaemia, transmission of blood-borne pathogens

Answer 24

Euthanasia and necropsy \* Bacterial colonies seen with histopath, as well as inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm \*\* Treatment: vaccination + antibiotics

Answer 25

\* normal/ seasonal loss of feathers \* congenital defect \* nutritional \* feather picking \* infectious

Answer 26

\* Skin is thinner \* Dermis is looser \* No sweat glands \* Not as vascularized \* No sensory organs

Answer 27

\* Dermis is extensive \* Epidermis is very thin

Answer 28

Highly cornified

Answer 29

Contour feather \* Vane of the feather \* Barbs and barbules important for flight

Answer 30

Clubbed down- a condition in chickens suffering from a nutritional deficiency of riboflavin: the erupting feathers do not rupture the feather sheaths properly, causing the feathers to have a coiled structure.

Answer 31

Feather cysts- subcutaneous accumulations composed of keratin \* Congenital defect

Answer 32

\* Pruritis \* Systemic disease \* Boredom (95% of the time) \* Psychosis - sexual frustration - change of environment \* Overcrowding (especially chickens) \* Light intensity \* Nutritional (protein, sodium, (multi-vitamin))

Answer 33

Inclusion bodies in the inclusion layers in the feather follicles + inflammatory cells \* Circovirus (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease) \* Cockatoos and Princess Parrots are very susceptible \* skin is dark

Answer 34

\* Unable to perch or fly DDX PBFD

Answer 35

Budgerigar Fledgling Disease

Answer 36

Budgerigar Fledging Disease

Answer 37

Budgerigar Fledging Disease inclusion bodies, large and pale

Answer 38

Viraemic-- so secretions Control: - hygiene, quarantine and testing, isolation, vaccination (N. America, not in AUS)

Answer 39

Pox virus- though you can see viral dermatitis in other viral diseases

Answer 40

Viral nodules

Answer 41

Pox virus-- with secondary bacterial infection Tx with antibiotics as well Clavulonic Acid to kill staph as well

Answer 42

Inclusion body- pox virus

Answer 43

Parrot Pox not in Australia (at least rare)

Answer 44

Sheds from infected skin (nodules are full of virus- inclusion bodies) \* BUT Cannot penetrate intact skin therefore you need some physical trauma therefore disease happens in the warmer part of the year because of insects \* Minimum cross species transmission except pigeon pox--\> chickens \*\* Treatment: antibiotics and vaccination

Answer 45

Staph bacterial infection

Answer 46

Blue Wing Disease (smell) Circovirus + Clostridium + Staph Septicaemic, die quickly

Answer 47

Mites- parasitic dermatitis- often Knemido- coptic

Answer 48

Mites- tasselfoot

Answer 49

Mites- scaly face + often causes overgrowth of the beak

Answer 50

Mites from a bird

Answer 51

Scrape close to the dermis until you see oozing-- the mites are close to the dermis \*\* oil first and then the scraping

Answer 52

Dermanyssus

Answer 53

Northern Fowl Mite (Ornithonyssus sylvarium)

Answer 54

Argas persicus

Answer 55

Lice, lay a lot of eggs-- not normally very harmful however

Answer 56

• Recommended formularies and dose rates • Pediatrics and aviculture 1.Handling/clinical exam/class of bird/wing clip and nail clip 1. ASSESSMENT OF THE SICK BIRD RECOGNITION OF SIGNS OF ILLNESS It often appears that birds die suddenly from their illnesses, however, in many cases this is not true. Usually it is a failure of recognition that there is a problem until it is advanced. Birds have a strong natural instinct to disguise illness (most species of birds are flight, fright prey species). In the wild, it is safer for a bird to look the same as the rest of the flock. Showing signs of illness (e.g. weakness) will make them a target for predation. However there are plenty of signs that can be seen early in the disease process for the vigilant owner or the experienced vet. This is a good reason for regular examinations. What do we look for?? A bird MAY be ailing if:- (a) The feathers are fluffed up, the head is drawn into the body or tucked under a wing. This is the classical sick bird look and the bird may have been sick for a considerable amount of time before this stage is reached. (b)It is inactive; i.e. not climbing or flying around the aviary or cage and not preening itself, or changes it's usual perching position. (c) It is not calling or responding to its mates calls. (d) The eyes have a tendency to close and do not open to a full round eye (looks sleepy). e. Movements of the head are slow. f. Appearance is not symmetrical, or posture is unusual. (g) It frequents the ground in the aviary or the bottom of the cage. (h) Breathing movements are noticeable or audible. Bobbing of the tail is a guide to respiration but varies from bird to bird. (i) The vent is soiled, (dirty bottom) ! 3 (j) If there is any discharge from the nostrils at all . (k) If a singing bird stops singing or has a change in voice. (1) It is not regularly eating or not passing normal droppings regularly over the day. (m) Excessive stretching of wings, and legs or shivering. (n) The body weight of the bird is declining. A sleeping bird may have some of these signs but a sleeping bird - a. Is found mostly in the late morning, noon or early afternoon. b. Will often be perching on one leg. c. Will wake to a slight sound and maybe stretch a wing and/or leg. Adduct it's shoulders and fly off, afterwards assuming a sleek appearance

Answer 57

Put it in a warm, dark spot in the clinic

Answer 58

Does not use gloves unless handling birds of prey Like to get the birds out of the cage themselves Using towels and tea towels Do not hold chest tight because you'll compress air sacs needed to push air into the lungs Basic Handling Tips Useful equipment – towels (suitable size and thickness, I find tea towels really useful to use especially with small birds, upto Galah size). Avoid using gloves, they will significantly reduce your ability to properly hold and examine the bird and will result in a higher incidence of deaths as a result of reduced digital sensitivity. Nets can be useful if you have a wild escapee. Important things to remember - Parrot beaks hurt so have control of the head first. - Birds of prey can cause incredible damage with their feet. - pigeons need support of the body. - Chickens/fowl, control the wings and support the body - Swans are really good at pecking at eyes, so control the head. - Rough handling of a tame bird can cause significant trust issues with future handling not only at the vets but also with the owner. ! 4 -If you are seeing experienced breeders it may be better to get them to handle their birds, most pet owners however don’t know how to handle their birds and they often end up flying around the room for 10 minutes before you can get hold of them. It’s a good idea to explain to an owner how you are going to handle the bird and how this minimizes the stress to the bird. -Try to cause minimal stress, often birds need time to settle so get history and do observations first. Remove excess cage furniture to make things easier for you and the bird. -Have everything you need ready and handle the bird for as little time as possible to reduce stress especially if it is a sick bird

Answer 59

• History taking - It is important to have a working knowledge of commonly kept species. This is not only useful in gain client trust but can be helpful in offering possible differentials of disease and treatment plans. Some species are more prone to certain diseases and some have specific husbandry requirements. - Sometimes it is helpful to have clients fill out questionnaires before their initial consultation. This can tell you a lot of basic information with out taking up to much consultation time. - Often a bird is stressed from the car ride into the clinic and may also be stressed from the waiting room, so consultation should always start with history taking and observation before there is any attempt to touch the bird. - Check list for history taking includes • age, not all owners know the age of their birds, the age can be confirmed if the bird has a ring • details of why the bird was bought in • information about diet – ask about every aspect of the diet. • how the bird is kept, is it an aviary bird? Has it been hand reared and how? Is it a breeding bird? • what is the birds daily routine? • what environment factors may be significant. • Is the bird in contact with other birds • Previous medical history – previous tests etc may be helpful. • Detailed history of husbandry, some diseases can be corrected by simply improving the husbandry. In the past 10 years there has been a great increase in knowledge of how to keep birds. It may make a considerable difference to the recovery to improve husbandry – cage location, sleep at night, available perches, toys to play with, branches to chew, access to UV light, what is the substrate at the bottom of the cage? • Client history forms – (see appendix) • Examination of cage and environment - Always encourage owners to bring in the cage as is (uncleaned) with the bird. This could provide essential clues as to why the bird is sick and what is causing the problem as well as clues as to the owners ! 5 understanding on husbandry care of the bird. Birds often become sick due to being kept in an inappropriate environment, very rarely will a client come in who you can’t teach better husbandry care for their pet.

Answer 60

\* Observing bird in the cage to look for abnormalities in behaviour, movement, body shape, respiratory depth and rate, birds response and reaction to the environment \*Give them some time to relax and adjust to the consult room \* beware of handling sick birds-- towel \* dim the light, make sure door and windows are closed

Answer 61

\* Body temperature for small finches/ canaries have a normal body temperature above 41 degrees C, normal heart rates of more than 500 beats/ minute, and breath normally 80-120 times/ minutes. \* Avoidance of stress is vital for recovery \* Warmth-- 30-35 degrees C for smaller birds, larger ones e.g. Cockatoos slightly lower temperatures (hot hair blower fan will seldom be satisfactory du to air movement-- cardboard box and a covered or red globe (100W)-- with a thermometer to ensure correct temp. Thermostat is better. Over 6-7 days the temperature may be reduced gradually. \* Darkness \* top quality food and water- seed, grass, cuttle fish, thistle, seeding grassed.. place near sick bird e.g. remove perches and put food or water on the floor \*Isolation- esp separated and separate food and water containers \* Monitor droppings-- keep a written record-- number of droppings, consistency \* Remove grit from bird's cage-- depraved appetite end up engorging themselves on grit resulting in impact of the gizzard and proventriculus. Grit, unlike minerals do not dissolve in the GI tract \* Exercise- playing and free flying should be avoided until full recovery-- avoid bathing

Answer 62

Used for crop feeding

Answer 63

Keeping the beak open for example, throat swab for Chlamydia

Answer 64

• Unique bird anatomy. - respiratory system, no diaphragm, air sac system (9 air sacs in most birds), tubular lung tissueattached to ribs and rigid tracheal rings. - integument – thin skin (10 cell layers) covered with feathers used for flight, temperature regulation, protection and display. - large keel bone resulting in a small abdominal area. - Skeleton – medulla-cortex ratio, pneumatic bones and no teeth. - Digestive system – crop, proventriculus and gizzard (with back and forward movement of food) and cloaca - Urogential system - Internal gonads and egg layers with 1 developed uterine horn. Kidneys attached to the backbone and pelvis, main waste product is uric acid and no bladder. - The anatomical and physiological difference between birds and mammals holds the key to understanding disease processors, how one might expect a disease to present itself and the best way to approach and diagnosis and treatments. A full knowledge of the differences can also help us realize that we can’t treat birds like little cats or dogs avian medicine is a specialty of its own.

Answer 65

\* All 10 on both sides to keep balance so they dont' injure themselves if they do fly (if you clipped one side) Just primary flight feathers

Answer 66

\* Isoflurance- rapid induction and recovery- safe and almost entirely excreted by the resp system. Induction at 3-5% via a face mask and a high flow rate 1-2 L/min... maint at 1.5-3%. \* O2 flow rates about 150-200 ml/kg/min \* injectable unfavorable compared to inhalation anaesthetics especially in small species but may be needed in large species e.g. Ostrich... ducks and geese and other diving birds have a breath holding mechanism which can make inhalation anaesthetics tricky

Answer 67

\* Manual restraint with protection \* taping conscious bird to film or cassette. Elastoplast is effective but will damage feathers more on removal and may reduce detail. \* Do not tape across the chest. \* can also tape a bird to a Clear plastic sheet placed over the film-- but may not be possible without anaesthetic \*\* Specific bird restraints made with plastic flexiboard and special guillotine neck restraint \* If high GA risk or a piece of info like presence of an egg or pellet can place the bird in a cone of cardboard, paper roll, or piece of stocking (which the bird will often stay still in the dark environment of the bag) OR standing on a perch if the bird will stay still

Answer 68

Sciatic nerve runs through the kidneys-- disease causing swelling in the kidneys puts pressure on the sciatic nerve which can cause lameness

Answer 69

Hour glass appearance-- all fit in imaginary parallel lines between the shoulder and hip-- anythign outside of that swelling internally e.g. liver or tumour, etc \* air sacs, birds are full of air-- look for haziness or changes-- air sac disease

Answer 70

Loops of the trachea

Answer 71

Ovaries and follicles

Answer 72

huge testicles

Answer 73

Budgie with an egg

Answer 74

Poor nutrition, poor diets, low Ca

Answer 75

Distance across largest part of the heart, distance across largest part of the chest If heart is \> 60% of the distance across the chest, you are likely to have heart disease

Answer 76

Metal poisoning-- but have to consider is it just stones and grit or actually metal poisoning?

Answer 77

More for highlighting internal changes-- really small birds because hard to differentiate between organs-- where the liver starts and finishes.

Answer 78

Contrast radiography confirming a hernia in a duck because there are many reasons a mass could be there

Answer 79

U/S not that useful in birds because of their air sacs-- e.g. RG and see ground glass only-- then U/S could be helpful to determine is it fluid? Solid?

Answer 80

Right jugular

Answer 81

Basic: TP, Uric acid, AST, glucose, haematology, PCV, WCC and blood film Liver- AST, GLDH, LDH, ALT (not helpful in birds), bile acids, CK (helps to distinguish if AST is liver or not) Kidney- Uric acid, urea- dehydration, crea (not helpful in avian medicine) GI- Amylase and Lipase, electrolyte changes, CK, AST and LDH Bloood glucose

Answer 82

Bird is not going to survive

Answer 83

e.g. 40-50 g budgie Can take maximum of 10% of circulating blood volume. That is 1% of their body weight... but in a sick bird you dont' want to take that full amount.

Answer 84

Biliverdin = Psittacosis (not always but commonly) \*\* Seeds on top of poo or mixed in the poo- are the seeds landing on top of the poo or is there possible maldigestion

Answer 85

Excess urine-- reabsorb water really quickly in health some are designed to live in the desert

Answer 86

Rotation of tibiotarsus- what causes this? Is it congenital? Two birds come from different genetic pools, so unlikely Nutrition- too normal of a diet so unlikely TWISTED LEG SYNDROME from textbooks-- outward or inward deviation of the leg bilateral or unilateral, can occur in any species of bird. Sometimes causes by angular deformities. Dyschondroplasia?? Formation of avascular aplasia in the bone ends-- couldn't find evidence

Answer 87

Dyschondroplasia?? Formation of avascular aplasia in the bone ends-- couldn't find evidence

Answer 88

Rickets- Failure of mineralisation Causes: - Vit D def - Ca def - Phosphorous def Ca/P imbalance

Answer 89

Osteoporosis "cage layer fatigue" Signs: \* fractures and callus formations, lameness, paralysis, poor egg shell, deviated sternum Causes: \* Low dietary Ca: laying ration, growing ration... \* Low dietary vit D \* Low dietary Phosphorous \* Lack of exercise

Answer 90

e.g. captive eagle fed only meat

Answer 91

Osteomyelitis

Answer 92

\* Viral \* Gout- renal failure, idiopathic--\> dietary?

Answer 93

\* Tenosynovitis \* Ruptured tendon syndrome Causes: - tenosynovitis - tendon structure - nutritional factors - spontaneous - Management-- increasing feeding space, decreasing density

Answer 94

Medullary bone-- in a chicken, the femur does this job \* Some don't have marrow- helps make them lighter (pneumatic bones)

Answer 95

Acute sinusitis

Answer 96

Birds do not have to drill into any bone

Answer 97

Infectious bronchitis

Answer 98

RT- PCR Serology- ELISA

Answer 99

Biosecurity Vaccination-- the right strain

Answer 100

Gallinaceous birds- includes turkey, grouse, chicken, New World quail and Old World quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, junglefowl and the Cracidae

Answer 101

\* Velogenic (classical ND) \* Mesogenic \* Lentogenic

Answer 102

Chlamydiosis

Answer 103

1 mL (20 drops) per 100 mL of drinking water

Answer 104

Normal behaviour - Most species of parrot are only 1 or 2 generations from wild state except for a few domesticated species (eg budgie, cockatiel, lovebird and ringnecks) which means many birds maintain their wild tendencies but lack the stimuli and training for full social development. - Natural bird behaviour can be divided up into three to four key areas. • In the non breeding season a bird spend their time in social interaction, foraging and maintenance behaviour • During breeding season they continue the 3 key behaviours but they are heavily influenced by reproductive behaviours. During breeding season birds that may normally flock may divide in pairs, will remain close to the nest site becoming aggressive of intruders and spending much time in sexual interaction with their mate. Most of the features in a captivity life style is more conducive to a breeding arrangement than normal social template.

Answer 105

Avoid sexual behaviours such as nose rubbing excessive petting and grooming, allowing the bird to groom the owner and do sexual acts on the owner. Randy Lorries will hump anything during the breeding season, they especially love the little soft toys owners seem to like to give them (so thought needs to be given to the types of toys people buy).

Answer 106

\* Lipomas will often regress over time or respond to increased exercise and dietary modification

Answer 107

\* Fine monofilament nylon or PDS \* Haemoclips for BVs \* Electrocaurtery essential for minimal haemorrhage and trauma \* Heat during surgery (heat pad)

Answer 108

Minimal feather pluck-- never flight feathers, avoid excessive wetting and using a lot of alcoholic tincture

Answer 109

\* Wounds and injuries: thin skin-- decision on primary v. secondary healing needs to be considered; e-collars may be necessary but can do more harm than good \* Lumps and bumps- lipomas are common-- nutritional manipulation before surgery; xanthomas-- lumps where there has been trauma or haemorrhage, intradermal deposits of cholesterol clefts with an associated inflammatory reaction, can be highly vascular and invasive (similar to lipomas) \* Treatment of crop burns- hand fed parrots fed hot feeds-- signs are delayed crop emptying or a wet skin patch over the crop that can lead to necrosis and fistula formation-- surgery should be delayed until the extent of necrosis is IDed (4-5 days)-- double inversion suture pattern 4/0-6/0 \* Laparotomy- impossible without opening up caudal air sacs, will have an effect on heat loss and anesthetic absorption-- left lateral approach for gonads, left kidney, oviduct, C-section, proventriculotomy and yolk sacculectomy \* Surgical sexing and endoscopy-- intestines must be empty as can be difficult to see internal organs with full intestines in laproscopy. Parrots weighing more than 200 gm require fasting for 12 hours-- ill birds should be starved for lesser periods.

Answer 110

Oral fluids in birds