pt 14 (avian medicine) Flashcards
psittacines
parrots
cockatoos
cockatiels
parakeet
passerines
finches
canaries
lifespan of parrots
75+ years
lifespan of cockatiels
10-15 years
how to sex canaries
males sing and females peep
how to sex budgies
color of cere
other ways to sex a bird
egg laying
DNA
laparoscopy
minimum cage size for a passerine
large enough to permit flying between perches
twice the wingspan or tail length (whichever is longer)
what other items need to be in the cage
bathtub - water dish
perches
what environmental temp is best for most birds
same temp as we tolerate
methods of ID for birds
leg band
wing band
wing clip
tattoo
clean water dish
everyday
recommended diet for pet birds
balanced diet
grain 50%
vegetables 45%
fruit, nuts, dairy 5%
what vitamin is commonly deficient in pet birds diet; 3 foods high in this vitamin
A, D3; celery tops, parsley, spinach, apple
can some species be fed only seed
no
1 disadvantage of feeding pelleted diets
may not be immediately accepted
theory and controversy about adding grit to diet
excess can cause impaction and other GI issues
cuttlebone
calcium source
feather picking
ectoparasites, social isolation, stress
radio, companion, e-collar
how does abscess on bird differ from mammal
cheese-like and surgically debride
bumble foot
by dirty perches and abrasion of the foot
drain, ointment, bandage
clean perches to prevent
cnemidocoptes pilae
scaly face-leg mite
crusty, powdery, lesions on cere eyelids legs and feet
skin scraping diagnosis
oral or injectable ivermectin to treat
another name for budgerigar
parakeet
where do you find the uropygial gland
preen gland infection; paired and has small feathers which act as a wick
do all birds require regular beak trims
no; for infection, trauma, congenital malformation
how to trim beak and know how much to trim off
dermal or nail trimmers and then file; different lengths for each species
tumors are common in which bird
parakeet
normal droppings per day
35-50
color of normal droppings
green, white, and liquid
droppings if the bird has acute enteritis
green
treatment for enteritis
oral antibiotics, soft diet, heat, vitamins, kaopectate
what problems may occur secondary to enteritis
prolapse of cloaca
physiologic emesis
spit seeds and mucous at objects during mating seasons usually
remove objects and change environment
crop impactions
swelling at base of neck
overfeeding or engorging on grit
mineral oil with garage needle
PDD
virus
weight loss, regurgitation, undigested food droppings
no treatment
if one bird dies from PDD should the others be euthanized?
no; just cut off contact from other birds
what fecal tests should be run for parasite exam in a wildlife rehab facility
direct smear for protozoa, floatation, and stain for cryptosporidium
droppings if bird has PU PD
no white in droppings
how is weight/anorexia evaluated; characteristics of underweight birds
evaluate by palpating crop; empty crop; feathers can camouflage weight loss or gain so can’t just look through bars
gout
unknown cause; finding white crystalline material near joints or under the skin. Microscopically looks like needles
zoonotic disease of birds
Psittacosis - Ornithosis
signs of respiratory disease
depressed and listless, eyes closed, ruffled feathers, mouth breathing, tail bobbing
imported birds must be treated with what before entering the US to prevent them from transmitting what disease?
chlortetracycline
ovarian dysfunction
Nest building, emesis of “crop milk” and egg laying - continuation of egg laying
egg binding
(soft or misshapen egg) Most seen in smaller birds - passerines; Bird sits on the cage bottom with legs spread; palpable swelling; and respiratory distress
how soon does the owner of an egg bound bird need to be seen by a vet
can die within a couple of hours in not treated
what factors contribute to the development of egg binding
Calcium/vit D deficiency, trauma, obesity, lack of nesting site
how are fractures treated
- Tape wing to the body for 2-3 weeks.
- Fractured leg small birds: taped
- Larger birds, intra-medullary pins may be used
what should you do to a bird with respiratory distress until the vet can see it
oxygen cage, warmth, dim light, give space
feathers of a healthy bird vs sick
nicely preened and sleek feathers close to the body vs. ruffled and puffed up feathers
posture of normal bird
erect position on perch, weight evenly distributed, wing tips crossed over the back, tail feathers in a straight line in the back
why should you be careful not to get the ointment you are putting on a birds leg on its feathers
it will spread and destroy the insulative properties of feathers
tail bobbing could indicate what problem
respiratory disease
is it important to get a sick bird to eat?
it is important to monitor how much and what is being eaten; they can starve quickly and eating can help build strength to fight illness
5 signs of illness in a bird
unkept feathers, drooping posture/unsteadiness, decreased activity level, beak overgrowth, tail bobbing, not eating
5 things you should look for while examining bird in its cage
balance
feathers
lameness
