Quiz 1 Flashcards
In which order of birds are bodies of water an essential husbandry requirement?
Anseriformes, all members of this order have webbed feet and short legs
Which order of birds feed crop milk to infants?
Columbiformes
Why are dirt floors not recommended for aviaries?
- Accumulate parasites
- Harbour pathogenic bacteria (coccidia)
- Facilitate vermin entry
What are two alternatives to dirt floors?
Concrete or shell grit.
What must be considered when using wire in aviaries?
Birds can peck off lead or zinc and develop heavy metal toxicities. Electro-freeze wire to avoid this from occurring.
What are the safest types of doors to use on bird cages?
Doors which open to the side or draw bridge style doors.
What are the risks associated with using rope perches?
Frayed bits of rope can strangle toes or cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed.
What are some bird friendly disinfectants for cage cleaning?
- Hot water
- 1 in 20 white vinegar
- Avisafe
- F10
From the notes, which species of bird is most prone to Beak and Feather Disease?
Cockatoos
Why might it be difficult to spot a diseased bird?
Most pet birds are natural prey, therefore, they are very good at hiding signs of disease as a defence mechanism
What are some key points to consider when designing a quarantine facility and protocol?
- Must be at least 10m from the main aviary
- Seperate set of utensils
- Attend to quarantine facility after the main aviary
- Feed should mimic what is fed in the main aviary
- Six week quarantine duration is ideal
What is psittacosis?
A zoonotic bacterial disease
What is a commonly used mite treatment?
Ivomectin
Name a species of bird that can live up to 80 plus years?
Cockatoos (not to be mistaken for cockatiels)
What diet should I feed my pet budgie?
Fresh veggies and a good seed mix or pellet. Avoid strictly seed diets as they tend to cause obesity.
What is one reason why there is such a high range husbandry requirements between bird species?
Varying degrees of domestication, with some birds still carrying wild type genetics.
Approximately what percentage of households in Australia own a pet?
62%
What is the most common reason why pet owners have pets?
Companionship
What are the benefits of spaying female dogs?
- Prevention of pregnancy
- Prevention of pyometra
- Reduced risk of mammary tumours
What is Pyometra?
A bacterial infection of the uterus, involving the uterus filling with pus
What is the difference between a menacing and dangerous dog?
Dogs are declared Menacing due to causing non-serious injuries, dogs are declared dangerous after causing serious injuries or death.
How do most dog owners acquire their dogs?
Through breeders (36%)
How do most cat owners square their cats?
Through shelters (25%)
What is something the government has done to reduce incidents of dog bites?
Release the dangerous dog legislation as part of the Domestic Animals Act 1994
What are the three main aims of infectious disease control programs?
- Minimise host susceptibility (e.g. nutrition)
- Optimise animals ability to resist disease (e.g. vaccinations)
- Decrease likelihood of exposure to problem pathogens
What are some general ways to minimise host susceptibility to disease
- Optimise nutrition
- Avoid overcrowding (limit stress)
- Pain management
What are some general ways to minimise pathogen exposure in kennels and shelters?
- Facility design (quarantine animals at least 10m away from main housing, seperate dogs and cats)
- Clear protocols (no cross contamination of equipment)
- Good staff training (staff must understand the importance of biosecurity)
What are some of the obligations of dog owners in Victoria?
- Microchipped
- Registered with local council
- Follow local laws on desexing
- Confined to property
- No persistant barking
What would happen if you decided to call the council about a cat roaming on your property (aka. If you were a dick)?
You would be asked to contain the cat, the council would then return the cat to the owner after payment of a release fee and advise them of the nuisance
What is Brachycephalic syndrome?
A combination of anatomical features which make it very difficult for the animals to breath
What is skin fold pyoderma?
Skin folds retain moisture and have poor oxygen supply, making it an ideal site for bacterial infection (pyoderma)
What are some species which are susceptible to skin fold pyoderma?
Breeds with loose skin folds, such as Pugs and Shar peis
What is a genetically inherited disease commonly associated with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and how does it usually present itself?
Mitral valve disease, usually presenting as a heart murmur
What is a genetically inherited disease commonly associated with Dobermans?
Von Willebrands Disease, involving abnormalities in blood clotting
List 5 central welfare needs of companion animals?
- Environment (suitable safe place to live)
- Diet (appropriate quantity of a diet suitable for their age and health)
- Exercise (appropriate quantity and type for breed, health and stage of life)
- Behaviour (the chance to express normal behaviour patterns)
- Health care (preventative and treatment of illness)
What are the three components of the core vaccine for dogs?
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine adenovirus (hepatitis)
- Canine distemper virus
What is are the two components which are added to C3 vaccines to make the C5 vaccine? What is the common name of the disease they prevent?
- Parainfluenza virus
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
Kennel cough
What are four aspects to consider when designing a vaccine protocol?
- Period of maternal immunity
- Duration of immunity
- Effectiveness of vaccine
- Prevalence of the disease in the community
Why is the period of maternal immunity an important factor to consider when designing a vaccine protocol?
Animals acquire antibodies from their mother through colostrum. If these antibodies are present in high quantities when vaccinations are initially administered they will interfere with the immunisation, rendering the vaccine ineffective
What type of intestinal worm is most important to consider with regard to very young puppies and kittens?
Roundworms, as they can transmitted in utero and in milk
Why is it so important to worm regularly?
Worming treats rather than prevents infection, so they must be wormed regularly
What is the most effective drug against tapeworms?
Praziquantel
Why is Heartworm more common in northern, rather than southern Australia?
Heartworm is transmitted from host to host by mosquitos, the environment for mosquitos is more suitable further north
Give an example of one zoonotic intestinal worm
Tapeworm causing hydatid disease, involving dogs eating offal of infected sheep and humans ingesting eggs which reside in dog faeces, usually children are the ones infected
Of the three types of ticks found in Victoria, which one is the most significant to Vets?
Paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus), because it has the most severe clinical implications.
What are some signs indicating a bitch is on heat?
- Vulval swelling and discharge
- Behavioural changes
- Increase frequency of urination
What are some benefits of castration?
- Prevention of testicular tumours
- Decrease in prostate and perianal tumours
- Decrease in aggression and roaming
What is cryptorchid?
When the testes fail to descend into the scrotum.
What is one way councils are promoting the desexing of animals?
Lower registration fees for all desexed animals
What is hybrid vigour?
Reduction of disease prevalence due to crossing breeds
What defect are cats with non-pigmented ears and noses more prone to?
Auricular and nasal tumours (squamous cell carcinomas)
What is the defect commonly associated with white cats with blue eyes?
Deafness
What is the defect commonly associated with calico and tortoiseshell males?
Sterility
Why can’t you have a vegetarian cat?
Cats are obligate carnivores, lacking the ability to synthesise the amino acid taurine
What are the three components of the core vaccine for cats?
- Feline parvovirus
- Feline herpes virus 1
- Feline calicivirus
What are the three non-core vaccines commonly used in Australia?
- Feline chlamydia
- Feline leukaemia virus
- Feline Immunodeficiency virus
Is heart worm more commonly seen in cats or dogs?
Dogs
Testes are located ventrally in dogs, where are they located in cats?
Caudally
What is the gestation length of a ewe?
150 days, or 5 months
What is the gestation length of a cow?
280 days, or 10 months
How can the product REGULIN be used to improve farm productivity?
Regulin induces oestrus to minimise joining time, and consequently minimise the calving period
When are sheep usually drenched for parasites?
Usually 2 drenches are administered over summer to break the parasite life cycle
When are lambs usually mulled and tail docked?
Usually lambs are mused, tail docked and vaccinated 2 weeks after lambing ends. They are all performed together to minimise handling stress and labour expenses.
What type of pasture would you expect to find in a field in July (winter)?
Pasture will be green but short (high quality, low quantity) because grass growth is restricted by cold
What type of pasture would you expect to find in a field in October (spring)?
Pasture will be green and long (high quality, high quantity)
What type of pasture would you expect to find in a field in January (summer)
Pasture will be dry but long (low quality, high quantity) due to increasing temperature but decreasing rainfall
What is the role of Co-operative research centres (CRC’s) in Australia
Tackle clearly-articulated, major challenges for the farming industry addressed by the CRC
Which government group registered veterinary pharmaceuticals in Australia?
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA), note that the FDA is based in the USA!
Is the RSPCA an animal welfare or an animal rights group?
Animal welfare
What order of birds is characterised by a hooked beak?
Psittiformes
What are some key signs of a healthy bird?
Bright, alert and eyes open
When dogs enter kennels, what type of vaccine are they required to get?
C5 (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Parainfluenza virus)
When dogs enter shelters, what type of vaccine do they receive?
C3
What is the best criteria for joining selection?
Bodyweight (60-70% BW)
What is the role of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)?
Enforce legislation across Australia
What are the two main counties which import the most carcase weight from Australia?
Japan and USA
A finch is an example of which order of bird?
Passeriforms
What are three advantages of split calving?
- Year round income from milk
- Easier to manage carry over cows
- Less crowded in calf rearing sheds
How can you distinguish between male and female budgies?
Males have a blue cere on their forehead
How can you distinguish between male and female eclectus?
Females are red and blue, males are green
How long is a typical joining period for cattle?
5-6 weeks
What are some benefits of winter calving?
Feed availability curve best matches feed demands, allowing maximisation of stocking density and avoid metabolic disease
What are some benefits of autumn calving?
Optimise growth of offspring (higher per head sale), but limited feed availability for lactating cows, therefore limiting stocking density and risking metabolic disease
Why is it best to drench sheep for worms in summer?
It prevents sheep form infecting pasture with worm eggs, which would later re-infect sheep who graze those pastures in the following seasons
