Reproductive Disease in Avian and Exotic Species

Question 1

List 8 clinical signs of a reproductive problem in reptiles

Answer 1

lethargy
anorexia
bloated/ distended celomic cavity
dysponea
lamness- mainly tortoises
straining
behaviour changes

Question 2

List 10 clinical signs of a reproductive problem in birds

Answer 2

lethargy
inappetance
bloated
dysponea
seizure
separation from group
lameness
straining
‘fluffed’ up appearance
behaviour changes

Question 3

List 6 common conditions that affect reptile repro tract

Answer 3

prolapse
imapctions
hypocalcaemia
pre-ovulatory ovarian stasis
post-ovulatory egg stasis
neoplasia

Question 4

What is the first step of treating a prolapse in a reptile

Answer 4

identify the prolapsed organ

Question 5

List 3 organs that get prolapsed in reptiles

Answer 5

hemipene
cloaca
uterine

Question 6

List 7 common causes of prolapses

Answer 6

constipation
Endoparasites
Impaction
Egg binding
Egg in the bladder
Cystitis/bladder stones
Traumatic copulation

Question 7

name one reptile that is an induced ovulator

Answer 7

tortoises

Question 8

Describe what occurs in pre-ovulatory ovarian stasis

Answer 8

Ovaries produce follicles but they never ovulate so they increase in volume and size each year  Space occupying effect –> Fatal.

Question 9

Describe how to treat pre-ovulatory ovarian stasis

Answer 9

surgical

Question 10

Describe how to treat post-ovulatory egg stasis in reptiles

Answer 10

surgical, medical or husbandry management

Question 11

What do you need to identify when treat post-ovulatory egg stasis

Answer 11

whether obstructive or non-obstructive

Question 12

List 4 causes of obstructive dystocia in reptiles

Answer 12

Uroliths
Egg/foetus oversize
Pelvic abnormalities
Renomegaly

Question 13

List 4 causes of non-obstructive dystocia

Answer 13

Hypocalcaemia
Inadequate husbandry, diet, nesting site etc.
Poor muscle tone
Dehydration

Question 14

List 8 common avian repro conditions

Answer 14

Sexual frustration
Chronic egg laying
Abnormal eggs
Egg binding
prolapse
Coelomitis (egg yolk peritonitis)
Salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct)
Neoplasia

Question 15

in what birds can sexual frustration be a problem in

Answer 15

pet parrots who live alone

Question 16

List 4 things that a bird that is lonely more likely to show

Answer 16

excessive regurgitation
feather plucking
jealousy and aggression
excessive egg laying

Question 17

List 6 ways to prevent sexual frustration in birds

Answer 17

share interactions between household
avoid stroking down length of back
avoid certain behaviours e.g. mouth to beak feeding
Do not positively reinforce courtship behaviours e.g. regurgitation
Remove mirrors in their cage so they cannot self-bond.
Keeping them as a pair (depending on species)

Question 18

what birds is chronic egg laying common in

Answer 18

captive cockatiels , lovebirds and budgies

Question 19

List 5 things that chronic egg laying can lead to

Answer 19

Uterine inertia
Calcium depletion
Egg binding
Yolk coelomitis
Osteoporosis

Question 20

List 5 predisposing factors of avian chronic egg laying

Answer 20

Increased photoperiod
Food type (e.g. high fat)
Presence of actual or perceived mates
Toys, owners, mirrors, other birds
Short-circuit in the reproductive hard-wiring

Question 21

List 5 common causes of egg binding in birds

Answer 21

malformed eggs
chronic egg laying
systemic disease
lack of exercise
genetic predsposition

Question 22

List 4 things that avian egg binding can lead to

Answer 22

circulatory disorders
lameness
pressure necrosis of the oviduct
Metabolic disturbances by interfering with normal defecation and micturition, and cause ileus and renal disease.

Question 23

What is Coelomitis

Answer 23

Inflammation of the celomic cavity (mammal equivalent is peritonitis).
Celomic cavity because fluid filled

Question 24

List 4 common causes of coelomitis

Answer 24

ectopic eggs
ovarian neoplasia
cystic ovarian disease
oviductal disease e.g. salpingitis

Question 25

What happens to total calcium levels in female birds and reptiles when they are reproductively active

Answer 25

increased

Question 26

What do you see on radiography with Pre-Ovulatory Ovarian Stasis

Answer 26

lateral view shows reduced lung field but no eggs

Question 27

What do you see on bloods with Pre-Ovulatory Ovarian Stasis

Answer 27

increased total calcium (causes you to suspect a reproductive cause)

Question 28

What do you see on ultrasound with Pre-Ovulatory Ovarian Stasis

Answer 28

via prefemoral fossa, can visualise follicles (or CT scan).

Question 29

Describe how to diagnose post-ovulatory egg stasis

Answer 29

radiograph- will see the eggs

Question 30

Decsribe how to diagnose coelomitis

Answer 30

history of prior egg laying distended abdomen Radiograph: fluid filled/soft tissue density throughout the celomic cavity. Celomic aspirate showed a large volume of cloudy fluid with evidence of egg yolk.

Question 31

Decsribe how to treat prolapses in birds/reptiles

Answer 31

Lubricate and replace or amputate prolapses, can place stay sutures to prevent future prolapses. + treat underlying cause!

Question 32

what does a salpingotomy do

Answer 32

remove eggs only (can breed again) is a possible treatment of post-ovulatory egg stasis/ egg binding

Question 33

what does Ovariosalpingectomy remove

Answer 33

remove oviduct and ovaries is a possible treatment of post-ovulatory egg stasis/ egg binding

Question 34

what is an ovocentesis

Answer 34

Needle is inserted into an egg and its contents aspirated under GA (via cloaca or percutaneous then manually move the egg possible treatment of post-ovulatory egg stasis / egg binding

Question 35

List 4 potenital husbandry corretions for reptiles

Answer 35

correct dietary deficiencies correct temp and humidity bathe and keep hydrated Ensure access to an appropriate substrate/ nesting site for the species

Question 36

List 6 possible husbandry corrections for birds

Answer 36

Decrease photoperiod (8-10 hrs) Remove real/perceived mates. Prevent nesting by removing all shredable/nesting material Reduce the amount and calorie(fat) content of food Increase exercise and foraging time Stop stroking and petting and mouth to mouth actions

Question 37

do we routinely neuter reptiles

Answer 37

No outside breeding seasons repro tract hard to find husbandry key to healthy repro

Question 38

where are the ovaries attached in the bird

Answer 38

to the dorsal abdominal wall, the cranial renal artery and the common iliac vein overlay them

Question 39

how are birds 'neutered'

Answer 39

not surgically generally done via hormone impalnts

Question 40

T/F castrating a cockerel is legal in the UK

Answer 40

False