Respiratory and MSK diseases in NTCA

Question 1

What is the clinical presentation of a respiratory disease in reptiles?

Answer 1

• Open mouth breathing
• Increased froth or fluid
• Mucus on nostrils
• Bubble blowing
• Periocular oedema
• Lethargy/ anorexia
• Poor shedding
• Buoyancy issues (chelonia specific)
• Blepharospasm

Question 2

What are some potential viral pneumonia differential diagnosis?

Answer 2

Herpes – immunocompromised, common in tortoises,
Paramyxo + Reovirus (in squamata), Inclusion body disease
(IBD)*Neurological signs , Retrovirus, Adenovirus

Question 3

What are some potential parasitic differential diagnosis

Answer 3

Lungworm (Rhabdias sp),Hookworm ( Kalicephalus sp),,*
Pentastomids

Question 4

What are some potential bacterial pneumonia differential diagnosis?

Answer 4

common primary cause is husbandry related.
(Aeromonas sp, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Mycoplasma*, Chlamydophila spp)
* Tortoises very susceptible to Mycoplasma

Question 5

What are some potential fungal differential diagnosis?

Answer 5

(Aspergillus, Candida spp) – must consider ventilation, lighting,
temperature, humidity

Question 6

What may a mineral deficiency cause?

Answer 6

Hypovitamonis A (epithelial degeneration)

Question 7

What non-infectious diseases may trauma cause?

Answer 7

• Bites, door, boat propeller
• Aspiration pneumonia.
• Space occupying lesion at glottis.

Question 8

What non-infectious diseases may toxins cause?

Answer 8

• Smoke inhalation
• Bedding / Husbandry

Question 9

How would you treat a respiratory disease in reptiles?

list of treatments

Answer 9

1. Clear the passage and open the airways
2. Reduce inflammation and pain
3. Rehydration (fluid therapy)
4. Mucolytics
5. Aqueous eye drops
6. Husbandry practices

Question 10

What drug should not be used in chelonia?

Answer 10

Ivermectin

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of MSK diseases in reptiles?

Answer 11

Anorexic
- Paralysis
- Weakness
- ‘Odd shape’ / non symmetrical body
- Soft shell
- Misshapen jaw
- ‘Dropped jaw’
- Muscle twitching
- Loss of body mass (‘looks smaller’)
- Wounds (muscle tear, open fracture)
- Joint swelling
- ‘Lumps and bumps

Question 12

Name 5 differential diagnosis for MSK diseases in reptiles

Answer 12

• Congenital deformity
• Metabolic bone disease
• MSK trauma
• Infectious causes (septic arthritis)
• Gout
• Hypovitaminosis A

Question 13

What are the 4 main diagnostics for MSK diseases in reptiles?

Answer 13

• History
• Physical exam
• Radiography
• Haematology and Biochemistry

Question 14

What is the treatment and prognosis for msk diseases in reptiles?

Answer 14

• Fluid therapy
• analgesia
• Wound management
• Calcium supplementation
• Surgical management
• Cage rest
• Euthanaesia for severe cases
• Environment and husbandry changes

Question 15

What is the clinical presentation of respiratory diseases in birds?

Answer 15

Feather plucking
* Stained feathers above nares
* Increased nasal discharge
* Irritation/ scratching/ rubbing head
* Dyspnoea
* Persistent conjunctivitis
* Sneezing
* Periocular oedema
* Blocked nasal passage (Rhinolith)

Question 16

What are the main differentials for respiratory diseases in birds?

Answer 16

Viral pneumonia (Paramyxovirus)
* Bacterial pneumonia (Pasteurella,
Pseudomonas, Mycoplasma)
* Aspergillosis
* Chlamydophila psittaci (spread via respiratory
secretion, feather dander) *ZOONOTIC
* Air sac mite
* Hypovitaminosis A – causing metaplasia of
mucous membrane

Question 17

How would you diagnose respiratory diseases in birds?

Answer 17

History (diet, environment, bedding, deworming status)
* Palpation, Auscultation
* Haematology and biochemistry
* Culture and sensitivity
* Radiography
* Ultrasound
* Endoscopy (to see, take samples and sometimes remove plaques)
* PCR ( detect Chlamydia in dropping or organs – PM)

Question 18

How might you treat respiratory diseases in birds?

Answer 18

• Fluid therapy
• Nebulisation
• Analgesia
• Anti-parasitic drugs
• Antibiotics
• Antifungals
• Bronchodilators
• Mucolytics
• Surgical removal of rhinoliths

Question 19

What is the treatment/ prognosis of MSK diseases in birds?

Answer 19

Reduce pain, inflammation – Analgesia, Anti inflammatory
* Hydration and loss of fluid - Fluid therapy , IV, IO, SC
* Immobilise limb, prevent further damage - Bandage and splint
* Antimicrobial therapy if open wound
* Supportive care – Tube/ crop feeding
* Surgical repair – internal, external, hybrid
* Cage rest

Question 20

What are the clinical signs/ presentation of respiratory disease in NTCA?

Answer 20

Nasal discharge
- Dyspnoea
- Sneezing
- Crusty nasal area
- Dirty FL
- Poor body condition
- Dull coat
- Inappetant
- Isolating themselves from the group
- Porphyrin staining(rats)

Question 21

What is the differential diagnosis for respiratory diseases in small mammals

Answer 21

Infectious
* Bacterial pneumonia
- Mycoplasma pulmonis – highly contagious *rats
- Chronic infection – repeat episodes of bronchitis / pneumonia
- Bordetella bronchiseptica *, Pasteurellosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Klebsiella pneumonia
*BB- common in GP’s kept with rabbits who carry the pathogen
asymptomatically
* Viral pneumonia
o Canine distemper virus (ferrets)
* Fungal pneumonia
- Aspergillosis
- Pneumocytosis (Rats)
* Parasitic - Aelurostrongylus abstrusus – causes chronic coughing

Question 22

What are some of the non-infectious causes of respiratory disease in small mammals?

Answer 22

allergy , dusty environment, poor ventilation, high ammonia
* Neoplasia in older animals
* Secondary to dental disease

Question 23

What are the treatment principles for small mammals?

Answer 23

Fluid therapy (PO, SQ, IV, IO)
* Oxygen and nebulisation
* Analgesia
* Anti-inflammatories
* Mucolytics - Bromhexine
* Bronchodilators- Salbutamol
* Antibiotics – Fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines (*make sure safe to
be given orally for hindgut fermenters)
* Prevention: Distemper vaccination for ferrets

Question 24

What are the common msk clinical signs in small mammals?

Answer 24

Distress when handling
- Dull coat, hair loss
- Swollen joints
- Bleeding gums
- Lame/ abnormal gait

Question 25

What would be the diagnostic workup for msk in small mammals?

Answer 25

• Radiographs
• Bloods

Question 26

How might you potentially treat msk diseases in small mammals?

Answer 26

Supplementation with diet (Kale, Cabbage)
* High amounts of fruits not the best option (gut issues, also high sugar)
* Vit C (Oral and in water)
* Pain management (VERY IMPORTANT)
* Prognosis dependent on onset and severity. Consider welfare if severe

Question 27

Howe might you prevent MSK diseases in small mammals?

Answer 27

GP diet – fortified with Vit C
* Supplementation