Revision Questions

Question 1

Explain how to sex budgies.

Answer 1

Male has a blue cere over beak and female has nude cere over beak.

Question 2

Describe the general accommodation for a duck.

Answer 2

Need a pond to swim in which is lined, has a filter and is easy to clean.

They need to be able to exhibit natural behaviour. One side of the pond should be sloped to allow easy access.

There should be some shelter and water/feed dishes should be placed on a low rack/platform.

Question 3

Describe the feeding pattern and method of feeding for ducks.

Answer 3

Fed 90% vegetable matter and 10% animal protein. Should be fed grit/gravel to help gizzard function. Food and water dishes should be placed on rack/low platform and fed ad lib

Question 4

How should you transport a budgie to the local veterinary surgery?

Answer 4

The budgie must be brought in with as little stress as possible.

If they are housed in a cage then they may be brought in, in the cage with a blanket covering it to reduce the level of stress experienced by the bird.

Before transporting the bird, remove any extra toys that may make catching the bird more difficult.

Question 5

Describe the clinical signs and treatment of a budgie suffering with an iodine deficiency

Answer 5

Supplement iodine with a block hung on side of cage.

Enlarged thyroid gland presses on trachea to cause budgie to breathe noisily.

Permanently stuck in moult phase

Question 6

Describe the clinical signs and nursing requirements of a parrot suffering from Psitticosis due to poor husbandry.

Answer 6

Clinical signs are clear nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, green diarrhoea, dyspnoea, feather plucking

Barrier nurse with mask, gloves, apron etc. Treat with tetracyclines. May need to keep parrot in a darkened room with a nebuliser/supplemental oxygen, temperature of 26c either an incubator or a thermostat controlled cage.

Feed every hour when sick.

Question 7

Explain the basic breeding procedure for a budgie.

Answer 7

Breed in summer months, and breeding is stimulated by day length.

Feed extra protein prior to breeding season. Special breeding cages can be used with a nest box

Cage should have a small concave in bottom as budgies do not line their nests. Could use an incubator at 36.9 – 37.5c.

Lay 1-2 eggs before the budgie starts to brood, this happens when 3rd egg is laid. Budgies lay eggs 2 days prior to incubation, which is 18 days. Eggs are laid on alternate days and there can be an average of 5-6 eggs and a clutch of 3-10. Budgies are sexually mature at 6-9 months.

Question 8

Describe the signs of pain and distress in a bird.

Answer 8

Ruffled feathers, mouth breathing/tail bobbing, anorexia, feather plucking, perching in unusual places.

Question 9

Describe the procedure for euthanasia in a bird.

Answer 9

I/v injection into ulnar vein with pentobarbitone. Can use liver or pectoral muscles if necessary.

Could use ketamine i/m (40mg/kg) to sedate first.

Question 10

Describe the clinical signs if a bird is 7-10% dehydrated.

Answer 10

> 1-2 seconds CRT of basilica vein, tenting of skin slow return to normal over eyelids/feet. Dull corneas, dry mucous membranes, cold extremities, poor pulse and muddy coloured feet scales.

Question 11

Describe the general housing conditions of a snake including acceptable and maximum requirements.

Answer 11

Small glass tank with ventilation at the top.

Should be strong, secure and easily cleaned. Water should be provided and some sort of substrate eg: newspaper.

A u/v lamp should be provided or at least a temperature gradient.

A vivarium with Astroturf, u/v lamp which is guarded, heat mat and a temperature gradient more than half the length of the vivarium. A min/max thermometer must be provided.

Humidity should be provided by spraying plants etc in vivarium

Question 12

Describe the feeding pattern and method of feeding for a terrapin.

Answer 12

Terrapins are omnivores but largely eat fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Suitable fish would be trout, salmon, shrimp, mussels and crayfish. They will only feed in the water.

Suitable plants would be watercress, dandelions, tomatoes.

Good quality complete foods are available. Young terrapins should be fed every day.

As they get older and larger, they do not need to be fed so often. Adults will only need to be fed 2 or 3 times a week and many species may now eat mainly plants.

Question 13

Describe the feeding pattern and method of feeding of a garter snake.

Answer 13

They should be fed on defrosted fish, heated and cooled prior to feeding.

The fish should be fed head first. You should feed the snake using tongs or forceps so that the snake does not become accustomed to your scent and strike at your hand.

Hatchlings will begin to feed after their first shedding of skin (about a week after hatching). They will need to be fed at least once a week.

Feeding of adult garter snakes could range from once a week to once a month or up to six weeks.

Question 14

Describe the feeding pattern and method of feeding for a boa.

Answer 14

Should be fed rabbits/rats every 2-3 weeks.

Defrost them before feeding. Make sure you feed from long handled tongs so snake does not associate your scent with food.

Food should be presented head first. You can warm up food under heat lamp before feeding.

Question 15

What signs will a snake show if it is needing fed?

Answer 15

Up at the glass more often

moving around vivarium more than often

or flicking tongue more.

Question 16

Describe how a lizard should be transported to the local veterinary surgery.

Answer 16

Either in a plastic box which is secure with bowls etc removed or a secure sack

Question 17

Which item of legislation has to be observed in order to keep a British Adder.

Answer 17

This Act is the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

The owner of this species must have a license issued by the local authority

The Act lists the species that are dangerous eg vipers and cobras ie British Adder is a viper

Pet stores do not need to have a licence but the person who buys them as a pet must have a license.

Question 18

Explain the basic breeding procedure for a Mediterranean Tortoise.

Answer 18

Folliculogenesis is stimulated by the time of year.

iChelonians such as the Mediterranean species of tortoise, hibernation is an important factor. This period is necessary for the programming of the thyroid gland and the reproductive cycle.

Two bouts of egg production can occur per year. On average 10- 30 eggs are laid each year, depending on the species. Most Mediterranean tortoise not sexually mature until they are 7 – 10 years of age.

The female tortoise will start to form fertile eggs after a successful mating. These are carried for a period varying from 4weeks to 3-4years.

Can also store the sperm mating for a long time allowing fertilisation to occur many months to years after exposure to the male

Question 19

What measures can be taken to prevent Metabolic Bone Disease in a reptile?

Answer 19

A bearded dragon should be fed crickets, fruit flies, locusts, meal worms and wax worms. Young lizards -fed twice a day.

Young, fast growing lizards, such as Bearded dragons may need to be fed three times a day.

Once growth slows, so does appetite. So mature adults will not need to be fed as often.

The length of the cricket should be no greater than the width of the lizards head

Crickets and other insects should be ‘gut loaded’ before they are fed to lizards and amphibians.
This means that the crickets should be fed nutritious food, high in calcium and vitamins, before they are fed to the lizards and amphibians.

A UV light must be provided at all times for the synthesis of calcium in the body.

Question 20

What are the clinical signs and nursing requirements for a tortoise with metabolic bone disease.

Answer 20

Causes: Diet deficient in calcium and a lack of UV light (i.e. deficiency of Vitamin D3)

Chelonia: softening and pyramiding of the shell.
Plastron and carapace are softened allowing the muscles to deform them.

Treatment: Correct diet and provide UV light. Correct diet/splint fractures
In cases of hypocalcaemic paralysis give 100mg/kg of calcium gluconate IM

Question 21

Describe the clinical signs and nursing requirements of a snake suffering from dysecdysis due to poor husbandry.

Answer 21

The skin can not shed as a whole and peels in smaller sections. It fails to completely remove as the hydrating layer can not lift off.

Rehydrate the patient, bath in lukewarm water and allow the snake access to abrasive towels to rub on.

Retained spectacles may be removed with viscous tear drops and moistened cotton buds.

Question 22

Describe two clinical signs of a hookworm infestation in a snake and one nursing requirement for this.

Answer 22

Enteritis, anorexia and weight loss. Treat with ivermectin twice a year

Question 23

Describe one sign of pain and distress exhibited by a snake.

Answer 23

Aggression and striking at the glass.

Question 24

Explain the procedure for euthanasia in a tortoise.

Answer 24

They are used to prolonged periods of anoxia, whilst hibernating, so can recover from euthanasia!

The preferred routes are:
I/M with 100-200mg/kg ketamine

I/V with 200mg/kg ketamine

Pith the animal to destroy the brainstem using a or needle through the foramen magnum or the roof of the mouth

Question 25

Describe the general housing requirements of a rabbit including both acceptable and maximum requirements.

Answer 25

Ideally an indoor rabbit cage or enclosure for a single rabbit and must have at least 1.5m 0.6 floor space and be 0.45m - 0.9m high.

A solid floor with bedding of wood shavings, straw or shredded paper. Ideally the housing should be cleaned daily.

A separate nest box area should be provided. Wood blocks and cardboard boxes should be given to hide in and chew

Free roaming ‘house rabbit’ must be prevented from chewing electrical wires, carpets and upholstery as they will cause bowel impaction or an electric shock.

An outdoor hutch with access to a grass run.

Feeding bowls should be ceramic or metal and heavy to prevent overturning. Also a constant supply of fresh water in bowl or water feeder. If the latter is used watch for leaks, keep clean and ensure a new rabbit will drink from them.

Optimum temperature is 13-22 C and humidity 30-70%. Temp. over 25C may precipitate heat stress

Question 26

Describe the general housing requirements of a Budgie.

Answer 26

Budgies can be kept in cages or ideally in a large aviary, with a weatherproof shelter.

The aviary should be furnished with a suitable number of perches that are made out of natural wood.

The aviary should be vermin proof and should have been thoroughly disinfected before any new birds are introduced into it.

In order to facilitate cleanliness and hygiene the floor should drain well and be easy to clean.

Aviary birds benefit from the addition of live plants into the aviary but again care must be taken not to introduce any poisonous plants.

Nest boxes should be available in the breeding season. Budgie nest boxes are made of plywood and have a concave floor in which they lay their eggs. Budgies are usually fed a seed mix with some fruit etc.