Therapeutics and chemical restraint Flashcards
What are the different routes of administration of antibiotics in avian species?
- Topical
- In water dosing
- in food dosing
- Direct oral administration
- Parenteral injections
- Nebulisation
What are some advantages and disadvantages about the different routes of administrations?
- In water or in food dosing generally just used for flock treatments but often means inaccurate dosing. Also birds often have reduced appetite when sick.
- Direct oral administration or parenteral injections means accurate dosing can be administered but also requires handling of the animal/parenteral only in hospital.
Can we use opioids in birds?
Few studies of opioid receptors
Opioids and opioid like: poorly evidenced and evidence shows variability. Tramadol often used despite limited PK/PD studies
Which analgesic drugs do we use in birds?
NSAIDS:
- Meloxicam
- Ketoprofen
- Carprofen
- Celecoxib
What does pain look like in a bird?
Fight/flight
Freeze
What does pain look like in reptiles?
Species and individual specific responses
Fight/flight
Freeze
Are NSAID’s a good choice of an analgesic drug to use in reptiles?
No!
Very questionable efficacy
Use opioids and opioid like drugs (tramadol) as they have the most ‘evidence’.
Partial agonists (buprenorphine or butorphanol): no evidence efficacy, butorphanol also used but may sedate (which could be good!)
Which one is a good pre med to use for reptiles, birds, small mammals and marsupials?
Midazolam (Benzodiazepine)
(short acting in marsupials)
What are some of the antimicrobials we can use in birds?
Amikacin (not active against anaerobes)
- nephrotoxicity relatively common consider concurrent fluid therapy
Enrofloxacin (only partially effective against anaerobes)
- injection site reactions are common, dilute before parenteral use
Metronidazole (good against protozoal parasites)
- may not be used in poultry (food producing animal)
Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
- disadvantage ist cost and frequency of administration
Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole (TMS)
- Usually well tolerated but may cause GI upset
Doxycycline (good for gram neg and pos and also atypical organisms such as chlamydia or mycoplasma)
- injectable formulations can cause necrosis at injection site
What is the main take away message for antimicrobial use in reptiles?
Don’t just use Baytril and Fortum.
It should be TMS, Doxycycline or aminoglycosides
Which antiparasitic drug can we use for the treatment of trichomonas or giardia in wildlife?
Metronidazole
Carnidazole
Ronidazole
Which antiparasitic drug can we use for the treatment of mites in birds?
And which one for mites in snakes?
Birds: Moxidectin/Ivermectin
Snakes: Pyrethrin
Which antiparasitic drug can we use for the treatment of most endoparasites?
Roundworms in birds: Moxidectin/Ivermectin, Levamisole, Fenbendazole
Tapeworm in birds: Praziquantel
Which method of euthanasia is recommended in birds?
2 Stage method:
Stage 1: Sedate or anaesthetise in the quickest and least stressful way (iso/O2 mask down)
Stage 2: Injection of barbiturate - IV/intra-cardiac/intra-hepatic for birds
What is the recommended way to euthanise reptiles?
Chemical: Anaesthetise (e.g. alfaxan, ketamine, zoletil) then pentobarbitone IV/IC or intracardiac. Should decapitate and pithe after.
Physical: Captive bolt
Checks: HR and RR are unreliable indicators!
- Doppler probe for heart better but also not definitive
- DO NOT freeze
- Decapitation and pithing ensures is not just deeply anaesthetised
How do we induce birds vs reptiles?
Birds: usually inhalational with isoflurane
Reptiles: usually injectable with alfaxalone or propofol
What is the most common problem associated with prolonged anaesthesia?
Hypothermia
What is the difference between recovery of birds vs reptiles?
Birds: turn off iso, flush circuit with oxygen, reconnect and continue with 100% oxygen
Reptiles: Close to procedure end, turn off isoflurane and place on room air, extubate once jaw movement noted
What are the signs of induction in a reptile?
-> Loss of righting reflex
-> Reflexes lost in cranial to caudal direction and return in caudal to cranial direction
-> Loss of response to stimuli
-> Loss of muscle jaw and tone
-> Spontaneous breathing ceases
(speed of induction and recovery dependant on temperature and physical status
Using an external stethoscope to monitor reptiles are not useful, what do we use instead?
-> Doppler flow probe
-> Oesophageal stethoscope
-> Pulse oximeter (cloacal or oesophageal probe)
Cardiac and/or respiratory arrest can occur rapidly - what will you do?
- Turn off anaesthetic gas
- Ventilate
- Support circulation (warmth, IV fluids, adrenaline/atropine)
