Week 1 - Respiratory disease in small mammals and exotics Flashcards
What are some signs of respiratory disease in small mammals?
Lethargy
Poor coat
Anorexia
Audible clicking
Sneezing
Occular discharge
Dyspnoea/abdominal heaving
Head tilt if middle ear involved
What are some signs of respiratory disease in reptiles?
Lethargy
Anorexia
Weight loss
Difficulty breathing
Open mouth breathing
Wheezes or crackles
Occular and/or nasal discharge
Stomatitis (mouth inflammation)
What are some signs of respiratory disease in birds?
Lethargy
Anorexia
‘Fluffed up’
Crusting around nares
Periorbital swelling
Dyspnoea or ‘tail bobbing’
Voice change
Tachypnoe
What are the common causes of respiratory disease in small mammals?
URT infection
- Cause: rhinitis and also affect structures outside of the respiratory tract e.g. conjunctivitis, nasolacrimal duct infections, otitis media.
LRT bacterial infection
- Cause: tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia
Husbandry
- allergy, dust (from bedding). poor ventilation (and strong cleaning products), stress, poor diet
Dental disease
- overgrowth into nasal cavity and causing infection and inflammation
- does not affect ferrets as they do not continually grow
What are the less common causes of respiratory disease in small mammals?
Virsuses
Fungal (aspergillosis if outdoor)
Parasite (ferrets and lungworm)
Circulatory (pulmonary oedema)
Trauma (lung contusion)
Space occupying lesion (abscess, tumour)
Foreign bodies (outdoor pets)
What are common pathogens in guinea pigs?
Bordetella bronchiseptica Chlamydophila caviae
Adenovirus
What are common pathogens in rabbits?
Pasteurella multocida
Bordetella bronchiseptica
What are common pathogens in rats and mice?
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Pasteurella pneumotropica
Strep pneumoniae
Sendai virus (mice)
What are the common causes of respiratory disease in reptiles?
URT infection
- Cause: rhinitis and also affect structures outside of the respiratory tract e.g. conjunctivitis, stomatitis,
periorbital abscesse
Viruses
- Herpes virus (tortoises),
- adenovirus (lizards)
- ophidian paramyxovirus (snakes)
Husbandry
- High or low temperature
- High humidity levels
- Poor ventilation
Space occupying lesions
e.g.abscesses, tumours, reproductive
disease, coelomic effusions, granulomas.
What are the less common causes of respiratory disease in reptiles?
LRT bacterial infections
Fungal infections (e.g. candida, aspergillosis)
Parasiticn ( lungworm (snakes),
Rhabdias, Ascarid)
Dental disease
Circulatory (septic endocarditis, CHF)
Trauma
Foreign bodies
What are the common causes of respiratory disease in birds
LRT bacterial infections
- tracheitis, bronchitis, airsacculitis,
pneumonia e.g. Psittacosis
(Chlamydia psittaci)
Fungal infections
- e.g. Aspergillosi
- Common/predisposed due to deadspace around the lungs
Husbandry
- Allergy
- Stress
- Low humidity
- Poor hygeine/ventilation
- Hypovitaminosis A
Space occupying lesions
e.g. tumours, organomegaly, reproductive disease, obesity, rhinoliths, pulmonary fibrosis,
choanal atresia, occluding fungal
plaques
NOTE: birds have no diaphragm so a mass anywhere in the body could press on organ -> put pressure on air sacs -> respiratory signs BUT NOT a respiratory cause
What are the less common causes of respiratory disease in birds
URT bacterial infections
Viruses (laryngotracheitis - chickens)
Parasitic e.g. Syngamus trachea
(gapeworm in chickens)
Circulatory
Foreign body
What diagnostic options are available?
Imaging:
* Radiography (preferred when don’t know where to start e.g. lethargic and anorexic tortoise = pneumonia)
* CT
* Endoscopy
* Ultrasound
Bacteriology (culture and
sensitivity)
PCR testing -> recurrent infections
Blood testing
What does bloodworm show?
Inflammatory process/infection
Organ damage e.g. liver or kidney
Determine severity
Determine stability of animal
Used as pre-GA bloods for imaging
Why is imagine useful?
Identifies location for further testing (e.g. bacteriology)
Identify severity.
Radiographs/CT = abscesses, neoplasia, congestion/consolidation.
Endoscopy = biopsies and find foreign bodies
Ultrasound = heart scan, free fluid or to do FNA.
Give an advantage of bacteriology and cytology?
Bacteriology = sensitivity = determine antibiotics
Cytology = quick and performed in house
What would PCR be used for?
Suspicious of mycoplasma or herpes virus
What are the sampling techniques for rabbits, birds and reptiles?
What should you know when interpreting results?
Deep nasal swab (rabbits)
Nasal flush (birds)
Nasolacrimal duct flush (rabbits) Lesion/oral swab (reptile PCR) BAL/Tracheal lavage (2ml/kg)
Results: normally bacterial contaminates -> interpret appropriately
What parts of husband could be an underling cause for respiratory disease in small mammals?
Inside or outside
Any recent changes
Dusty
Diet
Stress
Any new pets -> not quarantined
What parts of husband could be an underling cause for respiratory disease in reptiles?
Most important:
Temperatures
UV
Humidity
Vivarium, draw or table
Diet and supplements
Any recent changes
Any new pets
Etc.
What parts of husband could be an underling cause for respiratory disease in birds?
Ventilation (feathers produce dust and ammonia from urine can irritate)
Where is the cage
Sprays or air fresheners (irritate nose)
Diet
UV
Recent changes
Other pets
List some common treatment options:
SUPPORTIVE (COMES FIRST)
Oxygen
Fluids and supportive nutrition
Nebulisation
Bronchodilator treatment
Mucolytic
Anti-inflammatory
Treatment for specific causes e.g. antibiotics, furosemide, acyclovir, antifungals, antiparasitics, husbandry changes, surgery
etc.
Is open mouth breathing an emergency in small mammals?
Rabbits and rodents are obligate nasal breathers, open mouth
breathing is always an emergency
Is supportive nutrition needed in small animals?
Yes - especially in hind gut fermentors
What treatment plans can be used in small mammals to help open up the airway?
Regular nebulisation can increase time between ‘flare ups’.
Bronchodilator e.g. Terbutaline works well in a nebuliser.
Mucolytic in food e.g. bromhexine.
NSAIDs e.g. Meloxicam can help with laboured breathing.
Can steroids be used in rabbits?
Only if essential
Rabbits are steroid sensitive and even the lowest doses can suppress the immune system.
What are the 6 most commonly used antibiotics in small mammals?
CULTURE AND SENSITIVE FIRST IN IDEAL WORLD
TMPS e.g. first line and broad spectrum, licenced.
Doxycycline e.g. Mycoplasma in rats.
Azithromycin (macrolide) - also reduces lung inflammation.
Enrofloxacin (fluoroquinolone) - not without culture and sensitivity.
Metronidazole for anaerobic infections e.g. abscess (combination).
Penicillin e.g. Streptococcus, Pasteurella (Parenteral ONLY in rabbits).
What are some specifics on the treatment plan for reptiles with respiratory disease?
Malnourished = injectable vitamins or liquid dosed supplements
F10 = cleaning disinfectant for reptiles but can be used as a mouth flush for fungal causes and secondary infections
POTZ - preferred optimum temperature zone to allow their immune system to be working optimally
What are the 5 most commonly used antibiotics in reptiles?
CULTURE AND SENSITIVE FIRST IN IDEAL WORLD
MOST ARE GRAM NEGATIVE
TMPS e.g. first line broad spectrum, licenced.
Doxycycline e.g. Mycoplasma in tortoises.
Metronidazole for protozoal and anaerobic infections.
Ceftazidime – injectable q72 hours, practical.
Enrofloxacin (fluoroquinolone) - not without culture and sensitivity.
What are some specifics on the treatment plan for birds with respiratory disease?
Oxygen -> get very stressed and have a high oxygen demand
FLuid and supportive nutrition (e.g. crop tubing)
Nebulisation is effective
Respiratory signs may not be causes by respiratory disease so don’t get tunnelled fissioned (e.g coelomic disease can cause air sacs to collapse) -> full investigation
What are the 6 most commonly used antibiotics in birds?
CULTURE AND SENSITIVE FIRST IN IDEAL WORLD
TMPS e.g. first line, broad spectrum, licenced.
Penicillin and co-amoxiclav e.g. first line, broad spectrum.
Metronidazole if anaerobic (not poultry).
Doxycyline e.g. Chlamydia psittaci.
Enrofloxacin (fluoroquinolone) - not without culture and sensitivity.
Azithromycin (macrolide) e.g. Chlamydia psittaci
Which antibiotic is first line, broad spectrum and licenses in small mammals, birds and reptiles?
TMPS
