Exotics

• easy to clean/disinfect, no galvanized wire (zinc) or lead
• bird can stretch wings
• off the ground
• no wood chips or corn
• box/nest for privacy, enrichment
• strategic food/water to prevent contamination

• not abrasive like cement or sandpaper
• toes wrap around 75%
• variable diameter

• 70-80% pellets
• 20% dark green or yellow veggies
• 5% seeds and nuts
• monitor body weight!

• CBC/chem, protein electrophoresis
• gram stain/cytology on feces, direct and float
• screen for diseases: chlamydia, beak and feather (circovirus), polyomavirus, bornavirus, aspergillus
• radiographs for baseline
• don't really vax

• stabilize first!  
• protect handlers, owner
• use a towel and close the windows
• don't compress the keel!!!
• hyperthermia, fractures
• parrots like to hold something with their feet
• 1st and 3rd fingers on mandibles, stretch neck up
• release bird to bottom of cage so it won't fall

• dull colored feathers
• shorter, immature feathers
• beak color
• young psittacines have dark iris, macaws/african greys have white or yellow, amazons have red-orange

• most monomorphic or only slightly dimorphic
• white cockatoos-dark iris in young, males are dark, females are red.  
• Cere color - male blue or female red
• DICHROMATIC PARROTS - ECLECTUS (males are green, females are red, blue, purple)
• Males have a phallus in the vent, just put a finger in there
• DNA probe most common way (vessels from shell), male are ZZ, female are ZW

5-10min exam, 3 min recovery

• let them scream at you, use soft tube/gauze to examine.  Halitosis can be infection
• moist, pink or melanistic normal
• shouldn't be plugs or mucus
• choana is slit on roof of mouth, has papillae
• tongue is muscular and has cartilage and bone
• glottis is big hole at base of tongue, no epiglottis

• smooth and shiny (keratin), must have perfect alignment.  
• cartilaginous when young, can deviate from syringe-feeding on same side

• where nostrils are, connection of beak to head.
• fleshy, firm, smooth.
• brown can be hypertrophy in budgies
• irregular texture, holes, honeycomb can be mites (knemidokoptes)

• palpebral, PLR, flare, anisocoria
• may be too scared to menace
• can't see optic disc.  Reflective avascular retina.  Look for hemorrhage etc.

• skin looks wrinkled
• basilic/ulnar vein should be turgid and refill promptly when emptied
• use warmed fluids and replace acute over 1-4h (chronic 12-24h like mammals)
• SHOCK DOSE: 90ml/kg IV

• oil gland at base of tail (birds have no sweat glands, but have mucous and sebaceous glands).
• tuft of down feathers wick secretions, not essential for waterproofing but conditions feathers/beak/skin. 
• antibacterial, precursors to vit D
• site of neoplasia or infection
• vit A deficiency can cause probs here
• some birds don't have one (ostrich and emu and woodpeckers, etc)

• complete rings
• bifurcates at level of heart
• syrinx is voice box.

bronchi to caudal air sacs to paleopulmo of lungs to (used air) cranial air sacs to trachea out. Should hear almost nothing.

growing feathers that will bleed if cut, plucking may damage follicle

stress bars, black or white

should cross over each other on top of tail

• pododermatitis
• abnormal wear and inflammation of plantar part of foot

• feces - dark brown, formed
• urates - cream colored, can be chalky or milky
• urine - clear, can't concentrate
• NO BLADDER, ureters into cloaca, reflux into intestines where H2O resorbed.  Stress = immediate defecation = dehydration

• inattention - should be alert esp at vet.  Sleeping is bad!
• changes in appetite, feces, decreased energy, yawning, fluffed up feathers, increased RR, change in voice, d/c or sneezing, asymmetry, soiled feathers around vent.

• thin skin and no SQ tissue
• between knee and abdomen (away from abdomen).  
• DON'T use ptagium of wing.  
• can't tent skin, use bevel and aspirate, slow injection of WARMED fluids.  1/4 turn of syringe to seal skin over hole.  
• 10-15 mL/kg/site
• NEVER intra-coelomic, could drown

• pectoralis.  
• NEVER in leg except ratites

• very superficial BV, no SQ to support hemostasis so hematoma/hemorrhage common. Easy to drown them in blood or fracture.  
• Right jug (bigger than left).  Featherless tract over jug.
• also metatarsal vein (medial leg)
• also wing vein = basilic/ulnar vein
• NOT from over-clipping a nail.  Often fecal contamination. 
• Intra-osseus if needed (distal ulna, tibia, NOT HUMERUS because communicates with air sac)

• zoonotic  from birds
• resp and GI of birds, + hepatitis.  
• tx with doxy, azithro

• eyes and epithelium
• oral plaques, secondary infections, predispose to gout

• iodine deficiency! Low intake or plants that interfere with uptake
• most common avian thyroid disorder, usu budgies
• thyroid dysplasia (enlarges) = clicking and regurg, resp distress, stops talking, gradual starvation.  Tx with iodine!

• elevated plasma uric acid levels precipitates into urine crystals on visceral surfaces.  Rapidly fatal.  
• in joints causes arthritis, inflammation
• in renal parenchyma = obstruction and inflammation

• resp disease, hard to manage.  Abscesses/granuloma if chronic. 
• Asper is deep, candida is superficial.

• weight loss in budgies (regurg, seem polyphagic, huge stools with undigested seeds)
• parrolet = sudden regurg, melena, death

• budgie fledgling disease- kills babies with abdominal distension, hemorrhage, feather abnormalities, ataxia/tremors. chronically don't grow feathers. 
• In non-budgies causes either sudden death or asymptomatic via weakness, crop stasis, hemorrhage, regurg/diarrhea, polyuria, dyspnea. Chronic can be weight loss, renal failure, edema, ascites, pneumonia.

• circovirus, death in 6 months to 2 years
• old world and occasionally new world parrots

• lymphoplasmacystis neuritis - can be GI or neuro
• delayed crop emptying with regurg and maldigestion, +/- neuro
• bornavirus

• viral hepatitis from herpes
• acute death, yellow urates and scant feces, diarrhea, sinusitis, conjunctivitis

C. most psittacines originate from tropical locations

FALSE, opposite (25% veg, 5% seeds)

C. restriction of the movement of a bird's keel during restraint may lead to impaired breathing and distress

A. The color of the iris is a rough indicator of age in some species when birds are young

B. It has ramifications behind the eye and along the neck

D. Birds lack inner ears

B. A growing feather

D. Prolapsed tissues at the vent and soiled feathers surrounding the vent are abnormal clinical findings

B. 30 ml

D. right jugular

D. Lack of intestinal mucosal blockage of iron absorption in combination with high dietary iron levels

D. Disease caused by Aspergillosus spp.is often associated with decreased immune function

A. Candida infection causes deep infections of the respiratory system

C. If feather lesion appear, normal feathers will return with the next molt if initial abnormalities were caused by polyomavirus only

A. Two forms are described myenteric and neurologic

A. Caused by a herpesvirus and causes acute mortality from severe hepatitis

C. Birds that recover from an infection with Chlamydophila are fully susceptible to re-infection

A. Lameness

false

false

B. Leopard Gecko

B. green iguana

C. bearded dragon

B. veiled chameleon

A. Eastern painted turtle

• B. Eastern Box turtle
• males have red eyes and females have yellow

How to sex a snake!  lubricate the probe and count # of scales.  Males have a bigger pouch because it's a hemi-penile sac

• How to sex a lizard--males have pre-anal pores.  Females have them but hard to see
• males also have hemi-penal bulges

OFF midline, because of the huge ventral abdominal vein

venous blood goes from tail, hind limbs and pelvis to KIDNEY before rest of circulation, so injections to caudal body have higher excretion and higher toxicity

• skin-shedding of reptiles.  
• intermediate cells make new epidermis, lymph floods in between (visible behind spectacle because translucent), enzymes, shed
• lizards in pieces, snakes in one big piece usu
• crocodiles and turtles continuously, squamates (snake, lizards) periodically

fused eyelid of snakes, sheds with skin

move its legs!!  No diaphragm, so ribs cause breathing.

• preferred optimal temperature zone (different reptiles like different temps at different times of day
• primary heat source set to low point POTZ, then add basking spot on one side (NOT HOT ROCKS)

they need it.  Sunlight is best, helps produce vitamin D.

insects are high in P, so dust with Ca or make them eat leafy greens to get enough Ca (also need UV-B)

• carapace
• plastron
• bridge

• hold shell, prob near tail
• yogurt cup = muzzle
• can tape head and/or feet in shell, or prop on a roll of tape
• DO NOT HOLD IN DORSAL - organs press on lungs and they suffocate
• you could get your fingers trapped in the shell or lose a nail

always pale, lower PCV with bigger RBC

difficult.  Use a doppler at base of neck

• shell should be hard, round, smooth-ish (no pyramiding)
• coelomic palpation through pre-femoral fossa

• use GRAMS/mLs, can take 0.5-0.8% of body weight
• so 1kg lizard = 1000g = 5-8mL of blood.  (blood is 5-8% of weight, can take 10%)
• use HEPARIN for CBC/chem in chelonians, EDTA lyses cells

• right jugular: bigger than left, straight line between head and neck, can hold off and SEE (only one)
• dorsal cervical/vertebral sinus: between neck and shell, where skin attaches to carapace.  Next to lymph sinus so may contaminate
• brachial sinus: blind stick at elbow
• dorsal (tail) vein: SMALL samples

• PO, SQ, IV, IO, intracoelomic, "cloacal" (= soaking), usu SQ (cranial thigh or skin folds around front legs) and ICe (needle cranial to thigh, aim down or could drown)
• 15 mL/kg/day
• REPTILE RINGERS: I part LRS, 2 parts 2.5 dex in half saline.
• IM drugs in cranial half of body (renal-portal)

• hepatic lipidosis common
• 0.5-2% body weight in kg is the volume of the stomach
• ball-tipped feeding tubes with luer lock in corner of mouth with a gag to protect tube/beak.  Hold up to prevent regurg

• metabolic bone dz
• URT diseases
• pneumonia
• vitamin A deficiency
• aural abscesses
• shell disease
• cloacal/phallus prolapse
• egg binding

• iguanas, geckos
• if caught by tail it will pop off and keep twitching while they run away.  Some grow back and some don't.  There are fracture lines.
• to amputate, cut skin 2 vertebrae up from a fracture line, snap and leave open

gentle pressure on eyeballs = vagal, decreases heartrate and calms

kidneys around rectum, CKD can cause constipation!

• tail vein (ventral or lateral approach, same vein)
• ventral abdominal vein
• jugular vein

SQ, intracoelomic (lateral flank, craniodorsal), IV in tail or ventral midline vein or cephalic (cut down), IO in prox tibia or distal femur

• metabolic bone disease
• renal disease (iguanas)
• tail trama/autonomy
• dysecdysis
• trama/bite wounds
• burns
• egg binding

in skin between mandibles (under chin)

• cardiocentesis: find with doppler, hold in front and behind (WILL MOVE!)
• ventral tail vein: in large species

SQ (dorsal), intraceolomic (cd coelom to avoid lungs/air sac), IV HARD

• tracheal or lung wash
• infuse 025-1mL/kg sterile saline
• can't cough, so move head back and forth aiming down to collect.  Parasites!  cytology, etc.

• dysecdysis
• retained spectacles
• stomatitis
• pneumonia
• trauma/bite wounds
• burns
• mites
• inclusion body disease
• cryptosporidium
• egg binding
• constipation

• A subset of zoo medicine specialty that sees non-domestic animals.  
• Free-ranging (population Med) and captive (individual)

• Individual researchers
• structured programs (raptor, NYS DEC, Wildlife health center)

• Orphans
• HBC
• Cat attacks
• gunshot
• toxicities: lead, rodenticide
• infectious diseases: Mycoplasma gallisepticum, avipoxviruses, west Nile, rabies
• Challenges: wide variety of species, little published info, no owners, no/minimal history, emergencies, advanced stages of disease or severe injury

wildlife vet: clinic,   education, government, conservation organizations, research.  Private practice?

• From people - aquatic from fishing gear or lead shot landing in water.  On land, from eating prey with lead shot inside
• effects: neuro, hematologic, GI
• dx: blood lead level
• tx: chelation   (CaEDTA, DMSA)

• Usu relay toxicity, from eating prey that ate poison.
• usu anticoag (VitK)
• bleed - anemic.  Hard to test for.  
• GIVE VITAMIN K1

• Mycoplasma gallisepticum
• resp pathogen of domestic poultry
• lymphoplasmacytic conjunctivitis, sinusitis, rhinitis
• infectious, passerines
• tx with macrolides, tetracyclines

• Worldwide, transmission via direct contact, insects, aerosol, fomite...
• dry (on skin) or wet (resp and GI)

• Flavivirus, vector-borne
• bird-mosquito-bird, but also reported in some mammals
• raptors, corvids, waterfowl (ecephalitis, choroiditis, myocarditis, nephritis)
• July through September
• Zoonotic

• Acute progressive fatal polioencephalomyelitis
• transmission through saliva
• zoonotic
• dx via fluorescent ab on brain tissue
• wildlife are >90% of US rabies
• reservoir: raccoon, skunk, bat, fox

skinny cats that get canine distemper

• Males - hobs
• females - Jills 
• Young - kits
• anogenital distance longer in males

spay (to prevent hyperestrogenemia) and neuter and descent at 3-6wks, must be by 6 months

• Strict carnivores eat total prey
• need 30% protein at least, 15-20% fat.  High quality cat or ferret food, small amounts frequently

• easygoing, distract front with nutrical and can do anything to back
• scruff (will yawn), stretch with scruff and in front of pelvis
• bite rules same as cat/dog (rabies)

• Menace unreliable,retinahard to visualize, no tapetum, sometimes cataracts, brown ear wax with normal ear mites, don't seem to bother them. 
• Mm and CRT on gums, canines often broken or discolored, gingivitis and tarter

usu covered in fat

pronounced sinus arrhythmia and dropped beats normal.

extramedullary hematopoiesis

• green = bile staining, not eating enough
• bird seed = fat globules from diseases.

• use Purevax by Merial or Nobivac puppy DPv NOT NORMAL DOG DA2PP (live!)
• rabies: purvax (not approved) or Imrab
• usu only give 1 vax at a time

• coccidia, giardia, crypto
• HW
• fleas
• rarely ticks, no lyme
• ear mites

• jug (may be blind) or anterior VC ** (insert above 1st rib at 45 degrees toward opposite pelvic limb)
• small samples: lat saph, cephalon, tail artery
• large beautiful bruises.  May need to do a cut-down and pre-flush catheter

• SQ between shoulders for vax and SMALL fluids, 50mL/kg/day will need to be in several spaces.
• IM semitens, semimems, lumbar
• IO prox femur, tibia
• IV in cephalic, lat saph

carnivores

PE types

Same vax

Temp is same as d/c

Commensalism in stomach, duodenum.  Opportunistic

• caused by inflammatory, stress, helicobacter... 
• tx as in dog/cat.  Vomiting common.

• Toys, hairballs, erasers, ear plugs 
• signs and tx similar to dog/cat
• anorexia most common, sometimes vomiting (rare).
• dilated stomach or gas in stomach.  They love to eat small soft things

• 100% fatal. Very susceptible.  12-14d survival time.  
• Aerosol or direct contact with ANYTHING
• Signs: fever, dermatitis, erythema of mm, d/c, crusts, hyperkarytosis of foot pads, resp, CNS

• HUMAN influenza
• fever, lethargy, anorexia, nasal d/c, sneezing, depression
• hard to diagnose
• supportive tx 
• recover 7-14d

Like dogs. new ferret brings it in, 10-14d.  Worse in older (diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss.  Bird seed droppings).  Supportive care, quarantine new ferrets

• like dry FIP.  Affects young.  
• fever, lymphadenopathy (often ONE node), peritonitis, anorexia, lethargy
• Tx is supportive + steroids/immunomodulants.  Pretty much fatal.

• Zona reticularis = overproduction of sex hormones (dogs are glomerulosa, cortisol).  
• 3-4y old average
• signs: hair loss, enlarged vulva, pruritus, aggression, dysuria in males from prostatic enlargement.
• can PALPATE adrenals normally, so can feel it, or ultrasound.
• sx best (remove the big one and half the other if bilateral, unilateral, 40% chance 2nd one will go in 3y), but medical possible (GnRH agonists, Lipton or deslorelin)

• functional beta cell tumors
• older animals, insidious onset
• signs: lethargy, exercise intolerance, weaknesss (hind limbs), ataxia, salivation, bruxism, staring into distance
• All ferrets should get a BG every 6 months
• Could remove large mass or part of pancreas (best chance for normal), but WHOLE pancreas affected so not curative
• Prednisone to include glc or diazoxide to bind insulin receptors.

• DCM most often
• coughing, lethargy, dyspnea, ascites
• rads and ECG
• benazapril,pimobendan, digoxin, lasix

• type 1 like dog, enteric
• type 2 like dry FIP

Zona reticularis rather than glomerulosa

• Commensal/opportunistic
• metro will kill it and pepto stops them from latching on to ulcer

• Little horses that hop.
• Lagomorphs because of peg teeth
• hind-gut fermenters,not enough intestine so re-eat night feces.  Day feces has lots of fiber to keep GI tract moving. Also need roughage for dental wear, teeth never stop growing.  NOT DIARRHEA, just night feces.
• STRESS so keep familiar smells, quiet esp after anesthesia.  Analgesia.

• males - bucks, females -does, young - kits.
• copulation30-40s, 30d gestation. Anogenital distance same, slit-like vs round opening.  Testicles descend at 3 months.
• altricial young, nurse only BID, wean 4-5wks

• No foot pads so wire bottom = pododermatitis
• social, need 2 (females territorial, m/f pair best)
• need exercise min 4h

• Pellets 20% or less (Timothy based for adult)
• grazing 50% of diet (hay, little/no alfalfa, fresh untreated grass
• 30% veggies

• Spinal injury from kicking--just set them down if kicking, keep non-slip surfaces.  Cover eyes if stressed (hold like a football with full-body scruff.
• Don't "hypnotize" on back by rubbing belly, cortisol spikes and they panic.

• No menace, no tapetum. Tympanum easily ruptured and straight canal, flush GENTLY.
• Dewlap in females to pluck hair and line nest.
• Oral - DENTAL ISSUES.  Peg teeth behind, 2 upper and 1 lower incisor. Oral speculum or otoscope cone for cheek teeth. Palpate for elongated roots in cheek teeth.
• Loud lung sounds, can listen to heart on sternum. Huge heart, murmurs heard everywhere
• stomach should always be full
• black waxy material in inguinal scent glands.
• Temp should be >100, below is shock!  Therm DORSAL

• Small samples: marginal ear vein (poke and let drip, catheter), cephalic vein (good for cath, only straight one in body)
• lg samples: lateral saph (cath), jug vein (don't lift head too high)

SQ warmed isotonic along shoulders/back/laterally

• Lots of mucus, Calcium like a bunny.  Also porphyrins-orange-pink color (normal from chlorophyll).  Stress? Not sure why it happens. Alkaline urine. 
• Daily exercise necessary because LOTS of sediment, needs to move to come out.

Hind-gut fermenters (except make night feces)

• Not enough fiber = small cheek teeth chewing, need more to avoid points
• can't prehend/drop food
• ulcers as the teeth grow into other tissues.  Can trim teeth - low speed to avoid HEATING teeth up. 
• As teeth grow up, too much pressure will make them grow DOWN = abscesses (anaerobic). Debride and pack, open and marsupialize, etc.

• indicates DRIED OUT material in stomach--decreased consumption, low fiber, high carbs (hair is normal, but hairballs)
• USU BAR but hx of anorexia, small hard feces or no feces, doughy mass in cranial abdomen (halo in rads pathognomonic)
• tx: rehydration of P, rehydration of stomach contents, increase motility.  Fluids, force-feed high fiber or critical care or pumpkin, metoclopramide or cisapride, fresh veggies and hay, respond in 2-4d

• rehydrate P
• rehydrate stomach contents
• increase gastric motility

• Hairball, FB, pyloric disease, rabbit seems SICK, often hypothermic.  Stomach taut, full, fluid or gas. No halo on rads.  Emergency!
• tx metabolic (acid/base)  and stomach distension (pushing on diaphragm, can't breathe!). = fluids, heat, gastric lavage, sx with FB.  
• Metaclopramide and small food q2h
• guarded prognosis

Unbalanced flora.  Caused by some abx -  penicillins, macrolides and cephalosporins PO

• Older: Often just uneaten cecotropes
• low fiber, high carbs, stress, oral abx and bacterial enteritis (clostridium, usually secondary).
• Young: unestablished GI flora.  Coccidia, corona or rotavirus, bacterial (clostridium, salmonella, pseudomonas, campylobacter, E. coli, C. Piliforme

• "snuffles"
• check uppper legs--grooming. Nasal culture helpful.  
• Systemic and topical abx.  
• Can also have allergies.

• 80% unspayed females by age 4
• adenoma, adenocarcinoma, endometriosis, hyperplasia, uterine aneurysms, pyometra. Thx with OHE.  Lung mets common.

• Thymomas: exophthalmus, exercise intolerance, lethargy, dyspnea, hiccups.  
• Sx or radiation

• Ca sludge in bladder, stones common (bladder, ureter, kidney).  Bladder feels like hacky-sack, urinate sludge.  Rads.  
• Remove when possible, or potassium/sodium citrate to reduce size and preventative.

• peripheral vestibular disease: bacterial infection of bulla through eustacian tube, bulla osteotomuy(+/-TECA), long-term abs
• Central vestibular disease: encephalitizoan cuniculi, or other CNS stuff.  Tx with meloxicam and albendazole/fenbendazole. Headtilt may never go away, roll

5-7y

Sunken eyes

touch forehead and they push off--otherwise depressed

Heart cranial, over sternum, LOUD lung sounds like rabbit

stomach often empty (2h), can palpate kidneys, third kidney is likely an enlarged ovary (>3y very common)

• support body
• hold base of tail - jumpers!  
• Don't grab fur--fur slip!

• Palpate jaw line for root elongation
• familiar heart murmurs normal, loud lung sounds.  
• Sex via anogenital distance.

• need vitamin C so FRESH pellets
• high fiber diets
• Timothy or grass hay 50% diet. Fresh veggies up to 30%.  Won't try new foods when older
• dirty, need sipper bottle

Commercial pellets <40% of diet with free choice Timothy or grass hay, 10-25% veggies, sugars and treats <5% of diet

• cranial vena cava
• jug (more lateral than expected), don't tilt head too far (asphyxiate)
• catheter in cephalic or lat saph
• 60-100ml/kg/day
• dorsal to scapula, not much space so many pockets or frequent
• IM in small volumes in caudal thigh, no epaxials in chinchilla

• Lingual entrapment: teeth grow over tongue, can't swallow
• abscesses less common than rabbits

• moms >7mo old.  OK to breed first time before 6mo (pelvic symphysis closes).
• tx with oxytocin if going to fit, C-section if not (not a good prognosis)

• Older, obese sows before or after parturition
• ketosis, depression, weakness, dyspnea.  Hypoglycemia, ketonemia/uria. 
• PREVENT, tx doesn't always help

Sows 2-5y, alopecia, pruritus, abdominal masses. Only 1 type of cyst is hormonally active, too much hormone = uterine disease.

Fat around armpits or chin = obese

hold by BASE Of tail, can full-body scruff (make the hamster smile), often better walking around

Mammary tumors!!!  If it's not on the head in a rat, it's a mammary tumor.  Usu benign in rats (fibroadenomas), malignant in mice.

mycoplasma pulmonis - CHRONIC, persists for life.  Enroflox and doxy, maybe azithro.  Thx for 2 weeks, lone for 5 months, recurs.

Lawsonia intracellularis = "wet tail" in hamsters, can cause intestinal prolapse.

• Epileptiform seizures (genetic)
• nasal dermatitis: porphyrin, self-trauma
• cutaneous neoplasms: ventral scent gland adenoma, sx removal easy but will come back
• M&M - mice and malignancy

dominant animal cuts fur of others--distract!  Don't overstock

fur slip

biting!!

bad!!  Malignant

chinchilla