ExoticPets the basics - Vetark for pet health & vitamin ... is an exotic pet?" Pet numbers" ......

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11/01/2014 © VETARK PROFESSIONAL 2014 1 Exotic pets in practice: the basics Peter Sco: MSc.BVSc.FRCVS The plan Exotic pets what are they Why should vets get involved Some rules Where do vets come in? History taking Differences Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery, Analgesia Euthanasia Feeding Metabolic bone disease What is an exotic pet? Pet numbers Dogs & cats 8 million each Fish 140 million Guinea pigs, hamsters budgies, rabbits 1.5 million each Reptiles 8 -12 million 2010 figures of about 26 million UK households almost 1 in two (13 million) own a pet. 23% own a dog, >10% various fish, ~1-2% (0.25-0.5) owned a reptile Fish data based on OATA surveys done in 2006, others derived from various sources – import data, feed data (ie. items of food sold), numbers actually sold Survey of pet ownership 16,445 emails sent out 2082 responses (12.7%) Majority of owned reptiles <1yr old, high proportion > 5yr old 70% of reptile owners also own dogs, 49% have cats, 45% have small furries, 25% have fish, 16% have birds (only 3% do not own another pet) 52% own lizards, 25% chelonia, 23% snakes All their problems are man made! At a recent BVA AWF meeting a proposal was roundly supported which quoted the old throwaway (no data) that 90% of the problems of reptiles were husbandry/environment issues caused by owners Logically true, since man provides their home and environment and is responsible for determining their needs, providing them, cleaning, feeding and watering the animal etc. You could say the only reason its not 100% is that there is still ‘the wild element’ in the exotics because we haven’t messed them up yet – unlike the truly domestic pets where it is 100%

Transcript of ExoticPets the basics - Vetark for pet health & vitamin ... is an exotic pet?" Pet numbers" ......

Page 1: ExoticPets the basics - Vetark for pet health & vitamin ... is an exotic pet?" Pet numbers" ... Bird/replemicrochip &£39.20 && DENTAL ... ketamine in snakes – they can sleep for

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Exotic pets in practice: the basics"

Peter  Sco:  MSc.BVSc.FRCVS  

The plan"•  Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"

•  Some rules"•  Where do vets come in?"

–  History taking"–  Differences"–  Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,

Analgesia"–  Euthanasia"

•  Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"

What is an exotic pet?" Pet numbers"

•  Dogs & cats" " " 8 million each"•  Fish " " " " 140 million"•  Guinea pigs, hamsters

budgies, rabbits " " " 1.5 million each"•  Reptiles " " " " 8 -12 million"•  2010 figures of about 26 million UK households

almost 1 in two (13 million) own a pet. 23% own a dog, >10% various fish, ~1-2% (0.25-0.5) owned a reptile "

"•  Fish data based on OATA surveys done in 2006, others derived from various sources – import

data, feed data (ie. items of food sold), numbers actually sold"

Survey of pet ownership"•  16,445 emails sent out"•  2082 responses (12.7%)"•  Majority of owned reptiles <1yr old, high

proportion > 5yr old"•  70% of reptile owners also own dogs, 49%

have cats, 45% have small furries, 25% have fish, 16% have birds"–  (only 3% do not own another pet)"

•  52% own lizards, 25% chelonia, 23% snakes"

All their problems are man made!"

•  At a recent BVA AWF meeting a proposal was roundly supported which quoted the old throwaway (no data) that 90% of the problems of reptiles were husbandry/environment issues caused by owners"–  Logically true, since man provides their home and

environment and is responsible for determining their needs, providing them, cleaning, feeding and watering the animal etc."

–  You could say the only reason its not 100% is that there is still ‘the wild element’ in the exotics because we haven’t messed them up yet – unlike the truly domestic pets where it is 100%"

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•  ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF DOGS AND CATS ARE DUE TO BEING KEPT BY MAN"–  Since man has domesticated dogs and keeps them it can

hardly be otherwise"–  From hobbling dysplastic overfed labradors and gasping pugs

and bulldogs to screaming Cavaliers with syringomyelia"

•  THIS ARGUMENT DOESN’T HELP US – its simply a truism. "

•  At the end of the day, with easy availability of information the situation is no different between most exotics and the more familiar dogs & cats"

•  Good welfare is simply about meeting an animals needs."

•  Bearded dragons"

•  Corn snakes"

•  Leopard geckos"

•  Crested geckos"

•  Royal pythons"

•  Tortoises (hermans

and horsefields)"

>70% of the reptiles sold"

Most are captive bred"•  Lower incidence of parasites and general

pathogens"

High  biosecurity,  good  nutriJon,  space,  groups,  vet  care,  good  welfare.      Opportunity  to  control  issues  as  they  appear,  new  tests/potenJal  pathogens  etc  can  be  incorporated  into  control  systems  

Captive care means complying with the Five needs/provisions"

Our  concept  of  welfare  is  a  combinaJon  of  five  ‘needs’    The  most  controversial  is  the  ability  to  express  normal  behaviour.    Not  least  because  we  can’t  always  be  clear  about  which  behaviours  are  required  and  which  are  driven  by  food,  escape  etc.  

The plan"•  Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"

•  Some rules"•  Where do vets come in?"

–  History taking"–  Differences"–  Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,

Analgesia"–  Euthanasia"

•  Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"

1st rule"•  Ideally have receptionist request

details of the species, photos of the environment and feeding, weight and any sloughing records"

•  This will give you the opportunity to look it up on the internet if necessary"–  We have all done this, I have

virtually every book on exotic pet medicine for reference.!

–  I bought them personally even when I was employed. !

–  Use all the cases as learning opportunities!

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2nd rule"•  Leave time for the consult. "– Think about doing them at the end of a

session so that you can use the case as a learning experience. "

– Talk to the owner, watch the animal quietly and relaxed, birds in particular will be conscious of being watched but will relax more when you are both speaking about the history, get all this done before you handle the animal."

3rd rule"•  Never automatically

assume that because someone owns an animal that they know how to handle it safely."

4th rule"•  Don’t halve consult fees because you don’t

know anything or because its only small."– Some clients will always look for someone cheaper,

and will always moan how little they pay. Let them find someone else"

– Your expertise is in history taking, and examination, collect and build knowledge as you go."

– Some practices that know what they are doing often charge 1.5-2 x dog consult fees because done properly exotics cases often take longer. Ops etc require specialist equipment or expertise."

Sample  fees  CONSULTATIONS      First  ConsultaJon  –  Dog/Cat/Small  Mammal/  ExoJc  £28.58    Repeat  ConsultaJon  –  all  species  -­‐  short  £11.57    Repeat  consultaJon  -­‐  small  mammal/  exoJcs  –  long  £18.90    Repeat  consultaJon  -­‐  dogs/cats  –  long  £20.41    ExoJc  referral/  second  opinion  consultaJon  £88.20    ExoJcs  beak  /  nail/  wing  trim  £17.77    Bird  beak  correcJon  with  GA  £48.96    Nurse  ConsultaJon  FREE    

MICROCHIPS      Cat/Dog/  small  mammal  Microchip  £22.06    Cat/Dog/  small  mammal  Microchip  with  other  procedure  £19.44    Bird/  repJle  microchip  £39.20    DENTAL  Dog/  cat  dental  prices  on  applica?on  dependent  on  ?me  and  extent  of  procedure  

   Rabbit/  rodent  dental  (incl  GA  and  criJcal  care  sachet)  £115.50    Rabbit/  rodent  dental  (incl  GA  and  xray  and  criJcal  care  sachet)  £157.50    

5th  rule  •  Many  clients  move  around  to  find  a  vet  they  trust  with  their  exoJc  pet.    

•  If  a  case  has  been  seen  elsewhere  treat  it  the  same  way  that  you  would  a  referral.    

•  Get  the  other  pracJces  history  and  phone  for  details  (clients  someJmes  lie  or  forget  things)  

•  Aeerwards  let  the  original  pracJce  know  the  outcome.  They  may  refer  to  you  in  future.  

•  Recognise  mutual  freedom  of  choice,  don’t  tolerate  PIA  clients  

final rule"•  Build a network"•  Join specialist societies, they are

full of knowledgeable enthusiasts"•  BVZS, AAV, EAAV, ARAV,

AEMV,FVS"

•  DON’T JUST TELL A NURSE TO PHONE SUCH AND SUCH FOR ADVICE. COURTESY WHEN ASKING FOR ADVICE REQUIRES THAT YOU MAKE THE CALL"

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•  There is considerable worldwide interest in exotic animal medicine and surgery, but its still one the areas where you can get involved and actually do quite advanced work"

•  Its enjoyable to be working in an area where you can still make a contribution rather than automatic referral"

•  Needs commitment, its not a hobby but it is rewarding for those of who don’t get out much"

Join…..  

•  h:p://www.bvzs.org    

•  h:p://www.aemv.org    

•  h:p://www.arav.org    

•  h:p://www.aav.org  

•  h:p://www.fishvetsociety.org.uk  

Equipment / toys"•  Microscope"

–  Slides, slips"•  Blood tubes"•  Rigid endoscope 1.9 & 2.7mm very handy, even better if fitted with

camera attachments"•  Fine ophthalmic-type instruments"•  Lonestar retractor, clear drapes"•  Radiosurgery -Ellman surgitron, with bipolar forceps "•  Surgical loupes 1.5-3.5 is adequate"•  Hemoclips very popular for speed"•  Monofilament absorbable polyglyconate suture material (often

reactions to catgut)"–  Subcuticular closure plus tissue adhesive"

•  A quiet kennel area, away from barking dogs, range of heat sources or hot room"

Downsides"•  There will be disappointments and a

higher failure rate"– A lot of the species are prey species and they

mask signs till its too late, they give up, the handling or nursing potentially mimic predators ‘playing’ with them"

•  There isn’t a return from vaccines, support products and prescription foods"

•  Higher incidence of zoonoses"

The plan"•  Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"

•  Some rules"•  Where do vets come in?"

–  History taking"–  Differences"–  Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,

Analgesia"–  Euthanasia"

•  Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"

History  taking  

•  Done  properly  these  can  take  Jme,  I  would  normally  recommend  allowing  up  to  20-­‐30  minutes  so  do  them  at  the  end  of  a  session.  

•  They  are  very  important  and  you  will  oeen    learn  things  

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General Exotics history 1  •  Get  the  history  while  you  are  quietly  watching  the  animal  from  a  distance.    

•  Birds  will  hide  signs  but  usually  only  for  a  short  Jme.    

•  Don’t  dive  in  to  handle  animals  too  quickly.  

 

General Exotics history 2"

– Gauge experience – "•  How long has the owner kept them, "•  how long have they had this animal, "•  Where did they get it"

– How many other animals in their collection"– What has the client done, treatments? "– What food is used, when last fed/ate"– Last defaecation/urination "– Cleaning frequency, what do they use"

Reptile history"•  Housing"– What temperature range/gradient is provided"– Humidity (most like 50-70%) but desert or

rainforest species may differ. Do they measure it?"– What substrate is used"– How are heat and light provided"

•  What type of bulbs, for how long?"–  If aquatic how is water quality maintained"– Use of supplements, gut loading or insects?"– Reptiles - Live or dead vertebrate prey used"

Birds  history  

•  Details  of  cage/aviary  –  size,  substrate  cleaning  

•  Where  is  the  cage,  any  changes  eg  pictures  on  wall,  ornaments  

•  Company,  radios,  TV  •  What  type  of  interacJons  with  family  

Some  vets  have  clients  fill  in  a  quesJonaire  covering  all  of  this  first,  but  handwriJng  can  test  the  system!  You  can  use  one  in  surgery  as  an  aide  memoire  to  take  you  through  

initial examination"§  Visual exam - CCTV is very

useful!"§  Try to have everything you will

need to hand"§  Catch and carry out a thorough

physical exam"§  Palpate bones, check orifices"§  Assess nutritional status and

condition "§  Assess breathing after release"

What  can  vets  do  

•  Provide  scienJfic  support  •  Access  to  labs  –  blood  work,  microbiology  etc  

•  Vet  equipment  – Rads,  CT,  ultrasound  

•  Drugs  •  Surgery  –  key  to  this  is  anaesthesia  

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Blood sampling"•  Blood  tesJng  

•  Ventral  tail  vein  in  lizards  and  snakes    

Blood  sample  birds  Brachial  vein  isn’t  good,  its  quite  mobile  and  needs  the  bird  rock  steady  

Right  jugular  is  excellent,  with  a  good  featherless  tract  over  it  and  oeen  the  bird  can  be  held  in  one  hand  and  bled  with  the  other  

Toe  nail  clips  can  be  used  for  DNA  tests  

Blood  sampling  fish   Veterinary Diagnostic techniques"

•  Radiography  •  CT  •  Ultrasound  

Bird  rads   Fish  rads  

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Shark  spine  invesJgaJon   Aeer  taking  the  history  

•  Need  to  think  about  species/genus  specific  info  – Clinical  anatomy  –  generally  similar  but  different  enough  to  merit  checking!  

– Relevant  physiology  –  reproducJve  especially  – Temperature  requirements  

Anatomy  &  Physiology  

•  There  is  bewildering  variaJon,  don’t  assume  too  much  

•  Unless  you  actually  keep  them,  rely  on  general  biology,  veterinary  background  and  research.  

•  Use  books  •  Use  the  Internet  

 Clinical  anatomy  

One  way  lizard  breath  

•  The  upper  image  is  a  colorized  CT  scan  showing  different  airways  in  the  lung  of  a  monitor  lizard.  The  bo:om  image  shows  how  air  flows  in  a  mostly  one-­‐way  loop  through  the  lizard's  lung,  as  measured  by  sensors  implanted  as  part  of  a  University  of  Utah  study.  Note  how  the  air  flows  through  adjacent  lateral  airways  (blue  and  purple)  by  moving  through  perforaJons  in  the  airways'  walls.    

•  it  is  possible  that  one-­‐way  airflow  evolved  independently  about  30  million  years  ago  in  the  ancestors  of  monitor  lizards  and  about  250  million  years  ago  in  the  archosaurs,  the  group  that  gave  rise  to  alligators,  dinosaurs  and  birds.  

•  More  lizard  species,  such  as  geckos  and  iguanas  need  to  be  examined  in  the  same  way  

Cardiac  flow  •  Three  chambered  heart,  allows  selecJve  flow  around  the  pulmonary  circuit.  The  pulmonary  flow  increases  with  sympatheJc  sJmulaJon  

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ReproducJon  Basics  •  Egg  layers  &  live  bearing  – Oviparous,  ovo-­‐viviparous,  and  viviparous  –  Egg  laying  is  usually  late  spring  early  summer,  with  hatchlings  appearing  mid-­‐late  summer  

–  There  are  some  which  simply  retain  eggs  and  hatch  them  internally.  •  Pythons  lay  eggs,  and  boas  produce  live  young  •  Montaine  species  of  chameleons  produce  live  young  •  There  are  known  to  be  a  small  number  of  snakes  which  swap  between  laying  eggs  or  internal  incubaJon  depending  on  climate  

temperatures"•  preferred optimal temperature zone (POTZ)

for reptiles is generally considered to be 20°C to 25°C in temperate and aquatic species, and 25°C to 35°C in tropical species"

•  Generally vivaria are set up to provide a range, "

•  Appropriate Temperature Range (ATR)"–  Most bask to achieve this"–  In the region 20-32oC"–  Inactive below 15oC"–  Hibernate if maintained at 5-10oC"

Sloughing Cycle of Reptiles"

This process is very prone to ‘disturbance’ due to diet or environment"

AcJvely  growing  younger  snakes  shed  every  2-­‐3  months,  mature  adults  it  is  1-­‐2  Jmes  a  year  

Reptile anaesthesia  •  Ideally  anaestheJse  at  the  opJmal  metabolically  acJve  temperature.  

•  Sick  ones  are  oeen  dehydrated,  rehydrate  a  bit  if  possible  prior  to  anaesthesia.  –  s/c  space  is  limited  but  can  be  used.  AbsorpJon  is  slow  (hyaluronidase  1500  IU/l  helps)  

–  Intra-­‐coelomic  is  usable,  and  absorbed  quicker  •  REMEMBER  repJles  have  no  diaphragm  so  don’t  put  too  much  in  

–  Epicoelomic  route  in  chelonia  –  between  pectoral  muscles  and  plastron  

Reptile anaesthesia"

Chelonia  -­‐  Jugular  vein,  sub  carapacial  (easiest,  using  a  27G  needle)  and  dorsal  tail  vein  

•  Larger Lizards, snakes and all chelonians"– Propofol i/v 10 mg/kg"– Alfaxalone i/v 5-10mg/kg""

Lizards  &  snakes  ventral  tail  vein  

Injectable  is  oeen  easier  and  smoother  In  small  individuals    i/v  can  be  very  difficult   •  General use i/m"

– Medetomidine & ketamine"•  0.2 + 10mg /kg given i/m"

– Some just use 30-60mg/kg ketamine then add gaseous if it’s a long op or deeper plane required"

Avoid the historical doses of 100mg/kg ketamine in snakes – they can sleep for days"

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Anaesthesia  

•  A  safe  anaestheJc  is  the  key  to  invesJgaJng  or  solving  many  issues  

•  Oeen  it  is  useful  to  do  this  early  in  a  case  before  the  animal  becomes  sicker  – To  get  bloods  – Radiographs  – biopsies  

Reptile anaesthesia  •  RepJles  have  a  tolerance  to  anaerobic  condiJons,  low  metabolic  rate  ie.  –  can  breath  hold  prodigiously!  Especially  aquaJc  species  

•  So  –  masking  or  anaestheJc  chambers  work  on  snakes  and  lizards  –  albeit  slowly  (10-­‐20  min),  but  not  chelonia    

•  When  using  gas  to  induce  a  flow  isn’t  needed.  Fill  the  container  (5%  iso,  or  8%  sevo)  and  observe.  

•  Can  assess  righJng  and  pinch  reflexes.  If  using  ziplock  bags  for  small  lizards  etc  can  do  this  through  the  bag.  

•  Can  then  intubate  when  anaestheJsed  –  range  of  modified  catheters  and  et  tubes  (Cook)  Tracheal  rings  may  be  complete  (chelonia  &  crocs)  or  incomplete  (snakes  &  lizards)  –  its  not  consistent  –  DON’T  USE  CUFFED  TUBES.  

•  Snakes  are  easier  than                              lizards  to  tube  •  Lidocaine  on  glovs  helps  •  Chelonia  have  a  proximal  tracheal  bifurcaJon  so  you  cannot  use  a  long  tube  

•  PosiJve  pressure  venJlaJon  is  needed  since  they  lose  voluntary  acJvity.  They  have  no  diaphragm  so  no  movement  of  skeletal  muscles  =  no  respiratory  movement  

•  Connect  to  a  T-­‐piece  and  use  manual  IPPV,  VERY  gently.  Or  use  a  Vetronics  VenJlator.  –  With  tortoises  look  for  movement  of  the  front  legs  as  an  indicator.  

•  Work  on  about  5-­‐6  breaths  per  minute  iniJally  Jll  depth  is  OK,  then  can  reduce  to  2-­‐3.  

•  About  3%  isoflurane  is  usually  fine  •  Because  of  pulmonary  bypass,  for  prolonged  anaestheJcs  

some  prefer  to  use  injectables  but  maintain  on  IPPV  oxyge  

•  ConJnuous  monitoring  of  cloacal  temperature  is  useful  •  Pinch  reflexes    on  toes  and  tail  are  OK,  snakes  recover  from  

tail  forwards!  •  Corneal  reflex  is  no  use.  Generally  it  remains  throughout  •  8MHz  doppler  probe  over  the  heart  is  the  most  useful  

monitor,  ECG,  blood  pressure,  pulse  oximetry  and  capnography  aren’t  useful  –  too  variable  

Stolen  from  Aidan  Raeery,  showing  the  Vetronic  venJlator  

Surgical  Jps  •  Use  paramedian  approach  –  there  is  a  big  vein  median  

•  Catgut  is  non  absorbable  for  repJles,  use  vicryl  •  Scales  won’t  heal,  evert  skin  

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levels of dehydration"

Maintenance rates average at 50ml/kg/day ie. 5ml per 100g"When rehydrating estimate the deficit and on day one give 50% + maintenance requirement and repeat on day two"

At about 10% start to think i/v!

Recovery  

•  RepJles  can  do  death  impressions,  leave  then  24hrs  at  least.  

•  Recover  at  24-­‐26  oC,  most  prefer  a  warm  room  to  sivng  them  on  pads  (water  recirculaJng  heat  mats  are  OK)  

•  The  CO2  in  a  warm  room  will  help,  most  get  over    venJlated  and  somewhat  respiratory  suppressed  due  to  high  oxygen.    Mouth-­‐to-­‐mouth  isn’t  recommended!  

•  Maintain  at  26-­‐28oC  for  a  while  as  thermoregulaJon  is  oeen  compromised  for  a  while  

Reptile analgesia"•  Clinical  signs  of  pain  can  be  difficult  to  interpret.  

•  RepJles  do  possess  an  opioid  system  but  responses  vary  from  those  of  mammals.  

•  Acute  pain  oeen  causes  vigorous  acJvity  at  the  Jme  –  eg.  Escape  from  injecJon  

•  Chronic  pain  tends  to  lead  to  immobility  

RepJle  analgesia  

•  Non-­‐steroidals  (NSAIDS)  –  by  injecJon  – 0.2mg  /kg  meloxicam  every  24-­‐48hrs  – Or  – 2mg/kg  ketoprofen  every  24-­‐48hrs  

•  NSAIDS  –  by  mouth  – 5  days  meloxicam  at  0.2mg/kg  then  reduce  to  every  other  day  (one  study  in  ball  pythons  at  0.3mg/kg  showed  poor  results)  

RepJle  analgesia  

•  Used  frequently  – Butorphanol  0.5-­‐1mg/kg    •  Variable  depending  on  receptor  type  Mu  or  kappa,  varies  between  Families  and  even  genera  –  Values  recorded  0.4-­‐28mg/kg  in  a  range  of  species  –  One  study  showed  effects  at  1.5  or  8mg/kg  

Avian  anaesthesia  •  My  personal  preference  is  masking  with  isoflurane  about  3%  

•  Get  everything  ready  first  •  Get  on  with  it  •  Watch  the  recovery  from  handling  

•  I  suspect  that  birds  have  died  whilst  vets  set  up  monitoring  equipment.    

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Avian  lung   Avian  analgesia  

A  lot  of  variaJon  between  birds  •  Butorphanol  at  1-­‐2mg/kg  i/m  appears  useful  where  severe  pain  is  considered  -­‐  although  depression  is  reported  in  various  raptors  eg  gyrfalcons  and  owls.  

•  meloxicam  is  the  NSAID  of  choice.    – 0.3-­‐0.5mg/kg  i/m,  i/v  PO  twice  a  day  

Fish  anaesthesia  

60-­‐  80  µg/kg  medetomidine  combined  with  5-­‐10  mg/kg  ketamine  

Veterinary Support techniques"•   Nursing  

Tubing  repJles  

•  Easier  than  birds  since  you  can  see  the  larynx  easily  •  With  snakes  go  slowly  and  keep  the  first  third  of  the  body  verJcal  for  a  minute  or  so  aeerwards.  

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Tubing birds"•  Easy for right handers"•  Bird facing you"•  Go from birds left (your right)"•  Across and down towards

your left hip"•  See the tip of the tube in

place"•  Have someone check for

TWO tubes ie. trachea and feeding tube"

From  Ritchie  et  al  

Tube  feeding  

Gently express the dose"Gently and slowly remove the tube"Keep the bird upright for a few moments for swallowing reflexes to operate"

passerines"

•  Passerines have a small/absent crop to small amounts often are the rule"

•  Rubber tubes work well"

•  Have swabs etc available to clean up if they regurgitate"

calorific support"•  Fluids ""

–  Maintenance: 50 ml/kg/day"–  Replace the deficit over 2-4 days."–  May be split between oral and parenteral

routes."•  Calories"

–  Metabolic Energy re (MER"–  1.5 x k x (BW in kg)0.75"

•  K= 78 for parrots etc"•  k-= 129 for passerines"

•  200 kcal/kg/day is a useful rule of thumb while you find a 12 year old with a calculator"

•  Increase for small birds and decrease for big ones"•  Frequency: depends on crop size (3 -5% BW v/w)

and patient tolerance; may feed up to 8 x/day"

volume"Generally the oral route is

preferred, bolus dosing at 25ml/kg per feed rough rule of thumb"

"Alternatively:" budgies 0.5-1 ml" cockatiel 2.5ml-5ml " African grey 8-10ml " macaw 10-15ml "

Euthanasia  

•  RepJles  – Take  them  away  from  the  owner  for  collecJon  another  day  

– Sedate  using  gas  or  ketamine,  then  i/v  pentobarb  – Doppler  useful  to  confirm  that  the  heart  has  stopped.  

– Pith  via  the  foramen  magnum,  nostril  or  roof  of  the  mouth  –  oeen  unsightly  haemorrhage  

– Keep  warm  24hrs  to  allow  drugs  to  work  then  consider  freezing  

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Euthanasia  

•  Birds  –  i/v  pentobarb  

•  Fish  – AquaSed  –  i/v  pentobarb  for  big  koi  or  larger  

The plan"•  Exotic pets what are they"– Why should vets get involved"

•  Some rules"•  Where do vets come in?"

–  History taking"–  Differences"–  Anaesthesia, Surgery, Recovery,

Analgesia"–  Euthanasia"

•  Feeding"– Metabolic bone disease"

Feeding"

Feeding  snakes  

•  Hatchlings  start  on  fluffy  mice,  one  every  5-­‐6  days  and  graduate  up  to  an  adult  mouse  every  7-­‐10  days  as  they  grow.  Very  large  snakes  may  require  2  adult  mice  per  feed  or  even  the  introducJon  of  larger  prey  items  such  as  rats,  Guinea  Pigs  and  small  rabbits.  You  may  also  feed  a  mature  Royal  Python  on  day  old  chicks  to  provide  a  variaJon  in  diet.    

•  Do  not  feed  the  snake  with  live  food,  even  a  small  mouse  may  bite  or  injure  the  snake.  Shop  brought  frozen  rodents  are  available  from  most  pet  shops  or  bought  over  the  internet;  these  can  be  thawed  to  room  temperature  and  make  an  excellent  all  round  food  for  your  snake.  Wild  rodents  carry  parasites  and  should  be  avoided  at  all  Jmes.  

•  Never  handle  a  snake  straight  aeer  a  feed,  as  it  will  regurgitate  its  meal.  It  is  recommend  to  leave  your  Royal  at  least  48  hours  aeer  feeding  before  handling.  Snakes  that  are  preparing  to  shed  their  skin,  rarely  feed  unJl  aeer  they  have  shed.  

Leopard gecko feeding"

Remember"•  No UV, rely on dietary vitamin D3"•  Active forager, nocturnal"

•  Dusted crickets are the staple, (juveniles about 5 a day), adults will take 9-10 three times a week. "

•  Mealworms, waxworms etc even pinkies provide some variety but are high fat "

Bearded dragon feeding "

Wild dragons look for higher protein and so are mainly insectivorous but as they grow their needs change and they start taking leafy material, fruits and even flowers. ""Eventually as adults they are up to 90% herbivores"•  Juveniles - crickets 2-3 times a day, also offer chopped

vegetables & fruit"•  Adults - dark green leafy vegetables eg. lettuce, collard,

endive, spinach plus carrots, fruit"•  Complete diets not more than 50% of daily ration "

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Tortoise  feeding  

A balanced (not necessarily natural) diet for tortoises (particularly Testudo spp.) •  Leafy weeds and grasses eg. Dandelion, clover,

plantain, cress, watercress, coriander, pea leaves and pods, timothy grass, alfalfa"

•  Salad leaves tend to have higher water content so weight for weight contribute less nutrients, but otherwise they are fine"

•  Small amounts of fruit"•  Calcium - cuttlebone, crushed egg shell and

NUTROBAL. The calcium content of many vegetables can be increased by liming the vegetable patch prior to, and during growth."

Feeding"•  Don’t just chuck it a bowl of

seed because it might be a parrot!"

•  Find out what it is and what it eats"

•  Try to get the receptionist to find out the species first. Then check it when you see it, eg Amazon grey, and African green parrots"

Cage bird diets"

Seedeaters"(grit)"

softbills"

budgie"canary" parrots"

insectivores"nectar feeders"

Millet"+ "

canary seed"

oily seeds, canary seed, millet"

Sunflower, milo, fruit,

bread, milk, honey, meat!"

Nectars, bovril,

complan "

Mealworms, fruit,special mixes, egg"

Identify the bird, look at beak shape for clues!

Beak shapes"

•  This is a quickie guide, not cast in stone. "

•  Birds will die if you don’t find the right food"

•  Identify the bird and use the internet"

Sunflower seed"

High fat"Low in everything else – especially when stored

State flower of Kansas"Huge amount grown in Russia etc

Vine House grow their own here ie. they are fresher and better

Seeds - what’s missing?"•  Protein (amino acids)

lysine, methionine"•  Vitamins

A, D3, riboflavin, B12, E, K, pantothenic acid, niacin, biotin, choline"

•  Mineralscalcium, sodium"

•  Trace elementsiron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium"

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Metabolic bone disease"Iguana iguana"Naturally herbivorous as adult, but omnivore when young"

Metabolic bone disease"Soft shell"Lumpy shell"

Complex inter-relationship between protein intake/calcium/phosphorus/growth rate and humidity"

Calcium issues"

Failure to mineralise bones properly"African greys especially:"

" rickets & folding fractures"

Tetany especially around the time of laying," convulsions etc. especially African greys"

Metabolic bone disease"

Avoid metabolic bone disease"

Juveniles" Adults"

Calcium : Phosphorus ratios""FOOD " "Calcium% "Phosphorus % " "Ca:P ratio""Mealworms " "0.0008 " "0.0112 " " " 0.07:1""Locusts " " "0.001 " "0.0075 " " " 0.13:1""Earthworms " "0.95" " "0.95" " " " "1:1""""Whole Sardines "0.15" " "0.975 " " " 0.02:1""Horse meat " "0.01" " "0.24" " " " 0.04:1""Beef muscle " "0.011 " "0.188 " " " 0.06:1""Chicken muscle "0.012 " "0.201 " " " 0.06:1""Beef liver" " "0.008 " "0.352 " " " 0.02:1""White fish fillet" "0.0022"

""Oranges " " " " " " " " " " 1.74 :1""Grapes " " " " " " " " " " 0.50 :1""Bananas " " " " " " " " " " 0.24 :1""Lettuce " " " " " " " " " " 0.86 :1""Iceberg lettuce " " " " " " " " 1.30 :1""Carrots " " " " " " " " " " 1.50 :1""Tomato " " " " " " " " " " 0.62 :1!

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Misconceptions"•  A day old chick was part of an egg

yesterday and doesn’t equate nutritionally with a whole bird carcase"

•  A lab rodent doesn’t equate to a wild rodent"

•  Mealworms and crickets do not equate with‘wild’insects"

•  Animals don’t have a balanced diet on a daily basis"

Ultra-violet light"

Some commercial full spectrum bulbs have been linked with cataract formation"

If bulbs with a good UV component are used then full spectrum multivits may only be needed 3 x a week, and a simple calcium source on the others."Otherwise use them daily. "

h:p://www.uvguide.co.uk  

Vetark Products to be aware of"

CCF & Reptoboost are used nursing sick reptiles or tortoises which have not started eating after hibernation"

Ark-Klens for cleaning vivaria"

Final  take  home  messages  DO  NOT  SUPPLY  IVOMEC  FOR  TORTOISES  OF  

ANY  SPECIES  

DON’T  USE  CLIPPERS  ON  PARROT  BEAKS