Avians (Exotics)

Question 1

What is the purpose of feathers?

Answer 1

Flight, insulation, attracting a mate

Question 2

What are the two types of primary feathers?

Answer 2

Remiges & retrices

Question 3

Which feathers are the remiges?

Answer 3

Primary wing feathers
Carpus and metacarpus

Question 4

Which feathers are the retrices?

Answer 4

Main tail feathers (pogostyle)

Question 5

Where are secondary feathers found?

Answer 5

Originate at radius and ulna

Question 6

Where are contour feathers found?

Answer 6

All over the body, deep to the primary feathers

Question 7

What is the purpose of down feathers?

Answer 7

Produce powder down

Question 8

What are the tracts called where feathers grow? *

Answer 8

Pterylae

Question 9

What are the featherless tracts called? *

Answer 9

apterylae

Question 10

What is the main shaft of the feather called?

Answer 10

rachis

Question 11

How does the vane of the feather stick together?

Answer 11

Barbs attached to the rachis & barbules attached to the barbs

Question 12

What is a blood feather?

Answer 12

Also called pin feather. New feather growing in that has blood supply.

Question 13

If a blood feather is broken, what do you need to do?

Answer 13

Typically necessary to pull it

Question 14

Describe the skin of birds

Answer 14

Very thin, only 2-4 cell layers thick.
Very little (if any)subcutaneous tissue)

Question 15

What is the wing web called?

Answer 15

Patagium

Question 16

What are the two glands that can be found in avians?

Answer 16

Uropygial (preen) gland *
Ear gland

Question 17

T/F ear glands are found in most birds

Answer 17

FALSE. Absent in most birds

Question 18

What color do birds bruise? Why?

Answer 18

green. Lack enzymes to convert biliverdin to bilirubin

Question 19

How many cervical vertebrae do birds have?

Answer 19

8-25

Question 20

Where do the pectoral muscles attach in birds?

Answer 20

Keel bone

Question 21

Which limbs must you avoid for IO injection & why?

Answer 21

Femur and humerus. They are pneumatic bones

Question 22

What are the bones of the hind limb in birds?

Answer 22

Femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus, phalanges

Question 23

What are the bones of the wing/forelimb?

Answer 23

Humerus, radius, ulna, ulnar&carpal bones, major & minor carpal bones, phalanges, alula

Question 24

Which bones create the synsacrum?

Answer 24

Caudal thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal vertebrae

Question 25

Which bones make up the pygostyle? What is it's purpose?

Answer 25

Fusion of caudal vertebrae. Tail muscle attachment

Question 26

T/F birds have a diagram

Answer 26

FALSE

Question 27

How many chambers does a bird heart have?

Answer 27

4

Question 28

Which jugular vein in larger in a bird?

Answer 28

Right is 2-3 times larger than left

Question 29

What sites are used for phlebotomy in birds?

Answer 29

Right jugular, cutaneous ulnar, medial metatarsal

Question 30

What organ do birds lack?

Answer 30

Lymph nodes Bladder

Question 31

Why is it important to give injections cranially in birds?

Answer 31

Blood from the caudal half of the body goes through renal portal system

Question 32

What is unique about the avians 3rd eyelid?

Answer 32

Craniodorsal location

Question 33

What supplies the retina with nutrients?

Answer 33

Pecten (similar to aqueous humor)

Question 34

T/F avians have a tapetum

Answer 34

FALSE

Question 35

What is unique about the avian's iris?

Answer 35

Voluntary striated muscle

Question 36

What is the area surrounding the nostrils in birds called?

Answer 36

Cere

Question 37

What is important to know to intubate a bird?

Answer 37

NO CUFFED TUBES

Question 38

T/F birds can still vocalise even when intubated

Answer 38

True. Syrinx is at tracheal bifurcation

Question 39

What is unique about avians lungs?

Answer 39

Stationary along the spine

Question 40

What is the airflow in birds?

Answer 40

1st inhalation: trachea (through bronchi) to caudal airsacs 1st exhalation: caudal air sacs to lungs 2nd inhalation: lungs to cranial air sacs 2nd exhalation: anterior air sacs to trachea

Question 41

T/F in birds oxygen exchange happens in both inhalation and exhalation

Answer 41

TRUE

Question 42

What is the purpose of the crop? How does it empty?

Answer 42

Stores food. Regular peristaltic contractions

Question 43

What is the difference between the proventriculus and ventriculus?

Answer 43

Proventriculus: glandular stomach Ventriculus: muscular stomach

Question 44

What are the three sections of the cloaca?

Answer 44

Copradeum : feces from GI Urodeum: urates from ureters Proctodeum: reproductive opening

Answer 45

Copradeum : feces from GI Urodeum: urates from ureters Proctodeum: reproductive opening

Question 46

How do you sex a bird?

Answer 46

Surgical or blood sexing

Question 47

Female mammals are XX, what is a female bird?

Answer 47

ZW

Question 48

Male mammals are XY, what are male birds?

Answer 48

ZZ

Question 49

What is unique about avian blood?

Answer 49

Thrombocytes (not platelets) Nucleated RBC

Question 50

When observing a bird before a PE, what are you looking for?

Answer 50

Fluffed and closing eyes vs BAR Amount of droppings (vs how long pet has been in there) Attidute, posture, breathing Feather quality Dyspnea (tail bobbing)

Question 51

What is sternal lift in avians?

Answer 51

Increased space from pubis to breast bone

Question 52

How do you position a bird for VD radiographs

Answer 52

Keel and sternum should be superimposed over the spine

Question 53

How do you position a bird for a lateral radiograph?

Answer 53

Coxofemoral and shoulder joint superimposed

Question 54

How long can avian anesthesia go before risk is greatly increased?

Answer 54

1 hour

Question 55

Why should you keep a bird's head elevated during surgery?

Answer 55

To avoid contents from crop causing aspiration

Question 56

What do you need to be careful of when doing bird surgery?

Answer 56

Lubricate eyes & don't let eyes rest on table

Question 57

Why should you not use alcohol to prep a bird for surgery? What do you use instead?

Answer 57

Use sterile saline. Alcohol causes too much heat loss

Question 58

Why should you not rub a birds skin?

Answer 58

Can cause subcutaneous hemmorhage

Question 59

What are clinical signs of dehydration in birds?

Answer 59

Depression, decreased skin elasticity over digits, sunken eyes, cool digits, corneal hydration

Question 60

Where do you never give an IO catheter in birds?

Answer 60

Humerus or femur

Question 61

Where do you give IM injections in a bird?

Answer 61

Pectorals. Cranial to renal portal system

Question 62

What are the disadvantages to IV injections in birds?

Answer 62

Not practical, stress, prolonged restraint, fragile veins

Question 63

What are the disadvantages to topical meds in birds?

Answer 63

"muck up" feathers and reduce insulation effect Gives bird a reason to chew and preen pff themed

Question 64

How long can you keep a bandage on a birds wing before it causes permanent damage?

Answer 64

8 days at most

Question 65

What happens when you leave a bandage on a bird's wing for too long?

Answer 65

Elastic ligament will contract and bird will not be able to fly