Blood sampling in small mammals and exotic species

Question 1

What percentage of circulating blood can you safely take from a rabbit

Answer 1

circulatory volume= 55-70ml/kg
can take 10%

Question 2

what blood tubes do you use for bio/haem in rabbits

Answer 2

Haem- EDTA
Biochem- serum
glucose- fluoride oxalate

Question 3

T/F rabbit blood is slow to clot

Answer 3

False- clots quickly

Question 4

list the locations you can use for rabbit venipuncture

Answer 4

jugular
cephalic
saphenous
marginal ear vein

Question 5

What do you need to consider when taking blood sample from rabbit marginal ear vein

Answer 5

Pinna necrosis if poor/rough technique, but smaller area effected compared to artery.

Question 6

describe how to take blood sample from rabbit jugular

Answer 6

similar o in cat
dewlap can get in way
restraint may inhibit respiration

Question 7

what can using poor/ rough technique when taking jugular blood sample in rabbit result in

Answer 7

can cause blindness in ipsilateral eye

Question 7

what percentage of blood volume should you take rom guinea pig

Answer 7

1% BW rule
Limit blood sample size if anaemic or in circulatory shock.

Question 8

where should you use for venipuncture in guinea pigs

Answer 8

cephalic vein
cranial vena cava most useful for large blood draws- CARE

Question 9

what is different about guinea pig cephalic vein

Answer 9

more lateral

Question 10

how much blood can you take in
Rat, Mouse Gerbil & Hamster

Answer 10

1% BW rule
60-70 ml/kg

Question 11

list the locations you can use to get blood from in
Rat, Mouse Gerbil & Hamster

Answer 11

lateral tail vein
lateral saphenous vein
cranial vena cava

Question 12

list the locations to get a blood sample from ferrets

Answer 12

jugular (more lateral compared to cats)
cranial vena cava

Question 13

list the locations to get a blood sample from in hedgehogs

Answer 13

cranial vena cava
jugular vein
femoral vein

Question 14

T/F need GA to get blood sample from hedgehogs

Answer 14

True

Question 15

what considerations do you need to make when performing cranial vena cava method in small mammals

Answer 15

in some species (e.g. guinea pig, hedgehog) the heart lies close to sample site
anaesthesia is essential

Question 16

list 3 reasons why can taking a blood sample from reptiles be hard

Answer 16

most veins are not visible
lymphatic system closely associated - possible contamination of blood samples
low blood pressure and blood draws slowely

Question 17

what can happen when using EDTA with reptile blood

Answer 17

haemolyse reptile red blood cells.

Question 18

what is the anticoagulant of choice in reptiles

Answer 18

lithium heparin

Question 19

describe how to perform blood sample in lizard using ventral coccygeal vein

Answer 19

Entry approximately 1/3rd down the tail to avoid hemipenes and anal glands
Ventral or lateral approach may be used

Question 20

what is the most useful vein to take blood sample from in lizards

Answer 20

ventral coccygeal vein

Question 21

why do you need to be careful taking blood sample from ventral tail vein in some species

Answer 21

tail autotomy in some species especially Geckos
General anaesthesia helps prevent the problem

Question 22

List 3 locations you can take a blood sample from in lizards

Answer 22

ventral coccygeal vein
ventral abdominal vein
jugular vein

Question 23

list the sites you can use for blood sampling snakes

Answer 23

ventral coccygeal vein
heart
palatine veins

Question 24

describe how to take blood sample from heart in snakes

Answer 24

GA locate heart visually with US or doppler Stabilise heart between finger and thumb Needle entry ventral midline at a 30 degree angle in a cranial direction

Question 25

list the locations you can take a blood sample from in chelonians

Answer 25

jugular vein sub-carapacial vein dorsal coccygeal vein

Question 26

describe how to take jugular sample in chelonians

Answer 26

Along line from dorsal ear scale to shoulder Tends to be superficial

Question 27

describe how to take Sub-Carapacial Vein sample in chelonians

Answer 27

Entry point craniodorsal midline where skin joins carapace Aim for point at junction of 1st & 2nd vertebral scute on midline

Question 28

What is different about rabbit erythrocytes

Answer 28

Anisocytosis and polychromasia is a common, normal finding

Question 29

what is the normal heterophil: lymphocyte ratio in rabbits

Answer 29

1:1

Question 30

what will you see in response to stress/ disease in rabbits

Answer 30

The total white cell count rarely increases, instead the neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio changes

Question 31

what is a Kurloff cell

Answer 31

produced by the thymus under oestrogen stimulation. Resembles lymphocyte with round to oval inclusions seen in guinea pigs

Question 32

T/F ferret WBC generally low

Answer 32

True

Question 33

how long does it take for erythrocyte losses to be replaced in reptiles

Answer 33

4 months

Question 34

what is different about reptile erythrocytes

Answer 34

they are nucleated

Question 35

what is the predominate cell type in reptiles

Answer 35

heterophils

Question 36

what happens to heterophil levels through out the year

Answer 36

increase in summer, decrease during hibernation

Question 37

what are heterophils

Answer 37

equivalent to mammalian neutrophils

Question 38

List 4 things that can cause lymphopenia in reptiles

Answer 38

malnutrition stress immunosuppression poor husbandry

Question 39

List 4 reasons for lymphocytosis in reptiles

Answer 39

inflammation parasitic and viral disease wound healing ecdysis

Question 40

what species are azurophils found in

Answer 40

reptiles- more common in snakes

Question 41

List 2 things that can cause Monocytosis & Azurophilia

Answer 41

inflammation granulomatous disease

Question 42

what is the cell you will see most on snake blood smear

Answer 42

azurophils

Question 43

List 3 things we need to consider when taking blood sample from birds

Answer 43

Veins are generally very superficial. Veins are very fragile and prone to haematoma formation. Post-sampling haemorrhage and haematoma formation is potentially life-threatening.

Question 44

How much blood volume can you take from bird

Answer 44

up to 10% if in poor health= less

Question 45

what blood tubes do you use in birds

Answer 45

haem- Lithium heparin biochem- lith heparin

Question 46

why do you need to be careful when restraining birds

Answer 46

if hold thorax to hard then they can't breath

Question 47

how to reduce the risk of haematomas in birds

Answer 47

GA releives stress to bird and lowers BP

Question 48

List the 3 locations we can use for blood sampling in birds

Answer 48

jugular ulnar/basilic vein medial metatarsal vein

Question 49

describe how o restrain birds

Answer 49

Secure head between 1st and 2nd fingers of left hand, use thumb to raise vein

Question 50

what are the risks of using ulnar/ basilic vein in birds

Answer 50

Potential to fracture wing if performed conscious. Haematomas are common and can be severe.

Question 51

List the primary lymphoid organs in a bird

Answer 51

Birsa of Fabricius Thymus

Question 52

List the secondary lymphoid organs in birds

Answer 52

spleen intestinal lymphoid tissue bone marrow

Question 53

where is the Bursa of Fabricius located

Answer 53

Unique to birds is a dorsal diverticulum in the proctodeum (the third, distal-most chamber of the avian cloaca)

Question 54

What is different about avian erythrocytes

Answer 54

they are nucleated

Question 55

Describe avian thrombocytes

Answer 55

nucleated phagocytic functions clotting function weaker compared to mammals

Question 56

Do birds have neutrophils or heterophils

Answer 56

Heterophils- function similar to mammalian neutrophils