diets for birds, reptiles, and exotic mammals

Question 1

what is important to remember with husbandry

Answer 1

there is no way to mimic the natural environment of animals we bring into our home

Question 2

nutrition for birds

Answer 2

• challenging to know needs for every species
• age variation
• nutritional studies on young cockatiels and chickens

Question 3

what is the solution to bird nutrition

Answer 3

pellets

Question 4

what is the break down of bird diet

Answer 4

• 80% = pellets
• 15% = veggies
• 5% = treats

Question 5

what not to feed to birds

Answer 5

• avacado, chocolate, alcohol, caffeinated beverages
• peanuts can carry aflatoxins

Question 6

bird behavior with eating

Answer 6

• many will not just eat whats infront of them
• prey animals - repeat what they did yesterday
• pretend they are eating
• pretend not eating
• not eat
• stool production tells all

Question 7

stool production

birds

Answer 7

• have owner count stools fot 24 hour period
• record it
• during convo owner must continue to count stool
• small drop in prod. is expected
• large drop. - inform owner to go back one step and call for advice

Question 8

how to convert to new bird food

Answer 8

• adding 1/4 of total per week of new food in pellets and remobe 1/4 old food
• take 4 weeks
• give small amounts of mix regularly so birds do not pick through

Question 9

what is birdie bread - corn bread

Answer 9

• corn bread dry mix replaced with crushed pellets
• cook normally
• increase pellet part each week by 1/4
• cut into small squares

Question 10

what do poor bird diets lead to

Answer 10

• atherosclerosis
• sinusitis/rhinits
• hepatic lipidosis
• gout
• egg production/dystocia
• fractures
• over conditioning
• lipomas

Question 11

what does poor diet in reptiles cause

Answer 11

• overweight
• hypocalcaemia
• hepatic lipidosis
• renal disease

Question 12

UV light - reptiles

Answer 12

• symbiotic role for absorption of calcium
• incandescent bulbs cannot emit UVB
• fluorescent bulbs - 24” long minimum and changed every 6mo
• mercury vapor bulbs changed every 3-4mo

Question 13

what is preferred optimal temperature zone

Answer 13

• species variation
• immune stimulant
• absorption of vitamins/minerals

Question 14

what is bad temp husbandry

Answer 14

• heat rocks/caves/mats
• heat should not be within reach - get burns

Question 15

herbivores - reptile ex

Answer 15

iguana

Question 16

omnivore reptile ex

Answer 16

bearded dragon, turtles

Question 17

insectivores reptile ex

Answer 17

geckoes, chameleons

Question 18

carnivore reptile ex

Answer 18

snakes, monitor lizards

Question 19

what is the diet of a herbivore

reptile

Answer 19

• dark veggies
• minimal fruits unless species specific

Question 20

what is the diet of insectivores

Answer 20

• generally lizards
• prey should be half the size of the head
• gut load = “feed the food”

Question 21

diet of carnivores

Answer 21

• snakes and monitor lizards
• whole prey items best
• feed dead/thawed frozen (may have to stun/kill first)

Question 22

dietary supplementation in reptiles

Answer 22

• if on good diet - dont need supplements
• can be used for gut laoding prey items

Question 23

calcium supplementation in reptiles

Answer 23

• common to add
• only when changing diet
• not in older than 12mo
• use calcium supplement not containing phosphorus
• under vet instruction

Question 24

ferrets

Answer 24

• ferrets are strict carnivores
• built to tear and swallow prey or parts of prey whole
• stomach - HCL
• GI transit time ~ 3 hrs
• used as model for many human GI dieases

Question 25

ferret diets

Answer 25

* high protein and fat diet * no cat or kitten food * feed throughout the day

Question 26

rabbits

Answer 26

* herbivores * monogastric, hind gut fermenters * fiber, low energy dense food items * produce cecotrophes

Question 27

why is fiber important in rabbit diets

Answer 27

* promotes motility * undergoes fermentation in cecum with diverse microbiome

Question 28

cecotrophes in rabbits

Answer 28

* stool that is ingested for energy that was produced in ther femenration process * produced overnight

Question 29

veggies in rabbit diets

Answer 29

* start adding in veggies 12 weeks of age * take small amount of one veggie and feed that daily for 1 week * if no issues, add another veggie next week * repeat process until nice variety

Question 30

general feeding rules in rabbits

Answer 30

* free choice hay - timothy/orchard grass * 1 cup veggies/4lbs * 1/4 cup pellet/4lbs highin hiber (min 18% fiber) * free access to water

Question 31

guinea pigs

Answer 31

* GI physiology and feed is similar tp rabbits * free choice hay - timothy/orchard grass * 1/2 cup veggies * 1/8 cup pellets (min 18% fiber) * free access to water * VC is a must * produce cecotrophs throughout day

Question 32

what does hypovitaminosis C cause

Answer 32

scurvy

Question 33

vitamin C

Answer 33

* natural better than manufactured * VC supplements shelf life of 90 days

Question 34

chinchillas

Answer 34

* very similar to rabbits and guinea pigs * chinchilla pellets * VC is endogenously produced * cecotrophy throughout day

Question 35

hamsters/gerbils/rats/mice

Answer 35

* omnivores * monogastric hind gut fermenters * not obligate fermenters * extruded pellet diet for each * offers hay * variety of veggies * multiple water sources

Question 36

hedgehogs

Answer 36

* omnivores, love insects * monogastric, no cecum * insects and veggies * extruded pellet diet is majority of diet

Question 37

weight management in hedgehogs

Answer 37

* 2-3 tsp/day pellets * 1tsp wet food/day * veggies/fruits 1tsp day * feed inset/prey 3-4x week * exercise

Question 38

sugar gliders

Answer 38

* omnivorous hind gut fermenters * tree sap, nectar, insets * gut load insects * artificial nectar mix * small am fresh veg/green