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Exotics Flashcards

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1
Q

you should suspect _____ reptile you see to be suffering from some form of nutritional deficiency. what is the #1 ddx? related to ______.

A

every
metabolic bone disease
inappropriate husbandry practices

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2
Q

many colourful birds depend on _______ ______, like ______.

A

dietary pigments, like carotenoids

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3
Q

what are the overarching goals of exotics/wildlife nutrition?

A

growth
overall health (longevity) (decreases in infectious and non-infectious diseases)
± breeding success

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4
Q

what are the 4 feeding strategy goals of exotics/wildlifie?

A
  1. provide a nutritionally balanced diet
  2. stimulate natural feeding behaviours
  3. balanced diet that’s consistently consumed
  4. practical and economical to feed
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5
Q

Buffet style feeding is ________. why?

A

strongly discouraged!
animals rarely select a balanced diet – seeds deficient in vitamin A, protein, Ca, other nutrients, but high in fat ± toxins

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6
Q

Aflatoxicosis in birds:
1. what is it?
2. etiology?
3. what causes this?
4. how to prevent?
5. pathology ?

A
  1. chronic ingestion of low levels of toxins in many seed diets
  2. Aspergillus spp.
  3. inappropriately stored seeds and pet-grade peanuts
  4. proper food storage, human-grade peanuts
  5. liver affected (hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, hepatic carcinoma)
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7
Q

rabbits like _____, which can cause _____ issues because of _____ inhalation. they are ____ ______ ______, and _____ breakdown fibre in hindgut.

A

protein, resp, ammonia
mono gastric, hindgut fermentors, microbes (Bacteriodes spp.)

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8
Q

rabbits – high _____ is essential but often overlooked in clients. _____, _______ particles stimulate normal GI processes.

A

fibre
coarse, non-digestible

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9
Q

inadequate fibre content leads to what things in rabbits?

A

fur chewing (barbering)
trichobezoars
GI stasis (secondary hepatic lipidosis)
lethargy, anorexia, possible death

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10
Q

excessive energy intake results to what in rabbits?

A

obesity
pododermatitis
UTIs
dental disease

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11
Q

rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, most other rodents do something called ______. what happens in GIT?

A

coprophagy.

in hindgut, dietary fibre divided into large (indigestible) and small (digestible) fibres
large particles are eliminated directly as hard fecal pellets – mechanically stimulate motility of cecum and colon
smaller particles collect in hausfrau of colon and sent back to cecum via reverse peristalsis for fermentation

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12
Q

what are cecotrophes - rabbits?

A

cecum synthesizes a.a and volatile fatty acids and concentrates them
coated in a membrane of mucous to protect nutrients from stomach acids

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13
Q
  1. rabbits ingest cecotrophes intact how?
  2. cecotrophes are high in what vitamins?
  3. ____x the protein and _____ the fibre of a normal pellet
  4. disruption in process results in what?
  5. cecotroph ingestion is highest when?
A
  1. directly from anus
  2. Bs and K
  3. 2x and 1/2
  4. abnormal stool production
  5. when rabbits are fed a diet high in non digestible fibre
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14
Q

ferrets are what type of eater? what anatomic and physiologic features reflect this?

A

strict, obligate carnivores
short GIT
spontaneous secretors of hydrochloric acid
minimal gut flora

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15
Q

ferrets eat _____ meals often. food consumption and weight regulated by ____. seasonal obesity is _____ harmful and should be considered _____ in ferrets.

A

small
daylight
not
normal

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16
Q

ferrets need what percentages of protein and fat in their diets? what type of protein should be used?

A

protein - 30-35%
fat - 15-20%
animal protein products

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17
Q

can ferrets have cat food? what about dog food?

A

cat: acceptable, but not recommended
dog: nope!

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18
Q

in ferrets, you should avoid what in the diet?

A

diets/treats with sugars or high fibre

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19
Q

how often should you feed your ferret?

A

several small feedings per day
best to have food always available for adults
water always available

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20
Q

ferrets:
1. food preferences are set when?
2. what is the typical inappropriate diet fed by owners?

A
  1. early in life (first few months)
  2. cheap, dry dog/cat kibble and sugary treats
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21
Q

feeding ferrets high carbs and fibre can result in what?

A

urolithiasis and insulinomas

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22
Q

insulinomas in ferrets:
1. what is an insulinoma?
2. is this common in ferrets?

A
  1. pancreatic islet beta cell tumor - indiscriminate insulin production
  2. yes. 25% of all neoplasia cases in NAm (b/c of high carb diet)
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23
Q

what are the clinical signs of insulinomas in ferrets?

A

episodic, worsening with time (acute hypoglycaemia and chronic lethargy)
hind end ataxia and weakness
presumed nausea due to hypersalivatio and pawing at mouth
depression, and longer deeper sleeps
star gazing
rarely seizures

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24
Q

the vol and frequency of feeding wildlife/exotics varies based on:

A

age
repro status
season (molt increases protein required; daylight hours)
temp (hibernation/brumation (reptiles))

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25
vol and frequency of feedings of exotics/wildlife based on what?
BMR 2x and 6x BMR in adult and very young animals respectively
26
feather destructive behaviour in birds is a disease of ____ caused by 1 or more of:
captivity nutritional deficiencies, husbandry/environmental, behavioural, infectious disease, etc
27
what are the common nutritional diseases in wildlife/exotics that we have to know?
metabolic bone disease hypovitaminosis A vitamin E/selenium deficiency thiamin deficiency Vitamin C deficiency obesity
28
metabolic bone diseases: we have to know 3 examples of MBDs (rickets, osteomalacia, fibrous osteodystrophy). what are they?
rickets: inadequate mineralization of bone due to deficiencies in vitamin D or calcium osteomalacia: softening of bone due to mineral loss from a previously mineralized bone fibrous osteodystrophy: replacement of bone with fibrous material
29
what 3 etiologies do we have to know for metabolic bone disease?
absolute Ca deficiency Ca-P imbalance Vitamin D deficiency
30
vitamin D2 and D3: 1. most mammals can utilize ____ and dietary ____. 2. new world primates, birds, reptiles, fish cannot utilize ____ and require ____. 3. many reptiles are unable to digest enough _____ in their diet.
1. D2, D3 2. D2, D3 3. vitamin D
31
MBDs are most common in what signalments? list some clinical signs.
young carnivores, birds, reptiles lameness, bone deformities, fx's and softening of bone, swollen jaws and tooth loss, hypocalcemic tetany, deformed shells (turtles), paralysis (lizards esp), poor feathering, deformed/soft eggs (birds/reptiles), reluctance to climb (primates)
32
how do you diagnose MBDs?
hx and clinical signs facial and long bone swelling osteodystrophy radiographs total serum calcium levels plasma vitamin D levels may be extremely low
33
how do you treat MBDs?
acute: calcium gluconate given IV chronic: Ca:P supplementation at 1.5-2:1 ratio, vitamin D supplementation
34
how do you prevent MBD?
feed balanced diet with known nutritional profiles, provide calcium at 1.5-2:1 ratio, allow access to unfiltered sunlight or UVB light, keep reptiles in their POT(H)Z - gut load insects with Ca - dust insects in Ca - feed nutritionally balanced whole food items
35
seeds, muscle/organ meat, fruit, most grains, and most insects are deficient in _____.
calcium
36
Vitamin A is important for what?
cell replication, vision, remodelling of bone, integrity of epithelium, immune function, and reproduction
37
all meat or all seed diets are prone to what disease?
hypovitaminosis A
38
what are the clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A in birds? (especially parrots!)
white plaques in mouth and esophagus blunting of choanal papillae conjunctivitis, sinusitis, resp infectious poor growth, ataxia, gout
39
what are the clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A in reptiles? (esp tortoises!)
facial swelling, eye closure, conjunctivitis, resp infections
40
what are the important clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A in ALL SPECIES???
poor fertility, growth rates, and blindness (malfunctioning rods)
41
how do you treat hypovitaminosis A?
vitamin A injection dietary correction
42
how do you prevent hypovitaminosis A?
ensure diet has adequate levels of retinol herbivores require the precursors
43
why are selenium and vitamin E important?
reduce free radical damage important for reproduction, muscular, circulatory, nervous and immune functions
44
vitamin E/selenium deficiency is common in what species?
guinea pigs, hamsters, fish most common nutritional disease of captive ruminants
45
what are the clinical signs of vitamin E/selenium deficiency? what is the typical signalment?
young animals typical, but any age can be affected white muscle disease stiffness and paralysis due to skeletal muscle necrosis, mineralization cardiomyopathy (sudden death esp when stressed) ill thrift and lethargy (GP and deer) conjunctivitis (GP)
46
how do you treat vitamin E/selenium deficiency?
mild cases: response to supplementation with vitamin E/Se injections severe cases: poor response, supportive care, muscle relaxants, sedatives
47
how do you prevent vitamin E/selenium deficiency?
ensure adequate levels in diet measure vitamin E serum levels supplement fish and high fat diets (100 IU vitamin E/kg fish) follow expiry dates dry foods neonatal hoof stock should receive a vit E/Se injection w/I first 24-48 hours in deficient areas
48
thiamin deficiency is a common problem in ______. what are some examples? why?
fish-eaters pelicans, penguins, marine mammals, some snakes, amphibians, fish thiaminase activated after death in fish, enhanced by freezing
49
what are the clinical signs of thiamin deficiency?
anorexia and weight loss ataxia and limb paralysis tremors and seizures stargazing cardiac failure loss of equilibrium, edema, and poor growth in fish
50
how do you treat and prevent thiamin deficiency?
supplement diet with thiamine 30-35 mg/kg of fish for animals on thiaminase-containing diets
51
vitamin C deficiency results in...?
defective blood vessels and tooth position
52
most primates, bats, guinea pigs, capybaras, some birds, fish, and some cetaceans are prone to vitamin C deficiency. why?
cannot synthesize ascorbic acid because they lack enzyme that converts glucose to ascorbic acid
53
what are the clinical signs of vitamin C deficiency?
poor coat and skin condition lameness stomatitis muscle and joint hemorrhage "broken back disease" in fish swelling at long bone epiphyses and CC junctions (Fx's) increased susceptibility to infectious disease anorexia diarrhea
54
how do you treat and prevent vitamin C deficiency?
commercial diets fortified – feed w/it 90 days due to oxidation balanced diet (green fruits and veggies) seeds and animal tissue have low to no vitamin C excess can enhance iron toxicity (esp in fruit bats and lemurs)
55
increased weight = ???
increased strain on MSK system and decreased life span
56
obesity is a _____ problem in most captive species, particular in carnivores, ungulates, birds, primates, reptiles, amphibians
common
57
what does obesity result in?
dystocia, hepatic lipidosis (all spp) atherosclerosis (parrots) pododermatitis, uroliths, dental disease (rabbits)
58
rabbits are prone to developing uroliths, especially if...
obsese and have limited exercise fed alfalfa pellets/hay free-choice as adults have been over-supplemented with vitamins/minerals
59
calcium regulation in rabbits: 1. serum calcium is ____ regulated in a narrow range. 2. excreted in ____ concentrations in the urine. 3. _____ starts building up in the urinary tract
1. not 2. high 3. sludge
60
signs of urinary sludge and/or calculi in rabbits?
frequent urination (often outside normal toilet area, dribbling urine, hindquarters may be continually damp with urine) straining to urinate hunched position and grinding of teeth (emergency situation! may be blocked) sludge in urine (urine thick and white, grainy white material when dry) blood in urine loss of appetite
61
rabbits/rodents have ____incisors.
hypsodont
62
inappropriate diet in rabbits can lead to:
spurs, points, overgrown teeth slobbers anorexia GI stasis and dysbiosis hepatic lipidosis
63
tell me about a good diet for a growing (<7 months) or lactating rabbit
commercial legume based (alfalfa) pellet ad lib - 16-18% protein, ≥16% fibre grass hay ad lib veggies (handful/day) - avoid spinach and cabbage due to high oxalates
64
tell me about a good diet for adult rabbits
non-legume based (Timothy) pellet, offered in a measured amount (30-60 g/kg/day) - 12-14% protein, 20-25% fibre, < 2.5% fat, < 1% Ca grass hay ad lib (~30-35% fibre)
65
what are the 7 benefits of hay for rabbits?
1. high fibre and ideal Ca:P ratio 2. good behavioural enrichment (promotes more natural foraging behaviour) 3. reduces aggression 4. reduces excessive grooming and fur chewing (decreased risk of trichobezoars) 5. reduces chewing on inappropriate objects (decreased risk of impaction) 6. decreased risk of obesity and pododermatitis 7. reduced risk of uroliths, dental, infectious disease
66
obesity and arthrosclerosis in parrots: 1. common signalment? 2. risk factors? 3. clinical signs ? 4. diagnosis ? 5. prevention ?
1. captive parrots – African greys and Amazons 2. long term diets high in fat + cholesterol, perch potatoes, age, concurrent hepatic lipidosis and R-side HF 3. acute death, dyspnea, lethargy, paresis, collapse 4. necropsy 5. improve diet/exercise, omega 3 fatty acids (inhibit vasculitis and reduce plaque formation)

465 nutrition (6 decks)

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