Exotics Flashcards

1
Q

How to sex rabbits

A

Male (buck): round & penis can be protruded

Female (doe): vulva V shaped

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2
Q

How to sex guinea pigs

A

Male (boar): penis may be extruded through circle of tissue

Female (sow): Y shaped opening

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3
Q

How to sex rats

A

Male (buck) - large anogenital distance & presence of testicles

Female (doe) - small anogenital distance & presence of nipples

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4
Q

How to sex mice

A

Male - large anogenital distance & presence of testicles

Female - small anogenital distance

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5
Q

How to sex hamsters

A

Male - large anogenital distance & presence of testicles

Female - small anogenital distance

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6
Q

How to sex bearded dragons

A
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7
Q

How to sex tortoises

A

Males have longer tail

Plastron concave in males

Margin of carapace tucked in male & flared in female

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8
Q

How should rodents be housed

A

Exercise should be encouraged with toys & wheels

Fresh water available

Hamsters housed alone

Other rodents housed in groups (same sex & age)

Sawdust bedding so they can nest & burrow

Gerbils should be offered sand baths regularly for grooming

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9
Q

How should reptiles be housed

A

Temperature gradient in enclosure

Basking area

Infrared heat source

UV light for lizards & chelonians to make vitamin D

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10
Q

How are snakes sexed

A
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11
Q

What are commonly kept indoor birds

A

Passerine:
Perching or song birds
e.g. canaries or finches
Anisodactyl feet (3 forward, 1 back)

Psittacine:
Parrots, macaws, cockatoos & budgies
Zygodactyl feet (2 forward, 2 back)

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12
Q

Describe daily management of indoor kept birds

A

Indoor bird cages:
Birds must be able to extend wings in all directions
Additional opportunities for exercise
Made of stainless steel
Horizontal bars for climbing

Identification:
To recognise offspring, identify breeding pair, trace origin & owner
Ringing (Left leg – female, Right leg – male)
Microchipping
DNA profiling
Tattooing
Rubber stamping
Photographing

Wing clipping:
Done to prevent flight
Never cut blood feathers
Training & harnesses are alternatives

Claw & beak trimming:
Done due to overgrowth, infectious diseases, fractures or perching issues
May need GA
Correct underlying cause

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13
Q

What are the nutritional requirements of birds

A

Nutritional requirements:
Huge variety
Many pet diets are seed based

Problems with seed based diets:
Variable in quality & nutritional composition
High in fat & low in nutrients
Bacterial & fungal contamination common

Alternatives to seed based:
De-husked seed diets – less contamination
Pulse diets – more protein but nutrient deficient
Mixed diets – hard to get right & allows for selective eating
Formulated diets – nutritionally balanced, at least 50% fruit & veg

Grit:
Often found in gizzard of wild birds
Enrichment
Helps break down food
Protects GI tract from damage by sharp objects
Source of nutrients
Recommended for all birds

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14
Q

Describe how to sex indoor birds

A

Some species exhibit sexual dimorphism
Budgies – males blue, females red
Cockatoos – males black iris, females brown iris
Cockatiels – tail feather differences after first moult

Behavioural differences
e.g. males often more vocal

In sexual monomorphic breeds sexing is required
Endoscopy to assess gonads
DNA analysis of blood or feather pulp

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15
Q

Describe critical values of birds

A

Resp rate – 15-60bpm

Heart rate – 250-500bpm

Temperature – 40-43celcius

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16
Q

Describe toxicity in birds

A

Due to galvanised/power coated materials
New cage, coins, car keys, wire, lead rings

Signs:
Lethargy
Regurgitation
Weight loss
Anaemia
Drinking & urinating more
Neurological signs
Feather plucking

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17
Q

Describe bumblefoot in birds

A

Pressure sores on feet
Causes secondary infections

Predisposing factors:
Obesity
Lack of activity
Poor perching
Nutritional problems
Overgrown nails
Poor hygiene

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18
Q

Describe feather plucking in birds

A

Many causes (e.g. breeding related or behavioural issue)

Can lead to self-mutilation

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19
Q

Describe over-bonding in birds

A

Bonding with owner can be intense

Can lead to:
Regurgitation
Frustration
Stress
Aggression
Excessive egg laying

Prevention:
Share interaction with others
Avoid stroking down length of back
Do not positively reinforce courtship behaviours

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20
Q

Describe hypocalcaemia in birds

A

Calcium metabolism requires vitamin D

UV light required to convert vitamin D to active form

Indoor birds often have inadequate UV light exposure = calcium & vitamin D deficient

Signs:
Neurological issues
Bone abnormalities & fractures
Beak deformities
Reproductive issues
Poor feather quality

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21
Q

Describe hypovitaminosis A in birds

A

Most common vitamin deficieny

Affects epithelial cells throughout body

Clinical signs:
Nasal discharge
Abscesses
Sinusitis
Breathing difficulties

22
Q

Describe respiratory disease in birds

A

Due to air quality issues

Aspergillosis
Fungal infection
Opportunistic

Psittacosis
Zoonotic
Stress trigger

23
Q

What birds are these

A
24
Q

What birds are these

A
25
Q

Outline legalities regarding birds of prey

A

Illegal to take birds of prey from wild without DEFRA license, unless its receiving treatment from vet or person registered to treat & release

Wildlife & countryside act 1981:
Species listed in schedule 9 considered non-native & can’t be released or allowed to escape
Some can be re-released after brief period of rehabilitation
Barn owl
Northern goshawk
Red kite
White-tailed eagle

26
Q

What are the roles of birds of prey

A

Falconry

Displays

Zoos

Breeding collections

27
Q

Outline bird of prey nutritional requirements

A

Raptors eat entire carcass & regurgitate bones & feathers

Don’t feed pure muscle

Feed different animal each day

Provide fresh water

Ca:P ratio important (growing birds – 2:1, adults – 1.5:1)

28
Q

Outline bird of prey welfare problems

A

Poor housing

Lack of exercise

Incorrect diet

Lack of social interaction

29
Q

Outline common injuries, causes & prevention in birds of prey

A

Common injuries:
Wing tip oedema
Bumblefoot
Blunt trauma

Causes:
Injury
Incorrect perch
Poor perch hygiene
Obesity
Nutritional deficiencies

Prevention:
Balanced diet
Clean environment
Cover perches with suitable material
Handle & fly more often

30
Q

Outline common husbandry-related diseases in birds of prey

A

Enteritis:
Abnormal mutes
Vomit or regurgitate
Emergency
Causes:
Bacterial, fungal, viral, endoparasitic, toxicity

Parasites:
Cause diarrhoea or white plaques in mouth
Common when multiple birds kept in close proximity or poorly sourced food
Freezing pigeons before feeding can prevent infections
Wild birds have natural parasite burden – only becomes problem when stressed or ill

Crop stasis:
Crop emptying is prolonged (stasis) meat will go rotten
Causes:
Crop infection, inappropriate food, dehydration, low body condition, over full crop

31
Q

What are these

A
32
Q

What does flight weight, cast, cast off, footing, imping & mews mean

A

Flight weight: ideal weight for flying

Cast: method to hold bird OR to regurgitate a pellet OR 2+ birds flown together

Cast off: released from fist

Foot/footing: when bird strikes with its feet

Imping: replacement of damaged feathers

Mews: building that bird is kept in

33
Q

What are the systems in which birds of prey can be kept

A

Tethered on blocks or perches
Bow or block made of astrotruf, nylon rope or natural materials

Aviaries

34
Q

How do you cast a bird

A
  1. Grasp bird from behind using towel
  2. Wrap towel around body & cover head if not hooded
  3. Don’t restrict breathing
  4. Place one side of bird against your body & move one hand to place fingers around birds legs to hold feet
  5. Once casted owner can hold bird in towel for you
35
Q

Describe daily management of rabbits & guinea pigs

A

Rabbits:
Somewhere to hide & somewhere to exercise
Can stand up without ears touching roof
Can lie fully outstretched
Can take 3 consecutive hops

Guinea pigs:
Exercise area
Tunnels to run through and hide in

36
Q

Describe rabbit & guinea pig diet

A

Rabbit diet:
Herbivores
Hind gut fermenters
Continuously growing teeth
85% hay, 10% vegetables, 5% pellets

Guinea pigs:
Herbivores
Hind gut fermenters
Continuously growing teeth
85% hay, 10% vegetables, 5% pellets
Vitamin C in diet

37
Q

Describe rabbit & guinea pig welfare concerns

A

Solitary living
Should never be kept alone – become depressed

Poor breeding
Dental malocclusions – dental disease
Narrow ear canals – chronic ear infections
Brachycephalic – over heating

38
Q

Describe rabbit & guinea pig welfare related diseases

A

Incorrect diet
Dental disease – gut stasis
Obesity – bladder disease
Excessive dietary calcium – bladder disease
Hypovitaminosis C – pain

Small enclosures
Lack of movement – bladder disease
Poor ventilation – respiratory infections
Poor hygiene – fly strike

39
Q

Describe rabbit critical values

A

Temperature – 38.5-40celcius

Heart rate – 130-325bpm

Gestation – 29-35 days

Resp rate – 30-60bpm

40
Q

Describe guinea pigs critical values

A

Temperature – 37.5-39.5celcius

Heart rate – 230-380bpm

Gestation – 59-72 days

Resp rate – 40-120bpm

41
Q

What are the roles of zoos in modern society

A

Scientific institutions for study of animal behaviour & welfare

Centres for conservation excellence

Entertainment

Education

Research

42
Q

What are some relevant legislations regarding zoos

A

Animal welfare act 2006

Zoo licensing act 1981

Dangerous wild animals license

British & irish association of zoos & aquaria

43
Q

What breeds are these

A
44
Q

What breeds are these

A
45
Q

What breeds are these

A
46
Q

What breeds are these

A
47
Q

What breeds are these

A
48
Q

Describe nutritional requirements of reptiles

A

Carnivorous species – whole prey items

Herbivorous & omnivorous species
Leafy weeds & vegetables
Avoid oxalates foods (reduce Ca availability)
Avoid pellets
Avoid high phytate containing foods
Feed omnivores insects

Don’t handle snakes within 48 hours of feeding

49
Q

Describe common musculoskeletal diseases of reptiles

A

Metabolic bone disease
Disorder of calcium metabolism
Fractures & bone deformities

Gout
Uric acid crystals form in joints

Overgrown nails & beak

50
Q

Describe common gastrointestinal diseases of reptiles

A

Gut impaction

Endoparasites

Regurgitation

Anorexia

51
Q

Describe common skin & shell diseases of reptiles

A

Burns & scalds

Ectoparasites

Tumours (UV damage)

Trauma

Shell pyramiding

Soft shell (metabolic bone disease)

Stomatitis (mouth inflammation)

52
Q

Describe common respiratory diseases of reptiles

A

Inadequate ventilation

High temperatures/low humidity – drying of mucous membranes

Low temperatures – reduced immunity

Poor hygiene

Small vivarium – snakes cant clear discharges

Nutritional deficiencies