Non-infectious Diseases of Companion Birds

Question 1

Lead Poisoning

Answer 1

Many potential sources

Lead paint

curtain and fishing weights

solder

antique or imported cages

stained glass

Foil from champagne bottles

lead batteries

Question 2

Zinc Toxicity

Answer 2

Galvanized materials

Washers, screws, nuts, snap fasteners, car keys, pennies

Newly Galvanized wire

Remove powder and other particulates

Clean with mildly acidic solutin

Question 3

Lead poisoning - diagnosis

Answer 3

history of ingestion

Radiographs

Blood lead levels

Question 4

Lead poisoning - radiology

Answer 4

Question 5

Lead Posining - Treatment

Answer 5

Midazolam - control seizures

Supportive - fluids, feeding

Chelation - calcium EDTA, D-penicillamine

GI - lubricatns and laxatives

Question 6

Liver disease

Answer 6

Multiple Etiologies

Acute: infectious - chlamydia, toxins

Non-infectious: Hepatic lipidosis, hepatic fibrosis, iron storage disease, neoplasia

Question 7

Hepatic Disease - Clinical signs

Answer 7

“Sick bird” symptoms

feather discoloration

beak and nail overgrowth

+/- palpable hepatic enlargement

Biliverdinuria

Question 8

Normal Droppings

Answer 8

Urates: should be well formed and be white. Any changes to color or texture is an alert to a problem

Urine: should be clear and watery as shown. Color changes and amount can be an alert to a problem

Feces: should be green or brown. Diet can change the color of the feces, so if you notice a change compare to what was eaten

Question 9

Answer 9

Biliverdinuria = green discoloration

Question 10

Liver Disease - Diagnosis

Answer 10

History

Clinical exam

Clinical pathology; AST< CK, Bile acids

Radiographs - hepatic silhouette

Ultrasound + liver aspiration

Endoscopy and liver biopsy

Chlamydophila testing

Question 11

Coelomic Distention

Answer 11

Due to effusion or hepatomegaly

Question 12

Coelomic Effusion Radiology

Answer 12

Generalized loss of detail

Question 13

Renal Disease

Answer 13

Any: infection, neoplasia, toxins

Clinical Signs: Non-Specific, +/- polyuria, coelomic distension, Lameness

Question 14

Renal Disease

Answer 14

Clinical Pathology - increase Uric Acid

Radiology - renal enlargement

Edoscopy and Renal Biopsy

Question 15

Renal disease

Treatment

Answer 15

underlying cause; supportive care

Question 16

Gout

Answer 16

Uric acid builds up in blood and depostis crystals: articular or visceral

Question 17

Gout

Etiology

Answer 17

Renal diease

Excess dietary protein

Question 18

Articular Gout

Answer 18

joint swelling

lameness, decreased movement

Aspirate - cytology - white crystals with inflammatory cells

Question 19

Gout - diagnosis

Answer 19

Plasma uric acid levels increased

Radiographs +/- urate tophi or tissue mineralization

Endoscopy / CT - most useful for visceral gout

Question 20

Gout - treatment

Answer 20

Intensive supportive care

Dietary modification

Allopurinol - block the production or uric acid

Unrewarding >> poor prognosis

Question 21

Cardiovascular Disease

Answer 21

Common 10-39%

Sub optimal diagnosis - Rapid HR - murmurs and arrhythmias difficult to detect

Dyspnea and ascites - also other causes other than CV disease

Question 22

Cardiovascular diseases

Answer 22

Endocardial disease

Myocardial disease

Pericardial disease

Cardiac arrhythmias

Congenital disease

Atherosclerosis - VERY COMMON

Question 23

Atherosclerosis and Diet

Answer 23

Calcium and Lipid deposes in the wall of the vessles → stenosis

Question 24

Cardiac and Celomic Effusion

Answer 24

Emergnecy Fluid Aspiration

Question 25

Neoplasia - common types

Answer 25

Lipomas and xanthoma in cockatiels and budgies Gonadal tumors Renal adenomas and adenocarcinomas Cloacal papilloma

Question 26

Xanthoma and lipoma causes

Answer 26

Fatty diets

Question 27

Avian Neoplasia Diagnosis

Answer 27

Cytology Histopathology

Question 28

Avian neoplasia Treatment

Answer 28

Usually single bird, species, treatment, pathology reports Very few reports about pharmacology and radiation Birds are very sensitive to the toxic effects of both

Question 29

Feather destructive behavior

Answer 29

Mutliple factors Rule out medical causes Suboptimal living environment Brain Dysfunction Combination of the above A complex behaviour problem

Question 30

Feather destruction Living enviroment - decreases

Answer 30

Appropriate stimuli Species typical behavior Ability to exert control

Question 31

Feather destruction Proper enrichment

Answer 31

Social Occupational Physical Sensory Foraging!