Intro to exotic practice

Question 1

steps required to book an exotics consultation

Answer 1

species of animal
advise on transport of animal
request faecal sample
owner bring food, supplements and photos of environment
pre-consult questionnaire
30 min consult

Question 2

transport of rabbits, reptiles, birds and fish

Answer 2

rabbits: carrier
reptiles: provide heat - hot water bottle, snakes: pillow case
Birds: cage or travel box
fish: double plastic bag in waterproof box, bring second bag of water

Question 3

facilities required for an exotics practice

Answer 3

Housing:
- heated tanks
- vivarium
- avoid predators - rabbits
- secure

Equipment:
- good microscope
- crop tubes/stomach tubes
- fine surgical instruments
- ventilator, endoscopy, magnification

consult room
- secure: no open doors or windows or air vents
-containers to examine
- sensitive scales

Disinfectants
- effective
- fogging rooms

Question 4

first aid for exotics

Answer 4

ABC
stop any haemorrhage
warmth for birds and reptiles
oxygen supplementation - not reptiles
rehydration
analgesia
antibiotics?

Question 5

cause of salmonella

Answer 5

carried by a range of species and can be part of gut flora

Question 6

symptoms of salmonella in humans

Answer 6

GI upset –> sepsis

Question 7

treatment of salmonella

Answer 7

antibiotics stop shedding but do not clear
maintain good biosecurity until clear

Question 8

causes of Chlamydophila psittaci

Answer 8

intracellular bacterium
carried by birds
transmission: bodily secretion, faeces, feather dust, sneezing

Question 9

symptoms in birds and humans - Chlamydophila psittaci

Answer 9

birds: lethargy, anorexia, diarrhoea
humans: flu may be fatal if untreated

Question 10

treatment of Chlamydophila psittaci

Answer 10

humans: antibiotics
birds: doxycyline
wear mask and wash hands

Question 11

symptoms of mycobacterium spp

Answer 11

fish tuberculosis
local non-healing ulcers
reduced appetite, weight loss, body deformities

Question 12

treatment/prevention of Mycobacterium spp

Answer 12

if open wound - cover with waterproof bandage and gloves

wash hands well
avoid communal sinks

Question 13

causes of Dermatophysis

Answer 13

fungal infection - ring worm
spread by contact

Question 14

symptoms of dermatophytosis

Answer 14

scaly itchy patches

Question 15

prevention of spread - dermatophytosis

Answer 15

wear gloves
wash hands well after handling

Question 16

Routes of euthanasia in reptiles

Answer 16

use gaseous GA first
mammal: IV or liver/kidney
- rabbit: ear vein
- rodents and ferret: cranial vena cava

reptiles:
IV then pith
- check heart stops
snake: intracardiac or liver
lizard: tail vein
Chelonia: jugular

birds: gaseous the IV jugular or tibiotarsal vein in larger birds

fish:
GA + pentobarbitone injection or severing spinal cord behind gill cover