Avian & Exotic

Pet owners switched brands to save money in categories other than pet products at a much higher than anticipated rate.

National Report -- Tests confirm that pigs at the recent Minnesota State Fair were infected with H1N1 influenza virus. They are the first swine in the country to be found with the 2009 pandemic virus.

Washington -- Uncle Sam's animal inspectors hope a proposed new rule under the Animal Welfare Act will make it easier to conduct unannounced inspections at circuses, mobile petting zoos and other animal acts.

Pomona, Calif. -- Researchers at Western University?s College of Veterinary Medicine landed a $100,000 grant to work on improvements to captive endangered species? breeding programs.

Cathy Johnson-Delaney was elected to a second consecutive term as president of the AEMV.

Q: A client told me that when he holds his pet bird in his hand and it bites, he corrects the bird by flinging it off his hand and onto the floor. What should I advise this client as far as this method of correcting the bird?

Snakes that squeeze and venomous reptiles must now be kept under lock and key in North Carolina.

Rabbits and rodents are popular pets in urban society because they require little space, are relatively easy to care for, and are a species with which the client can develop a bond.

Rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs are monogastric, hind-gut fermenters; all have a functional cecum and require a high-fiber diet.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the mammalian body, and the major component of bones and teeth.

Adrenocortical disease (ACD, adrenal gland disease, hyperadrenocorticism) is a common malady affecting middle-aged to older ferrets with no sex predilection.

Egg binding is defined as failure of an egg to pass through the oviduct at a normal rate.

Prolapses from the cloaca can be a serious and often life-threatening condition in birds.

Pancreatic islet beta cell tumors, more commonly known as insulinomas, have been well recognized and well documented in ferrets over the last 20 years.

Pneumonia is a common presenting complaint in exotic companion mammals.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas are all monogastric, hindgut-fermenting herbivores adapted to a course, high-fiber diet.

Endotracheal intubation is the placement of a tube that extends from the oral cavity into the trachea.

One of the more common abnormal presentations of disease in rabbits is a head tilt, which is often accompanied by nystagmus and circling.

Fractures in small mammals generally involve the femur, tibia, and occasionally the humerus.

Although the principles of examination and care are universal in all species, familiarity with normal anatomy is essential in recognizing abnormal conditions.

One of the main reasons for neutering exotic pet mammals is to control reproduction.

Although the principles of critical care are universal in all species, veterinarians face a unique set of challenges when dealing with small mammals.

When presented with a seizuring dog or cat, the steps to take are familiar to most veterinarians. However, with a non-traditional species, even knowing where and how to administer treatments presents a challenge, as well as what might be common etiologies.

Respiratory diseases in small mammals can be challenging. Although anatomy is similar, there are variations in anatomy that can predispose to certain diseases, or can interfere with interpretation of test results.

Although many diseases of the urinary and genital systems are similar in many aspects in all mammals, there are features and presentations which are unique to certain species.