Emergency Care for Birds. A Guide for Veterinary Professionals

Cover Page
Half-Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Acknowledgments
About the author
Introduction
Part 1: Acute clinical signs of disease
1 Clinical Signs of Disease
2 Signs of Disease Requiring Immediate Attention by a Veterinary Professional
Background and explanation
Part 2: Birds as emergency patients at the veterinary clinic
3 Observation, Physical Examination and Diagnostic Tests
Observation from a distance
Handling
Physical examination
Examination of droppings
Radiology
Endoscopy
Blood tests
4 General Stabilization of Sick Birds
5 Heat
Ambient temperature guideline for sick birds
6 Fluid Therapy
Fluids used for fluid therapy
Resuscitation
Rehydration & maintenance
Oral fluid therapy
Parenteral fluid therapy
7 Nutritional Support
Tube feeding volume
8 Oxygen
9 Analgesia and Anesthesia
Analgesia
Sedation/anesthesia
10 Quick Guide for Stabilizing Birds in Case of Severe Dyspnea, Debilitation and Shock
Hypothermia
Hypovolemia
Hypoxia
Hypoglycemia
Part 3: Specific emergency situations
11 Leg Band Constriction
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
12 Bleeding Pin Feather
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
13 Hyperthermia
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
14 Bleeding Nail or Beak TIP
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
15 Perforating (BITE) Trauma of The Beak
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
16 Lacerations and Cuts
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
17 Bite Wound or Deep Wound Caused by Claws
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
18 Self-Mutilation
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
19 Burn Injuries
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Chemical burn injuries
20 Contact With Glue From Rodent or Insect Trap
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
21 Oil Contamination
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
22 Intoxications
Inhalation intoxication
Contact of the skin or eyes with toxic substances
Lead poisoning
Intoxication by poisonous plants
Ingestion of corrosive toxins
Ingestion of other toxic substances
23 Concussion
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
24 Cloacal Prolapse
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
25 Vomiting
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
26 Crop Stasis
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Treatment of crop stasis in non-raptors
Treatment of infection or overgrowth of microorganisms
Stimulation of gastrointestinal motility
Softening thickened crop contents
Crop stasis in birds of prey
27 Seizures
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
28 Egg Binding/Dystocia
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
29 Dyspnea
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
General stabilization
Respiratory infections
Pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions
Tracheal obstruction
Inhalation intoxication
30 Falling, Abnormal Stances and Abnormal Movements
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
31 Paralysis
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Radiology
General stabilization
Analgesia
32 Abnormal Eye or Closed Eyelids (Inability or Unwillingness to Open The Eye)
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatory analgesics
33 Abnormal Position of LIMBS: Fractures and Luxations
Advice for first aid at home
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Fractures
Joint dislocation/luxation
34 Maxillary Hyperextension/Palatine Bone Luxation
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
35 Abnormal Droppings
Significantly decreased amount of feces
Black feces
Yellow or green urates
Diarrhea
Fresh blood
Pink urates
36 Damaged Air Sac
Emergency care by a veterinary professional
Appendices
A1 Technique: Handling of birds
A2 Technique: Subcutaneous, intravenous and intraosseous infusion and venipuncture
A3 X-rays
A4 Microscopic examination of feces
A5 Technique: Placement of crop tube and crop lavage
A6 Technique: Placement of air sac tube
A7 Technique: Imploding eggs
A8 Technique: Applying (splint) bandages
A9 Technique: Ingluviotomy
A10 Table of (possibly) poisonous plants
A11 Psittacosis
A12 Disorders of calcium metabolism
A13 First-aid kit at home
A14 Extra ‘avian’ veterinary materials
A15 Formulary
A16 Biochemistry reference intervals
A17 Anatomy
Index

Due to their often small size and unique physical characteristics, birds can deteriorate rapidly in the event of illness and injury. Timely intervention in the event of clinical signs is therefore essential for an optimal prognosis. Authored by avian veterinarian Rob van Zon, this concise, practical guide will help veterinary professionals to provide first aid and emergency care for birds, as well as to instruct clients on providing basic first aid when they are unable to get to the clinic. This full-color book, packed with photographs and anatomy drawings, includes instructions for veterinary professionals on stabilizing sick avian patients and management of many specific emergency situations at the veterinary clinic. This includes guidance for those presented with a moribund, critically ill patient i.e., recognizing and treating hypothermia, hypoxia, hypovolemia and hypoglycemia. The book also lists of alarming signs of disease and toxic plants, and includes clinical procedures, an emergency drug formulary, and bandaging techniques. Finally, it offers guidance to veterinarians giving advice to bird owners for first aid at home.