A 2-year-old, 3.8-kg male Rhode Island red rooster was examined for lameness and progressive swelling of the right foot of several month's duration. Radiographs of the right foot demonstrated soft tissue swelling and a smoothly marginated periosteal reaction evident of inflammation affecting the bones. Results of a complete blood count showed a moderate leukocytosis and an elevated total protein concentration. Systemic antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy was started, but the bird had not improved at recheck examination. After intravenous catheterization of the medial metatarsal vein and placing a tourniquet at the femoral-tibiotarsal joint of the right leg, regional limb perfusion with amikacin and flunixin meglumine was performed. Dimensions of both feet were measured with digital calipers, and surface temperatures of the feet were measured with an infrared thermometer. The rooster had improved activity level with decrease in lameness and measurable decrease in swelling of the right foot. Regional limb perfusion with intravenous antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a viable treatment modality in avian species for suspected distal limb infection and cellulitis. This technique has potential valuable implications for a variety of avian species. Fluid support should be provided if using nephrotoxic drugs.
Veterinary Technician | FEBRUARY 2010 E1 M any veterinarians and veterinary technicians are intimidated by anesthesia of foals. General anesthetic principles for adult horses apply to foals; however, because of their age and size, foals are at risk for certain complications during anesthesia, and there are a few special considerations for determining adjustments in their anesthetic protocol. Neonatal foals (i.e., younger than 1 month) have rapidly changing cardiovascular and pulmonary physiologies as they develop adult systems, and, therefore, they have an increased risk of anesthetic-related death and/or complications. During the first week of life, a foal's risk of anesthesia-related death is seven times higher than that of an adult horse.1 At 1 to 4 months of age, foals still have a higher risk for anesthetic complications and/or death, but their risk level is closer to that of adult horses. The Transition to Adult PhysiologyIn utero, foals have cardiac shunts (foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus [FIGURE 1]) that permit low-pressure circulation of blood. The foramen ovale permits most blood to be shunted from the right atrium into the left atrium, thereby bypassing the lungs. In addition, the relatively low-oxygen environment in utero leads to constriction of pulmonary vessels and dilation of the ductus arteriosus. Because the foal's pulmonary arterial resistance is higher than its systemic arterial resistance, most pulmonary arterial blood is shunted through the ductus arteriosus into the aorta, with the remaining blood perfusing the lungs. During birth, neonatal foals begin the transition to a right-sided, adult cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology. The initial breaths and lung expansion after parturition (delivery) decrease pulmonary vascular resistance, increasing pulmonary blood flow. The foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus close because of an increase in Pao 2 (partial pressure of oxygen, arterial) and a decrease in prostaglandins. A thin layer of tissue initially closes these shunts, which permanently close over a few weeks if the foal is normal. However, if a pathologic state, such as prematurity or infection, leads to hypoxemia, acidemia (e.g., pH <7.4), or hypercarbia (Paco 2 [partial pressure of CO 2 , arterial]: >45 mm Hg), these shunts may reopen, and pulmonary hypertension may occur.Neonatal foals younger than 1 week have a high resting heart rate (e.g., 60 to 120 beats/min [bpm]), high respira- Glossary Acidemia-the state of low blood pH (e.g., arterial blood gas pH <7.4)Cardiac output-the amount of blood pumped per minute by the heart Chest (thoracic) wall-the boundary of the thoracic cavityChronotropic agent-an agent that alters the heart rate (e.g., a positive chronotropic agent increases the heart rate) Hypercarbia (hypercapnia)-excess carbon dioxide in the blood, resulting in respiratory acidosisHypoxemia-decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (<60 mm Hg)Inotrope-an agent that alters the force of muscular contraction (e.g., a positive inotrope causes a stronger cardiac cont...
Coastal bird species are often affected by oil spills and can suffer damage to the kidneys, adrenal glands, salt glands, and gastrointestinal tract. Although hypothermia is often touted as the proximate cause of avian death in oil spill events, birds can ultimately succumb to these petroleum product-related injuries based on blood electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities caused by multiple organ dysfunction. However detection and treatment of these analyte abnormalities remains challenging because we know little of the nature of analytes in the healthy water bird. Blood samples were obtained from free living and rehabilitated healthy Mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula), Black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis), Yellow-Crowned Night Herons (Nyctanassa violacea) and Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) from 2008–2012. Blood gas, electrolyte, and select biochemical and hematological parameters were determined in the field with a patient side analyzer while complete blood counts, packed cell volumes and osmolalities were determined by standard laboratory methods. Reference intervals and 95% confidence intervals were determined and the effect of age, sex, body condition, time and date of sampling were also assessed for all analytes. Species, lifestyle, environment, and diet all appear to have an effect on “normal” electrolyte and acid base analytes in coastal birds. An increased plasticity of and tolerance to change in blood analytes may be a normal finding in these species which may facilitate care in the response setting. The reference intervals of apparently healthy coastal birds differed from mammalian values in some instances, however these intervals will assist in the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of these species in rehabilitation and oil spill response. These values can be used to assist biologists, rehabilitators and veterinarians in assessment, management and treatment of avian species in the event of environmental disturbance, such as oil spill, draught, or tropical storm as well as to assess overall ecosystem health via coastal birds as indicator species.
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