Triage of Exotic Species During Emergency Events

1. Triage of Exotic Species During Emergency Events Javier G. Nevarez DVM, PhD jnevarez@vetmed.lsu.edu 225-578-9657

2. It’s all about metabolism!

3. Immediate Needs • Housing • Food

4. Housing • Well ventilated • Easy to clean and disinfect • Escape resistant

5. Housing • Minimal space • Birds: stretch wings and turn 360o • Small mammals: stand up and turn 360o • Reptiles: turn 360o ideal but not critical • Space for emergency situations is not the same as for long term housing • Can use the same transport cages

6. Housing • Options • Sky kennels or similar cages • Plastic boxes with lids • Work well for snakes and small reptiles • Pillow cases for transporting snakes • Aquariums • Wire cages

8. Food • Maintenance • Birds: seeds and pelleted diets • Small mammals: pelleted diets, hay, veggies • Reptiles: veggies, insects, rodents

10. Food • Critical Care • Oxbow critical care: herbivore and carnivore • http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com • LafeberEmeraid: herbivore, omnivore, carnivore • http://www.lafebervet.com • Hill’s A/D or similar • Pellet “smoothie”

13. Birds

14. Birds • Higher metabolism = higher energy requirement • Should not fast > 12 hours • Sensitive to extreme temperatures • Aim for 75-85oF • Sensitive to environmental stressors • Maintain in quiet rooms with no predators • Sensitive to inhaled substances • Diesel or gas fumes during transport, chemicals, etc… • May bite • Use experienced personnel

15. Birds • Housing considerations • Use “bird resistant” cages • Perches • Toys • Secured or heavy bowls • Newspaper substrate

16. Birds • Very sensitive to their environment • Become stressed easily • The following non-specific clinical signs would warrant additional veterinary evaluation: • Keeping eyes closed • Fluffed feathers • Abnormal posture • Spending more time on the floor • Respiratory signs • Anorexia

17. Birds • Zoonoses • Chlamydophila psittaci • Aspergillosis • Mycobacteriosis • Birds with respiratory signs, naso-ocular discharge should be isolated and examined by a veterinarian

18. Small mammals • Higher metabolism = higher energy requirement • Should not fast > 12 hours • More sensitive to warm temperatures • Aim for 65-85oF, <80% humidity • Less sensitive to environmental stressors • Tolerate being housed with othermammals • Strong fight or flight response • May injure themselves inside the cage

19. Small Mammals • May develop fur matting and perianal dermatitis in small cages due to contact with urine and feces • Diseases of Concern • Heat stress • Bloat/colic/ileus • Diarrhea • Pasteurella multocida – rabbits • Mycoplasma pulmonis – rats

20. Reptiles • Slow metabolism = lower energy requirement • Can fast for days to months according to body condition and species • Herbivores: feed daily to every other day • Omnivores: feed every 2-3 days • Insectivores: feed every 2-3 days • Carnivores: feed once q1-2 weeks • Sensitive to low temperatures • Aim for 75-95oF • Less sensitive to environmental stressors • May bite, scratch, constrict, etc…. • Use experienced personnel

21. Reptiles • Having food available may be challenging • May have to force feed critical care diets • Need calcium supplementation • Crushed fruit flavored TUMS

22. Reptiles • Diseases of Concern • Salmonella sp. • Zoonotic • Salmonellosis is rare in reptiles • Upper respiratory infections – snakes and chelonians • Herpes virus – chelonians • Mycoplasma sp. – chelonians • Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism

23. Summary • Know metabolism!!!! • Determine housing and nutritional requirements • Assess general health status • Assign experienced personnel • Keep species separated as much as possible • Have quarantine area • Have an expert available for consultations

24. Questions?