NAVLE NAVLE Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A ferret presents with progressive hind limb weakness, muscle wasting, and hypoglycemia. Blood glucose is 45 mg/dL. The most likely diagnosis is:
- Insulinoma (Correct answer)
- Adrenal gland disease
- Aleutian disease
- Lymphoma
Correct answer: Insulinoma
Insulinoma is the most common pancreatic tumor in ferrets and classically causes episodic hypoglycemia with hind limb weakness.
Question 2: A green iguana is presented with metabolic bone disease. Which nutritional deficiency is most commonly responsible?
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Calcium deficiency and/or inadequate UV-B exposure (Correct answer)
- Vitamin E deficiency
- Phosphorus deficiency
Correct answer: Calcium deficiency and/or inadequate UV-B exposure
Metabolic bone disease in iguanas is primarily caused by calcium deficiency, improper Ca:P ratio, and lack of UV-B light needed for vitamin D3 synthesis.
Question 3: Which of the following is the preferred site for intravenous catheter placement in a rabbit?
- Cephalic vein
- Jugular vein
- Lateral saphenous vein
- Marginal ear vein (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Marginal ear vein
The marginal ear vein is the most accessible and commonly used IV catheter site in rabbits due to its visibility and ease of access.
Question 4: A cockatiel presents with symmetrical feather loss over the head and neck, with pin feathers that appear hemorrhagic and dystrophic. The most appropriate diagnostic test is:
- Bacterial culture of feather follicle
- PCR for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease virus (Correct answer)
- Fungal culture
- Complete blood count
Correct answer: PCR for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease virus
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) caused by circovirus is best diagnosed via PCR testing and presents with dystrophic feathers and immunosuppression.
Question 5: A ball python is presented for anorexia and regurgitation. Endoscopy reveals thickened gastric mucosa with abundant mucus. The most likely causative organism is:
- Salmonella spp.
- Cryptosporidium serpentis (Correct answer)
- Nidovirus
- Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
Correct answer: Cryptosporidium serpentis
Cryptosporidium serpentis causes hypertrophic gastritis in snakes, presenting with chronic regurgitation and thickened gastric mucosa on endoscopy.
Question 6: Which anesthetic agent is considered safest for induction in chelonians due to minimal cardiovascular depression?
- Ketamine alone
- Propofol
- Alfaxalone (Correct answer)
- Tiletamine-zolazepam
Correct answer: Alfaxalone
Alfaxalone provides smooth induction with less cardiovascular and respiratory depression compared to propofol and is preferred in chelonians.
Question 7: A hedgehog presents with a 2 cm cutaneous mass on the flank. Cytology shows round cells with a magenta granular cytoplasm. The most likely diagnosis is:
- Fibrosarcoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Mast cell tumor (Correct answer)
- Lymphoma
Correct answer: Mast cell tumor
Mast cell tumors in hedgehogs show characteristic metachromatic (magenta) cytoplasmic granules on Romanowsky-stained cytology.
NAVLE NAVLE Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine 4
A ferret presents with progressive hind limb weakness, muscle wasting, and hypoglycemia.
Blood glucose is 45 mg/dL.
The most likely diagnosis is: