NAVLE NAVLE Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A chinchilla presents with drooling, difficulty eating, and sharp molar spurs on oral exam. This condition is best described as:
- Slobbers (dental malocclusion) (Correct answer)
- Oral candidiasis
- Cheek pouch impaction
- Stomatitis
Correct answer: Slobbers (dental malocclusion)
Dental malocclusion in chinchillas, commonly called 'slobbers,' results from molar spurs that lacerate the tongue and cause hypersalivation.
Question 2: Which of the following birds is most susceptible to aspergillosis due to its natural habitat and immune characteristics?
- Budgerigar
- African grey parrot
- Gyrfalcon (Correct answer)
- Cockatiel
Correct answer: Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcons and other Arctic raptors lack prior environmental exposure to Aspergillus and are highly immunologically naive, making them very susceptible.
Question 3: A red-eared slider turtle is found floating at the surface of the water and unable to dive. Radiographs show increased opacity in the caudal lung fields. The most likely diagnosis is:
- Pneumonia (Correct answer)
- Hepatic lipidosis
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Bladder calculi
Correct answer: Pneumonia
Pneumonia in aquatic turtles causes asymmetric buoyancy and inability to dive; radiographic consolidation in the lung fields confirms the diagnosis.
Question 4: A sugar glider presents with self-mutilation of the scrotum and hindquarters. The most common underlying cause is:
- Ectoparasite infestation
- Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
- Stress and/or inappropriate husbandry (Correct answer)
- Fungal dermatitis
Correct answer: Stress and/or inappropriate husbandry
Self-mutilation in sugar gliders is most commonly associated with stress, social isolation, or inappropriate diet and environmental conditions.
Question 5: In avian medicine, which drug is contraindicated in pigeons and doves due to severe toxicity?
- Enrofloxacin
- Doxycycline
- Fenbendazole at high doses (Correct answer)
- Metronidazole
Correct answer: Fenbendazole at high doses
Fenbendazole at high doses or prolonged use causes fatal bone marrow suppression in pigeons and doves; caution with dosing is essential.
Question 6: A bearded dragon is presented with a black beard, lethargy, and yellow-white caseous plugs in the intestine on necropsy. The causative agent is:
- Salmonella enterica
- Entamoeba invadens (Correct answer)
- Histomonas meleagridis
- Cryptosporidium varanii
Correct answer: Entamoeba invadens
Entamoeba invadens causes severe ulcerative enterocolitis in reptiles, particularly lizards, presenting with caseous intestinal lesions and rapid death.
Question 7: Which of the following is the recommended first-line treatment for lead toxicosis in birds?
- Dimercaprol (BAL)
- Calcium EDTA (Correct answer)
- D-Penicillamine
- Succimer (DMSA)
Correct answer: Calcium EDTA
Calcium EDTA is the chelation agent of choice for acute lead toxicosis in birds and is administered parenterally for rapid effect.
NAVLE NAVLE Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine 5
A chinchilla presents with drooling, difficulty eating, and sharp molar spurs on oral exam.
This condition is best described as: