Veterinary Terminology: Animal Anatomy, Diseases, and Diagnostic Techniques

Husbandry?

The science, skill, or art of animal keeping.

Passerine?

Perching song birds, such as jays, finches, canaries, blackbirds; they make up more than half of all bird species.

Psittacine?

Hookbill birds with characteristics of parrots; roughly 372 species in 86 genera make up this order.

Ascites?

Abnormal accumulation of intraperitoneal fluid high in protein and electrolytes.

Auscultation?

The act of listening to sounds in the body, especially the heart and lungs.

Cautery>

To cause coagulation of tissues by use of chemicals or heat.

Morbidity?

The presence of illness or the rate that illness occurs within a population.

Necropsy?

Autopsy of a species other than human.

Pericarditis?

Inflammation of the pericardial tissue surrounding the heart.

Syncope?

Brief lapse in consciousness; fainting.

Atony?

Lacking normal tone.

Autogenous?

Produced in or with tissue from the body of the animal to whom it will be given; originating from with the organism.

Choanal?

Funnel-shaped channel connecting the sinuses of the bird to the oral cavity.

Cloaca?

End of the primitive hindgut before separation of the bladder, reproductive tract, and GI system; passage for feces, urine, and reproductive tract in avians and reptiles.

Debridement?

The process of removing dirt, foreign objects, and damaged tissue from a wound.

Lavage?

Irrigation or washing out of an organ.

Melena?

Abnormal, tarry, black stool usually caused by the presence of digested blood.

Polymerase chain reaction?

Laboratory technique that rapidly and exponentially amplifies specific segments of DNA, allowing for the generation of millions to billions of copies from a small sample.

Prolapse?

Sliding of an organ from its normal position.

Regurgitation?

Bring up partially digested food from the stomach to the mouth.

Endocrine?

Pertaining to a process by which cells secrete hormone into blood or lymph that affects another tissue in the body.

Oviposition?

The act of laying or depositing eggs.

Polypeptide?

Chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Postprandial?

After a meal.

Voracious?

Insatiable appetite.

Dimorphic?

Organism that exists in two different forms.

Ossicle?

Small bone.

Otoscope?

Instrument used to examine the ear canal.

Periorbital?

Surrounding the socket of the eye.

Pruritus?

Symptom of itching that causes the desire or reflex to scratch.

Purulent?

Producing or containing pus.

Tapetum?

The reflective part of the choroid layer that reflects visible light in the eye of many mammals.

Abdominocentesis?

Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity.

Cardiomegaly?

Enlargement of the heart.

Hepatomegaly?

Enlargement of the liver.

Phlebotomy?

Incision of a vein for letting of blood, usually by needle.

Pneumonitis?

Inflammation of the lung.

Splenomegaly?

Enlargement of the spleen.

Transudate?

Fluid passed through a membrane or out of a tissue.

Ablation?

Removal of a growth or harmful substance.

Plantar?

Pertaining to the sole of the foot.

Gout?

Disease associated with the deposition of uric acid or metabolites within tissue or joints.

Intraarticular?

Within a joint.

Necrosis?

Localized tissue death in response to injury or disease.

Pneumatic?

Pertaining to air or gas.

Chelate?

Any coordination compound composed of a central metal atom and an organic molecule containing multiple bonds in a ring structure.

Paresis?

Motor weakness or partial paralysis.

Paroxysmal?

A marked, usually episodic increase in symptoms.

Postictal?

After a seizure.

Basophilic?

Can be stained with basic (pH) dyes.

Cachexia?

General ill health and malnutrition, usually associated with chronic disease.

Emaciation?

Excessive leanness associated with malnutrition or chronic disease; low body condition.

Leukocytosis?

Abnormal increase in circulating leukocytes (WBCs).

Saprophyte?

Organism that lives on dead organic matter.

Subclinical?

Pertaining to disease so mild that it produces no symptoms.

Concretions?

Solid masses formed from particles that come together.

Emphysema?

An abnormal condition of the pulmonary system resulting in overinflation of the alveolar tissues.

Infraorbital?

Pertaining to the area of tissue beneath the socket of the eye.

Nebulization?

Method of delivery of a drug by spraying it into the respiratory passages of the patient; to reduce a liquid to a fine spray for medical use.

Syrinx?

Vocal organ of birds.

Creatinine?

Substance formed from the metabolism of creatine found in muscle tissue, blood, and urine.

Dystocia?

Difficult birth.

Infundibulum?

Funnel-shaped structure.

Osteoporosis?

Condition involving an abnormal loss of bone density.

Parenteral?

Pertaining to treatment other than through the digestive system.

Phallus?

Penis.

Photoperiod?

Light cycle.

Urate?

Any salt of uric acid.

Psittacine?

Birds with a hooked beak, characteristics of parrots, & 2 toes pointing forward & 2 toes pointing backward. Eg. Amazon parrots, macaws, parakeets, caiques, cockatoos, cockatiels, conures, eclectus parrots, lorikeets, lovebirds, african grey parrots, monk parakeets, pionus, Senegal parrots, & ring-necked parakeets.

Passerine?

Perching songbirds with 3 toes pointing forward & 1 pointing backward. Eg. Canaries, finches, mynas, etc.

Appropriate housing for pet birds?

Cages should be constructed of metal, plexiglas, or a suitable wire mesh; Cage materials can be bamboo, decorative wood, plexiglas, etc., & it must be suitable for the size & strength of the bird; Design must be simple & provide a safe environment for the bird.

Determining appropriate cage size?

Bird should be able to spread its wings without touching the cage walls, & its tail should not drag the floor or hit the sides of the cage.

Varied diet for pet birds?

Seeds, pellets, & table food such as veggies, breads, cheese, cooked eggs, fruit, & even a small amount of meat with seeds, peanuts, or pellets.

Importance of fresh water for birds?

Only produce little amounts of saliva & rely on adequate water intake to digest food.

Dangers to pet birds out of cages?

Other pets, ceiling fans, windows, mirrors, getting lost outdoors, predators & cars outdoors.

Good talking species?

Parakeets, Amazon parrots, African grey parrots, cockatoos, & macaws.

Noisy species?

Same as those known as good talkers - parakeets, Amazon parrots, African grey parrots, cockatoos, & macaws.

Keel?

Bone that serves as the primary attachment point for the flight muscles, extending from the breastbone (sternum).

Differences between avian and mammalian hearts?

In avians, the aortic arch comes from the right arch, instead of the left like in dogs & cats, larger compared with body mass, designed for rapid depolarization & high performance, & circulatory system contains 2 portal systems.

Vitamins and minerals for cardiac health in birds?

Vitamin E, Selenium, & Amino acids.

Difficulty diagnosing cardiac problems in birds?

They have very fast heart rates (anywhere from 120-780 bpm), so it's very difficult to hear any abnormalities.

Causes of anemia in pet birds?

Trauma toxicosis, organic disease, parasites, organic disease, chronic disease (chlamydiosis, mycobacteriosis, nephritis, aspergillosis).

Hormone released when birds become stressed?

Epinephrine.

Common causes of hemorrhaging in pet birds?

Trauma.

Treatment for hemorrhage?

External hemorrhage - Apply pressure to site (such a pressure bandage), use electrocautery or chemical cautery, & ligation. Blood feather injury - Must pull out the feather close to the skin in order to stop the bleeding.

Internal hemorrhage treatment?

Supportive therapy (like fluids).

Order of food passage in birds?

Esophagus → crop → proventriculus (glandular stomach) → ventriculus (gizzard or grinding stomach) → small intestine → large intestine → colon → cloaca.

Crop purpose?

Food storage, allowing the bird to eat fast & travel at the same time.

Most important clinical sign of Proventricular Dilation Disease?

Undigested seeds in feces.

Causes of crop stasis?

Foreign objects, infection, atony from overstretching, dehydrated food particles, low temperatures, feeding food that separates in the crop, & overfeeding.

Causes of crop burns?

Feeding food that is too hot, usually microwaved & not mixed well.

Clinical signs of crop burn?

Discolored areas in skin over crop, leakage of food or fluid, pain on palpation of crop, reluctance to eat.

Common causes of enteritis in pet birds?

Can be primary or secondary; diet change, increase in fluids, fright or stress, & bacterial infection.

Most common cause of enteritis in pet birds?

Bacterial infection, such as gram-neg organisms like E. coli, pasterurella, & salmonella.

When to see a veterinarian for diarrhea in birds?

Diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours.

Common causes of cloacal prolapse?

Persistent diarrhea or tenesmus (frequent urge to go to the bathroom).

Treatment for cloacal prolapse?

Clean exposed tissue, reduce swelling & lubricate tissue, replace healthy tissue to cloaca (may add purse string suture, then remove in 5-7 days), treat cause of straining, & if it's necrotic then surgical repair may be needed.

Cloacal papillomas?

Benign, cauliflower-like growths on the lining of a bird's cloaca (internally) that may resemble cloacal prolapse.

Owner information for birds with cloacal papillomas?

Should not breed afflicted birds, may regrow after treatment, & can get vaccines made from removed tissue.

Clinical sign of liver disease in dogs and cats not seen in birds?

Jaundice (icterus).