2. It’s all about metabolism! Birds Small Mammals MammalsReptiles

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 360 o Small mammals: stand up and turn 360 o Reptiles: turn 360 o 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 Lafeber Emeraid: herbivore, omnivore, carnivore http://www.lafebervet.com Hill’s A/D or similar Pellet “smoothie”

13. Birds WildlifePet Birds

14. Birds Higher metabolism = higher energy requirement Should not fast > 12 hours Sensitive to extreme temperatures Aim for 75-85 o F 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 65-85 o F, <80% humidity Less sensitive to environmental stressors Tolerate being housed with other mammals 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 75-95 o F 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?