Deck 12: Avian and Exotic Animal Care and Nursing

Question 1

Wood shavings and corncob bedding are not appropriate substrates for birds because of which of the following?

A) They promote the growth of pathogens.
B) They can cause intestinal obstruction if ingested.
C) They are considerably more expensive
D) A and B

Answer 1

A and B

Question 2

Pocket pets are considered to be all of the following except:

A) rats.
B) chinchillas.
C) sugar gliders.
D) rabbits.

Answer 2

sugar gliders.

Question 3

Rabbits and ferrets are sometimes housed outdoors but must be protected against:

A) heat stroke
B) myasis
C) dog and cat attacks
D) All of the above

Answer 3

All of the above

Question 4

The most efficient way to sex young male and female guinea pigs is to do the following:

A) look for the difference in the anogenital distance
B) look for the presence or absence of nipples
C) look for a "Y"-shaped anogenital opening in the female
D) observe their coloring; female guinea pigs can be tricolored, but males are never tricolored

Question 5

The lifespan of a rat is:

A) 1.5 to 2.5 years.
B) 2.5 to 3.5 years.
C) 4.5 to 5.5 years.
D) 5.5 to 6.5 years.

Question 6

A female guinea pig is known as a:

A) boar.
B) murine.
C) sow.
D) jill.

Question 7

In what species do the males tend to live longer than the females?

A) Rabbit
B) Gerbil
C) Guinea pig
D) Hamster

Question 8

The harderian gland in the rat is located:

A) near the base of the tail
B) caudal to the eyeball
C) posterior to the gallbladder
D) in the nasal-lacrimal duct

Question 9

The gestation period for guinea pigs is:

A) 21 days
B) 14 days
C) 37 days
D) 68 days

Question 10

The life span of a chinchilla is usually:

A) 10 years
B) 2 to 3 years
C) 3 to 5 years
D) 6 to 7 years

Question 11

Feeding an animal ad libitum means that it is fed:

A) twice a day
B) free choice
C) whenever it seems hungry
D) every 8 hours

Question 12

Why are hairballs potentially fatal in a rabbit?

A) Rabbits tend to be coprophagic.
B) Rabbits cannot vomit and can choke on a hairball.
C) Rabbits do not have a haustra like other rodents who get hairballs.
D) Hairballs contain proteolytic enzymes that the rabbit cannot digest.

Question 13

The recommended housing temperature for a hamster, gerbil, or guinea pig should be:

A) 39 to 64 degrees F
B) 65 to 79 degrees F
C) 83-86 degrees F
D) 97-100 degrees F

Question 14

Scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin:

A) A
B) B (complex)
C) C
D) D

Question 15

The average-sized adult mouse weighs approximately:

A) 12 to 15 g
B) 85 to 100 g
C) 50 to 60 g
D) 20 to 40 g

Question 16

Critically ill rabbits that are hospitalized often need high-energy supplements. All of the following supplements may be offered to a rabbit, except;

A) meat-based baby food.
B) yogurt.
C) carrots.
D) hay or parsley.

Question 17

In rabbits, blood can be obtained from the:

A) marginal ear vein.
B) lateral ear artery.
C) cephalic vein.
D) saphenous vein.

Question 18

A species that is very susceptible to infection from Pasteurella multocida is the:

A) ferret
B) gerbil
C) rabbit
D) chinchilla

Question 19

In addition to the dog, what other animal must be vaccinated against canine distemper?

A) Ferret
B) Syrian hamster
C) Chinese hamster
D) Cat

Question 20

What does it mean when a rabbit is described as coprophagic?

A) It is unable to eat.
B) It is unable to vomit.
C) It consumes its own feces.
D) It is susceptible to hairballs.

Question 21

What is the preferred site for administering subcutaneous fluids to the avian patient?

A) Axillary
B) Inguinal
C) Sublingual
D) Pectoral

Question 22

Which characteristics most distinguish psittacine from passerine birds?

A) Size and weight
B) Color and length of the plumage
C) Shape of the beak and direction of the toes
D) Ability to vocalize and learn

Question 23

Blood collection by what method is commonly followed by euthanasia?

A) Orbital sinus
B) Cardiac puncture
C) Jugular puncture
D) Vena cava

Question 24

"Blood" feathers are:

A) growing feathers
B) damaged feathers
C) a sign of severe systemic illness
D) strands of dried blood and fibrin on the skin where a feather was pulled out

Question 25

Jill and Hobs refer to what species of animal?

A) Chinchilla
B) Gerbil
C) Ferret
D) Syrian hamster

Question 26

Regurgitation in healthy, tame birds is often a sign of:

A) egg stasis
B) plant ingestion
C) prolapsed cloaca
D) heavy metal ingestion

Question 27

The gallbladder in birds is:

A) absent in most parrots but is found in many other avian species
B) found in all psittacines but is absent in most other avian species
C) bound within the bilobed uropygial gland
D) found only in Amazon parrots

Question 28

The two most common heavy metals that you will encounter with your avian patients are:

A) copper and iron
B) lead and zinc
C) magnesium and cobalt
D) mercury and zinc

Question 29

The three compartments of the cloaca are the:

A) crop, ventriculus, and proventriculus
B) coprodeum, urodeum, and proctodeum
C) duodenum, ilium, and rectum
D) papilla, sinuses, and nares

Question 30

On a bird with fractures or soft tissue injuries distal to the elbow, a figure-of-eight bandage is used on the:

A) leg
B) skull
C) wing
D) pelvis

Question 31

A suddenly stressed bird will exhibit which of the following behaviors?

A) An increased urine component to its droppings
B) Biting
C) Very few droppings
D) Uncontrolled singing

Question 32

The operculum of a bird is:

A) found near the nape of a bird
B) a cornified flap of tissue located immediately behind the nares in the nasal cavity
C) a "V"-shaped notch in the roof of a bird's mouth
D) found within the proctodeum of a bird

Question 33

Lagomorphs are differentiated from rodents by the presence of what anatomic structures?

A) A sacculus rotundus
B) Two upper pairs of incisors
C) A difference in the number of vertebra and ribs
D) A difference in cranial structure

Question 34

A crop burn is typically caused by:

A) chewing on electrical cords
B) flying into ceiling fans
C) poorly mixed microwave foods that are fed to neonates
D) inhaling toxins such as polytetrafluoroethylene

Question 35

The cloaca is:

A) the common terminal chamber of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems
B) present on the roof and floor of the oropharynx
C) a slit between the palatine folds of the roof of the mouth that closes during swallowing
D) the second stomach of birds; it is the site of protein digestion and mechanical breakdown of food

Question 36

Molting is considered normal in which of the following?

A) Ferrets
B) Lizards
C) Avians
D) A and C

Question 37

Which statement about birds is most accurate?

A) Birds are primarily a species that is preyed on and tend to mask signs of illness as a means of self-preservation.
B) Birds are very sensitive to changes in their environment, diet, and routine, so changes in their behavior, attitude, or physical condition usually are temporary and of no great concern.
C) The bird's gender can usually be determined by its size and coloration, and by gently parting the vent to look for a penis.
D) Leg bands should never be removed from domestic birds because they are essential for proper identification.

Question 38

The "true" stomach in birds is the:

A) crop
B) ventriculus
C) proventriculus
D) gizzard

Question 39

Beak grinding in a bird that is sitting quietly usually indicates:

A) stress or anxiety
B) discomfort
C) readiness to fall asleep
D) hunger

Question 40

In a research colony, the health status of the colony is monitored by the testing of which animals?

A) Sentinels
B) Controls
C) Random animals from the colony
D) Only sick animals when needed

Question 41

The most common site for intravenous catheterization in the chelonian is the:

A) femoral vein
B) radial-humoral plexus sinus
C) dorsal venous sinus
D) jugular vein

Question 42

When handling amphibians, you should always wear:

A) vinyl gloves
B) leather gloves
C) latex gloves
D) nonpowdered gloves

Question 43

The lower shell of a chelonian is called the:

A) plastron
B) carapace
C) scute
D) gular

Question 44

The two most common radiographic views obtained for diagnostic x-rays on a lizard include:

A) dorsoventral and lateral
B) ventrodorsal and oblique
C) dorsoventral and horizontal lateral
D) ventrodorsal and horizontal craniocaudal

Question 45

The most common venipuncture site used in lizards is the:

A) cephalic vein
B) ventral abdominal vein
C) jugular vein
D) caudal tail vein

Question 46

When obtaining a blood sample from a bird, it is best to use a:

A) venous sample
B) trimmed toenail
C) arterial sample
D) blood feathers

Question 47

The intramuscular injection site most commonly used in birds is the:

A) quadriceps
B) triceps
C) pectorals
D) pectin

Question 48

In reptiles, problems shedding the skin are referred to as:

A) ecdysis
B) dermatitis
C) dysecdysis
D) dermatophytosis

Question 49

Standard whole body radiographs of birds include these views:

A) dorsoventral (DV) and left lateral
B) posterior and anterior
C) ventrodorsal (VD) and right lateral
D) standing right lateral and anterior posterior (AP)

Question 50

A body wrap is added in addition to the figure-of-eight bandage on a bird when:

A) the patient has humeral or pectoral girdle fractures
B) the patient has metacarpal fractures
C) the patient has a femur fracture
D) the patient has a radial fracture

Question 51

Which of the following substrates would be appropriate bedding for a reptile?

A) Wood chips
B) Sand
C) Recycled newspaper
D) Shredded corn cob

Question 52

When performing radiographs, most companion psittacine birds will require:

A) anesthesia or heavy sedation for diagnostic radiographs
B) intraosseous catheter placement
C) intubation
D) fasting

Question 53

Which species has a natural predatory response to drop their tail in an attempt to escape capture?

A) Mice
B) Lizards
C) Ferrets
D) All of the above

Question 54

The venipuncture site of amphibians is cleansed with dilute:

A) chlorhexidine solution
B) Betadine solution
C) alcohol
D) antibacterial hand soap

Question 55

Snakes can be sexed by:

A) everting the hemipenis
B) external characteristics such as eye color
C) inserting a plastic probe into the caudolateral portion of the cloacal opening
D) DNA sexing

Question 56

Many reptiles cannot synthesize which of the following vitamins without proper UV lighting?

A) Vitamin C
B) Vitamin A
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin E

Question 57

Species of lizards such as bearded dragons and iguanas are easily sexed by examining the:

A) length of the toenails
B) girth of the tail
C) size of the femoral pores
D) color of the skin

Question 58

A common emergency seen in birds is:

A) vitamin A deficiency.
B) egg stasis.
C) organ enlargement.
D) tachypnea.

Question 59

The order that includes snakes and lizards is:

A) Testudines
B) Anura
C) Caudata
D) Squamata

Question 60

Most aquatic chelonians are:

A) herbivorous
B) omnivorous
C) insectivorous
D) carnivorous

Question 61

The order Anura contains which of the following pet amphibians?

A) Salamanders and newts
B) Frogs and salamanders
C) Frogs and toads
D) Caecilians and sirens

Question 62

A Doppler is used in an amphibian euthanasia procedure for which of the following reasons?

A) To check for heartbeat
B) To check for gastric movement
C) To check for eye movement
D) To record stomach contents

Question 63

The most common venipuncture site used in salamanders is:

A) the caudal tail vein
B) the heart
C) the femoral vein
D) the jugular vein

Question 64

The most common venipuncture site used in frogs and toads is:

A) the lingual vein
B) the ventral abdominal vein
C) the cephalic vein
D) the femoral vein