Association of Avian Veterinarians

Pseudomonas CellulitisAuthor(s): Matthew BondSource: Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall, 1990), p. 155Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30134936 .

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gastrointestinal tract particularly the ventriculus and proventriculus. Respiratory signs should be follow- ed through with histopathology on the respiratory tract from the sinuses to the lungs and air sacs. With central nervous system (CNS) signs, include a sample of the brain. If the CNS signs are localizing be sure the appropriate portion of the brain is submitted. For the usual

nonspecific avian death, submit at least the liver and the spleen. Check with your lab for price breaks on the number of tissues per submission. - Drury Reavill, DVM, Robert Schmidt, DVM, PhD, California Avian Laboratory, Citrus Heights, California

Injection Caution for Baby Psittacines

I would caution practitioners as well as clients when injecting very young psittacines of the potential to inadvertently inject through the still cartilaginous breast bone and into the liver. I have seen a small but sig- nificant number of babies presented for postmortem evaluation where the immediate cause of death ap- peared in part to be due to in- trahepatic injection of antibiotics with subsequent hemorrhage. Sur- prisingly, I found that it is very easy to pass a needle through a young bird's breast bone and into the viscera! With the small amount of

pectoral musculature that these babies have as well as the absence of bone formation in the breast, cau- tion on our part may well be indicated. - Brian Speer, DVM, Oakley, Calfornia

Pediatric IV Amino Acids As part of a total supportive pro-

gram, Fre-Amine is a human IV amino acid preparation that I have used in some extreme cases of

hypoproteinemic patients (e.g., stunted macaws) to help increase serum protein levels. This is par- ticularly useful for those birds that are unable to absorb subcutaneous

fluids or are developing pitting edema. Clinical resolution of pitting edema has occurred in 1-3 days when this preparation has been added to the intravenous fluid

preparations given to these severely affected birds. Dosage is calculated from the human dosage. Because the solution is very hypertonic, it must be given only intravenously. In certain selected cases, this preparation may have been respon- sible for the survival. - Brian Speer, DVM, Oakley, California

Sudden Deaths in Nursery Sudden death syndrome occurred

in a garage used for weaning birds. Most of the deaths were in weaned African Greys, although macaws, eclectus, and caiques were also af- fected. A Pasteurella-type organism was isolated by culture, histology and tissue-touch preps. Infection appeared to center around the liver, yet there were no lung lesions, which is unusual for Pasteurella. Mice could be involved as transmit- ters. Perhaps this is a further exam- ple of the need to examine closely what grows in the blood side of cultures. - Matthew Bond, DVM, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Pseudomonas Cellulitis Pseudomonas cellulitis is a dif-

ficult problem in neonates - the heads swell and tracheitis is a possi- ble sequela leading to death. I have previously had no success in treat- ing this. However, in two eclectus, I used Synotic (fluocindone aceton- ide, dimethoxysulfoxide [DMSO]- Syntex) 8 mls with 1 ml of Baytril 5% injectable, applied topically TID for two days and then BID for 4 days in conjunction with low dose amikacin 10-14 mg/kg. The swellings decreased within 24 hours! These two eclectus are fine, although they both had a strange seborrhea oileo- sa condition confined to their backs when pin feathers were breaking through. This too cleared up when the oil content of the feed was reduced. - Matthew Bond, DVM, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Amikacin in Neonates Although many problems can be

induced by inappropriate use of aminoglycosides, I find amikacin to

be an excellent antibiotic, although I always use it in conjunction with in- jectable fluids. Our standard dose of amikacin in neonates is 10-14

mg/kg; however, we can go as high as 15 mg/lb with no outward signs of glomerulonephrosis/nephritis. Chemistries have been followed and all remain normal. Perhaps the key is in using fluids. For example, a 20-30 gram baby receives 0.3 to 0.7 of fluids subcutaneously (usually lac- tated Ringer's) with each antibiotic dose calculated from above, taking care that the hub contents of the needle is included in the dose (0.04 in a TB syringe). I have used the high dose in 10-12 birds, sometimes TID for 2-3 days, then BID for another 3-4 days. Two eclectus were treated for 14 days at the high dose in conjunction with the fluids with no physiological damage. - Matthew Bond, DVM, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Lactulose as Vehicle for Medications

We no longer have to struggle to get pet birds to accept oral medica- tions - we have the owner ad- minister them with lactulose

VOL.4 NO.3 1990 155

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