ABVP Veterinary Practice cheat sheet

Normal avian erythrocytes are nucleated; anemia is judged by PCV and polychromasia, not RBC count alone.

Psittacine reference PCV is roughly 40-50%; budgerigars and cockatiels run slightly lower.

Avian body temperature: psittacines ~40-42 C; hypothermia is a common handling complication.

Crop stasis: differentiate ingluvitis, foreign body, and systemic disease; Gram stain and cytology guide therapy.

Female birds can become egg-bound; palpate coelom and radiograph for shelled egg before manipulation.

Avian respiratory signs often reflect lower tract disease; choanal swab and culture before antibiotics.

Blood feathers bleed heavily; apply pressure and styptic, avoid plucking active blood feathers.

Lead and zinc toxicosis cause neurologic and GI signs in psittacines; whole-blood lead >0.2 ppm is suspect.

Bovine respiratory disease: fever >40 C plus depression and dyspnea warrants early antimicrobial therapy.

Pneumonia risk peaks at weaning and transport; metaphylaxis decisions follow morbidity thresholds set by the herd veterinarian.

Bovine viral diarrhea persistent infection: test calves with ear-notch antigen ELISA; PI animals are lifelong shedders.

Lameness scoring (1-5) identifies cattle needing intervention; score 3 or higher indicates compromised gait.

Castration and dehorning require analgesia; NSAIDs plus local anesthetic are standard.

Calf scours: evaluate hydration, acid-base status, and sodium; oral electrolytes for mild-moderate, IV for severe.

Clostridial vaccination timing depends on dam vaccination history and colostral antibody transfer.

Pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasound or palpation at 30-90 days optimizes rebreeding intervals.

Heartworm prevention: test before starting in dogs over 6 months; antigen test plus microfilaria test.

Feline hyperthyroidism: total T4 elevated; free T4 helps when total T4 is borderline.

Canine parvovirus: SNAP ELISA on feces; treat with fluids, antiemetics, and supportive care.

Feline lower urinary tract signs in males: rule out urethral obstruction immediately; palpate bladder and check potassium.

Vaccination core: rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus in dogs; rabies, panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus in cats.

Ovariohysterectomy timing and pediatric spay protocols vary; weigh anesthetic risk against population control needs.

Dental disease staging: periodontal probing and charting guide extraction and cleaning decisions.

Osteoarthritis pain management: multimodal approach with NSAIDs, weight control, and adjunctive analgesics.

Milk fever (hypocalcemia): recumbency near calving with low serum calcium; IV calcium borogluconate.

Subclinical ketosis: blood beta-hydroxybutyrate >1.2 mmol/L; monitor fresh cows in first two weeks.

Mastitis: somatic cell count and culture guide treatment; gram-negative cases often need supportive care only.

Retained fetal membranes beyond 24 hours increase metritis risk; avoid manual removal.

Dairy herd reproduction: target 21-day pregnancy rate; evaluate heat detection and conception rate separately.

Lameness in dairy cattle is often digital dermatitis or sole ulcer; trim and footbath protocols reduce incidence.

Fresh cow monitoring: temperature, rumen fill, and ketone checks during the first 10 days postpartum.

Milk withdrawal times differ by drug; verify label and residue testing before shipping milk.

Colic: assess pain, heart rate, mucous membranes, and reflux; nasogastric intubation for gastric decompression.

Laminitis: radiograph for rotation; support with sole support and NSAIDs, address underlying endocrine disease.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome: gastroscopy is definitive; omeprazole dosing depends on body weight and severity.

Strangles: Streptococcus equi; isolate and culture; guttural pouch endoscopy for carriers.

Equine metabolic syndrome: insulin dysregulation; test with resting insulin and glucose after fasting.

Joint injections require aseptic technique; septic arthritis is an emergency.

Anesthesia recovery in horses is high risk; pad recovery stall and consider assisted recovery.

Equine infectious anemia: Coggins test required for transport and sale in many jurisdictions.

Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers; mouth breathing signals severe distress.

Rabbit GI stasis: hypomotility with reduced fecal output; treat with fluids, analgesia, and motility support.

Guinea pigs require dietary vitamin C; deficiency causes scurvy and poor wound healing.

Ferret adrenal disease: alopecia and vulvar swelling; treat with deslorelin implant or surgery.

Rodent incisors grow continuously; malocclusion requires trimming and dietary correction.

Rabbit anesthesia risk: premedicate and provide heat support; rabbits are prone to stress and hypothermia.

Chinchillas and degus are prone to dental disease; provide appropriate abrasive diet.

Hedgehog and sugar glider handling: minimize stress; use gloves and quiet environment.

Feline injection-site sarcoma: monitor injection sites; any mass persisting beyond 3 months warrants biopsy.

Chronic kidney disease: stage by IRIS guidelines using creatinine and SDMA; manage proteinuria and hypertension.

Feline asthma: bronchoalveolar lavage and radiographs; treat with inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators.

Feline leukemia and FIV: test with ELISA and confirm with PCR or Western blot.

Hyperthyroidism treatment options: methimazole, radioiodine, or thyroidectomy; monitor renal function.

Feline panleukopenia: severe leukopenia; isolate and provide supportive care with fluids and antiemetics.

Diabetes mellitus in cats: monitor with glucose curves and fructosamine; diet and insulin adjustments.

Feline lower urinary tract disease: stress reduction and environmental enrichment reduce recurrence.

Water quality: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temperature drive most fish disease presentations.

Nitrogen cycle: ammonia to nitrite to nitrate; nitrite toxicity causes methemoglobinemia and brown gills.

Quarantine new fish for at least 2-4 weeks before adding to established systems.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (ich): white spots; treat with temperature elevation and appropriate antiparasitic.

Bacterial infections in fish: culture and sensitivity guide antibiotic selection; avoid indiscriminate use.

Anesthesia in fish: MS-222 buffered with sodium bicarbonate; monitor opercular rate.

Fish necropsy: examine gills, skin, and internal organs; submit samples for histopathology.

Amphibian and fish transport: maintain dissolved oxygen and temperature stability.

Antimicrobial stewardship: use drugs only when indicated; follow label directions and withdrawal times.

Food animal residue avoidance: maintain treatment records and observe withdrawal periods before slaughter or milk sale.

Small ruminant deworming: targeted selective treatment reduces anthelmintic resistance.

Sheep and goat pregnancy toxemia: treat with glucose and propylene glycol; monitor late gestation.

Swine and poultry biosecurity: control movement of people and equipment to prevent disease introduction.

Foot-and-mouth disease is reportable; suspect vesicular lesions require immediate notification.

Vaccination programs depend on regional disease prevalence and herd immunity goals.

Zoonotic disease awareness: brucellosis, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis require biosecurity protocols.

Reptile husbandry: temperature gradient, humidity, and UVB lighting are critical for health.

Metabolic bone disease: hypocalcemia and poor mineralization; correct diet, calcium, and UVB exposure.

Reptile ectotherms: use species-specific preferred optimal temperature zone for immune function.

Snake sexing: hemipenal eversion or probing; avoid excessive force to prevent trauma.

Amphibian skin is permeable; handle with moistened gloves and avoid soaps or chemicals.

Reptile anesthesia: monitor heart rate and respiration; recovery depends on temperature.

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism: common in herbivorous reptiles fed inadequate calcium.

Quarantine new reptiles for 30-60 days to prevent infectious disease introduction.

Shelter population management: intake diversion, foster programs, and length-of-stay reduction improve outcomes.

Infectious disease control: isolate sick animals, use cohorting, and maintain sanitation protocols.

Canine parvovirus in shelters: strict isolation and disinfection with bleach or accelerated hydrogen peroxide.

Feline upper respiratory infection: stress reduction and vaccination reduce outbreaks.

Spay-neuter timing: pediatric procedures reduce overpopulation but require anesthetic care.

Behavioral evaluation: standardized assessments guide adoption and euthanasia decisions.

Zoonosis control: staff training and personal protective equipment reduce transmission risk.

Shelter data tracking: monitor intake, outcome, and disease rates to guide interventions.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome: test and monitor; control with biosecurity and vaccination.

Swine influenza: respiratory signs; vaccination and ventilation management reduce spread.

Porcine circovirus associated disease: vaccination reduces clinical signs and mortality.

Piglet processing: iron injection, castration, and tail docking require analgesia and hygiene.

Swine biosecurity: shower-in facilities, restricted access, and disinfection reduce disease introduction.

African swine fever is reportable; strict import controls and surveillance are essential.

Swine nutrition: phase feeding matches nutrient needs to growth stage and reduces waste.

Herd health monitoring: record mortality, growth, and feed conversion to detect disease early.