Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician, 4th Edition

Bonnie Ballard (Editor), Ryan Cheek (Editor)

ISBN: 9781119863144 

March 2024 

Wiley-Blackwell 

752 Pages

DESCRIPTION

Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician

Comprehensive full color textbook on common exotic species, written specifically for vet techs in classroom or clinical settings

Now in its fourth edition, Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician is a comprehensive yet clear introduction to exotic animal practice for veterinary technicians in the classroom and clinical settings alike. With an emphasis on the exotic species most likely to find their way to a veterinary practice, the book offers coverage of birds, reptiles, amphibians, exotic companion mammals, and wildlife. It also features discussions of anatomy, restraint, common diseases, radiology, anesthesia and analgesia, clinical skills, surgical assisting, and parasitology.

This edition offers new updates throughout, including new chapters related to critical care feeding of exotic companion mammals, reptile infectious diseases, and exotic animal rehabilitation. It also provides full-color photos, including radiographs.

Designed to provide technicians with all the information necessary to confidently and competently treat exotic patients, Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician offers easy-to-follow descriptions of common procedures and techniques. A companion website delivers review questions and images from the book in PowerPoint format.

Topics covered in Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician include:

• Herpetoculture and reproduction, covering captive bred versus wild caught, quarantining, methods of sex determination, and reproductive behavior

• Criteria to determine water quality for fish, including pH, oxygen, temperature, chlorine and chloramine, and salinity

• Clinical techniques for degus, including oral (PO), subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), intraperitoneal (IP), catheter placement, and wound management

• Role of the veterinary technician in wildlife rehabilitation, covering clinical protocols, intake procedures, ethical considerations, and choosing treatment routes

Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician is an essential reference for veterinary technician students, along with veterinary technicians working in an exotic practice, or veterinary technicians who work in a small animal practice where adding exotic patients is being considered.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contributors xxxiii

Preface xxxvii

Acknowledgments xxxix

Disclaimer xli

About the Companion Website xliii

Section I Introduction 1

1 Exotic Animals in Clinical Practice 3

Section II Analgesia and Anesthesia 9

2 Exotic Anesthesia and Analgesia 11

3 Anesthetic Equipment and Monitoring for Exotic Patients 35

4 Physical Rehabilitation 49

Section III Avian 61

5 Psittacine and Passerine Birds 63

6 Psittacine Behavior, Husbandry, and Enrichment 99

7 Aviary Design and Management 113

8 Sex Differentiation and Reproduction 119

Section IV Reptiles 125 

9 Lizards 127

10 Snakes 177

11 Chelonians 231

12 Herpetoculture and Reproduction 273

13 Infectious Diseases of Reptiles 297

Section V Amphibians and Aquatic Animals 321

14 Amphibians 323

15 Fish 369

Section VI Exotic Companion Mammals 397

16 Ferrets 399

17 Rabbits 421

18 Mice, Rats, Gerbils, and Hamsters 465

19 Chinchillas 483

20 Guinea Pigs 493

21 Degus 511

22 Hedgehogs 519

23 Skunks 529

24 Sugar Gliders 535

25 Prairie Dogs 547

26 Critical Care Feeding 555

Section VII Hematology 561

27 Avian and Reptile Hematology 563

Section VIII Zoo, Aquarium Medicine, and Wildlife 569

28 The Role of a Veterinary Technician in a Zoo 571

29 The Role of a Veterinary Technician at a Public Aquarium 587

30 The Role of the Veterinary Technician in Wildlife Rehabilitation 595

Section IX Appendices 627

Appendix 1 State/Federal Wildlife Permit Offices 629

Appendix 2 Wildlife Admissions/Exam/Care Forms 633

Appendix 3 Handling and Restraint of Wildlife Species 637

Appendix 4 Tail Wrapping 643

Appendix 5 Guide to Identification of Hatchling and Nestling Songbirds 645

Appendix 6 Average Body Weights of Selected North American Songbirds 649

Appendix 7 Species Care Sheets 651

Appendix 8 Biological Data of Selected North American Wild Mammals 659

Appendix 9 Glossary of Medical Conditions and Treatments 661

Appendix 10 Wildlife Product Sources 665

Appendix 11 Additional Resources 669

Appendix 12 Supplies Necessary for an Exotic Practice 673

Appendix 13 Animal Training Documentation 675

Appendix 14 Animal Data Transfer Form 677

Appendix 15 Operating Protocols: Animal Training Request Form 683

Appendix 16 Operating Protocols: Enrichment and Evaluation Form 685

Index 687

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bonnie Ballard, DVM, has worked in veterinary medicine since 1974. As program director, she developed the Veterinary Technology Program at Gwinnett Technical College in 1997. In 2018, she retired from Gwinnett Technical College and now works with the Escambia County Sea Turtle Patrol.

Ryan Cheek, LVTg, VTS (ECC) has taught veterinary technology at Gwinnett Technical College since 2007, first as an adjunct instructor, then a full-time instructor for eleven years before becoming the program director in 2018. He has 25 years’ experience in exotics and emergency/critical care.