Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician 4th Edition

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, 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 manag
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