Euthanasia, or providing “a good death,” is an essential, yet often challenging, part of veterinary practice. Euthanasia presents unique difficulties in avian patients, and while many recommendations exist, strong personal opinions also shape clinical practice. View the results of this confidential survey.
Euthanasia may be considered an essential part of veterinary practice, however the incredible diversity of class Aves creates special challenges for veterinary health professionals seeking to provide a death free of distress or pain. This review article first explores personnel and owner considerations, before beginning a discussion on the use pre-visit anxiolytics and general anesthesia. Important euthanasia agents as well as common routes of administration are explored in detail, before concluding with a brief discussion of field euthanasia techniques and confirmation of death.
Dr. Teresa Bradley Bays presented this live, interactive webinar. View the RACE-approved webinar recording, then take the brief quiz to earn 1 hour of continuing education credit. Enrichment is critical to enhance the quality of life of our companion small mammals. Safe toys, distractions, and healthy food treats that simulate species-specific natural behavior can reduce boredom and destructive behaviors, increase exercise, and provide mental stimulation. The five main areas of enrichment are explored: social, physical, nutritional, sensory, and occupational. Examples of each category are also be discussed, including resources and ideas that are readily available to the practitioner or pet owner.
Avian veterinarian Brian Speer presented this live webinar, RACE-approved for 1.5 credit hours. Reproductive activities, particularly those that are recurrent, pose a significant threat to the health and behavioral well-being of many pet birds. This presentation began by reviewing the basics of female reproductive anatomy and endocrinology before discussing the role of environmental and behavioral stimuli on reproductive endocrinology. Dr. Speer then presented an ethical scale for selecting and prioritizing recommendations for intervention, before discussing medical therapy as well as the environmental and behavioral interventions that can be employed. Dr. Speer concluded with a discussion of behavioral science and its applications to the management of hormonal problems.
Quality-of-life questionnaires are an excellent tool for the veterinary team. This questionnaire can be completed in the waiting room or during consultation with a veterinary nurse. Use of a comprehensive history form paired with this quality-of-life questionnaire can greatly assist in beginning difficult conversations with owners of senior pets and managing geriatric patients. Many age-related […]
The 2019/2020 wildfires put the plight of Australian wildlife and the realities of climate change on the international stage. This RACE-approved webinar course consists of two, 1-hour recordings that explore the impact of Australian bushfires on wildlife. Part 1, presented by Dr. Bree Talbot, explores the basics of patient assessment and triage as well as management of pain, smoke inhalation, and burns for the unique species found in Australia. Part 2 summarizes Dr. Michelle Campbell-Ward’s research evaluating the key rescue/rehabilitation-related wild animal welfare outcomes and ethical dilemmas encountered during the Australian bushfires.
Dr. LoraKim Joyner of One Earth Conservation presented this distance-learning event on parrot conservation for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Wildlife, Zoological, and Avian Animal Medicine Club as part of the Lafeber Company Student Program.
According to LitCovid, an open-resource literature hub developed with the support of the US National Institute of Health, over 14,000 relevant articles have been posted to PubMed on the 2019 novel coronavirus. Thousands more articles are available as pre-prints. Obviously this explosion of information can be intimidating for the busy veterinarian, but you can use the national and international resources (listed in Table) to stay current on the latest information. Then turn to this review article and our supplemental LafeberVet Literature Search as well as LafeberVet’s Coronavirus in Animals and Determinants of Viral Infectionto dive a bit deeper into our evolving knowledge of SARS-CoV-2.
“The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?” –Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1780
Dr. Renée Schott presented a live, interactive webinar on reptile wildlife euthanasia techniques. View the RACE-approved webinar recording today. Wildlife often present to veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators with conditions that warrant euthanasia. It can be difficult, however, to apply mammalian methods of euthanasia to species with unique physiology such as reptiles. This presentation uses cases to discuss practical euthanasia methods for reptiles and the physiology behind these methods. Emphasis is placed on freshwater turtles as these represent some physiological extremes.
Dr. Todd E. Driggers presented this live webinar event on Flight Mechanics, Parrot Welfare, and Ethical Concerns. The webinar recording begins with a discussion on grooming. Feather trimming birds in captivity has been a common practice performed for many reasons, including fear of loss, safety, and the ability to control and tame. If the gold standard for animal welfare is freedom and feather destructive behavior is a reliable indicator of scientifically studied animal welfare, feather trimming impacts how the animal feels, functions, and prohibits natural responses to positive or aversive stimuli. Perhaps it is time to reflect on the benefits and risks of feather trims through the lens of animal welfare. At a minimum, the degrees of severity of the current techniques need redressing when we consider the experience of the bird.
Careful observation of avian body language can provide clues when a bird is receptive to play or handling. Download this client education handout to share helpful advice on interpreting psittacine bird postures and behaviors.
The recording of this live, interactive webinar was presented by Dr. Alicia McLaughlin, a certified Fear Free™ veterinarian who is spearheading the development of an avian-focused Fear Free™ course. This presentation explores the reasons stress should be minimized during avian veterinary visits and the challenges that must be overcome. Dr. McLaughlin also shares practical tips for clinical implementation as they relate to clinic design, staff training, client education, as well as tips for working with avian patients in an exam room or hospital setting. Alicia has also provided two client education handouts for download that she uses in her daily practice.
Behavior is the most direct tool a wild bird has to respond to its environment, and it ultimately determines whether it survives and breeds in its natural environment. There are two functional categories of avian behaviors: self-maintenance behaviors and social behaviors.
