Exotic Animal Anesthesia Flashcards
7 cards from real ICVA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Exotic Animal Anesthesia flashcards as text
What unique cardiovascular feature of avian patients makes blood pressure monitoring challenging compared to mammals?
Answer: Birds have a much higher heart rate and small vessel diameter, complicating cuff placement
Birds have very high heart rates and small peripheral vessels, making indirect blood pressure measurement via oscillometric cuffs technically difficult and often inaccurate.
Alfaxalone is gaining popularity in exotic animal anesthesia primarily because of which advantage over ketamine?
Answer: Smoother induction and recovery with less muscle rigidity
Alfaxalone provides smoother induction and recovery compared to ketamine, which commonly causes muscle rigidity and hypersalivation in many exotic species.
In hedgehogs undergoing anesthesia, which pre-anesthetic consideration is critical due to their defensive behavior?
Answer: Pre-anesthetic sedation is almost always necessary because they cannot be safely examined awake
Hedgehogs roll into a tight defensive ball when stressed, making physical examination and IV access impossible without prior sedation.
Which statement best describes the glottis location in most snakes, which is critical during intubation?
Answer: Located at the rostral floor of the mouth, visible when the mouth is opened
In snakes, the glottis is located at the front of the oral cavity on the floor of the mouth and is easily visualized when the mouth is opened, simplifying intubation.
A sugar glider requires anesthesia for dental work. Which induction method is most practical and safe?
Answer: Chamber or mask induction with isoflurane
Chamber or mask induction with isoflurane is the most practical method in sugar gliders due to their small size, difficult vascular access, and stress sensitivity.
Which of the following best explains why hyperthermia is a common anesthetic complication in rabbits but not reptiles?
Answer: Rabbits are endotherms that retain body heat under draping and warming devices, while reptiles are ectotherms
As endotherms, rabbits generate their own body heat and can overheat under warming devices and surgical draping, whereas ectothermic reptiles depend entirely on external heat sources.
What is the recommended fasting time for most psittacine birds (parrots) prior to general anesthesia?
Answer: 2–4 hours
Psittacine birds have rapid gastrointestinal transit and a high metabolic rate; fasting longer than 4 hours can cause dangerous hypoglycemia, so 2–4 hours is recommended.