Association of Avian Veterinarians

Forced Molting in RaptorsAuthor(s): Mauro HernandezSource: Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall, 1990), p. 158Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30134949 .

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In My Experience

tion is mainly effected with sulfona- mides and antimalarial drugs. It is assumed that there is a wide an- tibacterial spectrum, but investiga- tions at the Institut fir Gefluigel- krankheiten, Universty of Munich, Germany have shown that this is not generally true, and that conclu- sions should not be drawn from one

group of microorganisms to others, even if they are taxonomically close- ly related. - Dr. Helga Gerlach, University of Munich, Germany

Total Protein-to-Fibrinogen Ratio in Birds of Prey

Several authors have proved that fibrinogen is a useful parameter for confirming infection and other inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, hyperfibrinogenemia may be absolute or relative, as the result of an increase in total plasma protein. The total protein-to-fibrino- gen ration can be used to determine whether elevations in fibrinogen level are absolute or relative (Feld- man and Thomanson. Comp Cont Educ Small Anim 11(2):169-180, 1989). No information is available on the normal ratio in healthy birds. This ratio ranges in most raptor species from 1.5 to 3.0; ratios greater than five should be regarded as rela- tive increases thus suggesting dehy- dration whereas ratios lower than 1.0 should be considered as abso- lute increases and thus an indica- tion of infection or inflammation. The TP: Fib Ratio is calculated by the formula:

TP:Fib= (Tp [g/dl] - Fibrinogen [g/dl])

Fibrinogen (g/dl) - Dr. Mauro Hernandez, Facultad de Veterinaria, Madrid, Spain

Conure Bleeding Syndrome The conure bleeding syndrome in

my opinion is definitely linked to low dietary calcium. Since 1984, few bleeding conures have not recover- ed following injections of Calpho-

san and the use of Neocalglucon in the water and improved diet. It is my belief that hypocalcemia results in bleeding in conures and convul- sions in African Greys. - Walter J. Rosskopf, Jr., DVM, Hawthorne, California

Reovirus in African Greys A progressive anemia syndrome

has been seen frequently in juvenile African Greys in our area due to bone marrow necrosis from reovirus infection. In one week an African

Grey (4 months old) had a PCV of 4 and another (3 1/2 months old) had a PCV of 6.

- Walter J. Rosskopf, Jr., DVM, Hawthorne, California

Forced Molting in Raptors Damaged feathers are often found

in birds of prey as a result of injury or captivity. To stimulate molting in cases of severe feather damage or abnormal feather growth in raptors,

I use Aminolid at a dose of 0.25

ml/kg body weight (maximum dose 0.75 ml) diluted 1:1 in saline, IM and repeating in 10-14 days. All birds I have treated, including peregrines, several species of eagles, hawks and goshawks, shed contour feathers in several days, and remiges and rec- trices began appear within 2 months. No adverse reactions were found in any of the birds at the used doses nor did any bird require more than 2 administrations. Aminolid

(Essex, Schering Corporation) con- tains vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12, manganese, iron and potassium, and amino-acids, mainly lysine and methionine.

- Dr. Mauro Hernandez, Facultad de Veterinaria, Madrid, Spain (Ed. note: According to a spokesman for Schering in New Jersey, this product is not available in the U.S.)

(Continued on page 189)

158 JAAV

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