Terms:

Antibiotic: A drug that kills bacteria. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, and so cannot be used to treat viral diseases.

Bacterial Culture and Sensitivity: A sample obtained from your pet is sent to a laboratory where the bacteria are cultured or grown in a dish. After about three days, the bacteria can be identified. Then it can be determined whether the bacteria are normal in your pet, or pathogenic (capable of causing disease). If disease-causing bacteria are found, sensitivity testing to different antibiotics will be performed to determine which drugs will most effectively treat your pet.

Barium Study: A non-invasive diagnostic tool. Your pet is given an oral dose of barium sulfate and a series of xrays are taken over the course of several hours to follow it as it moves through the gastrointestinal tract. Gut motility, dilations, strictures, ulcers and obstuctions can be diagnosed this way.

Biochemical Profile: This is a very useful test, as it gives the veterinarian an overview of how your pet’s body is functioning internally, and/or where dysfunction may be occurring. A blood sample is sent to a laboratory where amounts of specific enzymes, electrolytes, organic and inorganic molecules are measured. Depending on your pet’s species, size and clinical signs, different items will be included in their individualized biochemical profile.; Changes in the biochemical profile can help a doctor to diagnose diseases affecting the liver, kidney, pancreas, or endocrine systems. Once diagnosed, many of these diseases are treatable. In mature or older patients, as in older people, a biochemical profile may be recommended as part of a health maintenance plan or pre-anesthetic screen. In ill patients, a biochemical profile may be recommended to assess the extent of disease, and to monitor patient response to treatment, and recovery.

Biopsy or Cytology: In these tests, a sample of tissue is taken and sent to a laboratory. For a cytology, cells from the desired tissue are put on a slide by the doctor. For a biopsy, a larger wedge or core of tissue is submitted in a preservative solution. At the laboratory, the samples are processed and stained with special dyes. Then a pathologist looks at it under the microscope to determine the types of cells and whether or not they are normal. The pathologist can also search for and identify agents that causes disease such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and parasites. This test can therefore potentially identify the causes of a disease process, and help the veterinarian recommend a course of treatment for your pet.

CBC or Complete Blood Count: This blood test tells us the number of your pet’s red blood cells (oxygen carrying cells), white blood cells (cells of the immune system), and platelets (clotting proteins). Increases or decreases in any of these cell types can alert doctors to illness, sometimes even before your pet starts to act sick. In this way, a CBC can be used to screen for illness in apparently healthy pets.; In a clinically ill patient, the information from a CBC might tell the doctor what type of illness the patient has. Bacterial, viral, parasitic, immune-mediated, and allergic diseases, for example, can all cause changes in the patient’s CBC; however, the changes would be different in each case. Sometimes doctors use the CBC to monitor a patient’s recovery and response to treatment. Depending on the result of your pet’s CBC, the doctor will confirm your pet’s good health, recommend further testing, or prescribe a specific treatment.

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Chlamydia or Psittacosis Titer: This test looks for antibodies to a bacteria called Chlamydia psittaci which causes psittacosis or chlamydiosis or parrot fever (different names, same disease). Psittacosis is a serious, but treatable disease.; Psittacosis may affect your pet bird in many ways. Swollen, runny eyes; sneezing; difficulty breathing; change in appetite; or change in color or consistency of feces can all occur. Some birds do not show specific signs of illness, but are just “poor doers.” Their feathers may lack luster; they may be less peppy compared to other birds; they may be more prone to illness. Finally, some birds might not act sick at all, but they could still be carrying Chlamydia, and they could still infect others with it.; Chlamydiosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can potentially spread from birds to people. Chlamydiosis in people resembles a persistent respiratory infection or flu. Immunocompromised individuals (someone undergoing chemotherapy, HIV positive, pregnant, very young or very old) are most susceptible. If you are concerned about a family member having chlamydiosis, please contact your physician. As in birds, Chlamydiosis is treatable in people.; If your pet’s Chlamydia titer is positive, she will be treated with an appropriate antibiotic. If the affected bird is a new addition to your flock, you should extend its quarantine period until the end of the antibiotic regimen. Otherwise, it may become necessary to treat the entire flock.; Although Chlamydiosis is generally treatable, it is certainly better to prevent infection. Once your bird’s Chlamydia test is determined to be negative, try to minimize exposure to other untested birds. Wash your hands and change your clothes after visits to pet stores, aviaries, bird shows, zoos, etc. before handling your bird. Bird guests or new birds should always be quarantined in a separate room if possible. Likewise, be selective about where you board your bird or birds.

Endoscopy: An endoscope is an dianostic tool which is composed of a fiber optic tube that transmits a very bright light. It allows us to see the inside of a patient's esophagus, stomach, upper intestines, colon, crop, or trachea without surgery. Sometimes we can retrieve foreign bodies form crops or stomachs without having to do surgery. We can also obtain samples for biopsy of the gastrointestinal tract this way.

Fluoroscopy: Real-time radiology.

Isofluorane: A gas or inhalant anesthetic which is generally very safe to use in dogs, cats and birds.; .
Lesion: An area of abnormality.

Oncology: Study of cancer and cancer treatments.

Pathogenic: Something capable of causing disease, such as certain types of bacteria and viruses.

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Polyoma Virus: A potentially lethal virus that primarily affects young (pre-weaned) birds of many species. Clinical signs include abnormal or delayed feather development, resistance to weaning, crop or GI stasis, abnormal droppings, abdominal effusions. Vaccinations are available and recommended for birds in high risk situations.

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease: A viral disease that can affect many bird species. Causes feather loss and abnormal (clubbed, stunted) feathers, lack of powder down (bird dust), abnormal beak (soft, overgrown, fissures), and immunosuppression.

Radiograph (X-ray): Also known as an x-ray, because it is a film taken using X-rays. One of the non-invasive diagnostics tools. Size, shape, and position of organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, spleen, bones, etc. can be evaluated. Presence of gas, fluids, and solid masses (tumors, foreign objects) inside your pet's body can be detected.

Septic, Septicemia: The condition when an infection has spread from a localized area throughout the body, usually via the bloodstream.

Shock: A state of depressed vital signs usually caused by loss of blood, injury, or severe infection.

Target Testing: A semi-quantitative test of progesterone level that can be used to predict ovulation date in a bitch (female dog). The test can be run on a few drops of blood; results available in approximately 30 minutes.

Ultrasound: Another non-invasive diagnostic tool. Uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of the insides of a body. Complementary to x-rays. Common applications include: cardiac (heart) evaluations, fetal evaluations, imaging and biopsies of abnormal internal organs.

X-ray
Zoonotic Disease: A disease that can potentially spread from animals to people. Examples include chlamydia and rabies.

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