UPDATE!!!!2025/2026|GUARANTEED
An 8-month old iguana presents for further evaluation of a lack of thriving. On physical
exam, a pliable mandible and maxilla are palpated. What is your diagnosis?
a. Metabolic bone disease
b. Coccidioidomycosis
c. This is a normal finding
d. Osteomyelitis - ANSWER the correct answer is *metabolic bone disease*.
Usually, you will see *bowing of the long bones* with rounding of the skull in addition to the
clinical findings mentioned.
The disease usually occurs as a result of *secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism*. When
there is inadequate calcium absorbed from the diet, the *parathyroid glands become
hyperactive, causing release of calcium stores in the bones*, leading to *fibrous and pliable*
bones.
Adequate nutrition is key to preventing this disease!!
You are presented with two young wild cockatoos that have immature, clubbed feathers and
a malformed beak (see image). You suspect this is Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease
(PBFD). Which test would you run to confirm your diagnosis?
a. PCR probe of whole blood for circovirus DNA
1
,b. A serologic test for antibody to herpesvirus
c. PCR probe of whole blood for polyomavirus DNA
d. A gram stain of the diseased feather pulp. - ANSWER The etiologic agent for *PBFD*
is *circovirus-1* and *circovirus-2* so submitting a *whole blood* sample for *DNA probe*
analysis is the best method to check for *viremia*.
A 5-year old female intact New Zealand White rabbit presents for *haematuria, anorexia*,
and *weight loss*. What is the most likely differential?
a. Uterine adenocarcinoma
b. Normal Oestrous
c. Rabbit syphilis
d. Porphyrinuria
e. Pregnancy - ANSWER *Uterine adenocarcinoma* is the most common *neoplasia*
of *female rabbits*, with up to *80%* incidence among intact females of certain species.
Because of this, all female rabbits that are *not breeders* should be *spayed*. The most
common signs of uterine ACA are *hematuria, anorexia, depression, dysuria*, and *milk
production*.
Pregnancy would be unlikely to cause *hematuria*. Rabbits are *induced ovulators* and
*do not* exhibit estrous. Hematuria must be distinguished from *porphyrinuria*, which is a
normal *red or orange* pigment in the urine of some *rabbits*. However, porphyrinuria
*DOES NOT* cause *anorexia* and *weight loss*.
Rabbit syphilis is a *sexually* transmitted disease caused by *Treponema paraluis cuniculi*.
It causes *perineal lesions* but does not cause hematuria
A client brings in her rabbit, which acutely went down in the hind limbs after playing with
the owner's daughter yesterday. On physical exam, the rabbit is dribbling urine and has no
withdrawal in the hind legs. Forelimbs are normal. What do you suspect?
2
,a. Hansen's type II disc herniation
b. Vertebral fracture
c. Fibrocartilage embolism
d. Vertebral luxation
e. Hansen's type I herniation - ANSWER The correct answer is *vertebral fracture*.
Fractures in the *caudal lumbar* region frequently occur when rabbits *are not handled
properly* or are stimulated to jump around excessively.
*Fractures* are *much more common* than *luxations, disc extrusions*, or *emboli*.
The most common site of fracture is *L7*.
An adult budgerigar presents sitting on the floor of its cage. It has a history of polydipsia,
weight loss, and progressive left leg lameness. What is your highest suspicion for what may
be causing these signs?
a. Renal adenocarcinoma
b. Bumble foot
c. Lead toxicity
d. Teflon toxicity - ANSWER The correct answer is *renal adenocarcinoma*.
A *mass* in the renal parenchyma of a bird will compress and compromise the function of
the *ischiatic nerve*, causing a unilateral leg *lameness*.
We would be unlikely to see *unilateral lameness* with *lead toxicity*. Bumblefoot could
affect *one* foot, but *WOULD NOT* cause polydipsia.
3
, Teflon toxicity causes *acute death* in *birds*.
You diagnose a colony of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). What is your next
step?
a. Euthanize the colony
b. Treat aggressively with antibiotics
c. Do nothing; the disease is self limiting
d. Notify the federal authorities - ANSWER The correct answer is to *euthanize the
colony*.
*LCM* is caused by an *RNA arenavirus*.
The disease is a *zoonotic* concern, so *euthanasia is recommended* for animals affected
with the disease.
A one year old rescued iguana presents for further evaluation as a result of poor growth.
Survey radiographs show osteopenia and evidence of remodeling suggestive of a previous
fracture. What is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Hypovitaminosis C
b. Primary Hypoparathyroidism
c. Gout
d. Metabolic bone disease - ANSWER The correct answer is *metabolic bone disease*.
Other things to look for are a *pliable mandible* and *maxilla*.
Usually, you will see *bowing* of the *long bones* with rounding of the *skull*. The disease
usually occurs as a result of *secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism* or hypovitaminosis
D.
4
An 8-month old iguana presents for further evaluation of a lack of thriving. On physical
exam, a pliable mandible and maxilla are palpated. What is your diagnosis?
a. Metabolic bone disease
b. Coccidioidomycosis
c. This is a normal finding
d. Osteomyelitis - ANSWER the correct answer is *metabolic bone disease*.
Usually, you will see *bowing of the long bones* with rounding of the skull in addition to the
clinical findings mentioned.
The disease usually occurs as a result of *secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism*. When
there is inadequate calcium absorbed from the diet, the *parathyroid glands become
hyperactive, causing release of calcium stores in the bones*, leading to *fibrous and pliable*
bones.
Adequate nutrition is key to preventing this disease!!
You are presented with two young wild cockatoos that have immature, clubbed feathers and
a malformed beak (see image). You suspect this is Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease
(PBFD). Which test would you run to confirm your diagnosis?
a. PCR probe of whole blood for circovirus DNA
1
,b. A serologic test for antibody to herpesvirus
c. PCR probe of whole blood for polyomavirus DNA
d. A gram stain of the diseased feather pulp. - ANSWER The etiologic agent for *PBFD*
is *circovirus-1* and *circovirus-2* so submitting a *whole blood* sample for *DNA probe*
analysis is the best method to check for *viremia*.
A 5-year old female intact New Zealand White rabbit presents for *haematuria, anorexia*,
and *weight loss*. What is the most likely differential?
a. Uterine adenocarcinoma
b. Normal Oestrous
c. Rabbit syphilis
d. Porphyrinuria
e. Pregnancy - ANSWER *Uterine adenocarcinoma* is the most common *neoplasia*
of *female rabbits*, with up to *80%* incidence among intact females of certain species.
Because of this, all female rabbits that are *not breeders* should be *spayed*. The most
common signs of uterine ACA are *hematuria, anorexia, depression, dysuria*, and *milk
production*.
Pregnancy would be unlikely to cause *hematuria*. Rabbits are *induced ovulators* and
*do not* exhibit estrous. Hematuria must be distinguished from *porphyrinuria*, which is a
normal *red or orange* pigment in the urine of some *rabbits*. However, porphyrinuria
*DOES NOT* cause *anorexia* and *weight loss*.
Rabbit syphilis is a *sexually* transmitted disease caused by *Treponema paraluis cuniculi*.
It causes *perineal lesions* but does not cause hematuria
A client brings in her rabbit, which acutely went down in the hind limbs after playing with
the owner's daughter yesterday. On physical exam, the rabbit is dribbling urine and has no
withdrawal in the hind legs. Forelimbs are normal. What do you suspect?
2
,a. Hansen's type II disc herniation
b. Vertebral fracture
c. Fibrocartilage embolism
d. Vertebral luxation
e. Hansen's type I herniation - ANSWER The correct answer is *vertebral fracture*.
Fractures in the *caudal lumbar* region frequently occur when rabbits *are not handled
properly* or are stimulated to jump around excessively.
*Fractures* are *much more common* than *luxations, disc extrusions*, or *emboli*.
The most common site of fracture is *L7*.
An adult budgerigar presents sitting on the floor of its cage. It has a history of polydipsia,
weight loss, and progressive left leg lameness. What is your highest suspicion for what may
be causing these signs?
a. Renal adenocarcinoma
b. Bumble foot
c. Lead toxicity
d. Teflon toxicity - ANSWER The correct answer is *renal adenocarcinoma*.
A *mass* in the renal parenchyma of a bird will compress and compromise the function of
the *ischiatic nerve*, causing a unilateral leg *lameness*.
We would be unlikely to see *unilateral lameness* with *lead toxicity*. Bumblefoot could
affect *one* foot, but *WOULD NOT* cause polydipsia.
3
, Teflon toxicity causes *acute death* in *birds*.
You diagnose a colony of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). What is your next
step?
a. Euthanize the colony
b. Treat aggressively with antibiotics
c. Do nothing; the disease is self limiting
d. Notify the federal authorities - ANSWER The correct answer is to *euthanize the
colony*.
*LCM* is caused by an *RNA arenavirus*.
The disease is a *zoonotic* concern, so *euthanasia is recommended* for animals affected
with the disease.
A one year old rescued iguana presents for further evaluation as a result of poor growth.
Survey radiographs show osteopenia and evidence of remodeling suggestive of a previous
fracture. What is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Hypovitaminosis C
b. Primary Hypoparathyroidism
c. Gout
d. Metabolic bone disease - ANSWER The correct answer is *metabolic bone disease*.
Other things to look for are a *pliable mandible* and *maxilla*.
Usually, you will see *bowing* of the *long bones* with rounding of the *skull*. The disease
usually occurs as a result of *secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism* or hypovitaminosis
D.
4
