Page 208 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

192 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

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2
3
4
Covert feathers 6 5

Primaries or flight feathers

7
8 1–10, starting at the top
9
10

Secondary feathers

FIGURE 11.4 Birds’ wing feathers.

should not be clipped as they will bleed profusely. is forced through the ducts when the animal has a bowel
Feathers are numbered 1–10 starting at the point or top movement. If the material becomes thickened, infected,
of the wing (Figure 11.4). Take note of which, if any, are or the muscles in the area weaken, the glands do not
blood feathers so that when you are ready to clip the empty properly. The patient will scoot its bottom along
feathers you can count as you go and skip those that the ground and if not expressed glands can become
shouldn’t be clipped. Only the primary feathers are abscessed and rupture. A full anal gland is easily pal-
clipped, and the size of the bird will dictate how many pated and will feel like a small ripe grape. The material
are clipped. Smaller birds will have 1–6 clipped and that is expressed from anal glands is malodorous, brown
larger birds will have 1–8 clipped. The primaries are to tan in color, and usually watery to somewhat thicker.
clipped shorter (Figure 11.4) than the covert feathers on
lateral side of the wing so they blend in and do not look
so ragged. Some clinics will not clip primary feathers 1–3 TIP BOX 11.1
for esthetics, but others say not to do this as it can cause Have an extra scrub top at work because if you get anal
the bird to fly very erratically. gland secretions on your scrub top it must be changed
With the bird in sternal recumbency extend the wing because you will be offensive for the rest of the day!
out by grasping it at the carpal joint. This is the large
joint in the wing where the radius and ulna join the small
fused bones of the wing tip. Approach from the dorsal There are two techniques for expressing anal glands:
aspect, working proximally slide the scissor blade under internally or externally. The equipment needed for both
the one primary feather at a time. Remember to count techniques include gloves, goggles, cotton batting or
so you skip any blood feathers. Clip both wings, if one paper towels, deodorizing spray, and a lubricant for the
wing is left with full flight feathers the bird can fly but internal method. It is thought the internal method
albeit not very well and injuries can occur. empties the gland better than the external method. The
external method is used on those patients that are too
Expressing Anal Glands small to accommodate an index finger.
The internal method involves putting on a glove and
applying lubricant to your index finger (Figure 11.6).
Anal glands are rudimentary scent glands located on Place a large cotton ball or a damp paper towel between
each side of the anus (Figure 11.5). To palpate the anal the index finger and thumb. Gently insert the index
glands, place your index finger and thumb just above the finger into the anus and place your thumb on the skin
white arrows as shown in Figure 11.5. The location of over the gland. Go for the left gland first as that is a
each glands lies ventrally and slightly caudal at 5 and natural position for your hand if right handed. Press the
7 o’clock to the anus. The black arrows on the Figure 11.5 thumb towards the index finger, squeezing upwards and
show the location of the ducts that empty the glands at 3 together. This forces the material through the duct and
and 9 o’clock. Ideally, the material secreted by the glands hopefully onto the cotton ball or paper towel. Word of